“That’s impossible.”
Adrian’s voice came out low, but the certainty inside it was cracking. Lucas stared at the monitor again as if the screen might correct itself. It didn’t.
AUTHORIZED USER: EDWARD RYDER.
Active.
My eyes stayed fixed on the name. The transmitter continued humming quietly, data flowing across the screen in steady lines. Adrian’s father. A man who had been buried ten years ago.
Lucas leaned closer to the device, typing quickly.
“Maybe someone cloned the identity tag.”
Adrian didn’t look convinced. “That system uses biometric encryption.” Lucas nodded. “Exactly.” Which meant whoever accessed it needed something only Edward Ryder had.
My thoughts moved fast. Fingerprint. Voice pattern. Retina.
Something physical.
Something that should no longer exist.
Adrian’s han
