Come and Find Me A Novel of Suspense - By Hallie Ephron Page 0,6
from Jake streamed across.
J: F**IDIOT
Diana agreed. The guy was a complete idiot if he thought that confiscating poor Sonya Lochte’s computer was all it was going to take to solve the problem. She pressed her palm into her forehead. When was that aspirin going to take hold?
“Was the data encrypted?” Diana asked, even though she knew the answer. She’d already examined the stolen spreadsheet. Its cells contained unencrypted data—letters and numbers that meant nothing to her.
A moment of silence stretched out. “Felix?” The voice balloon was over Chander’s head.
“Of course it was encrypted.” This bold-faced lie was from an avatar wearing a dark suit. That had to be Felix Manning, their director of IT.
“Hmm. I wonder if you were using AES.” Diana feigned innocence, knowing full well that they had not used Advanced Encryption, the latest industry standard. “We’ve found, in some cases, that our clients think they’re protected when they’re not. We can run a few tests, help you troubleshoot—”
Manning cut her off. “I’m satisfied that the problem is solved. It’s clearly an inside job.” He sounded so smug, but she knew he was blowing smoke. There was no way to tell if the attack had come from outside or in.
Manning added, “And we triple-wiped the laptop.”
Damn. Diana had baited that laptop’s hard drive with a phony data file that had in it a homing device that would have enabled her to trace the hackers.
“In that case, we should be all set,” Jake said. “Don’t you agree, Nadia?” I so do not, Diana wanted to shoot back. Customers were right, except when they weren’t and then they didn’t want to know. “Nadia?”
“Right,” she finally said. “All set except for some recommendations. Shore up your firewalls and intrusion prevention systems, stuff like that. I’ll send over a report with the details. Meanwhile, we’ll get started tracking down these criminals and—”
“At this point, the ball is in your court, Felix,” Jake said, talking over her. “It sounds as if you’re confident that you have the situation under control . . .”
“Anish?” IT director Manning asked.
“Completely,” Chander said.
“But if everyone just rolls over and—” Diana started.
A text message popped up on her screen:
J: BACK OFF
Chander continued. “I’m well aware that I’m responsible for security, and I’m satisfied that our people have this issue covered. We can take it from here. We’ve been assured.”
“Been assured?” Diana winced as she heard the shrillness in her own voice. But really, what was that supposed to mean? And who exactly had assured them? She hated it when victims simply plugged the breach and folded. That’s what hackers depended upon. When victims didn’t come after them, they’d go on probing for the next unguarded entry point. In fact, Daniel would have called that the hackers’ greatest and most unappreciated service to industry—finding chinks in corporate armor.
There were a few uncomfortable moments of silence.
“Nadia. Jake.” Courtemanche spoke up. “I appreciate the work you’ve done for us. Thank you so much.”
Blah, blah, blah. Diana swallowed her frustration.
“It’s been our pleasure working with you,” Jake said. “We’ll send you our final reports. And, of course, the invoice.” He chuckled.
“Of course. Send it to my attention,” Chander said. “And we trust you’ll continue to observe the nondisclosure?”
A new text message streamed across.
J: O&O
Over and out? It was more like Over and don’t let the door smack your sorry asses on the way out. Diana transported Nadia home.
“Know what that reminded me of?” Startled, Diana turned around. She’d nearly forgotten that Ashley was in the room with her. “Client I once had. Bugged out after I’d met with them for hours, worked up an entire ten-page proposal, then she goes, ‘Sorry, the event’s been canceled.’ Only it’s not. Turns out they’re using my proposal to spec an RFP for other hotels to bid on.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah, it sucks. But there’s one thing I’ve learned. Whatever you do, don’t take it personal. ”
But Diana was taking it personal. This wasn’t the first time she’d seen this happen. Neponset Hospital five months ago. Unity Health Insurance six weeks later. When she’d pointed out the similarities to Jake—two clients rushing for the exit when they’d barely gotten past hello—he’d told her to grow a thicker skin. Now this was number three.
“I’m not being paranoid,” Diana told Ashley.
“Did I say you were? Actually, I thought you were very . . . tactful.”
“I made an effort. But I don’t get it. I mean why—?”