Knox had a new mission. He'd been asked to infiltrate their surveillance system for any footage or clips that could provide hints on Daniil's whereabouts on the nights of the murders. To do this, he of course had to weasel his way into the one room with restricted access. A ton bore the title – "Security personnel" – but only a measure were allowed free access to the surveillance room. Unfortunately, he was one of the "ton".
It was quite challenging breaking through the rooms with restricted access because of the CCTVs swarming around every corner of the house. Almost impossible to slip through their notice. However, it was "almost," and not impossible. He'd already accepted the challenge and could not revert now. Besides, this was going to be the exciting part of it all.
But Jason. He remained an obstacle. How was he going to get through that? As long as he was there, no excuse would suffice.
"Isn't the newbie a little serious here?" A voice snapped him back to reality, followed by the feeling of his neck getting squeezed within someone's arm.
A chuckle pulled his attention to his other roomie still lying in bed and staring at them. "What do you expect? Dude had to be on his toes to prevent all hell from letting loose," he chirped in casually.
"Are you replacing Jason?" he heard close to his ears and tilted his neck to the guy whose arm was still wrapped around him. "You've been the one driving him lately."
"Ummm…" he didn't know how best to answer to that. He'd been the one driving Daniil lately, but for some reason he wasn't aware of.
"That reminds me, where's Jason? I didn't see him at dinner last night." The one closest to him trailed him off, turning his gaze away.
"Where else? Prolly dining and rocking some girls at the club," Jonas answered.
"Aahh!" he exclaimed in envy. It pays to be the boss's favorite," he concluded, releasing Knox and strolling to his bedside."
"Guess he's not having breakfast with us then." Knox heard breezily when he returned to getting ready for the day and immediately swerved his attention to them.
"He's…not… yet returned?" he asked, breaking his voice intentionally so as not to seem unusually enthusiastic.
"No, why?" Jonas affirmed.
"Jason's a fun addict. He's prolly not done having his fun," the other guy mumbled in the background to himself with a huff.
"Oh…" was all Knox uttered blankly. Definitely not in a way that matched the excitement already building castles in his stomach. Guess the universe was also on his side this morning.
He picked up the pace so he could finish a lot earlier and still be on time to escort Daniil out.
"All the best!" The duo echoed heartily as he walked out, all set.
There was the usual silence in the hallway as he trotted to the surveillance room. He kept tilting his head in multiple directions and darting his eyes, cautiously on the lookout. If he eventually ran into someone though, then he'd prepared the perfect excuse.
On getting to the door, he halted for a little while to survey the area one last time. Creaking open, he grimaced on impulse at the slight sound produced, with lips pressed in a thin line. Thankfully, the first hurdle was crossed without hassles.
Now covering the least distance he could, with his legs still planted and his hand glued to the doorknob, his eyes roved around the ceiling, particularly at the cameras spying on him. Putting up a canny font he proceeded to the second door, his shoulders falling an inch in a bid to appear less leery to whoever may have been watching him right now.
And… He got through.
All clear, he could finally breathe.
Three PCs and he had to go through them all with minimal time at his fingertips. With a sense of urgency, he rounded Jason's table, randomly choosing the first computer facing the entrance. Bent over, his readiness to start guessing his password was made evident in his eyes. But that look slipped off; he winced, splaying his lips slightly apart in awe. The system wasn't passworded, so much for a computer with easy access. Displayed on the monitor were files he couldn't go through individually. To hasten things up, he'd brought a flash drive beforehand. Sticking it in, he copied all the files onto it. He repeated the same action for the other computers behind, and now it was time to leave.
Getting to this point without being busted could be considered a success. But of course, it was too early to be relieved. He still had to get out. Tucking the tiny device into his back pocket, he adjusted his hair and necktie before making his way to the door. Heaving a sigh, he warily pulled it open, paving the way to a sight that hauled out all the air in his lungs.
'What the hell was he doing here?!' the shock that immediately intruded his eyes bawled.
He impulsively clenched his pants, biting his lips together and darting his eyes nervously as the brain-tussle for an excuse he prepared all morning got fiercer by the second as an awkward silence ensued afterward. Every idea that loomed in his head vanished into thin air, leaving his head blank.
"Is there a problem?" Jason asked, breaking the silence.
That's right. Was there a problem? It was not like he was caught in the act or anything. So why was he acting like someone with stolen goods?
"You good?" Jason posed again, automatically reminding him that his response was yet to come.
"You're surprised to see me, right?" A playful smile formed on Jason's lips.
Now Knox couldn't help the confused state he found himself in. Was Jason just clueless or was there more to his goofy side? He just defaulted and he feigned cluelessness to it.
"You just defaulted though," he finally pointed as though he could hear his colleague's thoughts.
"I just wanted to see if you were here," Knox lied expressly with his head lowered slightly, buying the idea Jason put in his head. Strange. Instead of lashing out, he came up with excuses on his behalf.
"I guess," Jason muttered with brows raised slightly above studying eyes, tilting his head a little to the side.
"The boss calls for you though. I'm beat and you have to drive him today." He brushed off the uneasy air oozing from his scrutinizing eyes, getting back to his usual quirky self.
"Sure." Knox nodded, a stiff smile making an appearance on his lips.
"Go on," Knox urged when Knox wouldn't budge. Reluctantly, Knox walked past.
"I'll make sure to keep my lips sealed."
He heard the comment that prompted him to halt and turn back around. But he was only met with a door being shut close, and Jason was no longer in sight.