Pulling Strings, page 10
“The issue is that we believe the information might be stolen internally.”
“Yes, and that’s where the problem lies. The system isn’t particularly good at hiding things internally. It can be done by sectioning off the various systems and giving them their own access.”
“Which we have done,” Devon said, “and limited people have access to the new banking system. The logs don’t show anything out of the ordinary for this system, but the HR system logs showed unusual activity.”
“A trial run,” Alexander said.
“That’s what we thought,” Powers confirmed. “We’ve recovered some design documents that we believe are being used to prove that the system is real and that they can get access to it.”
Lucy placed the drive they’d recovered on the coffee table. “I’ve been trying, but I haven’t been able to get around the password protection.”
“Let’s see what we can do,” Alexander said. He reached next to his chair, lifted his bag, and pulled out a laptop. Alexander opened the lid and began typing, then got out a cord and worked some more before plugging in the drive. “I have it isolated so anything malicious isn’t going anywhere.” He continued working, pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes. He typed for a while before turning the screen to face them. “Does any of this mean anything to you?”
Devon leaned closer. “They’re design specifications, but the file sizes seem really small.”
Alexander opened one. “These aren’t complete.”
“No. It’s just parts and headers. The guts have been removed. These are just like the printouts we found.” Devon turned to Powers. “I think this is just some sort of proof that they could get to the information when the time came.”
“You could be right.” Alexander turned the computer around. “There is also a program on the drive. It looks like it’s been compiled. Let me see if I can put it through a renderer.” He worked some more, and Powers grew anxious. Devon’s leg bounced, and he leaned closer, trying to peer at the screen.
“That doesn’t look like anything of ours,” Devon said.
“It isn’t. I think this is the key to getting what they want out of the system.” Alexander continued reading, and Devon shifted so he could look at it as well. “These are calls for data, and they—” Alexander stood and brought the laptop to the counter, and the others followed. “This seems to be a program that was designed to retrieve what they wanted.” He continued going through it. “But like the specifications, I don’t think it’s complete. There are areas that are still being developed.”
“I see.” Devon turned to Alexander. “Can you figure out what the parameters of those calls are? We could alter them in the system and the program would fail.”
“Provided it hasn’t already been finished and run. This could just be part of the proof that they have what the buyer wanted, and they only provided a copy of a test version rather than the completed program.”
“Is there a way to see if this program has already been run?” Devon asked. “Would there be logs of something like that?”
“Not if they could run it from the system console. If they ran it through the scheduling system, then there would be records. But that would be blatant. What I can do is give you a program you can put on the system. It’s a lurker. It would monitor the system and let you know if someone tries to run this program. I also think you should change some of the internal names so the program fails. They could figure out the issue eventually and try again, but it would buy you some time.” Alexander set to work, and the others left him to what he was doing.
“So, we’re hoping they haven’t already gotten what they wanted,” Powers said.
“It looks that way,” Devon said. “I can install the program on the system. I can also change a few names to slow them down. I have to look for things that other programs don’t use, or otherwise the system itself could fail, and we don’t want that.” Devon hurried away and returned with his personal laptop, which he set next to Alexander’s.
Lucy joined the party, and the three of them put their heads together. Powers backed away, getting a drink out of the refrigerator. “Do you need access?” Powers asked.
“I got it this afternoon through Mr. Mauer and our project. He made it happen on the QT.” Within minutes it seemed they were inside the system in question. Devon and Alexander talked a mile a minute.
“That should work, right there,” Alexander said. “That’s only used by the one module, and we can adjust that here.” They seemed to be in another world, one Powers didn’t have the knowledge to be part of. “Good. I like that. Good idea,” Alexander praised, and Devon beamed. “Excellent, that will mean that the actual name is hidden, so it adds an extra step for them.” They shared a high five and went right back to work.
Powers sat on one of the stools out of the way and let them work.
“Let’s rename your program so it looks like the other system programs that run in the background. That way it will escape notice.” Devon typed quickly. “Copy it in, and let’s start it. There. No one will be the wiser, except us, and now we have eyes on the system at all times.”
“Yes. It will send a message to Devon’s phone if anyone tries to run the program we found or anything like it. I didn’t code it off the name, but a specific command sequence. So they can name the program whatever they want and we’ll still catch it.”
Devon typed some more and then closed his laptop. Alexander did the same. Even Lucy seemed a little overwhelmed as she shut down.
“Now we wait and see what happens,” Devon explained. “Their program will fail and they aren’t going to understand why. We’ll get a message about the failure, and then we can try to track it back to the user.” He slid off the stool, and Alexander followed, then put his computer away and gave Devon a hug.
“Be sure to call me and let me know what happens. That’s all I ask. I hope this helps you catch the culprits.” He smiled and then stepped to Lucy, handing her a card. “You, please call me any time. I’d love to take you for a nice dinner.” Alexander held her gaze, and Lucy nodded. She was rarely speechless, but she certainly seemed that way when up against Alexander’s charms.
Powers shook his hand, thanking him for his help, and then Devon walked him to the door. They said good night, and Devon closed and locked the door.
“That was interesting,” Lucy said a little breathlessly.
“Are you sure you can trust him?” Powers asked, getting to the heart of his worry. “I mean, with all the things you did, what if he has his own agenda?” It was his job to ask questions like this. “Could you put everything back?”
“Just as quickly as I made the changes. I noted everything I did on my laptop so we have a record of it.” Devon met his gaze with strength. “I know what I’m doing with this kind of thing. It’s what I’m really good at. The rest of life… not so much. But this….” He nodded.
“Okay. I just had to ask. I know he was someone you went to college with, but how well do you really know him?”
“When I realized that Keenan was a repackaged version of Jacob, Alexander was the one who took me into his room, fed me a ton of junk food, played Mario Kart with me until our hands were ready to fall off, and then let me sleep on his couch for a few days so I didn’t have to be in my room in case he came prowling around. Which he did, and it was Alexander who told him to go away.” Devon snickered.
“I can just imagine how intimidating he was.” Powers tried to keep the grin off his lips.
“Please, he scared the crap out of him.” Devon leaned over the counter, his eyes sparkling. This was going to be good. “Imagine this. Keenan was huge, and he was all puffed up, his arms folded over his chest—all the tricks to try to intimidate. I was behind Alexander, so I didn’t see his expression, but he was relaxed and just shook his head. ‘You know,’ he said, ‘I’m not big like you, but I can make you suffer for years. See, I can mess with your credit so bad that you’ll never get a credit card, car loan, or a dime from any bank for the rest of your life. Now back all the way off.’ Keenan paled, because everyone knew Alexander could do just what he said he could.” Devon grinned, and Powers chuckled, liking Alexander all the more for what he’d done for Devon. “He was someone I could count on then, and I can count on him now.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t like Powers was going to argue with Devon, and Alexander had provided them with a chance to catch the guys they were after. He was going to have to take Devon and Alexander at their word and hope everything played out the way it was supposed to.
“Come on, Powers. He may have helped save our butts. Don’t give him any grief.” Lucy patted Devon’s hand. “You really came through.” She smiled and began packing up her things. “Let me know if you need anything.” She touched Powers on the shoulder as she headed for the door. “See you guys tomorrow, and it’s my turn to bring the food this time.”
“That’ll be the day,” Powers teased, and she flipped him off before pulling the door closed behind her.
“I really like your sister. She’s got your number.” Devon was laughing, and Powers sighed. “I suppose it was always that back-and-forth, even when you were kids.”
“God, yes. Drove our parents crazy. She and I could tease and pick on each other, but if anyone else did it, they met what my mother called the Wall of Doom. That applied to her and Dad even. Lucy was the queen of the silent treatment. Once, she didn’t talk to my dad for a week, not a single word, because he’d been angry with me and Lucy thought it was unfair. I remember the time Mom got pissed with Lucy, and she rounded the corner only to find me outside her bedroom door, like a bodyguard. Stopped in her tracks. All I said was that Lucy didn’t want to talk to her. It was a twin thing. I know we’re fraternal, but that didn’t seem to matter much. She and I were each other’s other half.” Powers settled on the stool. “In kindergarten they tried to split us up. By a twist of architecture, the two rooms could be seen through the windows. Lucy stood at the windows in her room most of the day, and I did the same in mine. Eventually Lucy came to my room, and that solved the problem.”
“I didn’t have any of that. By the time I was nine, my sisters were in college, and I was like an only child. Mom and Dad were fifty or so at that time, and they were quietly trying to work toward an eventual retirement. A lot of the energy that they’d had when the girls were young was gone. And I think they were relieved that I was a quiet child. We went on family vacations and things. Mom and Dad went camping when the girls were kids. I did that too. But once they left home, we went to Disney and took hotel trips, even a cruise. They wanted a different kind of leisure.” Devon sighed. “And they wanted a quieter kind of life. It would have been nice to have had my twin to share that time with.” He got up and began putting everything away.
Powers left him alone, sitting at the counter. He figured Devon needed a few minutes. He hadn’t intended for the conversation to turn as deep as it had, and Devon deserved some time to himself.
“There were times when having a twin was a huge pain in the ass,” Powers said. “I never got my own birthday. It was always both of us. And my mom dressed us alike for years. We practically had to go on strike to get her to realize that I wasn’t the boy version of Lucy, and she wasn’t the girl version of me.”
Devon started the water to wash dishes “Thanks. I know you’re trying to make me feel better. And there’s nothing anyone can do. Mom and Dad were who they were, and they gave me a good, happy childhood. It’s just that seeing you and Lucy made me realize some of what I missed out on.” He turned off the water. “I’ll be fine,” he said more lightly. “This is just me being stupid and probably a slightly spoiled younger child. I want what I want.” He finished the dishes and rinsed them, leaving them in the drainer to dry.
Powers gathered his things. “I think maybe I should go.” He didn’t want to be a source of pain for Devon, and it looked like he might be.
“You don’t have to. I’m being stupid, and I’m not upset with you. I’m jealous because of what you have with your sister.” Devon rinsed the sink and wiped his hands. “I know it’s stupid, but there it is.”
“If you want Lucy, you can have her,” Powers quipped. “I’m kidding.”
“I like her.” Devon left the kitchen, turning out the lights over the sink. “And I think Alexander did too. Man, he was turning on the charm where your sister was concerned.” He sat on the sofa, and Powers sat next to him. “You’re growling.”
“She’s my sister.” It was his job to make sure guys were good enough for her. Well, not really, but he wanted her to be happy. Lucy deserved that.
“Yes, and she’d kick your butt over the macho attitude… and you know it. She’s perfectly capable of making up her own mind about a guy. Maybe she likes him back and maybe she doesn’t.” Devon leaned closer. “She could do a lot worse than Alexander. He’s a really good guy. How many people would drop what they were doing for a college friend because he asked? He has loyalties, and they are pretty much black-and-white.”
Powers blew out a deep breath, trying to release some of the tension. “I haven’t liked any of the guys she’s dated.”
“Of course not. Because they’re potentially taking away a part of you. Lucy is going to move on to a life of her own, just like you will.” Devon seemed to pointedly stop there. “How would you feel if she hated me?” he asked.
Powers stopped dead. He’d never thought about that.
“Shit…,” he ground out between his teeth. “She was always supportive….” He owed her the same respect that she’d always shown him.
“Then you need to be too.” Devon took his hand. “You know she’s capable and isn’t going to make a bad decision. And it was nice to see her a little off-balance. You know how it feels when you first meet someone who really catches your interest.”
“Yeah. That happened at a gala not too long ago.” Powers smiled. “I know the sweat under the collar and following him around the room because I couldn’t think of much else.” He winked at Devon.
“And I’m assuming you want Lucy to have those same kinds of feelings.” Devon slid closer, speaking more softly. “You want her to know the excitement that can be unleashed with just a simple touch.” Devon placed his hand on Powers’s chest, sending a stab of heat running right through him. “You want her to know the rush of possibilities at that first meeting. The way your heart beats faster, your skin gets flushed….” Devon continued slowly moving closer and closer, his words growing softer as current sizzled between them.
“Yeah. I want her to be happy,” Powers said, or tried to say. His throat turned dry, and he wasn’t sure how much he actually got past his lips. “I want to be happy.”
“Then let her have what you want….” Devon closed the distance between them, his lips near to Powers’s. “Let her have the chance for delight that you have.” Devon kissed him, pressing to Powers. There was no hesitation or shyness. Not tonight. Devon seemed to have made up his mind. Powers understood people who took what they wanted. That was part of his personality, something he was sure of. And he loved that Devon was doing that… at least for now.
“Are you sure?” Powers asked. “Is this what you want?” He cradled Devon’s head in his hands, stilling him so he could kiss him more gently, give him time to make his decision.
Devon backed away. Powers figured he had his answer until Devon held out his hand. Powers took it, and Devon tugged him to his feet. He led him through the room to turn out the lights, then into the bedroom, closing the door. “I’m sure.”
Powers hefted Devon into his arms, letting Devon wind his legs around him as he carried him to the bed and set him on the edge before pressing him back onto the mattress. Their kisses heated by the second, Devon’s sweetness intensifying, bursting on his tongue as he feasted on his lips. Never in his life had he been so driven to anyone. He needed Devon and desperately wanted to know what was under his clothes, what he tasted like, smelled like, what Devon looked like in the hottest heat of passion.
“Is this okay?” Powers asked. He didn’t want Devon to think he was like the other guys he’d been with.
“Oh, yes,” Devon whimpered as he tugged at the hem of Powers’s shirt, getting it off him before pressing Powers back until he circled his lips around a nipple, teasing, lightly biting, until Powers’s head throbbed and his control, the only thing that kept him from shifting to pure instinct, slipped away a little with each throb of unexpected pleasure. “Damn, you taste amazing.”
Powers hugged him tightly, guiding their lips back together, holding Devon as though he were as precious as the finest china, which to him he was. Devon was special and deserved to be treated that way. “So do you, sweetheart.” Powers undid the buttons on Devon’s shirt and slipped it off his shoulders, exposing his chest.
“I know, I’m skinny and….”
“You’re beautiful.” And he was. Devon was slim, but trim and lithe, with skin as perfect as fresh-flowing milk.
“No. You’re the one who’s stunning.” Devon ran his hands over Powers’s chest. “You’re strong and muscular. I really like that, always have.”
“And I like you.” Powers kissed Devon hard, taking possession of his lips until he pulled a soft moan from him that sent a joy of delight racing between them. There was nothing sexier than thrilling your partner. Powers always got joy from others, and Devon personified it like no one else he had ever seen. He shook with it, and his eyes shone with it. Each kiss and caress exuded it, and Powers wanted more.
He lifted Devon fully onto the bed, gazing deeply into the liquid blue of his eyes. “You make my heart beat faster every time you look at me.” He swallowed hard, because talking about his feelings was difficult at best.
