Cyberian Affair

by Mark A Pryor

  With a nod, Ivan continued. “We need to discuss privacy, something they don’t mention in the manual. These bracelets use cell phone communication. As described in the manual, during an emergency you may use them to communicate with the police. When the police need to listen, they are supposed to vibrate the unit to make you aware. The problem is, they can listen without your knowledge. There have been incidents where they were caught listening covertly.”

  Niko smiled. “I’m glad you’re as paranoid as I am.”

  Ivan reached into his briefcase and removed two bulky socks along with a couple of straps. “Police have no right to listen to communications between a lawyer and client. To ensure our privacy, you’ll need to wear these soundproofing socks during our meetings.” He stood and knelt next to Vyper. “Let me have your ankle.”

  She turned her chair and lifted her leg.

  He grabbed her foot. “First we have to isolate your leg from the bracelet. Sound travels through your body, you know.” He removed her slipper and wrapped a strap around her ankle, between her skin and the bracelet. “Now put on this sock. It blocks sound.”

  “This is heavy.” Vyper pulled the sock up over her calf. “A bit too warm.”

  Ivan went back to his seat. “That’s the price of privacy. Feel free to wear them any time, whether I’m here or not.” He handed a strap and sock to Niko. “Put yours on, too.”

  As he put it on, Niko asked, “Does this block the signal to the police? Will it set off an alarm?”

  “No, no.” Ivan shook his head. “It only blocks sound. Electronic signals are not affected. You could wear these socks all day long if you could get used to them.”

  Niko rested his stockinged foot on the floor. “Can we discuss the case now?”

  Ivan nodded. “No one else can hear us.”

  “So, how much trouble are we in?” Niko placed his hand on Vyper’s. “How do we avoid going to jail?”

  The lawyer outlined the charges filed against both of them. They were accused of conspiracy with Sokolov to kill Marko, and to attack both action centers. This meant they were accessories to the murder of everyone who died in the Kozel action center attack. They’d face many years in prison if convicted on all counts.

  Vyper shook her head. “They are charging us with everything the Russians did. Why do they believe we helped them? How did they find us?”

  “A government task force has been chasing Russian internet activities for a long time. In fact, they’re still chasing the Russians—the attacks haven’t stopped.” Ivan glanced at one of the papers. “They discovered communication between Sokolov’s Russian hackers and this house. When they investigated your home, they discovered an unusual pattern of internet activity—a heavily utilized high-speed connection with network traffic around-the-clock, all encrypted, most of it going to the dark net.”

  Niko exchanged a look with Vyper. “That must have been NSA tracking you on the dark net.”

  Ivan continued, “After they raided the house and learned Niko’s real name, they used the information as corroborating evidence.” He looked at Niko. “Specifically, evidence that you faked your death right after Marko was killed and the action center was attacked. They claim it proves you were in on everything.”

  The circumstantial evidence was piling up, but Niko had an idea. “They must think I’m the bad guy here. Can we convince them Vyper had nothing to do with it? Can we get her off?”

  “No!” said Vyper. “I will not let you sacrifice yourself for me. We did not help the Russians! We have to prove it.”

  Ivan raised his hand. “Sorry, Niko. Even if you wanted to take all the blame, it wouldn’t work. The FBI has documentation from Marko’s original request to obtain a security clearance for Lydia … uh, Vyper. It includes the reason she needed it. They know she has exceptional computer security skills.”

  All the cards were stacked against them. How could the evidence be so damning when they were innocent? Perhaps coming clean was the only solution. It was risky, but Niko was willing to discuss it. “Did Vyper tell you about our Trotsky communication?”

  “She did.” Ivan flipped through a few pages from the folder. “You gave anonymous information to media and law enforcement about the Russians. Are you thinking of revealing that to the FBI? Do you believe it will exonerate you?”

  “I’m not sure.” Niko turned his head away from Ivan and mouthed the word money to Vyper.

  She nodded. “Ivan knows about Sokolov’s money. He knows about the computers I have illegally broken into. Marko always trusted him. We can, too.”

  Niko faced the lawyer. “What happens if they listen to everything we tell them? Suppose they actually believe us. Would they let us go free? Or would they send us to prison for financial crimes and computer hacking anyway?”

  Ivan looked at Vyper and back to Niko. “Marko always said you were smart. You should be a lawyer. The Justice Department would be inclined to charge you with your crimes and send you to prison—unless we negotiate a deal, which would probably take a month or more. It’s quite possible that the best deal they’ll accept will result in some prison time for each of you.”

  Vyper took Niko’s hand. “We have no choice. We should negotiate a deal.”

  Ivan took a glossy flier out of his folder. The seal of Homeland Security was emblazoned on the top. “Negotiating a deal is the best legal alternative. But I’d like you to consider something that has nothing to do with the legal system.”

  Niko glanced at the paper in front of Ivan. “We know Homeland’s still fighting off Russian cyber-attacks. That’s what got us into this mess.”

  The lawyer turned the flier around so they could read it better. “Do you know what the government does with talented hackers after they’re caught?” When no one responded, he continued. “They hire them.”

  Matter of Trust

  Chapter 19

  Standing on a ladder outside the front door, Niko disconnected the camera from its mount. None of the wireless surveillance equipment outside worked since the FBI confiscated the equipment that controlled them. One wired camera would have to be enough for now.

  He fished a video cable into the laundry room, following the same hole used to supply power, then he refastened the camera and brought the ladder inside.

  Vyper sat in the dining room. She looked up from the computer and waved silently. It wasn’t safe to speak unless they both wore their soundproof socks.

  Niko took the small TV out of his bedroom. It would make a good video monitor. He carried it to the laundry room where he connected it to the camera’s cable. When he turned it on and switched the video source, a live image from the front door appeared. Then he carried the TV out and set it on the dining room table.

  Vyper smiled and gave a thumbs up. She grabbed one of the socks Bodnar had given them and slipped it over her ankle monitor.

  Niko fitted the other sock over his foot and took a seat. “What are you doing?”

  She pointed to the screen. “Testing the program I wrote. It logs information about software installed by the police—their internet monitoring, too.”

  “But the internet’s disabled.”

  “The police will turn on the internet and install their software when they arrive. I need to know what they are doing.”

  “I’m sure this is a silly question, but won’t they notice your program?”

  “It is a silly question.” She pushed the laptop aside and replaced it with the second one. “Can you hook us up to the network?”

  Niko went to the spare bedroom and returned with two network cables. Once the laptops were connected, they played computer games. No sex, though—not until after the police visit.

  In the early afternoon, Niko spotted movement on the surveillance camera. A dark blue Ford Taurus was travelling along the driveway.

  They removed their “socks of silence” and put them inside a kitchen cabinet.

  Niko carried the TV into the laundry room and returned to follow Vyper
to the front door.

  When the bell rang, she opened the door.

  A smiling woman stood before them wearing a loose-fitting blue shirt with matching slacks. Her short-cut red hair was fringed with a hint of gray. “I believe you’re expecting me.” She reached for the handle of her wheeled travel bag. “My name is Lieutenant Green.”

  “Come in, Lieutenant.” Vyper moved aside. “I am Lydia, but I prefer the name Vyper.”

  Green stepped inside, pulling her bag behind her, as Niko closed the door.

  “I’m Adam, but please call me Niko.” He waved his arm toward the dining room. “Have a seat.”

  The lieutenant glanced at the table. “Are those the only computers in the house?”

  “Yes,” said Vyper. “The FBI confiscated all our equipment. These laptops are brand new.”

  Niko offered Green a seat at one of the computers. Vyper sat next to her and Niko sat across the table.

  The lieutenant reached into her bag, removing a folder and a USB thumb drive. She opened the folder and handed each of them a document. “This explains the details of what I’m about to tell you. Since you haven’t been convicted—not yet, anyway—you have the right to use computers and access the internet—but there are restrictions.” She paused briefly. “Let me see your phones.”

  Vyper and Niko pushed their flip phones across the table to the lieutenant.

  Green opened one of them. “Good. You can’t use smart phones. Do you have any more?”

  Niko shook his head. “The FBI took the other ones.”

  The lieutenant nudged the laptop toward Vyper. “I’m going to install the software required by the court. I understand you’re the computer expert. Please unlock this laptop and sign in as the administrator.”

  Vyper complied.

  Green inserted her thumb drive into the side of the laptop. “We’ll monitor your activity remotely. We can see all internet activity, email, chat—everything. And you won’t know when we’ll be checking.”

  While Green installed the software on both computers, Vyper’s eyes never left the screen.

  The lieutenant made a call on her cell phone. “It’s Lieutenant Green. The computers are ready … The internet cables are connected … Okay, turn it on … Good … Just a minute.” She typed a command on one laptop. “Okay.” She typed on the other. “Thanks. We’re all set.” She ended the call.

  It happened so quickly, Niko had to ask, “Does this mean we can use the internet now?”

  “Yes, but wait until I leave. You’re forbidden to use encryption. You also can’t use any private networks. We’ll monitor every site you visit—and don’t access any dark websites.” Green opened each phone and inspected it. “These must be brand new—no contacts, no calls. Don’t use another phone without contacting us first.”

  The lieutenant returned the folder and thumb drive to her bag. “We monitor all calls and internet access from your service providers. If you violate the rules or break any laws, we’ll know.” She stood and grabbed the handle of her roll-behind bag. “A colleague of mine might pay you a surprise visit to inspect your equipment. You won’t be warned in advance.”

  Vyper stood. “We will follow the rules. Let me see you out.”

  Once Green left, Niko carried the small TV back out to the dining room and watched the surveillance video as the lieutenant’s Taurus pulled away from the house.

  Vyper took the socks from the cabinet and sat at the table while she fitted one over her ankle bracelet. She pulled a laptop toward her and started typing.

  Niko took a seat next to her and put on the other sock. “You checking out Green’s program?”

  “I am familiar with this software. I know what data it collects. If they install any updates, I will know.” Vyper navigated her way through the computer configuration to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

  “What about the camera and microphone. The FBI could turn them on remotely.”

  Vyper smiled. “Now you are thinking like I do. I will get my tools.” She went to the garage and returned with a small black case. She sat down and opened it, selecting a metal tool with a thin, flat end that curved a little. She used the tool to separate the top of the laptop screen from the lid. When she laid the screen down, she pointed to a small circuit board. “It is the camera and microphone.”

  “Very convenient. Looks like the connector simply slips off.”

  “You catch on quickly.” Vyper disconnected the circuit board and pressed the screen back in place. “Can you fix the other laptop? I need something from my emergency kit.”

  “Sure.” Niko pried the screen away from the second computer.

  Vyper grabbed a screwdriver and walked to the living room where she squatted down in front of an unused wall plug. “This is where I keep my ‘go bag’. She unscrewed and removed the wall plate, and reached inside, retrieving a small electronic device.

  “Is that a satellite phone?” Niko asked, as he disconnected the circuit board.

  She nodded. “The FBI can monitor our cells as much they want, but they will not be monitoring this.” She reached inside the hole in the wall and retrieved a thumb drive. “And this contains some useful software.”

  “Aren’t we taking a chance with the sat phone? Won’t the FBI see the signal?” Niko snapped the back on his laptop.

  “Not unless they search for it. Even if they detect a signal, it could be coming from any house nearby—this phone does not send location information.” Vyper reattached the wall plate and stood up.

  “The encryption on sat phones is so simple, even I can crack it. All they have to do is unscramble all the calls coming from this area.”

  Vyper sat next to Niko. “I know how to make secure calls. But first I will install my software.” She inserted the thumb drive into her laptop and ran the installation software. “Whenever you use the computer, run the cleaner program afterwards. It is probably not necessary, but I do not want to leave any breadcrumbs for the police to follow.”

  She opened her toolkit and removed a short telephone cord. “We must to use this for private internet access.” She connected the phone to her laptop and pointed to the screen. “Use this browser to visit forbidden sites.” She dialed a number and waited while tones and warbling sounds came from the computer.

  “I haven’t heard modem noises for years. This is like the good old days.”

  “It will be slow, but private. I wonder if Mister Bodnar sent us anything.” She logged into an email system. “Nothing yet.”

  Niko placed his hand on Vyper’s. “Sweetheart.”

  She looked at him and smiled. “You have never called me that before. I like it.”

  “It suits you.” He grasped both her hands. “We need to discuss Homeland. If Bodnar doesn’t get them to agree to the deal, we’ll both end up in prison. Even if he does get the deal, we still might go to prison.”

  Vyper shook her head. “Bodnar said Homeland would hire us. I thought that meant the FBI would leave us alone.”

  “Homeland will expect us to tell them everything we know, and they’ll share the information with the FBI. Do you believe they’ll offer full immunity for everything? We committed bank fraud and stole Sokolov’s money. You stole financial information from Treasury.”

  “Bodnar said he would request full immunity.”

  Niko shook his head. “Do you trust Homeland or the FBI? I don’t. Even if they promise immunity, nothing is guaranteed until we have it in writing. Even if Bodnar gets them to sign papers, they can claim we lied to them. One lie and we go to prison.”

  Vyper’s hands began to flap. She clasped them together and looked up. “We cannot let this happen. Do you have any ideas?”

  “We need leverage. You can demonstrate your value—creating software implants the Russians can’t detect, tracking people through the dark net. But I’m not sure that’s enough. We have to show we’ve got power over them.”

  “What power do we have? They are the government.”

  Nik
o thought about the scene from The Godfather. Don Corleone delivered one of the best lines of all times. Make him an offer he can’t refuse.

  Vyper raised an eyebrow. “How can you smile at a time like this?”

  He opened a laptop and selected the special internet browser. “What kind of dirt can we find on Homeland—or any of the people in charge?”

  Time Bombs

  Chapter 20

  Niko checked the surveillance video—no cars, no people. He typed a command on his laptop to sign onto a private network in the Cayman Islands. It felt good to be anonymous on the internet again.

  Vyper sat next to him at the dining room table. “We should look through Marko’s files. He supported Homeland and the CIA for years, and he saved all the dirt he came across.”

  “Where’d he store them?”

  “Let me do it.” Vyper slid the laptop in front of her, typed in a few commands, and accessed a dark website where she entered a password. “This is where I backed up his data.” She scrolled down a list of directories until she reached one called RAINYDAY. “Marko always told me to prepare for the worst—and he practiced what he preached.” She opened it.

  Niko studied the titles of the first page of entries. “Everything looks like CIA stuff. We need something on Homeland.”

  Vyper moved onto the second page and paused until they both had time to read through the titles before moving onto the next, and the next.

  In the middle of the seventh page, Niko spotted something. “Look at this. Leonard Grimes … he’s the Secretary of Homeland Security. At least he is now.”

  Vyper opened the document. “He must have worked in the CIA five years ago.”

  Niko skimmed through the pages. “It’s about torturing prisoners in Batman, Turkey. If Secretary Grimes was involved, I’m sure he wouldn’t want his role made public.”

  “I thought it was illegal—even in Turkey.”

  “You’re right. And the Turkish people would be pissed to learn their government was helping America like this.”

  Vyper pushed Niko’s laptop back. “This sounds like the kind of dirt you were looking for. What do we do now?”