Chapter 24 —

The file blew up the quiet like somebody throwing a brick through a window. It landed in their inboxes, on feeds, in group chats — ugly and shiny all at once: PUBLIC FILE — Key 0094: PROOF OF ACCESS. The thumbnail was a brass key on a linen napkin. The caption beneath it read: Evidence of inside access. Security compromised. Full video attached.

Nicole felt the thud in her chest before the sound of Anders swearing filled the room. It was not a graceful noise. It was the ...