The Hack

by Will Patching

  Charles could empathise, feel the pull of his own past, his own ambitions, wanting to give the plum job to his protégé. Christ, Gus was thirty-five and still full of energy, a little cynical perhaps but far from burnt out. The difference between them was in how they looked after themselves – Charles knew Gus kept in shape at the gym, rarely drank and did not even smoke. Probably be the first reporter to live forever, he thought.

  ‘Sorry Gus. That spot’s taken. The girl brought us the story and – ’

  Gus interrupted and Charles saw the flash of anger – or was it jealousy? – behind Gus’s eyes as he spoke. ‘Oh come off it boss. No way! She’s a columnist for God’s sake. She’s been lucky, found some stuff on the internet. Big fuckin deal. She has not got what it takes. Look at me!’ Gus spread his arms wide. ‘I’m your best and in the right hands this can be a great story!’

  Whether it was Charles’s good humour that day that affected his judgement he would never know. Maybe it was lack of sleep and his need to justify the decision to his top reporter, his favourite employee, that made Charles let slip something he would forever regret.

  ‘You’re so wrong son. Kate got her kid brother to hack into the fuckin CIA to get that story.’ The moment the words had been uttered Charles would have grabbed them and crammed them back into his mouth if he could. He shook a fat finger at Gus’s face. ‘Don’t you ever tell another soul I told you that or I’ll tear your fuckin heart out.’

  ‘He hacked the CIA? If that’s true then I’m impressed.’ Gus slumped in his chair and sighed. ‘Final decision boss?’

  ‘Yup. Sorry. You head up the other stuff, okay. I’ll see if I can dig up something on the CIA and we’ll get together this afternoon, check out what we’ve got. Okay?’

  As Gus got up to go Tina arrived with coffee and said, ‘Kate O’Sullivan’s arrived. Said she was very early, but would be happy to wait if you wanted.’

  ‘Tell her to come in now and get her a coffee too Tina, please.’

  ‘What’s up with him?’ Tina asked after Gus pushed past her as she brought in Tandy’s coffee.

  Tandy was fiddling with his framed headline. ‘Gus? Oh, he’ll get over it.’

  ***

  Dr Jones had written a prescription and told Sir Jeremy to take things easy, to remain in bed for the day, and work from home for the rest of the week.

  Sir Jeremy had other plans. The medication had shifted the elephant off his chest and he decided there were more urgent things he could be doing rather than fretting in bed. He needed to talk to someone. Someone who knew.

  Patricia walked into his room with a cup of tea as Sir Jeremy was putting on his socks.

  ‘Oh Jeremy, Dr Jones said – ’

  ‘Bugger Dr Jones!’ Sir Jeremy looked up as his wife stopped suddenly, and he observed, almost in slow motion, the cup teeter and topple, throwing a tea waterfall to the pile carpet, his wife frozen, mouth wide and startle-eyed.

  What is happening to me?

  ‘Oh, Patricia, I am sorry.’ The flash of anger had surprised him and he knew it was his tone again that shocked her along with the words. ‘It must be the pain and medication. I’m really not myself. Forgive me.’

  Lady Patricia fetched a towel without a word and returned to clean the spillage. Then she said, ‘You really should do as the doctor said. I really don’t want anything to happen to you...’

  Sir Jeremy could see the teardrops falling as, with head down, his wife mopped the floor. His heart lurched but he had to keep moving.

  ‘Look, I’m only going to lunch. I’d forgotten the arrangement. And I need some air. It’ll do me good.’ He crouched in front of her, took her chin in his hand and gave her a whisper of a kiss on the lips. ‘I won’t be late. I’ve got my pills. Okay?’

  As Sir Jeremy left, Lady Patricia Green remained on her hands and knees, tears dripping, wiping the towel repeatedly over the same spot.

  ***

  Johnny was at his usual station, Bud in hand, peering at the screen. He had already got the best birthday present he could hope for... he and Kate would be back together. No more money troubles. No more crappy little articles for Sis. And no more webmaster jobs for him. He was bored with the simple nature of the few paying tasks that came his way. He needed a challenge. A puzzle.

  Right now he was working on the biggest puzzle he could find.

  Johnny knew Kate would be angry. That was why he had not told her what he had been doing, would not tell her until he had cracked it.

  He keyed in a string of digits and letters, then waited.

  It didn’t work.

  He sipped his Bud, the liquid unlocking his mind as he imagined himself on the beach in Thailand, surrounded by topless babes. He could feel the sun on his body, see the speedboats cutting their white trails, hear the waves shushing and the happy voices on the beach. He was there.

  Suddenly Johnny sat up, banged some keys, eyes on the screen, hit the return and watched. Waiting.

  ***

  Gary Knight had called an emergency board meeting that morning. He had failed to get through to Gloria Simm and was worried about her. He had managed to talk to her attorney and the man promised to check on her. They had also spoken about the business and agreed that the board would have to pretty much ratify whatever Gary wanted.

  George Simm had held the controlling stake in SimmpleTravel and the votes were now in Gloria’s hands. Despite Gary’s concerns about the complications of US inheritance tax, the lawyer had assured him that Gloria was effectively the major shareholder and confirmed she had put her voting rights to Gary. Gary, still not fully himself after the double shock of George’s death followed by the hideous allegations, was fighting to keep the company going.

  For him, one of the great joys of his business was the speed of light nature of transactions and the amazing worldwide reach of modern technology. A company could, with cunning promotion and an original concept, grow at extraordinary rates, reaching into the homes and workplaces of billions of people. That was what drove the stock market frenzy that had overpriced so many internet companies.

  But SimmpleTravel was no bubble stock. It was going to the stratosphere.

  Or at least it had been, thought Gary as he prepared to meet the other board members. The internet can respond as quickly in the negative sense.

  The original announcement of George’s death was a tragedy for Gloria and Gary personally, and he had thought he was strong enough, the company strong enough, to overcome the market reaction.

  That was before The Crusader article was taken up by news broadcasts both sides of the Atlantic. Around ninety percent of his business came from the UK and US markets, and the internet news sites and chat rooms had spread the word that his ‘perverted’ boss was pandering to paedophile sex-tourists. Using SimmpleTravel.com. It was Gary’s worst possible scenario. The driving force behind the company dead, and the brand dragged from its heights to the level of pariah.

  The power of the internet had been his friend, but right now it was killing him. Not only was the share price in free-fall, down thirty percent already, but the all important level of sales had plummeted over eighty percent.

  The company was evaporating.

  Many times in the past Gary had wondered if his life was truly a dream and not reality at all. Life was so good that sometimes, in the deep of night when doubts come to haunt all men, he would lie awake, worrying that he did not really deserve it, that his charmed life was a mistake. These moments did not last long. His self-confidence and ability drove him on, and as he aged and matured the frequency of these events declined.

  Today, Gary knew his moment had come. He was being tested to the limit.

  As he picked up his papers and headed for the toughest board meeting of his life he glanced at that headline, and saw something he had failed to notice despite having read the page perhaps a dozen times.

  The name: Kate O’Sullivan.

  Gary knew of Tandy – the man was a character who regularly
appeared on a comical news quiz on the TV, but the woman’s name also seemed familiar. He just could not remember where he had seen it before. As he entered the boardroom he tried to concentrate on the job in hand, but he could not help but wonder who this Kate O’Sullivan woman was.

  The bitch who had cost him over four million pounds already and was trying to destroy his company.

  ***

  Kate and Tandy were in one of Charles’s favourite French restaurants, a stone’s throw from Covent Garden on Long Acre.

  Kate was taking a mouthful of champagne from a tall-stemmed glass, as elegant as her surroundings, thinking she had never had a champagne brunch before. She giggled as the bubbles frothed alcohol to her brain. She had only managed a couple of hours sleep, and, having barely touched her breakfast, was already feeling light-headed when she arrived at the restaurant. Charles, returning from the men’s room, gave her a quizzical smile.

  ‘Oh, I’m a little high Charles. The last day or so has been unreal. And this place is wonderful.’

  ‘Yeah! I love it. You can always tell a quality restaurant, they have individual towels in the loos. Nice fluffy white ones. None of that hot air and paper crap!’

  Kate had chosen the grilled bass, and it came, a delicate fillet on a pile of exotic salad with pink vinaigrette patterning the large white plate. ‘It’s like art. It’s beautiful.’ Kate was living a dream. This place, this food, this champagne, and these prices were from another world.

  ‘Cheers Charles. I don’t know how to thank you.’ She held up her glass and he clinked it, grinning.

  ‘So, you are gonna blow something other than my mind then!’

  The bubbles of champagne exploded from her mouth and nose as she snorted, and she smothered her face with the starched linen napkin.

  She was certain he was joshing her, but responded with her eyes steeled. ‘No. I’m afraid not. You’re over twice my age, fat and bald. Apart from that, you drip coffee on your shirt and wipe doughnut sugar on your trousers. Definitely not my type.’ She smiled her sweetest smile as he gave her a mock-sad face.

  ‘Oh well, worth a try.’ He pantomimed deep thought for a moment, as if pretending to come up with a brainwave. ‘I know. Suppose I said I’d give you an all expenses paid trip to Thailand! Any chance for us then?’

  Was he leering at her? Kate couldn’t decide. Keeping the smile in place she began to wonder whether the man was serious. That would really spoil her day. Surely he was joking. But then again, he had a reputation as a sexist pig. She had heard it said, but he seemed so much better than that when they worked together the previous night. She felt her heart sink and her anger flared.

  ‘Are you serious?’ The glass was in her hand, the champagne ready to fly, but still she kept her smile in place. She wanted the job but she would not put up with this.

  ‘Oh, come off it Kate, you’d kill me!’

  She relaxed, taking a long cool gulp. Not really the way to drink a fifty pound bottle of bubbly, but then again, she needed it.

  He went on, ‘I am serious about one thing though. Thailand. I want you there like yesterday.’

  Kate was caught on the hop, not expecting this. She had planned to ask but thought he’d refuse, thought she would go anyway and do her own story, taking a working holiday with Johnny. She continued eating as he talked.

  ‘Tina’s organising tickets. You’ll fly this evening, get there tomorrow morning Thai time.’ He was waiting for a response, leaning on his elbows, chin on the backs of his hands, his own food forgotten.

  Kate chewed the delicious fish. She kept him waiting and could see he did not like it.

  ‘Well?’ he demanded. ‘Are you on this story or not?’

  ‘Only if my brother comes with me.’

  For a microsecond Tandy was speechless before he blurted, ‘Jesus H Christ! I can’t believe you! I’m offering you a golden opportunity here. My top reporter was grovelling in my office this morning for the chance to go. I should’ve given it to him!’

  Kate noticed the well-heeled middle-aged couple at the next table staring at Charles as if he was something that had been brought in by accident, stuck to the bottom of somebody’s shoe. She returned her attention to Tandy, but kept quiet.

  ‘Well?’ His voice was lower now.

  ‘I’m not sure whether that was a yes or a no.’

  Johnny often used the term ‘gobsmacked’, and Kate thought that was just how Charles looked to her right now, as if she had physically slapped him in the chops.

  And then he laughed, his big-bellied laugh. ‘Okay, you win. I told Mark you had huge hairy balls and, as usual, I was right. And since we’ve got your brother to thank for the story in the first place, I’ll call Tina to confirm.’ He made a quick call on his mobile then beamed at her.

  ‘Tell me, since you’re feeling so magnanimous. Last night. When I arrived in your office...’ Kate was pushing it now, but had to know.

  Charles replied, a forkful of bacon hovering at his lips. ‘Yeah, go on.’ He started chewing.

  ‘The wolf whistle and rudeness. It was an act to test me, right?’

  ‘Rudeness comes to me quite naturally Kate. As for the wolf whistle, well... if I wasn’t such a poofter you wouldn’t be safe with me!’ He laughed at his own joke, a habit Kate rather liked about this larger than life man.

  Then he was serious again. ‘Okay, sweetheart, this is what you – and your brother – need to do for me in Thailand.’

  ***

  ‘Tina? What time’s the boss back? I need to see him.’ Gus was leaning his arms on the top of her computer screen, ratcheting up his most charming smile for Charles Tandy’s secretary.

  ‘He’s out, Gus, with the new girl. He’ll be back about one. Shall I make sure he has some time for you then?’

  ‘Please, gorgeous.’ Gus made to turn away, then said, as if he had just thought of it, ‘The new girl, Kate whatsername?’

  ‘Kate O’Sullivan? Looks a right bitch to me!’

  Gus joined her laughter, couldn’t have agreed more. ‘Well, whatever you say Tina. Is she going to Thailand? It’s just I was thinking...’

  ‘What, that she might be otherwise engaged and you’d get the tickets to sun, sea and sex!’

  ‘Well?’ He hoped his dark curls and Latin looks would do the usual on her.

  ‘I’m sure Charles will tell you in his own time...’ She teased him, then relented. ‘Actually,’ a co-conspirator now, ‘she’s taking her brother. Five star hotel. Expenses paid. We’ve shelled out six grand already!’

  Gus was expressionless as he said, ‘Oh well. Can’t win them all kid. Thanks.’

  Tina could not see Gus’s face as he made his way back to his desk, but he certainly was not smiling.

  ***

  Johnny was engrossed in the puzzle. He knew this was the biggest challenge ever.

  His mobile grumbled into life and he almost dropped his popcorn as he put the phone to his ear, propping it with his shoulder, using one hand to eat, the other on the keyboard.

  ‘Hi Kate. What gives?’

  ‘Johnny, our trip to Thailand. You packed?’

  ‘Are you drunk Sis? You sound a bit funny.’

  ‘I’m great. Just having lunch with my boss. He says we fly this afternoon. You’d better get your ass into gear!’

  Kate had said she would tell Tandy they planned to arrive on Friday for Johnny’s birthday. Not leave today.

  ‘But I haven’t booked the tickets. You said to use any company on the net but SimmpleTravel. I’ve been busy...’

  ‘We collect the tickets at check in... We’re flying club class. And we’re staying in a five star hotel by the beach!’

  ‘You know this money won’t last long if you spend it like this.’

  ‘It’s on the company. Courtesy of Charles Tandy and The Crusader. A working vacation!’

  ‘Seriously! That’s fantastic!’

  ‘You’re cracking up. I’ll see you later, just get packed.’

  �
��Which passport we travelling on Sis?’

  There was no answer.

  ‘Kate?’

  All Johnny could hear was a crackle of static. He tossed the phone aside and jumped up, did a little rain-dance, whooping and hollering his joy.

  Johnny and Kate had not been on holiday since their mother died, and although Johnny liked the UK, he hankered after the warmth of Florida summers. This was going to be his best ever birthday.

  He stopped his dance and started looking in his drawers for some clean clothes, sniff– testing the armpits on his tee shirts, the testing a little more circumspect with his underwear.

  He changed right then into the cleanest items he could find and bundled the discarded clothes onto the mountain in the corner, waiting their monthly trip to the launderette.

  Johnny was packed. He decided he would buy anything he needed. After all, Thailand was cheap and it was his birthday on Friday.

  Having completed the task set by his sister, he got back to more important things.

  His puzzle.

  ***

  Jack Regan chewed muffins and sipped coffee in his Langley office – an early breakfast for the Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.

  Cody was standing in front of the plasma display that covered the entire wall opposite the Director’s aircraft carrier of a desk. His boss was sitting to the left, also watching him perform, scowling. Cody suspected it was a bout of heartburn but the look was certainly an appropriate level of motivation.

  ‘I’m afraid it’s mostly bad news, Director...’ Cody pointed to the screen. ‘The original postings of the intercepted documents were made to just forty sites. These we’ve located, tracking back from the hundreds, and by now thousands of sites, that mirrored the originals. ‘The guy is clever...’