Chapter 4 - Darkness and Deception
The sudden plunge into darkness was accompanied by the heavy, mechanical hum of the backup generator spooling up in the basement, casting long, erratic shadows across the walls as the emergency lights blinked red. In the dim crimson glow, Elena’s silhouette was rigid, her breathing shallow and ragged.
"Stay where you are," Richard commanded, his hand dropping instinctively toward his jacket pocket where he kept his keys and penknife.
"She cut the breaker," Elena muttered, her voice trembling slightly. "Clara did this. She’s trying to destroy the drive in the confusion."
"I didn't touch anything!" Clara yelled, her voice echoing in the confined space of the hallway. "The breaker box is in the utility room down the hall, I've been standing right here with you!"
Richard pulled out his phone, flicking on the flashlight feature. The bright LED beam cut through the red emergency glow, illuminating the console table. The silver laptop was still there, but the screen was now black, displaying a single line of flashing white text: Data transfer complete. File deleted.
Clara gasped, dropping to her knees with a soft thud. "No. No, no, no. I backed it up three times. How is that possible?"
Richard crouched beside her, shining the light on the keyboard. A small, black USB device protruded from the side port—a device that hadn't been there when Clara placed the laptop on the table. He reached out with two fingers, pinched the edge of the tiny drive, and pulled it free.
"Whose is this?" Richard asked, holding up the micro-drive in the beam of light.
Elena stepped out of the shadows, her eyes fixed on the tiny piece of plastic with an expression of pure horror. "I don't know what that is. It’s a trick. She’s framing me, Richard, can't you see that?"
"This drive is encrypted with military-grade software, Elena," Richard said, standing up slowly to tower over his wife. "The same software the firm uses for our highest-security offshore holdings. The same software that only three people in this house have the administrative password for."
Clara looked up from the floor, wiping a tear from her bruised cheek with the back of her sleeve. "Mom didn't use her own computer, Dad. She used the desktop in the study. The one with the biometric lock."
Richard’s eyes narrowed further. "Biometric lock. Which means only your fingerprint or mine can access it." He turned slowly to face Elena. "Or someone who duplicated my fingerprint using the silicone molds from my golf trophies."
Elena staggered back against the wall, her hands flying to her mouth to stifle a cry. "You're insane. You're both insane. I'm calling the police."
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"Go ahead," Richard said, tossing the micro-drive into his palm with a heavy, deliberate rhythm. "Let's see who they arrest when I show them the security footage of you planting that bag in Clara's bedroom at three o'clock this morning."
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