PART 7:

He was clearly accessing files, reading something intently, then he closed the laptop, finished cleaning, and left. “This happened three times over the past month.” Marcus continued. “Always in the middle of the night, always for 10 to 15 minutes. I think we need to bring this to the police, Lena. This is corporate espionage.” Lena watched the footage replay, her mind spinning.

This contradicted everything she’d learned about Noah. The man who taught kids for free, who’d sacrificed his career for ethics. He was stealing from her? But what else could this be? “Not yet.” She said slowly. “Give me 24 hours.” “Lena.” “24 hours, Marcus. If I can’t get an explanation that makes sense, we’ll involve the authorities.

I promise.” Marcus looked unhappy, but nodded. “Okay. But after that, this goes up the chain, whether you like it or not.” Lena left his office feeling sick. Every time she thought she understood what was happening, another piece fell into place that contradicted everything else. Noah was a teacher and a thief? A whistleblower and a spy? None of it made sense.

She checked her watch. Nearly 4:00 p.m. Noah’s shift started at 11:00 p.m. She couldn’t wait that long. She needed answers now. The community center looked different in daylight, smaller, more run-down. The parking lot was full of potholes, and the brick facade was crumbling in places.

Lena parked her Tesla and immediately felt out of place. This was a neighborhood where people noticed expensive cars, and not in a good way. She found the side entrance Noah had used the night before. This time it was locked. She walked around to the front where a faded poster advertised after-school programs and GED classes.

The door was open. Inside, the building smelled like old wood and industrial cleaner. A heavy-set woman with gray hair sat at a reception desk, looking up suspiciously when Lena entered. “Help you?” The woman’s tone suggested she doubted it. “I’m looking for Noah Brooks. I need to speak with him.” “Noah’s not here.

Won’t be until tonight, and even then, I’m not sure he’ll want to see you.” The woman’s eyes narrowed. “You’re the one from last night, aren’t you? The one who followed him here?” Word traveled fast. “Yes. My name is Lena Hart. I need to apologize to him.” “Apologize?” The woman snorted. “You scared those kids half to death.

They thought you were from the city, coming to shut us down. Took Noah an hour to calm them down enough to finish the lesson.” Guilt twisted in Lena’s chest. “I didn’t mean to frighten anyone. I made a mistake, a serious one. That’s what I want to tell Noah.” “Well, he doesn’t want to hear it. He told me specifically that if you showed up, I should tell you to leave him alone.

” The woman crossed her arms. “So there’s your message. Leave him alone.” “Please,” Lena said, and the desperation in her own voice surprised her. “Just tell me when he’ll be here. I’ll wait. I’ll wait all day if I have to.” “Why? So you can harass him more? Follow him to his daughter’s school next?” The woman’s expression hardened.

“I know your type, rich, powerful, used to getting what you want. But Noah’s been through enough. He doesn’t need people like you making his life harder.” “You’re right,” Lena said. “About all of it. But I’m trying to do better. I’m trying to fix what I broke.” The woman studied her for a long moment, then sighed.

“He comes in around 7:00 to set up the computers before class. But if he tells you to leave, you leave. I don’t care who you are or what fancy company you run. This is our space, and we protect our own here.” “Thank you,” Lena said. “I’ll wait.” She spent the next 3 hours sitting in her car, watching the neighborhood come alive around her.

Kids walked home from school in groups, calling to each other. An elderly man pushed a shopping cart full of cans and bottles. A young mother struggled with a stroller and grocery bags until a neighbor appeared to help. This was a community, Lena realized. Something she’d lost touch with in her steel and glass tower, in her penthouse apartment where she knew none of her neighbors’ names.

At 6:45, Noah’s Honda pulled into the parking lot. He got out carrying two large backpacks and froze when he saw Lena’s Tesla. His jaw tightened, and for a moment she thought he might just leave. Instead, he walked over to her car and knocked on the window. Lena got out quickly. “Noah, I need to talk to you.

” “I have nothing to say to you.” His voice was cold, all the warmth from the classroom completely absent. “I thought I made that clear last night.” “You did. But I need to explain. I need you to understand.” “I understand perfectly,” Noah interrupted. “You saw a janitor in places he shouldn’t be and assumed the worst.

You followed me instead of talking to me. You invaded my privacy and scared kids who already have enough to worry about. I understand all of it, Ms. Hart. Now please leave me alone.” He started to walk away. Lena’s next words came out in a rush, driven by equal parts desperation and shame. “I know who you are, Nathan Brooks. I know what happened at Cyberdyne.

” Noah stopped. His shoulders tensed, and when he turned back around, his expression was dangerous. “You investigated me.” “I needed to understand. After last night, nothing made sense. A janitor who teaches advanced programming, who knows more than my senior engineers. I had to know why.” “So you dug into my past without my permission.

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