Chapter 1: Interrogation Room

The interrogation room was stark and cold, a standard to intimidate and wear down those who found themselves on the wrong side of the law. The fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting long shadows that danced on the gray walls. The air was thick with the smell of stale coffee and the lingering whispers of conversations past. A one-way mirror stretched across the far wall, a silent observer to the drama about to unfold.

Detective Sarah Kincaid sat across from her latest suspect, her eyes scanning the man with a practiced intensity.

Rhys Alistair Thorne, they called him. A prodigy, they said. A hacker, they accused. She didn’t care about his reputation; she cared about the job. And right now, her job was to get to the truth.

Rhys glanced up from where he’d been studying his hands, his eyes meeting hers. They were a startling blue, almost too bright for the dull room. He smiled, a slow, charming grin that she’d seen work wonders on witnesses and suspects alike. But Sarah was no novice. She’d seen that smile before, and it didn’t faze her.

She’d seen it on the faces of criminals who thought they could charm their way out of trouble. She’d seen it on the faces of witnesses who thought they could lie their way through a statement. But she’d also seen it on the faces of people who were genuinely happy, genuinely at ease. And she couldn’t help but wonder if Rhys was one of those people.

“Detective Kincaid,” he said, his voice smooth and confident. “I must say, you’re not what I expected.”

She raised an eyebrow, her expression neutral. “And what did you expect, Mr. Thorne?”

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. “Well, I expected someone younger. More...

Enthusiastic, perhaps. You know, someone who might be a little more ... impressed with my skills.”

Sarah’s lips twitched slightly, but she kept her expression professional. “Impressed with your skills, Mr. Thorne? Or with the fact that you’ve managed to evade the law for so long?”

Rhys chuckled, a sound that was surprisingly warm and genuine. “A little of both, I suppose. But I assure you, Detective, I’m not here to evade the law. I’m here to clear my name.”

She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “And how do you plan to do that, Mr. Thorne? By telling me the truth?”

He nodded, his smile never fading.

“I thought that might be a good start. But I’m afraid I can’t do that without some ... reciprocation.”

Sarah’s eyebrow shot up. “Reciprocation, Mr. Thorne? You’re in no position to make demands.”

Rhys held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m not making demands, Detective. I’m simply suggesting a ... quid pro quo. You ask me a question, I’ll answer it truthfully. Then, I ask you a question, and you do the same.”

Sarah leaned back in her chair, considering him. She’d never had a suspect suggest such a thing before.

It was unorthodox, to say the least. But there was something about Rhys Alistair Thorne that made her want to listen. Maybe it was his confidence, or perhaps it was the way his eyes seemed to hold a depth of intelligence and honesty that she couldn’t quite decipher. Whatever it was, she found herself intrigued.

“Alright, Mr. Thorne,” she said, her voice steady and professional. “But let me make one thing clear: I’m not here to play games. If you’re not telling the truth, I’ll know. And if you are, then I’ll have no choice but to believe you.”

Rhys nodded, his smile never wavering. “Deal.

But I must warn you, Detective, I’m not one to be easily fooled. I’ll know if you’re not being truthful as well.”

Sarah raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Is that a challenge, Mr.

Rhys leaned forward, his eyes locked onto hers. “Call it what you will, Detective. But I assure you, I’m not here to make this easy for you.”

Sarah felt a spark of interest. She’d always been drawn to a challenge, and Rhys was certainly presenting one. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.

“Alright, Mr. Thorne. Let’s start with the basics.

Why don’t you tell me why you were in the government database, Mr. Sarah asked, her voice steady and professional.

Rhys leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. “Well, Detective, I suppose that’s a question with a rather complicated answer. But I’ll do my best to simplify it for you.”

He paused, as if considering his words carefully. “I was hired by a client to retrieve some information that was ... misplaced. My job was to find it and return it to its rightful owner.” “Misplaced, Mr. Thorne? You mean stolen.

You were hired to steal information from a government database,” Sarah corrected, her voice firm but not unkind. She knew the game they were playing, and she was determined to keep it fair.

Rhys nodded, his smile never fading. “Well, technically, yes. But I prefer to think of it as ... retrieving. The information was being held against its rightful owner, and I was simply doing my job.”

Sarah leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “And who, pray tell, is the rightful owner of this information?”

Rhys hesitated for a moment, as if considering his response. “I’m afraid I can’t reveal that information, Detective. It’s a matter of client confidentiality.” Rhys’ eyes held a challenge, daring Sarah to push further.

Sarah leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. She’d known he wouldn’t make this easy, but she hadn’t expected him to be so forthcoming about his involvement while still maintaining some level of secrecy. It was an interesting tactic, and one she hadn’t encountered before.

“Alright, Mr. Thorne,” she said, her voice measured. “Let’s try this from a different angle. What kind of information were you looking for?”

Rhys’ smile widened, as if he’d been expecting this question. “That, Detective, is where our little game of quid pro quo comes in.

I’ll tell you what I was looking for, but only if you answer a question of mine first,” Rhys said, his eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and challenge.

Sarah raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Thorne. But very well, ask your question.”

Rhys leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Why did you become a police officer, Detective Kincaid?”

Sarah was taken aback by the personal nature of the question. She’d expected something more along the lines of ‘What’s your favorite color?’ or ‘Do you have any siblings?’. But this ... this was different.

She hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the unexpected question. She had always been careful to keep her personal life separate from her professional one, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to share that part of herself with someone like Rhys. But she had agreed to this game, and she wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.

She took a deep breath, considering her response. “I became a police officer because I wanted to make a difference,” she said finally, her voice steady and sure. “I grew up without parents, and I saw firsthand how the system can fail those who need it most.

I wanted to be the one who didn’t fail, who stood up for the people who couldn’t stand up for themselves. I wanted to be the one who made a difference.”

Rhys listened intently, his expression softening slightly. “That’s ... that’s a noble reason, Detective. I didn’t expect ... I mean, I thought you might say something about justice or the law, but not ... not that.”

Sarah shrugged, trying to maintain her professional demeanor despite the unexpected vulnerability she’d just shared. “Well, now you know. My turn, I believe.”

Rhys nodded, his smile returning. “Of course.

I was looking for classified intelligence reports on a specific operation,” Rhys said, his voice calm and steady. “My client believed that the information had been tampered with, and they wanted to ensure that the operation was being carried out as intended.” “And who exactly is your client, Mr.

Rhys hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with a hint of uncertainty. It’s a matter of national security.”

Sarah’s expression darkened, her voice firm. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Mr. Thorne.

I can’t protect you if you won’t tell me who you’re working for.” “I never asked for your protection, Detective. I’m here because I want to clear my name, not because I need your help.”

Sarah’s jaw tightened, but she kept her voice steady. “You’re playing with fire, Mr. Thorne. This isn’t some game. We’re talking about national security here.”

Rhys’ smile faded, replaced by a look of sincerity. “I’m well aware of the gravity of the situation, Detective. But I can’t reveal my client’s identity without their explicit permission.