"We''ve done our research. That man was arrested for espionage three years ago and has already been sent back to his country.


    "And just recently, someone hacked into theputers in yourb. The IP address traces back to inside thepany. Out of everyone on your team, you''re the only one who can operate twoputers at once. We need you toe with us."


    Reese wanted to exin, but she was too panicked to get any words out. All she could do was let them take her away.


    As they passed thepany''s ss doors, she caught the stares of her coworkers. Shock, confusion, and a hint of suspicion-none of them even tried to hide it.


    "Remember how someone said I hadn''t passed the background check and


    shouldn''t be in theb?" L''s voice piped up behind her, gloating. "Looks like somebody was pointing fingers to cover for themselves. Guess they were hoping I''d take the fall."


    Reese didn''t bother looking back. Zach really outdid himself this time.


    All she''d done was use Sebastian''s help to get her mom''s ne back. She never imagined Zach would go this far, framing her like this.


    The interrogation room was cold and blindingly bright.


    Theyid out the same old photos in front of her, along with a stack of phone records.


    "Ms. Meyer, we found three calls between your number and a foreign intelligence agency a few years ago." One investigator slid the call log toward her. "Care to exin?"


    "That was the agency handling my visa. They called to tell me I needed to submit more documents." Reese stared at the dates-it was exactly when she''d been pestering them about her application.


    "But this number is registered to a foreign intelligence organization."


    The agent leaned in, voice serious. "You were involved in the de project. The system you designed is now used by the military. If you leaked any information, the consequences would be severe."


    "I didn''t."


    Reese stared him down, not backing off for a second. "Every academic exchange was filed and recorded. The whole research process was encrypted. I can provide every original file forparison."


    For three days, it was the same back-and-forth.


    They threw Zach''s edited chat logs at her, photos taken from the worst angles, even brought in "witnesses” iming they''d seen her meet privately with a blond


    man.


    Reese''s voice was raw, her eyes bloodshot, but she never gave in.


    She asked them to pull up her old visa paperwork, check the agency''s credentials, even drew the blond man''s work badge from memory, proving he really was just a temp at the visa center.


    "Go ahead.


    You can


    check his work


    record, check my flight history. I never even left the country." She pushed her carefully organized stack of evidence across the table, her


    voice hoarse but steady


    were a


    spy why would I tum down my chance to go abroad? Why would I report the hacking in theb


    myself?"


    Finally, the investigators went quiet, reviewing the documents she''d given them. Everything matched the official records. After a long pause, one of them said, "You''re free to go. If we need anything else, we'' contact you."


    Outside the government building, Reese stood in the sunlight and looked up at


    the sky. For a second, she wanted to cry.


    But there was no time for that. She still needed to go to ckOak, exin


    everything to n and the rest of the team.


    She couldn''t lose her spot on the de project. She definitely couldn''t let


    Dominic''s name get dragged through the mud because of her.


    As soon as she walked back through thepany doors, the once-busy lobby fell quiet.


    Reese paused, then headed straight to n''s office.


    When n saw her, his eyes lit up. "So? They didn''t make things too hard for you, did they?"


    Reese tried for a smile, but it turned out more bitter than anything. It''s just a standard investigation, but the betrayal hadnded right where it hurt the most.


    "They went through it all. None of the evidence proves I was in contact with any foreign agency." She hesitated, then asked, "Mr. Meyer... can Ie back to the team?"


    n sighed. "They are treating this very seriously. They''ve already sent notice; you''re suspended for now." He paused, then added, "But once everything''s cleared up, the de team will wee you back


    Reese nodded. "Alright. I''ll head out first."


    She turned to leave, hand on the door. As she pushed, a jolt of pain shot through


    her palm.


    She looked down and realized her nails had dug into her skin, leaving little streaks of blood.


    Numb, she stepped into the elevator and out the building.


    A ck G-Wagon was parked by the curb. A man in sunsses sat behind the wheel and whistled at her.


    "Reese, how do you like my little gift?"