Chapter 8
The mention of the external hardware bridge hanging behind the garage sent a fresh wave of ice through the suburban home. Arthur stepped past Maya, his heavy boots clicking against the hardwood floor as he confronted the federal agents, his face dark with suppressed rage.
“Explain that to me in plain English,” Arthur demanded, pointing a thick, calloused finger at the evidence bag containing the black repeater device. “Are you telling me my son didn't hack my accounts from the basement?”
The lead agent looked at Arthur with measured, professional sympathy, though her eyes remained entirely guarded. “We are saying that the technical sophistication required to deploy a rogue cellular bypass bridge and mask the IP signature through three separate offshore layering nodes exceeds standard consumer capabilities, Mr. Vance. Whoever executed this cyber-heist had professional-grade network administration tools.”
David turned his furious glare back toward Julian, who was now shaking so violently that his teeth were visibly chattering inside his hunter-green jacket.
“Who helped you, Julian?!” David roared, grabbing his younger brother by the shoulders and shaking him hard enough to rattle his teeth. “Who gave you that device?! Was it one of those deadbeat cryptocurrency guys you hang out with downtown?!”
“I didn't know what it was!” Julian sobbed, finally breaking down completely as tears streamed down his pale face. He fell to his knees on the floorboards, pulling his knees up to his chest. “I swear I didn't know! I just needed the money to pay off Uncle Thomas's lien so the bank wouldn't take the farm!”
“Who gave you the hardware, Julian?” Maya asked, her voice dropping into a terrifyingly calm, deadpan register. She stepped forward, towering over her weeping brother, her pink shoes planted inches from his hands. “Who handed you the bridge and gave you the specific override codes? Because that wasn't on any public forum.”
Julian squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head frantically from side to side. “I met a guy online three months ago through the debt relief forum. He said he was a corporate restructuring consultant specializing in distressed agricultural properties. He offered to help clear the title for a flat fee if I provided him with temporary remote access to a clean corporate network to process some tax credits.”
Clara gasped, dropping her linen napkin entirely as she clutched her purple cardigan around her throat. “A consultant? Julian, you gave a complete stranger administrative access to Maya’s company server?”
May you like
Before Julian could answer, the lead federal agent raised a hand sharply, signaling for silence. Her radio crackled to life with a burst of static, followed by a breathless voice reporting from the perimeter of the property.
“Command, this is Unit Four. We have an unlisted late-model sedan parked half a mile down the access road with its engine idling. The driver just dumped a laptop into the creek bed and is attempting to flee on foot toward the state highway.”
