She never knew what hit her. Or if she did, she only knew it for a second, two at the most. In any event, not long enough for her to break stride, never mind jump out of the way or do anything to save herself, beyond looking over her shoulder and widening her eyes in terror.

“This will be the best thing that ever happened to you!” Dr. Katz’s parting words echoed in Madison’s head as the elevator came to a stop and the doors glided open. “Third floor,” the car’s disembodied voice intoned. “Global Marketing Group— Executive Level.” Madison stepped off the elevator into a small, deserted lobby. The only sign of life was an LED video wall silently shimmering, its pristine shade of eggshell white perfectly matching the adjacent walls while offsetting a colorful corporate logo: K-N-O-W. The red, white, and blue 3D letters rotated in a playful, off-kilter fashion above the company mantra: “We Know Everything.”

Dr. Harris stopped writing and paused a moment before he answered. “Just so I’m clear, Madison, what you’re suggesting is not only did Mohamed Attar not die on 9/ 11, as the official report concluded, but, two decades later, this man, who carried out the worst terrorist attack in American history, is not only alive, he’s hiding in plain sight, in the United States, working as a senior executive at one of the big tech firms right here in Silicon Valley.” His words, which he said without any hint of sarcasm or irony, hung in the air.

Madison stepped inside her apartment and locked the deadbolt. She stood there for a moment, letting her eyes adjust. Her precious collection of files and clippings spread everywhere were now all but swallowed up by the gloomy shadows.

The image was so grainy it was hard to make out the girl’s features. But for Madison, it didn’t stop her from recognizing that little face. The little girl was her.

“I think someone’s watching me.” This got Will’s attention. He sat back down and leaned in close. “Really? Like who?” “I don’t know— but I can feel it.”

It was hard for Niles to tell if his superior was being sarcastic or really meant it. He decided not to chance it. “Thank you, sir.”

Niles took his time responding. “Well now, technically, the government doesn’t kidnap folks. We just remove them from circulation.”

He had kept this file all these years for one simple reason: one could never be too careful when dealing with these sorts of people.

“This isn’t DC— we don’t have that kind of manpower⁠—” “Then find it, Agent Fox!” Niles exploded. “This is all-goddamn-hands-on-deck here! Bring in the goddamn Boy Scouts if you have to, I don’t care— just get it done!”

Will continued taking in the vastness of the celestial display. “Did you ever stop to think that, in the grand scheme of things, our life doesn’t matter— I mean, not one little bit?” “All the time,” Madison replied flatly. “Until one day it does.” He turned to regard Madison. “Then there’s no telling what you’re capable of. ”