Chapter 14 - The Digital Trap|
I motioned for Daniel, who brought forward a high-definition monitor set up on a mobile cart.
"Ms. Hayes," I said, "Victoria Vance filed a petition claiming I was an unfit father who allowed a dangerous device into my home. But what her lawyers didn't tell you is that her own security company pushed a remote hack into my home server to bypass our security gates."
Daniel tapped the screen, displaying the encrypted IP logs, the spoofed keycard data, and the digital paper trail connecting the remote hack directly to Vance Global Security in Manhattan.
"This is a sophisticated cyber-attack designed to fabricate evidence of child endangerment," Daniel explained to the social worker. "They placed the device themselves, framed our house manager, and called your department before the babies even stopped crying."
Ms. Hayes stared at the technical data, her professional composure wavering. She looked at the server logs, then back at the three smiling infants in the playpen.
"This is... a very serious allegation, Mr. Callahan," she said quietly.
"It's not an allegation. It's evidence," I said, stepping closer. "Victoria Vance doesn't care about these children. She wants custody so she can gain control of the forty-percent voting stake in Callahan Shipping that Claire left in trust for them."
Ms. Hayes looked at the deputies standing near the door, then turned back to me.
"Mr. Callahan, even if this data is real, I cannot simply dismiss a court order," she said carefully. "However, given the complexity of this cyber-evidence, I will not order an immediate removal of the children today."
I let out a shuddering breath of relief.
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"Instead," she continued, "I will assign a twenty-four-hour state supervisor to remain on the premises until a formal custody hearing is held in forty-eight hours."
"Agreed," I said immediately. "And I want Rosa Martinez cleared of all internal suspicion immediately."
