Previously on netwars

Anthony Prince, head of PrinceSec, a firm providing high-tech security for the government and large private corporations, has died in a plane crash. On the same night, his firm has been the victim of a cyber-attack.

Responsible for Prince’s death was a hacker named Strider. Under his legal name, as Scott Mitchell, working as an advisor to the National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU), he uses legitimate means to get the bad guys. As Strider, those means are less legal. Strider lives by The Code, a set of rules that he enforces without fail. Prince was a member of a pedophile network and so he had to die.

As the investigation into his murder deepens, a link is found between a criminal hacker group, known as Black Flag, a national port authority and a power station in Newcastle, indicating that Black Flag’s intentions could pose a risk to national safety. All this makes Mitchell suspicious. The previous year a whole swathe of evidence against Black Flag disappeared from the NCCU files — is there a traitor in the office protecting Black Flag? Slowly piecing the evidence together, Mitchell realises that there is a mole in the NCCU, a key Black Flag hacker nicknamed Brown Bear. None other than his boss, Sheila Davies. Working under his secret hacker identity as Strider, he decides to move quickly — and act outside the law.

Nightshade, criminal hacker and part of Black Flag, goes to the scene of Brown Bear’s death. Who did this? He’s nervous — his carefully laid plans are now at risk and his boss will be angry. There is too much money at risk to have problems at this stage.

Meanwhile, Strider makes contact with the man who trained him up in the ways of hacking — The Salesman. To Strider’s shock and dismay, The Salesman reveals that he is in charge of Black Flag and is livid that Strider has killed two of his people. Strider is in shock — how can the man he considered his mentor be involved with pedophiles and traitors? The Salesman tells Strider that for what he’s done Black Flag and specifically Nightshade will be coming for him. While no one yet knows Strider’s true identity as Scott Mitchell, NCCU employee, he needs to watch his back.

Back at NCCU HQ, Sheila Davies’ death hits the team hard; but for Oscar Franklin, now leading the PrinceSec investigation, it’s even more worrying. Police evidence suggests she was murdered — a motorcycle was spotted in the CCTV footage of the crash. He asks Mitchell to look at Davies’ laptop, which is a perfect opportunity for Mitchell to reveal the truth behind Davies’ shocking deceit.

Investigating at the Drax Power Station are Rebecca MacDonald from PrinceSec and NCCU Agent David Roche. When evidence from the nearby Port of Tyne reveals that a cargo box arrives every week before disappearing for a few days, they realise they’re on to something. What is in the box?

Roche, flush with excitement at his discovery, decides to secretly investigate the warehouse linked to the Port — against Rebecca’s wishes. What they don’t know is that they’re walking into the warehouse that all the trafficked children, including recently abducted Sofiya, are kept. When they are spotted the guard, Miguel, attacks and ties them up, waiting for Nightshade’s further orders.

The two detainees are trouble for Nightshade, but he knows what he has to do to divert attention from the warehouse when the NCCU come looking for their missing colleagues. Disguised as Agent Roche, he taking the man’s car and gains entry to the Drax Power Station. From there he causes a massive explosion. All fingers will point to Roche — how will the NCCU and Mitchell get around this?

The Code

M. Sean Coleman

Episode 4
Decoy

BASTEI ENTERTAINMENT

Digital original edition

Bastei Entertainment is an imprint of Bastei Lübbe AG

Copyright © 2014 by Bastei Lübbe AG, Schanzenstraße 6-20, 51063 Cologne, Germany, and filmtank GmbH, Hamburg

Written by M. Sean Coleman

Edited by Victoria Pepe

Project management: Helmut W. Pesch

Coverdesign: Guter Punkt, München

E-book production: Urban SatzKonzept, Düsseldorf

ISBN 978-3-8387-5598-4

www.bastei-entertainment.com

The Code

You will never know me, but I will be the death of you.
I saw what you did — I see everything you do.
I heard what you said — I know your secrets.
I know where you went — I follow you everywhere.
You are not above scrutiny — I scrutinise everything.
You are not above the law — I am the law.
Don’t ask for forgiveness, nor pardon, nor grace.
Just understand this:
If you cannot live by the Code, you must die by the Code.

Strider

RULE #12: Physician, Heal Thyself

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!