Chapter 2: Shadows of Suspicion

Frank stared at the report, the fluorescent light catching the edges of the crisp paper. His mind raced with possibilities—had Richardson really betrayed everything he’d fought for, or was there something deeper at play?

He pictured Richardson’s military medals glinting in the morning sun, the stories he’d told in the break room about the war, the way he always remembered every worker’s name. The thought of confronting him made Frank’s stomach twist.

Frank’s team gathered outside the Security Office, the hallway buzzing with nervous energy. Someone cracked a joke about government chairs being harder than a soldier’s cot, but nobody laughed. The tension was suffocating.

Frank took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the nation’s secrets pressing down on his shoulders. If he made the wrong move, he could destroy an innocent man—or let a traitor walk free.

The clock ticked on, each second amplifying the pressure. Somewhere in the plant, the thief might still be lurking, watching, waiting for their next move.

Frank stood, straightened his tie, and called for Richardson to be brought in. The night was far from over, and the hunt for the truth had only just begun.