Chapter 1
On UniLink's early application deadline, an email routed through an encrypted proxy suddenly appeared in my inbox, covering the application page on the Alderidge Institute of Technology website.
Anonymous Sender: Withdraw your AIT application immediately! David Smith's uncle, Richard Smith, is an academic reviewer for the quantum computing program at AIT's School of Computing. Once the semester begins, he and Sophia Rosen plan to steal your V3.0 algorithm and submit it under Sophia's name through an internal channel. You will be accused of academic plagiarism and expelled. Then they will claim that you stole research from a federally funded project, leaving you to face federal felony charges. The Crestmont Institute of Technology is your only way out!
I assumed it was a prank and replied to ask who the sender was, but the address no longer existed.
Then an iMessage from David popped up at the bottom of my screen.
David: Honey, are you still working on your model over the holidays? I dreamed last night that your solid-state drive burned out and took all your data with it. Why don't you send me a copy so I can back it up for you?
……
A chill ran down my back as the warning replayed in my mind.
Without replying, I used my biometric key to launch my full-disk encryption software.
On the UniLink page, the cursor rested on the checkbox for AIT Early Action.
I stared at the AIT application page, now back on my screen, with my fingers hovering over the touchpad.
Still unsure whether to believe the warning, I answered Sophia's FaceTime call.
Her smiling face filled the screen, and the sunlight brought a warm glow to her complexion. "Emma, you applied to AIT, right? I turned down Hawthorne University's Restrictive Early Action offer for you, so you'd better not stand me up. We made a deal. Best friends, same college!"
I kept my expression natural and my tone light. "Of course. I don't want us to end up at different schools either."
She sounded so warm and affectionate that it was hard to believe she might be plotting with my boyfriend to steal my research, just as the email had warned.
"Let's get coffee this afternoon. We should celebrate finally getting our applications done. Meet me at our usual place!"
Her smile was as sweet as ever. The Tiffany bracelet around her wrist flashed in the sunlight.
She had given me one bracelet from a matching pair for my 18th birthday, and she kept the other.
Mine was supposed to be locked in my safe, but it had somehow disappeared.
I quietly agreed to meet her, then stared at the AIT crest on my screen for a long time.
As soon as we met, Sophia took my hand and asked, concern filling her voice, "Emma, how is your model coming along?"
For a second, I couldn't tell whether she cared about me or only about my model.
"It's almost finished. I just need to go through everything one more time."
Concern spread across her face. "Look at you. Those dark circles are practically down to your chin."
The moment she finished speaking, my phone sounded an alert.
System Alert: Blocked 1 unauthorized remote-access attempt.
Someone was trying to break into my computer.
"What was that? It sounded scary."
Sophia leaned closer. I silenced my phone at once, but she had already seen the alert.
"Nothing. Just a calendar reminder. I have something to take care of, so I need to go."
Sophia caught hold of my arm. "No, you can't leave already. You just got here!"
My phone vibrated nonstop as the blocked-attempt log kept updating, but the firewall held. Not a single attack got through.
When my phone finally went quiet, Sophia waved toward the entrance of the coffee shop.
"Hey, David! Over here!"
