The designer of the vicious malware created a zombie out of Sarah's computer at certain times of the morning and evening. Whenever it registered movement it took pictures at a specific interval and stored them on the hard drive. In the middle of the night or a week day afternoon if there were no activity on the system it would upload those pictures to a server then delete them. Clever, but not too clever.
Michael was pleased that he solved the problem, now a verifiable crime. The issues for him? He had to tell Sarah who did it and what he saw while solving it.
Sarah's deep sleep came to an end when her cell phone rang. "Hi, Michael. Did you solve the mystery?" Sarah could tell immediately that something was wrong.
"Yeah, Sarah. I did. We need to talk... soon. There are some things I found on your system that concern me. This may sound really strange, but when I show you what I found, you need to have one of your friends, a woman you really trust, with you when I do it. It's sort of the protocol anyway."
"What protocol. What are you talking about?" Sarah started to worry.
"Well, what I found is evidence of a crime, maybe even federal level crime. In any other circumstance I would turn this over to law enforcement immediately, but since this is you, I want to talk to you and show you what I found. We need a witness and you need someone you can trust.
Sarah started to cry. "Michael, you're scaring me."
"It's scaring me too, Sarah. How soon do you think you can arrange to have someone come over?"
"I don't know. I'll call you back." Sarah ended the call without saying goodbye. She stared at her phone blankly.
Without thinking she tapped a stored number. "Jen, this is Sarah. I really need you. Now."
Within the hour, Jen arrived at Sarah's and the two had a talk to calm their nerves as best they could. Michael arrived with a somber face and a laptop tucked under his arm. He kissed Sarah gently on the cheek. Sarah introduced him to Jen. "I'm sorry for the mystery, but this is serious. Sit down at the table and let me explain what I've found." He pulled two chairs next to each other so they could see the screen. The two women sat down and he knelt between them to operate the keyboard.
"I found a number of picture files and documents containing malware that infected your system and caused the issue you found last night." Michael sounded hesitant, but did his best to remain professional. "I'm going to show you a series of those pictures to see if you recognize them and who sent them." Michael tapped a button and stepped back.
As Sarah stared at the screen her expression changed from puzzled to shocked to horrified. One hand went to her face, the other sought Jen's hand and held it firmly. The images were those sent to her over the past year by Brian Travers. When she could speak it was in a whisper. "He... he said he was trying to apologize... to make things right. What did he do to my computer, Michael?"
"Well, Sarah. That's the worst part I have to tell you. The malware turned your system into a zombie of sorts, making it take pictures with the camera on your desktop monitor at certain times of the day whenever it detected movement, upload the pictures, then delete them. What you caught last night was the upload in progress. Otherwise you may never have caught the problem.
Sarah stared at Michael trying to absorb what he just said. "What pictures? What times of the day."
"Late evening, early morning. I restored some of the pictures. I have a slideshow of them I'm going to show you and Jen. Before I do. I want you to know Sarah, when I started this slideshow at my house it didn’t register in my brain what was happening until about the tenth picture. As soon as I realized what it was, I stopped it. I don't know what all of them are. I don't want to know. You can ask me anything you want when we're through.
Michael tapped a key and sat down in a chair behind the screen. He couldn't look at Sarah. Jen's brief glance at Michael revealed that she knew what was coming. Sarah could barely understand what was happening... at first.
As the pictures rolled by, Sarah's grip on Jen's hand began to tighten. It was like an out of body experience seeing herself on her own computer taking her nightshirt out of her dresser and getting ready for bed. Jen counted silently to herself as the pictures rolled by and realized, to her relief and for Michael's sake, that pictures one through ten were perfectly PG rated. Bad for Michael, but not insurmountably disastrous.
For Sarah, though, this whole exercise became increasingly disastrous. Her world, the one she so meticulously and painstakingly built for herself in safe secure Sunset, Texas came crashing down one frame at a time. Tears rolled down her face, she began to shake. Sobs welled up. "I can't..." She jumped up from the chair. "I'm sorry, Michael..." Sarah looked at him, saw the sadness and compassion in his eyes, but couldn't deal with the shame she felt at the moment, so she ran to the bedroom slamming the door.
Jen closed the laptop. "I'll give her a minute and then see what I can do for her, Michael. You're a good man... respecting her privacy like that. Too bad that pervert Brian couldn't do the same."
"I hurt for her, Jen. I just don't know what I can do to help."
"Nothing you can do right now, but let her work it out. I'll help her with that... You stay here, let me check on her."
Michael sat at the table feeling particularly useless and frustrated. He wanted to go comfort Sarah, but he knew that was the last thing she wanted right now. Asking for someone like Jen to be here was part of the protocol for revealing this kind of information for this very reason. The victim needed the support of a trusted female friend.
Jen knocked softly on Sarah's door and entered, closing it behind her. "Sarah, it's just me. Michael's staying outside."
"I can't face him right now." Sarah sobbed uncontrollably. "I can't. Not now. I feel so... so ashamed for the way he saw me, Jen... He watched me get undressed..."
"Wait. Who are we talking about here, Michael or that pervert Brian? Michael didn't 'watch you get undressed' Sarah. I checked and all Michael saw was less than what anyone at the pool would see of your gorgeous self, Sarah. He didn't look at any of the other pictures. I trust his word on that."
Sarah's sobs only subsided in volume. Jen sat on the bed next to her. "I can only imagine how you feel right now, Sarah. You've been through too much trauma with Brian. Fortunately, you've got a good man who cares about you watching out for you." Jen stroked Sarah's hair lightly. "So what he accidently saw you in your skivvies. He was only trying to protect you. Besides, if things keep going the way they are between you two you'll end up tying the knot and he'll see you in a lot less."
Sarah rolled over and gave Jen a sour look. "Did that come out the way you intended it?"
"Heck, yeah. Unless you plan on wearing flannel feety pajamas all night on your honeymoon."
That brought a brief smile to Sarah's face.
"Listen sweetie. What I'm trying to tell you is that you've got a good man out there falling apart trying to figure out how to help you. He didn't intentionally try to see you take your clothes off. It was an accident that happened when he was trying to protect you from an online predator. I think he deserves some slack for that."
"I know, Jen, I know. I just feel so... humiliated right now. This is hard for me. Would you go tell him... tell him I'll be okay. I just need to get past the shock of all this and I'll call him when I'm ready to move on with whatever we have to do."
"Alright, but we can't wait too long on this. You can't let Michael get away just when you're getting your hooks in him."
"I know, Jen." Sarah rolled back over and sighed deeply.
Jen paused for a moment looking at Sarah before she got up and went to tell Michael the update.
Michael still sat at the table contemplating the activity in the bedroom. He couldn't imagine what Sarah was going through. He only knew the anger and frustration he felt over what Brian had done to Sarah. While he had no absolute confirmation of this he knew why Gabe Newsome took out his frustration on Brian so many years ago... if that's what actually happened. Not that Michael would have done t
he same, but the thought was tempting.
Michael sprang up from his chair when the door opened. He tried not to hide his disappointment when he saw Jen appear.
"I know I'm not her, but I clean up good." Jen tried to bring some levity to the situation. It didn't work.
"I'm sorry, Jen. I was hoping Sarah would come out."
"She's having a difficult time as you might imagine. Sit down, Michael. You're too much of a gentleman... Sarah is feeling really ashamed that you saw her in those pictures in one or more stages of undress. Even though it was rather tame, for Sarah it's pretty devastating."
"I can't imagine what she's going through. If I'd known what they were before I opened them I never would have done it. I'd only let the two of you go through them. That's why I stopped when I did."
"I know. I told her that, but she still feels very insecure right now. She really feels violated by Brian and it's going to take some time to get over that. It might be best if you go on home and wait for her to call you when she gets her feet back under her. Give me your phone and I'll put in my number. You can call me any time for updates. I'll take good care of her, okay?"
"Be sure she doesn't do anything to the laptop until we talk about how to proceed with the law enforcement side of this. I have a backup of everything, but we need clean evidence."
"Oh, okay. I'll let her know."
"And, Jen. Tell her I miss her already."
"You're sweet, Michael. I will."
Michael hesitated briefly, then left, a lonely and frustrated man.
Jen left not too much later herself. Sarah promised to call if she needed to talk.
"I just need some time alone right now Jen. I need to sort this all out." How do I sort out being violated like this? How do I ever face Michael again?
Sarah feared she faced another sleepless night. How could she sleep after what happened?
As she always did when facing an insurmountable problem, Sarah turned to the One who was the source of her strength.
Father, I am so scared and feel so helpless right now. I feel like I have been violated in my own home. I can't believe Brian did this to me after so many years. Why can't he just leave me alone? I've come so far to rebuild my life and for the first time I feel strong and alive. Then, it suddenly comes crashing down on me.
I love Michael, and I know you put him in my life for a reason. I'm so ashamed to face him knowing that he saw me like that. I know he did it to protect me, but I feel so... vulnerable I guess is the word. Help me to face him and deal with this. I guess this is embarrassing for him too.
Give me the strength to face this problem. I don't know what it's going to take to solve this, but I have to face down Brian now. Gabe can't fix this. I have to. Make me strong.
Chapter 14
Sarah went to the office on Monday morning, but her heart wasn't in her work. She explained to Sharon, the Executive Director, what happened. Sharon gave Sarah the day off as long as she promised to do something good for herself.
A quick trip to Temple for a mani/pedi and some shoe shopping therapy helped considerably, but it didn't resolve the gaping hole in her heart. The pain was still there. She knew there was only one way to take fill that void... talk to Michael. She just couldn't draw herself to do that... yet.
Jen came by that evening. "How you doing, sweetie? We missed you at work today."
"Oh, Jen. I tried to pick myself up, but a new nail job and these cute flats didn't make much of a dent."
"I hate to tell you, shoes and polish won't cure what ails you... I'd like to borrow those sometime by the way. What you need is a good solid dose of Mr. Michael."
"Yeah, I know, Jen. This is just so..."
"Embarrassing?"
"Yeah, exactly."
"Well, I know last night was a blur to you, but as a somewhat objective observer here, I can tell you that what Michael saw wasn't that embarrassing. Of course, he turns red at everything, but it wasn't that bad. You were turned sideways and, if I didn't know who it was in those pictures, I couldn't testify it was you. It's more the idea of what happened than the pictures, isn't it?"
"Probably, Jen. The whole thing is just devastating to me. The idea of Brian invading my home like that."
"Well, Michael is trying to protect you from him and you're shutting him out. That's not a good plan."
"You're right... You're right, of course. How can I face him."
"You face him because he loves you. Love bears all things. It's in the Bible."
Sarah couldn't argue with the logic, but she couldn't overcome the feeling either. "I'll call him... soon."
"Okay, sweetie, but don't wait too long. You waited long enough to get this one, you need to keep him."
It was Tuesday morning when Michael's resolve began to crumble. He couldn't deal with his beloved Sarah suffering without him being at her side, but he promised to wait. Fortunately, God was already hard at work in Sarah's heart.
Sarah woke up early to spend time in prayer and scripture reading. She opened her Bible to the daily reading. It started in Daniel, chapter twelve:
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered...
She sat on the bench outside her cottage stunned and motionless. Michael... the great prince... who stands for the children of your people... Michael... is an archangel... God sent another archangel to protect me from Brian. First Gabriel, then... Michael. He stood up for me. I need to stand by him.
Father, help me to get past my personal embarrassment and shame. I know Michael loves me and that should be enough for me because it's enough for him. Thank you for your love and grace... and for sending me an angel to protect me from harm.
Sarah picked up her phone and tapped a speed dial number.
"Uh, hi Sarah... are you okay?"
"Yeah, Michael. I'm better, but still pretty rattled by the whole thing... Listen, Michael, I feel terrible about shutting you out the way I did, but this whole thing was so embarrassing to me. I just didn't know how to handle it. Can we get together and talk about it... soon."
"Sure. In fact, I've been thinking about how to help you feel better about this too. I would love for you to come over to my place when you can. I have some things I need to show you and talk to you about. Some things that are personal to me and important to us."
Sarah wasn't sure what to make of that, but it seemed important to him. "Sure. How soon do you want me to come?"
"How about dinner this evening? Don't expect a lot, but I'll have something to eat."
"Okay. See you at, say, six?"
"See you. And Sarah?"
"Yes, Michael?"
"I love you. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes, Michael. I love you too."
Sarah ran home after work and changed into more casual clothes, but something that would make her look appealing to Michael. On her way to his house, she grew increasingly unsettled about what Michael's "personal" conversation might include. Taking a few deep breaths, Sarah concluded that whatever happened she knew they loved each other and it would turn out as God intended.
Driving up to the house she saw Michael walk out on to the porch in a short sleeve shirt and cargo shorts. She had never seen him in anything but jeans or khakis. At first she thought he had on one boot and one sneaker. When she came to a stop, however, it dawned on her that it wasn't a boot. It was his prosthesis. She had never actually seen it before.
Sarah hesitated slightly before getting out of her car. She suddenly realized what Michael meant about a "personal" conversation. He hadn't yet felt comfortable enough to show her his prosthesis like this. This was his way of telling her that it was okay for them to be vulnerable with each other and that she didn't need to be embarrassed for what happened. She smiled. A tear slipped from her eye as she got out of her car.
Michael waited on the high porch for Sarah. As she walked up it gave her an almost eye level view of Michael's legs. His prosthetic leg was unlike anything she had ever seen. With the unusual shapes and patterns of its components, she marveled at what that meant. "I've never seen a three-D printed prosthesis before. I've seen them on TV, but... who made that for you? That's awesome."
Michael chuckled. "That's one of the things I love about you, Sarah. You make people feel so good about themselves. A friend of mine owns a firm that specializes in high-tech three-D printing. This was a custom prototype. It's a lot better than what the VA gave me." He hugged her snugly and for a long time. "I'm glad you're here. I'm so sorry for how things worked out Sunday night. If I could go back and change it I would."
"I know, Michael. I overreacted a little. It just really hurt, especially with what Brian did before. I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"No. I was just worried about you, that's all." Michael took her hand and walked her in the house. "Is chicken taco salad okay with you?"
"Sure. I'm starved." Sarah followed Michael to the kitchen. "Before we sit down, do you mind if I have a closer look at that high-tech work of art? I'm really fascinated."
Michael stopped and looked at Sarah with a quizzical expression.
She thought at first that her request hurt him. "Did that offend you?"
"Oh, no. Not at all. It really doesn't bother you that I'm missing a foot, does it?"
Sarah considered her answer before she gave it. "Michael, I wish more than you know that you still had your foot, but no. It doesn't 'bother' me that you have a prosthesis. To be honest, I think my limitations have caused far more problems in this relationship than yours."
Sarah's Prayer: A Sunset Single (Sunset Series 1.1) Page 8
