“I need to speak with whoever is handling the Hayes Industries inquiry,” I said, my voice trembling.

The guard looked at my wet hair and muddy boots.

“Do you have an appointment, ma’am?”

“My name is Evelyn Hayes,” I said. “I have the original server logs for the patent.”

The guard’s expression changed instantly.

He picked up a black desk phone and muttered a few words.

Within two minutes, a tall woman in a grey wool suit walked through the security doors.

Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and she carried a blue folder.

“Dr. Hayes?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“I am Special Agent Vance with the federal corporate espionage task force,” she said. “Please come with me.”

She swiped a keycard, and the heavy security gate clicked open.

I followed her down a long corridor lined with identical wooden doors.

We entered a small briefing room with a round table and four chairs.

A digital recorder sat in the middle of the table, its red light blinking slowly.

“We have been hoping you would bring us that drive,” Vance said, pointing to the pocket of my coat.