“You are safer in this house,” he’d remind her and then return to his library where he would ignore everyone for the rest of the day.
While she could do nothing about the past, finding Max ultimately at fault at least enabled her to relax and go to sleep.
When Steve arrived in the morning, Davenport was quick to report she’d had a rough night, not falling to sleep until two in the morning.
She normally would have apologized for keeping him awake, but her pen wouldn’t write the words, worried he was using her trouble sleeping as proof the boys should be returned.
To head off that misinterpretation of the facts, she explained to Steve in a long, barely legible scrawl the guilt that had kept her awake.
When he finished reading it, he stroked her back. “If she constantly drugged the baby, that could account for a less than cheery disposition. I noticed during my examination this morning, Johnny appeared in far lighter spirits than I’ve seen him before. However, you cannot blame yourself. I’m a doctor, and while I was aware the child had been given cough syrup the day he arrived, I thought it was done to keep him quiet while being brought to the facility. While I would not have approved of doing that had anyone asked, I didn’t realize Mrs. Adams was using it regularly just to make her life easier.”
She stared at him in shock. He had known Mrs. Adams was drugging her baby?
“Frowning isn’t good for your face either. I realize my admission has probably angered you. Knowing you better now, I suspect had I told you, you would have pushed until you got answers on who exactly had drugged your child and why. However, on the day you arrived, all I had to go by was an incredibly inaccurate profile on you, which claimed you were prone to hysterics and jumping to rash conclusions. Thus, believing it had been a onetime situation, I didn’t tell you.”
He looked straight into her eyes. “For that, I’m very sorry.”
She gripped his hand to let him know she was not angry at him. His conclusion was very rational. That was an extraordinary day, where silence had been a top priority, and their lives hung in balance. And he was very quick to suspect drugging the second time he was called. Without him, she still wouldn’t know what Mrs. Adams was doing to her baby.
She wrote on her pad. The fault lies with me, Mrs. Adams, and Max. Not you. You are, in fact, my baby’s hero.
He smiled and stoked her hair. “I’m not letting myself off the hook so easily, but I do appreciate your forgiving and generous nature.”
In response, she hugged him, and just like before, he pulled her into his arms, and for a brief moment, she felt loved.
The doctor couldn’t possibly love her. He barely knew her. Her emotions were being confused because he hugged her like Tom does. That’s all.
She corrected her thought: She felt liked…very, very, liked.
Chapter 20
When Davenport brought her to the computer room, her team was already there and had begun the testing of the data. They were now observing the data movement in the major programs. She wrote Scott a note, asking him if he had the other manual to that strange program.
“I tried to follow it, but this is the worst manual I’ve ever encountered. I gave up and went to bed.”
She nodded in sympathy and returned to her station. She logged up two programs to watch. The accounting program and this weird program. She wrote Leon a quick note, asking if he could write her a program that would alert her to activity in the weird program.
He gave it some thought. “I was about to say I wouldn’t have a clue how to do that, but actually I do.” He called Sinclair over and together they worked out how to do what she wanted.
Having nothing else to do, she returned to the manual for the military program. Her intuition told her this program was their Achilles heel. The speed in which Braddock confiscated her other manual led her believe it was military as he believed, but the fact he didn’t know, or even thought he knew what it did worried her a great deal.
An hour later, their test running smoothly, Leon and Sinclair gave her their attempt at her requested program.
“No promises it will work. It’s supposed to create a ding whenever it pulls data from the tables.”
She inserted it into her computer and waited. Nothing happened. But that didn’t concern her, because to all appearances nothing was happening with the software.
God, this was going to be like watching rocks degrade. She hoped to God they weren’t running this test real time. They didn’t have 24 hours to test it, but they really needed to run it through to the end.
She quickly wrote on her pad, asking Leon what time factor they were running this.
Her worried face must have conveyed the reason for her question. “Relax. We were going to do it times five, only Scott pointed out we’d lose our bonus by a half hour, so we upped it to times ten, just to ensure we have time to fix any problems we encounter.”
She pressed her head against his arm and breathed out a sigh of relief. For them this was just about the challenge and the bonus, but for her it was about saving Toby. While they had to do it right, they also had to do it today.
Convincing the computer that time was moving ten times its normal speed, they finished their test 2.4 hours later. She hugged them all when the test concluded with no problems. Leon’s program evidently didn’t work, because her computer never dinged, but she would have to let it be. Saving Toby was far more important.
Leon called and reported their successful test. “Shall we port this to the educational system now?”
Hamilton answered through the speaker. “I want you all to hear this. I’m very impressed with your hard work. If you can successfully move this over to the educational system within two hours, you will get the hundred thousand bonus I offered.”
Angel expected someone to point out they had already earned the hundred thousand bonus. Instead, they just gathered and discussed the best way to move it over. The problem being there was no connection between the two systems.
“We could run a fiber line…” Scott offered.
“No. We’d put this system at risk if we did,” Leon countered.
Angel nodded in agreement.
“Then how the hell are we going to move this much data in our lifetime?” Scott slammed his fist on the table. “Damn it! We were so close to getting that bonus.”
Angel wrote down a suggestion which caused Sinclair to kiss her forehead.
He ran to the phone as the others read her suggestion and hugged her, as well.
“Mr. Hamilton. In order to safely port the data, we need to port it to a brand new, never used data storage unit. I believe we have several in storage. Can you arrange for one to be delivered to us ASAP?”
His face lit up with happiness upon the reply. “Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!”
He returned and kissed Angel’s forehead again. “I love working with you!”
The others nodded in agreement.
Try as she might, she couldn’t prevent herself from smiling. It felt so great to be loved for her brain.
During her years married to Max, she’d lost that feeling. She’d never seemed to meet his expectations outside the facility. And Max could only love ‘special’ people. Perhaps that’s why he ‘opened’ their marriage after six months, because pretending to love a person no longer special was too much for him.
“Okay, let’s layout how we are going to do this,” Leon ordered. “I want that bonus!”
It bothered her that her team valued the money over Tom’s son. True, they’d never met him. But they knew Tom. That should be enough. No matter. Whatever their motivation, they were helping her save Toby.
Davenport’s phone rang. Everyone turned. He answered it and listened, then said “Yes, sir.” Upon hanging up, he spoke to the group. “The data storage unit is on its way. Angel come with me.”
“What if we need her?” Sinclair objected.
Davenport frowned at him and led her out. “Isn’t this supposed to be their expertis
e, not yours?”
She shook her head. Actually, they didn’t have any hardware technicians in their group, but she suspected Leon had experience in that too. It’s one of the advantages of older programmers. When they began, they had to do everything.
They entered Hamilton’s office where both Braddock and Hamilton sat, looking stern and worried.
“Sit,” Hamilton ordered. “We need to review exactly what you are going to say to Anderson.”
She turned her pad to a clean page and looked at him to dictate whatever he wanted.
Realizing she was waiting for him to tell her what he wanted her to say, he looked at Braddock.
Braddock frowned and stared at Angel. “We need him to believe you, so write what you would normally say and let’s start from that.”
She nodded, thinking that best, and put herself in the situation Anderson believed her to be in. She had been stopped from responding to the link and was terrified he had already killed Toby.
Thank God, she knew that wasn’t true!
She had convinced Davenport to let her observe her boys’ class because they were having problems. Once Davenport was called away, she could access a computer and contact Anderson.
She frowned and wrote her concern to Hamilton.
What if Anderson knows the education computers are not attached to anything and tells me I have to contact him from the computer room?
Braddock leaned over her. “You are giving the man too much credit. There is no way in hell, he could know that.”
She looked at Hamilton.
He pushed the button on his desk. “Leon, give me an update.”
“We’ll have the data uploaded into storage within a half hour.”
“Can you disconnect Angel’s computer from our live system and attach it to the portal?”
“Yes.”
“And there is no way they could get into our live systems?”
“Not if I physically disconnect the computer, which I would do.”
“Then our plans have changed. Connect her computer to the data storage unit when it’s ready.”
He turned back to Angel. “You’ll contact him on the educational system as planned. But I expect him to tell you to return to the computer room and contact him there.”
She nodded in relief. If Max was behind this, and she feared he was, then that was exactly what would happen. This also gave her a reason why she needed to be in the kid’s classroom to discover they weren’t getting along with the teacher.
Only, she’d sent her boys off to Tom. What if Anderson knew that?
Are my boys attending classes from Tom’s side? Angel asked Braddock.
“They are today. Tom’s going to give his evaluation of the teacher. Why do you ask?”
She explained her worry.
“You’re making this too complex,” Braddock warned.
Hamilton leaned back in his chair. “Not if Max has his hand in this.” He sighed. “If he is involved, then he knows her boys are with Tom.” He glanced at Davenport and frowned. “Davenport, you may return to the team. Do not leave the room or contact any person. Hand over your phone as well.”
If Hamilton’s lack of trust upset Davenport, she couldn’t see it. He calmly passed over his phone and looked at Braddock. “Perhaps you should escort me to the lab. I don’t want there to be any uncertainty about my movements within the facility.”
Braddock nodded and led him out. Hamilton pulled up the monitors and followed them the entire way to the lab all the same. “One can never be too careful when battling with Max.”
Her brain was stuck on the possibility that Max had the educator treat her boys like idiots to ensure she’d show up to observe their class.
Once Davenport was escorted to the computer lab, Hamilton returned his attention to her. “You will go to the classroom and monitor the teacher’s behavior. He won’t be able to see you, because that’s been redirected to Tom’s space. Still, you will be able to see and hear your kids and the teacher. Thus, your reason to be there is valid.”
Angel nodded, appreciating his willingness to go the extra length to make this authentic.
“The classroom will be a great test for how much this Anderson guy knows. Let him object to your contact point. Just stay focused on trying to save Toby.”
He left his desk and sat in the chair beside her. “Let us say he asks you to click on some link. Negotiate Toby’s safety before you do it.”
She nodded.
“If upon clicking the link nothing happens, then we will at least know that Max isn’t involved.”
She nodded again. But given Derrick’s and the teacher’s odd behaviors, she feared the worst.
“If instead he gives you a link to contact from the computer room—”
Angel struck the side of her head. Damn it, this change of plan wasn’t going to work. She wrote her concern. My computer won’t be connected to an outside line if it’s only connected to the data storage unit.
He contacted Leon. “Any way you can connect Angel’s computer to an outside connection used by the education system?”
Leon thumped his own head. “Yeah, but we’ll need 300 yards of fiber cable.”
Hamilton made a call, and then returned to Leon. “Cable is on the way.” He then smiled at Angel. “I truly like your detail-oriented brain.”
She covered her mouth with her hand to prevent a smile.
“So, where were we? He’ll tell you to return to the lab. So, go to your station—”
She held up her hand to stop him and then wrote: He might send me to another station.
“How would he know?”
IP Address? Also, he might ask me to activate the monitor?
Braddock returned just then. “Are we ready?”
“Not yet. I seem to recall IP addresses don’t exist on our computers. Do you know if that’s true?”
“From the outside? They only show up as coming from AT&T.”
Hamilton smiled until she pointed to her second possibility.
“Why do you ask?” Braddock stated and stepped closer to read her pad.
“You don’t want to know. This is over-kill planning for you. It’s overkill for even me.”
She wrote furiously on her pad suggesting a way around the issue with zero risk.
Hamilton sighed. “All right, but you are dangerously close to making the boys lose their bonus.”
She almost wrote that they’ve already earned it twice over, but the bonus wasn’t important, Toby was.
We’ve only one shot to get this right!!!
“Can’t argue with that.” He activated the com unit in the lab and gave Leon his final instructions.
She heard Leon laugh. “Man, this must be one formidable dude.”
Then Sinclair added, “I’ll do it. In case you forgot, Tom’s son is at risk.”
Leon’s response was gruff and clearly annoyed. “I didn’t forget. The thought is just a bit overwhelming, that’s all. It’s easier to focus on our bonus…which we are going to get!”
God, she loved her team!
Chapter 21
Angel sat down in the classroom and emailed Toby with a file attached. It contained a hacker tool she pulled off the web which enabled her to steal his email list. Thankfully, Sam Anderson’s home and work emails were on the list. She tried his work email first.
He replied at once and told her to go to a popular instant messaging program. She had to download the program from a free site, all the while listening to the teacher mock her sons because they didn’t know advanced algebra. They were five and eight-years-old for God’s sake!
Five minutes later, she was ready to kill the teacher. However, the program was uploaded, so she needed to stay focused on that.
Where are you? Anderson asked.
Classroom. It’s the only place where I can send out without setting off alarms.
Turn on camera and rotate 360.
She did as she was told.
Where are the bo
ys?
I sent them to Tom, so they are taking classes from there. Can we talk about Toby? I want to negotiate his safety.
In a while.
She waited…and waited, growing more worried with every minute. Finally, he returned.
Toby is still alive, but that will change if you do not do exactly as I say.
Her fingers trembled as she wrote. Whatever you want.
Return to the lab. Enter Black Hole
I can’t contact you through Black hole. That’s why I came here.
Don’t interrupt. Enter Black Hole and open up the file where you previously found me.
I can’t. It’s been locked down and I’m locked out of the system. They don’t trust me right now.
It seemed an eternity before he answered.
Leave this computer open. Return to the lab and go to www.Tobycouldlive.com. Click on the picture of Toby.
She hurried from the room and ran to the lab. The door was locked, so she banged on it several times before Davenport answered.
“Where is your escort?”
She shook her head and ran to her computer.
“Angel, I asked you a question?”
She wrote on her pad, I didn’t have one.
Davenport reached for his phone, then cursed softly upon finding no phone. “In the future, if you don’t have an escort, don’t leave the room you are in.”
She nodded and booted up her system. She went straight to the website and clicked on his picture. The camera on her pc turned on and her curser lowered to the bottom of the page where she read: Go to fourth computer from end and return to this site.
She left her computer, hoping to God that Leon had followed through with disconnecting all the stations from the live system. As she passed Sinclair, his pencil rolled to the floor and his foot kicked it deep within the computer banks. He crawled in after it.
She sat down on the fourth computer and booted it up, returning to the site. By this time, Sinclair had returned to his seat.
This time a link awaited her. She clicked it without hesitation. A few seconds later, her normal computer began pinging like a fire alarm.
A Better Life Page 21
