The President’s Son

 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2009-2013 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 52

Dusty, Pete, JR and Dillon all were looking at me. “What is it Ace?” Dusty asked bringing me back to reality.

I started flipping through the cards tossing them on the desk. Pete picked two up and stared at them. “So what the hell is this guy’s real name?”

“Good question,” I answered as I looked for his badge case.

I found what looked like it and there was his Secret Service badge. I pulled out his ID card and hidden in there were several, one of which had my name on it. I turned it over and looked for the magnetic strip and there was one. I sat down and looked at the card I was holding. “Holy shit Ace,” Dillon gasped. “What’s your ID card doing in his holder?”

I reached into my pocket at removed my credentials. I took my card out and handed it to him. “It’s not, mine is right here.”

Dillon took my card and was staring at them. He handed them back to me then I looked closely at the fake one. Dusty was looking over my shoulder. “Can you hand me the phony?”

I reached my hand up and he took it. “What are you thinking?”

He turned around and headed for the door. “I’ll be right back.”

Dusty took off out of the office then several minutes later, he called me. “Ace, that card is real.”

My face lost all its color. “What do you mean, it’s real?”

“I’ll tell you in a minute. I’m on my way back to the office.”

I was getting sick. “Ace, how can that card be real?” JR asked.

“I don’t know buddy but I damn sure intend to find out.” I said. “Do you have access to all the personnel records?”

“I did,” JR said as he started typing away. “Ace, we have a problem.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“My settings have been changed.”

I got up and went over to his computer and started typing. I had a level 1 security clearance so had access to all the files. After entering my password I waited then I got an ‘ACCESS DENIED’ message. “What the hell?”

“I know Ace; I have the same clearance as you do.” JR said as I pulled out my phone.

“Ed, what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“Just what I said, when you had JR add increase the security levels, did you change people’s passwords?”

“No, I didn’t touch them.”

“Then we have a big problem.” I said in a way he knew I was upset.

“What is it?”

“Try and access the agent’s personnel records.” I said.

He put the call on speaker then started typing. “I’m in so what’s the problem.”

“Did you change my security level?”

“No I didn’t. What’s going on?”

“I can’t get into personnel records.”

“Why do you need access to them?”

“Ed, you know I don’t go snooping just for the hell of it.”

“Calm down Ace.”

“Calm down, I can’t do my job and you’re telling me to calm down.”

“What’s going on that you need access to the files?”

“I don’t know how up to speed you are but do you remember the fiasco that got me shot?”

“Yes, I know about that.”

“Look, I know it’s late but you better get over here. When you see everything, you’ll see why I need access to those files.”

“Alright Ace, I’ll be over in a few minutes.” Ed said then he ended the call as I looked at JR.

“JR, what do you have access to?” I asked hoping he could access something.

“Nothing,” He replied.

“Damn, do you know what this means?”

“I’m afraid to think this but that guy that hacked into the server somehow managed to change protocols.”

I was fuming. “Can someone get me a cup of coffee please?” I almost shouted. “JR how secure is the server now?”

Pete set a cup of coffee on my desk as JR was thinking. “Ace, I know what I did but whether they or not they’re in place I don’t know.”

I looked at the clock on the wall and it was 5:30 and I knew Gloria would be having dinner in thirty minutes. I didn’t know how long this project was going to take so I called Ben. “Frank, is the President in?”

“Just a minute Agent Mason,” He answered.

I held on and sipped my coffee. “Yes Ace, what is it?”

“Sir, we have a major problem and I don’t know how long it’s going to take in order to resolve it.”

“Can you fill me in?” He asked.

“Yes Sir but it would take a while. Are you finished for the day?”

“I was just about to leave when you called.”

“Would you mind stopping by our office on your way to the residence?”

“Not at all,” He said then he ended the call.

I put my head on my desk when I heard the office door open. “What’s going on Ace?”

I sat up and saw Ed standing there. I guzzled down the rest of my coffee then Dusty came back in. I held out my hand to him and he handed me the ID card. I then handed it to Ed and I thought his jaw was going to hit the floor. “Why am I holding your ID card?”

I reached into my pocket and took my credentials out. “You’re not; it’s a very good fake. Dusty where did you go?”

“I went to the elevator. I swiped the card and it worked.”

Ed was just standing there lost in thought. “How was this possible? I thought procedures were implemented that all cards were issued at the main office.”

“That was the procedure.” I said as I got up and fixed another cup of coffee. “This was done after new security locks were put in place around the grounds. Now, we have a major mess here.”

“That’s the understatement of the decade,” A voice said.

We all turned around and there was Ben and Johnny along with Tonka. JR looked at Ben.  “Sir, the only thing I can think is somehow when we were hacked, the person managed to get into all of the server protocols and did God knows what.”

“JR didn’t you put in new levels of security?” Ben asked.

JR nodded his head. “Yes Sir, but now I’m wondering if the main protocols were altered or if my fixes are even working.”

“Can you find out?” Ben asked.

“Well, in there lies the problem.” JR said.

“What problem?” Ben asked not happy with what he was hearing.

“Well, right now, Ace and I are effectively locked out.”

“You both should have full access to almost everything on the server.”

“Should have but don’t,” I said. “And we have another problem. Somehow the person that hacked into the Services bank records managed to forge some very good credentials.”

“How can that be, they were all issued at the main office and even those had built in safeguards.”

Just then it hit me. “Let me see that fake ID card of mine.”

Ed handed it to me then I looked at the back of it. “Sir, you’re a genius.”

Ben smiled, “I don’t know about that.”

I stood up and showed Ed the back of it. “Tell me what you see.”

He looked at the card and shook his head. “Nothing Ace.”

“Take a look at the back of yours.” I countered.

He did and stared at it. “I don’t see it.”

I took his card then the fake. “Look right here,” I said pointing at the little box at the bottom corner. “On your card Ed, it looks blank but on this one, you can see a thumb print.”

Ed handed the fake card to JR. “Scan this into the computer.”

JR did then Ed came over and sat down. He started typing and he was getting frustrated. “Shit this sucks,” Ed growled totally out of context for him.

“What’s wrong?” JR asked.

“I'm having a problem accessing finger prints.” He answered as he kept typing. “Ah, finally.”

He ran the print JR had scanned and now it was a waiting game. Ben came over to us. “I hate to do this but I don’t see any choice but to shut everything down and get tech to go over all of the protocols.”

“Sir, that would cripple us.” I said.

“What choice do I have? As it is right now, the system is almost totally useless.”

I sat down and just shook my head in my hands. “Sir, with all due respect, isn’t JR still in charge of our technical unit?”

Ben looked at Ed. “Yes, to my knowledge he is.” Ed answered.

“Sir if I may, JR do you have the expertise to go in and repair the damage done?”

I saw him get weak in the legs so he leaned against the desk. “Yes I do Ace but do you realize how big a task you’re looking at?”

I nodded my head, “Massive.”

“To say the least,” JR started. “When this system was installed, I’d wager it took them a week or more to get everything set up and running.”

I looked at Ben. “This was well before my time.”

Just then Bennie came in. He was surprised when he saw everyone together in a big meeting. “What’s going on Dad? Gloria is holding dinner for us.”

‘Oh, oh’ I thought.

“We’re in for it now.”

Ben smiled, “I’ll talk to her.”

He came over and wrapped his arm around me. “What’s everyone doing here?”

“Trying to figure a way out of this small disaster.”

His eyes got big. “Disaster? What kind of disaster?”

“Bennie, someone managed to hack into the master server.”

“Yeah, I remember that. Isn’t that what started all the fuss with Ace?”

“Yes it was but now we’re finding out it has gone deeper than just that.”

I could see the wheels in Bennie’s head turning. “How much deeper?”

“Very,” JR started. “It seems someone has managed to change a lot of the main protocols.”

“It seems,” Bennie asked.

“Yeah Bennie, Ace and I can’t get into files we’re supposed to have access to.”

“That’s all?” Bennie said smiling.

I popped him playfully on the butt. “That’s enough.”

“Piece of cake.” He said looking me in the eyes.

JR looked at him. “Are you sure Bennie, there are new security levels now.”

Bennie scratched his head. “Dad, I think I can help JR get this solved.”

“Are you sure son?” Ben asked, unsure of what Bennie was saying.

“Yeah Dad, I really think so."

“Let’s say you can, how long of a process are we looking at?” I asked.

“Now that I don’t know, it all depends on how deep and where the changes were made.”

I thought for a minute and it was now 6:15. “How about Bennie, JR, Ed and I meet back here after dinner and we can see if Bennie’s ideas will work.”

Everyone agreed then we all headed to eat. JR, Dusty, Ed and Johnny headed for the Navy mess while Bennie, Ben and I headed to the residence. When we walked in, Gloria was standing in the dining room. “It’s about time.”

Since I caused this, I decided to take the heat. “It was my fault, we had something going on that we just couldn’t stop and return to.”

She walked over and slapped me on the rear. “Next time, pick up a phone.”

My eyes got big as I rubbed my butt cheek. “Yes, Gloria,” I answered. Then Bennie and I went to get cleaned up so we could eat.

When we got into Bennie’s room he looked up at me. “Baby, the worst case would be to have to reinstall the protocols.”

“Reinstall them?” I asked. “Love, this isn’t like your home PC.”

“In a sense it is,” Bennie started. “When the system was setup and installed, there should be recovery CD’s so in case it crashed, the techs could reinstall everything.”

“Yeah but that would mean everything we’d put on there would be erased.”

Bennie thought for a moment. “Yes it would but with a system this big, everything should be backed up monthly onto CD’s or DVD’s.”

“I hope you’re right baby,” I said drying my hands.

We went back out to the dining room and Gloria was serving dinner. She’d made Beef Stroganoff and fresh dinner rolls. I was starving since I’d worked lunch off so I made quick work of what I had on my plate. I waited for Ben to finish his before I asked for seconds. Gloria fixed me another plate full then I took my time packing that away.

“Love, do you know if there are any techs still on duty?”

I had to think. “I don’t know but I’m sure Ed would. We can ask him when we get back down to the office.”

“Ace, you’re not serious about…” Ben started.

“Sir, I am very serious about using Bennie’s help. JR will be there and will only let Bennie go so far so fast.”

“Dad, I know I’m not an agent yet but there is one thing I do know and that is computers.”

“I understand son,” Ben started. “I guess I don’t want you getting in over your head.”

“Well, like Ace said, JR will be there and I will be careful because I know what’s at stake here.”

Ben finished his meal then went to get a cup of coffee stopping to hug Bennie. “I guess I’m having a hard time knowing my boy is growing up.”

Bennie stood up and hugged Ben tightly. “I’ll always be your boy Dad.” Bennie said giving him a kiss on the cheek.

When we had finished eating, it was time to return to the office in the West Wing. By the time we arrived, Ed was back typing on JR’s computer. “What’s going on?”

“That print came back ‘No Match on File.’”

“How can that be?” I asked.

“I don’t know Ace; we’re supposed to have access to every print out there.”

“Ed, can I ask a question?” Bennie said.

“Sure Bennie, what’s on your mind?”

“Umm, when was the last time all of your files and programs were backed up?”

“I don’t know; that’s tech’s area of expertise. I think they do that once a month. Might you know the answer to that, Agent Carl?”

“No Sir, I’m afraid I don’t. All of that is handled at the main office. What are you thinking Bennie?”

“Well, the backup files could be reinstalled then you should have all of the files you’re looking for or trying to access.”

“But then we’d lose anything that was put in since they were backed up.” JR countered.

“I know but before you did that, you could back up what you have then re-add them after the old files were reinstalled.”

“You’re looking at a lot of time consuming work.” Ed said.

“Yes I know; but what are the alternatives?” Bennie asked. “Right now, you have a whole lot of nothing and what you do have, you can’t get to.”

Ed sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. Technology is nice but it really sucks at times.”

“It is Ed but think of the alternatives. We’d have to look at fingerprints one at a time giving ourselves eye strain and a whopper of a headache.”

“OK JR you sold me.” Ed said standing up then taking the fake ID card into his old private office. “I’m going to have to send this print out to all of the agencies and have them run it.”

“Who are you going to start with?” I asked as Bennie and JR started working.

“The FBI and then Homeland Security,” Ed answered as he closed the door.

Bennie and JR had been at it several minutes when I looked over at them. “How’s it going guys?”

“I’m glad Ed is staying logged into the server.” JR said.

“Yeah, without it we’d be spinning our wheels,” Bennie added.

“So you’re making progress?” I asked.

“Not really,” JR said staring at the screen. “For some reason, I can’t get in as deep as I need to.”

I was about to go over and look at the screen when the door to the private offices opened. “I know why JR,” Ed said standing there.”

“OK boss, what’s up?” JR asked.

“It’s really hard to explain.” Ed started.

I looked at him and shook my head. “You’re talking in riddles.”

“I know it sounds like that Ace but it might be better if I showed you. Bennie, you’ll have to go back to the residence.”

“Why Ed, I’m no little kid.” Bennie said complaining.

“I know but we have to go over to the main office.”

“What better place for me to be safe.” Bennie countered.

“Alright but it’s up to your Dad as to whether or not you can go.”

Bennie grabbed the phone and called Ben. “Dad, can I go over to the Secret Service headquarters.”

“I guess so, is Ace going with you?” Ben asked.

Bennie shoved the phone at me. “Yes Sir?”

“Ace, what’s going on down there?”

“Well Sir, it seems Ed has something he needs to show JR rather than try to explain it. I guess it has something to do with the computers.”

“If you’re going too then I guess it’s alright if Bennie tags along.”

“Thank you Sir.” I replied then ended the call.

Bennie was just staring at me. “Well?”

“You can come too.” I answered then it hit me that Pete has the hummer. “Ed, what did you drive over in?”

“I grabbed one of the Suburbans.”

“Alright, everyone load up. Bennie and I will follow in his car.”

“Why Ace,” Ed asked.

“Is your vehicle bullet proof?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know; I just took the first thing I came to.”

“There is your answer. Pete is using my Hummer doing a search so Bennie’s car is the only bullet proof one here.”

“Alright, JR shut your computer down.”

JR started closing windows then shut his computer down. “OK, that’s done.”

Bennie started heading outside. “Hold on kiddo,” I said.

“I need my keys and wallet.”

“Baby, you have to learn to keep your wallet with you at all times.”

“I hate things in my back pocket.”

“You’re going to have to get used to it. Now, I have keys to your car too.”

“Hey, that’s my car.” Bennie fired back.

“Actually it’s your Dad’s.”

Bennie just stood there with his arms across his chest. “Well, you know what I mean.”

We all headed for the door then I wrapped my arm around him. “I do, love.”

Ed, JR and Dusty headed out to the Suburban as Bennie and I headed towards his Charger. Once we left the residence, it took about ten minutes to get over to the main office. The thing I noticed was there was a keycard lock on the front door. “Alright, why the outside lock?”

“Another level of security,” Ed answered as I heard a buzz.

“If you look up, you’ll see a camera that’s manned twenty four seven,” Ed started. “Every agent’s photo is stored and it only takes a few seconds for the facial recognition program to know who is out there.”

“What about visitors?” Bennie asked.

“If they have legitimate business here, they’re buzzed in. We work by appointments.”

“OK, I understand now.” I replied then noticed the light on the lock had changed back to red.

I took my ID card out and swiped the magnetic strip through the lock. It stayed red then I glared at Ed. “Hey, it was just installed and it’s a work in progress.”

Ed swiped his card then we entered the building. We headed down the hall when an agent came out. “May I help you?”

Instinctively Bennie stepped behind me then Ed went over to the agent. “They’re all with me.”

“What about the civilian?” He asked.

“You better memorize his face,” I said.

“And just why is that?” The agent quipped then Bennie stepped out as the agent’s face lost its color. “Is he?”

Ed nodded his head. “He is so you need to add him to the facial recognition program.”

“Yes Sir,” The agent replied. “If you will follow me please.”

I looked at Ed, “What now?”

“It’s just a formality, we’ll get Bennie a special visitors pass. Everyone has to have their credentials on their pockets at all times.”

We headed to the security office so Bennie’s photo could be taken. “Mr. Jacobs, if you’ll press your right thumb into the powder, then I’ll take your print.”

Bennie did as instructed. “That powder isn’t worth squat.”

The agent got a small black light out and turned it on. “You were saying Sir?”

“Wow, that’s cool.” Bennie exclaimed smiling.

I pulled the phony ID card out. “Can you run this and find out who made it?”

The agent took Bennie’s card and put it in a piece of laminating plastic then ran it through the machine to seal the plastic. He started typing then looked over to us. “Whoever did this had some working knowledge of our security measures but not access to everything. Every ID card has an agent’s initials on the computer file when it’s issued and this card was never entered.”

“So how did he manage to pull this off?” I asked.

“Well, it’s crude but he scanned in the front and back into a computer then did the rest.”

I scratched my head. “OK, I’m not the most technically savvy person going but just how the hell did he manage to get a magnetic strip put on this and more to the point, one that gained him access to the private elevator to the residence?”

The agent stood there dumfounded. “That took some major resources because all the codes needed are kept secured here.”

“You are aware the system was hacked, aren’t you?” I asked.

“That I am, Agent Mason but we’re still looking into how it was possible.”

“Well you won’t find anything now because I’ve increased the security protocols.” JR said.

“I don’t want to sound pertinent Agent Carl but that can only happen here.” The agent said.

Ed was flabbergasted. “What? You mean our system is still at risk?”

“I don’t know about that but there is only one way to access those protocols. Let me get Agent Jerome Porter here,” the agent said then went into his office and made a phone call. “He’ll be right here, Director.”

A minute later, a heavy set black man came out of a room. “Good evening, Director; to what do I owe the honor?”

“There is a problem with the computers.”

“How can I help?”

“Agent Carl needs to see the server protocols.” Ed answered.

“Why, that area is locked down tighter than Fort Knox.”

“Humor me,” JR said.   

“Alright, you’re the boss.” Jerome replied. “If you’ll follow me.”

We went down the hall then watched as Porter swiped his card then entered a code on the keypad. When we entered the room, Bennie gasped. “Holy shit” He said slapping his hand over his mouth. “This is one huge room. I didn’t know you did your own networking.”

“How do you think we can keep such a tight control as to who gets access to our information?” Porter asked.

JR started looking around. “Alright, where are the security protocols kept?”

“Down here,” Porter said walking towards another bank of servers.

JR went around from the other side and was amazed at what he saw. “This is amazing. Is this where those codes are kept?”

“That they are and as you can see, there is only one way to get to them.”

“Nothing is impenetrable.” JR said.

“That server is set up for out only. The only way anything can be entered into it is at that keyboard and even then, it takes a special key.”

“Where are those key’s kept?” I asked.

“Over here,” He started then headed towards the front of the room. “Those keys are kept in this safe and that takes a proper ID card and a five number code.”

“Who has access to that safe?” Ed asked.

“Only me,” Porter said.

“Well, since Agent Carl is in charge of this unit, I want him to have access to it also.” Ed said.

“Yes Sir,” Porter said then swiped his card through the lock then he entered the code. “Agent Carl, I’ll need your ID card please.”

Porter stood up then went over to another machine. He lifted the cover then took JR’s hands and placed them on the screen. “What’s that for?” I asked.

“That will scan his finger prints into the system so the safe will recognize them.”

“That’s wild,” Bennie said. “Suppose someone tried to use something other than his finger.”

Porter shook his head. “Nothing, it wouldn’t work. You have to use your fingers on the keypad.”

“Any finger?” Bennie asked.

“Yeah, that’s why we scan every finger.”

Porter went over to the PC at the front and logged into it. Ed was watching carefully as he entered JR’s information. “Agent Porter, can anyone enter information for the safe?”

“No Sir, only someone who is in the system can add someone but then it takes several steps and if it’s not done right, it’s denied.”

“Are there security logs anytime someone accesses the safe or the protocol server?” I asked.

“Oh yes Sir,” Porter replied smiling. “If someone tried to access it and didn’t have the key or proper passwords, alarms will go off and then agents will be standing right outside ready to make entry.”

I was thinking. “How many people have access to this room?”

Porter stopped and thought. “Almost every tech does but they all have varying levels of security. This is where we can build a new computer for someone over at the White House.”

I remembered when I got my new PC. “Alright, can JR start looking at the protocols so we can get done what we need to?”

“Give me a couple of minutes then everything will be ready.” Porter answered as he entered information into the computer.

The door to the safe was locked so he had to swipe his card again then he swiped JR’s. “Alright now, everything should be good to go. Agent Carl, will you enter the code please?”

JR looked at him then was handed a piece of paper. JR went to enter the code but the light on the door started blinking. “What does that mean?” JR asked.

“The system timed out. You only have ten seconds to enter the code in after you swipe your card.”

JR swiped his card then entered the code and the light went green. JR opened the door to the safe and there were a small ring of keys. JR reached in and picked up the keys then went over to the server. He looked at the lock and to the keys and selected one. He slid it into the lock and opened the door. “Is there a chair I can use?” JR asked.

Bennie found one and wheeled it over so JR could sit down then slid out the keyboard and turned on the monitor. “JR, can you make sense out of all that?” Bennie asked as he looked over his shoulder.

“Yes I do,” JR answered. “As you can see there are several files showing. Each one contains one level of security.”

“So there are 5 levels?”

“What, that can’t be.” JR almost shouted looking at the screen. Ed, I added more levels; I worked for hours on that job.”

I looked at JR. “Did you save the work you did?”

“I always do especially for something like this.” JR countered.

“Where is it?” Bennie asked.

JR thought. “It’s in my briefcase.”

“Where is that?” I asked.

“It’s still in the Suburban.” JR answered.

Dusty took off and hurried outside. A few minutes later, we heard a knock on the door. Agent Porter let him in then handed his partner his case.

JR dug out a memory stick as Porter started typing. “There you go, now you’re logged in. When you get this done, we can set you up with your own personal ID and password.”

“Thanks,” JR answered then went to work.

He plugged in this zip drive then opened it. “Man JR, how big is all of that?”

“I’m not sure Bennie, when I started working on it, I didn’t stop until I was satisfied it couldn’t be hacked into.”

“Let’s hope with these new protocols, this will keep people out.” Ed said.

JR started to upload what was on the flash drive to the protocol server. “It’s going to take a while for those files to upload.”

“Will the server needed to be rebooted?” Bennie asked.

“I’m afraid so,” JR answered but that should only put the system down for about ten minutes.

“Um JR,” Agent Porter started. “Before we can reboot this system, it needs to be shut down first?”

“We’ll need to notify everyone that the network will be going down.” Ed said.

“How long will it take to upload all of those files?” I asked.

JR looked over at the monitor. “Well, it’s uploaded twenty percent already so I’d say probably another thirty minutes. I can hold off shutting down if it gets done sooner than expected but the quicker it gets rebooted, the better off I’ll feel.”

“Ace, can you send out a service wide email?” Ed asked.

I looked at the clock and it was almost 9PM. “Sure but I just hope everyone gets it and isn’t working on something when the system reboots.”

Porter led me over to a terminal so I sat down and went to work. It took several attempts to get the email written the way I wanted it. I thought it was best if I just said the server had to go down for some routine maintenance and that it would be down for as short a period of time as necessary.

While JR was uploading the additions to the fire wall, I asked about the current problems we were having.  Porter went and sat down at his terminal and started typing. “Agent Mason, what Level are you?”

Ed walked over and looked at the screen. “That’s not right; he’s supposed to be Level 1. How did this happen?”

Porter shook his head. “I don’t know but it’s a miracle he was able to do anything. His security level box wasn’t even checked.”

“That means he was preset to the default settings. If I remember right, those are level 3.”

I had to ask a question. “Does this mean we’re going to have to go through everyone’s file and manually set them to how they should be?”

“Not really,” Porter said. “There is a master file with the agents and what position they hold. The settings are based on that.”

“While JR is uploading this file, can we look at those others?” I asked.

Just as JR was about to answer, Bennie pointed to something on the server’s monitor. “JR what’s that file?”

“What?” JR asked

“That file marked ‘New Folder.’ Bennie replied pointing to it again.

I saw JR scratching his head. “Hum, no one just sticks a folder in without naming it.”

“Unless it’s a virus that could attack as soon as someone opens it,” Bennie replied being a little melodramatic.

“Why would someone with access to our entire system want to put a virus on it?” I countered looking at Bennie.

“Alright, you win.” Bennie said surrendering. “So how can we see what’s in there without it attacking, if it’s a virus?”

JR went over to his things and pulled out his laptop. He started booting it up when pulled out another memory stick and plugged it into an open USB port After opening the memory stick, he cut and pasted the unknown file onto the stick. He closed the stick and safely removed it then went over to his laptop. He inserted the stick then opened it. JR then opened a file then went and moved the unknown file to the file on his computer. “If that’s a virus, won’t that attack your computer?” Bennie asked.

JR shook his head. “This is a quarantined area I put up. There is a big firewall in place where I can look at something then remove a potential virus without it getting loose.”

“Wow, that’s something else. I’ve never heard about that before.” Bennie said.

“This is something I created. It took a lot of trial and error but it works on the most powerful of viruses. Dusty, this is what I used on that email you were sent.”

“I remember,” Dusty said watching what everyone was doing. “Your file has completely downloaded.”

“Ace, did you get the email sent out to everyone?” JR asked.

“Yes I did and I hope everyone reads it.”

“I told them it would be going down at 10PM our time.”

“That’s ten minutes from now,” JR answered as he opened the file. “I can’t believe this.”

Bennie walked over and looked at the file. “What is all that?”

“It’s a malicious worm designed to copy certain files, change others then totally screw up the entire system.”

I looked over to Agent Porter. “I want copies of all of your logs to who went into that machine, when and at what time.”

“Agent Mason, do you know what you’re asking?” Porter countered.

“Agent Porter, do you know what I’m telling you?” Ed interrupted.

“Yes Sir,” Porter relented. “It’s going to take a while to print out those records.

“Then you should get started on them. Will the server going down affect your work?” I asked.

“No but I’ll need to get the records pulled up so I can start printing them.”

Porter was busy typing then I heard a printer come alive. At 10, JR started shutting down the Service’s computers. One by one they shut down then the only thing operational was the main protocols. JR started going through the reboot procedures then all he could do was wait. Just then Bennie hollered. “JR you need to see this.”

“What is it Bennie?” JR asked as he sat and watched the protocol server reboot.

“It’s that no named file. Someone has copied all of the protocol files and put them in here.”

“WHAT, now who would do that?”

Just then the printer stopped printing. Porter brought the papers over and he, Ed and I started looking at them. “There was a lot of activity going on.” I said.

“Yes there was. Some changes were made when the new President took over.” Porter replied.

“I understand that,” I started. “But I’m seeing activity here over the last several weeks.”

I handed Porter the papers. “Shit, someone’s managed to alter these.”

“How was that possible?” Ed asked definitely not happy as to what he was hearing.

“There is only one person with total access to this server.”

“Beside’s the President, who else?” I asked hoping the answer wasn’t going to be the obvious one.

“Only the Director,” Porter answered as I then got a sick feeling in my stomach. “Ace, there is one more set of logs I can look at.”

“Make it happen,” Ed said.

Porter went over to his terminal and started typing. “I put this in and never let anyone know about it. Every time someone enters their code into the safe, it logs their fingerprints and keeps a record of it.”

Porter started printing those records out then we heard a voice coming from the protocol server. “Shit Ace, someone is trying to hack in.”

“Who, how,” Ed asked.

“I don’t know since this is set up as out only.” JR said.

Porter ran over and started sliding the components out so he could look at the backs of them. “I’ll be damned.” Porter said as he held onto a cable and started following it. “Someone attached a cable to the in port leading from the master server. Anyone who has the ability can get into the protocols.”

“Get that the hell off of that,” Ed said.

“I can’t,” Porter answered. “That cable is acting as both an in and out.

JR started typing and as soon as he hit enter, the screen blinked and the server started shutting down. “Now, when this shuts down, remove that cable.”

“JR, can you find out who was trying to hack into us?”

“Once that cable is removed, I think so.” JR answered.

“You think so?” Ed shouted.

“Yes Sir, I think so. It all depends on how careful he was as to how much of a footprint he left behind.”

After several minutes, there was dead silence in that room. Every piece of equipment was shut down and the sounds of the cooling fans stopped. “Ed, I can’t think of any reason someone would want to sabotage the computers.”

“I can and I know why too.” I said almost spitting fire. “Look at what Evelyn tried to do to me. Agent Porter, when was the last time she accessed the key safe?”

He started thumbing through the papers. “Man, she was in here a lot and mostly after normal hours.”

I started looking around. “Why aren’t there any security cameras in here?”

“Simple,” Porter started. “There is a lot of very sensitive information in here and also people entering very sensitive log-in information. We don’t want that being taped where it could fall into the wrong hands.”

“It makes sense but had there been cameras in here, they might have acted as a deterrent so Evelyn wouldn’t have touched the servers.” I said looking at Ed. “Ed, do we have enough evidence to charge her with espionage?”

“I don’t know Ace; there is a lot of information to sort through and my brain is almost totally fried. JR, can you restart the computers so our agents can get some work done?”

JR was down behind the protocol server when I heard a clunk. “Shit,” I heard JR cuss. “Give me a couple of seconds and we will be.”

Dusty walked over and took the cable from JR. “How’s the head?”

JR was still rubbing it as he started sliding the components back into place. “What I’d like to know is how she managed to hook this cable up without shutting the servers down.”

I couldn’t remember ever having a problem so if she did, she’d have had to have been quick. JR sat down and then started the main server and then brought the others online. It took a full twenty minutes for every piece of equipment to come back to life.

I looked at Ed then over to Porter. “Can we set certain times the safe can be accessed?”

“Why,” Porter asked.

“Simple, so after hours nosing can’t happen again.”

“Ace, only certain people have access to that safe and you know we sure don’t work from 9 to 5.”

“You’re right Ed,” I relented as I saw JR trying away on the server keyboard. “What did you find, JR?”

“This person was a rookie. Whoever it was, they couldn’t get through the first level and he left a big footprint.”

“OK, start tracking him, boy scout,” Ed said.

JR started following the trail then he suddenly started cussing. “Damn it all to hell.”

“What?” Dusty asked knowing JR didn’t cuss much.

“I shouldn’t have shut this down so fast.” JR said shaking his head.

“Did you hit a dead end?” Bennie asked.

“Yeah I did and I got a whole lotta nothing in the process.”

“On the bright side, he didn’t get in and it let us know about that cable.” I said.

“Yeah, that was a good thing but I would have loved to have known who was trying to hack in.”

“I have my suspicions.” I said looking at Ed.

“Maybe so Ace, but suspicions aren’t good enough.”

“I know buddy. I just hope she screws up and we can nail her.”

“Ace, go over to my laptop and try to get into the server.” JR asked.

I went over and sat down and entered my ID and password. “Bingo, I’m in.”

“Try moving around and see if everything works.”

I maneuvered around the site then went to access fingerprints. “JR, looks like the fingerprint files are back too. Do you have that print Ed tried to run?”

Ed handed me the ID card so I got it scanned in then proceeded to run the print. A few minutes later a red blinking window popped up saying Access Denied. “Ed, get over here.” I shouted.

He started walking over. “What the hell? Let me sit down.”

He typed in a password then the file opened. AS soon as he did, he immediately started printing it out. No sooner had the printer come to life when the screen went black. Everyone was standing there. “What the hell just happened?” JR asked.

Ed got up and went over to the printer. “I don’t know but we did manage to get two pages printed out.”

“OK, so who the hell does that print belong to.” I asked.

Ed was staring at the paper so I moved around him and looked over his shoulder. “How the hell can this be?”

“You got me buddy but I intend to find out.”

Just then a voice was heard. “Director Miller, there is an Agent Palmer here to see you.”

“Who,” I asked.

“Agent Jeremy Palmer,” The voice answered.

“Thank you,” Ed answered. “Tell him to wait, we’ll be out shortly. JR get this server secured and locked down again then put the keys back into the safe.”

JR quickly got everything back secured then we followed Ed outside. I saw someone I didn’t know sitting in the waiting area. “Who is that Ed?” Busty asked.

“He’s CIA.”

Now I was totally confused. “What’s the CIA doing with their fingers in this?”

“I don’t know but I intend to find out and I’m not in the mood for any games.”

Palmer saw us walking down the hall. “Well Ed Miller, last thing I’d heard you were retired.”

Ed grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him against the wall. “What the hell are you doing here butting you nose into this agency’s business?”

Palmers’ eyes were huge. “We’re not.”

Ed let him go then stepped back. “How the hell can a dead man’s fingerprints wind up on a Secret Service’s ID card? More to the point, why is the CIA blocking his file? He wasn’t CIA he was with the service.”

“This thing with that dead agent is bigger than you know.”

“So you go in and cover everything up?”

“I had my orders.”

I grabbed him by the tie. “No one has orders to get into our computer and I know you don’t have a get out of jail free card either.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” He said smugly.

Ed stuck his hand out. “Give it.”

Palmer reached into his jacket then he felt a gun against his head. “Nice and easy,” Dusty said.

I reached in and took control of his weapon. “This is for Ed’s eyes only.”

“Bull shit.” I countered.

He slid out a piece of paper and handed it to Ed. “I’m keeping this.” Ed said.

“Not so fast,” Palmer stuttered.

“You know damn good and well, he can’t authorize you to access that computer.” Ed fired at him.

“I would have if you hadn’t found that cable.”

JR came over. “You think too highly of yourself.”

“You don’t know what I can do either, Agent Carl.”

JR was livid and then next thing I knew Palmer was sliding down the wall gasping for breath. I put my hand on his shoulder, “Easy now JR.”

“Easy my ass Ace, he had no business talking like that.”

Ed snatched Palmer up. “Who put that cable on there?” Ed asked as Palmer started looking around ignoring Ed’s question.

Ed was really losing his patience as I saw him holding Palmer by the tie. “Alright, alright,” Palmer finally relented as he rubbed his throat.

I too was losing my patience with his actions. “TALK, DAMN IT!!!”

“You know who it was and now she’s working for us.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You take a disgraced individual and hire them at the CIA?”

“Hey, I didn’t hire her but she had intelligence that could be useful to us.”

Ed stormed away then pulled out his phone. “Palmer you’ve been involved in some shady things in the past but trying to steal Secret Service files and documents is an all time low for you.”

“It’s a job but someone has to do it.” He said then JR belted him again.

“JR, that’s enough now.” I said.

“The hell it is Ace, let me have a few minutes alone with him.”

I’d never seen JR this mad before. He’s always seemed so reserved and mild mannered. I reached out and took him by the arm and led him away. “Man, what’s gotten into you?”

“I can’t stand a fucking thief.” JR replied glaring at me.

I looked at Palmer and he was trying to slide against the wall towards the door. He felt something against his head then his eyes got huge when he saw Dusty holing his weapon on him. “Don’t try it or I’ll shoot you right here.”

“JR, listen man, I’d like nothing better than to kick his ass myself, but I can’t so please chill out.”

We went over to where Ed was and I couldn’t tell who he was talking to so we stepped back and waited until he was finished. “Ace, come over here please.”

JR and I stopped then I went over to Ed. “What’s up boss?”

“I’ve asked for an arrest warrant for Evelyn Moore.”

“When will we get it?” I asked looking at my watch.

“Probably sometime tomorrow,” Ed started. “Adam didn’t think he could prepare all of the paperwork and get a judge to sign it this late at night.”

“I just wonder how Pete is going to take this,” I said hoping he wouldn’t go totally through the roof.

“When we get back to the residence, we’ll have to talk to him.” Ed said looking at Palmer.

“What about Palmer? Can we arrest him and charge him with attempted computer theft?”

Ed shook his head. “Adam said we don’t have enough to charge him with just yet.”

“Alright but I’d bet he’s up to his eyeballs in this.” I said staring at him. “Since we can’t arrest him, I’m going to take pleasure in tossing his ass out of here.

I went over and grabbed him by the tie and led him to the door. “Now, now what are you going to do?” Palmer asked as I was now in a trot.

When we were about 3 feet from the door, I let go of his tie then moved behind him. He kept up with me then I shoved him as hard as I could in the back. He went flying through the door and landed on his ass outside. “I’m just taking out the trash.”

“If it’s a war you want Mason.” Palmer started to say then he suddenly got quiet.

Dusty, Ed, JR and I were standing there. “Palmer, you better get your ass out of here and never come back.” Ed shouted.

He started to reach for his weapon then Dusty held it up. “Are you looking for this?”

Dusty took the magazine out then started removing the bullets and throwing them everywhere. “What the hell are you doing?” Palmer shouted as he scrambled to find his rounds.

Dusty took the magazine and threw it at the man and hit him in the back with it. What he did then surprised even me. He started field stripping the weapon. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“He’ll get his back.” Dusty said as I saw him put something into his pocket then he quickly put it back together.

Palmer managed to find his bullets then walked back towards us. “I need my weapon.”

Dusty tossed it at his feet. “Now get your sorry ass out of here.”

Palmer picked up his weapon and slid the magazine in then walked over towards his car. We stood there and watched as he drove off. We then returned inside and made sure everything was safe and secure. As we were walking down the hall, I leaned over to Dusty’s ear. “Alright buddy, what did you do?”

He reached into his pocket and showed me a piece of metal. I broke out into a hard laugh. “Oh my god you didn’t?”

Dusty nodded his head. “I did and I sure hope he doesn’t need it before he can inspect it.”

Ed was standing by the door to the server room looking at us. “Would you two care to let me in on this big secret?”

Dusty held up what he’d removed from Palmer’s weapon. Ed held his hand out then Dusty handed it to him. “This will teach him to screw with us.”

“Agent Moore, that was not very professional.” Ed said trying to admonish him.

“Yes Sir, but that idiot had no business coming into our office and spouting off like that. If JR hadn’t let him have it, I definitely would have.”

Ed held his hand out and Dusty placed the piece of metal in it as we went back inside the server room. When we went in, Bennie was sitting at a computer looking at it intently. He looked up and saw JR. “JR, take a look at this.”

“What do you see?”

“Someone’s at it again.” Bennie said as I was right behind JR heading over to the computer.

“Damn, I thought this was stopped.” I said looking at JR.

“It was and whoever it is won’t get far. Let me sit down there Bennie.”

JR and Bennie traded places then JR started typing. After a few seconds, I started seeing a bunch of numbers popping up on the screen. “What is all that?” Bennie asked.

“What does it look like Bennie?” JR asked.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say they were IP addresses.”

“You’re right, they are. I’m back tracing this person hoping I can find where they are trying to hack us from.”

I was watching as the numbers kept appearing then all of a sudden they stopped. “Alright JR, what just happened?”

“I think we have our answer.” JR answered then shifted over to another terminal and started typing. “Ed, come over here.”

“What have you found?”

“You’re not going to believe where this IP took me.”

“After today, I’d believe just about anything.”

JR pulled up the physical address. “Do you recognize this?”

“I sure do but right now, there’s nothing we can do. Can you print this out?”

JR minimized the screens then started printing them out one at a time. “It’ll take a few minutes. Bennie check the paper in the printer please.”

“It’s almost empty.”

After the first screen finished printing, Bennie refilled the tray then JR finished the job at hand.

While the printer was working JR went over to Ed. “Boss, I want to do a search on their computers.”

“I don’t think that will ever happen. They have a lot of very sensitive information and it’s highly classified.”

“I don’t like it that they can hide behind National Security.”

“I don’t either but we just have to live with it. Now, were they able to get any of our files?”

JR shook his head. “No but had I not got the protocol server’s security increased, they could have go in through the back door.”

“Can you tighten that?” Ed asked.

JR thought for a minute. “Yes Sir, I can but it will mean me writing new codes.”

“How long will that take?”

“I don’t know, these codes have to be written then checked to be sure they work and don’t crash the system.”

“How long did it take you to write the ones you just installed?”

“I’d been working on them for several months.”

“That long?” Ed asked in amazement.

JR nodded his head. “Yeah but this was the first time I’ve tackled something the size of those.”

“Whatever you did, it seems to have worked. We are in your debt.”

JR shook his head. “Nah, I was just doing my job and what I happen to love. We have someone else who wants to follow in my footsteps too.”

“Yes, I know and he’ll make a great asset to the team. Just remember he’s not an agent yet and he doesn’t have a security clearance.”

“Ed, I wouldn’t let out anything I saw.” Bennie said in self defense.

“I know that Bennie but we can’t allow anyone without a security clearance access to sensitive material. I know you worked with JR on the bank records and I have to say that has to stop.”

“Why Ed?” Bennie asked almost in tears.

I looked at Ed. “Love, it’s so any case you’ve been involved in doesn’t get tossed. A good defense lawyer would argue you’re not a trained agent and anything you’ve found is suspect.”

“Ace, I know what I’m doing; I’m not a little kid.”

I wrapped my arms around him and held him close. “I know love and I know you know what you’re doing but in a court of law you know all our work gets questioned.”

Bennie thought about what I’d said. “Alright I understand, I don’t like it but I do understand.”

JR finished printing out everything then we got ready to return to the residence. I looked at the clock and it was after 11PM. It didn’t take long to return to the residence and the first thing I did was get a cup of coffee. Ben was sitting in the living room waiting for us. “I thought I was going to have to send out search team.”

“I apologize Sir, but it seemed the more we dug the worse things got but we were able to get a few questions answered.”

“Do I want to know what you found?” Ben asked.

“I don’t know if you really want to know but I do think you should.” I replied finishing my coffee.

Ben was yawning. “Very well, can this wait until the morning?”

I was exhausted also. “Yes Sir it can.”

Bennie gave Ben a hug then Bennie and I headed off to bed.

To be continued...