Part 17: The Residual Network
Two months after the final liquidation, the system monitors at our new headquarters remained perfectly clear.
The newly established company, Mercer Analytics, was now managing three major municipal data contracts in the state.
But at 11:14 a.m. on a Tuesday, an anomalies report appeared on Naomi Pierce’s primary operational dashboard.
A dormant data trunk line, originally installed by Richard’s father in 1998, had just registered an active signal.
"Harrison," Naomi said, stepping into my corner office with her diagnostic tablet raised toward the light.
"Someone is using an analog frequency override to extract old client archives from our subterranean vault."
"The vault is located beneath the original warehouse floor we seized during the bankruptcy proceedings," she explained.
I stood up, adjusting my jacket as my mind instantly calculated the remaining links of the old network.
The access wasn't being conducted remotely; it required a physical connection to the old copper wiring underground.
"Richard’s old real estate partner, Marcus Vance, is trying to retrieve the original client contract ledgers," I noted.
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"He wants to use those names to salvage his remaining commercial ventures before our audit exposes him."
"Assemble the security team, Naomi," I ordered. "We are going to lock the perimeter while he is underground."
