I stopped to help a woman who was dy//ing on the side of the road and lost my job because I arrived late, but when I returned to collect my things from my desk, my entire life was about to change.

“I haven’t.”

“Has anyone else used this device?”

“It’s company equipment. IT has administrator access.”

Gavin approached, speaking too quickly.

“This is ridiculous. Christopher has nothing to do with confidential documents.”

Eleanor watched from near the glass wall.

“I certainly hope not.”

The specialist asked me to open the computer.

I lifted the lid.

My usual desktop appeared.

Then Daniel pointed toward an unfamiliar folder.

Its name was displayed prominently:

HALSTON_DUE_DILIGENCE_FINAL

My stomach tightened.

“I have never seen that.”

Gavin watched me.

“Chris…”

“I have never seen that folder.”

Daniel remained controlled.

“Don’t open it.”

The specialist began checking activity logs through the remote connection.

Several tense minutes passed.

Finally, he reported his findings.

“The files were copied onto this machine yesterday at 11:42 p.m.”

I frowned.

“I was here yesterday.”

Gavin turned toward me.

“You stayed until midnight.”

“Yes, working on the Whitcombe deck.”