BEHIND THE MASK

Eyes In The Dark.

And that was what I hated. They never ever had guilt on their faces.

It was something I noted the moment the purges began.

You'd suspect that a traitor would break a sweat the moment you stared them down. Or that they'd look away the moment you locked eyes with them. Or that they'd maybe stammer or fidget.... something to point them out. But they don't.

Rather, they grin at you. They served you, greeted you by name, helped you pull out your chair and even offered coffee.

They just somehow managed to blend in so well. And that's it. Exactly what makes them dangerous.

I'd made Quinn compile a list of names....of the people who had the tiniest bit of access to our internal archives, encrypted data and project schedule. After doing a very detailed investigation, I'd narrowed them down to 15 names. And then I bit it down to seven and finally three.

One name kept ranking number one even after the personal interviews.

Sasha Ng.

Apparently, she's an intern who got recruited a couple of months back. She's a very quiet person and from the legal department, too.

Just too perfect.

Since I wasn't finding anything solid, I proceeded to install cameras in her department. I monitored the email traffic closely and even went as far as planting some fake documents that I coded with tracers.

Two days later, one of the files was accessed from her login.

Bingo, I know. But that's where the confusion set in. The tracer led nowhere.

The main file disappeared.

With zero upload logs, no single device footprint..... Just vanished.

Gone.

Ghosted.

And I just couldn't help but feel like she knew that we had eyes on her.

★

"I told you, didn't I? That girl's a dead end," Quinn spoke from behind me as I stared into the office monitors.

"She fucking had access to the decoy file."

"Well, yeah. But then so did all the other three. Besides, she's never even worked in finance before. There's no way she'd have a clue what the file meant."

I loved how Quinn underestimated people.

"And it's exactly why she wouldn't hesitate to open it. Because she wouldn't be suspected, "I mumbled.

He sighed tiredly. "You're convinced she's the mole?"

"No, not really. I just think that she's being used....and I have a hunch who the main bastard is."

★

"I need a new assistant," I told Quinn, sighing tiredly.

"Oh?" he frowned. "But you already have a....."

"New, Quinn. That's the key point. I need someone new. A complete stranger," I spoke with a wave of my hand.

"But why?" he looked hesitant. Of course, because it's how our family worked. We didn't let old staff go except there's a solid reason.

"Because I need someone who's yet to pick a side. Someone who wouldn't betray me easily."

"What if they do?"

"They won't. Just trust me, "I spoke convincingly.

"Alrighty then, if you say so. I'll get back to you with a list of names," he spoke and headed out.

★

Quinn was just too competent for his good. Anyway, I got a list of names a few hours later.

About six names. All thoroughly vetted and off-grid.

I skimmed through their profile boringly. Most of them were dull, probably easy to sway.

But then I saw it.

Her. Her name's April Dawn.

Age 20. Graduated early due to nerdish attributes, a minor in digital forensics and has zero social presence. Obviously has no agenda.

A nobody who led a very quiet life.

Perfect. Just what I needed.

I tapped on the name.

"She's the one."

Quinn looked at the person I chose and scratched the back of his head. "Errr... You're sure?"

"I'm sure. Something tells me I'm going to be grateful for picking her."

He sighed but nodded nonetheless. I had a feeling he'd take off if he saw the opportunity to. Poor Quinn.

★

It was a new day, and it started with the sound of heels.

Click. Click. Click

It sounded too fast. Way off rhythm, and one foot dragging.

Someone was running, and I stepped into the lobby just as the elevator doors slid open.

With her phone pressed to one ear, a — is that a security badge?— Paper coffee tray precariously wobbling between her elbow and chest, a lady bolted, heading for the reception desk like her life depended on it.

She probably never saw me, because one minute I was standing, every piece of clothing clean, and the next minute..... CRASH!!

The impact hit almost instantly, as I felt warmth soak through my shirt. Then the sharp sting that came from the heat. The sticky liquid ran down my stomach.

The lady's eyes snapped up.

Wild hazel eyes. Apologies swam in them. She looked genuinely terrified.

"Oh my....fuck. I'm so sorry, I swear I didn't see you. I'd been carried away with trying to call the front desk but they didn't answer and the line back at the Black Bean was just so stupidly long, I was just...."

She stopped rambling. Because the whole lobby had frozen.

Dozens of eyes were on her as if she were some lamp that'd just walked itself straight into the slaughterhouse.

Not even a single person moved to help her.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?"one of the guards around whispered to her, and she stared at me, her eyes flicking from the dripping stain on my shirt to my masked face.

I still hadn't said anything. I just stared at her.

"I..." She opened her mouth to speak, panic now on her face. "I can pay for the shirt."

Interesting. But I said nothing.

And it looked like my silence made her panic deepen, because by now her lips were trembling. Her face was flushed, and her big, wild eyes only got larger.

One more second and she was going to cry.

"Miss Dawn?"

We both turned around to see Quinn standing by the receptionist's desk, holding a clipboard.

"Uh...yes?" she blinked nervously.

"You're the new assistant, no?"

She blinked a couple more times, and I lost count. "Err...I....I guess so?"

He hummed, nodding. He seemed completely unfazed by the unfolding scene.

"Come with me. Mr Hale's waiting."

She gasped, her hand flying over her mouth.

"That's....that's you, right?" she asked in a whisper.