Chapter 2 - THE SECRET ON THE FLASH DRIVE
I barely slept after Arthur left.
The flash drive sat inside my dresser.
I kept staring at it.
I knew I should hand it back.
I knew I should pretend the previous night never happened.
Instead, I made the mistake of becoming curious.
At seven in the morning, I was cleaning the upstairs hallway when Arthur's head of security stopped me.
His name was Victor Kane.
Everyone was afraid of Victor.
Including me.
“Mr. Costello wants you.”
My stomach dropped.
“Why?”
“He didn't say.”
I followed him to Arthur's office.
Arthur stood beside the windows.
Perfect suit.
Perfect posture.
No sign of the broken man from three hours earlier.
He turned.
“Close the door.”
Victor left.
Arthur looked at me.
“Did you open it?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He walked toward me.
“Keep it.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“The drive.”
“Why?”
“Because if they search my room, they'll find nothing.”
I stared at him.
“You're using me as a hiding place.”
“Yes.”
“At least you're honest.”
His mouth twitched.
“I try.”
I crossed my arms.
“Who is betraying you?”
“I don't know.”
“You said the drive contains proof.”
“It contains enough information to identify the traitor.”
“Then why not look at it?”
“Because the moment I access it, they'll know.”
I frowned.
“How?”
Arthur studied me.
“You ask too many questions.”
“You came to my bedroom at three in the morning.”
“Fair.”
He stepped closer.
“Norah, listen carefully.”
His voice became serious.
“You cannot trust anyone in this house.”
“Not even you?”
His eyes held mine.
“Especially not me.”
That answer stayed with me all day.
That night, I heard footsteps outside my door.
I froze.
Someone tried the handle.
I held my breath.
The door opened.
A shadow entered.
I grabbed the poker.
The figure stopped.
“Norah?”
Arthur.
I lowered it.
“You scared me.”
“I know.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Checking on you.”
“Why?”
He looked toward the hallway.
“Because somebody searched your room.”
My blood went cold.
“When?”
“While you were working.”
I looked at my dresser.
Nothing appeared disturbed.
Arthur walked over.
“That's the point.”
He opened the bottom drawer.
The flash drive was gone.
My heart stopped.
Arthur looked at me.
“They found it.”
“But how?”
His expression hardened.
“Someone saw me give it to you.”
“Who?”
“We're about to find out.”
He took my hand.
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
“To the security room.”
On the monitors, we watched footage from the basement corridor.
At 3:21 a.m., someone appeared.
A hood.
Gloves.
They entered my room.
Five minutes later, they left.
Arthur paused the footage.
“Do you recognize the walk?”
“No.”
He zoomed in.
A ring caught the camera light.
Black stone.
Silver edges.
Arthur's face changed.
“I know that ring.”
“Who wears it?”
“My brother.”
I stared.
“You have a brother?”
“Had.”
I looked at him.
“What happened?”
Arthur's voice became quiet.
“He died twelve years ago.”
The image remained on screen.
Arthur stared at the ring.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Unless someone wants me to believe he did.”
