Dead Man Code: A Jarvis Mann Detective Novel

by R Weir

  “WANN Systems.”

  “And why?”

  “Because I don’t want to end up like Aaron: dead!”

  “So you believe they killed him?”

  “I know they did.”

  “Can you prove it?”

  “Possibly, with your help. What do you know so far?”

  “I would prefer to hold off on telling you much, since I don’t know who you are. For all I know you could be working for them. My way of being cautious too.”

  He continued to stare forward. He was probably close to my age, with long in back and short in front blond hair. He was tall and slender, probably 6’ 2” and 170 pounds. His skin was pale, as if he was rarely in the sun, with long beige khakis and a long-sleeved T-shirt with the term “Code Until You Drop!” on it. A shoulder bag sat next to him, which he dug into, pulling out some paper, which he handed to me. At the top showed a business name of Colorado Cyber Border Security and the name Wilmar Boylan.

  “So is this you?” I asked.

  He gave a short nod.

  “Are you a private company?”

  Again a slight nod.

  “You could still be working for WANN. Maybe as a contractor.”

  “Believe me, I’m not. They are an evil company, stealing from those who use their products.”

  “What are they stealing?”

  “Information and identities.”

  “How do you know this?”

  Stopping to think over what to say, he turned his head and looked me in the eye.

  “Because Aaron and I were working on it together. He was passing on the things he was learning and sharing them with me.”

  “For how long?”

  “Nearly a year now.”

  “Did WANN know you were working together?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “So you haven’t been threatened?”

  “No. But still I’m cautious. He gave me backdoor access to their network. But since he was killed, that was closed off. I was careful not to leave any traces of a digital fingerprint that would lead them to me. Anytime I’d access them I would do it bouncing off of several different IP addresses, spoofing my identity, making it hard to trace.”

  A lot of this tech talk didn’t mean much to me, but I nodded my head as if I completely understood.

  “Do you trust me now?” asked Wilmar.

  “More so now than before.”

  “I’ve told you some things. How about sharing what you know?”

  I figured I could give up some information without exposing myself too much.

  “There appears to be some unsavory Russian and Chinese figures involved. I’ve had run-ins with both. The Russian confrontation turned deadly.”

  “So you are sure it’s related to Aaron’s killing?”

  “Most definitely. They wanted to know what I knew and who hired me. They planned to beat the information out of me before a friend intervened.”

  “But you didn’t tell them anything?”

  “No.”

  “You mentioned you were out of the state when I first called. Was that part of the investigation as well?”

  “I was in California trying to speak to some higher-ups at WANN. They didn’t receive me with open arms. Shortly after I talked with the Director of West Coast Security, a car with Chinese men started following me.”

  “China is the world leader in cyber theft. I’m almost certain they have their hooks into WANN. Probably funding them. They should have gone under a few years back, but were bailed out. I believe it was money from outside sources that saved them. I’m sure Russian mobsters may have also stepped in. Could be they are rivals competing for their share, or working together. Though that seems a little far-fetched, as both sides would likely not be willing to split the profits.”

  “Any ideas on the name of the Chinese organization? I do have some contacts in the FBI who might be able to provide some assistance if they know who they are?”

  “Not certain. I’ve heard various names. They change pretty frequently. Breaking up and reforming into various splitter groups. Some even are backed by the Chinese government, or at least those on the military side of the government.”

  The warm day was cooling now, as dark clouds were coming in, which was normal for the afternoon and evening in the summer months. I pulled off my sunglasses, which were no longer needed. I wasn’t sure where we were headed in our conversation, but needed to come to some conclusion.

  “So we have a lot of information, but nothing solid we can take to the police or the Feds,” I stated. “So where do we go from here?”

  “Since I’m locked out, I’m not sure I can help much more. I can give you all I have.”

  “So you can’t hack your way in and find more out?”

  He hesitated, seeming nervous at the question.

  “Certainly you can get in,” I added. “No system is unbreakable.”

  “I really don’t want to be involved anymore. I’m afraid of what happened to Aaron will happen to me.”

  “He was your friend. Don’t you want to catch his killer?”

  “I’m not sure I’m brave enough to continue.”

  “What about for his wife? I’m assuming you know her. She could be in danger as well.”

  He looked away and didn’t answer right off.

  “I don’t know her that well. We only met a couple of times.”

  If I had to guess, I think he was lying, and knew her better than that. No reason to push too hard.

  “Look, I don’t have the skills to make a dent in their firewalls. I can work on them from the investigation side, but I need motive to prove intent, and I can’t get that without understanding what they are doing on the technical side. I need someone like you to find that smoking gun. Otherwise they likely are going to get away with killing Aaron. And I’m certain you don’t want that,”

  He sighed, as I could see his hands shaking.

  “Do what you do best,” I said. “Poke around, but be careful like before and bounce off as many IPs as you need to be safe.” I threw out the tech jargon as if it would calm him. “And I will do what I do best, which is pester the hell out of them until they do something stupid. We can bring them down by the balls or whatever the digital equivalent of balls would be.”

  I think I made him smile, though not enough to stop the hand tremors. Another fifteen minutes of convincing and he was onboard, and would see what else he could dig up. While I needed to go back and get more acquainted with tech-speak so I knew what the hell he was doing.

  Chapter 30

  The next day I decided to use one of my contacts to understand more about what Wilmar was talking about. I could have gleaned more from him, but he seemed too scared and paranoid to speak much more. I needed to make sense of the documentation he gave me. Since it seemed many tech geeks were of the younger generation, I turned to a young friend who might steer me in the correct direction. When in doubt, go back to high school.

  Dennis Gash was enjoying his summer vacation, like most young men with their senior year on the horizon, employed to save for college and working out to get ready for the coming football season. He’d remained the same young man I remembered, though maybe an inch taller now and strong enough to plow through any defensive line like a running back should. He’d shaved most of his hair off, only short stubs remaining on his dark skull. He was getting off work at the local King Soopers grocery store when I called and agreed to meet me at the Burger King on Evans and Broadway. We had bonded a couple years back over a lost Ernie Banks trading card and had kept in touch since. He was wise for his age, and had a bright future no matter the course life directed him in. When I pulled up he was outside waiting and gave me a thumbs up when he saw the Harley. We shook hands and had a quick embrace before grabbing a drink and fries while finding an open booth of hard, brightly painted plastic that fast food joints deemed as worldly decoration.

  “Looking good, Dennis,” I said. “I’d hate to be the one w
ho had to tackle you.”

  He grinned.

  “Maybe you should try it someday,” he replied. “Could suit up and see what you can do. I might go easy on you, at least for a play or two.”

  “No thanks. I think I’d rather dodge a bullet than the Gash locomotive. How do you think the team will do this year?”

  “We have most everyone back. Lots of seniors and juniors with skills. We could be pretty good. The schedule is daunting. Though to be the best, you have to beat the best. So I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Any thoughts on college?”

  “Sure. Would love to go up north and play. CSU or UNC. Would love to be a teammate with Ray. I’ve seen him around and he is looking good. We’d be a helluva one-two punch. But for now I’m just looking forward to my last year. Want to go out with a bang.”

  Ray Malone was the son of Bill, my Denver Police contact, and the one I’d helped out of a jam last year. He was a prototype tight end, playing for the UNC Bears, with NFL caliber skills.

  “I plan on going to as many games as possible,” I said. “I always enjoy watching the way you play. I hope to go up and see Ray compete as well.”

  “Bring Melissa along to watch us play. We could double after the game with my new girlfriend and grab a bite. Would love for you to meet her.”

  “Sorry, son. Melissa and I are no longer.”

  His face showed surprise, as I’d not talked to him since returning from Iowa.

  “Gee, I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?”

  “My usual mistake. Failed to be faithful to her.”

  Dennis shook his head.

  “Seems to be a pattern, from what you’ve told me of your past relationships. Habits are hard to break.”

  “Don’t fall into the same trap I’ve gotten myself into. You find a good woman, hold onto her.”

  “Gezelle is a good one. Whether she is the right one, it’s too soon to tell. Only been together a few months. But we are having fun right now, which is alright with me and her.”

  We chatted a few more minutes, as he challenged me to come workout with him and his other football teammates. They had a brutal routine for getting in shape for the coming season, which included running up and down the bleacher steps with ankle weights strapped on. Apparently he thought I was looking a little soft. Compared to his physique, that was probably true. A little martial arts and football training and I could best all of the bad guys.

  “I wonder if you know much about cyber security,” I asked. “If your school has a cyber security teacher. I know many of the schools do these days. I need to pick someone’s brain for a case I’m working.”

  “I don’t believe so. We do have STEM classes: science, technology, engineering and math, as I’ve been taking them since middle school. One of the teachers there is pretty cool and makes science fun. He might be able to direct you to someone. I can text him and see how he answers.”

  Dennis pulled out his Android phone and started typing away. It didn’t take long before he got a response.

  “He says one of the best programs in the city is at Rangeview High School in Aurora. The teacher there knows his stuff and is an old friend. School starts in early August, so he is likely around getting ready for the new school year. He said he could contact him and see if he’d be willing to meet you.”

  “That would be great. Give him my number and tell him to reach out. I’d buy him lunch.”

  Dennis typed out the message faster than I could speak the words.

  “He said ‘LOL.’ Seems the teacher can eat you into the poor house. He says it may be better to make a donation to the club to help pay for their competitions, and not add any inches to his waistline.”

  “Works for me. I can expense it as research.”

  “And lunch today?”

  “That too, since it’s related to my client’s case. Why?”

  Apparently a chiseled football physique required calories, as Dennis got up and ordered a double-whopper value meal and I had my answer.

  Chapter 31

  As I got outside my cell phone rang. It was Kate, owner of the beauty salon above my home office.

  “Something odd just happened,” she said.

  The street traffic was loud, so it was hard to hear her. I went back inside.

  “What is going on?” I asked.

  “Two men came in asking about you,” replied Kate. “Was wondering if I knew you and knew where you were. Said they were looking for a detective to hire.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I told them I did know you, since you lived below, but had no idea where you were. Something about them didn’t register right with me.”

  Kate had good instincts. If something seemed wrong, I was all ears.

  “One of the men seemed very slick, wearing fancy clothes, and a fedora you often don’t see these days. Tall and classy-looking.”

  “So, not my normal clientele, I’m gathering.”

  “Not normally. But that wasn’t all, the other man with him was shorter, not dressed as nicely: basic plain slacks and short-sleeved polo, but strong looking, with tattoos all over. One on his neck appeared to be a dragon, from what I could see. Looked a little like Jet Li, the martial arts movie star. Didn’t say a word, but his eyes were cold and scary.”

  “They were of Asian descent, then?” I asked.

  “Yes. Do you know them?”

  “I know the shorter of the two. I got the best of him a couple days ago. They may be back to even the score.”

  “Well, they went out and got into a dark blue Cadillac. Pulled around back and are parked there. I saw them go down the stairs to your place out my back window. Didn’t see them come out. Who are they?”

  “Not for certain, but likely tied to my latest case. I intend on finding out.”

  “Do you purposely attract these type of bad guys?”

  “Goes with the job sometimes. I think I’d rather be dealing with cheating spouses, but even those don’t always go as planned.”

  It was a reference to a previous case I’d helped Kate on that turned into a messy one.

  “Try not to mess up your place, please. We just got it fixed from the fire and I’d rather not have to do any further repairs. I love you, Jarvis, but if this keeps up I may need to increase your rent or look for a new tenant.”

  “I’ll do my best to keep from chipping the paint with any bullets.”

  I heard her laugh and then hang up the phone. She’d miss my jokes if I was gone, but would probably feel safer. I went back outside and climbed on my bike, thinking what I would do. Since they were either searching my place or waiting for me, I decided the direct approach made the most sense, though might not have been the smartest. I pulled down the alley and parked my bike next to the dumpster. I rested all my gear on the bike and pulled out my .38, holding it at my side, walking across the small parking area to my stairwell. I was cautious in case of an ambush, reaching the rail looking down the stairs, seeing my front door standing wide open. I slowly moved down the steps, back to the wall, gun at the ready. As I reached the door, I peered around the opening to see them both inside, the slick one sitting on my sofa, the other standing behind him. Neither appeared to be armed, as I pulled my head back, thinking on what to do.

  “Please come in,” said a voice, in nearly perfect English. “We are not armed. We only wish to talk.”

  Thinking for a minute, the odds certainly had to be in my favor. I stepped in, my gun at my side ready if needed. My eyes watching for any slight sign of danger.

  “You are letting in all the flies and mosquitoes by leaving my door open,” I stated, closing it behind me. “It is a bitch to get them out of here once they get inside.”

  “My apologies, Mr. Mann. We wanted to make sure you knew we were here and of no threat.”

  If he wasn’t a threat, I wasn’t convinced. I slowly tapped my gun on my thigh.

  “I am at a disadvantage since you know my name, but I don’t know yours.�
�

  “My name is Cong Niu,” he said. “I hope we can discuss matters peacefully.”

  I looked at the man behind him. His eyes looked cold and peaceful at the same time. There was a calm, yet a lingering danger as if it would spring out at any second.

  “Well, Mr. Niu, it would seem you have broken into my place. Grounds to get arrested.”

  “No evidence that was the case. If you check the lock it wasn’t forced. The door was open, so we came in and patiently sat until your return, making sure a stray person didn’t steal anything.”

  I stepped back to look, all components appearing as if brand-new. Not a scrape or sign of wear or damage anywhere. They had expertly opened my lock without leaving a trace, as I knew for certain it had been secured when I left.

  “Impressive, Mr. Niu. Is that your work or your associate’s?”

  “Can we dispense with the formalities? Please call me Cong. May I call you Jarvis?”

  I nodded.

  “And can we put away the gun. There is no need for it.”

  “I’ll hold onto it for now. My apologies for not trusting your word, as I’ve had others like you attack me looking for information.”

  His grin turned into a short chuckle, his hands waving, as if being dismissive.

  “We are hardly like the Platov boys. They are animals, while we are reasonable men when dealing with reasonable people. Jarvis, can you be reasoned with?”

  “I’m willing to listen to what you have to say.”

  “I’m so happy you are open to what I have to offer.”

  “Listening and accepting are two different things. But please explain your terms.”

  Cong sat there with a pleasant smile, his legs crossed. He was dressed in beige slacks and a dark brown tailored suit, with freshly polished, expensive loafers. The beige wool fedora sat on the sofa next to him, a gray feather accenting the black lace band; his well-mannered disposition had taught him to remove it when inside. His black hair was short and neatly combed, the hat never disturbing a follicle. He reached slowly into his coat pocket and I raised my gun. His smile grew wider as he pulled out an envelope and handed it to the man behind him.