Chapter 32: The Ghosts of the Syndicate

Chapter 32: The Ghosts of the Syndicate
I spent the next two hours tracking the digital footprint. The breach was sophisticated, bypassing three layers of biometric encryption in minutes. This wasn't a random hacker; this was someone who knew exactly how the Syndicate's architecture worked.
"You're supposed to be asleep," a voice said softly from the doorway.
I jumped, minimizing the screen instinctively. Claire stood there, wrapped in a thick wool cardigan. Her eyes, sharp and intuitive as ever, darted from my face to the monitor.
"I just couldn't sleep," I lied, forcing a smile.
May you like
Claire crossed the room and placed a warm hand on my shoulder. "You're a terrible liar. You always have been. What's Vanguard saying?"
I sighed, realizing there was no point in hiding it. I brought the screen back up. "Someone is accessing the old archives. The Syndicate might be dead, Claire, but I think one of its ghosts just woke up."
