Chapter 10 - The Missing Server

Police moved quickly after the flash drive.

Daniel Pike disappeared faster.

His phone went dark at 4:12 p.m.

His passport triggered no airport alerts.

His car was found in a parking garage near the river.

Vivian claimed she had no idea where he was.

Ethan did not believe her.

At 6:30, Marcus called from the mansion.

"Someone's inside the server room."

"Police are still there."

"That's the problem. Whoever it is has an authorized badge."

Ethan watched remotely as a masked figure entered the lower security corridor carrying a black case.

Marcus and two officers converged.

The intruder ran.

He reached the backup rack, pulled a drive module, and smashed it against the floor.

Marcus tackled him before he reached the stairs.

When police removed the mask, Ethan recognized the man.

Paul Denning.

Assistant security supervisor.

Employed for six years.

Hired by Marcus.

Marcus stared at him in disbelief.

"Why?"

Paul said nothing.

Then police found thirty thousand dollars in his locker.

Payments traced to a consulting company owned by Daniel's brother.

Another betrayal from inside the walls.

Ethan looked at the broken drive.

"What was on it?"

Dana checked the system map.

"Old nursery backups. Before the current retention cycle."

"Can we recover them?"

"Maybe."

The drive went to a forensic lab.

Three hours later, Dana called.

"We got fragments."

One file opened.

The nursery, seven months earlier.

Lily sat on the carpet crying.

Vivian stood near the door.

"Daddy doesn't come home because you make him tired."

Lily shook her head.

"Daddy love me."

Vivian crouched.

"Then prove you can be good."

Ethan's vision blurred.

Another file loaded.

Anna's blue room.

Daniel was there.

So was Paul.

Vivian handed them a folder.

Then she said something that made Ethan lean closer.

"Once I get the medical proxy, we don't need the custody story anymore."

Daniel replied:

"Then don't make him sick until the paperwork is clean."

Ethan stopped the video.

Nobody in the room moved.

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