Page 22 of Fire Bear

Ash ended the call, sliding his phone away. He walked over to Eliana, who looked up at him. Her eyes were still worried, yet a spark of hope flickered there.

“Ivy will meet us at the Institute.”

She took a moment to process that, then inhaled as if centering herself. “Talia is the manager today. I’ll let her know I’m leaving.”

Outside, they found Talia in the middle of directing a few workers. Eliana took a breath. “Talia, Ash and I need to head out for a bit. If I’m not back by closing, go ahead and lock up.”

Talia tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear, her expression serious. “I’ll keep an eye on the orchard.”

Ash led Eliana to his truck, parked on the gravel drive. He opened the passenger door for her, noticing how she hesitated. She scanned the orchard as if Mateo might appear at any moment.

Once Ash settled behind the wheel, he started the engine. The orchard receded in the rearview mirror as they drove through the gates onto the main road. Towering evergreens surrounded them, the thick canopy creating dappled shadows on the asphalt.

They approached the outskirts of Fate Mountain’s small downtown, a quaint area known for its rustic storefronts, coffeeshops, and tourist-friendly gift stores. Ash continued through, soon merging onto a well-maintained side road that led toward the Bright Institute.

His father had founded the Institute with a mission to help shifters with specialized programs, training, and cutting-edge technology. The Institute sat on a sloping piece of land dotted with modern buildings constructed of steel, glass, and plenty of native timber to blend in with the mountain’s aesthetic.

He slowed the truck, steering into a visitor parking lot adjacent to the main lobby. Ash parked the truck, cut the engine, and turned to Eliana. “Ivy said she’d meet us inside.”

The day had warmed significantly, making the sunshine feel almost too bright. A breeze drifted across the lot as they walked to the entrance. Stepping inside the large, airy lobby felt like walking into a blend of a high-tech campus and a welcoming community center.

Posters about ongoing research lined the walls. A row of cushioned chairs held a few visitors, some reading brochures, others tapping on their phones. One or two looked up, momentarily curious about the newcomers.

Ivy stood near a reception desk, scanning the entrance. As soon as she spotted them, she raised her arm in greeting. Her dark hair was pinned neatly, and her glasses flashed under the overhead lights.

“Marta is ready for us.” She gave Eliana a polite smile. “I’m sorry for the circumstances. I hope we can help.”

Eliana managed a grateful nod. “Thank you for setting this up.”

Ivy turned on her heel, gesturing for them to follow. Ash fell into step with Eliana at his side. Ivy led them deeper into the building. They passed offices behind glass walls, various labs with specialized equipment, and a few small conference rooms. The atmosphere was hushed, busy, and professional, with staffers dressed in a mix of casual clothes, business attire, and lab coats.

They reached a door labeled Information Technology Laboratory. Ivy used her keycard to unlock it. The moment the door opened, a gentle hum of electronic equipment and a faint whir of ventilation spilled out.

The space was filled with computer stations, large monitors mounted on the walls, and server racks in one corner. Cables ran along organized channels overhead, and the air smelled faintly of ozone.

A woman with short, cropped hair dyed bright teal spun around in a swivel chair. She wore slim headphones that she quickly removed. A ripple of shifter energy emanated from her, and Ash guessed she was a fox. Her sharp eyes locked on Ivy.

“Hi Marta,” Ivy said. “This is my brother Ash and his mate Eliana.”

Marta nodded, pushing her chair back from the desk. “Great to meet you. So, let’s see what we’ve got.”

Ash realized his heart had begun to pound with anticipation. He tugged the zippered evidence pouch from his belt. “Eliana’s nineteen-year-old apprentice disappeared, and we believe this phone belongs to the person responsible. We’d hoped it might give us a clue to his whereabouts.”

Marta accepted the phone and studied the fractured screen. She opened a desk drawer and removed a slim cable with a specialized connector. She plugged one end into the phone’s port, hooking the other end to a large device that looked like a cross between a docking station and a data hub.

She frowned. “This is in bad shape,” she said. “I’ll see if the main board still responds. If it’s physically intact, I might get a quick read.” She tapped a few keys on her workstation, her eyes narrowing at the lines of code scrolling across the monitor.

Eliana shifted on her feet; arms crossed. Ash placed a reassuring hand on the small of her back. He could sense the anxiety rising in her. They both watched the monitors, hoping for a miracle. Ivy stood off to one side, occasionally exchanging a worried glance with Ash.

After several moments of quiet except for Marta’s typing, the technician let out a small grunt of frustration. “It’s definitely got some form of specialized encryption. The hardware is not standard. I’m picking up a heavy layer of security protocols that keep me locked out.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “No personal data to see yet. Not even a normal device signature.”

Ash and Eliana exchanged a glance. Eliana’s face drained of color. She rubbed her arms, as if chilled. Marta unplugged the cable, then grabbed a second gadget from a shelf. She attached the phone again, inputting a few commands on her computer.

“I can attempt a deeper extraction, but that’s not going to happen in a few minutes. We’re talking hours or maybe days of analysis if the encryption is as serious as it looks.” She gave a shrug, though there was sympathy in her expression. “If I crack it or even get partial data, I’ll message you right away.”

Chapter

Sixteen

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