by Leo James
Mark looked at Steve. 'Jesus. If Q7 find out. It's illegal, David. They'll kick us off the project. They could arrest us.'
Steve had not started his breakfast. He held his cup of jasmine scented green tea in his hand. 'Hold on Mark. David is not digging any further, let him explain.'
David picked up his knife and held it upright on the table. 'Someone should be arrested. The servers are all configured as an onion router and there’s a pool of bitcoin mining servers, most are high-capacity rack-mounted computers.’
Mark stopped eating. 'You're joking? Is our system secured?’
David tapped his knife on the table in rhythm. 'The onion router has multiple touch points on the network and runs lots of e-commerce sites. The dark net is controlling millions of anonymous bitcoin transactions, and a licence payment per transaction to a company called Grithos. Their website is on the Q7 network, so they are getting royalty payments.'
Steve put his hand towards David's knife. 'You'll kill someone with that.' Or I'll kill you if you don't stop that tapping. 'I met with Farid and told him we have found suspicious transactions. He is investigating and asked us to leave it to him and keep this confidential.'
David put his knife down. 'The Seguro solution protects both the sender and receiver. Trouble is we protect the bad sender and the bad receiver of payments. Who knows what's going on, money laundering, selling drugs. A money launderer's dream. If this got out in the UK, every government agency would breathe down our necks to either close us down or issue notices demanding we name the parties. God knows what they can get away with in Malaysia.'
Steve leaned back on the chair and brushed both hands through his hair. 'What's the difference between the standard wallet and dark net wallet?'
Mark laid his palms flat on the table, paused and said, 'dark net is a bitcoin application which protects its users' identities, much stronger than the normal privacy protections. Keeps the user anonymous by encrypting and mixing its users' payments. So, money can flow untraceably online.'
Steve needed to drill down further. 'Technically, how does the dark net protect the identity more than a standard wallet?'
Mark explained, 'A standard wallet records every bitcoin payment in the blockchain. So, any corporation or government agency can trace bitcoiners’ spending using their bitcoin addresses.'
David interjected. ‘But on the dark net, every time a user spends bitcoins, their transaction combines with another user chosen at random who is making a payment around the same time. If, say, Fred is buying a computer from an online seller and Harry is buying LSD from an illegal marketplace, dark net will combine their transactions so the blockchain records only a single movement of funds. Bitcoins leave Fred's and Harry's accounts to pay to the computer seller and the dark net market trader, but only the legal transaction is shown'
Mark added, 'They encrypt everything. So, it's an anonymous chat with your illegal market vendor. They use PGP software which makes the sending of information over the web more secure by using public and private keys. Both sides need to have the PGP programme installed on their computers for generating keys and for encrypting and decrypting messages. They use a feature called the digital signature to send an encrypted message, unique to the sender so no eavesdropper on the network can decipher whose coins went where. They hide payments.'
Steve felt unwell, his head bursting, and although the weather was hot and humid, his hands were cold and clammy. I need to contain this. Confidence, calm, relax. 'What should we do?'
To Steve’s annoyance, David picked up the knife again. 'We should cut off the links between the Seguro system at Q7 and their dark net. Go to the police.'
'No, not yet,’ Steve interrupted, ‘Keep this confidential as Farid has asked us to do. Mark and I will meet with Farid again and tell him more about your findings. I’ll call him today.'
Mark nodded in agreement.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Monday 30th March
PREM JOTHI ARRIVED AT the Tegu Gentlemen's Club. Despite his slight frame, he exuded confidence, enhanced by his striking brown eyes and a tanned complexion. He wore a tailored suit complemented by his dark hair, which showed no hint of greying. The concierge and his assistant bowed exaggeratedly, to recognise Prem Jothi's importance. He walked past, without acknowledging them, and into the lounge.
Prem spotted Adam sitting in the lounge and walked over to him. He leaned forward and tried to hug Adam, who turned away.
Adam Jothi, a year younger than his brother, had very similar features, but Adam was taller and had a much more colourful and outgoing dress sense. 'When is Farid due here?'
Prem sat opposite Adam and ordered drinks. 'Relax, we have plenty of time to talk.'
Arms crossed, Adam sank back in the chair. 'OK, I want you to get off my back. I don't work for you. Back off.'
'You are my brother. I will protect you.'
Adam stood up. 'I want to live my life.'
Prem leaned to one side and placed his elbow on one of the chair arms. He cradled his head. 'Kuala Lumpur is not a good place. For people like you.'
Adam opened his arms. 'People like me! People like me?' He sat down, leaned forward and pushed his face towards Prem. 'I can look after myself. You're not protecting me, you're controlling me.'
Prem held both his palms towards Adam. 'It is dangerous for you.'
'You try to control Mama, Dewi, and me. You treat us like slaves.’ He pointed his index finger at Prem.
'No.' Prem shook his head.
'You control us. You have changed since father died,’ Adam said.
'Our father didn’t know about you. Islam does not allow people like you. But you are my brother and I love you.'
Adam stood up again. 'People who are gay.'
'Be quiet,’ Prem whispered.
Adam raised his voice, ’Yes, gay.’
Prem tried to cover Adam’s mouth with the palm of his hand. 'Do you want the police to arrest you? Do you?'
Adam pushed Prem’s hand to one side. 'You only care about your reputation. You do not care about us! I want to leave here and live somewhere else. I only stay because of Mama and Dewi. You are a bully!’
'I love them both,’ Prem said.
'You think only of yourself.'
Prem drew the conversation to an abrupt end. ’Ah, here is Farid, we can talk later.'
######
The taxi arrived outside the Tegu Gentlemen's Club. Steve turned to Mark in the back seat. 'Farid will be with a colleague called Prem Jothi. He wants to introduce us to him. You never know, might be a business opportunity. Not sure what business he's in, but Farid might put a good word in for us to push the Seguro solution.'
Mark nodded. 'This haze is getting worse.'
'Yes. On the news last night. It's smog.'
'Smog?'
'Yes, I'll ask Farid.'
Steve paid the cab fare, and they went into the club.
'Good evening, Mr Roussos. Good evening, sir,' the concierge said. Steve let him know they were meeting Farid. A smartly dressed man arrived at the desk and he escorted Steve and Mark into the lounge, and over to where Farid was sitting.
Farid shook their hands. 'Gentlemen, take a seat.' He pointed to one of the leather settees. 'I would like to introduce you to Prem Jothi, a close friend and adviser. Also, let me introduce you to Prem's brother, Adam.'
Steve shook Prem's hand. Prem did not speak. He looked good in his smart suit, jet-black, and longish hair. His blue eyes were staring at Steve. Mark fixed his stare on Adam.
They sat down.
Mark, drop the Gaydar antenna! 'Good to meet you both. This fog is dense today.' Steve tried to break through Mark's fixation.
Farid nodded. 'Yes, terrible. Forest fires from Indonesia.'
Mark re-engaged in the conversation. 'Is the cause a drought?'
‘No, happens every year in Indonesia. Palm oil producers in Indonesia set land on fire as a cheaper way to clear it for new planting. It is illegal,’ Farid
said.
Steve had not seen this before in Malaysia. 'So, this hits Kuala Lumpur every year?'
'No, this year the wind has blown northwards so acid haze from the fires are moving across Malaysia, Singapore, and have reached southern Thailand.'
'Ah. I wondered why I hadn't seen it before. Let's hope it disperses soon.’ Steve nodded. 'I'd like to talk to you about our findings at Q7. Can I arrange a time with you?'
'It is OK, Steve, we can talk now. Prem is my closest friend. Don’t worry, I have investigated the issue, and I have it under control, so no problem.'
'It's a delicate situation.' Steve looked at the floor. 'David has found more evidence. Mark, can you explain?'
'I understood David agreed to leave the investigation to Q7?' Farid said.
'Yes, but I wanted to update you on all his findings.'
Farid nodded.
Mark shifted upright in his chair. 'David has found many computer servers on the Q7 network running an illegal network of onion routers. He's found a dark net controlling anonymous bitcoin transactions. Who knows what could be going on? Money laundering, selling drugs, could be anything.'
Steve reinforced Mark’s point. 'We are concerned.'
Farid looked to Prem. 'I am investigating the problem. Keep this confidential between the five of us. Prem knows of this.'
Steve turned to Farid. 'What do you want us to do?'
‘Leave this with me. Do nothing more. Do you understand?'
'But this situation is serious,’ Steve said.
Farid gestured to Prem. 'Yes, I understand. This is why I have asked Prem to be here. He will look at this issue and bring in the Malaysian police when he has more information.’
Prem nodded.
'This may become a police matter, so I ask you again to keep this between us five. Understood?' Farid said.
Mark and Steve nodded.
Farid raised his voice with authority. 'Mark, tell David not to do any more network testing, and thank him for bringing it to our attention. An internal issue. Is that understood?'
Mark shifted in his seat, glanced at Steve, paused then nodded, before looking at the floor.
######
They returned to the hotel and met David in the cafe to update him.
'Mark discussed your findings with Farid, and they have started an internal investigation. If they discover anything, they will contact the police. They want us to stop our investigation. A guy called Prem Jothi is looking into it. OK?'
'I see.' David closed his eyes, shook his head, then opened his eyes.
Mark leaned towards David. 'We should leave it to Q7. It's their problem, not ours. Farid said it's an internal issue. Let's leave it to him and this Prem Jothi to hunt the bad guys. We're just the secure payment piece. We are not responsible for illegal stuff on their network.'
David shuffled in his chair. ‘This all sounds dodgy' He gulped his coffee. ‘Could be anything illegal. Who knows! And a syphon company milking a cut of every transaction. If this was in the US or UK, they'd either close us down or issue notices demanding we name all parties.'
'We don't know for certain.' Steve pointed towards David. 'You are seeing an onion router and dark net. Yes, a payment to a local Malaysian company. So, what? It's an anonymous network so you can't be sure it's illegal.'
'We should segregate the Seguro server on their network,' David said.
'OK, if that change makes you both happier,' Mark said, 'Seguro only processes the payments across the Q7 network. If it's used by the bad guys doing illegal stuff, it's Q7's responsibility.'
'Something fishy going on.' David shuffled again in his chair. ‘Steve, Farid tried to bribe you with the prepaid cards. Who is Prem Jothi? I don't like this. We should report this to the Bank of Malaysia.'
'Bank Negara. Let me talk to Farid,’ Steve offered.
'Is Farid part of this?' David asked.
'He is the chief executive of a large and respected company in Malaysia. Why would he need to do this? Makes little sense.'
'David, can you set up a firewall behind our server at Q7? We should ask the guys to hand over the system to Q7 as soon as possible. OK?' Mark said.
No, get someone else to do that. I’ll sort that out later. Get David off this project altogether.
'I hope it's not too late. We should go to the authorities now. We should hold an emergency board meeting,’ David stroked his beard.
'How would that help?' Steve leaned back. He needs to shut it and get on with something else.
David stood up. 'We are a secure transactions company for God's sake. We can't be seen to be involved with illegal transactions.'
Mark stood up and put his hand on David's arm. 'It's Q7's responsibility, not ours. Sit down.'
David shrugged, pushing Mark’s hand away, and sat down. 'As directors, we have a responsibility to the board.'
'Let's get the system handed over, so we're not involved,' Steve suggested.
David raised his voice. 'We're already involved.'
Steve shouted: 'David, for fuck's sake, we need the revenue. We need money. We are directors. Our responsibility is to grow the company and grow the revenue. We're dead without Q7. For crying out loud! We can't fuck this up! Do you hear me?'
David breathed in heavily and continued, 'We'll go to prison if we get tied up in this fraud, illegal stuff, or whatever it is. It stinks. This could—' David said before Steve interrupted.
'Look. I will take care of this. You move on to other projects. Mark can complete the handover to Q7.'
'Fine by me.' Mark raised his shoulders up and back down.
'I'm not happy. But if you as a director take full responsibility then it's on your head, not mine,’ David said, ‘I'll book a flight back to the UK at the weekend. Been here for ages. Could do with getting back. Trish is complaining. I miss her and Lola.'
Great idea. Get him out of the way. Whilst this settles down.
'Great, sounds good. Is Trish OK?' Try to lighten this up. Calm.
Concern marred David’s features. 'Trish is still fretting. I'll book a flight.'
Steve put his hand on David’s shoulder. ‘It'll be fine here David. Don’t worry. Get your flight booked.’
And off this project altogether. I don’t give a fuck what they are doing. We need to get paid. Get out of this shit!
Mark nodded. ‘The project is under way. We’ll sort out any issues.’
Steve glanced at Mark and smiled.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Wednesday 1st April
MARK STUDIED HIS WATCH as he waited in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental hotel. A waiter offered him the opportunity to order a drink, but he declined.
A few minutes later Adam glided on shiny shoes out of the hotel elevator. 'Hi.' He wore a loud blue suit and white shirt. A designer’s dream. They shook hands formally and sat down.
'Hello. Surprised you were with Farid,’ Mark said.
'Surprised me as well.'
'So, you know Farid Razak, and Prem Jothi is your brother, eh?'
'Yes, I have known Farid all my life, and yes Prem is my brother.'
'Do you work with him?' Mark asked.
'No, I have in the past. He is the big cheese now, since our father died.'
'So, you know we are working with Farid at Q7?'
'Yes. Floor thirty-two, room 3206.' Adam put the Malaysian Times newspaper on the chair next to Mark.
Mark tried to rationalise Adam’s action.
'Floor thirty-two, room 3206, come up in ten minutes. Key is under the paper.' Adam stood up, bowed and walked back to the elevators.
######
Mark counted down the ten minutes, checked email on his iPhone, then sent Jamie, his latest boyfriend back in the UK, a text. ‘How are you cutie
The time seemed to pass slowly. On the dot, he strode to the elevators, ascended to the thirty-second floor, then moved briskly along the corridor to room 3206.<
br />
######
With the curtains closed, a single bedside lamp lit the room. Adam sat cross-legged on a mat on the floor in a Buddhist pose, with his hands cupped together, his eyes closed, chanting, 'Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha.' He was naked, sporting a supple body. His back was erect, and his head fixed straightforward, as he sat motionless in the traditional yoga pose.
Mark whispered, 'Hello.'
'Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha, I am asking Green Tara, the Buddha of enlightened activity to make our hearts one, and our love forever. Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha,' Adam said in a soft tone.
Desire burned a hot spot in the pit of Mark’s belly. He kicked off his shoes, took all his clothes off and laid them on the chair, eyes fixed on Adam. He tiptoed over and knelt beside him. Adam repeated his mantra, 'Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha.'
Mark caressed Adam's back, shoulders and arms. With Adam's eyes still closed, Mark moved his hand to caress his smooth, clean shaven chest. Every part of Adam’s body remained relaxed.
Mark's phone beeped. He ignored it. It did not matter. Nothing else mattered.
Adam moved his hands onto the floor then arched his back, now on all fours. His head faced forward, still with closed eyes, whilst he pivoted back and forth on his knees and hands, allowing Mark to take him. Adam’s smooth skin, gentle features and warm body consumed Mark. Nothing else mattered
######
Afterwards, they moved to lie together on the bed. Adam’s body sank into Mark’s instantly, the hard planes of his muscles enfolding Adam. Adam caressed Mark’s chest and his lips brushed Mark’s ear, raising goose bumps across his skin. Mark looked at his phone and spotted a text from Jamie in the banner across the screen: ‘I need you now too. Come quick.
Mark quickly replied - ‘I just come
He leaned forward and kissed Adam on the cheek before gently sliding over to get out of bed, walked across to the window and pulled back the curtains. Mark gazed at the Twin Towers. So close, he felt he could just lean out and touch them. The reinforced glass pane would not open even if he wanted to; the proximity was an illusion created by the sheer size of the buildings opposite.
