Murphy’s friend.”
“You have a great memory.”
“I’m old. Not stupid,” Nova said. “We’re closed, you know? Forget something, did you?”
“I need to get in my office, Nova. Jack said you would help me.”
At the mention of Murphy’s name the old man became cooperative. “Well, I guess it won’t do no harm.” He unlocked the door and pushed it just wide enough for her to step through.
“I got a master key,” Nova said. “Do you need your office unlocked, too?”
Moira held up her key, thanked him, and he shuffled off into the gloom. Once she reached her office, though, she found the door open and the lights on, revealing the stacks of boxes. She was glad to see that at least someone had the forethought to bring empty bankers boxes while she was gone.
Stacks of heavy-looking boxes leaned against the walls. She closed her door and hoisted the nearest box with great effort. It was heavier than she had imagined and slipped from her grasp and hit the floor. The box split down the sides, and spilled files and loose documents across the floor and under the desk.
“Just great!” she said, dropping to her hands and knees to crawl under the desk. She was reaching for the files when she noticed a small square of plastic taped to the underside of the desktop. She pulled it free, and leaving the splayed folders, squirmed backward until she could stand.
She peeled the cellophane tape from the item and felt a thrill of excitement at what she had found. In her palm was a computer flash drive.
She eyed the mess of files that still lay scattered on the floor. She would leave it until tomorrow. But what about the flash drive? she thought, gripping it tightly. She was dying of curiosity. What did it have on it? Should she take a look? Should she share her discovery with Trent—or Eric now? At this hour? Both men had made her promise that if she found anything that she would come to them right away. She was a new employee, and disobeying her supervisors was grounds for dismissal. In any case she couldn’t leave it in the office. Too many people—even Nova—had keys to her office.
She made up her mind to give it to Eric in the morning. Hurrying slightly, so she could go home to see what was on the flash drive, she turned her lights off and stepped into the hallway. She was pulling the door shut when someone grabbed her from behind.
Moira screamed and twisted her arm away. She continued screaming as she ran down the hallway.
“Moira! It’s me!” came a familiar voice.
Heart pounding, Moira stopped to see Eric Manson standing beside her office. The folders he’d been carrying were scattered across the floor.
“You scared me to death!” Moira said, walking back. “I’m sorry, Eric, but you startled me.” She held up her hands and showed him that they were shaking.
“What are you doing here?” Eric asked.
“Why are you still here?”
“I had to pick something up and I heard noise coming from your office.” He pointed to her closed hand. “What have you got there?”
Maybe it was the angry look on his face, or maybe she just didn’t like the tone of his voice, but she lied. “It’s mine, Eric,” she said matter-of-factly, and pocketed the device.
Eric stepped in close. “Did Jack send you to snoop around?”
She felt her face burn as shock of being grabbed from behind was replaced by anger at his insinuation.
She had never seen him angry and it wasn’t a good look on him. His mouth was set in a grim line. Redness crept into his clamped jaws, and his hands were crushed into fists.
“I don’t snoop, Eric,” she said, icily, refusing to back down from his angry stare. “I was working. And on my own time, I might add.”
“Working on what?” he demanded to know. “You haven’t been assigned any cases yet.”
His caustic words stung her. Until now she had only heard what a valued employee she was. How they were a family.
In that moment she decided to give the flash drive to Jack. It would serve Eric right. And, besides, if she gave up the flash drive now, it would only prove to Eric that she had been snooping—and she had found it by accident.
“I was working on those boxes of files,” she said, and that much was true. “I thought you would appreciate my hard work.”
His expression softened. He pushed her door open and saw the floor