Page 19 of Cold Silence
Claire tried not to bristle at his insinuation that they hadn’t done their job to protect their assets, but she took a step back. “Other than the computer, there’s nothing to steal in here.”
“On the contrary.” He set down his backpack and took latex gloves from an outside pocket. “If the computer has access to your network server then there’s valuable data and files to be stolen.”
“But only employees can get in the conference room unescorted, and they could also steal it by using their own computer.”
“Sure thing, but logging onto their device and onto any files on the server would create a record that would tie back to them.” He put on the gloves, snapping them loudly in place. “If you had the door secured, they would have to sweep their security key cards to get into the room, thus creating another record.”
“Unless they disabled the entire system like we think happened here,” Travis pointed out.
Nick narrowed his eyes. “Still, they most likely found another way to log in or stole a co-worker’s login to use in here. If not, we could solve this thing tonight.”
“I’ll see about making the change,” she said. “But the prototype room has a key card, so if the whole system wasn’t disabled, maybe we really can end this now by checking that log.”
“I’ll get this image going first.” He shifted to look at his backpack, his brown eyes alive with the thrill of a hunt. “And I’ll need an administrator’s login to your network. Can you provide that or do I need to get it from someone else?”
She managed passwords for staff and issued them too. “I can provide it.”
“Then go ahead and show Sierra and her staff to the room. I’ll find you when I need you.” He sat behind the computer and flicked his fingers in the air, clearly dismissing them.
She stepped into the hallway, Nick still on her mind. She didn’t like to stereotype people, but he had an abrupt personality. Something she’d come to associate over the years with fellow IT staff. They didn’t mean to be rude or abrupt. They were just more at home with computers than people. And isn’t that what she wanted right now? A person who spoke computer languages and could find their thief, not some charming guy?
Sierra joined Claire. “Ignore Nick’s behavior. He can forget his manners when he has a crime to solve.”
“I only hope he can find something to help.”
“He will,” she said, her openness just the opposite of Nick. “He might be full of himself at times, but he has a reason to be. He’s the best at what he does.”
“Then let’s hope he finds something to help us resolve this theft,” Claire said as she led the way to the storage room at the far end of the building.
She swiped her card over the reader, and the door popped open. She held it for Serra and Travis. The overhead light sensor caught their entry and flooded the room with crisp blueish lighting.
“The prototype devices are stored in the large cabinet across the room,” Claire said. “Each cubby is numbered to coordinate with the model.”
Travis marched over there and studied the doors.
“Don’t touch anything,” Sierra warned.
Travis held up his hands. “Didn’t plan on it.”
“You’ll need keys.” Claire fished them from her pocket and gave them to Sierra. “Second cubby on the left is the empty one.”
“Separate key for every lock?” Sierra asked.
Claire nodded, wishing Nick were here to see their added security. “We wanted to make it harder to get at all the devices at one time.”
“How many prototypes are there?” Sierra unlocked the main door to the cabinet and then the empty cubby inside of it.
“Two with our current specs.” She pointed at the other door holding their current model. “The rest of the cubbies hold older versions.”
Sierra cocked her head. “Wonder why they didn’t take both of them.”
Claire hadn’t thought of that. “Good question.”
“They took number two,” Travis said. “Perhaps they thought you wouldn’t notice the second one missing for a few days.”
Sierra bent closer to the cabinet. “Surfaces are smooth and flat. Should enable us to lift clear prints.”
Nick rushed into the room, his gaze searching until he fixed it on Claire. “Why didn’t you tell me you used dummy terminals?”
