Chapter 61 – Between Doors and Shadows
May 30, 2011 – Monday – 7:42 a.m.
Pearson Hardman – 49th Floor – Manhattan
The elevator door opened with a discreet clink. The marble floor reflected the figure of Logan Moore, returning to the office after intense weeks in Albany. Impeccable navy blue suit, white shirt with French buttons, his gaze serene but ready. Nothing about him seemed tired and yet, he bore the mark of that which only personal justice can leave: the tranquility of someone who has reciprocated everything he has received.
As he walked down the hallway, the greetings came discreetly:
— Dr. Moore. Welcome back.
— Good work in Albany. We all followed.
— Not guilty. We knew you would do justice.
Logan just nodded, cordial. Always cordial. Always firm.
When he arrived at the reception desk on his floor, Donna Paulsen was already waiting for him with her arms crossed, a smile on her lips.
"The legend is back."
"I'm still just a lawyer, Donna," he replied, with that calm, ironic tone she had learned to respect.
"Just a lawyer? You defend a veteran, expose a fraudulent NGO, corner a state prosecutor, and walk back as if you had gone to buy bread?"
"I also bought bread on the way," he replied, taking a package of artisanal cookies from his briefcase for Donna.
She laughed.
"You're still impossible."
8:10 AM – Logan's Office
Logan sat down at his desk for the first time in days. The familiar smell of polished wood and coffee hung in the air. His chair automatically adjusted to his posture—the comfort of habit. Everything looked the same, but something was different.
On the desk, three sealed envelopes. A handwritten note:
"Welcome back. When you're ready, come to my office. We have something urgent." – Jessica.
He stared out the window for a moment, then picked up the envelopes. They were all marked "CONFIDENTIAL – NEW CLIENT – MEETING TODAY."
8:30 AM – Jessica Pearson's Office
Jessica stood at the window with a cup of coffee and her eyes on the glass skyline that opened up over Manhattan. She turned when Logan entered.
"Did you get any rest?"
"Just enough to know it was time to go back."
She gestured to the chair in front of her desk. Logan sat down. Jessica slid a file toward him.
"This fell into our laps last night. A new client. A lot of money, a lot of power, and a very sensitive issue."
Logan opened the file. Inside was a black folder with the seal of Phoenix Biotech, a biotechnology company that worked with genetic data and clinical research contracts with the federal government.
"They work with the NIH, right?"
"Exactly. And the Department of Veterans Affairs. But now an anonymous whistleblower claims the company shared genetic data from volunteers with a European subsidiary without their consent. If true, they violated HIPAA, the Code of Medical Ethics, and possibly international privacy laws."
Logan frowned, turning page after page. "And why did they come to us?"
Jessica walked over and rested her hands on the table. "Because the CEO, Dr. Evelyn Rowen, is one of the most respected scientists in the country. She swears she didn't authorize anything and that someone inside the company acted on their own. But the DOJ is already looking. And so are the reporters."
Logan closed the folder. "When is she coming in?"
"She's in conference room C. Waiting for you."
8:55 a.m. - Conference room C
Dr. Evelyn Rowen was a middle-aged woman with red hair pulled back in a low bun, sober clothes, and intense eyes. When Logan entered, she stood up. immediately.
"Dr. Moore," she said. "Thank you for seeing me."
"Dr. Rowen," he said, shaking her hand firmly. "Let's talk."
They sat down. Logan opened his notebook and began.
"What exactly do you know about the complaint?"
"I know that six months ago we started a study on genetic mutations in veterans with PTSD. All the data was stored on our servers. But three weeks ago, I received an anonymous encrypted email with a screenshot of external access. The IP was from Stockholm, Sweden. The company "Nord-Gen Health" our research partner would have logged in and copied the files."
"And why didn't you report it sooner?"
"Because I was told to wait. Our board wanted to do an internal investigation."
Logan looked up.
"That complicates your position. The DOJ could say that you hid the breach for corporate convenience."
Evelyn swallowed.
"That's why I'm here. I need someone who knows where you're going." step.
Logan closed the notebook.
"I'm going to need access to all network logs, a copy of the contract with Nord-Gen, and authorization to interview your security and IT managers."
"That's all cleared."
"Good. From now on, don't talk to anyone else about this. Not the press, not the board members. Only me."
She nodded.
"I understand."
11:40 AM – Logan's Office
Logan was talking to Rachel, who was already putting together a map of contractual connections between Phoenix and foreign companies.
"This could escalate very quickly, Rachel. We're talking about veterans' genetic data. If this material was shared without anonymization, it's a crime. And a federal crime."
"What if we prove it was internal sabotage?"
"Even then, Dr. Rowen could be held accountable. We need to act before the DOJ sets the tone for the accusation."
Rachel looked at him.
"Do you think there's someone on the inside trying to take her down?"
Logan stood up, thoughtful.
"I think there's someone profiting from this."
3:10 p.m. – Interview with Phoenix's CTO
Logan sat across from Mark Densley, the company's chief technology officer.
"Mr. Densley, I need to understand who had credentials to access Phoenix's main server, and who had permission to share externally."
Densley answered promptly.
"Just three people. Me, Dr. Rowen, and the chief data engineer, Carter Lynch."
"Where is Mr. Lynch now?"
"On vacation in Germany."
Logan arched an eyebrow.
"How convenient."
5:32 p.m. – Logan's Office
"This stinks," Rachel said. "Carter Lynch has shares in Nord-Gen. Small, but he does. They're in his wife's name."
"And it's not declared," Logan finished, looking at the screen.
"Do you want me to put together a transfer schedule and pull up the network activity list?"
"Yes. And have Mike validate the terms of the international contracts. I want to find out exactly what they could and couldn't do."
Rachel nodded.
"Logan… this is a big case."
"Yes. And it's just started."
Chapter 62 – Coded Truth
June 1, 2011 – 7:14 AM – Logan Moore's Office, Pearson Hardman
The early morning light of Manhattan streamed through the tinted glass windows, casting shadows over the stacked books and organized reports on the desk. Logan was reviewing the timeline of remote accesses to the Phoenix Biotech database for the third time.
Rachel entered the room unannounced, holding a printed sheet.
"Got it. The metadata for the export logs. The data transfer occurred at exactly 3:42 AM on May 4, Eastern Time. The connection was initiated with a Swedish VPN, but…"
"But?" Logan turned.
"The access was made with Carter Lynch's credentials. Not only that"—she turned the paper over "there was an attempt to delete the logs, but the server checksum records revealed the change."
Logan ran a hand over his chin thoughtfully.
— He didn't just want to steal. He wanted to completely cover his tracks.
Rachel sat down.
— Logan… this is sabotage. And corporate espionage. If we go any further, it could even be a federal crime against veterans protected by HIPAA.
— And the DOJ will try to turn this into a strict liability case for the company.
— And Dr. Rowen will pay the price.
Logan nodded, already picking up the phone.
— Time to anticipate the counterattack.
08:12 – Call with Dr. Rowen
— Dr. Rowen, I need you to immediately suspend all administrative access for Carter Lynch and notify the Phoenix board that he is being investigated internally.
— They're going to freak out.
— Better they freak out now than after an arrest. And ask for an official press release. No details, just reinforcing that the company is committed to full transparency.
— Do you think he'll react?
— I'm counting on it.
11:50 AM – DOJ Regional Office – Manhattan
The room was cool, as if the temperature had been adjusted to contain emotions. Logan sat across from Janet Helms, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, and a young legal officer who was taking notes without looking up.
"Dr. Moore, we've received a complaint that Phoenix Biotech violated guidelines for sharing sensitive medical data. We're wondering if your client intends to cooperate."
Logan stood his ground, his voice calm.
"Dr. Rowen is fully willing to cooperate. In fact, we've already initiated an internal investigation. But I want to make it clear that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the CEO was not informed of the actions that prompted this complaint."
Helms crossed his arms.
"Are you saying this was an 'isolated act'?"
"I'm saying we have evidence that one of the data engineers, Carter Lynch, used administrative credentials to copy, export, and delete digital traces without management's authorization or knowledge."
"Are you going to hand over this evidence to us?"
Logan glared at the prosecutor.
"If the DOJ agrees not to file a lawsuit against Dr. Rowen before reviewing the material, yes."
Helms hesitated.
"Do you want to bargain?"
"I want justice. If we hand over everything and you decide to sue anyway, you'll be turning a victim into a defendant. And I'm going to fight to prevent that."
The young lawyer stopped writing and looked up. Helms didn't respond immediately. Logan stood his ground.
"You have until tomorrow to give us a formal response."
2:35 p.m. – Logan's Office
Harvey appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching Logan stare at a graph of IP connections on the whiteboard.
"Are you building a network map or writing a new chapter of The Da Vinci Code?"
Logan smirked.
"If Carter Lynch hadn't been so arrogant, maybe he would have gotten away with it." But even the most clever criminals leave their trails.
Harvey walked in.
"I heard you faced off with the DOJ this morning."
"They want Dr. Rowen. It's easier to take on the leadership than to admit there was an internal meltdown."
"Will this end up in court?"
"If we stop, yes. But I'd rather get the truth out before then."
Harvey nodded.
"Do you need support?"
"In the final stages, maybe. But for now, it's more of a chess game than a boxing match."
4:10 PM – Virtual meeting with Carter Lynch (Germany)
"Carter," Logan said, looking directly into the camera. "This is Logan Moore. I represent Phoenix Biotech. We need to talk."
The engineer appeared on the screen, visibly nervous.
"I… I'm on vacation. Can I talk later?"
"No. It's now." And before you think about hanging up, know that we have access logs, unauthorized transfers, and a connection between your wife and Nord-Gen Health stock.
Silence.
"I… I was briefed by a board member. They said it was 'just a side experiment.' They covered for me!"
"Name. Now," Logan said.
"Dr. David Roth. He approved everything."
Logan smiled, but it was a cold smile, one of silent victory.
"Thank you, Carter. That confession is being recorded."
Lynch's eyes widened.
"What?"
Logan hung up.
6:22 p.m. – Phoenix Office – Board Meeting
The board members were present, including Dr. David Roth, with white hair, a cynical look and hands shaking with tension. Logan presented the report, the logs and the recording of the confession.
— Roth authorized the illegal sharing of the data. Carter executed it. And the CEO knew nothing about it. Now, you have a choice: protect your integrity or go down with accomplices.
The board chairman swallowed hard.
— We want to resolve this… internally.
Logan stared.
— No. Justice is not internal. You will issue a statement informing that Roth will be removed, Carter fired for cause, and that the data has been recovered. I will handle communication with the DOJ.
Silence.
— Do the right thing, or the press will do it for you.
The next day – 10:20 a.m. – DOJ Office
Helms read the Phoenix statement and Logan's report.
— So Roth was the mastermind?
— Confirmed. And he's already been removed.
— And your client?
— Cooperating fully. And waiting for the DOJ to fulfill its agreement.
Helms took a deep breath.
— The DOJ will not file charges, but will open a follow-up investigation into Roth and Lynch. Dr. Rowen will be treated as a witness.
Logan held out his hand.
— Justice served.
Helms shook it.
— For today.
7:50 p.m. – Logan's Apartment
The night was quiet. Logan, in a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, was writing in the leather notebook he kept for personal reflections. He wrote:
Profit and ethics go together like oil and water. The secret is to keep a steady hand when the mixture threatens to boil over.
His phone vibrated. A message from Rachel:
"Phoenix in all the papers. CEO acquitted. You were the anchor they needed. Thanks for showing, once again, what a lawyer should be."
Logan smiled, put down his notebook, and walked to the window.
Below, the city was still alive. Full of cases, fights, shadows. And him? Ready for the next truth.
New stories in my Patreon
News stories there: "Former CIA, Now LAPD" and "Adopted into a Modern Family"
[email protected]/SHADOWGHOST07
Just replace the @ with an a