Solaria - S1 (16 page)

The agent grunted noncommittally while making a notation in a small notepad.

"Our records show you've been working here for over ten years. Is that correct?"

"Listen, Agent... excuse me but what is your name? I've forgotten already."

"Foster."

"Foster. Well, Agent Foster, we both know Homeland probably knows everything they need to about me, including my brand of toothpaste. Is it really necessary to waste your time and mine reconfirming what you already know?"

Secretly, Agent Foster thought the same thing but wasn't sure if he should let her off so easily. According to their records, Jain Plaine led a very ordinary and boring life.

"Perhaps I should talk with your assistant. If you think of anything, you'll let me know, right?"

"Of course, I wouldn't want to compromise the nation's security"

Foster decided to ignore the sarcasm.

Amy watched nervously as the Federal agent approached her. She had always been terrified of the government and knew one day they'd find out about the year she had failed to claim the $150 Christmas bonus on her income tax.

"It was an honest mistake!" she blurted out, wiping her sweaty palms on her jacket.

Agent Foster frowned.

"What was a mistake?" he asked coolly, thinking he had at last found a lead.

"The $150! I didn't remember it until it was already sent in and well, I meant to file an amended report but then got busy with a new shipment of books and forgot about it and... and by the time I remembered..."

"Ma'am, would you tell me what the hell you're talking about?"

"My 1040EZ."

"Your 1040...  Are you talking about your income taxes?"

Amy swallowed, her mouth suddenly very dry.

"Uh huh. Isn't that why you're here?"

Jesus Christ,
Foster thought.

"Do you really think the IRS would send five agents here to discuss a hundred and fifty dollar tax evasion issue?"

"Well..."

 "Look, we're Homeland Security not the IRS. As far as I'm concerned, I don't know anything about your tax status, but I'd suggest you get it straightened out as soon as possible. I'm here to find out if there's been any unusual activity or people in the library lately."

"Oh! OH!" Amy exclaimed, feeling very relieved. "Well, there was that family last night."

"What family?"

"The one with the kids. They came in late to use the computers. I find it hard to believe their kids waited until the last minute to do school reports. I mean, all of the kids wouldn't have done that... unless they're slow... if you know what I mean."

"School reports. Did they do or say anything else to make you suspicious?"

"Isn't that enough? What family nowadays has only one computer? I find that hard to believe too."

Realizing he was getting nowhere, Foster decided to change tactics.

"What about Ms. Plaine? Does she have any unusual friends or interests?"

"Jain? Good grief, no! Well, other than a few idiosyncrasies."

"Like what?"

Looking around to make sure Jain wasn't near enough to hear, she leaned close to the agent and lowered her voice.

"She's a little weird at times."

"Weird how?"

"Well, she lives in her own little world. I mean one minute she's as normal as you and I, and the next minute her mind has wandered off and she starts to make these strange noises... like she was in pain or something. Groaning and moaning. It's very disconcerting, you know."

"I can imagine," Foster replied, mentally rolling his eyes.

"We're never really sure if she's here or not but she's a good boss and good at her job," Amy continued. "Personally, I think she's one of
them
."

"Them?"

"You know... a lesbian... but that's okay. Why I remember awhile back we had a young man working here for a few weeks. He'd chat up the old women like you wouldn't believe. One day he didn't show up for work and the next week we saw him on the news. He married some rich old widow and moved to Monaco. This place really attracts some weird people, you know. It's a lucky thing it hasn't made me a little fruity... if you know what I mean."

"I think I know exactly what you mean." Tucking his notepad into his jacket pocket, he decided it was time to leave. Librarians were a little too peculiar for his taste. "If you'll excuse me, I need to check on my men."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and hurried down the hall to the computer room. Hopefully, the other agents would be finished and he could get back to his office in time to finish his report. It wouldn't take long to write. There was only so much you could say about a fruitcake and a boring old maid. An hour later, they left without saying anything more. After their departure, Jain checked the computer room and found the hard drives missing from all of her computers.

Bastards!
she muttered.
The boss isn't going to like this but at least he has the clout to make someone's life miserable. I hope they didn't screw up my records.

Checking Amy's computer, she noticed the backup software indicated that someone had made a recent copy of the data.

As if I'm stupid enough to let just anyone snoop through my files! Wait ‘til you try uploading your copy.

Chuckling Jain wished she could be a fly on the agency wall. Without the proper backup code, any uploaded copy would immediately install a small virus that would scramble the new computer's BIOS making it inoperable. It was a little surprise Jain had created to keep hackers or unauthorized personnel from obtaining the private records of her customers. As a librarian Jain believed in privacy rights no matter what laws Congress had passed to help Homeland Security.

Well, since the day's almost shot, I might as well just lock up and call it a day. I'll tell the boss these goons scared everyone off and let him deal with it.

J
AIN WAS JUST securing the door when she felt a presence behind her. Spinning around, she clutched her chest, startled to see Solaria.

"What are you doing here?" she gasped.

"I came to thank you."

"For what?"

"For warning me about those men. That is what you did, isn't it?"

"Well, yes."

"Why?"

Looking around nervously, Jain grabbed her arm and pulled her toward her car which was parked behind the building.

"Let's say I don't like all of this government crap. They may have a legal right to check our files but I think it's wrong."

"But why would you warn me off?"

Opening the car door, Jain motioned Solaria to get in.

"Why are you so interested in Future Dynamicon? That's why they were really here. It had nothing to do with national security."

Realizing Jain had managed to uncover her activities, Solaria was impressed.

"You've discovered what I've been doing. You must be very good with computers."

Jain blushed but wasn't sure if it was because of the compliment or having been caught snooping.

"I know something about them."

"Meaning quite a bit. The question is, how much?"

"Enough to know you've been hacking into the Future Dynamicon security system and it has something to do with Dr Branson. Unfortunately, I think I'm the one who brought these goons here. I stayed in their network too long and was found by a spybot."

"I was beginning to think I had made an error, even though the probability of such a mistake was highly unlikely."

Geez, aren't you confident,
Jain thought.

"No, unfortunately it was my blunder."

"But I did make one, didn't I? You were able to trace my activities."

"Well, it took awhile."

Jain hoped she hadn't made the woman feel incompetent. It had taken all her skills to find the paths. If she had just covered her tracks with the same determination she had used to uncover Solaria's, Future Dynamicon wouldn't have detected her intrusion.

"Look, I know it's my fault they traced everything back to the library. If there's anything I can do to make up for it, let me know."

"You've already done enough. The warning about them being there prevented my possible capture. They may have the hard drive but there's not much they'll learn from it."

"Actually they don't even have that. I removed it yesterday and substituted another in its place. Plus I made sure the keyboard was cleaned thoroughly. No finger prints or DNA."

Solaria smiled at Jain's thoroughness.

"I'm sure they found that a little odd."

"Not at all. A family used the computer yesterday evening. There were plenty of prints and smudges to go around. I don't watch spy movies for nothing." Jain laughed.

"Thanks. It looks like I'm in your debt. Is there anything you need?"

Jain's imagination went into overdrive but she quickly reined it in.

"As a matter of fact, yes there is. Have dinner with me."

"Dinner?"

"Dinner. I'm hungry. I'll even buy."

"No, it would be my pleasure and the least I can do is pay for your meal. Is there any place in particular that you prefer?"

Jain nodded and backed her car out of her parking space. Thirty minutes later the two women were sitting in a dimly lit booth at a small Japanese restaurant. After ordering their meals, neither of them spoke, unsure where to begin. Finally, Jain cleared her throat and asked the one question that had been bothering her since her discovery.

"Why Future Dynamicon? I mean, anyone with a brain knows that company is trouble. Hell, from what I've read about the CEO over the past few years, I think he's a closeted Jesus freak."

"Jesus freak?"

"Yeah, you know. An extremist. The kind that believes they're sent by God to save humanity."

"What makes you say that?"

"Just look at the university he attended. It was started at the turn of the millennium to promote conservative extremist ideas. ‘Moral values' was their mantra to justify their attempts to mold society into what they wanted. Fortunately, their fanaticism backfired. People got sick of their leaders trying to manipulate everything to accommodate them and rebelled. The politicians were forced to pass several laws ensuring the personal freedoms we have today. Too bad we can't legislate minds."

"I think that's what you just described, don't you? These groups, did they go underground?"

"Yes, in the guise of higher education. They continued building universities where they could mold young minds. Brainwash is a better term. Winston Stalling was one of the top graduates in his class."

"How did he gain such a high position in Future Dynamicon if people are so against anyone with his educational background?"

Jain shrugged.

"Like I said, he's a closet fanatic. I imagine he's managed to keep this part of his nature pretty much a secret. You know, play it down, but a lot of people have voiced their suspicions. Eventually some have retracted their accusations and others just disappeared, not that anyone could prove anything against him. He's virtually untouchable."

"No one is untouchable, especially him. As long as he thinks he is, though, it will be easier to bring him down."

"This is about Dr. Branson, isn't it?"

It was Solaria's turn to be surprised. Nothing in her databanks had prepared her for that question.