Chapter 97: Chapter 96: The Sent File
Marcus did not waste a single second. His fingers moved quickly across his computer keys, generating the fake data packet that Julius had requested.
He took the file and loaded it directly onto Timothy’s mobile device, making sure the hidden tracking software was deeply embedded inside the data lines.
"The fake file is fully loaded," Marcus said, looking up from his screen toward Julius and Harrison. "The tracking program is hidden well. To anyone else, it just looks like regular company files about the family drive. The moment she clicks it open, the program will activate without her knowing."
Daniel stepped out into the hallway and brought Timothy back into the office. The young man looked exhausted, his face still pale from fear.
"Sit down," Daniel ordered, pointing to the chair across from Julius’s desk.
Timothy sat down quickly, his hands shaking as Daniel placed the mobile device right in front of him.
"You are going to send the file now," Julius told him, his voice calm but firm. "Do not add any extra words. Just send the attachment and say that you managed to copy the data from my main folder before the security team noticed you."
Timothy nodded rapidly, his fingers trembling as he typed out the exact message. He attached the fake data packet and hit the send button. "It is done. The message is gone."
"Take him back out," Harrison commanded, waving his hand toward the guards.
Once Timothy was led away again, the room fell into a tense silence. The four of them gathered tightly around Marcus’s desk, their eyes fixed on the map program on his screen. A small red dot appeared on the screen, representing the file they had just sent out into the network.
"The file is moving through the server lines now," Marcus whispered, his eyes wide behind his glasses. "Sarah’s messaging app is receiving the data packet. Let’s see if she opens it right away."
For two long minutes, nobody said a word. They watched the little red dot stay still on the map line.
Then, the red dot suddenly turned bright green.
"She opened it," Daniel said, his voice rising with excitement. "The bait is taken."
"The tracking software is active," Marcus announced, tapping his keyboard to bring up a live location grid. "The signal is bouncing back perfectly. It is showing an exact location at the old north docks, inside an abandoned warehouse near the water line. She is definitely there."
Julius let out a long breath, a sense of relief washing over him. "My plan worked. She truly believed Timothy was wise enough to slip past my desk and steal the information."
"She is desperate, Julius," Harrison said, his large hand coming down to rest on the back of Julius’s neck, squeezing gently to keep him grounded. "Desperate people make stupid mistakes. They see what they want to see."
"Wait, look at the screen," Marcus interrupted, his tone turning sharp and focused. "The green dot is moving data again. She is not just reading the file. She is copying it and sending it to another network link."
Julius leaned closer to the monitor. "Just like we thought. She wants to show her progress to the person pulling the strings."
"The file is being forwarded to a secondary device," Marcus explained, his fingers flying across the keys as he tried to trace the new connection. "This second link is using a very tough encryption line. It is bouncing the signal through three different server locations outside the city to hide the destination."
"Can you break through it, Marcus?" Daniel asked, leaning over Marcus’s shoulder so close that his chest touched the back of the chair.
"Do not doubt my skills, Daniel," Marcus said, a small smile appearing on his lips despite the high pressure. "It is a tough lock, but they used an old protocol to set up the bounce lines. I just need to cut through the middle server."
The room remained quiet except for the soft sound of Marcus tapping his keys. Julius watched the map as a blue line began to stretch across the city from the north docks, trying to find its final home point.
The blue line moved past the main commercial district and started heading toward the wealthy hills on the west side of the town.
"Come on," Daniel muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the progress bar on Marcus’s screen.
With a loud click, Marcus hit the enter key. The encryption bar turned green and broke apart into open data fields. The blue line on the map stopped moving and locked onto a specific estate surrounded by tall trees.
"Got him!" Marcus yelled, spinning his chair around slightly with a triumphant look on his face. "The secondary device is registered to a private network group. I just pulled the owner’s billing identity. The device belongs directly to Arthur."
Daniel let out a loud laugh, clapping his hands together. "The trap worked perfectly. We have both of them on the board at the exact same time."
Julius stared at the two glowing spots on the map screen. One was Sarah at the north docks, and the other was Arthur in the western hills. The people who had destroyed his family peace, who had attacked his home , and who had caused so much pain were finally completely exposed.
"They have no idea we can see them right now," Julius said softly, his voice full of dark satisfaction. "They think they just won the prize, but they actually handed us the map to their graves."
Daniel stood up straight, his relaxed mood vanishing as he returned to his serious role as the head of security.
He pulled out his small radio device from his belt. "I am calling the outer teams right now. We will split our forces. I will take twenty elite guards to the north docks to secure Sarah before she realizes the file is fake, and I will send the secondary team to surround Arthur’s estate so he cannot run into the hills."
"No," Harrison spoke up, his voice a low, terrifying rumble that instantly cut through the room.
Daniel stopped, looking over at his boss with confusion. "Sir?"
Harrison stepped away from Julius’s chair, his large frame standing tall in the center of the office. His eyes were pitch-black, full of a dangerous desire for a fight. The calm, patient look he had worn during the wait was completely gone.
"We are not splitting the main force," Harrison commanded, looking directly at Daniel. "Arthur is the real threat here. He has fighters and he knows how to handle a perimeter raid. If you send a secondary team without us, he will kill them and escape through the woods."
"What do you want to do then, Boss?" Daniel asked.
"You and Marcus will stay here to monitor the live tracking lines and ensure neither of them moves from their current positions," Harrison explained, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"I am taking the main elite unit myself. We are going to the docks first to pick up Sarah, and then we are going straight to Arthur’s house."
