Chapter 21
Clearing customs to get back into the US, was not as hard as it might seem. I did it on my computer, via my back door access into big brother's computer systems. Getting my luggage was only a little more difficult. I had to go retrieve it. When they asked why I hadn't cleared it the day before, I pleaded to just being plain tired. They had me open it and look through it. No problems.
With this new ability to study and think on, I still had to finish the computer program I was working on. I wanted to know who had tried to crash into my computer system. It had been a very sophisticated program.
I still had time left on my vacation, so I devoted a huge amount of that time to creating the new program. Levy and John had helped immensely with the math for the programs I did in college for all three of us; but now I needed something tougher.
It was actually fun to get back into programming as deeply as I was, with this project. A lot of it was pretty straightforward, but a lot I was making up as I went along. I actually had thought about something like this when I was in college. It was easy to recall a lot of it, but still, much of it was in 'uncharted territory', so to speak.
Three solid days of changing, adding, and re-writing to what I had done with my college program; left me with a very powerful little program, indeed! The next thing I did, was access the phone company's computers. They actually had decent protection in place! It took me a couple hours to bypass it, and get myself set up. Kudos to the phone company (sort of)!
After I had instructed the phone company's computer, I was almost ready. I made a fresh pot of coffee, and ate a sandwich. Coffee seems to go well with almost any sandwich.
I finished my light meal, and set everything in motion. I had been cruising the internet for a couple hours before I was invaded again. This time my program latched onto it like a dog does a bone. The phone company kicked in and did their part. In less than 5 seconds, I had a phone number and an address.
Caller ID is a wonderful tool! Ever since the phone company had set up the caller ID system, it had become so much easier to trace a call. It was a local Boston address. I wrote it down, and then turned off my computer.
An hour later I was downtown, in the heart of Boston, in front of the "re-elect John Barlow for Congress" campaign headquarters. Now what would a congressman be doing with a program like the one that had tried to invade my computer?
I thought about it as I went to the main downtown branch of the library, and looked up what they had on the 'good' congressman. He was in his third term, and was a rising star. He sat on several panels and was a moderate democrat. He seemed to get along with everyone.
Ok. So what was he doing with a very sophisticated invasion program? I sat and pondered this for a while, turning over what I knew in my mind. I am not sure what led me to it, but I was suddenly convinced he was a member of the "council" that I had run across!
That would explain it! Nothing in the congressman's record indicated he was serving on any intelligence committee, or law and order panel; and yet he had something that could grant access to most of the computers in the nation!
No. Either he was on some sort of intelligence panel, or he was involved with this secret 'council'. Those were the only two explanations I had, right now. I could be blowing smoke up my own ass, but I didn't think so.
I left the library and made my way to the headquarters of the good congressman, and entered. There were the usual pamphlets and handouts laying on a coffee table. There was a reception desk, a couch and two chairs, a couple closed doors and that was it.
I went to the desk and asked if it were possible to see the congressman. I was asked if I had an appointment. I said no, but I was sure the congressman would see me. I gave her my name and she told me to take a seat.
I watched and saw that the receptionist did not bother to call into the offices anywhere. I sat there a while and pondered my options. After twenty minutes and she still had not notified the congressman I was waiting, I decided to do something about the brush off I was being given.
I asked for a sheet of paper, and wrote a short note. I then gave it to the receptionist.
"You do the 'brush off' technique very well. Inform the congressman that I am going home now, and he should call the number I have written down. It is to the assignment editor, for the Associated Press. I am about to get the congressman into trouble with his constituents, with the government, and possibly with the council; all because you brushed me off. Good day," I said and walked out the door.
I had parked just down the street. I was almost to my car, when I heard a yell. I stopped and turned around. There was the receptionist, and another man was with her. The man was not the congressman. I waited.
The man walked briskly down the street, and was soon standing in front of me.
"I don't know who you are, but we do not respond to threats," the man said.
I nodded, turned, and started walking away. Bypassing my car, I made my way to a telephone kiosk at the corner. I was fishing for change when the guy came up to me again.
"What is it you want? Why are you harassing the congressman?" he asked.
"I'm not the one doing the harassing. It was your computer program that tried to invade my computer. I was just curious as to why the congressman wanted access to my computer. I am sure the AP will be able to get the information for me, since I can't," I said, dropping two quarters into the phone.
The guy reached around me and, using his finger, disconnected me from the phone line. I quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Perhaps we can talk in my office?" he asked me.
"I want to speak with the congressman concerning his invasion of my privacy, and not some flunky," I told him firmly.
"I can handle any problem you may have with the congressman, I assure you. If you will just come back with me to the office, I am sure we can straighten this out," he said in a reasonable tone of voice.
"I tried your office once, remember? Your receptionist did an outstanding job of giving me the brush off. You should really give her a raise, she did it very well," I said a bit sarcastically.
"I apologize. She was doing as she was instructed. Please, come back with me so I can talk with you," he responded, sounding a little concerned this time.
I thought for a minute. What the hell. I dug into my pocket, and pulled out my wallet. I got a card out of it, and handed it to the man in front of me.
"You want to talk? Fine. You and the congressman be at this address, in two hours. I will be glad to talk all you want, then," I said, and walked into the first store that was conveniently nearby.
My staff was surprised to see me, since I was still on 'vacation'. I told them I was having a good time so far, and since I was in the area, I had decided to check on what was going on. I told Lisa, who was my researcher/receptionist, that I was expecting two people in about an hour and a half. Then I went to my office, and fired up the monitor to the office's computer.
I logged in, and read what had been going on financially for the past week. Not too bad. I was very pleased to see we had managed to sponsor a program for single mothers. It was a 90-day program. It was to help them find work, and to get a bit of training.
I was still going over everything line by line, when Lisa buzzed me that I had visitors. I logged off, turned off my monitor, and opened my door. There was the guy I had talked to earlier today, and someone who was NOT the congressman.
"Funny. He doesn't look like any of the pictures of the congressman that I have seen," I said while pointing at mystery man.
"May we come in?" the guy I met earlier asked.
I moved aside, and told Lisa to bring three coffees. I didn't care if they drank them or not, I just wanted to have their prints on a cup. Damn, but I was getting good at this stuff! I left the door open, and said Lisa would close it on her way out if they wanted privacy.
"So, we all know who I am, but I have not yet heard your names," I said.
"Sorry. I am Steve Lampard, the congressman's private secretary. This is Mr. Jennings," said the man I had met earlier today.
Mr. Jennings was a slim man, at 5'10" tall. He wore glasses, and had a thick, unruly patch of hair on his head. He had a sour expression on his face. I doubted he got many dates. Steve, on the other hand, was about 6' 1'. He weighed about 230 pounds, and was probably a linebacker in college. He had that outgoing "I am better than you" attitude.
Lisa brought a tray in with three coffee cups. Real cups, mind, not that paper cup crap. There were small containers of sugar and real cream, too. I didn't stint on such items in my office. Hell, my business was to give money away.
"Ok gentleman, it's your party," I said and leaned back in my chair.
"Mr. Wilshire, you made a statement today that was brought to my attention. Also, you seem to have intercepted a program in your computer you seem to think the congressman had something to do with. I am here to persuade you that you are in error," Jennings said.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small notebook. I had the program's name on it.
"Does 'Dark Thunder' sound about right as a program name? I have designed a nifty program that is tearing it to pieces, even as we speak," I told them with a smirk. "That's the problem when you send programs after a programmer. We get curious," I said
Right then, my private line rang. I looked at it. No one had that number, yet! I excused myself, and answered the phone. What I heard made the hair on my neck and arms stand up. I was talking to me!
"Ok. I am you, but I'm a short time in the future. After this meeting, you will go home to find your house a wreck and your computer and all your disks and floppies gone. So you will back-time, 'till you find the two who break in.
"One is a police Lieutenant named Mark Bellis. The other is a guy named Frank Gordons. They are at your house, even as we are speaking. The Lieutenant is being very cooperative, and says Jennings set them onto you. I'll leave them tied up for you, so that when you get here, you can decide what to do with them. I was not to sure about this time trip, but I thought you should know," then the phone went dead.
How about that, I had hung up on myself!
"Are you alright? You seem a little pale," Jennings asked with phony concern.
"I'm fine. We need to wrap this up, gentleman. What is it you're here for?" I asked abruptly, my mind still on the phone call!
"The allegations that the congressman is involved in something. He isn't, let me assure you," Lampard said.
"If it isn't the good congressman, then it is you, Mr. Lampard. What is Mr. Jennings' part in this?" I asked curiously.
"I am more of an adviser and friend to both the congressman and to Mr. Lampard. I came with the hope that you could be persuaded that the program you intercepted was a fluke happenstance, and had nothing to do with the congressman at all," Jennings said.
This was the way the meeting went for another ten minutes. Every objection I raised, Jennings had a reasonable answer for. Both had no idea what this "council" was, and they were sure the program was a prank of some sort, and that it was probably a one-time thing.
Translation? Be quiet about everything, and they would not try to invade my privacy anymore. At least that's what I was understanding. We all got up. I escorted them out of the building.
As a parting shot I said, "Oh, by the way. If all this is in my imagination, what are a police Lieutenant from the Boston Police department (name of Bellis), and another man (name of Gordons) doing at my house, singing their guts out about Mr. Jennings sending them to get my computer and any evidence of 'the program'? Curious, isn't it? It's amazing what a very discrete security firm can do for one, isn't it?" I said and turned on my heel. I left them to think that over, as I went to the parking lot, and my car.
Damn! Now I had to go home, back time and time dive, since I had done it already... or would be doing it soon! Damn! This was confusing. If my 'future self' already captured the two before they could steal my computer, then why would I need to bother going back in time at all?
I drove home, and found a note on the front door. It read, " presents inside". I opened the door, and entered. It took me only moments to find two people who were tied up, and also blindfolded.
I was about to get very busy.
Edited By TeNderLoin