Chapter 13 - THE FEDERAL CASE
Three weeks later, the investigation widened.
Jason was charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access to protected computer systems.
Robert Carter was charged with conspiracy and bank fraud.
Elaine was not immediately charged.
That frightened her more than an arrest would have.
It meant prosecutors were still deciding what she knew.
Sydney was offered a cooperation agreement.
She accepted.
Meline did not celebrate.
There was nothing satisfying about watching your family appear in court.
The headlines were brutal.
BRIDE EXPOSES FRAUD SCHEME AT OWN WEDDING.
TECH CEO REVEALS SECRET IDENTITY AFTER FAMILY PLOT.
GROOM ACCUSED OF AFFAIR, FRAUD, CYBER INTRUSION.
For two days, Meline’s face was everywhere.
She hated it.
Sentinel Arc’s board offered to place her on temporary leave.
She refused.
On Monday morning, she walked into headquarters at 7:05.
Employees stood when she entered.
Meline stopped.
“No.”
Nobody moved.
She looked around.
“I appreciate the support.”
“But please sit down.”
A few people laughed nervously.
The atmosphere softened.
Meline went straight to the executive conference room.
Malcolm handed her the internal investigation.
Evan Dalton had been found in Arizona.
He had not fled because Jason threatened him.
He had fled because Jason had paid him.
One hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
In return, Evan had manipulated access controls and concealed alerts.
Meline stared at the report.
“Fire him.”
“He already resigned.”
“Then sue him.”
Malcolm nodded.
“There’s more.”
Meline sighed.
“There’s always more.”
“Jason downloaded a list of acquisition targets.”
Her expression sharpened.
“Why?”
“We think he sold information.”
“To whom?”
Malcolm turned a page.
“Vanguard Shield Systems.”
Meline knew the company.
A competitor.
Aggressive.
Well funded.
And currently bidding against Sentinel Arc for a major federal cybersecurity contract.
Meline looked up slowly.
“You think Jason was feeding corporate intelligence to Vanguard?”
“I think we need to prove it.”
Rebecca entered moments later.
She had heard.
“If Vanguard knowingly bought stolen information, this becomes much larger.”
Meline looked through the glass wall at hundreds of employees.
The betrayal was no longer personal.
Jason had endangered their jobs.
Their clients.
Possibly national infrastructure contracts.
Meline’s grief vanished beneath something colder.
Purpose.
“Find every file he touched.”
Malcolm nodded.
“Every message.”
“Yes.”
“Every meeting.”
“Yes.”
Rebecca studied her.
“You’re going after Vanguard too.”
“If they bought stolen data from my fiancé, yes.”
Meline closed the report.
“They wanted a helpless bride.”
May you like
She stood.
“They’re about to meet the CEO.”
