Undercurrent

Smith's expression turned guarded as he stood up, his tall frame towering over the room. "That is one of the boys working for me," he explained, his deep voice measured. "He came to give me a report of what happened at the last operation he went for."

Matthew's eyes widened, his curiosity piqued. "Oh really?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and skepticism.

Smith's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing. "Yes, is there anything wrong?" he asked, his tone neutral, but with a hint of defensiveness.

The air was thick with tension as the two men locked eyes, the silence between them palpable. The dim lighting in the room seemed to intensify the mood, the shadows cast on the walls like skeletal fingers. The soft hum of the air conditioner provided a subtle background noise, but it did little to ease the strain.

Matthew's eyes darted to the young man, who stood quietly, his eyes fixed on the floor. There was something about him that didn't quite add up, something that