‘And what about you?’
‘He offered to make me Senior VP of software development.’
‘Wow! That’s really cool. What did you say?’
‘Told him I’d answer tomorrow.’
‘What’s going to change between today and tomorrow?’
‘I wanted to talk to you first.’
She laughed. ‘What’s it got to do with me?’
‘I was just wondering if you were staying for a while. If not, I wouldn’t be too keen to accept.’
‘So, the champagne depends on my answer?’
‘You could put it like that.’
She picked up the glasses and handed one to him. ‘Congratulations, Ed.’ She clinked the glasses. ‘And cheers, I’m willing to give it a try.’
Heathrow Airport, England
Leo was standing by the coffee bar in the arrivals hall when the young woman came through. She looked around the crowded hall, waving when she saw him walking towards her. He thought she looked beautiful.
‘Hi there,’ he said, kissing her on both cheeks. ‘Welcome to the UK, thanks for coming.’
‘Great to see you, Leo. Thanks for the invitation, it was a massive surprise.’
He picked up her two bags. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked.
‘I booked at The Langham in Marylebone, Aunt Jenny stays there all the time. She says it’s a great hotel, and it’s near Regent’s Park and Oxford Street with all the big department stores.’
‘Sounds awesome. What’s the programme?’
‘I thought we could just hang out for a few days, get to know each other better under normal circumstances. What do you think?’
‘I think that’s a great programme. Let’s do it.’ She kissed him on the cheek and they walked together to the taxi rank.
London, England
Jenny Bishop was reading the proofs of the September edition of Thinking Woman Magazine in Dr Sue Clark’s waiting room. She’d visited the doctor after returning from Spain and explained her recent symptoms of poor sleep, occasional nausea and listlessness. Sue had carried out a complete check-up, questioning her about previous health issues, illnesses and accidents, as Jenny dredged up the episodes from her memory. Then her assistant had taken blood and urine samples for testing. Now, a week later, she was ushered into the doctor’s room and sat nervously, waiting for the results of the tests. Dr Clark finished consulting her dossier and looked up with a smile.
Jenny asked, ‘So, what’s my problem, Sue?’
‘It’s not a problem, Jenny, it’s wonderful news. You’re pregnant.’
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
In 2015, when I began writing this story, there were just over 3 billion Internet users in the world. At that time, the Internet Society www.internetsociety.org, stated;
‘Today we are at a defining moment in the evolution and growth of the Internet. Large-scale data breaches, uncertainties about the use of our data, cybercrime, surveillance and other online threats are eroding users’ trust and affecting how they use the Internet. Eroding trust is also affecting the way governments view the Internet, and, is shaping the policy environment for the Internet around the world.
There are now, in January 2018, 3.8 billion Internet users, a 27% increase in 3 years, and the problems are increasing, not reducing. During that same period, after many years of research, two key technology components, as described in this story, were invented or discovered:
• A system of Automatic Constant Recurring Encryption, similar to ACRE, and
• The A2 Analog Back Door Attack, a physical modification to microprocessors permitting hackers to compromise a computer network.
Finally, just this month, four unrelated, independent groups of researchers have uncovered the fact that billions of chips implanted into computers and other machines since 1994, contain hackable entry points. https://www.wired.com. These attack points, named Spectre and Meltdown, are present in chips manufactured by INTEL, ARM and AMD and may take years to mitigate.
Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.
Christopher Lowery is a ‘Geordie’, born in the northeast of England, who graduated in finance and economics after reluctantly giving up career choices in professional golf and rock & roll. He is a real estate and telecoms entrepreneur and inventor and has created several successful companies around the world, including Interoute and Wyless Group. The Dark Web is based on his experience as one of the creators of The ‘Internet of Things’, the technology of remote equipment management. Chris also writes poetry, children’s books and songs. He and his wife Marjorie live between London, Geneva and Marbella. Their daughter, Kerry-Jane, a writer/photographer, lives in London.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks for their invaluable advice and assistance go to:
My nephew, Nick Street and his sidekick, Joe Baggaley, for introducing me to ‘A2’ and more importantly, explaining how it works. It actually exists and is a truly terrifying cyber-weapon.
My wife M and daughter K-J, proof-readers/red-liners and common sense contributors, for their patience and assistance in helping me get through Vol III and stay more or less sane.
Martin Panchaud, Mike Jeffries, Sig Ramseyer and other early readers for their honest opinions. Without readers, there is no point in writing.
And once again, especially to my publisher and good friend, Matthew Smith, for believing in my books and helping me to share them with the world.
Books 1 and 2 in THE AFRICAN DIAMONDS
TRIOLOGY are available from all good bookshops
The Angolan Clan takes the reader on a heart-stopping roller coaster ride, from past to present and back again. It is a deadly intercontinental treasure hunt laced with secrets, deceit and murder. The prize is a fortune in Angolan diamonds … or death at the hands of a pathological killer.
The Rwandan Hostage continues the tale of corruption, murder and greed that began with the bestselling The Angolan Clan. Set against a European-African backdrop, Jenny Bishop races against time to save her kidnapped nephew Leo, and the fast-paced plot twists and turns in a gripping series of events and action.
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The African Diamond Trilogy Box Set Page 153