Unlocked.
I’m used to moving through the house without drawing much attention, but I’ve never snuck into his office alone before. I might’ve listened in on a conversation from this side of the closed door, but that’s as far as I have gone.
Slipping inside, I close the door behind me.
It’s dark inside the office, just shapes and shadows, so I take slow, careful steps towards where I know the desk to be.
My thighs bump lightly into the hard wood, and I feel my way around the desk.
Finding the desk lamp, I wince at the dull light that seems brighter than it should be. Although, it might be more from my paranoia than the actual light itself.
My gaze flits to the door before turning my attention back to the desk.
Opening the top drawer, I search for something sharp enough for what I want—anything I can use.
There has to be something here.
My hands shake more with each drawer I try, desperation clouding my scattered mind.
Tears pool in the corners of my eyes as my throat tries to close over.
Why isn’t there something here?
Closing the last drawer, I feel myself breaking—the last pieces of me falling apart and succumbing to black nothing.
Barely hanging on, I’ve nearly given up hope when a gleam of silver catches my eye.
Reaching out a shaky hand, I fumble through the pens in their holder until I feel the cool metal against my skin. Then, pulling out the long, slim letter opener, I roll it in my hand, letting out a heavy sigh of relief.
Clutching the letter opener, I’m about to turn off the lamp when a file on the desk steals my attention.
Colton Reed.
The name on the tab piques my interest, remembering the piece of conversation I heard earlier.
I need to go. I have what I need, except I still find myself reaching for the file and flipping it open.
A picture of a man is clipped to the first page, the same man who’d been with the woman and younger man. I skim through the bits of information listed, flipping through the pages, but then my breath catches in my throat.
Another photo is clipped into the file—a photo of the man I haven’t been able to get out of my head all night.
Sebastian Reed.
There’s not a lot of information on him, more like it’s just another part of the information on Colton Reed, but I read every word regardless.
Master’s Degree in Business. Works for Reed Shipping International.
Adopted son of Colton and Elena Reed.
The shared name indicated they were related, but this confirms my theory from earlier in the night.
Why were they here?
It doesn’t matter.
Nothing matters anymore.
A tattered sigh leaves me, and I close the file, but at the last second and for reasons unknown, I steal the photo of the man I had wanted desperately toseeme.