Chapter 11 - THE LIFE HE NEVER NOTICED
Alex stared at the recovered photograph until the technician announced that the temporary cache had vanished. The image disappeared forever, leaving only the memory of what everyone had just witnessed.
The smiling stranger had possessed photographs of Alex taken days before the airport incident.
Daniel slowly leaned back in his chair.
"Tell me everything you've done during the past week."
Alex frowned.
"There isn't much to tell."
"Tell me anyway."
Alex thought carefully.
"I worked three night shifts at the warehouse."
"I attended two online interviews."
"I visited my landlord."
"I stopped by the public library twice."
Daniel interrupted.
"The library?"
Alex nodded.
"I don't have reliable internet at home."
"So I usually work there."
Daniel made a note on his phone.
"What else?"
Alex hesitated.
"I received several calls from unknown numbers."
"Did you answer?"
"No."
"They never left voicemail."
Martin looked toward Daniel.
"That could mean nothing."
"Or everything," Daniel replied.
Alex suddenly remembered something.
"There was someone."
Daniel looked up immediately.
"What someone?"
"Three days ago."
"I left the library after sunset."
"There was an elderly man feeding pigeons across the street."
Martin looked puzzled.
"So?"
"He wasn't feeding them."
Alex's expression slowly changed.
"He scattered bread..."
"...without ever looking at the birds."
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"What was he watching?"
Alex answered quietly.
"The library entrance."
Silence filled the room.
Daniel opened a digital city map.
"Did he follow you?"
"I don't know."
"I walked home."
"I never looked back."
Martin folded his arms.
"If they're tracking him, why wait until the airport?"
Daniel remained silent.
Alex looked at both men.
"I keep asking myself the same question."
No one had an answer.
Just then, Daniel's assistant called.
"Sir."
"We located the surveillance contractor responsible for the airport cameras."
"Good."
"There's a problem."
"What problem?"
"The technician assigned to Camera Sector Four..."
"...failed to report for work this morning."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Have you contacted him?"
"Yes."
"No response."
"Police performed a welfare check."
The assistant hesitated.
"They found his apartment empty."
"His phone was left on the kitchen table."
Alex felt another cold wave move through him.
"What about his computer?"
"It's gone."
Daniel slowly ended the call.
Martin looked at him.
"He disappeared."
Daniel nodded.
"No."
"I think someone made sure he couldn't answer questions."
Before anyone could continue, another nurse entered the office.
"Mr. Reed."
Daniel stood.
"Your sister is asking for Alex again."
Alex exchanged a glance with Daniel before following the nurse back toward Hannah's room.
This time, Hannah was fully awake.
She looked exhausted, but her eyes were focused.
When Alex entered, she whispered only one sentence.
"I've seen that smiling man before."
Daniel immediately stepped closer.
"Where?"
Hannah closed her eyes.
May you like
"...Inside Marlowe Global."
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