Chapter 6 - Smoke Without Fire
Security evacuated Ashford Global.
No flames were found.
No smoke.
Only a fire alarm activated remotely from a maintenance terminal.
Elena immediately understood.
Someone had wanted the building emptied.
She called Marcus.
“Lock down the evidence room.”
His answer came too late.
“Already checking.”
Three minutes later he called back.
“One archive drive is missing.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Which one?”
“The drive containing the historical credential logs.”
Someone had used the evacuation to steal evidence.
But the thief made one mistake.
The hallway outside the evidence room used Meridian’s independent security system.
The footage had not been erased.
Elena watched it inside her car.
At 3:24 a.m., a hooded figure entered through a service corridor.
The person moved confidently.
No hesitation.
No searching.
They knew exactly which cabinet contained the drive.
Then the figure turned.
For less than one second, the camera captured the side of a face.
Richard leaned closer.
“Do you know him?”
Elena did.
“Thomas.”
Thomas Ashford was Julian’s younger brother.
He was also the only Ashford who had ever treated Elena kindly.
Thomas had repeatedly defended her when Eleanor insulted her.
He had warned Julian not to take her for granted.
Elena had trusted him.
Richard looked at her.
“This changes things.”
“No.”
Elena replayed the video.
“It confirms them.”
Thomas had not acted like a thief.
He had acted like someone following instructions.
Elena called him.
No answer.
She called again.
Nothing.
Then Camille sent another message.
ASK THOMAS ABOUT THE LAKE HOUSE.
Elena knew the place.
The Ashfords owned a secluded property in Connecticut.
Julian claimed nobody had used it since his father died.
Elena turned toward Marcus.
“Get me transportation.”
Richard frowned.
“You’re going there?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know what you’re walking into.”
“That’s why I’m not telling Julian.”
Two hours later, Elena reached the lake house.
The front door was unlocked.
A light burned upstairs.
She entered carefully.
“Thomas?”
No answer.
Elena climbed the staircase.
The second-floor study stood open.
A laptop sat on the desk.
Beside it was the missing evidence drive.
And beside the drive was Thomas.
He was alive.
But terrified.
“Elena.”
He stood immediately.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
She stared at him.
“You stole the drive.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
May you like
Thomas looked toward the window.
“Because if Julian finds out what’s on it, Camille won’t be the only person who has to disappear.”
