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…

protagonist. Life isn’t that kind. Worse because it meant Derek’s need for quick cash had transformed my apartment, my schedule, my habits, my solitary life into hostile data.

“The device access failed completely?” I asked.

“Yes. Countermeasures held. Beacon hit. Recovery was immediate.”

I knew that already. I still needed to hear it again.

The older agent continue reading …