by Alex Siegel
"Sad." Marina gave the picture to Ipo. She then took a stack of computer tapes out of the safe. "These look useful."
Min Ho ran forward. "The backups!"
She gave the tapes to the hacker. "Backups?"
"We backed up all our critical data every month in case of disaster. Everything is on these tapes: contacts, phone numbers, security keys, passwords. This is huge!" He grinned. "Now we just need new computers."
"Soon. Hopefully, before the day is out."
The team searched the rest of the burned out headquarters but found little else of value. The fire had destroyed almost everything, and the FBI had taken away the rest as evidence.
They congregated in the parking lot afterwards. The sun was bright, the sky was clear, and a delicious breeze was blowing from the Bay. Marina was wearing just a leather jacket and jeans. She could hardly believe it was the middle of winter. She was starting to appreciate why so many people liked California. She felt sorry for Aaron who was stuck in miserable, snowy Chicago.
"All of you have houses or apartments nearby, right?" Marina said.
Everybody but Hanley nodded.
"Good. Go home. Hopefully, you still have homes. Relax for a few hours while Hanley and I start the process of choosing a new headquarters. We'll call you if we need you."
Marina made sure everybody's phones had all the right numbers programmed into them. Then she dismissed her people, and they walked off.
She turned to Hanley. "Back in Washington, DC, I asked you to look for a building we could use as our temporary headquarters. Did you do that?"
"Yes, ma'am." He nodded. "I contacted a real estate agent, and she has a list of places for us to see."
"Then let's get started." She walked towards the van.
* * *
"This was a cupcake factory," the real estate agent said. "Twenty thousand square feet, zoned for commercial."
Marina looked at the huge, open interior of the building. Marks on the cement floor showed where equipment had been removed, but a few wire racks still remained. Many of the tiles had fallen out of an ugly suspended ceiling. Emergency evacuation instructions were still glued to a wall. Burn marks in the corner indicated a fire had started there.
Marina faced the real estate agent. "The walls look thin and weak. What are they made out of?"
The agent was a charming Asian woman in a green blazer. A silver clip held her long, black hair.
"I'm not sure, ma'am," she said. "Stucco?"
Marina frowned, sighed, and took another look around. There were a few private offices in the back. Dusty windows placed high on the walls allowed sunlight to trickle in. There was no basement.
"I don't like it," she announced.
"Why not?" Hanley said. "This is the fourth building we've seen, and you haven't liked any of them, ma'am. Maybe I don't understand what you want."
"Can we have some privacy?" Marina asked the real estate agent.
The agent nodded and walked out the door.
"We could use this place," Marina whispered, "but fixing it up would be a big project. It needs interior walls, fixtures, and upgraded wiring. We wouldn't be able to move in for a month. That's too long. We have to get to work."
"Yes," Hanley said, "but it's not like we're going to find a headquarters ready and waiting for us. Some remodeling will be necessary no matter where we go."
"We just need temporary accommodations while we build a real headquarters."
"How long will that take?"
She shrugged. "A year, maybe more, depending on how ambitious we are."
"That's a long stay in 'temporary' accommodations," he said.
"I know. It sucks."
She shuffled her feet gloomily across the floor. She left tracks in the dust. This place just didn't feel like home.
She had an idea. "Come on," she said.
Marina went outside to meet the real estate agent. Hanley joined them.
The Oakland hills were directly to the west, but Marina couldn't see the Bay. There was a highway overpass nearby, and the continuous flow of cars sounded like waves on a beach. The noise reminded her that she needed to see the Pacific Ocean before the day ended. She wanted to catch the sunset over the water.
"Instead of looking at buildings that are empty," she said, "I want to look at ones that are currently occupied."
The real estate agent furrowed her brow. "Why?"
"Because it means we can move in today. The stuff will already be there."
"I'm not sure I understand. How are you going to buy a building that isn't for sale?"
Marina began to smile. "Because I'm not going to buy the building. That's what makes this plan so great."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, ma'am." The agent shook her head.
"Wait here."
Marina walked a good distance away and took out her phone. She called Aaron.
"Hello, Marina." Hearing his deep voice filled her heart with joy. "How is it going in San Francisco?"
"Fine," she said. "I met my team today, and it's a good group. I'm proud to be their commander."
"Wonderful, and I'm proud of you."
"Speaking of wonderful, the weather here is like Heaven. I'm just wearing a light jacket. I'm going for a walk on the beach this evening."
He grunted. "I'm jealous."
"I need a favor," she said. "Can I borrow the twins for a few minutes? My hackers don't have computer access at the moment."
"Go ahead. You don't even have to ask. You can call any member of my team, any time."
"Thanks. I already miss you."
"Same here," he said. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Marina hung up and called Bethany.
Bethany answered instantly, "Hello, ma'am."
"I need you to do a quick bit of research for me. I'm looking for a new headquarters in or near San Francisco. Find a high-tech company that's on the verge of bankruptcy but still occupies a building. They have to own the whole building."
"Why?"
"Because I'm going to buy the company, fire the employees, and take the building," Marina said. "I'll use the company as a cover story. A somewhat isolated location would be best. You understand what I need in a headquarters."
"Yes, ma'am."
She heard Bethany typing rapidly on a keyboard. Marina was confident Bethany would get an answer quickly. She used fancy pattern matching software of her own design. Marina watched a flock of gulls fly overhead while she waited.
Eventually, Bethany said, "Perpetual Energy Technology."
"Who are they?" Marina said.
"A start-up which is trying to develop new battery technology. They burned through eight million dollars in venture funding. The owners have been unable to attract more investment or take out any loans. They're all but officially bankrupt. The next set of payroll checks will probably bounce."
Marina was intrigued. "Tell me more. Where are they?"
"A little town called Pacifica. It's just six miles south of San Francisco. Perpetual Energy Technology works with toxic and expensive materials, so their building is isolated and secure. It has a private access road. Nobody will bother you there."
"That's perfect! You're a genius."
"Thank you, ma'am," Bethany said.
"Text the details to my phone, and stay at your computer. I'm going to call later and ask you to move a lot of money around."
"Yes, ma'am."
Marina hung up and walked proudly back to Hanley and the real estate agent.
"We found something on our own," Marina told the agent. "I'm sorry you wasted your time with us. I'll send you some money as compensation."
The agent frowned. "Oh."
"Good bye." Marina smiled.
They had travelled in separate cars. The agent walked off to her own car with a disappointed expression.
After she was gone, Hanley said, "What did you find?"
"Perpetual Energy Technology," Marina said, "a name we'll become very fam
iliar with. Let's go."
Chapter Three
Marina drove the van into Pacifica, a pleasant little town very near the Pacific Ocean. It was located on the west side of the Santa Cruz Mountains which ran down the middle of the San Francisco Peninsula.
An abundance of trees and greenery gave the town a rural feel. There was a mix of palm trees, Douglas-fir, redwood, and spruce trees. The main street was narrow enough that it didn't even have a stripe down the center, and there were no stop lights. Single-story, wood construction was the rule. The cute little houses were packed together on the hilly terrain. Many were painted cheerful colors.
Marina proceeded deeper into the town and away from the ocean. The road bent right and then left. The Santa Cruz Mountains stood tall all around her, and she felt like she was entering a secret valley. Green grass with just a scattering of trees covered the undulating slopes. Climbing to the crest looked like good exercise and something she wanted to try. Tendrils of fog moved across the landscape like giant, white snakes.
A navigation system in the van was guiding her, but she began to doubt its instructions. The road grew so narrow she didn't know if there was room to pass another vehicle. Low hanging branches scraped the roof of the van. She was trapped between a cliff on one side and a sheer drop on the other.
Finally, she saw the sign for "Perpetual Energy Technology." Like the town, it was made of wood and humble in appearance. She drove through a steel gate which was open now, but it could be closed and locked. The building stood on the side of a hill at the end of a long driveway.
About twenty cars filled a small parking lot. Marina parked in one of the few available spaces. She and Hanley got out.
Even though it was just a first impression, Marina already approved of her prospective home. The building was made of solid, poured concrete, and she expected it was reinforced for earthquake safety. The tall, slotted windows were too narrow for an adult to squeeze through. The walls were painted a dull green which matched the surrounding vegetation. Metal doors had signs that warned of hazardous materials.
"I was wrong, ma'am," Hanley said. "We found a headquarters ready and waiting for us."
Marina slapped him on the back. "Isn't it great?"
She opened her phone and examined the small screen. Bethany had sent her a text message with all the details about the company. Marina quickly memorized names and numbers.
"I'm a quirky investor from Minnesota," she said. "Uh, Ms. Berrycloth."
"How did you pick that name?" Hanley said.
She switched to a Minnesotan accent. "Aaron likes to use it. You're my assistant and accountant, Mr. Zeller."
He nodded. "Got it."
He went to the front door and held it open for her. She walked into a reception area, but there was nobody at the front desk. A plastic tree stood in the corner. Posters on the walls touted the advantages of electric cars.
Marina and Hanley went through a door into a much larger room which was divided into functional areas. On the left, she saw a chemistry lab. A section on the right held electrical generators, meters, thick cables, and related equipment, and a big cage enclosed it all. Eight computers, each with a very large monitor, were grouped together. An impressively sophisticated machine shop was near a sliding garage door.
People were working quietly in all the areas. They seemed to be scientists, but they were casually dressed, and some even had sandals. A few wore protective, rubber aprons and gloves.
A woman approached. She had long, black hair, and her skin was light brown. Marina guessed she was Native American. The woman was short and somewhat overweight, but she looked healthy otherwise. She moved with an aggressive gait.
She stared at Marina and Hanley. "Hello? Can I help you?"
"Yes," Marina said. "We're looking for Mr. Richardson."
"He's in his office. I'm Dr. Corrie Villegas, the chief scientist here."
"Nice to meet you. Where is his office?"
Corrie pointed towards a door in a back corner. "What do you need him for?"
"That's between him and us," Marina said.
She and Hanley walked to the door. She glanced back and saw Corrie still staring at them.
Marina opened the door and entered a small but nicely appointed office. The carpet was dark green, and the farm-style, wooden furniture was painted shades of blue. Shelves on the wall held many different types of batteries. It seemed to be a little museum of historic battery technology.
Mr. Richardson was sitting behind a desk. He had neatly trimmed brown hair with just a few strands of gray. He was wearing a blue, button-up shirt, and the collar was open. Disorganized paperwork covered his desk, and much of it looked like bills.
Marina closed the door.
Richardson stood up. "Hello?"
"Hi." She smiled. "I'm Ms. Berrycloth, and this is your lucky day. I came here to invest a lot of money in your company."
His eyes lit up. "Please, sit. Let's talk. I'm Mr. Richardson, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board."
She sat on a padded wooden chair in front of the desk. Hanley stood behind her and looked over her shoulder.
Richardson also sat. "How much of an investment are we talking about?"
"According to my information," Marina said, "you're bankrupt. If you include all your debts and outstanding obligations, your company is worth less than zero. You missed the last three payments on this building. The power company is threatening to cut off your electricity."
He winced. "That might be true."
"Here is my offer. I'll pay off everything. I'll wipe the financial slate clean. You'll personally receive two hundred grand, and you'll have another million dollars to divide up among the employees as severance."
"Severance?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, I'm firing everybody."
"I don't understand."
"It's simple," she said. "I want the building and the company, but I don't want the people."
"Why?"
"That doesn't matter to you. Do we have a deal?"
He shook his head. "This proposal doesn't make any sense. Why would you spend all that money to kill a company?"
"It's already dead. The corpse just hasn't hit the ground yet. I'm salvaging the parts that still have value to me."
"The people are the value! We have brilliant scientists, engineers, and technicians working here. You're paying them to go away. It's crazy."
Marina shrugged. "Maybe I'm crazy. Do we have a deal?"
"I don't like this." Richardson frowned. "It smells dirty."
"I'm giving you a chance to start fresh somewhere else with a nice bonus for your trouble. We both know you won't get an offer like this from anybody else. Your only other choice is to go down in flames." She pointed at the bills on his desk. "What will happen when you can't meet your next payroll? You'll end up with nothing. I'm your salvation."
He stared at her. "You're buying the company and the building but not the people."
"I also want the equipment. Just leave everything where it is. I'll pay in cash, right now."
"I need to know why."
"No, you don't." She shook her head. "The terms of the transaction are perfectly clear."
He looked back and forth between her and Hanley. Then Richardson stood and faced a narrow window. Through the tinted glass, Marina saw a grassy, steep hill. A jackrabbit ran across it.
"I want four hundred for myself, two hundred for Corrie Villegas, and fifty for every other employee."
Marina raised her eyebrows. "That's a lot of money for a corpse."
"These people put their hearts and souls into this company." Richardson turned to her. "They deserve a reward for their loyalty and faith. Besides, I'm sure this transaction is illegal somehow. You're buying my silence, too, and that doesn't come cheap."
She smirked. "Fine."
She took out her phone, called Bethany, and explained what needed to happen.
"I'll take care of it right away, ma'am," Bethany sai
d. "The money will be in their checking accounts in a minute."
"Thank you," Marina said. She hung up.
Richardson cocked his head. "What was that about?"
"You've been paid. Tell your employees to go home."
"Huh?"
"Check your bank account," she said.
He sat at his desk and typed on his computer. After a moment, he said, "I don't see any extra money."
"Give it a second. Look again."
He hit a few keys. "Oh." He typed some more and furrowed his brow. "I don't understand. It looks like Perpetual Energy Technology just paid me a big bonus, but I didn't approve any bonus, and the company has no money. It's impossible." He looked up at her. "What just happened?"
"It doesn't matter. Get up. I'm giving you fifteen minutes to clear everybody out of my building."
Richardson gave Marina an uncertain look and left the office. She and Hanley followed him.
"I need everybody's attention!" Richardson yelled. "Come over here, please!"
The employees formed a loose circle around their boss. Marina judged there were about thirty of them, and she felt bad for all of them.
"I have terrible news," he said. "It's over. The company is insolvent. I want everybody to take their personal possessions and go home. Your final paycheck was already deposited in your accounts. You'll find it was somewhat larger than usual. That's my way of thanking you for your service."
The employees murmured and appeared distressed.
The chief scientist, Corrie, stepped forward. "We can't give up," she said loudly. "We had a dream, a vision. We didn't start this company just to sell batteries. We wanted to make a better world."
Richardson shrugged. "I know. I'm sorry. But making a better world takes money, and we spent all of ours."
"Call the investors again. Tell them this is fucking important! They have to look beyond short-term returns and quarterly earnings statements. We're inventing great technology here. They just have to be patient."
"They've been patient for years, and I've run out of excuses. They see this place as a financial black hole. Money goes in but never comes back out."