Page 88 of Can You Take It?

I pull out my lock-picking tools again and get to work. The lock gives way easily, and I open the drawer to find... a bunch of old photographs and a stack of letters. I sift through them quickly, but there’s no sign of a USB drive.

“Fuck,” I hiss, standing up and looking around the room for any other hiding spots. My eyes land on a small safe tucked under the bed.

“Martin, any idea what Liam would use as a code for a safe?”

“No clue. Try his birthday. Or his sister’s. He was obsessed with her death.”

I punch in Liam’s birthday. Nothing. I try his sister’s. Still nothing. Frustration bubbles up as I try a few more combinations—random numbers, important dates—but none of them work. I growl under my breath.

“Try your birthday,” Martin suggests, like the idiot he is.

“Are you fucking kidding me? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Got any better ideas, genius?”

I clench my teeth. “Yeah, anything other than that.”

Martin’s chuckle crackles in my ear. “Oh, c’mon. Give it a shot. Maybe the universe is trying to throw you a bone.”

I sigh, feeling the ridiculousness of the situation wash over me. Fine. I punch in my birthday, fully expecting it to fail. But to my utter shock, the safe clicks open.

“Looks like the universe is on your side.”

“Shut up, Martin,” I snap, pulling the safe open.

Inside, I find a stack of cash, a gun, and... the USB drive I’ve been looking for.

“Got it,” I say, grabbing the drive and stuffing it into my pocket.

“Good. Now get the hell out of there before Liam shows up.”

“Already on it,” I reply, moving quickly to the door.

I half-open the door, ready to slip out, but then I freeze. Colton and Emily are walking right towards me. They were supposed to be in Hollowbrook, not here. Panic rushes through me as I quietly close the door and duck behind the wall.

“Martin, the FBI is here,” I whisper.

“What the fuck? Are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious. Colton and Emily are right outside.”

“Shit. You need to get out of there. Now.”

“No shit, Sherlock. But I can’t just walk out with them standing there.”

I curse under my breath, realizing that carrying the evidence with me is no longer an option. I need a plan. I glance around and spot a corner of the carpet slightly lifted. I slide the USB drive under it, hoping they won’t find it if things go south.

“Izel, you need to—”

“Shut up, Martin!” I cut him off, yanking out the earpiece and smashing it under my boot. His yells fade into static, and I hope like hell he doesn’t try to call back.

I hear them stop right outside the door. My heart pounds so loudly I’m sure they can hear it. I press myself tighter against the wall, making myself as small as possible.

“He fooled the world, but he didn’t account for us being smarter,” Colton remarks.

The hide-and-seek game begins. I hug the walls, ducking behind furniture and staying low to the ground. The adrenaline courses through my veins as I eavesdrop on Colton and Emily’s conversation.

“He’s in for serious questioning. We’ll tear through his lies and get to the bottom of this,” Emily says.

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