At that moment, James' lips trembled slightly, and his breath became uneven. His hands were shaking as he stared into the empty safe. The words that came out of his mouth were slow and broken, like a man trying to convince himself of a reality that made no sense.
"What... what is going on?" he muttered, his voice almost a whisper. "I clearly remember... I kept it here. Right here. Where... where did it go?"
His eyes darted around the safe, as if hoping the flash drive might magically appear in a corner he had somehow missed. But the truth was staring him back cold and undeniable.
Emily, standing right behind him, felt a chill run down her spine. Her brows furrowed, and her voice dropped to a careful tone as she asked, "Wait… are you sure you actually kept it here? Like, completely sure? Could it have been somewhere else? Maybe another safe? Another drawer?"
