Derek took a step toward the man, his physical presence filling the narrow aisle between the server racks.

“Show us your badge,” Derek said, his voice flat and firm.

The man reached toward his pocket, but his hand shook.

“I must have left it in my van,” he said.

He reached down to unplug the blue cable from the server rack.

“Don’t touch that,” I said.

My phone vibrated in my hand again.

The screen lit up with my mother’s home number once more.

The timing was too precise to be a coincidence.

I answered the call and pressed the speaker button.

“Mother,” I said.

“Sarah,” Helen’s voice came through the speaker, crisp and entirely devoid of warmth. “I assume you are currently looking at a minor interruption in your basement.”

I stared at the technician.

He looked down at the floor, refusing to meet my eyes.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“I didn’t do anything,” Helen said. “But the investors I represent have a right to audit the proprietary software of any company we consider funding.”