by S. P. Perone
“For example,” Barry continued, “we have pretty accurate immigration, visa, and passport control data from the U.S., Britain, and France; but, we have incomplete files from several NATO countries; and the UN files for Africa and South America are a mess. And, of course, none of them are formatted similarly.”
“Haven’t you dealt with these kinds of problems before, working with domestic data?” Tony queried.
“That’s true,” Barry responded, “but there’s a big difference between harmonizing employment statistics generated by Alabama and Montana, and doing the same thing for Nigeria and Turkey! Fortunately, Anna has been looking at the problem of harmonizing international data sets for quite a while; she was responsible for creating some of the historical “control” data sets you’ve been studying at Daniels. So we’re not jumping into this blind. But up ‘til now we’ve limited ourselves to looking at things like employment statistics, population trends, and public financial records, which are pretty well documented in most countries. We’ve just not dealt with items like traffic violations, hospital statistics, and tax assessments. Different countries are dramatically different in their approach to these kinds of data. And, of course, for many countries, these data are just not available.”
“How in the world do you get all of these data, Barry?” Sarah interjected. “I can’t imagine you can just pull these files up on the Internet!”
“Good question, Sarah,” Nagle responded. “Actually, you’d be surprised at how much data of this type youcan obtain on the Internet…at least for the U.S. But, that’s not how we’ve gotten these data.”
“The U.S. data,” Nagle continued, “were obtained by contacting the information offices of the Federal or State agencies involved. The Freedom of Information Act really works in our favor for domestic data. But, for international data, we’ve had to work through the DOE. They’ve assigned some staff people to help us contact the foreign agencies, and to give the requests an official stamp. We’ve also gotten some data from NSA. Apparently, they have baseline documentation on many foreign countries that you won’t find in the yellow pages…like daily records of the volume of international telephone, video, and radio transmissions. I don’t know who had to lay it on the line to squeeze the data out of them. But, I suspect that it took both the Senator and Nathan Carothers to get them to share it with us.”
Seeing that Nagle was finished, Shane added, “Thanks, Barry. And, thanks to all of you for your efforts the past few days. I think we can give a pretty positive briefing at two thirty.”
“Tony,” Sharon spoke up, “you haven’t up-dated us onyour progress. What’s going on?”
“Well, I really wanted to wait until we put everything else together before getting to my input. There are really two things I need to include in this briefing. One is technical; and one is personal.”
While the project team around him collectively blinked, Tony continued. “Technically, I’ve been following up on Sharon’s suggestion that we should look at supervised pattern recognition techniques. We have the basic software to do that, and I’ve been checking it out with our “control” data sets. I have a feeling we may want to consider conducting studies on parallel paths, if it doesn’t slow us down.”
“But, we can talk about that later. The personal item is something I’ve just learned about. I’ve had three significant phone calls in the past 24 hours. The first was last night, when I got a call from a good friend at Daniels, Harry Churchill. He warned me that an investigative committee at the university wants to interview me on Friday morning when I’m back there. Then, today, my secretary, Sandy Harris called to let me know that I had been invited by the Provost to appear at a meeting of this committee at nine o’clock Friday morning. The official topic of the interview is ‘Inquiry regarding the impact of university-sanctioned classified research.’ One thing the committee did not mention…but Harry did…is that they have evidence of the connection between our classified project and the CIA; and that we’ve been drafted away from our respective universities to work on this project here in California.”
“Then, just before this meeting today,” Shane continued, “I got a phone call from Andrew Mason of the ChicagoJournal . He’s an investigative reporter there. I’ve read several of his pieces. He’s pretty darn good.
“Well, it seems Mr. Mason has somehow come up with the same information that the university has, is about to print it, and wanted my comments.”
After pausing for a few moments, noting the concerned looks on each of the faces around the large table, Shane continued. “Of course, I didn’t give him any comments…but I did manage to find out that he doesn’t know what the StarSight project is about. Not that it makes any difference. If he prints what he already knows, there’s going to be a huge fuss back at Daniels…and I expect Barry and Sharon may catch some flack at their schools, too.”
“I’m planning to bring this up at our meeting today with the Senator and Carothers,” Shane continued. “And I wanted each of you to know. Also, I’m sure Mason will be contacting Barry and Sharon…and I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to contact Sarah, Bill, and Anna, too.”
Shane stopped there, to let them digest this latest development, which promised to further complicate their lives. Finally, Nagle spoke up. “Tony, I hadn’t mentioned it, but I’ve also gotten a phone call from Mr. Mason. He left a message on my voice-mail at the hotel. I haven’t called him back yet.”
“I’ve gotten a message, too,” Sharon indicated. “What do you think we should do?”
After looking at Barry and Sharon for a moment, Shane responded, “I think we should share all of this with the Senator and Carothers, and get their advice. They’re much more experienced with these kinds of things. What do you think?”
First glancing at each other for a moment, Barry and Sharon then turned to Tony and nodded their assent. “Yeah, let’s get their advice,” Barry added. “But, I have to tell you…if this story breaks, I’ll bet Sharon’s school would bail out immediately…and mine would not be far behind.”
Tony simply nodded his head, a grim look clouding his features. He knew they would all be facing, at the very least, some unwanted publicity; and, he was afraid the consequences of this publicity could be very unpleasant. He would probably be the first to get a good taste of it at Daniels on Friday.
By about five o’clock, the meeting in the main conference room between all of the StarSight project key players had pretty much wrapped up all of the technical items. The Senator and Carothers had been delighted to hear how effectively Livermore Lab had moved to set up the academic project team, and had helped to acquire the enormously widespread data files required. But, they were strongly dismayed to learn that many of the most basic questions had not yet been answered. Even Shane’s timetable, showing a four-week sequence of milestones leading to a working StarSight system, had done little to alleviate their grim disposition. They all realized the timetable was nothing more than a fantasy…with little chance for success.
As the group was about to disperse, Shane whispered to the Senator that the co-investigators needed a little bit of time with just him and Carothers, before dinner. Nodding his assent, the Senator turned to the rest of the group, and said, “Can we plan for dinner at seven thirty?”
Windemere had already arranged a six thirty reservation for dinner in nearby Pleasanton; they would have a private dining room at the Pleasanton Hotel. Located in the valley since 1864, this former stagecoach stop and gambling house no longer provided lodging as it did in the nineteenth century, but offered a dining experience amid the Victorian décor and atmosphere of those early days in the history of the valley. The project team was looking forward to the dinner.
“I’ll check with the hotel to see if we can move our reservation back,” Windemere responded. “Where can I contact everyone?”
“We’ll be down in Tony’s office for a while,” the Senator said, indicating the group of five that would be huddling there. And, with
that, he led that group out of the room and down the hall to Shane’s office, leaving Windemere and the rest to work out the dinner issue.
After they were comfortably seated around Shane’s conference table, he presented the Senator and Carothers with the information regarding the upcoming investigation at Daniels, and the Mason phone calls, that had been shared with the StarSight team earlier that afternoon. Following his presentation, the room remained eerily silent for a while, as the Senator and Carothers digested the new information. In the silence, Shane could sense the millions of neurons clicking on and off in the brains of these two powerful men, as they all waited for their response.
Breaking the silence, the Senator began to speak with slow, deliberate, carefully chosen words. “Tony, Barry, Sharon…I am terribly sorry that you all are being put in this awkward position. You don’t deserve this.”
Pausing, and pushing his chair back, the Senator crossed his legs and folded his hands across his waist. “What you don’t know is that I’ve also been contacted by Mason. And, Nathan and I have already discussed how to deal with this issue. We were certain Mason would be contacting each of you, so we’ve already taken into account the circumstances you’ve described.”
“Now, what we didn’t know about,” the Senator continued, “was the internal investigation going on at Daniels. And, I’ve been thinking, these last few minutes, what the implications might be of thiscoincidental event…and, I’m sure Nathan has been thinking this over also.”
Glancing over at Carothers, the Senator detected the slightest nodding of his large gray-cloaked head. Assistant Director Nathan Carothers was a large, broad-beamed African-American, at least six foot five, 275 pounds, and an ex-professional football player. His mere physical presence was intimidating; and, at 55 years of age, he still looked in good enough shape to play defensive end for the Redskins like he had a quarter century earlier. But, as the StarSight investigators had learned over the past couple of years, Carothers’ razor sharp mind was his most impressive weapon. A man of few words, it was their experience that whatever he uttered would be worth listening to.
“I’m sure Nathan would agree that this development at Daniels indicates someone there has gotten inside information…and is probably responsible for Mason’s snooping,” the Senator continued. “Now, here’s the key question: Tony…do you have any idea who might be behind this…or how they might have gotten sensitive information?”
Surprised to be tossed this question, Shane was unable to answer immediately. But, after thinking for a few moments, he responded, “There is only one person besides myself who knows about the connection between our classified project and the CIA…and that’s my secretary, Sandy.” Quickly, Shane added, “But, there’s no way short of the threat of physical torture to one of her loved ones that she would ever knowingly divulge that information…and even then I’m not sure she would say anything.”
After pausing and considering his next statement, Shane added, “There is only one person I can think of who might be responsible for this mess, but I don’t know how he could have learned about our CIA connection. That person is a professor in my department at Daniels…Janus Clarkson.”
“Last weekend,” Shane continued, “Clarkson informed me about the upcoming internal investigation. I hadn’t said anything to you earlier, because I didn’t see how any investigation could challenge the conclusions reached by the University Research Committee a couple years ago, when the DOE classified contract was originally approved. But, now, I can see that someone…possibly Clarkson…must have already informed the Provost about the CIA involvement and the accelerated project at Livermore.”
While Shane remained silent for a while, Carothers slowly moved his large frame forward in his chair, placing his elbows on his knees, and bringing his large hands together in a prayerful gesture just under his chin. Looking directly at Shane, he asked, “Aside from the fact that this professor…Clarkson?…warned you about the university committee action, why do you suspect he might be responsible for both of these investigations, theJournal’s and the university’s?”
Debating for a few moments just how far he should integrate into this discussion Harry Churchill’s speculations on Clarkson’s motivations, Shane decided to stick strictly to the facts. “Well, I don’t have anything concrete,” he began. “Let’s just say there are several suspicious facts: first, Clarkson has continued to be adamantly opposed to the classified contract work over these past two years. I’ve learned that from another member of the University Research Committee. Second, if Clarkson is responsible for the Provost’s investigation, which seems very likely, isn’t it too coincidental that Mason’s newspaper story is emerging at the same time with the same basic facts and holes? And, third, Clarkson had been very actively pursuing a social relationship with Sarah Stenstrom…my postdoctoral associate…for the previous month before all of this stuff broke.”
“Excuse me, Tony,” the Senator interrupted. “But, what’s suspicious about your third item? Sarah’s a very attractive young lady. Surely she’s had several suitors.”
Shane suddenly became painfully aware that his personal relationship with Sarah might be perceived as clouding his judgement regarding Clarkson. So, he decided to clear the air, and make sure everyone knew about that situation. He would trust the judgement of this group regarding Clarkson, once his personal bias was removed.
“I’m sorry, Senator,” Shane began. “You’re quite right, of course. And, furthermore, I’ve just realized that you are all lacking some important information.” Taking a deep breath before moving on, Shane continued, “Sarah and I have been in a ‘relationship’ for a few months. There was a period over the past month when we had called it off, and it was during that time that Clarkson had pursued her. It was unwelcome on her part, but I understand he was very persistent.”
“I’ve shared this information with you,” Shane added, “because you should put what I have to say next in perspective. I could be biased. Nevertheless, I believe Clarkson was pursuing Sarah because he knew that we had had a relationship, and because he thought it might give him an opportunity to learn something damaging about the DOE project. Let me hasten to add that Sarah had no knowledge of the nature of the classified project until it was explained to her here at Livermore.”
Shane stopped there, choosing not to say any more. While he waited for some reaction from the Senator or Carothers, he reflected that what he had just shared with them was first espoused by Harry. But Shane had carefully considered his friend’s comments, and had ultimately agreed with them. He didn’t think it was necessary to relate that it was Harry’s insight that prompted him to draw these conclusions.
It was Carothers, not the Senator, who spoke first. “Tony, your frankness in this matter is appreciated. None of us can afford to hide any personal items that might impact the success of this project.” The CIA administrator paused for a few moments as he let his deep brown eyes move and hold briefly on each of the academic scientists in the room. “So, let’s lay the cards on the table…shall we?”
Shane and his academic colleagues mentally braced themselves for whatever Carothers might be thinking.
“It’s very probable…but not certain,” Carothers began, “that the ‘leak’ is at Daniels University. Like Tony, I don’t believe in coincidence, either. So, it appears we have three possible suspects: Tony’s secretary; Sarah; or person(s) unknown, possibly Clarkson himself, who might obtain access to the information that’s stirring up this mess. Frankly, neither Clarkson nor the secretary concerns me. Guilty or not, they can not do us any more harm. Only someone who has access to what’s going onhere could be harmful to the project. And there are two suspects that fit that profile: Sarah Stenstrom and person(s) unknown.”
Stunned by Carothers’ cold logic, Shane and the others remained speechless, contemplating the implications of Carothers’ statement. Finally, Sharon spoke up. “Nathan, you can’t possibly suspect Sarah. I know you can’t take Tony
’s word for it, but all my instincts tell me she couldn’t possibly seek out or deliver sensitive information. My God, you should have seen her reaction when she learned what the StarSight project was all about.”
“And, another thing,” Sharon continued, “you talk like the only thing that’s important is whether or not the project here at Livermore is secure. What about the debacle that’s about to unfold in the newspapers and at our respective universities? Don’t you think that will have a huge negative impact? Don’t you think our careers will be hanging by threads?”
Carothers sat back in his chair, nodding his head…as if to say,You’re right, Sharon . But he didn’t say that. Instead he waited for a few moments, looked over at the Senator for his slight nod of agreement with what he knew Carothers had to say.
“Sharon, I sympathize with the predicament you will all be in if this newspaper story gets published. But, I’m sure that when you’ve had time to think about it, you will agree that those situations…even your very careers…become trivial concerns when placed next to our mission. You three…and this project…present the only hope we have of heading off a terrorist attack that promises to be more costly in terms of human suffering than anything previously experienced by this country…perhaps by any country…ever before. Because of this, I say again: we must focus on anything or anybody who might interfere with what’s accomplishedhere in Livermore. Anything else…any…thing …else…is just not important.”
Carothers did not say any more. The silence in the room was profound. None of the investigators could speak, using the moments to reflect deeply on what Carothers had just said.
Finally, the Senator broke the silence. “You all know that I have to agree with Nathan. But let me reinforce a couple of things he said. First, as painful as it might be, we can’t afford to overlook any possible suspects…especially one that could affect the project here. Second, it is crucial that we discover who is responsible for this ‘leak’, because…if that person is in a position to impact the Livermore project…we need to knownow !”