Scenario: 1
Create my version of this story
I was in my office, typing up a report on a recent case I’d been working on.
It was a slow day at the office, and I was just about to finish up for the day and head home when my boss summoned me to his office.
I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it couldn’t be good.
Mr Haynes usually only called me into his office for important meetings, and this seemed like one of them.
“Emily, take a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
I sat down, my heart pounding in my chest.
I wasn’t sure if it was because I was nervous about what he was going to say or just because I had been caught off guard.
I hoped it wasn’t bad news or something that would prevent me from being able to take time off for my sister’s wedding in a few weeks.
“Emily, it’s good to see you,” he said, smiling at me.
He was an older gentleman, probably in his sixties, with a full head of gray hair and a neatly trimmed beard.
“Likewise, Mr Haynes.
How can I help you today?”
you may be wondering why I called you up here on short notice,” he said, steepling his fingers in front of him.
“Well, the truth is that I need your help with something.”
“Of course, sir.What do you need?”
“I’m sure you’re aware that one of our most popular authors has gone missing,” he said.
“Yes, I heard about that.It’s all over the news.”
The author in question was a close friend and colleague of mine, so her disappearance had struck a nerve with me.
She had been working on her latest manuscript for months, and it was set to be a bestseller as soon as we published it.
I couldn’t imagine what would make her vanish like that without a trace.
“We found this letter in her office,” Mr Haynes said, handing me a piece of paper.
It was written in the author’s distinctive scrawl, and I recognized her handwriting immediately.
“There’s something in there,” I said, “something that could ruin lives and reputations.”
“That’s what we’re afraid of,” he said.
“We can’t let that happen.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“The manuscript is on her desk, but it’s encrypted and time-locked to publish in seven days if she doesn’t do anything about it.”
“So you want me to find her and convince her to stop it?”
“I want you to find her and get the encryption key from her so we can stop it.”
“It won’t be easy, but I can give it a go.I’ll do whatever it takes, sir.”
“I know you will, Emily.That’s why I chose you for this job.You have a background in investigative journalism, and you have a reputation for getting to the bottom of things that others might not be able to find out.
I trust you will be able to unravel this mystery and save the day.”
I was touched by his words, and I knew that I couldn’t let him down.
I had to find the author and get the key from her.