Chapter 3 - The Missing Drive
Security footage showed nothing.
That was the problem.
The cameras had been disabled for eleven minutes.
Ethan stood inside the security room watching the black screen.
“Who has access?”
The security director, Marcus Bell, rubbed his forehead.
“Four people.”
“Names.”
“Me. Grant Mercer. Vanessa Lane. Arthur Bennett.”
“Anyone else with override authority?”
Marcus hesitated.
“IT.”
“Who?”
“Samuel Price.”
Ethan nodded.
“Bring him in.”
Samuel arrived ten minutes later.
He was twenty-four, nervous, and visibly exhausted.
“I didn't do anything.”
Ethan looked at him.
“I haven't accused you.”
Samuel swallowed.
“Then why am I here?”
“Because someone disabled the cameras using your credentials.”
Samuel stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“Were you logged in?”
“No.”
Ethan waited.
Samuel lowered his eyes.
“Someone borrowed my laptop.”
“Who?”
Samuel didn't answer.
Ethan knew immediately.
“Vanessa?”
Samuel nodded.
“Last Friday.”
“Why?”
“She said she needed to access an archived file.”
“And you gave her your password?”
“I know. It was stupid.”
“It was.”
Samuel looked crushed.
Ethan softened.
“But stupid isn't the same as criminal.”
Samuel looked up.
“You believe me?”
“Yes.”
Across town, Grant was sitting in his office with Vanessa.
The missing USB drive lay between them.
“We have to destroy it,” Vanessa said.
Grant shook his head.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because Ethan doesn't know what it contains.”
Vanessa stared.
“What if Claire told him?”
“Then Claire becomes a bigger problem.”
“You promised she'd never know.”
“I promised a lot of things.”
Vanessa looked frightened.
“Grant.”
He leaned back.
“Relax.”
“You don't understand. If those files get out, we're finished.”
Grant looked toward the window.
“No.”
He smiled.
“Only if Ethan gets to the end of them.”
That evening, Ethan returned home and found his apartment door unlocked.
He stopped.
The lights were off.
He called the police.
Then waited outside.
Nothing moved.
After ten minutes, he entered with an officer.
The apartment had been searched.
Drawers.
Closets.
Desk.
Everything.
Except one thing.
A small locked box hidden under his bed.
It was untouched.
Inside was an old photograph of his father and Arthur Bennett.
On the back, his father's handwriting said:
When you finally understand why Arthur trusts you, you'll know who not to trust.
Ethan stared at it.
The next day, Arthur called him into his office.
“You look tired.”
“Someone broke into my apartment.”
Arthur's expression hardened.
“Did they take anything?”
“No.”
“Then they were looking.”
“For what?”
Arthur sighed.
“I don't know.”
Ethan placed the photograph on the desk.
“My father knew you.”
Arthur became still.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your father saved my company.”
Ethan frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Twenty years ago, Bennett Home & Market Supply nearly collapsed. A competitor was trying to force me into bankruptcy.”
“Who?”
Arthur looked away.
“Grant's father.”
Ethan's eyes widened.
“Mercer?”
Arthur nodded.
“Thomas Mercer was my closest business partner.”
“What happened?”
“He stole from me.”
Ethan looked at the photograph.
“And my father?”
“Your father discovered it.”
“Then why did nobody tell me?”
Arthur's voice softened.
“Because your father didn't want you involved.”
“Where is he now?”
Arthur hesitated.
Ethan already knew the answer.
“He died believing the company could still become what he and I dreamed it would be.”
Arthur's eyes became wet.
“That is why I called you.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You wanted his son.”
“I wanted someone who understood what people are worth.”
Arthur pointed toward the city.
“Bennett survived because ordinary workers kept it alive.”
“And you think Grant doesn't understand that.”
“I know he doesn't.”
Ethan looked at the missing-drive report.
“What's on the USB?”
Arthur didn't answer.
“Arthur?”
The older man sighed.
“Evidence.”
“Of?”
“Payments. kickbacks. False vendor invoices.”
“Grant.”
“Yes.”
Ethan stood.
“Then why haven't you fired him?”
“Because if I fire him without understanding the full scheme, he walks away with the real evidence.”
Ethan realized something.
“You're letting him think he's safe.”
Arthur nodded.
“Until we know everyone involved.”
“Who else?”
Arthur looked at the photograph.
“That is what your father spent his final year discovering.”
Later that afternoon, Ethan received an anonymous message.
Meet me behind the old textile mill at six.
No name.
No explanation.
He almost ignored it.
Then another message arrived.
I have the USB.
Ethan went.
The person waiting there was Claire.
She held the drive.
“I took it from Vanessa.”
Ethan stared.
“Why?”
“Because I was tired of being afraid.”
She handed it to him.
“There are recordings on it.”
“Of Grant?”
“Yes.”
“What does he say?”
Claire looked toward the road.
“Everything.”
Before Ethan could answer, headlights appeared.
A black SUV stopped at the entrance.
Claire grabbed his arm.
“We need to go.”
The doors opened.
Three men stepped out.
Ethan grabbed Claire's hand.
They ran.
The first shot hit a metal fence behind them.
Then another.
Ethan pulled Claire behind a concrete barrier.
“Stay down.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing you into this.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You didn't.”
He checked the drive in his pocket.
Then his phone.
He sent one message to Arthur.
May you like
We've found the proof.
But the men were already closing in.
