Chapter 96 Chapter 96
It wasn't clear… but it was clear enough.
And as I watched the video cycle over and over, pixels snapping and shuddering before settling on that shot of that hallway, I could feel my heart thumping like it was trying to break through the walls of my chest. I knew that face. I knew those sunken eyes, that mousy posture, the way he was glancing around like he was in trouble for something and about to grab sweets.
Mason.
Mason, the very same stuttering, nervous, geeky Mason who'd been with Edgar all these years. Edgar's IT sidekick of choice. The man who handled sensitive data without flinching. The man who once brewed me a cup of coffee because I looked fatigued.
Why did I doubt Stanley?
He'd told me, he'd warned me that day. "The suspect may be closer than you think, Liana." But I'd laughed it off, dismissed it as paranoia. I'd even ordered Edgar to keep an eye on his boys, but I never believed any of them were capable.
How wrong I'd been. The mole was under our nose the whole time. Smiling and blending in with the team.
The hallway footage glitch wasn't an accident. It was exactly what had occurred at Smith's HQ. The same kind of error and now I know who is behind it. Mason was more than a passive player. He was the inside man.
And Dominic… that son of a bitch had pulled this one off well. I had to give it to him. He was able to strike, silently and deep, like a poisonous snake slithering through grass.
I turned on Stanley, my breathing erratic. "That's Mason. He works with the control room in Smiths HQ"
Stanley was now driving me home. I hadn't given answers to the numerous questioned he asked me back then in that control room because I was trying to process, but I owe him an explanation.
Stanley blinked. "You're sure?"
I nodded. "One hundred percent."
He breathed in deeply. "Send me the clip."
I acted quickly, forwarding the video to his private line. My hands trembled a bit, but my mind was already working ahead, scheming and computing.
"I'm definitely going to arrest the bastard," I snarled.
Stanley's eyes danced with a glimmer of mischief. "No. I have a different Ideas. We play smart."
I frowned. "What are you talking about?"
He smiled. "We bait him. Create leverage. Use it. He's Dominic's communication line. If we cut it now, they'll adapt and we'll lose our lead. But if we keep the line open…"
I smiled slowly. I could visualize it. Stanley's strategy wasn't merely smart, it was brilliant.
……….
I walked into the office the following morning like nothing was amiss.
Mason sat at his corner desk, fingers flying across his keyboard, glasses slipping to the tip of his nose with a cup of tea beside him. He looked… innocent. Innocuous.
I hated how good he was at doing it like that but I said nothing. Simply responded to his greetings and headed for my office.
I crawled up on him at lunchtime. "Hey, Mason. Have you had lunch yet?"
He blinked over his thick glasses, looking up and hesitating, "Uh. no. I mean, I was going to. Just thought I'd get…"
"It’s lunch time, not work time," I interrupted gently but firmly. "Come eat with me."
He hesitated. I could see the panic flicker in his eyes. Somewhere deep down, he knew this wasn’t just a normal lunch. But he had no excuse to say no.
He nodded stiffly. "Okay. Sure."
We went down to the small cafeteria. It was empty, everyone had dined out. I took a corner booth and sat across from him, watching as he spun his spoon in circles.
"So," I began casually, tearing open a napkin, "what do you do after work?"
He blinked. "Huh?"
"Come on, I know you heard me. What do you do after work hours? Do you have any hobbies? Freelance? Second job?"
He fidgeted in his seat. "Uh… well, yeah. I do some IT stuff for clients. You know, maintaining small websites and systems. Pays the bills."
"Any underground activities?" I interrupted him with a sharp look.
His eyes widened. "No! No, never. I just…"
I reached deep into my bag and shoved my phone down the table.
I played the clip and watched face turned white.
There it was, his shape, suspended in action, staring into the camera, then receding from sight. Unmasked. Unmistakable. I gave a satisfied smile as I watched his shock.
He tried to stand. "If you dare," I said casually, "just know there's security at every door, waiting."
He froze, lips trembling. But he said nothing.
"Sit down."
He sat. His hands were trembling now. Sweat beads gathered on his forehead. He looked as if he would vomit any second.
"Who is your boss?" I asked coldly.
He didn't say anything.
"I know the answer. I just want you to say it."
Finally, he swallowed hard and breathed softly, "Dominic."
I sighed.
"Why?"
His voice cracked. "I… I needed extra cash. My sister, she's in university. Dominic offered her a scholarship. Said all I had to do was… help him get access. Just a little." He retched. "He made it sound pure."
"Tampering with video? Stalking me? Does that sound pure to you?"
He remained silent. I moved in closer, my tone falling.
"Here's what's going to happen, Mason. You're going to act like this meeting never happened. You're going to continue working for Dominic, continuing to feed him whatever he needs but every move he makes, you report directly to me. Every call. Every file. Every whisper. Do you understand?"
He was pale with terror.
"If you don't… this discussion has already been recorded. I'll have you arrested for corporate spying and breaking into secure company documents. I also have a court case with your boss, do you want to be tagged an accompalice to his crimes?”
He said nothing.
“I thought so. If you mess up,you'll be behind bars in no time, Mason. And your sister? She'll lose the scholarship, and her brother."
His mouth dropped wide in shock. "You… you recorded me?"
"Every word."
There was silence. Then he slightly nod. A slow, broken, embarrassed nod.
"I'll do it," he whispered. "I'll report to you. I swear."
I sat back, pleased. "Good. Now go."
He didn’t need to be told twice. He scurried off like a frightened rabbit.
I pulled out my phone and called Stanley.
"He obliged?" he asked.
"Easier than I expected."
"Dominic won’t know what hit him."
I smiled. "This just got more interesting."
We were done playing defense. Now it was our turn to strike.