Chapter 4 - Ashes and Laughter
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The blue folder landed squarely in the bed of red-hot embers. Within seconds, the paper caught fire, curling and turning into black ash right before our eyes.
Margaret let out a sharp gasp, catching her breath. Jenna let out a nervous laugh from the side of the room.
Nathan turned back to face me, breathing heavily, a triumphant, wicked grin spreading across his damp face. He smoothed down his wet suit jacket, feeling victorious.
“There,” Nathan sneered, stepping closer to me. “The original document is gone. Now let's see what you think you're going to do without proof.”
I watched the last blue corner of the folder burn away into nothingness.
Then I reached slowly into my dress pocket, pulled out my smartphone, and tapped the screen to unlock it. I looked up at him and smiled.
“Nothing,” I said quietly. “You just destroyed the paper copy yourself on camera.”
Nathan's triumphant smile vanished instantly. His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
I turned my head and glanced up at the antique wooden grandfather clock mounted above the stone fireplace. Right in the center of the carved wooden ornament sat a tiny, unblinking glass lens, glowing with a soft, steady red light.
May you like
Nathan stared at the clock, then back at me, his mouth opening slightly as the blood drained from his face for the second time that night.
“The camera, Nathan,” I whispered softly. “It’s been streaming live to a cloud server for the last two hours.”
