The Inside Man

Storyline

Mark aka hacker name 'Romulus' tail-gates his way right into the Khromacom corporate headquarters where the IT Team are fire-fighting a cyber-attack. He uses his skills to wangle a job on the IT security team, much to the satisfaction of his sinister handler - 'Mother'. Even before his first day Mark has been interrogating the social media accounts of his new colleagues. They seem like a fun and slightly random bunch of people who love to over-share. He's tasked with getting security tightened while learning some useful info on the big merger. AJ catches Mark try to 'phish' Fiona for financial information on the merger. Mark brushes this off as a phishing test for all the company. He asks AJ why is so loyal to the company but AJ explains it's about the people. Undeterred, later that night Mark downloads all Fiona's confidential files. Mark is running into a brick wall on Khromacom's network security so he calls on an old contact 'Rat' to dumpster-dive for confidential documents people may have casually disposed of. When he returns to his desk he is shocked that the guys have made a surprise party. He's completely thrown. It's 2am and Mark is disguised as a cleaner to target Fiona's office. Her desk is and office walls are covered with papers that might be useful. He steals a notebook from her desk. Later the next morning he has a tricky conversation with her while trying to sneak it back in. 'Mother' piles on the pressure when Mark starts to ask awkward questions about the 'sting'. 'Romulus' is ready to ship out of his fake life as Mark Shepherd. He's just about to send the crucial upload of killer information to his masters when AJ stops him. It's 'Red Nose Day' and the Khromacom gang are ready for some shenanigans. He's completely torn when his boss offers him a full-time contract. No one knows which way Mark will fall. His new permanent position will give him the chance to work from the 'inside', but there are signs he has a real conscience, that he cares about his colleagues. Angela introduces him to newbie Charlotte and it's obvious she wants the two of them to strike up a friendship. It's pretty awkward - both have hopeless social skills. Erica comes to Mark with a problem. She's fallen prey to a ransomware attack and needs him to sort it without alerting their colleagues. Mark's response shows he's got her back. She owes him a favour now. The Controller threatens to deal with Erica and Mark has to create a web of lies to protect his Kromacom family. Mark has a hunch that Erica will be targeted at a big finance conference, so he gets assigned as her security detail. To Mark's shock and dismay, 'Mother' breaks cover. In the guise of an American businessman he charms Erica into divulging information despite Mark's best efforts to protect her. Mark realises he can't do this on his own. He recruits AJ into the game. It's risky but there's no alternative. 'Mother' calls a clandestine meeting in a deserted underground car park. It looks like Mark's plan will be thwarted when the controller takes his phone. Is the counter-sting over before it gets started. This adversary is relentless. Mark and AJ know that just because on attack has been thwarted, they will just keep coming. The information hacked from 'Mother's phone leads them to a USB key, surreptitiously handed to Erica by the American businessman. If she plugs it in to her laptop the game is up, the confidential information about the merger will be extracted by 'Mother's' terrifying masters. 'Mother' or Maurice as we find his real name to be, is sure that he can keep the operation on the road. He uses Mark's past to try to blackmail him. He tests the security guy's sincerity in turning over a new leaf. Meanwhile AJ gets his big break and a new security star is born at Kromacom. Mousy, diffident Charlotte, provides the final twist, showing this hack is not over after all. Nicola Ray