Free Daemon by Daniel Suárez Page A

CyberStorm’s network, and from what I’ve seen at CyberStorm, they’ve got a lot of clever people. I think this is a setup.”
    “You and I are not technical experts, Sergeant. Let’s see what the forensics team finds.” Decker looked at the assembled officers. “Okay, listen up. We’ve got to get our hands on more facts. Chief Eichhorn, I’m going to need your cooperation and some of your resources.”
    Eichhorn nodded. “Anything you need.”
    “Matthew Sobol had an eighty-acre estate near here. We should have the search warrant in an hour or so. I’m going to need traffic and perimeter control.”
    Larson was still absorbing the first sentence. “ Eighty acres?”
    Decker nodded. “Yes. Our Mr. Sobol had considerable assets. A net worth of around three hundred million.”
    Whistles all around.
    “Detective Sebeck might be right; this case might involve others, but we’ll need to follow up on the Sobol lead. Vasquez, I need to know about any disagreements or professional rivalries Sobol might have had with the two victims. I want more detailed interviews with the victims’ families. I also need to know anyone else who might have had a run-in with Sobol. Let’s get someone at NCAMD to do a work-up on him. Straub, I want you over at CyberStorm with the forensics team. Keep me apprised of any new information.”
    Decker grabbed a written report from a nearby table and turned to Sebeck. “Sergeant, there’s critical information missing from your report on the first murder scene. Specifically the cable winch. We need the manufacturer, model, serial numbers—”
    Sebeck stopped him. “I pulled the evidence unit onto the CyberStorm scene after the second murder. We were going to follow up.”
    “Now’s your chance.” Decker tossed the report and a plastic bag containing a gate key and remote. “I want to know when the winch was purchased and who installed it. Maybe the installer can tell us what other work they’ve done. Also find out if a permit was pulled with the city. I want the revised report on my desk ASAP.”
    Mantz looked to Sebeck. “I’ll head over to the city permit office, Pete.”
    Sebeck felt the heat of this professional slight coursing through his veins. He took a breath and tried to keep a clear head. He wasn’t used to being closely managed. “All right. I want to revisit the first scene, anyway.”
    The training room phone rang and Vasquez grabbed it. He listened and then called to Decker. “Neal. NSA.”
    Decker addressed the room. “Gentlemen, we’re going to need non-FBI out of this room. Chief Eichhorn, plan for an early afternoon search of Sobol’s estate.”
    “Will do.” Eichhorn and the deputies soon found themselves being hustled out of their own training room. The door closed behind them, and the five men stood in the hallway.
    Sebeck gestured to his rejected report. “Hell of a morning.”
    Eichhorn pointed. “I want to see that revised report before you hand it to Decker.” He turned to the others. “Burkow, Larson, come with me. We’ve got to scare up some manpower.” They moved off toward the division offices.
    Mantz slapped Sebeck on the back. “Don’t let him get to you, Pete. I’ll hook up with you after the permit office.” Mantz headed down the hall.
    Sebeck watched him go. Just then, two FBI agents emerged from a nearby interrogation room. They had one of the suspects from Alcyone Insurance in tow—an exhausted-looking Jon Ross. Ross’s laptop bag was slung over his shoulder, and he was folding up his flip phone. One of the agents turned to shake his hand. “Mr. Ross, thanks for your cooperation. We know this has been disruptive to your business.”
    Ross slipped the phone into his pocket. “ Disruptive? I just got a voice mail from Alcyone’s lawyers. They’re threatening a lawsuit, and they canceled my contract. I have messages from two other clients who are putting my projects on hold, no doubt because of you guys.”
    “Be sure to let