Pavel tensed.
— This is it. — Yes, Svetlana’s voice was calm. — The flash drive with all the documents we discussed. Contracts, client contact details, the strategic plan for next year.
— Excellent. — Satisfaction was audible in Kasatkin’s voice. — This is exactly what we need. With this information, we can seriously push Chernyavsky out of the market.
— What about my employment? — Svetlana asked. — You promised me the position of Director of Human Resources, didn’t you?
— Of course, of course, — Kasatkin assured her. — As soon as you are officially dismissed, we will hire you immediately. A salary of 250, as agreed. Plus bonuses for special achievements. For this information, I’m prepared to add another 100,000 on top.
Pavel tensed. So, 350,000 was the price for Svetlana to betray the company.
— Give me the flash drive, — Kasatkin requested.
A rustling sound, a light tap. Apparently, Svetlana had placed the flash drive on the table.
— Here, take it, — she said.
— Wonderful. — Kasatkin’s voice sounded pleased. — Svetlana Andreevna, you won’t regret this. With us, you’ll be able to realize your full potential.
— Oleg, now, — Pavel commanded curtly.
Oleg pressed a button on his phone—the signal for the officer. In 30 seconds, a police officer was supposed to enter the café. Pavel got out of the car with Vera. They walked quickly towards the entrance. A police officer in uniform, a young man of about thirty with a determined face, met them.
— Senior Lieutenant Voronkov, — he introduced himself. — Let’s go.
They entered the café. Oleg led them to the back room. At a table by the window sat Svetlana and Kasatkin. A small black flash drive lay on the table between them. Kasatkin was just reaching for it when he saw the approaching people accompanied by a police officer. His expression changed instantly: from satisfaction to confusion, then to alarm.
— What is going on here? — he asked sharply, standing up.
— Vladimir Olegovich Kasatkin? — Voronkov pulled out his ID. — Senior Lieutenant Voronkov. I’m asking you to come with me for questioning.
— Regarding what? — Kasatkin tried to maintain his composure. — I haven’t done anything wrong.
— Regarding the acquisition of information constituting a trade secret, — Pavel said calmly, approaching. — Hello, Vladimir Olegovich. We spoke on the phone today. Remember?
Kasatkin turned pale. His gaze darted to the flash drive on the table.
— I… I don’t know what you’re talking about, — he mumbled.
— No need. — Pavel nodded to Oleg.
He took out a tablet and played the recording. The voices from the conversation that had just taken place at this table filled the air. Kasatkin listened, his face growing grimmer.
— This is… This is a provocation! — he shouted. — An illegal recording!
— Perfectly legal, — Vera Yazvinskaya countered, pulling out documents. — The law allows the owner of a trade secret to use any means not contrary to the law to protect it. Audio recording in a public place is legal. You are in a café. This is not private property.
— I ask everyone to come to the station, — Voronkov repeated. — We will draw up a report there.
Kasatkin sank back into his chair, realizing he was caught. Svetlana sat motionless, staring at the table. Tears streamed down her cheeks, smudging her mascara. Pavel took the flash drive from the table and handed it to Vera.
— We’ll add this to the case file, — he said. — Let’s go.
At the police station, drawing up the report took more than two hours. Kasatkin tried to deny everything that was recorded, claiming his words were taken out of context and that he didn’t understand what specific information was being discussed. But when Vera Yazvinskaya presented a printout of Svetlana’s correspondence with him, where the terms of the deal, the amounts, and the list of documents to be transferred were written in black and white, he fell silent.
Pavel sat in the cold corridor of the station, thinking about how quickly reputations can crumble. Just yesterday, “Status-Tech” was considered a dynamically developing company, competing aggressively but honestly. Today, their Director of Development was caught red-handed receiving stolen information. Tomorrow, the entire business world of their city would know, and the day after, the whole region. The reputational blow would be colossal.
At half-past nine in the evening, it was all over. The report was signed, the flash drive was seized as evidence, the testimonies were recorded. Kasatkin left in a taxi, sullen and angry. Svetlana left shortly after.
— Well, Pavel Igorevich? — Oleg Myachin said as they stepped outside. — Consider the operation a success. Everything is documented, all the evidence is gathered.
— Yes, — Pavel nodded. — Thank you for your work. Tomorrow we’ll start filing the lawsuit….
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