Alex let out a shuddering breath and opened his eyes as the air stilled around him. Who was laughing? He thought as he scanned the area. Standing tall in the clearing Alex paused to regain his composure. Once he had calmed down some, he searched around again, but to no avail. Weird, he thought, as he continued to make his way back to the campus.

  Alex entered his apartment and locked the door behind him. He had an unshakable feeling the whole time he was walking back that he was being watched. “What was that about?’ he sighed as he leaned against his door. Pushing himself off the door he walked towards his breakfast nook and sat down.

  “Okay lets get this all logged,” he yawned. Pulling out his notes from the session he just did he compiled it into his notebook. “Whelp, let me get some sleep before the lab tomorrow,” he stretched as he headed to his room. Alex laid down to sleep, darkness taking him immediately.

  BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Alex groaned as his alarm clock blared to life. “There is no way it's time to get up. I just fell asleep,” he grumbled, rubbing his face. Stretching, he sat up and rubbed his face again. “These long nights of pushing myself are catching up to me,” he yawned. Dressing for the day he headed out to the lab.

  “Alex, hey!” called out a familiar voice. Alex came to a stop as he approached Emily.

  “Hey Emily, what’s going on?” Alex asked.

  “I need to speak to you and Reshma, it’s regarding the break in. Something weird about it,” she said as she fidgeted with her hands.

  “Okay,” Alex said slowly, “do you want to come to the lab with me? Reshma should be there already.”

  “Uh yeah, sure. Let me grab my golf cart,” she turned and headed to the garage.

  Alex furrowed his brow as he watched her walk away, not like Emily to look so exhausted. He waited for Emily and followed her to the building. Parking the vehicles, they badged into the building and then to the lab.

  “Good morning everyone,” Alex called cheerfully. “Reshma do you have a moment?”

  “Honestly, everyone here can hear this,” Emily said as she scanned the lab.

  “Oh, alright Evalyn, Siddiq you can come too,” Alex waved them over.

  “Morning Emily, what’s going on?” Reshma asked as he shuffled over.

  Emily took a deep breath as she looked around the lab. “I think I know who the culprit is that sabotaged your machine. My problem is that the footage I found disappeared,” her shoulders slumped as she let out her breath.

  “Wh-what? How?” Reshma sputtered.

  “That is the question. There is no way that the footage should have gone missing. I had it in my apartment on my computer. No one has a key to my room. Annnnd, even if it went missing I made a backup, but that is also gone. The whole thing is making me think this is something bigger. I just don't understand why and now I have no proof.” she finished.

  “Well, what did you see?” Reshma questioned gently.

  “On the night in question I went back through the badge logs and hours of footage. After you all left that evening there was one badge swipe for a Sebatian Hoss. He has access though as he works in one of the labs here. So that left me to comb through the footage,” Emily sighed. “I spent the last week or so combing through all the different camera footage from the time you all left to the next morning when you came in. Around 4:17am I saw a figure get into the lab. I did my best to identify the figure. I hate to say this, but I believe it was Zayd.” Gasps filled the room.

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  “There is no way,” Siddiq murmured.

  “Are you sure,” Evalyn whispered as she clutched her chest.

  “Why would he do that? I don't understand,” Reshma frowned.

  “For some reason I’m not surprised,” Alex said. “Ever since the group from the capital got here he had been acting strange.”

  “Well, even though, I believe it was him. Like I said, I no longer have the evidence. Someone wiped it and stole the drive I had hidden. Like they were watching me!” Emily exclaimed. “I have been so on edge. Just the thought that someone was in my apartment and knew where to find the drive I hid…” she shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut.

  “Hey, it's okay. Did that take anything else from your room?” Alex asked as he approached her.

  “No, nothing but the drive was removed,” she sighed.

  “So, what is the next step? Who do we report this to?” Reshma asked.

  “That’s the thing. I will send this up the chain, but without any proof or evidence it will get filed and forgotten,” her shoulders slumped. “I am sorry. There just isn't much more I can do at this point.”

  “It’s alright. Thank you for your efforts on the matter. I am sorry your space was violated,” Reshma gently patted her shoulder. “As for Zayd. it would make sense, as much as it pains me, that it was him. He hasn't even been back since that day. We have tried going to his apartment and everything, he has kind of disappeared.”

  “He hasn't been removed or reassigned…” Emily furrowed her brow. “Might need to do a welfare check. He really hasn't answered or been back to work?”

  “Not even one day,” Siddiq said softly.

  “Well that is a bit concerning. I will get the keys and go check his room.” Emily said.

  “You shouldn't go alone,” Alex said. “I’ll go with you.”

  “I mean it's part of the job. You don't have to do that,” Emily replied.

  “Yes, but this is a little bit different. He is suspected of sabotage for unknown reasons. You should definitely not go alone,” Reshma nodded.

  “I guess you are right,”she sighed. “Maybe we will find something that lets us know why he did this.”

  “That would be nice. It doesn't make sense why he would have done this to a project he was a part of!” Evalyn cried.

  “Well that was all I found out and maybe I am wrong as to who it was. I am just upset that the proof was stolen or deleted or whatever happened to it,” Emily sighed.

  “Hey, you did what you could and we appreciate it,” Reshma said gently.

  “Alex let’s go. I would rather get this done sooner rather than later,” Emily turned to the door to leave.

  “I will be back in a bit and let you all know what we find,” Alex nodded at the others and followed Emily out the door.

  “Let’s take the golf cart. I just need to swing by the office and grab the keys,” Emily said absently.

  “Sure thing,” Alex replied. They rode to the office and Emily went in to grab the keys. When she returned they rode to the apartments. Stopping in front of apartment building two, Emily parked the golf cart and they walked towards the building.

  “Oooo, are these the ones that have patios also?” Alex asked.

  “Yes, this building was one of the first so they were built a little more spacious,” Emily answered. She opened the door and led the way to the elevator. When the door opened they stepped in and she pressed the button for floor six. DING! The elevators opened and she walked to room 607.

  “Here we are,” she said. Raising her hand, she knocked on the door. They both waited hearing nothing on the other side of the door. Emily looked at Alex and back at the door raising the key to the door knob. As she turned the handle and pushed the door slowly creaked open. They both looked in the room and gasped.