CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“So, what do we think they’re really after?” asked Cam.“And who are ‘they’?”
“We’re trying to find out,” said Tanner.“The more we dig, the more we’re discovering.It started out as entering through the gaming systems used within the department.Then it was access to computers themselves.Stealing credit card numbers and information.It’s like one giant circle and it’s happening via all the electronic systems being used.”
“I miss the days of passing notes in class.Check yes if you like me,” frowned Eric.The others chuckled, realizing just how old that made them feel.
“We’re going to have dinner together tonight and then tomorrow a few of us are going to try and interview our guys in Baltimore,” said AJ.
“You mentioned that you had no luck with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.Were you able to get back there to speak with Marilyn Sanders?” asked Luke.
“Not yet.She was in Paris for some conference but should be back tomorrow.We’re hoping to speak with her because her staff damn sure wasn’t any help.”
“How can we support you from here?” asked Cam.
“Check with Abe and Nate but they should have seen their credit cards credited with the money taken.New cards were issued to them just to be safe,” said Tanner.
“We’ll double-check that for sure,” nodded Eric.“From what you’ve told us so far, it feels as though the common thread here seems to be young adults using computers for gaming or shopping and somehow this person or persons are getting into the government computers.”
“Basically,” nodded AJ, “although there’s still the whole thing of getting into credit cards via the games and their ads.Something has to be done about that.”
“What can be done?” asked Cam.
“Honestly?” asked AJ staring at the senior team back home.They all nodded hesitantly.“I’m not sure anything can be done.For every system we shut down, ten more are in development.If we close the door to this one, another will make a different attempt.This cycle will be never-ending.”
“He’s right,” said Hiro.“What makes it even worse is that kids today are being reared on electronics.From the time they’re old enough to be entertained, they’re learning to touch, tap, and swipe on a phone or tablet.We saw a kid the other day at lunch, maybe two years old, finding his favorite video by himself, starting it, stopping it, and moving on to the next one.Two!”
“Fuck,” muttered Eric.
“These kids are learning earlier and earlier how to manipulate these devices.It breeds interest in how to make it faster, more colorful, more lifelike,” said Tanner.“It’s not like those are bad things on their own but what we’re saying is this generation of young users will be the developers of the future and we will struggle to keep up.”
“Maybe we should all just go back to watching mindless television,” said Luke with a frown.
“I hate to tell you, brother, but they already know how to see what you’re watching, for how long, see if there are trends, all of it.If you like sports, they know it and target your ads to that.If you’re a shopper, they know it and send more ads for shopping internet sites.
“Why do you think we refused to allow anyone install a cloud-based virtual assistant?You tell it to book an appointment for you massage and block time on your calendar for a meeting with Gaspar.Suddenly the system knows you like massages and that someone named Gaspar is in your book.You’ve given that virtual assistant access to your life,” said Hiro.
“Fuck me,” growled Eric.
“Don’t get us wrong,” said Wyatt.“These things also have positive sides to them.We’d be lost without certain access to electronics but allowing it to control and take over your life is something completely different.”
“Okay.So we can’t stop the credit card problem or even the gaming issues.What you’re focused on now is whoever or whatever is attempting to hack into the systems at the Pentagon, right?” asked Cam.
“That’s right.But we are going to ask this Marilyn Sanders person what they’re doing to stop it because it damn sure looked like she was wasting a shit-ton of money for the government,” said AJ.
“Maybe we let the POTUS know,” said Luke.
“Maybe.Maybe we have someone close by or listening when we speak with them again,” said Hiro.
“Let us know how we can help,” said Luke.“We appreciate you getting to the bottom of this, even though it seems bottomless.”
“That’s a good way to describe it,” said Wyatt.“It’s a bottomless pit and we couldn’t stop it even if we wanted to.”
“No.No, I get it,” said Luke.“But what does this say about our younger people?What does it say about the next generation of leaders, not just military but civilian as well?If we’re so tied to these devices and systems, we’re not creating meaningful relationships, looking people in the face and talking.”
“You’re not wrong,” said Hiro.“But look at it this way, Luke.We do it at Belle Fleur as well.”
“No we don’t!”
