I hit Codes and watched the screen open up. There was a series of numbers, each one highlighted with a name. Number seven on the list was 305-805-500-1SC (computer code).
“And look at that. There’s the safe combination. Where the hell does he have a safe?”
“James, we could break into just about anything this guy has. How can someone just leave this stuff on his computer?”
We read through the list. There were codes for ATMs, savings accounts, checking accounts, market accounts, insurance accounts, and several coded accounts that I didn’t understand.
“You know, we don’t get it, because we’re not there yet.” James tapped his fingers on the desk, still over my shoulder and breathing down my neck.
“We’re not where?”
“If we had the kind of money this guy has, maybe we’d understand.”
“No. If I had the kind of money this guy has, I’d be protecting my codes. That’s what I’d be doing.”
“Dude, he is.”
“Is what?”
“Protecting his accounts, his codes, man.”
“James, we’re reading his private information. How is that protecting his accounts? I can see every one of them. If I can break in, then-”
“Skip, think about it. If we hadn’t had a camera on the ceiling, this stuff would be totally private.”
You can’t plan on everything. And you never planned on a ceiling camera. James had a point. “So you’re saying no matter how secure you are, you can never be as secure as you need to be?”
“I’m just saying, pardner.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Try DOD.”
It seemed as good as any other. I moved the arrow to DOD and pushed enter. A small box flashed in the lower left-hand corner.
Blocked
“Won’t open.”
“Two minutes ago you said the same thing about his computer.”
“James,” he was frustrating at times. Most of the time. “I don’t have a clue how to unblock this.”
I could feel his hot breath as he leaned in closer, scanning the computer screen. “There’s an open box in the upper right-hand corner. See it? It says ‘information.’”
“So?”
“Type in DOD.”
“What the hell is DOD?”
“We’ll never know if you don’t get busy and type that in.”
I did.
“Push enter.”
I did. The screen went black, and I’ll admit that my stomach knotted up and my chest was tight, but I had faith this time. The screen opened back up.
“There it is, pally.”
The words on the screen explained a lot. Department of Defense.
DOD.
I dragged the arrow to enter. The next page opened like an orchid blossom, and I watched as the words spread into outline form on the screen.
“Can we print this?”
“James, if we try to print this-”
“We don’t have time to read it all here.”
“Why should we read it at all?” I was getting cold feet. Hadn’t heard from Em in seven minutes, and every tick of the clock was pushing us to the opening hour.
“Read it, but do it fast.”
We both stared at the screen, reading the first page.
Ralph Walters: Original contact person with DOD (too many questions)
Jason Riley: DOD contact
Tony Quatman: Developer (wants a larger cut)
Feng: Contact between project and Chen’s group
Chen: Contact to China group
Riley says DOD has made a decision to change computer codes once security system is installed. Necessitates stepping up date to receive current codes.
Feng must impress importance on Riley. Convince Riley that we need to go into system early, preparing system for security software.
I turned and looked at James. “There’s a Chinese group involved.”
“And what does that have to do with stepping up the timetable on codes?”
“Damned if I know.”
James stayed over my shoulder, and I could almost feel his eyes boring into Conroy’s computer screen. “How do you see this, Skip?”
“It seems that the Department of Defense is going to do the same thing Synco Systems is doing with our security system. Right now, while we’re installing the system, things are a little loose. As soon as we activate the controls and Synco changes all the codes, it will be very hard to get into this facility.” I sat back in the chair, rereading the first page.
“And when Synco Systems gets the codes for the Defense Department computer system, things will be a little loose over at the DOD.” James was tapping his fingers on the desk again. “Then, when Synco finishes the install, the department will change all the codes and it will be next to impossible to break into their computer system, right?”
“Right.”
“We waltzed in here tonight because things are loose.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Only temporarily, James. But you’re right. They’re very loose.”
“So someone could conceivably waltz into the Defense Department during that lapse between security systems.”
“They could. Their computer system will be vulnerable.”
“How about Feng? Chen?”
“You think-”
I jumped when I heard the sharp rap on the door.
“What?”
James bolted from behind the desk and had the door open in two seconds.
“A car pulled up. Yellow Lotus or something very fancy.” Em’s eyes were opened wide and she was short of breath.
“It’s Conroy. What the hell is he doing here at this hour of the morning?”
“What the hell are we doing here?”
“Em, is he coming in?”
“Skip, I don’t think he pulled into the lot to stargaze.” I hit the shutdown button and watched the flickering light go dark. This time I was thankful for the blackout.
“Where do we go, amigo?”
I grabbed my laptop, and the three of us walked out of the office, carefully closing the door behind us.
“The rear hallway, behind the offices. It leads to an emergency exit. We can hide back there.”
“If he-”
“He won’t. There’s no reason for him to go back there.” My heart was racing as I led the way.
“If it’s an exit, why don’t we-”
“Because I don’t have the code.”
Em put her hand on my arm. “What happens if we just push it open and walk out? Do you need a code to
