"El?" The sound of her name jolted El from her thoughts. It was 7 p.m., and she had two more hours left in her busy Saturday shift.
"Phone call," Steve gestured towards the business phone, mouthing the words "a man" to her.
"On my way," she called, quickly wiping her hands on her black pants.
A man? El was puzzled. Who could it be, and how did they know where she worked? She couldn't recall any acquaintances who would call her at her workplace.
"Hello?" El took the phone from her boss, who headed towards a customer at the counter.
"El, it's me."
Norman? El's heart sank at the sound of his voice. He never called her, especially not at work. There had to be something urgent for him to reach out now.
"You didn't message me back, so I figured you'd be working," Norman explained, as if reading her thoughts.
"What is it?" El's voice trembled with concern.
"V.8.4."
El's heart skipped a beat at the familiar code. "What?"
"There was a woman and her three children. I believe you've seen them before?"
El's blood ran cold. Was it the same woman who had confronted the Mayor at the council meeting? The same three children who were ushered out in tears?
"They were kicked out of the council meeting last night. You've encountered them, haven't you?"
"Yes..." El's voice trailed off as memories flooded her mind.
"Last night, after they were expelled, the woman missed the bus home. The last sighting of them was at the bus stop, walking home. This morning, they were discovered dead in a nearby bush, pale and bearing the same mark on their necks. The local news hasn't reported it, likely due to political reasons and its potential impact on the Mayor."
Norman cleared his throat. "I need you to come to Headquarters again. There's something I must tell you."
El swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. "I'll be there tonight."
The remainder of her shift passed in a blur. Everything and everyone seemed surreal to El. Anyone could just... disappear. That thought consumed her as she bid her boss and the customers goodbye, slumping into the seat of her car.
The drive to the Elite Government Task Force Headquarters felt like an eternity. El didn't even bother turning on the radio; she craved the solitude of silence.
If only I had followed the woman... If only I hadn't pursued the thief. If only I had been more perceptive, made better choices... Regret consumed her thoughts.
El clenched the steering wheel, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She gritted her teeth, refusing to allow herself to cry. She didn't deserve to shed tears. It was the loved ones of the woman and her children who deserved that right. Anger surged through her, directed inward.
How could I have been so foolish?
Finally arriving at Headquarters, El made her way to her usual workstation, each step weighed down by dread.
Norman sat at the desk, but Seth was nowhere to be seen. It struck her as odd.
El took a deep breath, bracing herself for what Norman was about to reveal.
Norman's tone was grim as he spoke, "Sit down, El." He turned the chair towards her. "You're not going to like what I'm about to say."
What? Is he going to fire me?
El complied, attempting to maintain her composure, her face neutral. But she couldn't bring herself to meet Norman's gaze.
Norman sighed. "You've been working with me for a long time, and I trust that you're a professional in everything you do."
Great, El thought bitterly. He's trying to soften the blow.
"You've done tremendous work for me, from infiltrating schemers to apprehending criminals... This place wouldn't be the same without you..."
Just get on with it, Norman. Stop sugarcoating it.
"...but I don't think the same can be said for your friend."
A pause hung in the air.
Huh?
El looked up at Norman, confusion etching her face. "My friend?"
Norman didn't blink, his gaze steady. It suddenly clicked in El's mind.
"Seth?" El shook her head, unable to comprehend. "I don't understand..."
Norman stood up and paced, a sign that he was grappling with a matter of great concern.
"He was at the council meeting with you," he began. "While you pursued the thief, Seth remained at the hall the entire time. You weren't there to witness what he did during that interval."
El nodded, still stunned by the turn of events.
"He called after you, but he didn't follow. Instead, he either chose to remain at the hall like an oblivious bystander or..." Norman's eyes glinted like silver. "...or he chose to ruthlessly hunt down and murder the woman and her children himself."
El's eyes widened in shock. "I can't believe Seth would... He wouldn't hurt a fly!"
"The Chosen," Norman said, his voice filled with conviction. "Why else wouldn't he follow you? Why are the circumstances so coincidental? Same location, same time of death?"
El's head hung low. She had no answer, no defense for her dear friend. But deep down, she couldn't believe Seth capable of such horrors. He was innocent.
Norman sighed once more. "I understand you two are close, but we must be realistic. Perhaps there's a reason why decrypting more information about the Ancient Ones and The Chosen has been so difficult. Perhaps we have a traitor who, if Seth is the one, wouldn't exert their utmost effort to aid us in obtaining crucial data. We can't afford to be complacent."
El locked eyes with Norman, her gaze unwavering. "But Seth has done so much for us! He uncovered the truth about the Ancient Ones and The Chosen! He developed spyware! He's dedicated countless nights to our cause!"
"To cover his tracks," Norman replied with a snort. "If he doesn't want to appear suspicious, he must work for us, gather the information he needs, and eliminate any potential risks. He might even be leading us astray. We wouldn't know."
El shook her head, anger flaring within her. "That's just your theory."
"You can believe what you like," Norman said, his tone cool. "But don't come crying to me when he plunges a knife into your chest and leaves his mark on your neck."
"Seth would never do that!" El paused, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Am I a traitor too?"
Norman blinked at her, then laughed, a cold, humorless laugh. "If you were, you've certainly done a remarkable job of concealing it. Look, there are reasons why I suspect Seth isn't genuine. You should consider them as well. Tell me, why didn't he come after you?"
"Because..." El racked her brain, searching for an explanation. She had none.
"If we have no reason to trust him, let's start with doubt. We don't need to point fingers just yet, but we can employ a tool to uncover the truth."
He reached into his shirt pocket and retrieved a small object,placing it in El's hand. She examined it closely. It resembled a microchip, transparent and thin like a sticker. Recognition dawned on her.
"Spyware360?" she uttered, recognizing the latest creation by Seth.
"Yes," Norman confirmed. "This is the most advanced version yet, undetectable to the wearer. Just swipe it onto his skin, and it will dissolve into his bloodstream, completely unnoticed. He won't suspect a thing."
Norman showed El the actions on the computer screen, explaining its functionality.
"Once activated from the central system here, the spyware's functions can be synced with your phone or device using our system app," he demonstrated on his own phone. "You'll be able to see his surroundings through the spyware, and even track his location via GPS."
El stared at the spyware in her hand, her mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. It had been awkward between her and Seth since his confession of feelings, and their friendship had never fully recovered. The purity they once shared was lost.
But perhaps this spyware could provide answers, prove Seth's innocence, and finally convince Norman to let go of this unfounded suspicion.
"Alright, I'll do it," El acquiesced, determination glimmering in her eyes. Norman's surprise and delight were evident.
"Excellent," he smiled, almost genuinely. "Let me know when it's implanted, and I'll activate it immediately." As he turned to leave, he added, "I appreciate your cooperation."
"Don't mention it," El muttered under her breath, though he had already departed.
After stepping out of the shower, El's phone buzzed, signaling a new message. It was from Seth.
As she dried her hair with one hand, she read his message: "Wanna go watch Kem Blade 2mor night?"
El realized she hadn't even realized a new movie was out. She hesitated at the thought of casually, yet not-so-casually, going on a date with Seth. But she remembered Norman's words. Could this be the opportunity?
After a few minutes of contemplation, she typed her response: "Love to." And as she continued drying her hair, the weight of uncertainty settled upon her.