The blinking transfer icon beside Caro's employee credentials pulsed across Peter's monitor like a countdown to destruction, each flash tightening the silence inside the office until breathing itself felt dangerous. Peter's eyes remained fixed on the screen while the external transfer attempt continued processing in real time, and Caro could physically feel suspicion rebuilding behind his restraint one layer at a time. The folded note still rested beside the keyboard between them now, painfully visible beneath the cold monitor glow, like proof waiting to betray her before she could explain it.
"Why is your access signature attached to an outbound transfer?" Peter asked quietly.
The question landed harder because his voice had gone calm again.
Caro stepped toward the desk instinctively. "Because someone mirrored my credentials into the routing structure earlier. Peter, listen to me—"
"Security traced the signal directly to this floor."
"I know."
"You know?"
