He nodded.

She knocked evenly after which entered when beckoned. She had no concept what she was going to say, however she was decided she wasn’t leaving this financial institution with out trying within the safe-deposit field.

She pulled out the important thing after which, on a lark, she retrieved Lyle’s coded message as properly. The supervisor smiled at her till Rodney entered the room as properly. Then he frowned.

“Again once more? Do you’ve gotten a duplicate of the desire?”

Rodney shot her a glance that mentioned, That is pointless, however he remained quiet.

She began to talk, then her gaze landed on one thing she hadn’t observed earlier than written evenly throughout the highest of the message in pencil, one thing that had been erased.

“Did you write this?” she requested Rodney.

He glanced the place she pointed. “Yeah, I used to be attempting to maintain monitor of our quantity codes. The speculation of six after which the countdown concept. I feel that was what the code turned out to be, however these numbers don’t make?—”

He paused. There have been 4 digits that seemed to be random. One thing clicked in her thoughts. She pulled out her mobile phone, scrolling by way of her contacts listing. She’d by no means been capable of deliver herself to delete Lyle’s identify. “It’s the final 4 digits of his cellphone quantity.” She held her cellphone out to indicate Rodney the display screen.

“That’s fairly intelligent. How the hell may you not do not forget that?”

She scowled. “Initially, we by no means actually wrote down the quantity code—I’m a visible learner. And secondly, as soon as I plugged Lyle’s quantity in my cellphone, I by no means checked out it once more. Simply hit his identify on my cellphone listing at any time when I needed to name him. It’s not like I had the rattling factor memorized. Hell, I don’t even know my mom’s quantity. You understand, that is the issue with cell telephones. Nobody bothers to study cellphone numbers anymore.”

Rodney rolled his eyes. “No matter. I’m not about to get right into a debate in regards to the execs and cons of smartphones with you. Can we simply get this present on the highway? We now have a flight to catch.”

She wrote the numbers six, 5, 5, 4 on the piece of paper and handed it to the financial institution supervisor. He in contrast the numbers to his after which smiled at her.

“Superb,” he mentioned. “Comply with me.”

He led the 2 of them right into a vault full of safe-deposit containers. Bridget used the important thing to open the field. Inside she discovered a flash drive and a letter. She grinned as she pulled them out. “Advised you it could be on a flash drive.”

Rodney rolled his eyes. “You at all times need to be proper, don’t you?”

“I don’t need to be. I simply naturally am,” she teased. They’d accomplished it. They’d damaged the code and retrieved the flash drive. For the primary time in months, Bridget felt like every part was going to be okay.

“God assist your guys.”

She knew he meant his phrases as a joke, however as an alternative they despatched a piercing ache straight to her coronary heart. Okay. So perhaps not every part. She’d come to consider the James twins as hers, however how for much longer may that final? She was going residence. There was a light-weight on the finish of her tunnel, and she or he couldn’t see Matt and Mark within the beam.

She handed Rodney the flash drive and opened the letter. It was handwritten. Her throat closed up when she noticed Lyle’s acquainted messy scrawl.

Pricey Bridget,

If you’re studying this, two issues have occurred. One, you’ve discovered my clues—properly accomplished. And two, I’m useless. I knew the second I uncovered what the choose was up that to my days can be numbered if I stored digging. I pursued it anyway. All of us make choices in life, Bridget. Some good, some dangerous. Top-of-the-line choices I ever made was befriending you. You’re trustworthy, sensible and a bit of bit quirky—all good traits in my guide. I liked you regardless of your inexplicable fascination for Hugh Grant, scary motion pictures and smutty pirate books.

Now it’s as much as you. End the job. Do what I couldn’t. The data contained on this drive can put not solely Choose Lucian Thompson away for a really very long time, but additionally thirty-seven criminals who bribed their solution to freedom reasonably than pay for his or her crimes. I depart their destiny in your palms.

Your pal,

Lyle

Bridget swallowed arduous, wiping away the tears that began to fall. She hadn’t cried as soon as for her pal. She’d been whisked out of the town below cowl of darkness the evening he was murdered. She hadn’t been capable of go to his memorial service, and as she was shuffled from secure home to secure home, she hadn’t had time to grieve for him. Listening to his voice by way of the phrases of his letter opened the floodgates, and she or he feared there can be no stopping them now.

“Oh, rattling, Bridget. I’m sorry, child.” Rodney wrapped his arms round her whereas she cried. “I’m so sorry.”

She let her feelings go for only some minutes. She didn’t dare indulge them for longer than that. She’d already misplaced one pal over the contents of this drive. She couldn’t enable anybody else to die. She sniffled and wiped her eyes rapidly. “I do know we’ve got to go.”

Rodney nodded. “I want there was extra time for you.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I do know what I have to do. I can do it.”

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