Chapter 9 9

Officer Davies stood in the foyer of the Sterling estate, looking tired.

"Let me get this straight," he said, pen hovering over his notebook. "A military helicopter kidnapped your daughter."

"Yes!" Richard shouted. "Abducted!"

Davies sighed. He radioed dispatch. "Run a check on Nova Sterling. Status."

He waited. The radio crackled. A burst of static, then a clipped, coded response that made Davies' blood run cold.

Davies' face went pale. He looked at Richard.

"Mr. Sterling," Davies said, his voice now devoid of any familiarity, "there was no kidnapping. I strongly advise you to consider this matter closed."

"What are you talking about? Where is she?"

"I cannot disclose that information," Davies said, snapping his notebook shut. "And let me be clear. If you or anyone in this house contacts law enforcement regarding this individual again, it will be considered obstruction of a federal matter. Do you understand me?"

"That's impossible!" Victoria shrieked. "She's a dropout!"

Davies gave her a look that was pure ice. He turned and left without another word.

Chloe bit her nail. "She's in the mafia. That's it. She's a drug mule. She hacked the police database."

"Yes," Victoria agreed, desperate for it to be true. "She's a criminal."

At the penthouse, Roman kicked open the guest room door.

Nova's fingers flew. Alt-Tab.

The code on the screens vanished, replaced instantly by a Korean drama in 4K resolution.

Roman stood in the doorway. He saw the TV show. He saw the empty bags of chips (which were actually hiding circuit boards).

"This is it?" Roman asked, incredulous. "This is why my electric bill is up? You're streaming soap operas?"

Nova crunched a chip. "It's 4K. High bandwidth."

"I thought you were running trading algorithms," Roman muttered.

Nova's phone rang. She put it on speaker.

"You little witch!" Victoria's voice screamed. "How did you trick the police? Who did you pay off?"

Roman raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't trick anyone," Nova said calmly. "You're just an idiot."

"Don't think your mafia boyfriends scare us!" Victoria yelled.

Nova hung up.

Roman leaned against the doorframe. "Mafia? Federal matter? You have a colorful life for a shut-in."

Nova looked at him. "If I told you I was a national security asset, would you believe me?"

Roman laughed. It was a genuine, amused sound. "I'd believe you're a mafia mistress first. At least that requires some charisma."

He walked away. "Keep the volume down. I have work to do."