The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 11: Laying the Trap

Adam spent the night formulating his plan, pacing his apartment as the city's nocturnal hum echoed faintly outside. The system had given him tools and guidance, but the execution was up to him. If Jared wanted to play dirty, Adam would show him he wasn't a defenseless pawn.

Karen Price's article was set to drop in two days. That gave Adam just enough time to disrupt Jared's operations and force him into a corner. The more distracted Jared was, the less likely he would focus on finding Adam.

Adam cracked his knuckles, his mind sharp despite his exhaustion.

The system's response came swiftly:

Adam's eyes narrowed. He could use this. If the shipment was compromised, Jared would be forced to redirect his resources to deal with the fallout. But how could Adam pull it off without getting caught?

He leaned forward, his fingers trembling slightly as he posed his next question.

A grin crept onto Adam's face. It was simple but effective. Jared's men wouldn't see it coming, and the chaos would buy Adam precious time.

---

That evening, Adam created a new burner phone, careful to mask his identity. He dialed the non-emergency police tip line, disguising his voice with an app.

"There's going to be a drug shipment at Dock 17 tonight at midnight," he said, his tone calm and deliberate. "Large-scale. You'll want to check it out."

He hung up immediately, disposing of the burner phone in a public trash can. His heart raced as he walked away, blending into the city's bustling streets.

---

Midnight arrived, and Adam sat in his darkened apartment, watching a live feed from a nearby news channel. The reporter stood near the docks, her voice animated as flashing red and blue lights illuminated the scene behind her.

"Police responded to an anonymous tip tonight, intercepting a major drug shipment at Dock 17. Authorities have detained multiple suspects, and the investigation is ongoing. This is believed to be linked to a larger criminal network."

Adam leaned back, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He had struck a blow against Jared without ever showing his face. But he knew this was only the beginning.

---

The next morning, Adam checked his encrypted email. Karen had sent another message:

"Sources indicate Jared Mercer is in crisis. Your evidence is solid, but we need more to tie him directly to the intercepted shipment. Any additional intel?"

Adam frowned. Jared's operation was unraveling faster than he'd expected, but Karen was right—connecting Jared to the shipment was crucial.

Adam cursed under his breath. Getting his hands on Jared's phone would be nearly impossible. But he didn't need the physical device—just the data.

"System," he muttered, staring at the glowing text. "How do I get that log without being anywhere near Jared?"

The interface shimmered slightly, though no text appeared. Adam realized he'd used up his questions for the day.

"Alright," he said to himself. "I'll figure it out."

---

Adam spent the day researching, his laptop a hive of activity as he dug into hacking tutorials, apps, and tools. He wasn't an expert, but he didn't need to be. With the system's guidance and the right software, he could remotely access Jared's phone and extract the logs.

By evening, he had cobbled together a plan. He would deploy a phishing link disguised as a routine message from one of Jared's known contacts. If Jared clicked it, the malware would install on his phone, granting Adam temporary access.

---

The next day, Adam executed his plan. He crafted the fake message, using Jared's recent shipment debacle as bait.

"Urgent: Need confirmation about last night's shipment. Click the link for details."

He sent it using a spoofed number, then waited, his nerves frayed as minutes ticked by. Finally, the software pinged back—Jared had clicked the link.

Adam worked quickly, downloading the communication logs before deleting any trace of the malware. What he found was damning: a series of texts and calls explicitly detailing Jared's involvement in the shipment.

---

That night, Adam sent the new evidence to Karen. Her reply came almost instantly.

"This is it. The smoking gun. I'll finalize the article tonight and submit it for publication. Be prepared for the fallout."

Adam stared at her message, a mix of relief and dread swirling in his chest. The endgame was approaching, and he needed to be ready.

The system's interface appeared once more, its text bold and unyielding:

Adam's jaw tightened. He wasn't just fighting Jared's organization anymore—he was fighting for survival.