Firewall (The Firewall Spies Book 1)

by Andrew Watts

  Wilcox looked around the table. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re running out of time. After the raid, Rinaldi and I were on a call with DNI. Both of our bosses were on the call, as were theirs. This is going to make the president’s daily briefing tomorrow. There is an enormous amount of interest in our counterintelligence operation at Pax AI. The US government has some covert programs running in the Pax AI Mountain Research Facility that are considered vital to national security. But our government experts—in the DOD, the intel community, and their scientists—have low confidence they know about everything Pax AI is working on. We think Pax AI is keeping secrets. People are afraid of what they don’t know. One person has been killed already, increasing those suspicions. And we now know that foreign intelligence has, at least once, penetrated the corporation. The White House is afraid this situation will explode.”

  Colt said, “Where do we go from here?”

  Wilcox’s face was flushed. “For now? Stay the course. But expedite. We want to make this clean. Collect the information we need, protect our existing sources, and quietly unearth any industrial espionage operations at Pax AI. Our cyber team needs access to the Pax AI fourth-floor data without anyone made aware. If we can do that, we can insert a tracking program, and we will know who’s behind the breach. I’m getting pressure to show results from this op soon, otherwise we’ll need to take a riskier approach. We may have to shut the company down or bring in Jeff Kim. Either way could hurt US interests. Trust me, that’s not the way we want this to go.”

  Colt said, “Let me work on Ava some more . . . I should be able to ascertain how helpful she’ll be if I spend a little more time with her this weekend.” Colt felt Weng’s foot under the table at that comment, but he ignored it. “Can you at least give me until next week?”

  Wilcox said, “Do your best. No guarantees.”

  Colt looked at his watch again. “I need to get to the airport. Weng, let’s discuss the comms procedures for SANDSTONE.”

  She nodded and began walking to the back room where they would have some privacy.

  The others got up to leave. Before Wilcox walked out the door, he turned and said, “Colt, just be sure to watch your back. Whoever they work for, the team that killed Kozlov is still active.”

  19

  A few hours later, Colt and Ava sat facing each other on Pax AI’s chartered jet, both busy working. Ava used a stylus to make notes on her tablet. Colt typed on his laptop. The bright sun peeked through the windows, lighting up her face.

  Jeff Kim sat further up the cabin, speaking with Nader about the reveal. Pace remained behind, something about manning the controls during the show. A handful of other assistants were also present.

  The jet landed in Calgary, where they were whisked by luxury cars to the Fairmont Banff Springs. The majestic hotel looked like a modern castle, surrounded by pine forest. A wall of Canadian Rocky Mountains covered the horizon, and a turquoise river cut through the valley just north of the hotel. The property was something out of a luxury catalogue. Magnificent golf courses spanning the landscape. Expansive heated indoor swimming pools with ultra-high ceilings. Marble columns reminding Colt of ancient Rome, and stunning architecture all around.

  “You travel to places like this often?” he asked Ava when they stepped into the lobby.

  Ava said, “Travel is one of the perks of the job.”

  The hotel manager showed Kim and his assistants to Kim’s suite as soon as they arrived.

  Nader walked over to Colt and Ava, saying, “Colt, you’ll have to excuse us this afternoon. We need to go over a few things internally before Jeff’s presentation. We got you a room—on us, of course. You’re welcome to stay the night and head back with Ava tomorrow or return with us tonight. Up to you.”

  Colt looked at Ava. “I didn’t realize you weren’t all going back together. You’re not traveling back with them?”

  Ava said, “No, actually, I’m taking advantage of that travel perk for a night. My aunt loves this place. We vacationed here once, and I thought it might be nice to fly her out for a quick visit.”

  Colt remembered that Ava lived with her aunt in New York after her parents died. They were undoubtedly close.

  Colt said, “Well, I wouldn’t want to intrude . . .”

  Ava waved her hand. “Nonsense, don’t be silly. She would be happy for you to join us. We can fly back together tomorrow evening.”

  “If you’re sure . . .”

  Nader said, “Okay. I’ll let our admin know to make the arrangements. Ava, we’ll see you in Jeff’s room for prep.”

  She nodded and Nader disappeared.

  Ava said, “Jeff doesn’t speak for a few hours. If I were you, I would enjoy yourself until then. Promise me you won’t work the whole time.”

  “I’ll find something to do.”

  After dropping his bag off in his room, Colt went for a stroll in downtown Banff, wanting to get familiar with his surroundings. The town was very pleasant. Chic restaurants, rustic bars, and decorative storefronts. Colt kept an eye out for possible surveillance as he walked.

  In the movies, spies always knew exactly who the bad guys were. But in the real world of covert operations, identifying surveillance was exponentially more difficult. It was about assigning probabilities to a list of unknown possible watchers. It was the kind of thing that could make you paranoid.

  As he walked, Colt spotted several people who might have been surveillance.

  A young couple across the street sitting at a café. Probably just honeymooners. But the woman was watching him through her sunglasses and Colt saw her whisper something to her partner. They remained seated as he passed.

  A clean-shaven man with dark curly hair, wearing a black leather smoking jacket. The man kept pace with Colt, but always remained one block behind and across the street. His clothing was European-style. Maybe a tourist on vacation . . . or maybe not? Colt ducked into a store, and then lost him in a reversal.

  An older man with rimmed glasses was reading a hardcover book on a park bench. The man wore tiny white headphones and held his phone up in front of his face like he was conducting a video call. It would have been easy for the man to take video of Colt as he walked by, if he wanted to.

  Modern technology was making clandestine operations more and more challenging.

  Colt mentally documented each of these unknown subjects while walking through the town streets. After half an hour, he headed back to the Fairmont for lunch, again marveling at its beauty.

  He walked into a small sitting area, his footsteps echoing on the hardwood floors. There was a small bar surrounded by antique wooden tables with a few patrons eating lunch. Colt sat down at the bar and ordered a soup and salad.

  A petite woman who looked to be in her late seventies was attempting to sit at the unusually tall bar stool next to Colt. She huffed and placed her purse on the bar surface before trying again, looking embarrassed.

  She saw Colt watching and smiled at him. “Perhaps this is a sign I’m getting too old to attend bar.”

  Colt said, “These stools are oddly tall, aren’t they? How about a table?”

  “Oh, you may be right. But I hate to eat alone.”

  Colt looked across the empty ballroom area adjacent to the bar. Some of the tech CEO conference attendees were starting to funnel into the presentation hall. He checked his watch. He should have fifteen or twenty minutes before it began. Ava would be finishing up with prep soon, but he had time.

  “Well how about I join you?” Colt asked.

  “Oh, don’t be silly,” the woman said.

  “It’s no trouble. I could use the company.”

  Colt signaled the waiter that they were moving to a window seat. Tall panoramic windows offered a clear view of the mountains.

  When the waitress came over, the woman squinted at the menu, then looked at Colt’s plate. “Is the soup good?” she asked.

  “It’s life-changing.”

  “Quite an endorsement. I’ll have the
soup. And a glass of beer.”

  Colt smiled. “A woman after my own heart. I’ll take a beer too, please.”

  The waitress smiled.

  “My name is Samantha.”

  “I’m Colt.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Colt.”

  The beers and her soup arrived, and they spoke for a while. She was from New York. Had worked as a journalist there for many years but was retired now.

  “Is this your first time in Banff?”

  “It is,” Colt said.

  From their table, Colt watched as more business executives and press arrived. He recognized some of the faces in the crowd. Most notable was Sheryl Hawkinson, flanked by two security guards. Interesting that she saw the need for that.

  While Colt used their vantage point for reconnaissance gathering, Samantha spoke of her late husband, who had been a banker. “I would have loved for him to see this. It’s such a romantic place. Do you have anyone special here?”

  Colt reddened and let out a small laugh but didn’t answer.

  “Oh, it looks like you do. Good for you, dear.”

  Colt turned at the sound of laughter coming from the small banquet hall across the way. Ava was there, surrounded by fawning business executives. She was the only woman in the group, and her wide smile and charm were clearly stealing the show.

  Samantha saw Colt looking and said, “Is that her?”

  Again, he let out a small laugh. “You’re quite the detective, Samantha.”

  “At my age, darling, there’s no reason to hold back.” Her eyes twinkled. “Are you two going to get married?” Colt noticed a slight accent when she said the word married.

  He twisted his head, feeling like he needed to brace himself for this stranger’s questions. “Unfortunately, I think that ship has sailed.”

  “Why is that?”

  Colt said, “We were together a long time ago. I think circumstances have changed.”

  “But you still have feelings for her?”

  Colt laughed. “Samantha, you are an excellent interrogator.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.” She raised her eyebrows.

  “I know.” He finished the last sip of his beer.

  Ava spotted Colt from across the way and her eyes lit up. She excused herself from the group of businessmen and began walking quickly toward him with a big grin.

  Ava reached their table. She looked unusually happy, her gaze going back and forth between Samantha and him. Somewhere in his mind, Colt’s instincts twitched.

  “Well, well!” she said. “Isn’t this a pleasant surprise. How did you two find each other?”

  Colt’s eyes narrowed. He turned to look at Samantha, whose expression was one of triumph and amusement. Colt felt the blood draining from his face as he tried to recall every word uttered in the last sixty seconds.

  “Aunt Samantha, it’s so good to see you.”

  “You too, dear! Thank you again for inviting me.”

  “And how did the two of you meet?” Ava asked.

  “Oh, this nice young man just offered to keep me company. I’m afraid we didn’t even know our connection.”

  Ava said, “Would you like to come to the presentation?”

  “Oh no, I don’t think so. I have made a spa appointment this afternoon and I intend to keep it.”

  Ava said, “Okay, well, Colt and I have to go now. Do you mind if he joins us for dinner? The reservations are late. Eight p.m.”

  Samantha stood. “That sounds lovely. Well, Colt, it was very nice speaking with you. I hear the restaurant we’re going to eat at tonight is very good. You two should go do some sort of vigorous activity beforehand. Work up an appetite for dinner.” Her eyes held a mischievous glimmer.

  Colt attempted to speak but his vocal cords were failing.

  Ava said, “We need to get into the conference hall before my boss begins speaking. But I’d love to go on a hike later. Are you interested, Colt?”

  “Oh, I’m sure he is.” Samantha raised one eyebrow.

  20

  The conference hall was small compared to the one in Seattle Colt had attended a few weeks ago, but the guests were a more exclusive bunch. A select group of executives and their respective business entourages. A handful of journalists, each well known in Silicon Valley and Wall Street. King makers and king slayers of the media world. Altogether, Colt estimated maybe one hundred and fifty people were in attendance.

  He and Ava sat in one of the back rows, all the way to the edge, just like he preferred. He liked to be able to make a quick getaway, if needed. Ava did too, apparently. The lights in the room dimmed. Jeff Kim and Sheryl Hawkinson were both sitting on stage. Colt kept switching his gaze between the stage and the large projector screen on his side of the auditorium, which displayed the close-up video of the speakers.

  Sheryl Hawkinson gave a cordial opening statement, thanking everyone for coming, especially Jeff Kim, who, she noted, had declined and then reinvited himself. There was modest laughter at that.

  “But in the world of business, one must always be nimble,” Sheryl said. This was the first time Colt had seen much of her. Listening now, he found her to be, like many he had met in this world, very sharp and a bit arrogant.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jeff Kim,” she said, finishing her introduction.

  When the clapping died down, Kim said, “Thank you.” His voice was calm and cool. The interview began with the normal softball questions discussing Kim’s upbringing and motivation. Then they got to the good stuff.

  Sheryl said, “We have an interesting topic today. On our guest list this weekend are the heads of some of the top tech companies in the world. We intend to ask everyone this next question, but I think it will be particularly interesting to hear your answer, given your expertise in the field. How long do you think it will be until we develop an AGI—artificial general intelligence—or what some people call a superintelligence?”

  Kim cocked his head. “Well, Sheryl, I think it is important to agree on the definition and language. When I say AGI, I mean an AI program able to comprehend and learn any task a typical human being can learn. And if that is the standard, then I think we will develop an AGI within the next ten years.”

  “You really think we’re getting that close?”

  He held up a finger. “Forecasting a technological leap is how people like me get laughed at on YouTube. So, my prediction must stay in this room, okay?”

  The crowd laughed.

  Kim said, “But it is funny you mention predictions . . . I have a surprise for you today, if you are willing to participate in a small experiment.”

  Sheryl looked delighted. “Absolutely.”

  He held out a hand to the audience. “And to all of you out there, are you willing to be observers in our experiment?”

  The audience cheered.

  Kim said, “Excellent. I will tell my lawyers that I have signed NDAs.” More laughter. Kim looked to the side of the stage, where Nader was standing with a tablet computer in hand. “Are we ready, Mr. Nader? Yes. Okay. Let us begin.”

  Colt watched as the large projector screens on each side of the stage went black.

  Kim said, “Sheryl, you asked me to predict the future . . .”

  The screens began streaming text from top to bottom.

  Sheryl, you asked me to predict the future.

  “As you know, my company—Pax AI—is making rapid advances in the field of artificial intelligence.”

  As Kim spoke, the screen continued transcribing everything he said in real time.

  Sheryl quipped, “Which is a good thing, considering you placed AI in the name of the company.”

  Kim smiled. “Very true.”

  The audience laughed again.

  The side screens continued to populate with the transcribed dialogue. Colt noticed that the line of text was precipitated by the name of the speaker, in real time.

  Colt overheard someone sitting in the row ahead of him. “Impressive software
.”

  The person’s companion replied, “Yeah, not bad. Plenty of competition for voice-to-text, though. What’s up with the coloring?”

  Colt saw what he meant. On the screen filled with streaming text, the lines first appeared yellow, then turned green a split second later.

  Colt turned to Ava for an explanation. She just smiled.

  The person ahead of Colt said, “Must be part of Jeff Kim’s experiment.” A woman turned around, casting them a mean look for talking too loud.

  On the stage, Sheryl looked at the screens filled with their transcribed conversation and asked, “So what is our experiment?”

  Jeff Kim looked out at the audience. “More of a new product demonstration, really. But I ask for your patience. Let us wait a little longer and see if the audience can figure it out. You asked me when I think we will have an AGI. Regardless of the timing—whether it’s minutes or months or years—I believe the system that first makes that leap will then grow exponentially in its capability. A true AGI will race past the threshold of what Bostrom termed a superintelligence. This explosion of artificial intelligence will be swift. If we are not careful, it could be unexpected. And an AI that begins this journey will make the most gifted human intellects look like insects by comparison.”

  Colt felt the room go quiet. He realized the majority of people around him were hanging on every word.

  “That’s a little frightening,” said Sheryl.

  Kim nodded. “Yes, but it’s also exciting.”

  “But how risky is it? Some of your peers see significant danger in the creation of an artificial superintelligence. And there is a growing divide among society as to how to handle the development of AI. I know you are well aware of the group known as Trinity.”