That’s what the Organization had spent all their energy developing.Ways of using people’s phones when they weren’t aware of it.Basically creating a worldwide information network that they controlled and no one knew about.
Melissa grabbed Bree’s hand.“They finally figured out what they need to hack every phone on the planet.It’s software that on the surface will look like it enhances video and audio quality of all phones.No one will be able to hide once it goes into operation on the phones.”
This was worse than Bree thought.“But how are they gaining access to all the major phone manufacturers?They’ll have to do it at once, or the companies will start to ferret out what they’re doing.”
Melissa shook her head, looking at Bree with wonder.“I should’ve known you would grasp the ramifications from the beginning.The Organization was so mad when they lost you, Bree.You set them back years by not having your genius around anymore.They knew that.”
Bree just shook her head.If they’d had Bree around—controlled her and forced her to cooperate—the technological advances would’ve been astounding.
And all used for evil.
“The Organization doesn’t need to get to all the cellular manufacturers.They are all coming here,” Melissa continued.“To Denver.”
“The International Tech Symposium.”
“Yep.And guess who the sponsor is.”
“Communication for All,” Bree whispered.
The Organization was so much more insidious because of who the world thought they were—Communication for All, a charity focused on using technology to improve education and living conditions all over the world.And they did help millions of people.
But for a small core group of the charity, the endgame was far more nefarious than improving lives.They wanted to be able to control information.The charity front allowed them access and a lack of scrutiny that private companies would never be able to obtain.
Melissa shrugged.“Tech companies are so busy looking for malicious software, they just tend to overlook systems and software that makes their product better, especially when it comes from a world-renowned charity group.Plus, Communication for All is providing the new technology for free.”
Bree muttered a curse.“And being hailed as heroes.”
Melissa nodded.“All over the world.What’s worse is that the new software also serves as a virus.Once it’s uploaded to the manufacturers at the symposium, it will spread and download to every phone, regardless if people refuse to accept the update or not.”
Bree sucked in a breath.“They finally figured out the way to use people’s personal passwords to access their phones.”It had been something they were trying to force her to help do years ago.
Melissa nodded.“Once they’ve done it, no one will be able to hide from their networks unless they pay to do so.They’ll shelter whoever will pay their exorbitant fee and will be able to hunt whoever they desire.”
Bree rubbed her eyes.“Now that sounds more like the Organization we know and hate.”
They stared at each other for a few moments, both caught in a wave of despair.
“How did you keep them from finding out about the babies?”Bree finally asked.
“I was really sick early on in my pregnancy and didn’t start gaining much weight until my fifth month.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I followed your example.I got off the electronic grid completely.The Organization is convinced you’re dead, Bree.For years they searched for you, even though you wiped all the pictures of you and your mom from the system before you ran.Only in the last couple of years did they give up.”
“Why did they give up?”
Melissa shrugged.“I think they figured nobody living in this millennium could have resisted the lure of a smartphone or social media for that long.All they needed was one single picture on a smartphone, or even in the background of someone else’s social media, and that would’ve been it.They would’ve known you were alive and they would’ve never stopped hunting you.”
So her mother’s paranoia had kept them alive after all.
“What you did was brilliant,” Melissa continued.
Bree shrugged.“I’m not surebrilliantwas the word for it.”Lonely.Nerve-racking.So damn hard.
“Whatever it was, it worked for you, so I decided to try it.”A sadness fell across Melissa’s face.“The Organization killed the twins’ father before I knew I was pregnant.I think they suspected I was going to make a move against them, and this was their way of letting me know they weren’t afraid to play hardball.”She swallowed rapidly.
“I’m so sorry, Mellie.”
