Chapter 5: The Secret Inside the Flash Drive
Marcus Whitmore said my father’s name like it belonged to him.
Not like he was remembering a person.
Like he was claiming ownership of a memory.
The warehouse suddenly felt smaller.
The broken windows.
The rusted metal beams.
The cold air creeping through the walls.
Everything around me disappeared except the man standing twenty feet away.
Marcus Whitmore.
The same man whose family name was carved into buildings across the city.
The same man whose picture appeared in business magazines.
The same man everyone at Hawthorne admired.
And now he was standing in front of me like he had been waiting years for this moment.
Brandon moved slightly.
Almost protectively.
I noticed.
So did Marcus.
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Disappointment.
“Brandon.””
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
“What are you doing?””
Brandon didn’t answer.
Marcus looked at me.
Then at the flash drive in my hand.
And smiled.
“That explains everything.””
I closed my fingers around it.
“What does?””
Marcus walked closer.
“Your father always believed information could save people.””
He shook his head.
“He never understood that information can also destroy them.””
I stared at him.
“You know where my father is.””
Marcus stopped.
The silence answered before he did.
“I know what happened to him.””
My heart started pounding.
“Where is he?””
Marcus looked almost amused.
“You still think this is about finding your father.””
“Isn’t it?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“This is about understanding him.””
I hated how calm he was.
Like he had rehearsed this conversation.
Like he knew exactly what to say.
“You ruined his life.””
Marcus sighed.
“That is what he told you?””
“No.””
“Then what do you know?””
I didn’t answer.
Because the truth was embarrassing.
I knew nothing.
Sixteen years of life.
And the most important person in my story was a stranger.
Marcus noticed.
“You don’t even know what your father did.””
Brandon stepped forward.
“Dad, stop.””
Marcus turned toward him.
The change was immediate.
The warmth disappeared.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do.””
Brandon looked away.
And that scared me.
Because the Brandon I knew never backed down from anyone.
Not teachers.
Not students.
Not anyone.
But his father?
Different story.
Marcus looked back at me.
“Your father worked for me.””
“I know.””
“He was brilliant.””
Again, the compliment.
I hated it.
Because every time someone praised my father, it felt like they were preparing to hurt him.
“He found mistakes in our financial records.””
“You mean crimes.””
Marcus smiled slightly.
“You’re already choosing sides.””
“I’m choosing the truth.””
“No.””
His voice sharpened.
“You’re choosing the story you were given.””
I tightened my grip on the flash drive.
“Then tell me your version.””
For the first time, Marcus became quiet.
Then he said:
“Your father betrayed me.””
The words landed hard.
Not because I believed him.
Because part of me wondered if there was a piece of the story I didn’t know.
Marcus continued.
“John Cole discovered information about my company.””
“What information?””
“He thought it was evidence of corruption.””
“Was it?””
Marcus didn’t answer immediately.
That hesitation bothered me.
Because guilty people often denied things too quickly.
But Marcus just looked tired.
Finally, he said:
“Business is complicated.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“It’s the only answer you’re getting tonight.””
A sound came from outside.
A car engine.
Marcus glanced toward the entrance.
His expression changed.
Not fear.
Calculation.
“We’re out of time.””
Brandon looked at him.
“Who’s here?””
Marcus ignored him.
He looked at me.
“Give me the drive.””
I laughed.
“No.””
“You don’t understand what you have.””
“Then explain.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Your father didn’t hide that drive because he wanted justice.””
“Then why?””
“Because he wanted revenge.””
The words hit me.
I looked at Brandon.
He looked away.
That was the moment I realized something.
Brandon knew more than he had told me.
“What’s on it?””
Nobody answered.
Then Marcus said:
“Ask your father.””
My anger exploded.
“My father is gone because of you!””
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“You don’t know that.””
“You admitted you know what happened!””
“I said I know what happened.””
He stepped closer.
“I never said I caused it.””
Before I could respond, another vehicle stopped outside.
Marcus looked toward the door.
Then back at Brandon.
“You made a mistake.””
Brandon’s face went pale.
“No.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You chose him over your family.””
That sentence changed everything.
Because Brandon didn’t look angry.
He looked hurt.
Like he had been waiting his entire life for his father to say something else.
Anything else.
I looked at Brandon.
“What did you do?””
He didn’t answer.
Marcus walked toward the exit.
Then stopped.
“Ethan.””
I looked at him.
“If you open that drive, you won’t be looking for your father anymore.””
A pause.
“You’ll be looking for the person who helped him disappear.””
Then he left.
The warehouse door slammed.
For several seconds, neither Brandon nor I spoke.
Then I turned toward him.
“You knew.””
Brandon looked down.
“Knew what?””
“That your father was involved.””
His silence confirmed it.
“How long?””
“Since I was twelve.””
I stared at him.
“You were twelve?””
He nodded.
“My dad thought I was too young to understand.””
A bitter smile crossed his face.
“He was right.””
I looked at the flash drive.
“Why help me?””
Brandon sat on an old wooden crate.
For the first time, he looked exhausted.
“Because I watched my father destroy someone who trusted him.””
My expression softened slightly.
“Your father?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Mine.””
The answer confused me.
“What does that mean?””
Brandon rubbed his hands together.
“When your father disappeared, my dad told everyone John Cole ran away.””
He swallowed.
“But I saw him.””
“When?””
“The night he vanished.””
My heart stopped.
“Where?””
Brandon looked toward the broken window.
“Inside our house.””
I froze.
“Your house?””
He nodded.
“My father brought him there.””
The air left my lungs.
“Why?””
“I don’t know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“But I saw John Cole bleeding.””
I couldn’t move.
“My father was yelling at him.””
“What was he saying?””
Brandon closed his eyes.
“I don’t remember everything.””
“Try.””
His jaw tightened.
“He said…”
He stopped.
“Brandon.””
“What?””
“You need to understand something.””
His voice dropped.
“My father wasn’t angry because your dad found something.””
“Then why?””
“Because your dad found someone else.””
I frowned.
“Who?””
Brandon looked at me.
“The person who was actually controlling Whitmore Industries.””
I waited.
But he didn’t continue.
“Who?””
He looked away.
“I never saw their face.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What do you mean?””
“I heard the voice.””
“Whose voice?””
Brandon hesitated.
Then whispered:
“A voice from someone inside your family.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Before he could answer, headlights flashed through the warehouse windows.
Not one car.
Several.
Brandon stood up immediately.
“We need to go.””
“Wait.””
“No.””
He grabbed my shoulder.
“Listen to me.””
His eyes were serious.
“Whatever is on that drive, don’t open it here.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever wants it already knows you have it.””
I looked outside.
Figures moved near the entrance.
Too many.
Brandon pushed a side door open.
“Go.””
“What about you?””
He smiled sadly.
“Ethan.””
For the first time, he said my name without hatred.
“I’ve been my father’s son my entire life.””
A pause.
“Tonight, I’m choosing not to be.””
I ran through the side exit.
The cold night air hit my face.
I didn’t stop.
Not until I reached the road.
Not until I was far away.
Only then did I look down.
The flash drive was still in my hand.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A message.
*You found the drive.*
My blood turned cold.
Another message appeared.
*Now find out who gave your father the order.*
Then a photo loaded.
A photo of my mother.
Standing beside someone.
Someone I knew.
Someone I trusted.
The person holding my mother’s shoulder was smiling at the camera.
May you like
And underneath the photo was one name.
*Daniel Whitmore.*
