My brother actually laughed at dinner and said, ‘I sold that useless laptop of yours for five hundred bucks. Finally got rid of your junk.’ My cousins cheered him on. Then he added, almost proudly, ‘Already handed it off to the buyer.’ I got up, stepped outside, and called my supervisor. By the time I made the report, the FBI cyber team was already tracking the device…

shifted.

The judge nodded. “Noted.”

Derek remained in custody.

Outside the courtroom, families gathered in little islands of denial, damage control, and legal strategy. Lawyers murmured. Elevators chimed. Somebody somewhere laughed at something unrelated, which felt offensive on principle.

Dad caught me near the exit.

“Marcus, wait.”

I turned.

He looked older continue reading …