“Thanks. I’ll look through them when we have a break.”
“Good. OK, here’s one. Looks like an email that’s been correlated with one from last night. It appears that the opposition in Malaysia is planning demonstrations to disrupt the government. Attached is a summary of our interests there. It’s prepared automatically when one of the evaluators highlights a word in the message or types one in, then pushes the Summary button. Luckily we don’t have many, but Malaysia is the world’s leading producer of tin, so we can expect supplies to be interrupted. I’m typing a note to our traders to buy as much of the current supply as they can, and to sell short the shares of the mining interests. There. That should produce a tidy sum before the rest of the world even has a clue.”
“Nice.”
“Yes. Notice that we don’t intervene in anyone’s politics or influence a government to change an outcome. Whether Malaysia, China, Iran—anywhere there are arguments or upheavals going on. If we did, it could give us away. And it would be almost impossible to manage. We just use the information we get before others have it to make money.”
“Makes sense.”
“Yes. Here’s another one.”
Three hours later, Mustafin was relieved as duty officer, and he and Todd walked the corridor back to the main entrance.
“What do you think?” Mustafin asked.
“It’s certainly more interesting than the first level. By the time issues reach here, they’re pretty significant. It’s incredible to think, having been at the other levels, how much other stuff—potential profit for us—is handled at those levels. You must get a daily or weekly summary, right?”
“Yes. Both.” Mustafin nodded.
“And in a way it’s calmer. The decisions are pretty clear, really. We only passed one on to the Council during our watch.”
“Yes. But there’s no pattern. Next time we might handle ten genuine crises ourselves and pass ten to the Council. There’s just no way to predict. That’s why we always need a competent duty officer on watch.” They stopped at the exit to the reception area. Are you on again this weekend?”
“No. I’m due here again on Wednesday.”
“Good. There’s still a lot to learn, but it’s basically just time in the chair now. You learn by doing.”
“And keep cashing those checks.”
Mustafin smiled. “Yes. Of course. We should have another one for you next week. And, oh, Todd, by the way, please remember that nothing that we do here can slip into anything outside. Nothing in your personal or business life. Not even a hint, This all has to stay here, with us.”
“Yes, of course.”
As he walked to his car, Todd wondered what he might be able to learn about the inner workings of their competitors, and even of USNet, through RTI—but he’d have to be very careful.
Given his senior position in the Stinger Missile training command at Fort Bliss, and the trust that he had built up with those in the program over the years, Salim had been able to steal six of the missiles through a combination of falsifying destruction reports and forging signatures on two-man control documents.
Each missile was now housed in its own climate controlled mini-warehouse bay in the El Paso area, surrounded by attic-quality furniture, in case anyone took a cursory look.
Late that afternoon Salim began a week of much-deserved leave. After driving out of the base, he parked his truck at his home. He went inside and came out with a small travel bag, then walked the four blocks to the truck rental facility whose location had helped him determine where he wanted to rent his home.
An hour later, after a stop by one of the mini-warehouses, he turned east on I-10, for the start of his drive to New York.
David paced the floor of their hotel room in L.A. that evening, while Elizabeth finished getting ready.
“Don’t worry; she’ll be here in a minute,” Elizabeth said from the bathroom. “Probably the traffic.”
“I guess,” David said, moving gold curtains and looking out their tenth floor window as the cars inched along the Los Angeles freeway below.
“I’m glad she could bring Jane. It’ll be great to meet her.”
The phone rang.
“We’re downstairs.”
“Good. We’ll be right there.”
Five minutes later the Sawyers met their daughter and her tall, blond roommate in the lobby, near the elevator bank. David was wearing a dark gray suit and striped tie. Elizabeth was in a blue dress with pearls. The two younger women were in much more casual attire: Callie had on dark blue pants with a multicolored shirt, and Jane was in a low cut light-green sundress. Both of the younger women were deeply tanned and chewing gum.
Elizabeth held out her arms, beaming, and mother and daughter exchanged hugs and pecks. Callie gave a cursory hug to her father, looking the other way, and then introduced Jane.
“This is Jane, my roommate. She’s also a theater major.” Everyone smiled. “Jane just got back from Mexico this afternoon, and I thought she could join us for dinner.”
“Yes, yes. We’re delighted,” said Elizabeth. Jane nodded. Elizabeth turned to her daughter. “Where do you want to go?”
David interrupted. “I already set that up with the concierge. How does Torini’s sound?”
“That’s kind of expensive, isn’t it, Dad?”
He smiled. “How often am I out with three beautiful women in Los Angeles?”
“David, it’s fine with me if it’s OK with the girls.”
They nodded. “If that’s what you’d like, then fine,” said Callie.
“Let’s get a cab.”
While riding in the minivan taxi they exchanged stories about the day’s travels, the weather, and David’s upcoming trip to Moscow to greet the President.
“That’s way cool.” Jane responded. David retold the White House trip story, and the cab pulled up to the restaurant. Callie said nothing.
Ten minutes later they were seated at a candlelit table in a quiet alcove of the northern Italian restaurant. Each table was lit by a large red candle. David and Elizabeth sat across from each other, with one girl on each side. After they ordered drinks, Elizabeth turned to their guest. “Jane, where are you from?”
“Dallas. At least that’s where I was raised. Actually I lived with my grandparents. I never knew my father, and my mother has been in and out of rehab most of my life.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Elizabeth said, the concern obviously genuine.
Jane smiled. “Oh, it’s nothing. It’s really all I’ve ever known. I got a scholarship and a loan for school, and now with some money from a job on the side, I’m OK.”
“Are you in the same classes with Callie?”
“One this semester.”
“And what kind of job do you have?” David asked.
Jane and Callie exchanged glances. “I pick up a little extra money modeling.”
“I see. That must be fascinating,” Elizabeth said.
Jane nodded and smiled. “Yes, it certainly is.”
“Were you on vacation in Mexico?” David asked.
“Sort of, I guess, but I was also doing some, uh, modeling.”
“Do you like Mexico?” Elizabeth asked.
“I love going down there. It’s beautiful where we go.”
“Oh, I see,” Elizabeth smiled. “I’m sorry to say that I’ve never been.”
Their drinks arrived, and they ordered dinner.
At that same hour, Callie’s brother and his friend Justin were finishing a late Friday night session with Street War 2100 at Justin’s home, where Rob was spending the weekend while his parents were in California.
Justin took off his helmet and stretched on the VR plate. “You nailed that guy coming at me after I dropped my gun. I was starting to sweat big time.”
Rob opened his visor and smiled. “He was certainly surprised to see me.”
“A good night’s work.”
“Should we sign off ?”
“I guess s
o. It’s late. But while we’re here, let’s use our WorldPoints. We should have about fifteen minutes of free time for all that we’ve played this week.” He smiled. “Let’s go to their XXXtra Cinema site.”
Rob nodded. “I logged off, and here come my points. They’re giving me a code to use.”
“ Have you seen the XXXtra Cinema amateur site?”
“No. Is it good?”
“Is it good?” He motioned for Rob to come over beside his chair in front of the monitor, then put in the code he had just been given. “We’re in. Have you seen this Arab chick, Samantha?”
“No.”
“Where’ve you been? She’s awesome!”
“I guess I’ve been saving the world while you’ve been ogling.”
“Here, look. This is her newest, ‘Samantha Calls the Shots.’”
Justin turned to catch Rob’s reaction and found him staring, his mouth open.
Rob looked at his friend and then back at the screen. “That…that’s my sister, Callie!”
Justin turned back to the screen. “Hey, I haven’t really seen her in a couple of years, but, no way, man.”
The camera pulled back to reveal her body. Rob said nervously, “Yes, the face, the voice. It’s her. I promise. It’s Callie. Or her perfect twin.”
Samantha looked at her partner, smiled, and said, “I’m here for you…”
Justin asked again, incredulously, pointing at the screen, “That woman is your sister? Samantha?”
Rob almost whispered, “Not Samantha. Callie. It’s gross.”
“Wow! No one will believe this.”
Rob dropped down to face him at the console. “And you won’t tell them.”
She started to remove her panties.
“Stop! Turn that off !” Rob almost yelled, and reached for the on/ off switch.
“You crashed the computer.”
“I don’t care. Listen. Don’t tell anyone about this. Just chill this weekend. OK? I am grossed out!”
“Well, OK. But you gotta tell me what you find out.”
“Sure. Now, let’s fold up for tonight.”
They stood and placed their SW 2100 guns in their charging stands. Rob said, “I can’t believe this.”
At the Sawyers’ table at Torini’s, Jane asked, “Mr. Sawyer, what exactly do you do?”
He took a sip from his drink and replied, “I’m in charge of all the real estate for USNet, a large communications company. We have facilities in almost every country, so we stay pretty busy.”
“Wow. Is that why you’re here?”
“Yes. I’ve got to do final inspections on some properties we’re acquiring in this area.”
“What kind of properties?”
David looked at his daughter, who smiled. “Oh, some office buildings, and, actually, some film studio assets.”
Callie turned to her friend and said, “Dad’s company is in the adult movie business.”
David could feel himself turning red. “A subsidiary. I don’t really do much with it.”
Elizabeth asked her husband, “I never think about that. Why is USNet in that business, anyway, David? Is that why you had to come out this time?”
He took a long sip. “I’m just the real estate guy. I don’t choose our product lines.” He and Callie exchanged glances, and then he looked back at Elizabeth. “There are some new laws, like preventing anyone under twenty-one from working in the industry, including acting in these kinds of movies.” He glanced again at Callie. “So I’m not sure the future is so bright.” He saw Callie’s eyes widen just a bit.
“Well, good,” Elizabeth said.
“But to answer your question, dear, there are a lot of assets in several acquisitions that Trevor put together that I have to walk through. I warned you that I might be really busy. Bud Purcell is picking me up at ten in the morning. We figure there will be less traffic over the weekend for driving to the properties.”
“So, what shall we do, girls? Shop?”
Jane smiled. “I think we should be able to do that.”
Callie put her napkin down. “Before our dinners arrive, I need to go to the restroom.”
David stood up and pulled her chair back. “Me, too.”
“David, please call and be sure that Rob is OK. You know I didn’t feel good about leaving him at Justin’s, and they ought to be there.”
“OK.” Father and daughter left Elizabeth and Jane in deep conversation about the next day’s itinerary.
The restrooms were located off an alcove, not in view of their table. Callie was leading the way, but when they entered the quiet space, David asked, “Did you hear what I said about that new law?”
She stopped and turned. “Yes. But I don’t believe it.”
He smiled. “Callie, it’s true. It’s now the law, and the legal challenges are finished. No one under twenty-one can participate in porn any more.”
“Well, then how am I going to pay my way? Uncle Reza doesn’t pay enough for us to live on.”
“You should have thought of that before you decided to live with Alex.”
She stood up straighter and clenched her fist. “Why are you making this so hard? Just pay for your daughter’s college like everyone else does!”
“My daughter has chosen to live with a man she’s not married to.”
“Me and a couple of million others!”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
“Forget it. We’ll survive somehow.”
“Just leave him. You can concentrate on legitimate theater. I’ve got some bonuses coming, so after graduation we could send you to New York, or wherever you want.”
“It looks like I’m going to Mexico. How about Mexico? It seems to be pretty popular.”
“Mexico?”
“It’s, like, what Jane was talking about. She and Alex went down and started some paperwork that registers them in the Mexican Actors Guild. I had a test so I couldn’t go. But I’ll go next week.’
“What?”
“Yeah. The XXX upload site now requires us to be registered in Mexico or Denmark as actors. Something about how the movies will now be registered abroad and we have to have to provide some number. I think we’ll now be working for a Mexican company.”
David’s mouth opened as he listened to his daughter.
She was smiling up at him. “So, like, I’m not sure about all the details. Jane says it was easy to do. She has to go back once the papers are ready, and I have to start mine so that I’ll be official in Mexico. And the site is going to pay ten percent more because there are so few legally registered actors for the movies. Not bad, huh?”
He couldn’t breathe. He didn’t speak.
Finally Callie asked, “Hey, I really do have to use the bathroom. Are you all right?”
“Uh…” He shook his head. “Callie, look, I’ve got some extra money. You don’t need to do this. I’ll put you through any acting school, anywhere you want. Just away from here.”
As she turned to go, she said, “The money’s part of it, but actually I like what I’m doing.”
You couldn’t. Not really.
He watched her until she went through the door. He didn’t move for a full minute.
Callie’s not coming home. Trevor’s statement about supporting the President is a lie, and I’ve told everyone, including the President’s foreign policy advisor, to believe him.
As if waking from a trance he thought of their son and called him on his new cell phone.
“Rob, it’s Dad. Are you and Justin at his house?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Just checking.”
“Uh, Dad. Is Callie there?”
“Yes. We’re at a restaurant with a friend of hers.”
“She’s in school out there, right?” Rob asked.
“Yes. Why?”
“I don’t know. Somebody told me he thought he’d seen her in, uh, a movie, or on the internet, or something.”
David closed his eyes. “I doubt it. B
ut maybe. I’ll, uh, tell her you asked about her. OK?”
“Yeah. I haven’t talked with her in a while, anyway. Maybe I’ll call her tomorrow.”
“The girls will be out shopping tomorrow. Maybe try on Sunday or next week.”
“Sounds good. Say hello to Callie, and tell her I’ll call her soon.”
“Thanks. Good night, son.”
David closed his phone and leaned against the wall for support.
Todd had come into the office that Saturday about noon to pick up some files that he needed to work on at home. An hour later he headed for the parking deck. There were not that many cars in the deck, and he noticed Akbar Kamali, the head of their IT Security, getting into his black Mercedes two rows over.
I’d like to talk with him about email and cell phone encryption in a way that doesn’t seem like I’m pushing it. Maybe I can get David to create a small working group to look into it—give me a reason to meet with him.
Todd went through the parking gate right after Kamali, and both cars turned right on the side street next to their office, Then right again on the main street. Through two traffic lights, Todd remained directly behind Kamali.
Todd was changing tunes on his MP3 when Kamali stopped in the middle of the next block. Traffic kept Todd from going around him. A moment later the door opened at a computer store and Victor Mustafin walked quickly across the sidewalk to the curb. He waved and smiled at Kamali, then got into the car, and the two sped off.
Todd did not move. Kamali and Mustafin know each other?
27
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22ND
David was in the aisle seat, looking across Elizabeth’s sleeping form as the sunrise rapidly turned the sky from black to dark blue and pink. He had not slept at all on the “red eye” from L.A. As the pilot reduced the throttle and began the first stage of their descent, scratchy eyes and the first thuds of a headache welcomed David home.
Enemy In the Room Page 30
