e copied half the files off your server. They certainly had the opportunity.”
I groaned, then held up the offending chip. “Is this a sophisticated piece of technology?”
“Yes and no. It’s pretty evil in its simplicity,” Leo said. “It’s sophisticated in that you have to know what you’re doing in the first place to configure the transponder to disrupt a home signal. But it’s pretty simple after that—you just have to place it physically on a hard drive in order for it to work.”
“Does your average hacker use technology like this?”
“No, but your average hacker is evolving.” He took a sip of water. “This is a hardware hack. It’s rare, but I think this is the next wave in corporate espionage. These chips are being manufactured in China and inserted directly into hard drives. So—boom—you buy a computer made in China that’s rigged with one of these, you’re automatically hacked. But this chip was added recently.”
I made a mental note not to purchase any foreign-made computers in the near future. I paced around the boardroom, acid bubbling in my stomach. “I know who did this.”
“Okay.” Leo leaned forward. “I take it you’re one hundred percent sure?”
I nodded and kept pacing.
“If you want to bring this to the authorities, we have plenty of proof,” he said. “You could have them prosecuted under state and federal laws for a cybercrime.”
“I’m not ready to go to the authorities. Not yet.” I kept a small circle. That was how, to date, I’d protected my company and my invention. But things had changed as of yesterday morning, and if I were going to survive, I would have to adapt.
Letting Gabe stay with me the previous night and telling him about Clive was the first step. But going to the authorities wouldn’t be the second. I had to keep my technology secret. I had some plans that might run afoul of state and federal laws, so I would take my chances on my own. For the moment.
And I planned to make sure Clive Warren answered to a justice slightly more vengeful than the appropriate authorities.
I looked at Leo. “Can you reverse hack him? The person who did this?”
He took off his glasses and cleaned them with his T-shirt, a small smile on his lips. “I will never say yes to that question. But in this particular instance, I won’t say no either.”
I left the office that night at ten. I realized, as I punched in the security code, that it was Sunday. I briefly checked my phone as I headed to my car. There were two texts from Gabe and one from Clive.
With shaking hands, I opened Clive’s first.
I hope you had a lovely rest of your weekend, it read. If you’d like to talk about my offer further, just let me know. In town all week.
I tried to calm myself with deep breathing, but I really wanted to throw my phone to the ground and stomp on it. But before I did that, I opened the messages from Gabe.
The first one read, Did my favorite female CEO crusader remember to eat lunch today?
My stomach snarled at the mention of lunch. I’d forgotten all about it.
The second one read, Of course not. Since I’m sure you also skipped dinner, I’m bringing Indian food to your house. See you in a few. It was sent at nine thirty.
I rubbed my temples as I got into my car. Gabe was sweet, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer very well.
Of course, I hadn’t said no to him yet.
His Spyder was parked in my driveway when I pulled in. He hopped out and greeted me. “I hope this is okay. I’d just act as a delivery person and leave you to it, but I don’t believe that you’ll actually eat.”
I managed a smile. “Come in, but let’s be quick. I just got a text from Clive, and I have a pounding headache.”
Gabe glowered at the mention of Clive, but he dutifully grabbed the boxes and bags of food he’d brought. Indian food was my weakness. Had I told him that? I could smell it, even though we were outside.
“I knew this was your favorite,” he said, as if he were reading my mind.
My hackles rose. “How did you know that?”
“I called your sister and asked her what you like.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “No espionage. I swear.”
We went in and put the food on the table. Hannah ventured out in her sweats, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. “I like that you’re getting Lauren to eat, even with this sort of stress.” She patted Gabe approvingly on the arm, then turned to me, beaming. Total keeper, she mouthed and pointed at him. I almost died of embarrassment.