“Agent Williams, contractor credentials are still active.”
“What level?”
“One is broader than documented.”
“What can it do?”
“Retention settings. Evidence metadata. Some routing functions. Traffic systems.”
Rebecca frowned.
“Calvin’s company maintained multiple city platforms.”
“Could it modify case records?” Maya asked.
“Potentially.”
“Could it alter administrator retention?”
“Yes.”
“Can you monitor it without disabling it?”
“Yes.”
Rebecca looked at Maya.
“If you think it’s dangerous, why leave it connected?”
“Because I want to see who uses it.”
That answer disturbed her.
Half an hour later, they got their answer.
Not the identity.
The action.
The Sloan administrator certificate connected remotely.
The technicians mirrored the session.
It accessed administrative logs.
Then transport systems.
At almost exactly the same time, Nathan Cole arrived at Asheford for his scheduled federal interview.
Maya immediately changed plans.
The station’s infrastructure was compromised enough that she no longer wanted his statement taken there.
“We’re moving the interview.”
Nathan looked toward the police building.
“Because of what you found?”
“Because I want your statement taken inside a system we control.”
“Am I in danger?”
Maya answered carefully.
“Not based on anything we have established.”
Nathan studied her.
“That’s a very federal answer.”
“It is an accurate one.”
He accepted it.
Two federal personnel escorted him into a government transport vehicle.
The route to the secure interview location was entered.
The vehicle left Asheford.
Maya returned to the digital evidence office.
Lena looked up immediately.
“Something touched the transport module.”
Maya crossed the room.
“What?”
“The destination route changed.”
The map showed Nathan’s vehicle being redirected away from the main state road.
Toward Mill Creek Road.
Rural.
Poor cellular coverage.
Fewer municipal cameras.
Maya looked at the active Sloan administrator session.
“Same channel?”
The technician nodded.
“Yes.”
“Was the driver responsible?”
“No.”
“Dispatch?”
“No.”
“Block automated navigation changes.”
“I can restrict write control without dropping the connection.”
“Do it.”
Maya picked up the secure phone.
“Transport One.”
The driver answered.
“Transport One.”
“This is Williams. Ignore electronic rerouting. Voice confirmation only until further notice.”
“We’ve already received two recalculations.”
“Stay on County Route 14.”
“Copy.”
Nathan’s voice came faintly from the rear.
“What’s happening?”
The driver answered:
“Navigation issue.”
Maya looked at the county map.
“County Communications, verify safe route from Route 14 to the federal location.”
A dispatcher came on.
“Stay on Fourteen to State Eight. South after the old feed store. There’s a white church on the north corner.”
Ben Carter had entered quietly.
“I know that road.”
Maya looked at him.
“My uncle’s repair shop is east of there. If they turn onto Mill Creek, they lose reliable coverage for several miles.”
The county dispatcher confirmed.
“He’s right.”
Maya relayed the route.
The vehicle system immediately displayed: