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She types, clicks and scrolls on her screen, and then she frowns.“That’s odd.”

My pulse jumps as I ask, “What is?”

“There should be a physical file,” she says slowly. “But the system says it was removed.”

“When?”

She checks then looks back at me. “Weeks ago.”

“By who?”

She hesitates before smiling politely. “That information’s restricted, ma’am.”

I tilt the badge slightly as if to remind her and she swallows before standing up. “I’ll see what I can find.”

She disappears into the stacks and I wait. But unfortunately, she comes back empty-handed. “It’s not here,” she says. “There’s no record of it ever being returned.”

I nod like that confirms something instead of detonating it. “It’s fine, thank you,” I say.

I leave the station after that, without looking back or anything. The second I slide into my car and close the door, I exhale all the stress I’ve been holding in since I walked in.

It worked.

Now I know, someone took a specific file, the one I wanted to find.

It can’t be accidental.

56

Mireya

Play - Carmen by Lana Del Rey

You live with regrets

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I walk up the stairwell. “Yes?” I ask, holding the phone to the shell of my ear.

“Hey, that's not how you reply to your best friend, Rey,” Hayzel says dramatically.

“Sorry I didn’t see the name, just replied, what's up?”

“Your cat’s still asleep. He’s sprawled across my bed. He didn't even support me before sleeping…kinda disappointed.”

I glance around the nearly empty dorm hallway, there’s only a few students lingering on the lower floors, laughing and talking. “When are you coming back?”

“Soon,” I reply with a soft smile.

“Okay fun, I miss bothering you.”

I grin, “you’re stupid.”

“You miss me too,” she says. “Don’t be too long.”

“I won’t,” I promise as I keep walking to my destination.

I put my phone back in my pocket and moved down the hall. When I reach Damien’s office, I pause. Hand over the door handle, I take a steadying breath and knock two times, exactly like he taught me. He opens the door and smiles a bit before pulling me in and closing it back. Damien is now leaning against his desk, arms crossed, sleeves rolled up and tattoos are exposed.

“You look strangely excited,” he says.