Chapter 6: The Message on Derek's Phone
Derek shoved his phone into his pocket so quickly that it struck the edge of his belt.
“I'm going to take a break,” he announced.
Mr. Harris stepped into his path.
“Not yet.””
Derek stared at him.
“You cannot stop me from taking a break.””
“No. But I can ask you to remain available while we resolve an active inventory issue.””
“This has nothing to do with me.””
“Then you should have no difficulty cooperating.””
Derek looked around the store.
The customers had stopped pretending they weren't watching. The woman near the entrance held her handbag against her side, her expression firm. The young couple stood shoulder to shoulder beside the wedding-band counter.
Derek lowered his voice.
“Can we speak privately?””
Harris glanced at Mr. Grant.
“Not until I understand why your employee account has been flagged.””
“My account hasn't been flagged. The system generated a routine notification.””
“Then show me the notification.””
Derek's face tightened.
“That's confidential personnel information.””
“It's a notification on the store system.””
“Exactly. Personnel information.””
Mr. Grant said nothing.
He didn't need to.
The more Derek tried to escape the conversation, the more conspicuous his behavior became.
Harris extended his hand.
“Derek, I need your phone.””
“No.””
“I need you to open the employee application and show me the message you received.””
“You have no right to inspect my personal phone.””
“I'm not asking for your personal messages. I'm asking you to access the company application.””
Derek shook his head.
“This is harassment.””
Harris drew a slow breath.
“Then you can open the company application yourself and show me the notification.””
For a moment, Derek looked ready to refuse.
Then he pulled out his phone again.
His fingers moved across the screen. He opened the employee application, scrolled past a list of shifts, and tapped the notification.
The screen displayed a short message.
*PLEASE REPORT TO STORE MANAGEMENT REGARDING AN ACCESS CONTROL REVIEW. DO NOT ALTER OR DELETE COMPANY RECORDS.*
Harris read it twice.
“Have you received any other notices?””
“No.””
“Have you accessed any restricted inventory records?””
“No.””
“Have you shared your credentials with anyone?””
“Of course not.””
Mr. Grant stepped closer.
“Derek, when did you last use the operations terminal?””
Derek looked at him with open resentment.
“Why do you keep asking me questions?””
“Because you keep avoiding them.””
“I haven't touched the operations terminal.””
“Today?””
“I said I haven't touched it.””
Mr. Grant nodded toward Harris.
“Check the access log.””
The manager immediately opened the personnel and inventory dashboard on his tablet.
Derek's expression changed.
“Wait. You can't do that without a formal request.””
Harris stopped scrolling.
“Why would checking a company access log require a formal request from you?””
“Because it contains protected information.””
“Which you say you haven't accessed.””
“That's right.””
“Then the log should confirm that.””
Derek looked away.
Harris continued navigating the system.
A moment later, he stopped.
The tablet displayed a list of access events with timestamps, employee identifiers, and terminal locations.
One entry was marked for review.
Harris enlarged it.
“Derek,” he said slowly, “why does your employee number appear on the inventory authorization terminal last night?””
Derek stared at the screen.
“That can't be right.””
“Were you here last night?””
“I was closing.””
“Until what time?””
“Eight.””
Harris checked the record.
“This access occurred at 8:47 p.m.””
Derek shook his head.
“I must have left my account open.””
“Did you leave your credentials active after leaving the store?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“I was tired. It was a long shift.””
Harris studied the screen.
“Did anyone else use your account?””
“I said I don't know!””
His raised voice startled a customer near the entrance.
Derek immediately lowered it.
“I'm sorry. But you're treating a technical issue like a crime.””
Mr. Grant watched him carefully.
“A technical issue can explain an incorrect record,” he said.
“It doesn't explain why the record exists.””
Derek swallowed.
“Maybe somebody used my account.””
“Then we should be able to establish who.””
“Exactly.””
“That's why the logs must be preserved.””
Harris looked at the notification warning against altering or deleting company records.
He tapped the preservation option.
A confirmation appeared.
*AUDIT TRAIL PRESERVED. FURTHER REVIEW REQUIRED.*
Harris let out a slow breath.
“It's done.””
Derek stepped backward.
“Why did you preserve it?””
“Because the system instructed us to preserve the records.””
“You don't know whether I did anything.””
“No,” Harris replied.
“I don't.””
For the first time, his answer seemed to unsettle Derek more than an accusation would have.
Mr. Grant turned toward the manager.
“Have the shipment records been secured?””
“Yes, sir.””
“Can the dispatch team still release the shipment?””
Harris checked the status.
“Unfortunately, yes. The original authorization remains active.””
“Then we need confirmation from someone who can suspend it.””
“I understand.””
Harris began another call.
Derek stood motionless beside the counter, his phone clutched in one hand.
The woman near the entrance spoke quietly to Mr. Grant.
“Sir, I hope you know you don't have to tolerate any of this.””
Mr. Grant offered a polite smile.
“I appreciate that.””
“I've watched people judge others by their clothes my entire life. It never becomes less ugly.””
“No,” he said.
“It doesn't.””
Derek heard the exchange.
His face twisted.
“Can everyone stop acting like I've committed some terrible offense? I was rude. I apologized. That's all this started as.””
Mr. Grant looked directly at him.
“Is that all it started as?””
“Yes.””
“Then why are you worried about the access log?””
Derek opened his mouth.
No answer came.
Harris's call connected.
“Regional operations,” a voice said.
“This is Harris. I'm requesting an immediate dispatch suspension pending verification of a disputed authorization.””
“Your request has already been reviewed.””
“Not by someone who has examined the access record.””
A pause followed.
“Manager Harris, the shipment is cleared.””
“The employee account associated with the authorization is under review.””
The voice on the other end became noticeably quieter.
“Which employee?””
Harris glanced at the screen.
“Derek.””
Nobody moved.
Then the voice said, “Do not discuss that name over an unsecured line.””
Harris's eyes widened.
“Why?””
“Transfer the call to the store's designated compliance contact.””
“We don't have a compliance officer on-site.””
“Then secure the records and wait for further instructions.””
The call ended.
Harris slowly lowered the tablet.
Derek was staring at him.
“What did they say?””
The manager didn't answer immediately.
Mr. Grant's expression had become unreadable.
“Mr. Harris,” he said, “did they confirm the shipment was safe to release?””
“No, sir.””
“Did they confirm the authorization was legitimate?””
“No.””
“Then the hold remains necessary.””
Harris nodded.
“I'll submit the request again.””
He turned back to the tablet.
A new message appeared before he could finish.
The sender was the regional office.
Harris opened it.
His lips parted, and his hand trembled against the screen.
“Mr. Grant,” he whispered, “they've just sent an emergency instruction.””
“What instruction?””
Harris looked from the tablet to Derek.
Then he read the message aloud.
“Effective immediately, no employee associated with the disputed authorization may leave the premises until the compliance team arrives.””
Derek's face went completely white.
He backed away from the counter.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen, and his entire expression changed.
The caller's name was visible to everyone standing nearby.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER.*
Derek answered with a shaking hand.
A man's voice came through the speaker, quiet but unmistakably urgent.
“Derek, listen carefully. Whatever happens, do not let Mr. Grant see the original file.””
Mr. Grant lifted his eyes.
Derek stopped breathing.
May you like
Because the caller had just said the one thing nobody in the store had mentioned.
The original file.
