The Homnd Security agents didn''t even spare Reese a nce. They walked straight up to L.
"L, we received a report that you''re involved in stealing and leaking ssified information. Pleasee with us."
L''s eyes went wide in shock. She started struggling, her voice rising to a desperate scream. "You''ve got the wrong person! It''s not me! It''s Reese! She''s the one you want!"
The lead agent''s face didn''t budge. He calmly pulled a stack of printed documents from his briefcase and held them out for her to see.
"This is the activity log fromst night at 10:17 PM. You used tampering software to alter the R&D department''s security records.
“And here''s footage from the backup camera in the hallway. It caught you sneaking into Reese''s office."
The timestamps and details were all clear as day. The camera had caught every move L made.
Her face turned chalk white. Her fingers shook as she clutched at the edge of her blouse, still trying to defend herself. "This is fake! I don''t even know how to use that kind of software!"
Reese cut her off, cold and sharp. "Oh, really?"
Everyone turned to look at Reese. Some were curious, but most just looked confused and wary.
Reese shared a quick, knowing look with Matthew. Thank God they''d suspected L early on and set everything up in advance.
She took the tablet from one of the agents, her voice firm and icy. "So what about the messages on your phone, L? The ones with that international number-are those fake, too?"
Reese tapped the screen, and the messages showed up for everyone to see. [Data sent. When will you arrange for me to leave the country?]
[Rx. As soon as the job''s done, you''ll get your visa.]
Even the USB drive L had used to copy the files had the exact same serial number as the one she''d pulled from her own pocket that morning.
With evidence stacked up so high, the whole office exploded.
"I can''t believe it really was L! She acted so innocent and tried to pin it all on Reese!"
"That''s disgusting. She was willing to betray thepany, just to get out of the country? That project is a matter of national security!"
"No wonder she kept going after Reese-she was scared Reese would ruin her ns!"
"Reese, I''m sorry! Please, help me!"
L crumpled to the floor, staring at
the proof in Reese''s hands. She
knew there was no way out now,
sko dung to thest bit of
hope-Reese''s mercy.
"It was just a stupid mistake. Reese, you''re respected here! Please, talk to them,
just this one time. Ask them to let me go!"
She crawled forward, reaching for Reese''s leg, but Matthew stepped in, blocking her and pushing her away.
Reese''s voice was ice-cold. "You
leaked the core data for de, which
is tied
Ito national security My Words
can''t change what you''ve done."
She looked straight at L, her eyes empty of any sympathy. "You should have
thought about the consequences before you did any of this."
She turned to the agents. "Officer, please handle her ording to thew."
The agents nodded and signaled for L to be taken away.
As her coworkers whispered and stared, and as Reese''s cold gaze met hers, L felt herst hope shatter. Even after humiliating herself and begging, Reese wasn''t going to help her.
The thought of prison hit her like a punch. Was her life really over?
Then she remembered that mysterious contact who had reached out to her before. Her eyes cleared as shetched onto a new n.
No way. She wasn''t going down alone. That person could still help her; she just needed to get in touch.
Yes. As long as she could reach them...
A flicker of confidence returned. L swallowed hard and shed the agents a shaky smile. "Officer, could I use the restroom?
"Don''t worry, I''m not going to run. You can have someone wait right outside if you want. I just really need to go. I won''t make any trouble."
The agents exchanged a quick look. It wasn''t an unreasonable request, so two female officers followed L into the bathroom.
One of them shot her a warning re. "I''d suggest you don''t try anything stupid."