Chapter 2 - Lockdown and Lies

The plan was highly unorthodox, but given the severe national security risks, the FBI and NCIS approved it within twenty minutes.

We were going to feed the beast.

I sat at my laptop, completely in my element. For years, my family had made me feel small because I wasn't outgoing, because I preferred code to cocktail parties. But right here, right now, I was the most dangerous person in the room.

Working with the FBI cyber team, I constructed a sandbox environment on a secure server. I built a fabricated database that looked exactly like Vanguard’s highest-level encrypted vault. Inside that vault, I placed dummy files loaded with fake, highly enticing information about defense contracts, naval fleet movements, and massive financial bids.

“It’s a honeypot,” I explained to the tactical team gathering in the library. “We take the device out of the Faraday cage. We let it establish a connection. I will intentionally lower the firewall on my decoy server and let the device ‘steal’ the data.”

“But how does this help us catch them?” asked Hayes, adjusting his tactical vest.

“Because the files aren't just fake,” I smiled. “They’re laced with a zero-day beacon. The moment they open the file on their end in the penthouse, the beacon will trigger. It will physically shut down their building’s security system, lock their internal server room doors, and broadcast an exact GPS pinpoint to your comms.”

David looked at me, a mixture of awe and intense pride in his eyes. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Remind me never to make you angry.”

“You’re safe,” I whispered back. “As long as you don’t bring bugged mahogany boxes into our house.”

“Positions,” Agent Reynolds ordered. “Tactical teams are en route to D.C. Maddie, wait for my signal to drop the cage.”

An agonizing hour passed. We watched live feeds from FBI drones hovering outside a sleek, glass-fronted high-rise in downtown Washington D.C. The penthouse lights were on. Thermal imaging showed four heat signatures moving rapidly around a server bank.

“They’re waiting for the payload,” Reynolds noted over the comms. “Maddie, light it up.”

I unzipped the Faraday cage.

The green light on the device immediately turned solid red. It had found the network.

On my screen, a progress bar appeared. The device was actively ripping the data from my honeypot server. It was terrifying to watch, even knowing it was a trap. This was what Brittany had invited into my life.

Transfer 20%... 50%... 80%... 100%.

“Payload delivered,” I said, my heart pounding against my ribs.

We stared at the monitor, waiting for the buyers to open the file.

Ten seconds passed. Twenty.

Then, my laptop screen flashed bright green.

“Beacon activated!” I called out. “They opened the file. The malware is executing. Building security is disabled, elevators are locked to the ground floor, and their server room is sealed shut.”

Over the radio, we heard the crisp, calm voice of the FBI SWAT commander.