Chapter Eleven: The Man No One Suspected

"It's... Mr. Lawson."

The words echoed through the small apartment.

Adrian didn't say anything.

For a brief moment, Zara wondered if the call had disconnected.

"It can't be," he finally said.

"I'm looking at the footage right now," Evelyn replied. "We've checked it three times."

"Don't let anyone know."

"Sir?"

"Not the board. Not security. No one."

Evelyn hesitated.

"Understood."

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

The call ended.

Adrian stood still, staring at his phone.

Zara slowly got to her feet.

"You don't believe it."

He let out a long breath.

"I've worked with Lawson for fifteen years."

"He could still betray you."

"I know."

"But I need proof."

Silence settled between them.

Zara wasn't sure what to say.

She barely knew Mr. Lawson, but he'd seemed kind. He had thanked her for protecting the file.

Why would he steal her ID badge?

None of it made sense.

Adrian slipped his phone into his pocket.

"I have to go."

"I understand."

He walked toward the door, then stopped.

"Lock every window."

She blinked.

"What?"

"Don't open the door for anyone."

"I'll be fine."

"I'm serious."

There was something in his voice she'd never heard before.

It wasn't authority.

It was concern.

"I'll call you when I get to the office," he said.

She nodded.

"Drive safely."

For the first time, he gave her a small smile before leaving.

---

The apartment felt strangely quiet after he was gone.

Zara checked every lock, just like he'd asked.

Then she made herself a cup of tea.

She wasn't really thirsty.

She just needed something to do.

Her mind wouldn't stop racing.

Mr. Lawson.

Ethan Cole.

The missing grandmother.

The flash drive.

It all seemed connected somehow.

But she couldn't see how.

Her phone buzzed.

A text message.

Unknown Number.

She frowned before opening it.

Don't trust the video.

Her heart skipped.

Another message came in almost immediately.

Someone wants Lawson to take the blame.

She stared at the screen.

Who kept sending these messages?

Ethan?

Someone else?

Before she could think any further, another message arrived.

Tomorrow, watch the elevators.

That was it.

No explanation.

No name.

She immediately tried calling the number.

It was switched off.

---

By seven the next morning, Zara was already at Knight Technologies.

She barely slept.

Every few minutes she'd wake up and check if another message had arrived.

None did.

The lobby was unusually quiet.

People smiled as they passed, but the atmosphere felt different.

Everyone seemed tense.

Evelyn met her near the elevator.

"You came early."

"I couldn't sleep."

"I can see that."

They stepped into the elevator together.

As the doors closed, Zara remembered the message.

Watch the elevators.

Without thinking, she looked around.

The security camera in the corner.

The emergency button.

The polished metal walls.

Everything looked normal.

Until...

The elevator stopped.

Both women frowned.

"We're only on the fifth floor," Evelyn said.

The doors opened.

No one was outside.

"That's strange."

The doors closed again.

The elevator continued moving.

"It must be a system error," Evelyn muttered.

Maybe.

Or maybe not.

---

Adrian was already in his office.

He looked as though he hadn't gone home.

His tie was gone.

His sleeves were rolled up.

Three empty coffee cups sat on his desk.

"You look terrible," Zara blurted out.

He looked up.

"Good morning to you too."

She immediately covered her mouth.

"I'm sorry."

"No."

A faint smile crossed his face.

"You're right."

He rubbed his eyes.

"I didn't sleep."

Evelyn placed a folder on his desk.

"The IT department finished enhancing the footage."

Adrian looked at Zara.

"You should see this."

She moved closer.

The video played on the monitor.

It showed her leaving the executive floor the previous afternoon.

A few seconds later, Mr. Lawson appeared behind her.

He looked around.

Then...

He reached toward the back of her blazer.

A tiny click.

Her ID badge disappeared into his hand.

Zara gasped.

"It really was him."

"Wait," Adrian said quietly.

The video continued.

Mr. Lawson placed the badge inside his pocket.

Then he walked away.

Twenty seconds later...

Another man stepped out from around the corner.

He bumped into Mr. Lawson.

The collision looked accidental.

Papers scattered across the floor.

The two men bent down to pick them up.

The stranger apologized and hurried away.

Mr. Lawson continued walking as if nothing had happened.

Adrian paused the video.

"What do you see?"

Zara looked carefully.

"The other man."

"What about him?"

"He bumped into Mr. Lawson."

"Yes."

"And..."

She leaned closer.

"When he stood up..."

She pointed at the screen.

"...Mr. Lawson's pocket looks empty."

Adrian rewound the footage.

Played it again.

Then again.

His eyes narrowed.

"He never stole the badge."

Zara looked at him.

"He stole it from me..."

"...and someone stole it from him."

A silence filled the office.

Evelyn slowly sat down.

"So Lawson was being used."

"Exactly," Adrian replied.

"He thought he was taking Zara's badge."

"But someone else was taking it from him."

Zara's mind raced.

"So the real thief..."

"...planned everything."

Adrian finished the sentence.

"He wanted us to suspect Lawson."

Just then, the office phone rang.

Evelyn answered.

Her face lost all color.

"Sir..."

"What is it?"

"It's Mr. Lawson."

"What about him?"

"He never came to work this morning."

Adrian frowned.

"So?"

"His wife just called."

Evelyn looked up, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He disappeared last night."

The room fell silent.

Zara felt a knot form in her stomach.

If Lawson hadn't betrayed Adrian...

And now he was missing...

Then someone was cleaning up loose ends.

Before anyone could speak again, the lights across the executive floor suddenly went out.

The office was plunged into darkness.

A second later, emergency lights flickered on.

Everything glowed red.

Then the intercom crackled.

A distorted voice echoed through every speaker in the building.

"Good morning, Mr. Knight."

Adrian's expression turned to stone.

"You have twenty-four hours left."

The voice chuckled softly.

"Tick..."

A pause.

"...Tock."

The speakers went silent.

At that exact moment, Zara's phone vibrated.

She looked down.

A new message had appeared.

It contained only one sentence.

The next person to disappear... is standing beside you.