Caleb knew this had to be precise. If he moved too soon, Malik would shut everything down, and Caleb would be dead before he could act. If he waited too long, someone else might make a move first. He needed to control the game.
Lyra leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "You sure about this?"
Caleb didn't hesitate. "We don't have a choice. We leak just enough to get Malik's attention. Make him think someone else is onto him."
Lyra exhaled, shaking her head. "This is going to get messy."
"It's already messy," Caleb muttered. "We just need to make sure it works in our favor."
Lyra tapped a few keys, pulling up an anonymous syndicate communication channel. "I can plant the lead, but we have to make it look real. Malik doesn't scare easy."
Caleb nodded. "Then make it something he can't ignore."
Lyra typed fast, constructing the message. A small transaction discrepancy, just subtle enough to be believable. A whisper in the right corner of the network, the kind of rumor that got people killed. When she was done, she turned the screen toward him. "That should do it."
Caleb scanned it, then nodded. "Send it."
Lyra hit the key.
The message was out.
Now all they had to do was wait.
And when Malik took the bait, Caleb would be ready.