Chapter 2 - The Photograph
Desmond stared at the photograph.
Sadi stood near the estate gates.
Her tote bag hung from one shoulder.
Her messy blonde bun was visible even from a distance.
The timestamp was from that morning.
His jaw tightened.
“Who sent that?”
Sadi looked at him.
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
She frowned.
“I just asked what happened.”
Desmond turned the phone away.
“Go to your room.”
“Why?”
“Now.”
The change in his voice was immediate.
Sadi had learned his moods quickly.
This wasn't anger.
It was fear.
Real fear.
She stood.
“Desmond.”
“Go.”
She hesitated.
Then left.
The moment the door closed, Desmond called Marcus Vale.
Marcus had been his closest security adviser for nearly a decade.
He answered immediately.
“Boss?”
“Someone has been watching Sadi.”
Silence.
“Are you sure?”
“I have a photograph taken this morning.”
“Send it.”
Desmond did.
Marcus called back thirty seconds later.
“That camera angle isn't from outside the property.”
Desmond's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“It's from inside the east gate.”
Desmond looked toward the window.
His estate had cameras everywhere.
Only trusted employees had access.
“Find out who took it.”
Marcus paused.
“There is another problem.”
“What?”
“The sender used an old encrypted number.”
“Whose?”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Your brother's.”
Desmond went completely still.
His brother, Adrian, had died three years earlier.
Or at least everyone believed he had.
Desmond ended the call.
The next morning, Sadi entered the bedroom carrying coffee.
“You look terrible.”
“I didn't sleep.”
“Neither did I.”
Desmond looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because you told me to go away like someone had just threatened you.”
He didn't answer.
Sadi placed the coffee on his table.
“I'm not stupid.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like one.”
Desmond studied her.
“You're staying away from the east wing.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“That's not an answer.”
“It is in this house.”
Sadi crossed her arms.
“Then you're going to have a problem.”
“With what?”
“With me.”
He almost smiled.
Then a loud crash came from the hallway.
Both turned.
A security guard appeared in the doorway.
“Sir.”
“What?”
“The archive room.”
Desmond's expression changed.
“What about it?”
“Someone tried to open it.”
The room went silent.
Desmond rolled toward the door.
Sadi followed.
They reached the hallway.
A heavy steel door stood at the end.
Desmond's archive contained records nobody outside his inner circle knew existed.
He stopped several feet away.
The electronic lock was blinking red.
“Who has access?”
Marcus arrived.
“Only you and me.”
Desmond looked at him.
“Then explain why it was opened.”
Marcus checked the system.
His face became pale.
“Sir.”
“What?”
“The system says you opened it.”
“I was in bed.”
Marcus looked at the screen again.
“There's something else.”
He turned the monitor around.
A second access record appeared.
The name attached to it was impossible.
ADRIAN GALLAGHER.
Desmond stared.
Sadi watched him.
“Who's Adrian?”
Nobody answered.
May you like
Then the archive door clicked.
It began opening from the inside.
