“But you’re going to watch your empire crumble from the inside.”

The red strobe light flashed, casting a long shadow of Martin against the concrete wall.

My father did not look angry.

He looked disappointed.

“Ethan, did you hear that?” my father asked into his phone.

“I heard him,” Ethan replied.

“I’m on the main frame now.”

“I can see the connection hub,” Ethan said.

“He’s using a remote server to mask the download.”

“Can you trace it?” my father asked.

“I’m working on the digital footprint now,” Ethan said.

“But he’s using an encrypted proxy.”

“Give me two minutes to isolate the IP address.”

“We don’t have two minutes,” my father said.

The door behind us rattled again, harder this time.

The metal groaned under the pressure of a heavy tool.

“They’re going to break the lock,” I whispered to my father.

I pulled my coat tighter around my shoulders.

The air in the archive wing felt cold and damp.

Martin took a step toward the service door, holding his phone high to get a better signal.

“Hurry up,” Martin muttered to his screen.