Nathaniel's Espionage: Dr. Calloway's Secrets

Chapter 4: Compromised Professor

Nathaniel sat in the dim glow of his small apartment, eyes glued to the screen of his laptop. The rhythmic clicking of his fingers on the keys was the only sound breaking the silence of the room. His heart was racing, but his face remained calm, even though every inch of him screamed that something was off. The data he had extracted from the university's secure server wasn't complete.

The screen in front of him blinked, and once again, the firewall blocked his next attempt to break into Calloway's personal files. Access Denied. Nathaniel gritted his teeth. This was the third attempt tonight, and each one was met with stronger resistance. His encryption wasn't working as smoothly as before, and the blocks weren't just routine—they felt targeted, deliberate.

Something had changed.

He rubbed the back of his neck, exhaustion settling in. It had been a long day balancing classes, avoiding suspicion, and now this. His mind drifted to the information he had already gathered: Calloway was indeed using the university's resources for illegal deals, but the files only skimmed the surface. The deeper, more critical details about the connections to world leaders, funding channels, and secret projects were locked down tighter than he had anticipated.

Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, his mind buzzing with questions. The operation was taking longer than expected, and the longer he stayed embedded, the higher the chances of someone noticing something wrong.

The faint sound of his phone vibrating pulled him out of his thoughts. He reached for it on the desk, half-expecting it to be CHROME with some new instructions or maybe even Rain checking in.

But the name flashing on the screen wasn't either of those.

Professor Saunders.

His heart skipped a beat. Why would Saunders be calling him now, especially after their last cryptic meeting? He hadn't heard from the professor in over a week, not since they had shared a brief conversation about "keeping their heads down" and "moving carefully."

He hesitated but answered. "Professor?"

"Nathaniel, listen to me carefully." Saunders' voice was low, almost frantic. "There's been a... complication. I can't say much over the phone, but we need to meet. Now."

Nathaniel's stomach tightened. He glanced at the time—it was past midnight. "Meet? Is everything alright?"

"No. Things are unraveling faster than we thought. I don't know how much longer we can stay in the shadows. Calloway... he's making moves."

The line went silent for a moment, and Nathaniel could hear Saunders' labored breathing.

"We meet at the library," Saunders continued. "Back entrance. Fifteen minutes."

Before Nathaniel could respond, the call ended abruptly.

He stared at the phone for a moment, dread creeping up his spine. Professor Saunders wasn't one to panic easily. He was usually calm, methodical—a man with a plan. If he was spooked, then something was seriously wrong.

Nathaniel stood up, grabbed his jacket, and tucked his phone into his pocket. He couldn't afford to ignore this. Saunders might have information—something crucial about Calloway, or worse, a potential breach in their cover. Either way, the professor was an ally, and Nathaniel needed to know what was happening.

The campus was eerily quiet as Nathaniel approached the back entrance of the library. The tall stone building loomed in the moonlight, its gothic architecture casting long shadows on the ground. There was no sign of anyone around, but the tension in the air was palpable.

Nathaniel scanned the area, his nerves on edge. He had taken precautions to make sure he wasn't followed, but this late at night, the campus security cameras would be their main concern. He stuck to the shadows, avoiding any direct line of sight from the cameras perched on the lampposts.

As he reached the designated meeting spot, he saw a figure standing near the entrance—Professor Saunders, dressed in his usual tweed jacket, but the man looked disheveled, constantly glancing over his shoulder.

"Professor," Nathaniel whispered as he approached. "What's going on?"

Saunders turned quickly, eyes wide with paranoia. "Nathaniel. Good, you're here."

"What's this about? You said there was a complication."

Saunders ran a hand through his thinning hair, glancing nervously around again. "Calloway's making moves, bigger ones than we anticipated. There's a new development—a shift in his strategy. He's growing more paranoid, more aggressive. I overheard a conversation in the administration building. He's planning something for the university's board next week, but it's not just about funding or policy. It's something bigger. Something dangerous."

Nathaniel frowned, his mind racing. "You're sure?"

Saunders nodded. "I've been monitoring the administrative networks closely, and I saw a flurry of encrypted messages going back and forth. Something's in motion. I think it involves more than just financial deals or political favors—this could be a power play on a global scale."

"But why now? Why so suddenly?"

Saunders' eyes darkened. "Because I think someone's been getting too close. Someone's rattled him. And I'm afraid it's us."

Nathaniel felt a chill creep up his spine. "You mean me."

"Possibly. I don't know for sure, but the timing is too perfect. His security's tightened up in ways I haven't seen before. He's preparing for something big, Nathaniel."

Nathaniel's mind raced as he processed the information. Calloway was becoming more aggressive, which meant Nathaniel's time to act was running out. But if Calloway was already suspicious, that meant he had to tread even more carefully. One wrong move, and it would all come crashing down.

"We have to be smarter," Saunders continued. "If Calloway sniffs out any hint of what we're doing, he'll crush us. We can't just wait for CHROME to tell us what to do next. We need to find out what this plan is—before it's too late."

Nathaniel nodded, though he felt the pressure of the situation weighing heavily on him. This mission was spiraling faster than he'd anticipated. The walls were closing in, and now, he was facing an opponent who knew someone was coming for him.

Before Nathaniel could respond, Saunders' phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and his face drained of color.

"I have to go," Saunders muttered, already backing away. "Keep your head down. Stay out of sight."

"What's wrong?" Nathaniel asked, alarmed.

"Just—trust me. We're not safe. They're watching."

Saunders turned and hurried off into the shadows before Nathaniel could press further.

Nathaniel stood there for a moment, the weight of the situation sinking in. Something was unraveling, and if he wasn't careful, it was going to take him down along with it.

As he turned to leave, a thought flashed through his mind.

What if Saunders was compromised too?

It was a dangerous thought, but one he couldn't ignore. He needed to tread carefully—and fast.