HOSTILE WITNESS

A detail-oriented computer-security investigator put on unpaid leave turns the tables to investigate her former employer.

For as long as she can remember, Kate Ford has known she wasn’t like other people; she notices small details that don’t stand out to anyone else. Though her talent makes her different, what really sets her apart are its side effects. Kate frequently becomes overwhelmed by stimuli. Since her first episode, in which everything seemed to turn lavender, Kate has been repeatedly hospitalized and diagnosed with everything from autism to epilepsy, though no doctor has been able to cure her symptoms. She’s convinced that her medical workers suspect her of malingering, a suspicion shared by her young and gifted teenage son, Jack. Kate knows her feelings are real, but Jack just wants her to pull it together, especially now that Kate’s father, Frank, has been diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s. Kate’s sharp eye makes her an asset to Almador Corporation in her role as a computer-security consultant. But her interest in a new assignment for the Robotix company gets a little too detail-focused, and she’s put on an unpaid leave from her job. Could it be there’s something to hide? Kate puts her newfound spare time into learning about a local trial involving the kidnapping of Chan Hamilton, who just happens to be the daughter of Kate’s boss, Richard. She’s determined to learn what she can about the story. Fortunately, a bit of luck and access to social networks help her out. Her biggest adversary, in fact, may be her own body. 

Kate's personal troubles are as poignant as her crime-solving skills are far-fetched.