The insider
390 Words
The empty vault at Lancaster Holdings felt like a wound.
Years of secrets, contracts, and private records had vanished overnight.
Oliver stood in the middle of the room, staring at the open shelves.
"They knew exactly what they were looking for."
Marcus checked the security logs.
"Whoever accessed the vault had a master clearance code."
Oliver looked at him.
"How many people have that level of access?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Only five."
A heavy silence followed.
The same number as the Phoenix Council.
---
Back at the Lancaster estate, Oliver gathered everyone in the private study.
Tracy placed the chess diagram on the table.
"The Golden Pawn is the insider," she said. "Someone close enough to know everything."
Inspector Reed studied the list.
"Someone who can move between the company, the family, and the investigations."
Marcus looked at Oliver.
"That narrows the possibilities."
Oliver's expression hardened.
"We need proof, not guesses."
Suddenly, the old security system activated.
A message appeared on the screen.
INCOMING VIDEO TRANSMISSION
Everyone froze.
Oliver pressed play.
A figure wearing a golden mask appeared.
"The Golden Pawn sends greetings."
The voice was distorted.
"You've spent too long searching for enemies outside your circle."
The figure leaned closer.
"Your mistake was believing loyalty and betrayal look different."
Tracy stepped closer to the screen.
"Who are you?"
The masked figure laughed softly.
"You'll know soon enough."
The video changed.
A file appeared.
LANCASTER FAMILY HISTORY – ORIGINAL RECORDS
Oliver opened it.
Inside were documents from decades ago.
Birth records.
Financial agreements.
Secret contracts.
Then one file caught everyone's attention.
PROJECT PHOENIX – FOUNDING MEMBERS
Marcus opened it.
Five names appeared.
Four were blurred.
One was visible.
Everyone stared.
Because the first name belonged to someone they trusted.
Oliver Lancaster.
The room went silent.
Tracy looked at Oliver in shock.
"No..."
Oliver stepped back.
"I've never seen that file before."
Inspector Reed immediately noticed something.
"Look at the date."
Marcus zoomed in.
The document had been created before Oliver was even born.
A trap.
Someone was trying to make it appear that Oliver was connected to Phoenix from the beginning.
Then another message appeared on the screen.
THE FIRST PERSON YOU TRUSTED WILL BE THE FIRST PERSON YOU LOSE.
The lights in the study suddenly went out.
When the emergency lights turned on, Tracy's chair was empty.
She was gone.
- Writer
