The Case of the Varnished Trainee

lway wa

si

. There were always muffled footsteps, trainers clicking against til

toni

as d

y-three minutes ago. A system glitch, they said

lsed twice before fading into red glow. No one noticed a figure in a black

one p

had been

ight eyes gave him away. Always alert. Always thinking. Even now, with his heartbeat slamming

onversations he overheard. Files he copied and

omeon

he'd found a note o

g or you'll d

His mirror

ward the elevator, to

d the

k behi

, breath

was t

phone screen-recording. Then something

ything w

was never

n't the end

e beginni

mora