Mathieu rings the doorbell about fifteen minutes later, carrying a large bag. I quickly bring him upstairs.
“What’s going on? You freaked me out being so mysterious on the phone!”
He sets down his gear. When he sees the safe and the moved dresser, he frowns.
“Don’t tell me you made me come here to crack Alexander’s safe in his own house? I know you’re bold, but seriously?”
“Fine, I won’t say it. Just do it.”
He widens his eyes.
“Inara! Are you insane? Put everything back before he shows up and kills us both!”
“Not a chance.”
Of course, Mathieu hesitates and gives me every excuse in the book-
I’m crazy, we’ll get caught, Alexander will destroy us…
But I know how to get to him.
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“This safe is too hard for you, huh? You struggle with real challenges. You’re used to opening mailboxes. Maybe I should call a pro.”
He looks offended.
“I know what you’re doing, and it’s not going to work! Nothing is worth getting killed over!”
“Quit whining and open the damn thing. The faster we do this, the faster we leave. He’ll never know we were here. You’re already involved–you might as well go through with it.”
He glares at me. I smile, amused by how frustrated he is.
“I hate you so much, Inarať
Inara
He grabs his bag, pulls out his tools, and starts cracking the safe. I can’t hide my excitement.
I knew he’d give in.
“Alexander’s going to cut my fingers off and I’ll never touch a computer again!”
“You’re overreacting.”
Ten long minutes later, Mathieu signals that he’s done. I move closer to the slightly open safe–but we can’t yet see what’s inside.
I turn to Mathieu.
“You should go. If Alexander shows up, it’s better he doesn’t know you were involved.”
“I’ve been involved since the moment I came here. Either you close it and we both leave, or you open it and we face the consequences together.”
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It’s too late to back down. Time for answers–even if they hurt.
I spot bundles of cash, a small black suitcase, and several files that look a few years old.
I grab the suitcase first. It contains several weapons, currency in dinars and dollars, and multiple passports.
Topen one. It’s Alexander’s face–but the name isn’t “Alexander Graves.” It’s “Said Al Issad.”
“He’s prepared,” Mathieu says.
“A little too prepared,” I reply.
I grab one of the files and a familiar sheet inside.
It’s the complete map of the prison where Alexander was held. It’s covered in scribbles and notes.
Mathieu looks surprised.
“How’d he get that? Only the guards had copies.”
“Alexander is resourceful.”
I glance over the map, then put it aside. A notebook catches my attention.
It’s an old, dusty, navy blue journal labeled “B.K.” I flip through it.
Looks like a prison log–but the handwriting doesn’t match Alexander’s.
And it spans about two years. Alexander wasn’t in prison that long.
This journal must belong to someone close to him–someone important.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be hidden in his safe.
I want to read it–but there’s no time, even though I feel like it could reveal a lot.
The writer recorded every emotion, every event during their time in prison.
Why does Alexander have it? What does it mean to him? Who does it belong to?
What’s their relationship to Alexander? Why doesn’t the owner have it?
I set the journal aside.
There are more files underneath. I grab them and count–five total, each labeled with a different letter: “Y“, “H“, “S“, “K“, and “N.”
What do these letters stand for? Why all the secrecy?
The first one I pick up is marked “K.”
I open it–and my eyes widen.
Inside is a photo of a man–my father.
A for Khalid.
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“What the hell is this?”
It’s a detailed file about my father–possibly more information than I’ve ever known in my life.
“Why does Alexander have à file on your dad? This smells really bad.”
“You’re telling me.”
Alexander has been spying on my father for years.
Yet at our first meeting, he acted like he couldn’t care less about him.
Some of the info in this file is only a few weeks old–details Alexander got thanks to me.
My brain clicks.
Since our first meeting, I’ve been manipulated. Alexander has been using me to get to my father.
Khalid was right when he said Alexander was using me as a tool.
I was too blinded by hatred to see it.
Alexander took advantage of that weakness to play the hero-
To make me grateful, make me trust him, make me his little puppet.
Every word, every gesture–carefully calculated.
I tremble with rage as I spot a photo of myself, smiling, tucked at the back of the file.
He played me.
I feel humiliated. Pathetic.
Ashamed I ever believed him.
I’m so overwhelmed with anger I don’t even bother looking at the other files-
Even though I still don’t have all the answers.
“Inara?”
I don’t respond.
I’m staring at that photo–it’s at least two years old.
Maria had that picture.
That bastard must’ve taken it from her without her knowing.
“I’m going to kill him with my own hands.”
“The reading going well?” a voice says. “I see I’m interrupting your little snooping session…”
I hesitate before lifting my head. That familiar voice–the one I wish more than anything to silence forever. I secretly hope I’m
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hallucinating, but I’m not.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to touch what doesn’t belong to you?”
I lift my head toward the doorway. That idiot is leaning against it, hands in his pockets, watching us.
He just caught us red–handed, but acts like it’s nothing.
Alexander.
His face is expressionless, as if he had anticipated I would open his safe, that I would find his documents and be surprised. He doesn’t seem angry or frustrated.
I keep holding the photo between my fingers in silence. All I can do is stare at him, trying to read his soul and mindset, but as usual,
he’s a closed book.
I must be in the same state as him because no hint of anger, disappointment, or sadness appears on my face.
Mathieu stands in front of me, as if to shield me from a potential attack. Alexander raises his eyebrows.
“How could you betray me, Mathieu? I thought you were a man worthy of my trust–but I was wrong. The moment it’s about your precious Inara, you’re willing to do anything.”
Mathieu clenches his fists.
“How could you betray her, when she trusted you? She told me not to work for you. I did it because I thought you had a good heart and I could believe in you!”
“Looks like we’re both disappointed. That gives us something in common.”
Alexander gives him an arrogant smirk.
I’m surprised by how aggressive Mathieu is in defending me. He doesn’t seem afraid–or rather, he refuses to be ruled by fear.
“I don’t know anything about your secrets, or why you’re hiding those files, or how important they are! What I do know is that you played Inara while she trusted you!
No secret, no treasure, no file is worth Inara, you hear me? I won’t let anyone hurt her–especially not a man who uses an innocent woman to get what he wants!”
I’m moved by what Mathieu just said–his sincerity is overwhelming. No one has ever defended me like that, especially not knowing he could get killed for it.
The world needs more people like him. He’s doing everything to save my dignity, even in front of Alexander. I’m so overwhelmed I can’t get a word out.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, I suggest you leave now and let me speak with Inara alone.”
I can tell from Alexander’s voice that he’s barely restraining himself from grabbing Mathieu by the throat and making him pay for his disrespect.
Mathieu steps toward Alexander with a threatening stride, glaring at him like he’s ready to jump on him.
I quickly move between them and place both hands on my friend’s chest to stop him from going any further.
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“Mathieu, calm down. He’s not worth it. Leave me with him, please.”
“I trust you–but not him.”
“Focus on the trust you have in me and let me handle this. You know I can.”
He hesitates. He seems to struggle internally as I give him a reassuring smile. He finally exhales and picks up his bag with all his gear inside.
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AD
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Chapter 94
Chapter 94
