Kendrick paused mid‑step. "He supplied weapons, smuggled drugs… but he also smuggled the blood samples from the lab?"
"He was the logistics guy. Private yachts, secret routes. If Barmon got caught for that, they erased everything about him." Sophia looked at the screen showing wiped logs. "Project files cleansing is why Barmon's name vanishes. That's why you couldn't find anything."
Kendrick slumped back onto the chair. "So finally I get a clue… and I learn my entire life is built on a secret experiment. And that I've been running out of time."
The room was silent except for soft beeps from the monitors. Sophia spoke quietly. "There may be more logs. Stored offline, secured by Cassius. I need to help you get access—"
A knock interrupted them.
Kendrick looked up. Sophia's gaze shifted toward the door where a guard stood with a tablet. Sophia lowered her eyes before signaling the guard forward.
Kendrick's voice dropped. "Sophia… thank you."
