Chapter 8: The Files on Someone Else's Computer
Zoe ran back downstairs.
"What do you mean you gave him my files?""
Denise stood up.
"I thought he could help improve the design.""
"You gave him my diagrams?""
"Only copies.""
"Of everything?""
Denise hesitated.
"Most of it.""
Zoe felt her stomach turn.
She had spent months documenting every measurement, every circuit adjustment, and every modification to the robotic arm.
The files weren't just photographs.
They contained the complete design process.
Her code.
Her calculations.
Her original concept.
"Did you give him my laptop password?"" Zoe asked.
Denise didn't answer.
"Mom!""
"Yes.""
Zoe stared at her.
"How?""
"Your laptop was open in the garage one afternoon.""
Isaiah stepped forward.
"Did Marcus access the files himself?""
"I don't know.""
"Did he download them?""
"I said I don't know!""
Zoe backed away.
Her hands were trembling.
Malik looked toward the garage.
"Wait. Is that why he kept asking about the robot?""
Denise turned toward him.
"What?""
"When Marcus came over, he asked whether the machine could sort different materials. He wanted to know how the sensors worked.""
Zoe nodded slowly.
"He asked me the same questions.""
Isaiah picked up the agreement.
"Did you sign anything giving Marcus ownership of her design?""
"No. The document only uses the prototype as collateral.""
"Then why does he have her files?""
Denise's voice cracked.
"Because he said he wanted to help.""
Isaiah shook his head.
"That doesn't explain why you gave him access.""
He walked into the adjoining room and called the attorney he had spoken to earlier.
Zoe remained in the kitchen.
She felt as though the walls were closing in.
Malik approached her cautiously.
"Zoe?""
She didn't look at him.
"I'm sorry.""
She laughed without humor.
"You're sorry?""
"About the robot. About everything.""
"You didn't just break the robot, Malik.""
He lowered his eyes.
"I know.""
"You broke the one thing I thought I could control.""
Malik leaned against the counter.
For once, he didn't have a sarcastic response.
"I didn't know Mom had done all this.""
"You knew she was treating me differently.""
He nodded.
"I did.""
"Why didn't you say anything?""
Malik looked toward the living room.
"Because I liked being the favorite.""
Zoe stared at him.
He continued.
"Every time Dad called, he asked about your project. Mom would get angry afterward. She'd say he was always making you feel special.""
Zoe said nothing.
"I guess I thought if your project failed, things would go back to normal.""
The confession was so ugly that Zoe almost couldn't process it.
"You wanted me to fail?""
Malik rubbed his face.
"I didn't think about what it would actually mean.""
"Well, now you know.""
He looked at the floor.
"Yeah.""
Isaiah returned twenty minutes later.
"The attorney wants us to preserve everything," he said.
"Messages, receipts, emails, photographs, design files. Nobody deletes anything.""
Zoe nodded.
"What about Marcus?""
"We'll deal with him through the proper channels.""
"Can he take my robot?""
Isaiah looked at the agreement.
"Not without us challenging what Denise signed. The document raises serious questions, especially because you're a minor and the invention belongs to you.""
Denise crossed her arms.
"You're making it sound like I committed some terrible crime.""
Isaiah ignored her.
"Zoe, I want you to check your laptop. See whether anyone accessed your files.""
They went into the garage.
Zoe opened her old laptop.
The screen flickered twice before the desktop appeared.
She opened her engineering folder.
Most of her files were still there.
But the modified dates made her frown.
Several documents had been opened on April twenty-sixth.
The same day Denise signed the loan agreement.
She clicked on one.
A diagram of the robotic arm appeared.
At the bottom was a small note she had written herself:
*Prototype ZC-17 — Original Design — Zoe Carter.*
Then she noticed another file.
It wasn't one of hers.
Its name was:
*MR_Prototype_Review.pdf*
She opened it.
The first page contained photographs of her robot.
The second page showed several of her diagrams.
The third page contained a summary of its functions.
But the fourth page made her stop breathing.
It showed a redesigned version of her machine.
The yellow chassis was gone.
The robotic arm had been modified.
The sensor system was larger.
And beneath the photograph was a title:
*REED SMART SORTER — DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT.*
Zoe stared at the screen.
"That's my design.""
Isaiah leaned over her shoulder.
He read the description.
It claimed that Marcus Reed had developed a low-cost automated sorting system for commercial recycling facilities.
The document even included a proposed launch date.
November.
Three days from now.
Zoe's voice became barely audible.
"He stole my invention.""
Isaiah scrolled farther.
There was a section titled:
*PROJECT LEAD: MARCUS REED.*
Beneath it was a list of technical contributors.
Zoe's name wasn't there.
Neither was her father's.
Malik stared at the screen.
"Mom, what is this?""
Denise stood behind them.
Her expression changed when she saw the document.
"Close it.""
Zoe turned.
"Why?""
"Because you don't know what you're looking at.""
"Then explain it!""
Denise looked at Isaiah.
"Marcus was supposed to help me recover the money.""
"By launching her invention under his name?""
"I didn't know he was going to do that.""
Isaiah pointed to the document.
"Your signature is on the agreement that gave him access to her files.""
"I didn't sign anything about ownership!""
Zoe scrolled to the final page.
A small paragraph appeared beneath the project description.
*All prototype documentation, design revisions, and supporting technical materials provided by Denise Carter are authorized for commercial evaluation and development.*
Zoe read it twice.
Then she noticed something else.
There was a scanned signature beneath the paragraph.
Denise Carter.
Her stepmother had signed it.
Denise began crying.
"I thought it was just permission to evaluate the machine.""
Isaiah turned toward her.
"You gave him permission to develop it?""
"I didn't understand the wording!""
Zoe felt tears burning her eyes.
"You didn't understand the wording, but you understood enough to sign my name away?""
"I never signed your name!""
"But you gave him everything!""
Malik stepped away from the laptop.
"Mom, what did you do?""
Denise covered her face.
Nobody answered.
Then Zoe's laptop chimed.
A new email had arrived.
The sender was Marcus Reed.
The subject line read:
*FINAL NOTICE — PROTOTYPE COLLECTION.*
Isaiah opened it.
The message contained only three sentences.
The loan is now due. I will collect the collateral tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.
If the original prototype is unavailable, I expect the replacement design files and all related documentation.
Please don't make this difficult.
Zoe looked at her broken robot.
Then at the email.
"He wants the robot even though Malik destroyed it?""
Isaiah's jaw tightened.
"Apparently.""
But there was one more attachment.
A photograph.
It showed a yellow robotic machine sitting on a workbench.
Not Zoe's broken robot.
A new version.
The body was almost identical to hers.
The arm was redesigned.
And a small white label had been placed on its side.
*REED SMART SORTER — MODEL 1.*
Zoe stared at the photograph.
Her voice cracked.
"How did he already build another one?""
Isaiah enlarged the image.
Then he noticed something in the background.
A familiar blue toolbox.
It was the toolbox that had disappeared from their garage in April.
May you like
And beside it stood a man holding a printed copy of Zoe's original engineering notebook.
Marcus had everything.
