Chương 8
He wore a resort uniform.
But he was not wearing the expression of an employee.
He looked like someone who had finally been found.
And he was not afraid.
He looked like someone who had finally been found.
And he was not afraid.
Elena recognized him before Daniel did.
Not because she knew his name.
Because she knew the way he looked at her.
It was the same expression she had seen through the broken window of the vehicle after the crash.
A person who believed the situation was already under control.
The man removed his cap slowly.
“Ms. Somor.”
Daniel moved between them without thinking.
The man noticed.
A small smile appeared.
“That is interesting.”
Daniel’s voice was cold.
“Who are you?”
The man ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Elena.
“You came back sooner than expected.”
The words made Daniel turn.
“You know her?”
The man looked at Daniel.
“I know what happened to her.”
Elena felt her body react before her mind did.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.
“What is your name?”
The man hesitated.
Only briefly.
But it was enough.
“Marcus.”
Daniel stared.
“Marcus Bell.”
The name from the security records.
The person listed as temporary maintenance support.
The person who had entered the archive room.
Elena stepped closer.
“You were at the accident.”
Marcus did not deny it.
“Yes.”
Daniel looked shocked.
“You were there?”
Marcus looked at him.
“You really do not know everything.”
The sentence cut deeper than Elena expected.
Because Daniel looked like he believed it.
And that created a new question.
How many people had been operating around him without his knowledge?
“How did you find me?” Elena asked.
Marcus looked toward the hallway.
“Because I was not looking for you.”
A pause.
“I was making sure nobody else found you first.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“That makes no sense.”
“It will.”
Marcus reached into his jacket.
Daniel immediately reacted.
“Do not move.”
Marcus stopped.
Then slowly removed a small envelope.
He placed it on the desk.
“I brought this because I knew you would eventually come here.”
Elena did not touch it.
“What is it?”
“Something your father left behind.”
Daniel looked at the envelope.
“Another message?”
Marcus nodded.
“How many are there?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Enough.”
That answer bothered Daniel.
Elena noticed.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“You knew about these?”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
This time, she believed him.
Not because she trusted him completely.
Because she had learned the difference between his lies and his fear.
Marcus watched both of them.
“You two still do not understand what happened.”
Elena looked at him.
“Then explain.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Not here.”
She almost smiled.
Everyone kept saying that.
Not here.
Not now.
Not yet.
The entire truth seemed to exist behind locked doors and careful timing.
“Everyone keeps telling me where I cannot hear the truth,” she said.
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“Because the truth has consequences.”
“So does hiding it.”
Nobody responded.
The hallway remained silent.
Then a sound came from the security cameras.
An alert.
Daniel turned toward the monitor on the wall outside the office.
The screen showed movement near the archive corridor.
Someone had entered.
The security manager’s voice came through the speaker.
“Mr. Vale.”
Daniel grabbed the communication device.
“What happened?”
“The archive room door opened again.”
Elena looked at Marcus.
“You said nobody else knew.”
Marcus’s face changed.
“I said nobody else should know.”
The difference was enough.
Daniel moved toward the hallway.
Elena followed.
Marcus followed them.
Daniel stopped.
“You are not coming.”
Marcus looked at him.
“You need me.”
“I need answers.”
“No.”
Marcus’s voice became firmer.
“You need the truth before you get answers.”
Daniel looked ready to argue.
Then Elena spoke.
“Let him come.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You trust him?”
“No.”
She glanced at Marcus.
“But I trust that he is afraid of the same person we are.”
That was enough.
They moved quickly through the hallway.
Not running.
Running created panic.
And panic was useful to the wrong people.
The archive corridor was empty when they arrived.
The door stood open.
Inside, the shelves were undisturbed.
At first glance, nothing was wrong.
That was exactly why Elena knew something was wrong.
People who searched for something valuable rarely left chaos behind.
They took what mattered.
They removed what they needed.
Daniel entered first.
The security manager stood near the back wall.
“There is something missing.”
Elena looked at him.
“What?”
He pointed toward a shelf.
“The founder records.”
Daniel went pale.
“The original files?”
The manager nodded.
“They were here this morning.”
Marcus walked toward the empty space.
He touched the shelf.
“They knew.”
Elena looked at him.
“Knew what?”
“That you would come back.”
The room felt smaller.
Daniel looked around.
“This is impossible.”
Elena looked at him.
“No.”
She touched the empty shelf.
“It is planned.”
Daniel did not like hearing that.
Because planning meant time.
Time meant preparation.
This was not someone reacting to her return.
Someone had been waiting.
The security manager checked the system.
“There is no access record.”
Daniel frowned.
“That cannot happen.”
“It can if someone used an internal override.”
Elena looked at Marcus.
“Who has that kind of access?”
Marcus did not answer.
She waited.
Finally, he said one word.
“Vanessa.”
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“No.”
Elena looked at him.
“You are defending her?”
“No.”
His voice changed.
“I am saying she does not have that level of access.”
Marcus looked at him.
“She does now.”
Daniel turned.
“What does that mean?”
Marcus reached into his pocket and removed a small device.
A storage drive.
“I found this in the maintenance area.”
Elena stared.
“Why do you have it?”
“Because I took it before they could.”
Daniel looked angry.
“You stole evidence?”
Marcus looked back.
“I saved evidence.”
“That is not your decision.”
Marcus gave a tired smile.
“That is the problem with people like you.”
May you like
Daniel’s expression tightened.
“People like me?”
