Colin

The wait was killing me. How did Rowan expect me to hide away at headquarters all day, when someone could be in my other office at any moment. The answer, you can't. So when I got a call from a client to discuss renewing a contract, I offered to meet at their office to discuss it. A little unorthodox, but anything to get me away from a desk.

Walking the financial district, it never ceases to amaze me how they crammed so many skyscrapers into a few city blocks. And to think, one day, CyberSecure could be in one of them. That is if we catch this thief first.

I thought back to Alicia. We didn't speak yesterday, which was definitely for the best. I was still reeling from the fact that I kissed her. Albeit on the head, yet it was just as exhilarating. I could still smell the mint from her hair.

The meeting went without a hitch which wasn't a surprise. Most of our clients are very happy to pay the price for our cyber security. However, it's going to be the revenue from our next big project that will really send CyberSecure skyrocketing.

My phone rang and I checked the number before answering. FAUST. From Gadget Guys? What could he want? I answer the call. "Evans here."

"Colin, Lincoln Faust. Sorry for using your personal number but I told your secretary I wanted to get a hold of you ASAP."

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Did this have something to do with Alicia? "That's alright Mr. Faust. What can I do for you?"

"You may have heard that we're developing a new line of high tech gadgets."

"Yes, my marketing consultant mentioned it." I was being sly, but what better way to confirm Alicia's alibi on Monday?"

"Yes, Alicia. For such a small firm she definitely knows her stuff. We had a lovely lunch on Tuesday."

I halted so suddenly in my steps that the people behind me had to veer out of the way. "Don't you mean Monday?"

Faust paused for a moment. "No, I'm pretty sure it was Tuesday. We went to Little Italy, it's one of my favorites."

"Right, my mistake." Faust went on about wanting to hire CyberSecure but my mind was no longer engaged. Had Alicia lied about her alibi? Was that the real reason she stayed home on Tuesday so that she could go meet with Faust? Alicia had been pretty guarded when I came to her apartment.

"How does that sound Evans?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, that's fine." Though I had no idea what Faust was even talking about.

"Great. Then I'll see you next Tuesday at 9 o'clock sharp."

"We'll see you then." I ended the call, not at all elated at having just landed another major client. All I could think about was why would Alicia lie?

I had finally just learned to trust her. It was happening all over again. In highschool it was helping her complete a project so she could graduate. And now it was becoming her client to stop her business from going under. Or was the plan to always steal from me? Or maybe an opportunity had arisen that she couldn't let pass.

I realized I was still standing in the middle of the sidewalk. I needed to talk to Rowan. He would know what to do with this new information.

Alicia's face came to mind. Standing in her kitchen, her hair a mess. She looked me straight in the eye and said she would never betray me again. And I had believed her. I go to my phone to let Rowan know that I figured out who our mole is.

Trust her.

I scoffed at the words. Alicia had burned me too many times. I was done with trusting her and listening to two silly words that had nothing to do with a higher power.

But even with my thumb hovering over Rowan's name, I hesitated.

It was the biggest mistake of my life.

An idea sparked in my mind. Then I called Rowan.

+++

Alicia

"Hey Casey, how are the work assignments coming along?"

Casey raised her head from her desk, giving me a bored expression. "Fine. Why? Is there a problem?"

"Oh, not at all, I just noticed you've been working late." I try to backpedal. "Wanted to make sure you weren't too overwhelmed."

"How I choose to use my time is my business."

I held up both my hands as I backed away. "Just trying to help." Casey shot me a look that said she doubted that. I hurried back to my office and slumped into my chair. Well that was a disaster.

Blowing the hair out of my eyes, I chew on what was left of my pinky as I think on what to do next. Casey was impossible to read. And after my failed attempt yesterday to follow her, I had gained absolutely nothing that would help Colin.

I noticed he hadn't come into the office that morning. Sandy said he would be at headquarters all day. With not having talked yesterday and now being gone today...I found myself missing him.

My forehead hit with a thump as I put my head down on my desk. If I missed him after two days, how was I supposed to go for weeks when I was back in my own office? I was hopeless.

The least I could do was help Colin catch this intruder or at least cancel out Casey as a suspect. If it wasn't for Colin, Hope Digital wouldn't even still be here. I smiled remembering how Colin supported me through my coding project when he had nothing to gain in return. Colin might have hired me to get even but I have a feeling deep down, he wanted to help.

I spent most of my day putting the finishing touches on my presentation for Colin tomorrow. He was going to be pleasantly surprised by what the new marketing plan had done for CyberSecure. New clients had jumped by twenty-five percent and we had current clients inquiring about other services. Overall, I'd say it was a very successful first month. I couldn't wait to see what the next two brought.

Footsteps sounded near and I quickly sat up. I patted my hair hoping nothing was too out of place. I wished I had bangs in case there was a big red mark on where my head was pressed into the desk. Amir poked his head around and gave me a lopsided grin.

"Nice try with Casey back there. Trying to get information out of her is like trying to break through a stone wall with a toothpick."

I dropped my chin into one hand. "And that's an understatement. Has she always been this way?"

Amir lifted one shoulder. "Pretty much. I've worked with her for two years and still don't know what she does for fun when not at work." Amir crossed his arms and leaned against my makeshift wall. "Maybe I'm just blowing this all out of proportion."

Possibly. But Amir didn't know about the multiple break-ins. Maybe it was just Casey's peculiarities, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that more was going on here. "I'm going to try and leave at the same time as her tonight. If Casey isn't willing to talk about it, then we need to find out for ourselves if anything is going on."

Amir pressed his lips into a thin line. "I don't like pushing into someone else's personal life but if something's happening on company time, then the boss deserves to know about it."

"Agreed." We bid our goodbyes but my mind was too wired to focus back on work. Still, I stuck to my office until five minutes before six, then gathering all my things, I left for the exit.

I spied Casey walking away from her cubicle as I neared the exit. Picking up the pace, I timed it so I entered into the stairwell right behind her. Instead of finding her descending to the lobby, Casey was standing there, as if waiting for me. "Hey, are you heading home for the night?"

Casey's face appeared impassive but I thought I detected a tic in her jaw. "I forgot something at my desk."

Brushing past me, Casey went back into the office. I wanted to stay and watch where she went but I knew if she found me still here, it would be very obvious that I was following her. I had acted weird enough that day. I didn't need to arouse more suspicion.

I slowly made my way down, placing each foot carefully, while keeping an ear tuned to any sounds from above. But the time I reached the bottom, there was no sign of Casey. What to do now? Playing detective was getting hard, especially when the person I was trying to follow had the personality akin to a pile of bricks. At least this time I knew she hadn't left the building yet.

It would be odd if Casey found me standing at the bottom of the stairwell, so I went to wait in the lobby. Walking over to the far side of the foyer, I smiled at the security guard on duty at the front desk as I passed. Finding a small alcove, I pull out my phone pretending to send a text message.

A few minutes pass and still no sign of Casey. I nibble on my pinky as the time slips by. Where did she go? There was no way I missed her this time.

"Excuse me?" I trod over to the security guard. "Have you seen a lady with blue hair leave the building?"

The guard shook his head. "No Miss. I don't usually see her leave till past seven. I'm constantly warning her and that boyfriend of her's that I lock down the elevator at eight."

"Boyfriend?"

The guard shrugged. "I'm just guessing but they sure look pretty chummy."

Without even saying a thank you, I dashed to the elevator and hit the button several times, willing it to go faster. How could I have been so stupid? While I was down here waiting, Casey could be in Colin's office. And possibly with an accomplice.

It felt like an eternity of getting into the elevator and riding up to the seventh floor. If it wasn't for the pencil skirt and stilettos, I would've taken the stairs.

Squeezing through as the doors barely opened, I took a quick survey of the floor. Everything looked just as I left it ten minutes ago. I wasn't sure what I was expecting. To catch Casey in the act I guess. Except Casey wasn't here.

Tentatively, I walked forward, half-expecting someone to jump out at any moment. As I crept closer to Colin's office, I peered through the paned-glass windows. I gasped and rushed forward. Any fear of lurking dangers was completely gone.

I shoved open the door and stumbled into a chaotic mess. It was as if Colin's neat and orderly room had been turned upside down. Every drawer in his desk had been pulled out and dumped. The same with the filing cabinet. Papers were strewn everywhere.

I gaped at the scene, wondering how this could have happened in the span of ten minutes. I reached for my phone. I needed to contact Colin. Before I could even pull it from my purse, the elevator pinged.