"Correct."
"And you think the person who sent you the photograph knows?"
Richard looked at her.
"I think whoever sent this wants me to know."
A knock came at the door.
Both of them froze.
Richard closed the security database.
"Come in."
The door opened.
It was Daniel Reeves.
Margaret immediately stiffened.
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Bennett."
Richard studied him.
"Come in."
Daniel stepped inside.
He closed the door behind him.
"I wanted to apologize."
Richard gestured toward the chair.
"Sit."
Daniel sat.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel said, "I handled the situation badly this morning."
Richard shook his head.
"No."
Daniel looked confused.
"I didn't?"
"You followed procedure."
"But I embarrassed you."
"You didn't embarrass me."
Daniel looked down.
"I should have verified your identity."
"Yes."
Daniel nodded.
"I should have checked the system before making assumptions."
"Yes."
"I was wrong."
Richard leaned back.
"Do you know why?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Because I didn't recognize you?"
"Partly."
Richard placed the photograph on the desk.
Daniel's eyes landed on it.
His face changed instantly.
Richard noticed.
So did Margaret.
Daniel stared at the photograph for several seconds.
"Where did you get that?"
Richard said nothing.
Daniel looked up.
"Mr. Bennett, where did you get this?"
"That's my question to you."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"I've never seen that photograph."
"You recognize the man beside you."
Daniel didn't answer.
"Who is he?"
"I don't know."
Richard watched him carefully.
"Are you sure?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why did you look frightened?"
Daniel stood abruptly.
"I need to go."
Richard's voice became firm.
"Sit down."
Daniel froze.
Richard pointed toward the chair.
"Sit."
Slowly, Daniel did.
Margaret watched him.
Richard pushed the photograph closer.
"Daniel, I'm not accusing you of anything."
Daniel looked at him.
"Then what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to understand what happened."
Daniel looked toward the door.
Richard noticed the movement.
"Are you afraid of someone?"
Daniel's eyes returned to him.
"No."
"That's not true."
Daniel swallowed.
"Mr. Bennett..."
Richard waited.
Finally, Daniel whispered,
"I was told not to ask questions."
Margaret's face tightened.
"By whom?"
Daniel looked at Richard.
"I don't know his name."
"Describe him."
"Late forties. Gray hair. Expensive suit. Always carries a black leather folder."
Richard exchanged a glance with Margaret.
"Have you seen him before?"
"Several times."
"Where?"
"Mostly around the loading dock."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Did he have a visitor badge?"
Daniel hesitated.
"No."
Richard's expression hardened.
"Then why did you let him inside?"
"I didn't."
Daniel looked down.
"He was already inside."
The room fell silent.
Richard slowly stood.
"How many times?"
Daniel's voice dropped.
"I don't know."
"Estimate."
"Maybe six."
"Six times?"
"That I personally saw."
Richard walked toward the window.
Below him, the city stretched endlessly beneath the morning haze.
Six times.
An unauthorized man had entered the building.
Someone had altered security clearances.
Someone had placed a photograph on Richard's desk.
Chapter 3
And someone had deliberately arranged for Richard to discover it.
This was no longer a routine security problem.
It was something much bigger.
Richard turned around.
"Daniel."
"Yes, sir?"
"Why did you stop me this morning?"
Daniel looked confused.
"Because you didn't have your badge visible."
"No."
Richard's voice was calm.
"Why did you really stop me?"
Daniel stared at him.
Then he said something that made Margaret's blood run cold.
"Because I was told to watch the executive elevator this morning."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Who told you?"
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know."
"Think carefully."
"I swear."
"Who gave you the instruction?"
Daniel looked toward the closed office door.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Someone called the security desk at 7:45."
"From where?"
"Inside the building."
Richard stared at him.
"What exactly did they say?"
Daniel hesitated.
"They said..."
"What?"
Daniel looked directly at Richard.
"They said an older man would attempt to access the executive floor without authorization."
Margaret slowly covered her mouth.
Richard remained completely still.
"An older man?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"Did they describe me?"
"Not exactly."
"What did they say?"
Daniel's voice trembled slightly.
"They said he would be wearing a brown suit."
Richard looked down at his own clothes.
The brown suit.
The same suit he had chosen that morning.
The room suddenly felt much colder.
Richard turned toward the window again.
Someone had known what he would be wearing before he entered the building.
Someone had expected him to come upstairs.
Someone had arranged for security to stop him.
And whoever that person was...
They had known Richard Bennett's movements before Richard himself had arrived.
Richard slowly picked up the photograph.
His eyes returned to the unknown man standing beside Daniel.
For the first time that morning, the calm expression disappeared from his face.
"This," he said quietly, "is no longer about security."
Margaret looked at him.
"Then what is it about?"
Richard stared at the photograph.
"I don't know yet."
He paused.
"But I'm going to find out."
Outside the office, the elevator doors opened.
Someone stepped onto the executive floor.
And without knocking, that person stopped directly outside Richard Bennett's office.
Waiting.
Listening.
The person standing outside Richard Bennett’s office did not knock.
For nearly ten seconds, there was only silence.
Richard noticed it.
Margaret noticed it too.
Daniel sat rigidly in the chair, his eyes fixed on the closed door.
Richard slowly placed the photograph back on his desk.
“Stay here,” he said.
Margaret nodded.
Richard walked toward the door.
He didn't open it immediately.
Instead, he looked through the narrow glass panel beside the frame.
A man stood in the hallway.
Late forties, perhaps early fifties.
Gray hair.
Dark navy suit.
Black leather folder tucked beneath one arm.
Richard's eyes narrowed.
Daniel had just described him.
The stranger seemed to sense that someone was watching.
He turned his head.
For one brief second, his eyes met Richard's through the glass.
Then he smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
It was the kind of smile that suggested recognition.
Richard opened the door.
“Can I help you?”
The man straightened his jacket.
“Mr. Bennett.”
Richard studied him.
“Do I know you?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know me?”
The man's smile disappeared.
“I've heard quite a lot about you.”
“That's not an answer.”
“No,” the man said calmly. “It isn't.”
Margaret stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The man looked at her.
“Victor Hale.”
Richard waited.
Victor didn't offer a title.
Richard noticed that too.
“Mr. Hale, why are you standing outside my office?”
“I was looking for you.”
“You found me.”
“Yes.”
Victor glanced through the doorway.
His eyes landed on Daniel.
The security officer immediately looked away.
Richard saw the exchange.
“Have you met Daniel before?”
Victor paused.
“Of course.”
Daniel's head lifted.
“You said you didn't know me.”
Victor looked at him.
“I said I didn't know your name.”
Daniel's face tightened.
Richard stepped aside.