Transitions by Mike Hormek - HTML preview

Chapter 5

In a dimly lit, quiet office, Craig and Jenifer are seated at a desk, discussing the upcoming launch to deactivate the robots.

Craig was speaking to a nervous Jenifer.

"Even after they download the operating system and files, and in the unlikely event they see shadows of our virus, the code should delete it. There is no way to trace it back to us. The FBI has all our computers, and we would have been arrested by now if they found anything."

Suddenly, Mark, the Designer in their office with a determined look, enters.

Closing the door behind him, he says, "We need to talk."

Craig, glancing up, asks,"What is it? We are in the middle of something important."

Craig notices a severe expression on Mark, "What is it, Mark?"

Jenifer noticed Mark's solemn expression and asked, "What's going on, Mark?"

"I saw you guys using the HP computer that's no longer here, and I know one or both of you put something in the robot's algorithms that caused them to go rogue and destroy the Chinese camp."

"What are you talking about?" Craig asked. "It was someone hacking into the WiFi channel.

That's a serious accusation, Mark."

Mark, holding up a flash drive, said."I did not tell the FBI about the computer, and I have files I downloaded when the laptop was still here."

"How did you get the password for the computer?" Jenifer asked. "Oh, I get it. You hacked yourself in. How many other proprietary computers have you hacked around here? We could have you arrested."

"You are the ones who the Feds will arrest."

Craig leaned back to stay calm, "What do you want, Mark?"

"Simple, money, enough money to keep my mouth shut."

"You son of a bitch, you're blackmailing us," Jenifer said.

"Call it what you want. I call it ensuring my future. You two are the ones who compromised everything for some insane vendetta against the Chinese. I'm just looking out for myself."

Craig exchanged a glance with Jenifer.

"How much?"

"Five million in untraceable cryptocurrency. And I want it within 48 hours."

Jenifer scowled, "Five million, that is outrageous."

"Considering what's at stake here, it's a bargain. If the FBI finds out about this, you are looking at life in prison."

"Okay, but we need assurances that you won't turn on us when you get the money," Jenifer said.

While smiling, Mark said,"You have my word. Once I get the money, I'll destroy the evidence.

You will never hear from me again."

Craig appeared skeptical, "How can we trust you?"

Mark replies, leaning in, "You can't, but what choice do you have? Are you willing to take the risk?"

"Fine, we will get you the money, but we may need more time. It takes a lot of work to generate that much cash quickly. And remember, if you cross us, we know where you live and that you have a young child. We will put stuff in place to protect our interests."

"I am not afraid to go to the authorities."

"Get out. We will be in touch."

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Mark exits.

"What do you think Jen?"

"I think he is speculating about using the computer to program the virus. And I don't think he has anything on that drive. Some stuff from the other computers. He is an opportunist."

"We will have to pay him. We have no choice."

"We have time to talk about it. Let's close the office tomorrow. The current projects are not pressing, and the FBI has our computers. In anticipation of a warrant, I backed up all files on an external drive and put them in a safety box so we wouldn't lose any work. We have to rent a computer."

The next day, Jenifer and Craig met with the U.S. Astronauts. The Chinese were on their way, and they would have to meet them the next day. Craig notified the staff that the factory would be closed until further notice. Mark ran an errand to pick up his daughter at a daycare that night. It was already dark when they returned to the unlocked car.

The quiet suburban street was a flurry of red and blue lights, the harsh contrast through the peaceful darkness. Officer Jim Marsh arrived on the scene, his patrol car pulling to a stop behind the cluster of emergency vehicles. He stepped out, the soft crunch of gravel underbarely audible over the wail of sirens and the distant murmurs of concerned citizens gathering at a safe distance.

Detective Lisa Sansaver was already there, her dark hair pulled back in a bun, and she had a look of determination on her face. She nodded to Marsh as he approached, ducking under the yellow tape cordoning off the crime scene.

"Jim," she greeted, her voice a mix of fatigue and focus."We have a real mess here."

Marsh glanced toward the car, its doors wide open, the dome light casting an eerie glow on the figures moving around it. A paramedic gently coaxed a young girl out of the front passenger seat. She looked to be about seven or eight, her eyes wide and glassy, tears streaking down her cheeks. She clutched a small, pink backpack to her chest like a lifeline.

"That's his daughter?" Reynolds asked quietly.

Sansaver nodded. "Name's Emily. She's in shock, understandably. We're waiting for a child psychologist to arrive and help her through this."

Marsh's heart ached as he watched the paramedics lead Emily into the ambulance, her small frame dwarfed by the paramedic's comforting arm. "What do we know so far?"

"His wallet is missing. Could be a robbery." Sansaver said while pulling out her notebook.

"Victim is Mark Mitchell, thirty-eight years old. He was putting his daughter into the car when the suspect, who had been hiding in the back seat, attacked. He snapped his neck clean. Emily says she saw a masked man but didn't get a good look."

"Any witnesses?"

"A passer-by heard the horn and saw someone running down the street, but it's too dark for a positive ID. There are no cameras in this area, either," Sansaver replied, her frustration evident."Only the missing wallet? We need to dig into his background and see if anything stands out. Right now, we have little."

Marsh looked back at Emily, now sitting on the edge of the ambulance, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. "Poor kid. Losing her dad like that."

"I called the mother. She is on her way. We'll do everything we can to find the guy who did this," Sansaver said firmly. "But we can't afford to miss anything."

Marsh nodded, knowing the road ahead would be long and grueling. He walked over to the car, careful not to disturb any potential evidence. The interior was a grim tableau of violence, the front seat empty, remnants of a life abruptly ended.

"We need to get forensics in here ASAP," he said more to himself than anyone else. "Every minute Counts."

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"They are on their way," Sansaver replied, her eyes scanning the area. "I'll coordinate with the lab. And I will make sure someone is with Emily at all times. She needs to feel safe, especially now."

Marsh watched as the first responders worked methodically, securing the scene and gathering evidence. A single, horrifying act had shattered the night's tranquility, and it was up to them to piece together the fragments and find justice for Mark Mitchell and his daughter.

The forensic team arrived to gather evidence. Marsh paced around the car, and it seemed like time was standing still.

One of the forensic members was bagging something.

"What did you find?" Marsh asked.

"Just some change, a cell phone, and a flash drive."

"Get it to the lab and find out what's on it ASAP."

"On it."

Marsh and Sansaver watched as forensics completed their work. A single horrifying act had shattered the night's tranquility, and it was up to them to piece together the fragments and find justice for Mark Mitchell and his daughter.

The task at hand now remained in their hands.

Marsh followed forensics to the lab, anxious to find out what was on the flash drive. Sansaver waited for the mother to arrive and pick up Emily and conducted the initial interview at the crime scene. Still, the mother had nothing to add to help the investigation. Sansaver left her card with the mother, offering her condolences. And to call if she remembered anything that would help catch the killer.

Marsh waited for the technician to check the flash drive's contents at the lab. The technician dusted the drive for prints and inserted it into a lab computer. A message appeared: "The folder is empty."

Marsh appeared surprised and said, "What the hell? Why would he be carrying around a blank flash drive?"

"That is strange the technician replied."

"Okay, guys," Marsh said. Let us know when the cell phone results arrive. Put a rush on it."

Marsh called Sansaver and told her about the empty drive. They then met at the police station to begin their investigation. Mark's wife told Sansaver where he worked, so they went to the office to speak to the owners.

The FBI, meanwhile, combined forces with its forensic and cyber security teams but came up empty-handed on Craig and Jenifer's computers, so they met Craig back at the office with the computers. It was a coincidence that Marsh and Sansaver came there simultaneously to discuss Mark's death. During the interview, the FBI listened in. Both teams now had Craig and Jenifer in their sights.

They would meet at police headquarters to review the case and get everyone up to speed.

Mark's wife called Jenifer two days later and said she needed to see her. Marsh and Jenifer rushed to her house.

"I received this in the mail this morning. It's a letter that Mark mailed to himself the other day."

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