Three Weeks Last Spring Read Online Free PDF Page B

PC hummed and whirred into life, Walker poured himself a mug of black coffee. He had a feeling he would need it, and a stronger feeling that the list he was about to make was going to be long, very long. Twenty minutes later, he took a swallow of his now-cold coffee and reviewed the list. There were seven names on it.
     
    He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and tried to cast his mind back two years, to a particularly difficult and unpleasant case. He was working in South America at the time, he recalled. But was sure the corporation involved was headquartered here in America. The name was in the far recesses of his mind, if only he could remember what it was. He rubbed his temples to relieve the stress. There was nothing for it; he woul d have to access his files on the main computer in the company office in Seattle .
     
    Walker pointed his mouse at an icon on the screen and opened up his Internet software. The modem clicked and hummed as the software dial l ed into the server. His password accepted, he accessed his firm's vast database. Finally, he located the files he wanted and started to download them only for the screen to become corrupted. Damn it, not again. He quickly tore phone line out of his laptop.
     
    The latest anti-virus software had been installed on his machine only a few weeks earlier and the passwords changed. The mainframe and server were also protected, yet someone had managed to hack into the system once more. Only two people had the access codes to the main database, his IT specialist and himself. Everyone else within company had limited access. He hoped that whatever had corrupted his screen ha dn't destroyed any other files.
     
    Locating and stopping the hacker was beyond his capabilities, and he suspected the police would be no help either. He need ed to call in a specialist firm, but who could he trust? Perhaps Joe wo uld have a contact he could use. I f not , then it was time to call in a few overdue favo u rs . He checked his watch, and decided he could afford himself the luxury of a few hours slee p before contacting his friend.
     
    After a long hot shower and breakfast the next morning , Walker put through his call to Joe.
     
    "Hey, McCabe?"
     
    "I knew it had to be you, Walker. Only you could call me at this ungodly hour. Okay, spill—more bad news I assume?"
     
    "Yeah, someone was using the cove again last night, only I missed them. If—"
     
    "What d’you mean you missed them? I thought you were out there all hours, playing the Navy SEAL."
     
    "I was, but I got distracted. I forgot I’d let the cabin , and got the surprise of my life when I saw my new tenant sitting on the dock dangling her feet in the water."
     
    "Her? You're telling me you're seeing water nymphs now, is that it? You're hallucinating . Whe n was the last time you slept?"
     
    "Joe, I’m serious. My tenant arrived yesterday. I met her on my way back to the lodge. When I was camped out in the woods last night, I heard a truck and went to investigate. But whoever it was also disturbed my tenant's beauty sleep, so I had to wait until I could get a chance to look around."
     
    "She’s not a water nymph , but Sleeping Beauty. Make your mind up; this isn’t a fairy tale, you know. Why don’t you admit you fell asleep on the job?"
     
    "Okay, buddy, have it your way. Something else happened last night which makes me think this is aimed right at me."
     
    "Go on . "
     
    "Let's face it, over the last ten years I’ve trodden on enough toes and shut down enough corporations to upset a few folks. I sat down and made a list of who would want to see Walker Environmental Research and me , go to the wall. So far there are seven names on the list. As soon as I tried to download the relevant information on each of them from my company's database, my PC crashed."
     
    "Nothing unusual in that my friend, mine does it all the time."
     
    "Yeah, but you’re just plain ham fisted and computer illiterate."
     
    "Give me