Chapter 4: The Login That Came From Inside
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The security alert remained open on Rebecca's laptop.
*UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS ATTEMPT — FOUNDING ADMINISTRATOR*
*USER: TIANA.MORGAN*
*LOCATION: REED GLOBAL — EXECUTIVE NETWORK*
Tiana stared at the screen as if it were a photograph of someone standing behind her.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
I kept my eyes on her.
"You just told me you hadn't accessed the company system in three years.""
"I haven't.""
"Then explain why your account is trying to enter my company's private network.""
She shook her head.
"Marcus, I don't even know how to access that system.""
Rebecca folded her arms.
"Your credentials were used to initiate a privileged login request. Whoever used them knew exactly which account to target.""
Tiana turned toward her.
"Are you accusing me?""
"I'm saying your credentials were used.""
"That's not the same thing!""
"Then help us establish the difference.""
I raised one hand.
"Enough.""
Rebecca stopped speaking.
I looked at Daniel, who had appeared in the doorway after receiving the security notification.
"Lock down the executive network. Suspend every dormant administrator credential. I want the security team physically checking every workstation on this floor.""
"Yes, sir.""
"And Daniel?""
He turned.
"Nobody leaves this building with company equipment until we've established what's happening.""
He nodded and disappeared.
Tiana sank into the chair.
"Marcus, you have to believe me.""
I remained standing.
"Three years ago, you gave Devon my password.""
Her eyes filled.
"I know.""
"You took money from him.""
"I know.""
"You signed a statement supporting a lie about my company.""
"I know!""
Her voice broke.
"I made terrible decisions. I know that. But I didn't access your system today.""
I studied her for a moment.
There was something different about her fear.
It wasn't the embarrassment of someone caught doing something wrong.
It was the terror of someone realizing another person had used them.
Rebecca examined the security log.
"Marcus, there's an additional detail.""
"What?""
"The request originated from the internal network, but the device identifier doesn't match any registered company computer.""
"Meaning?""
"Someone connected an unauthorized device to our network.""
I glanced at Tiana.
"Could that have been done remotely?""
"Not with this particular authentication sequence.""
I turned toward Daniel's empty doorway.
"Get me the building access records.""
Twenty minutes later, Daniel returned with a tablet.
"We have a problem.""
I looked up.
"Another one?""
He placed the tablet on my desk.
A photograph showed a man entering the underground parking garage at 10:41 a.m.
He wore a maintenance uniform and carried a black equipment case.
His face was partially hidden beneath a baseball cap.
"Who is he?"" I asked.
"His access card belongs to a contractor who stopped working here six months ago.""
"Where is the contractor now?""
"On vacation in Florida. We contacted him. He says his card was never returned.""
Rebecca leaned closer.
"Can you identify the equipment?""
Daniel enlarged the photograph.
A small rectangular device was attached to the man's wrist.
"Possibly a network diagnostic tool," he said.
"Possibly?""
"We're checking.""
I pointed at the photograph.
"Find him.""
Daniel nodded.
Then Tiana suddenly stood.
"That's not a maintenance worker.""
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed at the screen.
"Look at his left hand.""
Daniel zoomed in.
There was a silver ring on the man's little finger.
Tiana's face lost its color.
"I've seen that ring before.""
"Where?"" I asked.
She swallowed.
"At Devon's apartment.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Who does it belong to?""
She hesitated.
"His brother.""
Rebecca looked up.
"Devon has a brother?""
Tiana nodded.
"His name is Ethan Hayes. He works in cybersecurity. Devon told me he used to do contract work for banks.""
Daniel straightened.
"Why would his brother be inside our building?""
Tiana looked at me.
"Because Devon said Ethan was the only person who could recover the original company files.""
Silence filled the office.
I slowly turned toward Rebecca.
"Find everything we have on Ethan Hayes.""
At noon, our security team located the unauthorized device.
It had been connected to a network cabinet on the thirty-eighth floor, two levels below my office.
But the person who installed it was gone.
The equipment case had been abandoned in a service corridor.
Inside were two laptops, a portable storage drive, and a printed copy of Reed Global's internal organizational chart.
Someone had circled my name.
Someone else had circled Tiana's.
And beneath both names, written in red ink, were four words.
*THE ORIGINAL KEY HOLDERS.*
Rebecca read the note twice.
"What does that mean?""
I didn't answer.
I was looking at the storage drive.
"Can we access it?""
"Not without forensic imaging.""
"Then do it.""
Daniel received a call.
He listened briefly, then looked at me.
"Sir, we've located Ethan Hayes.""
"Where?""
"He's at a private office in West Loop.""
"Has he been detained?""
"No. He left before our team arrived.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Call the police. Tell them we have evidence of unauthorized access and possible corporate espionage.""
Daniel nodded.
Then Rebecca's laptop chimed.
A new message had arrived.
It came from an unfamiliar email address.
The subject line contained only one sentence.
*YOU SHOULD ASK TIANA WHAT SHE HID IN YOUR FIRST OFFICE.*
I looked at her.
She stared at the screen.
Then she slowly covered her mouth.
"What's in the first office, Tiana?""
She shook her head.
"Marcus...""
"What did you leave there?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't leave anything.""
I moved closer.
"Then why does someone think you did?""
She looked at me for a long moment.
May you like
Finally, she whispered:
"Because I buried the original contract.""
