Probe

by Douglas E Roff

  “You father is a physicist, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “What has that to do with your work?”

  “He is an expert in quantum mechanics. Teaches at UCSD but works on encryption for … groups. Can’t say much about that.”

  “QKD?”

  “You know about that?”

  “Not as much as I should. But yes, a little.”

  “My Dad does his thing and I do mine. Father-daughter stuff and I’m grateful for his love and support. He’s been my rock all my life. Mother left when I was still young. Said she didn’t love daddy and couldn’t bear to be stuck with a kid.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be, but there was loads of therapy when I was a child. I was a difficult kid, angry and ill tempered. I was selfish and demanding and made daddy crazy. Poor man, all he ever did was love me. It took years to get my head straight. When I did, he was still there. Then … well you know what happened next. More pain loads more therapy and right back at being angry and sullen. And withdrawn and reclusive. Then a life of constant anxiety and fear, unable to connect with anyone, afraid of everything. There was just my father. He never let go.”

  “I must meet him. He sounds like a tower of strength.”

  “He is. All 5’10” of him, top to toe. But strong. He can be icy cold and scary, just not with me. One of the things I did to pass the time as a kid was play on my computer. That’s how I got started. Like a puzzle to be unlocked. But I digress. More of that later.

  “In my field, the term ‘hacker’ originally meant anyone who had achieved a high level of computer sophistication, no matter the branch in our Universe. You, Adam, are a hacker by that definition.”

  “I’m impressed. With me, that is. I never knew.”

  “Easy boy,” said Misti.

  Alana continued, “But that term evolved over time and hijacked to mean something else. Something more pop cultural, at least in our Universe, as I said. People who broke into systems and programs gradually became known as ‘hackers’ but mainstream computer folk preferred to call them by other names. Not sure why.

  “But these folks, myself included, we have our own club even though we’re not all the same. Within our realm, we have white hats, black hats, and grey hats. I’m a white hat; I only work legally and legitimately for government and industry. Everything I work on is fully sanctioned. Black hats are the criminals and grey hats skate in between.”

  “I don’t follow? In between what?”

  “A grey hat may attack a website or system but only to test the integrity of the security. If they can’t find a flaw they walk away. If they do, they might inform the owner and offer to fix it for a fee. They usually don’t commit any crimes other than the actual attempt to get past the security. That’s still illegal everywhere. But they usually mean no harm. Not like black hats anyway.

  “I work for the government and, occasionally, for industry, sometimes related to black hat activity. But not always. Sometimes I do other work and that I cannot discuss at all. My work is strictly consulting and very hush hush.”

  Alana put her finger to her lips and looked around the room. “If I breathed a word of any of my projects aloud, I’d have to kill you and I don’t think I could ever do that. A spanking maybe but only if you really wanted one.”

  Misti laughed, “A new experience for the horn dog. I don’t think he’d mind one bit but let me show you how he likes it. Then we can both enjoy him!”

  Alana asked, in feigned indignance, “You two! Are there no limits to your naughty behavior?”

  “Not many. Not so far anyway,” said Adam. “But the lady toying with your inner thigh is the creative genius behind our rich fantasy life. Thank God for her immensely twisted mind!”

  “Please,” Misti chuckled, “You’ll embarrass me. Well, probably not. But maybe.” Still, Misti didn’t move or remove her hand or appear to be at all uncomfortable. For that matter, neither did Alana.

  Alana looked at Adam, and said, “So there you have it. About as much as I can tell you, which is really nothing but a good overview of my work. Anything else?”

  “Yes, if you don’t mind. Maybe just how you got started in all this. Is your degree related to any of your work?”

  “No. Not at all. My degree is in Clinical Psychology, a BS. Means I took some math and science along with the rest of it. Minor in Women’s Studies. Tried to uncover why men are such assholes.”

  Adam smiled, “Any luck? Seems like we’re a complicated group.”

  “Near as I can figure, it’s all the fault of testosterone. Fucks up the mind. You’re all cursed.”

  “Hah!” said Misti. “I told you so, didn’t I? I knew it all along. You are so right, sister.”

  Adam laughed aloud. He knew that Misti didn’t care a lot for men, save for the half a dozen or so connected to family. She was deeply suspicious of male motivation and the male capacity to justify the worst forms of behavior.

  “You were going to tell us a little about your path to this field.”

  “Not much to tell, really. Dad got me a computer when I was young; I was a very lonely and sullen kid. A lot of time to kill, so I started asking him about one thing or another, then one day I found my way into a campus club website and made some revisions to their member profiles. Seemed like harmless fun, so I kept on improving my skills, until one-day daddy found out. He was very unhappy with my conduct but not with my skill. So, he grounded me, like that mattered, and said if I wanted, I should learn the proper way do this kind of work, so he introduced me to some of his more astute grad students. The rest is history.”

  “And the government, how did they discover you and your talents for computer hijinks?”

  “That was daddy too. Next thing I knew, I had a project. Then two. Now it’s all I do.”

  Misti smiled. Adam chuckled.

  Alana said, “The End.”

  But it wasn’t. Actually, it was only the beginning.

  ***

  Alana said, “I’m not bragging but I’m not bad at my job. Maybe I can have a crack at your little home project? See if I can get in your pants, so to speak?”

  Adam liked the challenge. “Be my guest. I’d like to know how secure we are. I won’t tell you anything, but I will give you the place to start for DL-B. That’s the site that matters. DL-A is just public access and free research. All the fun is in the restricted project.”

  “Mind if I have both?”

  “No, but why?”

  “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Right?”

  “Whatever you say.” He got up and wrote down some information on a slip of paper. Here you go. Have fun.”

  ***

  Adam looked at the girls, faked a yawn and mentioned he was getting sleepy.

  “The infamous ‘male nap’ that every woman knows oh so well,” said Misti. She would normally call her hubby out on the silly gesture but did not. She had no intention of turning him down. She too was looking forward to a romp in the hay with her very handsome and patient man. She loved him and his reward for his patience and understanding was certainly past due.

  Misti looked at Alana and winked, the pre-set code to start the last stage of the evening. Alana took some organics and a lighter and was off to the bedroom while Misti cuddled up next to her guy. Alana needed some time to get ready and Misti would hold Adam’s attention in the meanwhile.

  “She doesn’t have to do this you know. She may not be ready.” Adam had already expressed his concern to Misti, but he had been assured that she was ready to test the male waters. Starting tonight.

  “You’d rather she not?”

  “No, I’d just rather she be ready. Some things shouldn’t be rushed. It can only make things worse later.”

  “You’re sweet. And considerate but a lot of this was her idea. She’s not as innocent as she looks. And whatever skill she lacks, she makes up in stamina and enthusiasm. You ma
y be surprised.”

  “OK, but please take it easy. Not that I mind but let’s all try to have a good time.”

  “Of course, sweetie. Besides, she won’t last the evening. I suspect she’ll drop out sooner rather than later. I think she wants a crack at your computer project. When she does, all restraints come off, so to speak. OK?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Then smoke up laddie. We have work to do.”

  Five minutes later, a gorgeous redhead in a scanty upstairs maid outfit, sheer, and leaving next to nothing to the imagination, appeared at the bedroom door, cracked open just wide enough to reveal the promise of what lay ahead.

  “Mr. and Mrs. St James, will you be requiring our finest turn down service this evening? I’m told you are very insistent on sampling the finest services we offer. How might I personally serve you tonight? Satisfaction is fully guaranteed.”

  Alana was incredibly beautiful and quite convincing in her role. Adam’s reaction was instant and visible. Misti took immediate notice.

  “Why Ms. McCarthy, I do think we will take you up on your kind offer. I can see my husband is very interested in your services. He is quite demanding though. He can be a hard man that way. A very hard man.”

  “Why Mrs. St. James. Is that a challenge for me to thrust myself into my work tonight?”

  “Why yes, Ms. McCarthy, I believe it is.”

  Chapter 14

  The evening was one that Adam decided had been more than worth the wait. He would be happy to wait again, if another hot and sensual evening could be arranged with Alana McCarthy and Misti St. James. His girls had been sweet and sexy and catered to every need and whim for which he could gather the strength. His imagination and visual satisfaction were more than satisfied and while waiting for the return of his vigor after one release, he was treated to the anticipation of more that was yet to come.

  Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, Alana disappeared into the living room. Misti then, as promised, switched gears and took over alone for what was left of her husband’s amazing Hawaii adventure.

  “Just sit back my sweet and let me do all the work. This is your reward for being such a wonderful husband and caring friend. But if you don’t mind, after you have regained you full strength, I’ve brought the ropes and restraints you like so much. No need to be gentle; I’ll take my turn after yours.”

  ***

  Adam was up well before either of the girls and thought he would sneak out of the bedroom and order room service. He was craving his morning coffee and the Kona served at the hotel was exceptional.

  Misti was sound asleep and likely exhausted from her evening of exercise and physical gymnastics. She looked peaceful and every bit the angel she was in his eyes and heart. He saw no reason to disturb her.

  Lying on the couch in the living room under a profusion of covers and several oversized down pillows lay a tired and exhausted, yet still incredibly sexy young redhead. Adam watched her for a moment as she breathed silently. Alana truly did have the face of an angel. He thought he would rouse her only long enough move her into the master bedroom to reunite her with Misti in the big bed. She had been a tease and a performer last night but didn’t take part in the physical aspect with him, save for some gentle touches and the occasional kiss for encouragement.

  However, her acrobatics and engagement with his wife had been a different story. There Misti’s previous description of her enthusiasm and wanton abandon had not been adequate compared to the thrill of watching the two enjoy, tease and please the other for his entertainment. And theirs.

  Misti was right. Ms. McCarthy was as passionate as her flaming red hair suggested, abundant in both her two principal resident locations. She was otherwise smooth and milky white, except for the green eyes that crowned her face and drew immediate attention to her simple beauty.

  Open on the coffee table between the couches were two computers, one his and one hers. Both were open to the DL websites, his to DL-A and hers to DL-B. He had no idea how she had gotten past his password protected computer start-up, but she had. Then she had found her way into his work files and to the very doorstep of his Administrator access to the DL-B. As there were several intermediate steps to navigate along the way, he was shocked that she had gotten that far. One more security step, and she was in.

  This wasn’t supposed to be possible, at least in his experience and in the eyes of his own computer security team. He would be having a rather serious talk with his head of security as soon as he discovered just how Alana had gotten that far.

  He was far from upset with his new friend; to the contrary he was both pleased and impressed. The security of the DL Main was a top-secret endeavor and no one in any branch of the US or Canadian governments could access his back end. There was back end Administrator access for certain ranking members of the DataLab Project that was supposed to be the final stop from which all current personnel could be blocked, including Adam.

  It was not. There was an even more super secret part of the DataLab Project back end that only Adam knew about and only Adam could access. All system overrides were located there, and only Adam knew what they were.

  The only step in the entire security process with which he had become involved was the last step where Alana had stopped. Whether she stopped because she couldn’t solve his security measures, or she had just fallen asleep, he didn’t know. He would anxiously await her waking later to find out which it was.

  For now, she had earned her rest and he would carry her, once again, back to the waiting embrace of his wife.

  “Hey there sleepy girl, time to wake up. Time to move into the big bed.”

  Alana was only slightly awake and talked in her dreamy tired-girl voice that was sweet and disarming. How could any man not want to possess such a woman and do his best to make her happy every day of her life?

  If she were his, he would treasure every moment they spent together. Someday some lucky man or woman would be immensely fortunate to win her love and affection. He hoped whoever was given that privilege would appreciate what joy she could bring to that union. He would be there to make sure that whoever won her heart would merit that privilege.

  “Time to go to bed young lady. It’s way past your bedtime.”

  “Did you have fun last night, Adam? I hope you did. You were so beautiful. So pretty to look at. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I hope you didn’t mind.”

  “I didn’t mind. And thank you for everything and every detail of my enjoyment. You were beautiful and a vision. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You were perfect in every way.”

  “Thank you, mister. That’s what Misti calls you. Mister. She’s funny. Did you notice? She was very naughty last night. Very naughty.”

  “I did. She was wonderful and so were you. Now don’t be concerned, I’m just going to lift you up and carry you into the bedroom. I promise, I won’t look.”

  “I think I’m in my birthday suit. But you can look if you like. I don’t mind.”

  Alana was still mostly asleep, and Adam doubted she would remember any of this conversation. She would be back asleep the moment her head hit the pillow on the big bed.

  He lifted her up in his arms. She weighed not much more than Misti, though she was several inches taller. Both still retained the unblemished beauty of youth.

  Alana said, “Misti said you used to get lots of hand jobs in high school but hardly ever got laid. Did she make that up? I don’t think I believed her. You are very pretty, mister. Did I already say that?”

  “Misti talks too much on occasion, Alana McCarthy. She should be more careful with my secrets.”

  “Well, did she?”

  “Did she what?” Adam hoped Alana would forget her question.

  “Did she make that up, silly? Misti said she used to call you silly all the time when you were little. She remembers everything, you know. Everything about you. Still has every birthday card you ever sent. And pictures, lots of pictu
res. Says it’s a secret and I shouldn’t tell. So shhhh. No talkin’ to her. I’d be in Dutch; big, big trouble.”

  “You may be already, young lady. But my lips are sealed.”

  “You’re nice.”

  “Thank you. So are you.”

  “I know. Adam said I was too.”

  “Good to know. Here we are. Down you go and under the covers.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “No, she didn’t make that up. The girls liked to experiment with me. We did fun things with each other, but I didn’t, you know, get to do the other thing. Couple of times, but not very often. Satisfied?”

  “Yes. If I’m very, very nice will you let me experiment too? I need to experiment a little now. I don’t know how to do anything. I need some practice. Can we?”

  “Ask the boss. If she says yes, then you can practice on me. As much as you want. When you’re awake.”

  “Is she the boss?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think she’s really, really bossy. I guess that makes her the boss.”

  “I think you’re right. Sweet dreams.”

  “Bye, nice man.”

  “Sweet dreams, Alana.”

  ***

  Adam made a beeline for the balcony and shut the door. He hit his father’s contact number and it instantly dialed. It rang twice, then Edward answered.

  “I thought I might hear from you this morning. I bet you talked to your new friend Alana McCarthy about her work.”

  “More than that. She asked if it was OK to fool around hacking into the DL-B. She got right to the last step last night. Through my files, even the ones I encrypted with the old NSA code. Dad, that isn’t supposed to be possible. What did you get? Do I have her clearances?”

  “The clearances were through in five minutes. It was the other stuff that took some time.”

  “What other stuff? That’s all I asked for.”

  “We need to talk, son. Do you have a minute?”