My phone vibrated in my pocket.

The screen lit up.

It was an encrypted text message from Arthur, Alexander’s defense attorney.

*They are presenting the formal charges now,* the message read.

*We need the files, Clara. I can’t hold them off much longer.*

I typed a quick reply.

*Ten minutes.*

My fingers were shaking.

The progress bar reached seventy percent.

Suddenly, the blue lights on Rack Four turned a solid, angry red.

An alarm began to chime softly from the wall panel.

It wasn’t loud, but it was persistent.

*Warning: Unauthorized network bridge detected,* the screen read.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

The IT department on the twentieth floor would see this alert.

I had to work faster.

I bypassed the safety protocols, typing the commands Alexander had taught me.

*Override command: Admin-Alpha-9.*

The red lights blinked, then returned to their steady blue.

The chiming stopped.

I took a deep breath, my chest tight.

The boardroom meeting was starting.

I opened the video feed from the boardroom’s security camera on my secondary window.

The lens was dusty, but the picture was clear enough.