Terminal Compromise Part 69

Terminal Compromise Part 69

"Kirk!" Scott shouted. "Kirk, relax, ground yourself. Youre not making sense. Take it from the beginning."


Kirk exhaled heavily in Scotts ear, taking several deep breaths.


"O.K., Im O.K., but should we be talking on the phone?"


"Hey, you called me . . .," Scott said with irritation.


"Yeah, I know, but Im not thinking so good. Youre right, Ill call you tonight."


Click.


Nightline was running its closing credits when Scotts home computer beeped at him. Though Kirk had not told him when to expect a call, all other communications had begun precisely at midnight, so Scott made a reasonable deduction.


The dormant video screen came to life as the first message appeared.


MASON


That was unlike Kirk to start a conversation that way.


wtfo


ITS ME. KIRK.


Now it was Scotts turn to be suspicious.


Prove it.


AW CMON


Prove it.


I CALLED YOU TODAY


So did half of the crack pots in New York


IM IN TROUBLE


So were the others.


OK. WE WENT THROUGH THE BANK AND HAD SOME FUN WITH PRESSED RAT AND WHARTHOG, INC.


Good enough. You sound as scared here as you did on the phone.


I thought computers didnt have emotion.


I DO.


OK, whats up.


THEY FOUND ME


Who?


THE PEOPLE FROM FIRST STATE BANK.


How? What?


I RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON MY COMPUTER, E-MAIL. IT SAID, STAY AWAY FROM FIRST STATE BANK. YOUR HACKING CAREER IS OVER. OR ELSE.


What did you do?


CALLED A FEW FRIENDS WHO THINK THEYRE FUNNY.


And?


HONOR AMONG THIEVES. IT WASNT THEM. SO I FIGURED IT WAS FOR REAL.


You sure?


AS SURE AS I CAN BE. MY ACTIVITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SECRET.


NO ONE KNOWS. EXCEPT YOU.


And you think I did something.


THE THOUGHT CROSSED MY MIND MORE THAN ONCE, ILL TELL YOU. BUT, I THINK I HAVE ELIMINATED YOU


Thanks, Why?


NO MOTIVATION. IM MORE USE TO YOU ALIVE THAN DEAD.


Excuse me?


AS LONG AS MY IDENt.i.tY AND ACTIVITIES REMAIN SECRET, IM ALIVE AS A HACKER AND CAN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I DO. AS SOON AS IM FOUND OUT, ITS OVER. BUT THATS NOT THE PROBLEM.


What is?


I CAME HOME THIS MORNING AND FOUND THAT SOMEONE BROKE IN AND TRASHED EVERYTHING. COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, MONITORS, THE WHOLE BALL OF WAX. AND THERE WAS A NOTE.


What did it say?


WE KNOW WHAT YOUVE DONE. STAY OUT OF OUR COMPUTERS OR YOU WILL BE SORRY. IT WAS SIGNED FIRST STATE BANK.


That doesnt make sense.


WHAT DOESNT


n.o.body except terrorists leave their calling card, and then only when theyre sure they cant be caught. I would bet dollars to donuts that First State had nothing to do with it.