"The ID is real. I'm sure you can tell. But if you want to argue that it's still possible to fake a 'real' ID, then there's nothing more I can say."
Morin didn't want to play this game of question and answer with Ethan anymore. He got straight to the point: "But Ethan, what I want to tell you is that time is running out."
"What do you mean, time is running out?" Ethan frowned. In truth, he was pretty much convinced of Morin's identity, but his current situation and circumstances forced him to remain cautious.
"There is indeed a mol in your team," Morin said, changing the subject. "I know it's not you. You were framed."
"Why?" Ethan felt like this was the day he had asked "why" the most.
"Because of the intelligence," Morin said, pointing to his head. "The mole wanted to frame you, and there were indeed many suspicious points about you. But the problem is, the suspicious points about you are too numerous and too obvious."
"A huge sum of money was transferred directly to your parents' account, out in the open," Morin said, shaking his head.
"Honestly, I don't understand what kind of person would make such a massive blunder... If you were the mole, would you have the money transferred directly to your parents' account?"
"Of course not," Ethan shook his head. "I'd have it transferred to an untraceable, anonymous account, and then use various cash withdrawals and deposits to make the money into a legitimate, traceable income, or just spend it in places where it couldn't be traced."
"Exactly. First of all, the money was transferred so blatantly, it's as if they were trying to rub my face in the dirt with their lack of intelligence."
Morin spread his hands. "Of course, I think your superior probably figured that out too... well, maybe. But he still concluded that you were the mole. Do you know why?"
"I know," Ethan said, no longer as cautious as he was before. "Because I'm the only one who survived."
"That's right. You were the only one who survived. That's why your superior thought you were the mole. The money was just a piece of evidence that wasn't very convincing."
Morin snapped his fingers. "So, what I'm telling you now is that someone on your team isn't dead."
"What?" Ethan's eyes widened at this. "What did you say?"
"I don't think they would be so foolish. They must have known that the money transferred to your parents' account wouldn't have much of an effect, which is why they devised this plan to 'kill' everyone on the team except for you."
"Then, with only you left, even if the evidence is insufficient and a bit circumstantial, what else could be done? A mole wouldn't kill themselves, would they?"
Morin said this as he spread out the files on the table.
"Are you saying someone faked their death?" Ethan wasn't an idiot; he had pieced it together. "Who...?"
"Yes, some people faked their deaths, and some people really died. I'm sure you know that the person who faked their death is, of course, the most suspicious," Morin said, spreading out the files. "These files contain detailed information on everyone on your team. But for now, we can throw a few out..."
"First, the technician," Morin said, holding up one file and putting it aside. "He died a... terrible death. But I saw the CIA agents collecting his body. At least, he'll get a decent funeral."
"Second, Sarah, the one who was working with you," Morin pulled out another file. "She died too. But the other team of agents also recovered her body."
"Third, Hannah... the remains inside the car after the explosion were also being collected by CIA agents." Morin pulled out a third file and put it aside.
"...And then?" Ethan asked, seeing that Morin didn't make another move.
"That's all," Morin said, picking up the remaining three files and handing them to Ethan. "My principle is—a body must be seen."
"Me, Jim, and Claire..." Ethan frowned at this. "Jim died. I saw him get shot and fall into the water. And Claire, I remember she was in the car when it exploded."
"If the shot was aimed correctly, even if it hit his abdomen, it would at most cause a massive hemorrhage," Morin said. "After Jim was shot, he fell off the bridge and disappeared. As for Claire... she wasn't in the car. There was only one body in the wreckage, and that was Hannah's."
"What?" Ethan frowned. "That's impossible. I saw..."
"What you saw with your own eyes could be a problem," Morin shook his head. "I only believe in evidence. Just as I said, a body must be seen. And right now, there's no evidence to prove that either of them is dead."
"..." Ethan was silent for a moment, then asked, "What did you mean earlier when you said time was running out?"
"If my guess is correct, and those two faked their deaths, it means that either both of them are moles, or one of them definitely is."
Morin said, walking over to Ethan's table and pulling out a small bug from underneath. He showed it to Ethan. "In the briefing, your team was supposed to gather at 4 AM. And now..."
Morin looked down at his watch. "It's 3:30 AM. It's time for me to leave."
"If one of your team members comes back, you have to pretend you don't know anything, understood?"
Morin pulled a phone from his pocket and handed it to Ethan. "This phone is encrypted. It only has one number in it. You can use it to contact me. If one of your team members comes back, it means they have a bigger plan, one that they need you to carry out."
"So, I need to pretend to cooperate, pretend I'm looking for the real mole?" Ethan asked, taking the phone and looking at it.
"Not pretend," Morin corrected him. "Do what you originally planned to do. Find the mole. Do what you have to do. You need to act like our conversation never happened. I'll be there with you, providing assistance when needed, and collecting enough evidence."
"What do you need the evidence for?" Ethan asked. "You're not really some special agent from the IRS, are you?"
"All income, whether legal or illegal, is subject to tax," Morin said, putting on his coat and collecting the files and IDs he had brought. He smiled. "We at the IRS are very friendly, as long as... you don't evade your taxes."
*****
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