Free Countermeasure by Cecilia Aubrey, Chris Almeida Page B

into the system from home to check it and saw that the server had been accessed. Up until now, all file activity had taken place during the day, so I decided to come in to take a closer look. I thought maybe the team in charge of the project might be working late. I wasn’t sure, but my gut told me something was really wrong. Once I got here, I found out no one with clearance to the files was working last night. Also, the credentials used to gain access to the server room had not been logged as coming in or out of the building.”
    Almost out of breath, Matt continued, “By the time I reviewed the contents of the key-logger I’d installed on the server, I realized the entire Morrígan project had been copied.”
    “Morrígan?” Nathan asked with a frown.
    “The formula I mentioned we were monitoring,” Cassandra explained. Before he could inquire any further, she continued to question Matt. “You said I wouldn’t believe it when I saw it. Saw what? You have video surveillance?”
    Matt opened a big grin. “Oh yes, I do.”
    Turning back to the computer, he pulled up with a few quick keystrokes the surveillance video captured over night. On the video, a female of slight build, average height, and shoulder-length honey-blonde hair entered the server room. She approached the main terminal, looked up as if searching for cameras, and then sat in front of the computer. She definitely hadn’t counted on the built-in motion activated pinhole camera in the monitor.
    “Who is she?” Cassandra studied the woman’s facial expressions and picked up on the slight hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth, indicating she was pleased with what she was about to do. “She looks giddy.”
    “Her name is Allison Davis,” Jessica spoke up, giving Cassandra what information she had compiled on her so far. “Has been a top employee for more than five years. No associations with any other pharmaceutical company. Credit check is perfect. Parents. Married sister. They all live in the area. No disclosed personal relationships. The classic loner.”
    Cassandra’s frown deepened with each added piece to the puzzle. “Why would a quiet mouse like Allison Davis steal a multibillion-dollar formula? Somehow the pieces just don’t click. Whose credentials did she use?”
    “Steve Baylor. He’s away on vacation.”
    Things still didn’t fit together. “We need to interview him when he gets back. Have you tried to locate Allison?”
    “I was about to when you walked in,” Jessica answered right away.
    “Do it now. We don’t have a lot of time. She might already be out of the country for all we know.”
    ****
    After a few hours of work netting zero results, Cassandra sent a tired Jessica and Matt home. There was nothing they could do at this point. Working on no sleep and gallons of caffeine wouldn’t help them in any way. Maybe once refreshed, they could pick up the lead again.
    Nathan was still hanging around while Cassandra pulled together the details needed for the report for Bristol. Her chest ached and her head pounded. She dreaded the outcome of that particular meeting. Taking a deep breath, she rolled her shoulders and began to type.
    Nathan listened to Cassandra’s fingers pounding the keyboard. Glancing across the room, he caught the determined look on her face. He knew that look—she was blaming herself for the mess.
    “What are you up to Cass?”
    “Shit, I don’t know. Chasing the rabbit down a hole for all I know. There has to be something. There just has to be a trail we can pick up.”
    “Let me go over your project file for you. Maybe there is a minor connection you might have missed. You should go home at get some rest. Come back in a couple of hours.”
    Cassandra hated his condescending tone. “No. I’m staying, you go. This isn’t your issue. You’ve been a big help.” She glanced in his direction. “I’ll call you if I need anything.”
    Nate took the hint. Cassandra was pushing him out and he