THE BROTHERHOOD

by Steve Jovanoski

  Barry started groaning; he was coming round. Aazim jumped around desperately in his chair.

  ‘Don’t worry, buddy, I’m not leaving you.’ Bill pulled out his tool kit and took out a small Stanley knife, using it to slice through Aazim’s tape. Aazim ripped off the gag and coughed loudly.

  A crackling sound came from a receiver in Barry’s jacket. ‘It’s time, sir,’ a voice said. ‘What are your instructions?’

  Barry opened his eyes and as they met Bill’s, both men momentarily froze. Barry saw his gun and went to reach for it, but as he turned to aim his face collided with Bill’s heel, which sent him sprawling against the desk, the gun slipping from his fingers and skidding under the bed.

  ‘Get the key!’ Aazim yelled.

  The safe key was still in Barry’s clenched fist and Bill tried frantically to prise open the big man’s fingers. ‘Let it go, you bastard!’ he yelled. He punched Barry in the face but he still wouldn’t let go.

  Barry reached into his breast pocket and pressed a button on the two-way radio. He drew it closer to his mouth. ‘Agent down!’

  Bill elbowed him in the jaw and shut him up. ‘Come on,’ he said to Aazim, taking the Beretta from the table.

  They rushed for the exit. When they got near the door, Bill pinned his back against the wall and signalled Aazim to stand back. An agent burst in with a drawn weapon and was brought short when he felt the nozzle of a gun against his neck. ‘Don’t move,’ Bill said and took the man’s gun before closing the door. ‘How many agents are out there?’ he asked.

  ‘Four and more are on the way.’

  ‘Where are they positioned?’ The agent refused to answer and Bill shoved the Beretta in his temple. ‘Where are they?’ The man wasn’t budging and their escape window was quickly closing. Bill turned the agent towards the exit. ‘Let’s see if you can show me then.’

  On the motel grounds agents had the room covered front and rear and there was nowhere to run. Guessing Barry and their man were disarmed, they waited for backup to storm in with gas canisters, but at that moment the door opened and two shots were fired. A man stumbled out of the room, followed by further gunshots. The man waved his arms and headed in their direction. Heavy rain and lack of lighting had reduced visibility, and they opened fire and brought him down before he could make it anywhere near them.

  Barry staggered at the door like a drunk. ‘They’re getting away, you idiots!’ He pointed towards two dark figures creating splashes among rain puddles as they ran towards an old Holden in the car park. One of the agents discovered their mistake; the dead man was an agent with a gag in his mouth. They had turned him into a sieve while the two wanted men had snuck out undetected.

  Bill and Aazim jumped in the car just as a swarm of bullets struck their vehicle.

  ‘Get down!’ Bill yelled.

  The car spun one-eighty degrees and Bill almost lost control, but he quickly got the car facing the right direction and they disappeared into suburbia. Bill took the back streets to avoid running into the feds, not sure if they were out there at all. The car’s wide rear end wobbled like a boat at every corner. No one appeared to be following them and the streets were deserted, so Bill assessed it was safe to slow down. All immediate danger seemed to have disappeared.

  Aazim allowed himself a sigh of relief. ‘I’ve had enough, Bill. Let’s just go straight to the police,’ Aazim said, breaking the silence.

  ‘We can’t do that, Az.’

  ‘Why not? Let’s just go to some police station away from here. Surely someone has to listen to us.’

  ‘And show them what evidence? By then every police station will have a fax of our faces, Barry will issue an interview ban and they’ll throw us in a cell until his men pick us up.’

  ‘Oh shit, oh shit. How the hell did I get into this?’ Aazim held his head and sobbed.

  ‘Don’t worry buddy, we’ll be okay,’ Bill said reassuringly.

  ‘What do you mean we’ll be okay? Everyone short of the army is after us. How is everything going to be okay?’ Aazim yelled, his face contorted with fear.

  ‘We’re alive aren’t we? First we have got to get rid of this car, get new clothes and something to eat. And I don’t know about you but I’m dying for some sleep.’

  ‘Oh, great, you’re so comforting. So much for your promises. Where are we going anyway?’

  ‘To see an old friend.’

  Chapter 15

  ‘Bloody hell, I don’t believe it.’

  ‘How are you, Jimmy?’

  ‘Not too bad for five in the morning. Are you going to stand there like stunned mullets or are you coming in?’

  ‘Thought you’d never ask, but first I need to hide this.’ Bill turned and pointed to the Holden parked on the curb.

  Jimmy surveyed the bullet-ridden panelwork and looked at Bill, shaking his head. ‘Park it at the back. I’ll open the garage door for ya.’

  Jimmy O’Reilly was Bill’s childhood buddy. He was a short stocky man, as rough as guts but with his heart in the right place, as the saying went. He was half Irish and half Italian. A few people knew his real name was Giovanni but even fewer dared to call him by it. He had always lived in the inner-city suburb of Fitzroy, despite many lucrative offers from real estate agents to sell up as the once working-class area became gentrified. Jimmy’s terrace was a dump but the land was a goldmine.

  Bill introduced Aazim to his friend and explained that he hadn’t seen Jimmy for over a year. He’d lost touch with many of his old mates from the past but he always made an effort to see Jimmy occasionally. They had a close friendship and time couldn’t erase the bond between them. They’d done everything together as kids and in Bill’s book friends were family, relying on each other to get by in this once-tough neighbourhood.

  ‘You look like shit, Bill. What happened to ya?’ Jimmy ushered them into a messy living room where they sat down and could finally relax.

  Bill shrugged. ‘I walked into a couple of doors. You know me.’

  ‘You’re always getting in trouble, you cheeky bastard. I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years. You still doing that PI stint?’

  ‘Yeah, mate, and we’re in a bit of a mess at the moment. Mind if we crash here for the day? My place isn’t convenient at the moment.’

  Jimmy picked up on the implied message: in other words they’d get shot if they went anywhere near it.

  ‘Mi casa es tu casa, Bill. I’ll put the kettle on and make you brekkie.’

  ‘That’ll be nice. I could eat a horse and chase the jockey.’

  ‘Who is it, Jimmy?’ called a high-pitched female voice from one of the bedrooms.

  ‘It’s Bill and a friend of his, Doreen, he’s come to visit,’ Jimmy answered.

  ‘Hi, Bill, how are ya, love?’

  ‘I’m great, Doreen, how ’bout yourself?’

  ‘Bit under the weather, love. Jimmy, can you get me a fag?’

  ‘I didn’t know you were back with Doreen? How’s that going?’ Bill asked, with one eyebrow raised.

  ‘Go to sleep, Doreen,’ Jimmy yelled out to her in annoyance. ‘She’s pissed as a parrot, Bill, don’t mind her if she drivels on a bit. We split up a while ago and one day she rocked up with a bun in the oven and tells me it’s mine. So what am I supposed to do? She’s bloody useless. She can’t cook, can’t clean, hasn’t worked a day in her life and smokes like a chimney. If she doesn’t pull her head in I’ll kick her arse right out the door, kid or no kid.’

  ‘She’s pregnant? Congratulations, mate!’ Bill shook Jimmy’s hand warmly.

  His friend offered him a wry smile and a cigarette in return. ‘Thanks, mate. I’m putting up with her for the sake of the bub. The idea of being a dad makes me feel all warm inside, ya know?’

  ‘That’s great, Jimmy. I’m really happy for you, you’ll make a good daddy.’

  ‘Why don’t you fellas scrub up, eat and relax. We’ll talk more later.’ Jimmy disappeared into the bedroom for a moment and came back with blankets
and pillows.

  Aazim perched uncomfortably on the sofa, observing the exchange of Aussie slang. The mention of breakfast made him aware of his grumbling stomach and he glanced towards the kitchen. The sink had a pile of dirty dishes a week old. On any other day he would have walked right out but he was too tired and hungry to care. Jimmy served them a warm breakfast of burnt toast, bacon and eggs and boiling hot coffee; it hit the spot.

  After breakfast they took a shower and Aazim fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes. They had a long day ahead of them and needed to recharge. Bill covered him with a blanket and the two old mates chatted for a while over a straight scotch and cigarettes. Jimmy looked down at Bill’s shaking hands but didn’t ask any questions. Bill could sense his friend’s curiosity and appreciated his discretion; he cared too much for Jimmy to get him involved.

  It was just before midday when Aazim woke up to the sound of clanging plates. Jimmy was in the kitchen washing up the pile of dishes and Doreen was still in bed.

  ‘I’ll make youse a coffee as soon as I’m done, fellas,’ Jimmy called out when he saw them stretching.

  ‘Thanks, Jimmy. How did you sleep, buddy?’ Bill asked Aazim as he stretched his arms. Running his hands over his face Bill examined the status of his split lip and a number of other bruises on his body.

  ‘Like a brick, surprisingly. I miss my own bed and my back aches but I caught up on some sleep.’

  ‘Good stuff. Now we’ve got to get ourselves organised. Our first objective is to get that data back.’

  Aazim was overwhelmed with nausea as memories of the previous night’s events flooded in. They were far deeper in it now and he felt weak with stress. ‘How are we meant to do that, Bill? You gave them the key to the safe. They have Janelle’s copies and she’s dead. Your place has probably been raided so they have everything you left behind as well.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Aazim, we’ll think of something.’

  ‘You keep saying that and the situation’s getting worse!’ Aazim shifted around to find a comfortable position. ‘I knew I should’ve gone to the police straight away. We’d probably have a better chance.’

  ‘Az, you have got to understand who you are dealing with. These guys are the police. The difference is they have a lot more power and they’re corrupt. We have to find a way of getting into Aust Global Fund to get a copy of those databases.’

  ‘Are you serious? That building’s like a fortress. There are cameras everywhere. My access card would be cancelled by now and we need one just to get in the foyer, let alone inside the office block. Then we need a new PIN number to the data centre. If we get that far we’ll need the password to access the server. They know our faces, and Sam would’ve changed the server password by now.’ Aazim was out of breath and his nerves were frayed. The thought of returning to his office building where it all started made his stomach churn. If they got caught down there they would be trapped with no way out.

  ‘There’s always a way, Az. What’s their weakest security point? Think of the smallest detail.’

  ‘There isn’t one. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.’

  ‘Here you go, fellas.’ Jimmy came in and set down a tray of coffee. ‘Anything I can help with?’

  ‘Not with this one, Jimmy, it’s best you stay clear,’ Bill replied.

  ‘Don’t give me that shit. I heard some of your yappin’, so try me.’

  Bill hesitated for a moment but told him most of the story, leaving out some details for his safety. They faced an impossible task of getting the proof from Aust Global Fund, bringing down two dangerous men, exposing global money-laundering scams and countless criminals. Aazim had seriously doubted Jimmy’s ability to comprehend the enormity of what they faced, yet there he was, nodding at Bill’s explanation as if he was digesting every word.

  Once Bill had finished the story, Jimmy peered into his coffee, deep in thought. ‘You’re up shit creek, mate,’ he said finally. Bill looked at him and nodded silently. ‘You fellas got the rough end of the pineapple, I’ll give you that much. These guys Barry and Sam, they’re as cunning as shithouse rats, yeah? Well, you just gotta out-think ’em.’

  ‘They’ll be expecting us. They know our only hope is that information.’ Aazim sighed.

  ‘You remember that time we nicked two hundred packets of fags and all that other shit from big Kev?’ Jimmy looked at Bill.

  ‘How can I not? We got two years good behaviour for it.’

  ‘Yeah, but you remember how we pulled it off? It was the perfect plan and you were the one who came up with it.’ He turned to Aazim and told the story with enthusiasm. ‘We had no hope of getting into the shop itself. The windows were barred with thick iron bars and Kev kept a twelve-gauge under the counter. At night he shut the place up with a steel roller door and let a Rottie loose out the back. That was in case anyone had any smart ideas to poke their nose around the rear.’

  Bill chuckled. ‘Yeah, the bloody thing had a head the size of a basketball.’

  ‘Anyway, we couldn’t hit the shop but he kept excess stock in a small warehouse. He didn’t have the room and he bought everything in bulk, the cheapskate would do anything to save a buck. Billy boy here followed his truck one day and found the warehouse. All he had on it was a roller door locked with a big old padlock, no alarm. One night us two and Bob grabbed a crowbar and helped ourselves to two hundred packs of fags. It was a piece of piss, a master piss you would say.’ Jimmy laughed and leaned back in his chair, looking like he had just eaten a slice of cake and enjoyed every crumb.

  ‘Interesting,’ Aazim murmured, rubbing his chin.

  Bill couldn’t see the point of the story but was enjoying reflecting on the good old days.

  ‘Big Kev was as mad as a cut snake.’ Jimmy laughed. ‘That fuckwit blabbermouth Bob went to a pub and boasted to everyone about it. An off-duty copper happened to be there and overheard him. That’s how we got busted.’ He took out his cigarette pack and offered one to Bill.

  ‘Wait a minute! You just gave me an idea.’ Aazim eyes lit up. ‘We may not be able to break into Aust Global Fund but there’s another way. Not long ago the company refurbished an old IT building in Ballarat for disaster recovery purposes. A lot of businesses implement this kind of thing in case the main data gets destroyed. The production environment is replicated from the Melbourne data centre across to the DR site in Ballarat over a two-gig pipeline. If Aust Global Fund were to blow up they could be back in business at the flick of a switch.’

  ‘Jimmy, can you make me a cuppa, love?’ Doreen rasped from the bedroom.

  ‘Gimme a sec, fellas. All right, Doreen, get your arse out of bed and take a shower.’ Jimmy’s voice faded as he made his way up the hallway and into the bedroom. He returned soon after and trotted off to the kitchen, murmuring profanities along the way.

  ‘Have you been there before?’ Bill asked Aazim.

  ‘I’ve been there once for server testing. The DR site isn’t accessible online – no one can access it externally so there’s no danger from internet hackers. It’s a small building housing only the business critical servers, and I’m pretty sure there’s only one security guard on site.’ Aazim grabbed a pen from the table and scribbled a diagram. ‘The two-gig pipeline links Melbourne with Ballarat and transfers one-way data overnight. An upload is established from AccountsClass01 to the backup server, AccountsClass01Bak.’

  ‘What about access? Will your card work there?’ Bill looked at the picture.

  ‘We don’t need one. Once you get past reception and sign in, you go straight to the server room. They have a separate security system that requires a code number entered in a keypad, but once again I don’t have that anymore.’ Aazim sighed.

  ‘Are there any doors with conventional locks?’

  ‘Nope. It’s a solid steel fireproof door with electronic keypad entry.’

  Bill thought for a moment. ‘Leave it with me. I know someone who might be able to help.’

  ‘We have another
problem, come to think of it,’ Aazim said.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘The Oracle password. We need it to get that info we lost. If Sam’s changed it then it’ll apply to the backup server too and I don’t know how Kareem got it in the first place.’

  ‘What if you download the databases from the operating system? We’ll take it away and deal with it later.’

  ‘An alert is triggered and sent to Sam if a copy of any document is initiated. We’ll have to download all four databases and that’ll take hours. Our only chance is to access the Oracle application on the server and –’

  ‘Grab just enough to show their money-laundering trail and get them arrested.’

  ‘Exactly. And if the data in the DR site isn’t on the storage area network we could pull out the hard disks. The SAN is a sub-network of shared storage devices all sorts of applications could be on it. There are hundreds of disks. I can’t tell which ones are the ones we need, nor do I have the hardware to load them up somewhere else.’

  ‘You’ll have to break the Oracle password.’

  ‘Oh, great, and how will I do that?’ Aazim was a little annoyed with Bill’s naive overconfidence.

  ‘How did that guy Kareem do it? There’s gotta be a way. You’re the technical guru, mate. Don’t tell me you didn’t hack into anything back in uni.’

  ‘It’s an enterprise software, Bill. For all I know it could’ve taken him months to get that password.’

  ‘We don’t have months, Az.’

  ‘Yes, I know. Thanks for reminding me.’

  ‘If a human built it then a human can break it. Did Kareem leave any notes behind that can help you?’ Bill pushed.

  ‘No, Sam’s goons cleaned out everything.’ Aazim rubbed his chin again, trying to remember what Kareem had said to him before getting dragged away. ‘Just before he gave me the password he said something about the Oracle algorithm.’

  ‘What’s that?’