Detective Mark Maddox

Mark Maddox is an Odyssey police detective who investigates a computer break-in at Campbell College. The intrusion is traced to Mrs. Jefferson's password after Alex and Cal use it while following secret instructions from the mysterious Arem. Once the boys confess, Maddox enlists their help in setting a trap for the real cybercriminal. The trail leads to Whit's End, where a fake telephone repair has concealed a modem beneath Whit's office rug. The device destroys itself before the hacker can be identified, leaving the larger mystery unsolved. Maddox's careful investigation clears Alex's mother and shows the boys how unauthorized curiosity can create serious consequences for innocent people, even when they believe they are chasing an important secret.