“You shouldn’t be here,” Arthur said.

“The board issued a strict order regarding your family files last week.”

“They are flagged for immediate notification if anyone accesses them.”

Ethan stepped closer to the old man.

“Arthur, please,” he said.

“I just need the surgical logs from November twelfth.”

“My wife’s logs.”

Arthur sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“If they catch me, I lose my pension,” he said.

“I’ll take care of you,” Ethan said. “You have my word.”

Arthur hesitated, then turned to a computer terminal.

His fingers tapped quickly on the keyboard.

The printer in the corner began to warm up, its fan whirring to life.

“I’m bypassing the main logging system,” Arthur muttered.

The computer monitor cast a green glow over his wrinkled face.

“But the hard copy of the surgical report is in the physical safe.”

“I can’t open that without the digital key from the administrator.”

“Then how do we get it?” I asked.

My boots were leaving wet patches of melted snow on the linoleum floor.

Arthur looked at me, then back at Ethan.