Chapter 5 - The Black Drive
Khloe didn’t blink.
“You have a safe?”
Richard studied her.
Then laughed.
“Very funny.”
He walked behind the desk.
Khloe kept her voice light.
“You’re acting strange.”
“So are you.”
“I’m eight months pregnant.”
“Seven.”
She stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re seven months.”
“No, Richard. I’m thirty-two weeks.”
His face tightened.
Khloe felt something break inside her.
He didn’t even know how far along she was.
But he knew Vanessa’s birthday well enough to use it as a safe code.
Richard picked up his briefcase.
“I came back for this.”
“Great.”
“Khloe.”
“Yes?”
“Stay out of my office.”
Her eyes hardened.
“Then stop putting my name on documents I’ve never seen.”
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Richard froze.
Too late.
“What documents?”
Khloe forced a laugh.
“Mortgage documents. Tax stuff. Whatever you keep leaving around.”
He walked closer.
“Who have you been talking to?”
“No one.”
“Harrison?”
“He’s my brother.”
“Answer me.”
Khloe’s hand went instinctively to her belly.
Richard noticed.
His expression changed.
Not guilt.
Calculation.
Then the doorbell rang.
Richard stepped away.
Khloe breathed again.
The visitor was Vanessa.
Of course it was.
She walked into the house wearing a white coat and a smile.
“Richard, sorry. I need the Crestmont samples approved.”
Her eyes landed on Khloe.
“Oh. Hi.”
Khloe smiled.
“Vanessa.”
Richard looked between them.
“You two have met?”
“Once,” Vanessa said quickly.
Khloe nodded.
“At the hospital fundraiser.”
Vanessa’s gaze dropped to Khloe’s stomach.
“How exciting. Not long now.”
Khloe wanted to claw the smile off her face.
Instead she said, “You would know.”
Vanessa’s expression flickered.
Richard cut in.
“Let’s work in the library.”
Khloe watched them disappear.
Then she went upstairs.
Inside her bra, taped beneath the lining, was the black flash drive.
She had switched it with an empty one before Richard entered.
Twenty minutes later, she emailed Harrison.
I have it.
His reply arrived seconds later.
Do not plug it into anything.
That evening, Harrison’s forensic team opened the drive on an isolated machine.
The first folder contained contracts.
The second contained bank records.
The third was labeled:
RIVERSIDE.
Harrison clicked.
Photos.
Inspection reports.
Emails.
Then one audio file.
Richard’s voice filled the room.
“If the steel fails after inspection, it’s their problem.”
Another man answered.
“People could die.”
Richard laughed.
“Then make sure the insurance is paid.”
Khloe covered her mouth.
Harrison stopped the recording.
Nobody spoke.
Then Marcus pointed at another file.
“What’s that?”
May you like
A folder named:
KHLOE_EXIT.
