Eryn looked at her watch. “Why don’t we try to find him when we’re done here?”
“Did I miss something?” Riley asked. “Who’s Detective Young?”
“He uploaded the image that contained the ransomware code,” she explained.
“Why did you have them do that anyway?” Alex asked.
“In my IoT class, I give the participants surveys to fill out, and I instruct them to scan the form and upload it to my folder on LEN’s server. It’s a practical exercise I use to teach them that many devices have memory, not only computers.”
“Scanners can remember what you’ve scanned?” Riley asked.
“Some can, at least until they’re unplugged. And a commercial machine like the one used here at the resort or in many offices have hard drives, and they almost all store files in memory.”
“So I could come up to the scanner after you used it and see what you scanned?” Gage asked.
“Exactly.”
Riley shook his head. “Seriously, there’s so much to know about electronics safety.”
“Which is why everyone needs me.” Eryn chuckled.
Trey smiled along with her, but the others rolled their eyes, again reminding Trey how close these guys were too her and how outside her world he was.
Eryn suddenly sobered and sat forward. “Here’s something I didn’t think of before. I randomly take pictures of class participants’ phones for a slideshow I do on day two of my phone class. Maybe I caught something in a picture that I shouldn’t have. I’ll need to review those tonight.”
“What if someone who took your class has ulterior motives?” Trey asked. “Maybe he’s extorting someone. Then he hears about how pictures can be tracked, he doesn’t want others in his department to learn about it.”
“Sounds possible,” Gage said.
“Or what if someone in the class took a picture of an officer doing something illegal, and they’re extorting them,” Riley suggested. “I mean I hate to point a finger at an officer, but there are bad ones out there.”
“But how would this relate to the class?” Eryn asked.
“The conference has been covered on TV. What if the person who took the picture saw the story on the local news and wants to stop the officer from learning that they can trace the picture back to them?”
“It’s clear that there could be many motives,” Gage said. “Maybe questioning class participants—both ones who’ve taken the class and future participants—will make things clearer.”
“We can split up the list and interview them,” Eryn said. “But don’t mention the hack as I want to keep that under wraps for now. Just get an idea why they’re taking the class, and if they have fellow officers here with them. Oh, and ask about their phone so if I do find something when I review the pictures tonight, we’ll know who to go to.”
“I’ll grab the participant list.” Trey went to the desk to get the names they’d printed that afternoon.
Gage stood. “We can talk to as many participants as possible tonight, and then regroup in the morning.”
“One thing to remember,” Riley said. “We’re dealing with officers here—a suspicious lot at best. They’ll try to turn the questioning back on you. You’ll need to keep that in mind so you don’t give away any information that might make things worse for Eryn.”
Gage faced Eryn. “When is your next class scheduled?”
“Thursday at two.”
“Okay, then we have less than forty-eight hours to figure this out.” He ran his gaze over the group, stopping at each person and giving them a pointed look. “Let’s get after it and nail this guy before he makes good on his threat.”
5
The team filed out of the suite, and Eryn sat back to prioritize her tasks. In addition to reviewing the ransomware code she’d located on her computer, she also had to review the stoplight files and study the cell phone photos. Then she also needed to talk to Detective Young. All before she got any sleep tonight.
Trey twisted the deadbolt on the door. “You look deep in thought.”
“Just prioritizing.” She glanced at the clock on the kitchenette microwave. “It’s getting late. We should talk to Young first, and I’ll review the other files later. Let me tell Mom I’m leaving.” She crossed the suite living area to one of the three bedrooms and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” her mother called out.
Eryn opened the door and poked her head in. Her mom was sitting on the bed already in flowery silk pajamas. She held a book in her hands, and Eryn was suddenly struck by how much she took her mother for granted and didn’t thank her often enough.
She crossed the room and gave her a big hug.
“What was that for?” her mother asked.
“For all you do for me and Bekah. You’re always there when I need you, and you never complain about anything. Ever.”
“That’s what mothers do. You do the same thing for Bekah.” She smiled, her eyes lighting up. “And besides, I love spending time with Bekah.”
“In that case, Trey and I want to interview one of my class participants. Can you watch her?”
“Of course.” She frowned. “Be careful, honey, okay?”
“I always am.”
Her mother looked like she was debating adding something else but clamped down on her lips.
Eryn didn’t really want to hear what her mother had to say, but it looked like she was almost exploding by holding it inside. “Go ahead. Say it.”
“If you insist.” She wrinkled her nose the way Eryn knew she often did. “You’re careful. I know that. But you’re also such an adventurer that you may step into danger without thinking about it.”
Eryn sat back. “I’m a thirty-two-year old woman who can—”
“Take care of herself.” Her mom smiled. “Yeah, I know. You’ve told me often enough. But to me you’re still that five-year-old who climbed the tree in the back yard only to fall out and break your arm.”
Eryn got that. Even as Bekah got older, Eryn wanted to protect her like she did when Bekah was a toddler. Eryn had to force herself to relax and let Bekah discover who she was. Within boundaries, of course. She knew it would only get more difficult as her baby got older.
“I’ll be careful, and Trey will be with me.” Eryn stood.
“I like him,” her mom said. “And I think you do to.”
Eryn wasn’t going there. “I shouldn’t be gone for more than an hour.”
“Take your time. Enjoy his company.”
“Mom, please.”
Her mother chuckled, and Eryn closed the door before her mother said anything else about Trey. She found him leaning on the wall outside the door.
“FYI, I like your mom. You, too.” He grinned, that adorable lopsided smile that tugged at her heartstrings.
She didn’t respond. There was no point. She headed for the door. Trey caught up and passed her to step into the hallway first. As much as she wanted to protest, she also had to admit it felt good to have a guy looking out for her best interests again. She wasn’t one of those women who had to do everything herself, but she did like to be consulted and not taken for granted.
She looked out where he stood tall and strong in the hallway surveying the lobby and open walkways, his dark gaze deadly intense. He’d put on a loose-fitting shirt when he’d gone to his room, and she knew it was because he was hiding his gun. She’d done the same thing after tucking Bekah in bed, and Eryn suspected her teammates had followed suit before heading out to conduct their interviews, too. You could never be too careful, as she’d told her mother.
Trey turned, his gaze unwavering. “We’re clear.”
She stepped out and instantly felt vulnerable. She wasn’t afraid, but apprehensive.
“Mind walking near the doors, and I’ll take the outer edge?” he asked.
“Don’t mind at all.” She was so thankful he asked that she smiled up at him.
He sucked in a breath and jerked his gaze away. She didn’t
think smiling was being too personal, but she wasn’t about to go there. They had to focus solely on their mission. They traveled along the walkway that circled and overlooked the lobby. When they reached Young’s room, she knocked.
The door was soon opened by a tall, thin detective with a studious gaze. She pegged him in his late fifties, and he had the look of a career police officer. Wary. Inquisitive. But then a genuine smile broke out. “Ms. Calloway. To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit?”
If he was behind the ransomware, he was doing an impressive job as appearing innocent, and Eryn had to watch for any telltale signs of lying. “I have a few questions for you regarding the survey you uploaded for me.”
“Sure. Want to come in? Or there’s a sitting area right down the way.”
Eryn remembered seeing the protected alcove. “The spot down the hall sounds good.”
He held out his hand. “Then, after you.”
In the little alcove, she settled into a chair. Young sat next to her, but Trey stood sentry, and once again she was thankful for his care.
“Tell me about filling out the survey,” she said, reverting back to her FBI training and making sure to use open-ended statements to not lead Young.
“What’s to tell? I answered the questions, scanned it in the resort’s business office like you said, and uploaded the image.”
“Do you remember when you completed it?”
“Right after the class got out. I did it then so I wouldn’t forget.” A wry smile crossed his face. “I teach classes for my department, and I hate it when officers don’t return things I ask for. So I wanted to make sure I wasn’t one of those people.”
“Thank you,” she said and meant it. “Did you try to change the image after that?”
“How could I? I’d have to redo it and upload it again, right?”
“That’s one way.”
His eyes narrowed in confusion. “It’s the only way I know how to change it.”
“Tell me about your computer skills and why you took my class.”
“Skills? If you count reading and sending email as skills, then I have mad skills.” He laughed. “Oh, and I can fill out reports at work, too.”
“Then why take my class?”
“Just because I don’t know how to do something doesn’t mean I don’t recognize the need to be informed. Electronics in case investigations is becoming more and more prevalent, and I need to at least know what’s possible.”
“Well, said.” She admired his desire to keep up on technology when many detectives his age might avoid it.
His gaze turned suspicious. “What’s this about, Ms. Calloway?”
“I’m really not at liberty to discuss it.”
“So this is what it feels like to be on the other side of an investigation, huh?” He chuckled.
“I didn’t say I was investigating anything.”
“You didn’t have to. Your FBI roots are showing.” He shifted as if ready to rise. “Whatever you think I might have done, I didn’t do it. Just scanned and uploaded the form like you asked.” He stood and looked down at her. “But I’m always glad to help you out with whatever you need, so let me know if I can help.”
“Thank you,” she said, and he departed.
Trey looked at her. “You think he’s telling the truth.”
“I do,” Eryn said, but she also knew as a career officer he’d seen plenty and could easily lie to her. “I’ll put him on the back burner for now but won’t forget about him. He can be sure of that.”
Trey had no idea how Eryn could sit behind a computer screen for so many hours. He was all for computers and what they did to make life easier, but spend an entire day looking at one? No way. And he’d never want to look through all the computer gibberish that she’d reviewed since they returned to the suite.
He got up to stretch his leg before the stiffness set in and pain followed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem like a really active person. How did you get involved with computers?”
She swiveled to face him, her ponytail swinging, and she looked unhappy about the interruption. “First, it’s a stereotype that all computer geeks do nothing but spend every waking hour with their computer.”
“I get that.” He settled back on the sofa so he wasn’t towering over her. “But stereotypes come about because they are in large part true.”
“Yeah, but I don’t like to perpetuate them.” She cast him a disappointed look.
He’d offended her. “Sorry. Like I said, I didn’t want you to take it the wrong way. Your mom said you’re this big adventurer so I thought it was a valid question.”
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I really am.” She exhaled loudly and rubbed her neck. “This ransomware has me more freaked out than I care to admit. As each hour ticks by and I haven’t made much progress, I’m getting cranky. Overly touchy, too.”
“Maybe you should take a break,” he suggested.
“You’re probably right.” She stood and stretched her arms over her head, and he was powerless to look away from her sleek profile. Her clothes hugged all her curves, and her glossy ponytail slid over her shoulders to rest on her back. She twisted and turned, moving fluidly like a dancer.
She lowered her arms. “What I’d really like to do is go outside for a walk. We spend a lot of time outside at the compound, and I miss it.”
He wasn’t about to encourage a walk, but with her mood she would probably fight him nixing the idea. He’d redirect the conversation instead. “All the team members live at the compound, right?”
“Yes, but that will likely change when they get married and start having kids. Our cabins aren’t big enough for raising a family.”
Trey hadn’t heard about any marriage plans. “Who’s getting married?”
“Coop and Kiera are next month. Jackson is engaged, too, but hasn’t set the date.” She plopped onto the couch next to Trey and rested her head back.
He followed the long arch of her neck and had the urge to plant a kiss in the hollow of her throat.
“What about you? Do you want more space in your cabin?” he asked quickly to change his focus.
“Nah, I’m good with our place. When we joined the team, we each designed and built our own cabins. I made sure mine fits our needs, and it still does. Might be a different story when Bekah gets older though.”
“So at the risk of offending you, I’m gonna ask again…how did you get involved in computers?”
She swiveled to face him, and he’d never been this close to her before. If he had been, he would’ve noticed that the chestnut coloring of her eyes also held striations of warm honey. How could any man ignore those eyes? How could he?
“Actually, it was because of my adventurous side that I discovered computers,” she said, totally oblivious to his warring thoughts. “I was riding a dirt bike at a friend’s farm in middle school, and I crashed. Broke my leg and was in a full leg cast. It was awful at first. I spent all my day sitting around. I’m a type A personality and it was pure torture. My salvation was a laptop computer that one of my teachers loaned me. It was this big brick of a thing compared to today’s laptops.”
A fond look crossed her face, and she chuckled. “Anyway, the Internet was just becoming mainstream then. We didn’t have an account, and we didn’t have the money to buy many games. But my curiosity about how this computer worked got the best of me, and I had to figure it out. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know, and it totally sucked me in.”
“And is sounds like it never let you go.”
She laughed joyfully, and he loved the way her eyes sparkled, and her whole face came alive. It took everything he was made of not to reach out and touch her.
Her smile suddenly faded. “And when criminals started messing around with the thing I loved so much, I knew I had to work in cyber crimes. There was no better place to do that than at the FBI.”
“What ended your career as an agent, if you don’t mind me asking?”
> She flattened her left hand on her knee and trailed her finger along a scar running the width of her hand. “Being in the FBI isn’t like being a deputy. The job’s really nothing like you see on TV. Not a lot of field work and no big shootouts. It mostly involves sitting behind a desk, pushing paper, and doing analysis. Of course, it’s even more so in cyber crimes. So when an opportunity came up for agents to get out in the field, we jumped at it. Especially when it involved breaking down doors and hauling people in.”
“Yeah, I get that part,” he said. “I don’t much like people having to go to jail, but the adrenaline rush is there when you make the collar.”
“Exactly. So one day I had the chance to serve an arrest warrant on a fairly high-level cyber criminal. The guy answered the door, but as soon as I identified myself, he started to slam the door in my face. I instinctually reached out to stop him. Problem was, I grabbed the edge of the door when I should have palmed it. He slammed the door on my hand and it suffered some pretty serious damage.”
She lifted her left hand and stared at it. “I don’t have the ability to clench my fist or grasp an object very well. The FBI wouldn’t risk the potential liability such an injury raises, so they benched me as an agent. I could’ve taken an analyst job, but I wanted at least the hope of some adventure. So I left, and in a lot of ways, I’m glad I did.”
“How so?” he asked as he couldn’t see anything positive about his own injury.
“At the Bureau, it often took a long time to see that I was making a difference. With Blackwell, I see on a daily basis how I’m helping others. The job also gives me a lot of flexibility with my work schedule, and that’s great for being a single mom.”
“Sounds like you’re handling it well.” He prayed he would eventually embrace such a positive outlook if it came down to losing his job.
“I didn’t at first. Blamed God. But gradually, He let me see it was a blessing in disguise. So now, for the most part, I do okay with it. Don’t get me wrong. I still have my moments when I wish I could do things that the guys can do. Like fast roping from the helo. Man, my adventurous side would love to do that.” She grinned, looking exactly like Bekah when she’d jumped into the pool without a care.
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