Alex sat in the dimly lit room; his hands clenched into fists on the table. Sweat beaded on his forehead as Officer Mercy Adams paced in front of him, her sharp eyes never leaving his face. The stale air hung heavy around them, thick with tension.

“I don’t know what happened,” Alex repeated, his voice hoarse. “I showed up at the lab like usual, and it was already destroyed. I-I didn’t see Dr Steve. He wasn’t there!”

Mercy stopped pacing and stared down at him, her gaze hard. “The footage says otherwise.” She slapped a stack of papers onto the table, spreading them out with an audible thud.

The grainy surveillance footage played on the small screen beside her, showing Alex entering the lab moments after Dr Steve. The timestamp confirmed it.

“That’s impossible,” Alex whispered, his throat dry. “I didn’t see him. I swear.”

Mercy didn’t blink, just watched him with a knowing smirk. “So, you didn’t see your mentor, but you just happened to arrive the same time he did, in a building that was torn apart? Are we really supposed to believe that?”

“I’m telling you the truth!” Alex shouted, his voice breaking with frustration. “I didn’t do anything! I don’t know what happened! It’s not what you think!”

Officer Mercy leaned in close, her breath cold on his skin. “Then explain this.” She slid another piece of evidence across the table—an image of the vault, its door shattered open, the contents ransacked. Alex’s stomach turned.

“You don’t know what’s in there,” Mercy said softly, almost tauntingly. “But I do. And I think you do too. You knew something about Dr Steve’s project. That’s why you’re here, Alex. That’s why you’re in this room.”

Alex opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. The truth was, he didn’t know. Dr Steve had kept the vault locked for a reason—he had never allowed Alex to see its contents.

Before he could speak, the door to the room creaked open. Detective Saunders stepped inside, her tall figure blocking the light from the hallway. She cast a quick glance at Mercy, then at Alex, before giving a sharp nod.

“Mercy,” Detective Saunders said in her calm, controlled voice, “I’ll take it from here.”

Mercy hesitated, her gaze flicking from Alex to Saunders. “You sure? I’m not getting anything from him.”

“I’ll handle it,” Saunders replied, her tone brokering no argument. She motioned for Mercy to leave, and she did, taking the chair across from Alex.

The silence stretched between them for a moment before Saunders spoke. “Alex Carter. I’m Detective Rhea Saunders. I’m leading the investigation into your mentor’s disappearance.” She studied him carefully. “And I’m sure you already know why you’re here.”

Alex nodded stiffly. He had expected this. After everything that had happened, after the lab had been destroyed, it was inevitable that he’d be brought in for questioning.

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Saunders’ gaze softened, just a little, but her voice remained firm. “I know this isn’t easy for you. Dr Steve wasn’t just a mentor to you—he was family, right?” Alex looked up.

“I knew him, too.” She paused, her eyes momentarily distant, before adding, “Dr Steve and my father were close. He actually was of really great help when my old man declared bankruptcy when I was barely a teenager. I would not be here if it were not of his great financial help for both me and my brother. He was the uncle we all needed and my family owes him big time, I know it’s hard to believe but under that tough shell, he was a really soft and caring man.”

Alex blinked, surprised. He hadn’t known about their connection—he hadn’t known much about Dr Steve’s past at all. The revelation stunned him.

Saunders nodded, a faint sadness in her eyes. “Yes. My father and Dr Steve were both physicists and they worked together for years. After my father’s death, Dr Steve became a mentor to me as well. I’ve known him most of my life.” She leaned forward slightly, her voice quiet but intense. “I want to find him as much as you do, Alex. We need to figure out what happened—together.”

Alex felt a tightness in his chest. He’d always known Dr Steve as the brilliant, somewhat reclusive scientist, but this revelation about his past added a layer of complexity. He felt a deep pang of guilt for not knowing more about the man who had mentored him. “I had no idea,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Saunders held his gaze. “Dr Steve was a complicated man, Alex. He didn’t share much, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t care. He protected me. He protected you.” She paused, her expression hardening. “But this case, whatever’s in that vault—it’s bigger than both of us.”

Alex swallowed hard, trying to absorb everything. “I don’t know what’s in the vault,” he admitted, his voice quiet. “I was never allowed to see it. Dr Steve kept everything about his project secret. I had no idea it was so... important.”

Saunders nodded, her expression firm. “That’s why we need to figure this out. Whatever’s inside that vault, Alex—it’s connected to Dr Steve’s disappearance. And if we don’t uncover the truth soon, we may be facing something much bigger than we imagined.”

Her gaze never wavered. “But we can’t do it alone. I need you to be honest with me. Every detail counts.”

Alex’s chest tightened further. He had to find Dr Steve. The lab, the vault—it all seemed like pieces of a much larger puzzle. But something deep inside him stirred as Saunders spoke. This was no longer just about finding his mentor. It was about understanding the true nature of Dr Steve’s work—and why it seemed to be so dangerous.

Saunders looked at him intently. “But right now, I need to ask you something else. I know you’ve been close to Lara, Dr Steve’s niece. I saw her earlier today at the station. She came in, wanted to talk to you, but left in a rush. What do you know about her involvement in all of this?”

Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “Lara? She’s... she’s my closest friend. I—I don’t know what she has to do with any of this.” He paused, confused. “She didn’t seem to know anything when she came to see me. She wanted to know about Dr Steve, just like me.”

Saunders watched him carefully, her expression unreadable. “Are you sure? Lara’s involvement could be more than coincidence. It’s important that you’re honest with me, Alex. We’re all in this together, but I can’t help you if I don’t have the full picture.”

Alex swallowed hard. “I swear, I don’t know anything about Lara being involved. She’s just worried about Dr Steve—just like me.”

Saunders nodded slowly, but the scepticism in her eyes didn’t disappear. She stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. “I’m going to give you some time to think. But I need you to remember, Alex—we don’t have much time. Whatever is in that vault, we need to find it before someone else does.”

As she reached the door, she paused, looking back at him. “And if you remember anything else—anything at all—tell me.”

Alex nodded, his thoughts swirling. He knew this wasn’t just a matter of finding Dr Steve anymore. It was about uncovering the truth about the project—and whatever had happened in that vault. Time was running out, and he had a feeling that the answers they were searching for would only raise more questions.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving him alone with his thoughts.