Whoever had taken it had not stolen anything else.
The financial records were still scattered across the desk, the computers remained untouched and even the documents they had been reviewing were exactly where they had left them.
Whoever had entered the office had known precisely what they wanted.
Dorian stood by the doorway, his eyes scanning the corridor while Brielle remained beside the desk, trying to reconstruct what had happened in the few minutes they had been distracted.
“They were here while we were talking,” she said.
Dorian turned towards her.
“And they knew exactly where to look.” Brielle nodded slowly.
“Which means whoever took it already knew about the notebook.” “Or they were watching us.” The thought made her stomach tighten.
She looked towards the corridor again.
Employees were moving between offices as usual, some carrying files while others spoke quietly among themselves.
Everything appeared normal, but that was precisely what made it disturbing.
The person they were looking for did not need to sneak around like an outsider.
They could move through the building without attracting suspicion.
Dorian pulled out his phone.
“I’m going to have security check the cameras.” “Wait.” He stopped.
“If we check the cameras now, whoever took the notebook might realize we’ve noticed.” Dorian stared at her before lowering the phone.
“Then what do you suggest?” “We give them something else to find.” He frowned.
Brielle returned to the desk and began gathering the remaining papers.
“The notebook is gone, but they don’t know what else we have.” Dorian’s eyes narrowed as he began to understand.
“You want to make them believe we still have information they’re afraid of.” “Yes.” “And how exactly do we do that?” Brielle looked at the documents in her hands.
“We give different people different information.” Dorian remained silent for a moment before a faint understanding crossed his face.
“If someone leaks one of those details…” “We’ll know where it came from.” They spent the next hour putting the plan together.
They selected three pieces of false information, each one believable enough to appear important but harmless enough not to damage the investigation.
One suggested that they had discovered a hidden account connected to the old company.
Another suggested that they had identified the person who altered the supplier details.
The final piece of information was the most dangerous—a supposed meeting that would reveal the person behind the authorization code.
Each piece was given to a different person.
They made sure nobody received more than one.
Brielle watched as Dorian contacted the first employee.
He spoke casually, making the information sound like something he had mentioned without thinking.
A second employee received a different piece through Mr.
Norman, while the final detail was passed to someone in procurement.
“If someone reacts to any of these,” Dorian said, “we’ll know which direction to look.” Brielle nodded.
“But we have to be patient.” They returned to Dorian’s office and waited.
For several hours, nothing happened.
Brielle began to wonder whether their plan had failed when Dorian’s phone suddenly rang.
He answered.
“Dorian speaking.” The voice on the other end spoke for several seconds before Dorian’s expression changed.
“Where?” He listened again.
“Don’t touch anything.
I’m on my way.” He ended the call.
Brielle immediately stood.
“What happened?” “Someone just tried to access the account we mentioned to Mr.
Norman.” Her eyes widened.
“The false account?” Dorian nodded.
“Then someone is listening.” “Or someone is passing information.” They hurried towards the financial department.
When they arrived, an employee was already waiting for them beside one of the computers.
“Mr.
Wolfe, someone tried to access the account about ten minutes ago.” Dorian looked at the screen.
“Did they get in?” “No.
The account doesn’t actually exist.” Brielle felt a slow sense of certainty settle over her.
The trap had worked.
Someone had received the false information and acted on it.
Dorian turned towards her.
“Now we know which information was leaked.” “And who received it.” They exchanged a glance before leaving the department.
Neither of them needed to say what they were thinking.
The list of people who knew about the supposed account was very small, and that meant their search had suddenly become much narrower.
Back in the office, Brielle wrote the names down and studied them carefully.
There were only three people who could have passed the information along.
One was Mr.
Norman.
Another was a senior employee in finance.
The last was a procurement officer who had worked closely with Hale.
“We can’t accuse any of them yet,” she said.
Dorian leaned against the desk.
“Why not?” “Because whoever is behind this has already proven they know how to cover their tracks.” “So we watch them.” “Yes.” Dorian nodded.
Brielle looked at the names again.
“But there’s something else.” “What?” “The person who tried to access the account didn’t know it was fake.” Dorian’s expression changed.
“That means whoever received the information trusted it enough to act immediately.” “And whoever gave it to them trusted them enough to pass it along.” Brielle closed the notebook she had been using for their investigation and looked towards Dorian.
“We’re getting closer.” Dorian’s phone rang again.
He glanced at the screen before answering.
“What is it?” His expression slowly changed as he listened.
“Are you sure?” A pause.
“Keep him there.
Don’t let him leave the building.” He ended the call and looked at Brielle.
“We found our first leak.” Her eyes widened.
“Who?” Dorian reached for his jacket.
“The procurement officer who worked with Hale.” Brielle followed him towards the door, but before they could leave, Dorian stopped.
“There is one problem.” “What?” “The officer wasn’t the one who tried to access the account.” Brielle stared at him.
“Then who did?” Dorian’s expression hardened.
“We’re about to find out.”