Chapter 4 | Digital Fingerprints

Something was off. Someone had been probing her networks – not the obvious ones she maintained as covers, but the deeper layers where she stored her real work.

"We've got a shadow, Piper," she murmured, fingers flying across her keyboard. The cat's ears perked up at her tone, its body emitting a barely perceptible electromagnetic pulse that made nearby electronics flicker.

The intrusion attempt was elegant, almost artistic. Whoever had tried to breach her security hadn't triggered a single standard alarm. She'd only caught it because of a custom protocol she'd written after her first close call in college—or had Piper written it? The memories seemed increasingly fuzzy.

Her screen flashed. Just for a moment, but long enough to display a message: Nice work at Frost. Getting sloppy though. The cat's cute. Or should I say, the quantum AI is impressive?

Ice shot through her veins. Someone knew. Not just about her operations, but about Piper. Her sanctuary suddenly felt exposed, its floor-to-ceiling windows more vulnerability than luxury.

A new message appeared: Check your email. The one you think no one knows about.

From: ghostinthemachine@[encrypted] Subject: Professional Courtesy

*Your reputation precedes you, Ms. Sterling (or should I say Ms. Rodriguez?). Your work with the youth center is admirable. Almost makes up for the millions you've skimmed. Almost.

I'm reaching out as a professional courtesy. You're not the only one who sees the potential in Ryan's startup. Back off this one. It's already spoken for.

P.S. - Interesting choice, housing quantum AI in feline form. The lab it came from might be interested in that information.*

Sage felt her pulse quicken, even as her face remained carefully neutral. Piper jumped onto her desk, paws precisely landing on specific keys that initiated a defense protocol Sage had never written.

"Time for a walk, Piper," she said, voice steady. The cat moved to its carrier, its collar momentarily displaying an encryption key that would make quantum computers weep.

As she packed her go-bag – cash, clean IDs, untraceable laptop – her mind raced through possibilities. Who was this ghost? Law enforcement? Someone from Piper's mysterious origins?

Her phone buzzed with texts:

Ryan: Got a weird email about you. Also, why does my AI keep detecting quantum anomalies around your address?

Marcus: Hey, some guys were asking about you at The Continental. They said they were old friends from the quantum computing lab.

Unknown Number: The youth center kids really love their new computers. Their quantum processing power is impressive too.

Sage allowed herself precisely five seconds to feel the weight of it all. Then she straightened her spine, checked her lipstick in the mirror (old habits die hard), and grabbed her keys.

"The problem with networks," she told Piper as she pulled up her black leather pants. She took off her Yoga top and donned a spaghetti-strapped blouse. They headed for the secret door to the private, narrow ladder she'd installed into one of the false pilasters. What resembled a simple column protruding from the wall was her pre-determined escape route, "is that they work both ways." Ready to show them what you really are?"

Piper's eyes glowed with actual binary code now, no longer hiding. Sometimes the best disguise is hiding in plain sight. But as they descended, Sage couldn't shake the feeling that she was heading down in more ways than one.

[End Chapter 4: System Log - Quantum signatures detected. Source: Confirmed. Asset PIPER initiating Protocol REVELATION]