“Can you come over?”
Walter had asked why.
“I need to show you something.”
“What is it?”
“I can't explain over the phone.”
Walter had driven to Samuel's house.
When he arrived, Samuel was standing in his garage.
The garage door was half closed.
Samuel kept looking toward the street.
Walter noticed immediately.
“You expecting someone?”
Samuel shook his head.
“No.”
“Then why are you acting like someone is following you?”
Samuel didn't answer.
Instead, he opened an old metal toolbox.
Inside was a small black flash drive.
Walter stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
Samuel looked at him.
“Something that shouldn't exist.”
Walter laughed nervously.
“Samuel, you're scaring me.”
“You should be scared.”
Those words stayed with Walter.
Samuel explained that for several months, he had been repairing vehicles for a private security company.
During one job, he had discovered something unusual.
Several vehicles connected to the company had been involved in incidents that were never properly reported.
Names had been erased.
Records had disappeared.
Security footage had been replaced.
Samuel had copied files before anyone could destroy them.
Then someone discovered what he had done.
That was when the threats began.
Walter had wanted him to go to the police.
Samuel refused.
“They're already inside,” he said.
Walter had thought his friend was paranoid.
Then someone had knocked on the garage door.
Samuel froze.
The two men heard footsteps outside.
A voice called Samuel's name.
Samuel whispered:
“Hide.”
Walter barely had time to react.
The garage door opened.
A young man entered.
He demanded the flash drive.
Samuel refused.
The argument became violent.
Walter stepped between them.
Someone shoved him.
His face hit the fence.
By the time Walter regained consciousness, the young man was gone.
Samuel was standing over him.
Blood was running down Walter's cheek.
Samuel picked up the flash drive.
Then he said something Walter would never forget.
“If anything happens to me, give this to someone you trust.”