Page 122

"Nothing here," she mutters, frustration creeping back into her voice.

"Wait," Oz interjects, stepping closer. "The cabinet itself. Check for false bottoms, hidden compartments."

Vesper kneels, running her fingers along the interior of the cabinet, feeling for irregularities. Her movements become more frantic as she finds nothing, desperation bleeding through her careful control.

"Damn it, Alex," she hisses, slamming her palm against the metal in frustration. The cabinet resonates with a hollow sound that makes us all freeze.

"That didn't sound right," I say, dropping to my knees beside her. "Hit it again."

Vesper strikes the cabinet floor once more, and again we hear that strange, echoing quality. Not solid. Not quite empty either.

"There's something in there," Talon confirms, leaning in despite his injured shoulder.

Oz pushes forward. "The floor panel, check for seams, anything that might indicate a hidden compartment."

Vesper's fingers trace the metal flooring, feeling along edges until, "Wait." Her nail catches on something almost imperceptible. "There's a seam here."

We watch as she works her fingernail into the tiny gap, trying to pry up the panel. After several tense seconds, she sits back on her heels with a frustrated sound.

"It won't budge."

"Let me," I offer, pulling a knife from my boot. I slide the thin blade into the seam, working it carefully around the perimeter until I hear a faint click. The panel shifts slightly beneath my touch.

"There," I mutter, wedging my fingers into the newly created gap. With a metallic groan, the false bottom lifts, revealing a shallow compartment beneath.

Vesper gasps, reaching inside to extract a small metal case no larger than her palm. It's sleek and black, with no visible seams or openings, just a small depression on its surface sized for a fingertip.

"Biometric lock," Oz confirms, moving closer to examine it. "Fingerprint scanner, from the looks of it."

Vesper stares at the case. "You really think this is what Alex meant? That I'm literally the key to this?"

"Only one way to find out," Talon says gently.

She takes a deep breath, then presses her index finger to the depression. For a moment, nothing happens. Then a soft blue light pulses beneath her fingertip, scanning the unique whorls and ridges of her print. It flashes green, but doesn’t unlock.

“Well, that didn’t work.” Talon takes it from Vesper, studying it. “No retinal scanner. DNA?”

“So I need to prick my finger? How would he have gotten a blood sample from me?” She pauses. “You know what, it’s Alex. He probably has my entire DNA mapped.”

She takes the device from Talon, studying it. “Where would I even put it?”

“Try kissing it,” Talon suggests. I turn to stare at him. “What?” he shrugs. “Saliva has DNA?”

“I don’t even want to know how you know that.”

“It’s worth a try, and far less invasive.”

Vesper takes the device and presses her lips to it. The light turns green, followed by a barely audible click as the case unseals itself.

"It worked," she blurts out, awe and grief mingling in her voice.

With careful movements, she opens the case. Inside lies a small flash drive, matte black with no markings, nestled in custom-fitted foam. Beside it rests a folded piece of paper.

Vesper lifts the note with trembling fingers, unfolding it to reveal Alex’s sharp, angular handwriting. The room falls into a heavy silence.

Show them who you really are, Vesper.—A

The note trembles in Vesper's hands. I watch as she traces his signature with her fingertip.