Chapter 3 - The Perimeter Breach
The heavy oak front door shuddered under a series of synchronized, coordinated strikes.
Dad let out a terrified shriek, stumbling backward into the display cabinet and sending porcelain plates rattling.
“Open the door!” a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the porch.
“Federal Law Enforcement! Naval Criminal Investigative Service!”
Caroline froze, her champagne glass slipping from her trembling fingers and splashing across the rug.
“NCIS?” Caroline whispered, her voice losing all its prior venom.
“Why would NCIS be here?”
I didn't answer her.
I walked straight to the heavy front door and threw the deadbolt, pulling it open.
Three armed NCIS special agents stood on the porch, their tactical vests gleaming under the porch light.
Their weapons were lowered, but their eyes were sharp, scanning the hallway instantly.
Agent Vance, a tall man with iron-gray hair and severe features, locked eyes with me.
He immediately stepped across the threshold, snapped to attention, and offered a crisp salute.
“Admiral Hart,” Agent Vance said formally.
“We received your digital ping.”
“The server trace led directly to a router registered under Arthur Hart at this address.”
The entire family gasped.
Dad clutched his chest, looking like he was about to suffer a heart attack right there on the rug.
“My... my router?” Dad choked out, his knees buckling slightly.
“There must be a mistake.”
“I only use my computer to check the stock market and read the local news!”
“It’s not Dad’s computer,” I said coldly, looking back toward the staircase.
“It’s coming from upstairs.”
Agent Vance nodded sharply and gestured to his team.
“Secure the upper level,” he ordered.
“Find the hardware.”
Two agents sprinted past us up the stairs, their boots thundering against the wood.
Caroline lunged forward, her face twisted in pure panic, trying to block the base of the stairs.
“You can't go up there!” Caroline shrieked.
“That is my private office!”
“That is where I keep my wedding planning files and my personal laptop!”
Nathan stepped smoothly into her path, blocking her with his broad shoulders without a single aggressive movement.
“Step back, Caroline,” Nathan said quietly, his tone absolute and unyielding.
“Let the agents do their job.”
“If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.”
Caroline looked up at Nathan with pleading, tear-filled eyes, completely dropping her tough facade.
“Nathan, tell them to stop,” she sobbed, grabbing the lapel of his expensive suit.
“They are going to ruin everything.”
Nathan gently but firmly peeled her fingers away from his jacket, his expression completely hardened.
“If you are involved in this, Caroline, not even our engagement party will save you.”
A moment later, one of the NCIS agents appeared at the top of the stairs.
He was holding a sleek, custom-built titanium laptop that was still actively running a data-transfer script.
“Agent Vance,” the agent called down.
“We found the terminal.”
“It’s a military-grade relay device.”
“And it’s connected to an external hard drive containing over four gigabytes of classified submarine propulsion schematics.”
Agent Vance turned his piercing gaze directly onto Caroline.
Caroline collapsed onto the bottom step of the staircase, burying her face in her hands.
May you like
“It wasn't me,” she whimpered into her palms.
“I was just holding it for someone.”
