Chapter 3 - THE SYSTEM THAT COULDN'T BE FIXED
Harrow Systems had built the logistics platform used by several major shipping companies along the East Coast.
The software tracked cargo movements, invoices, customs documentation, and warehouse inventories.
Three months earlier, the system began malfunctioning.
Containers appeared in two locations at once.
Invoices duplicated.
Shipments vanished from records.
Financial reports contradicted physical inventory.
Wesley's legitimate shipping businesses were losing millions.
Worse, the failures threatened to expose irregular transactions associated with his criminal network.
He had hired fifteen experts.
None had found the root cause.
The specialists believed the platform had been compromised.
Some suspected malware.
Others blamed corrupted databases.
A few recommended replacing the entire system.
But replacement would take months.
And Wesley didn't have months.
He had a major regulatory audit approaching.
If the records couldn't be reconciled, his companies could face severe consequences.
Cora listened quietly as Wesley explained the situation.
Then she asked:
“Did anyone check the legacy reconciliation layer?”
Wesley stared.
“The what?”
“The original bridge between the shipping database and the accounting system.”
He looked at her.
“How do you know about that?”
Cora swallowed.
“Daniel built it.”
She looked down.
“And I helped him test it.”
Wesley remained silent.
Cora continued.
“I wasn't an engineer. I studied applied mathematics.”
She paused.
“But Daniel used to bring problems home.”
Wesley leaned forward.
“Could you look at the system?”
Cora hesitated.
She had spent three years trying to forget everything connected to Daniel's death.
The software.
The company.
The secrets.
And the night he never came home.
May you like
Finally, she whispered:
“I'll look.”
