Page 34

Ryder stood with a grim-faced Nick over Nathan’s shoulder as Nathan worked to identify how the hacker was able to get behind Williams’s firewalls and access the company’s internal network.
Eventually, Nathan pinpointed an IOT, or “Internet of Things,” attack. “Was the HVAC in this building serviced recently?”
Nick’s brows furrowed. “Yes. Two weeks ago.”
“The system is Internet enabled? You have access to the environmental controls for this floor through your network?”
“Son of a bitch,” Nick muttered. “That’s how this guy got his foot in the door.”
“Yep. We’re going to shut it.” Nathan showed Nick how to patch the security flaw and then set up a honeypot—a decoy network inserted between the Internet and the server designed to attract, detect, and gather information on any attempts to access the company’s network infrastructure from the outside.
Ryder and Nathan already had agreed Nathan would slip in a hidden tracking system that Nathan could monitor externally to detect any attempts to access secure information from a computer inside Williams itself.
No one was to be trusted until they discovered who was after Nathalie and her software design.
Once Nathan secured the network and brought it back online, he, Ryder, and Nick installed cameras in the hall outside the computer lab, in Nathalie’s office, and one in the lobby that would monitor after-hours access to Williams’s offices from both the elevators and the stairs.
When Nathan finished, Ryder gave him directions to Nathalie’s home and her alarm code. “See what you can do to strengthen her existing system and then send me recommendations for additional security if the threat escalates.” He handed Nathan the tracker he’d pulled off Nathalie’s car the night before. “This was on her car. I haven’t disabled it, so whoever is receiving the data on the other end still thinks it’s working.”
Nathan pocketed the device. “I’ll see if I can trace it back to its owner.”
After Nathan left, Ryder spent the afternoon running background checks on Nathalie’s employees. Don Lambert was paying for his grandchildren’s private school; Nick Moore had gone through a messy divorce; and the senior software designer, Ravi Chaudhary, just purchased a home above his means and brought his parents over from India to live with his family. Two other employees, like Ravi, had questionable income-to-debt ratios, and one employee had a habit of collecting parking tickets.
All potential weak points, but nothing that stood out as a motive to hurt Nathalie or steal her technology. It didn’t mean one of her employees wasn’t involved, however. Greed did strange things to people.
As did blackmail.
It was five-thirty and Nathalie was still holed up in her lab when Ryder’s mobile rang with a call from Nathan.
“Hey, amigo. I’m finished up here and heading out.”
“Is Nathalie’s home secure?”
“As secure as I can make it on short notice. I changed the alarm code and installed reinforced locks on the front and sliding glass doors. I also beefed up her wireless security. Danny and I installed motion-sensitive cameras around the front and back exterior perimeter, as well as inside her home office and added wireless glass breaks to her main-floor windows.” Nathan paused. “I also swept for bugs.”
“And?”
“Found two.”
Anger curled low in Ryder’s gut. “She was right. Someone’s been inside her home.”
“I found something else.”
Nathan’s tone had Ryder’s eyes narrowing. His mobile dinged with an incoming text. He glanced at the photo Nathan sent.
Bloody hell.
He should have had Nathalie put it in a drawer.
“That was interesting,” Nathan drawled. “It’s sitting on the bookshelf in Ms. Williams’s home office. Care to explain? Because, my man, if anyone knows how messy it is to protect someone they’re involved with, it’s me.”
Ryder’s neck muscles tightened. “We knew each other at Oxford but haven’t been in contact for years. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Judging from the photo, I’d say you knew each other in the biblical sense. You neglected to mention your connection when Lachlan gave you the assignment.”
“My only interest is in keeping Nathalie safe. It’s a professional relationship. Once my initial assessment is complete, Caleb will take over her personal security.”
Before that happened, he needed some answers from Nathalie. Then he could leave her with Caleb, return to London and finally move on.