Sara had worked through the restraints when Ian arrived about 20 minutes after Edward left.
"They're gone" she told him.
Ian still took time to assure himself it was true. "Who were they and what did they want?"
"Actually it was John Patrick 's brother. He wanted information about John's death."
Ian didn't say anything. He didn't know and wouldn't ask if Sara had told Edward anything about his part in the tragedy. Sara knew he was doing the stoic bit - take it as it comes. Actually she didn't know why she had not told Edward how Ian was involved. She didn't know if it was mixed loyalties or a determination to exact her own judgment.
Constable Seanain had also arrived with a couple of police cars. He asked Sara to relate the whole story which meant going back to the police station. After the debriefing Sara changed the subject.
"Edward gave me some information on the death of Mark Murray, the guy I found dead on my car." Constable Seanain was interested. "His older brother works at a computer think tank that is developing encryption algorithms for the government. Murray stole key information for breaking the codes from his brother and put them up for bid to antigovernment groups. He sold it on eBay - with a vague description that interested parties would recognize. Trouble is he didn't just sell it to the highest bidder - he was selling copies to all the high bidders. The top bidder didn't appreciate having to share what they paid so much for. So they stopped him."
Constable Seanain said "That sounds plausible. We'll check it out. But I don't trust information volunteered by a kidnapper."
"Oh, he doesn't know he told me. He touched the Witchblade." Sara smiled.
"Did you get what group did it?"
"No, I didn't catch anything else I could make sense of. But I know someone that can help us."
~~~~~~~
Sara called Gabe. "Hi, Gabe. Greetings from sunny Ireland. No, I don't know what time it is there; never could calculate time zones. I have an internet question for you. There was an auction on eBay selling secret Irish government encryption codes. Yeah, the UK section of eBay. Can you find out who placed the winning bid? OK. Here's the phone number here."
When Gabe returned the call, Seanain put the call on the speaker phone.
Gabe said "Yep, I found an auction that looks suspiciously like technology theft. The high bidder was belladonna@millionairesclub.com. That's an exclusive email address that means the winner proved he, she, or whoever had more a million in liquid funds. It shows they've got the money to back their bid. Know any Irish terrorist group that is named after a night blooming flower?"
Constable Seanain was taking notes.
"That's not all. While I was at it I checked for auctions containing 'Witchblade.' Lots of hits for the comic book. Yeah, Pez, there's a comic book, some artsy-fartsy deal where this mostly naked chick is always battling her arch nemesis. My friend Sly did some work on it. Those auctions looked legit. However . . ."
Sara didn't know whether to get angry or blush.
"Then I tried 'Cailleach' and I found 2 auctions for L.A. Cailleach - one with and one without the 'action figure'. That's you, Pez. The bidding on those has gone higher than the encryption code did."
"Who's the seller?"
"I'm working on it."
"When does the bidding close?"
"Day after tomorrow."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A/N: Gabe's comments about the TopCow comicbook 'Witchblade' do not reflect the opinion of the author. They are merely meant to reflect Gabe's irreverent attitude. Couldn't resist putting it in and besides that the TV show alludes to it.
Sorry about lack of posts for last few days. Real life has sent my muse into hiding and chocolate has not been sufficient to lure her/him out yet.
"They're gone" she told him.
Ian still took time to assure himself it was true. "Who were they and what did they want?"
"Actually it was John Patrick 's brother. He wanted information about John's death."
Ian didn't say anything. He didn't know and wouldn't ask if Sara had told Edward anything about his part in the tragedy. Sara knew he was doing the stoic bit - take it as it comes. Actually she didn't know why she had not told Edward how Ian was involved. She didn't know if it was mixed loyalties or a determination to exact her own judgment.
Constable Seanain had also arrived with a couple of police cars. He asked Sara to relate the whole story which meant going back to the police station. After the debriefing Sara changed the subject.
"Edward gave me some information on the death of Mark Murray, the guy I found dead on my car." Constable Seanain was interested. "His older brother works at a computer think tank that is developing encryption algorithms for the government. Murray stole key information for breaking the codes from his brother and put them up for bid to antigovernment groups. He sold it on eBay - with a vague description that interested parties would recognize. Trouble is he didn't just sell it to the highest bidder - he was selling copies to all the high bidders. The top bidder didn't appreciate having to share what they paid so much for. So they stopped him."
Constable Seanain said "That sounds plausible. We'll check it out. But I don't trust information volunteered by a kidnapper."
"Oh, he doesn't know he told me. He touched the Witchblade." Sara smiled.
"Did you get what group did it?"
"No, I didn't catch anything else I could make sense of. But I know someone that can help us."
~~~~~~~
Sara called Gabe. "Hi, Gabe. Greetings from sunny Ireland. No, I don't know what time it is there; never could calculate time zones. I have an internet question for you. There was an auction on eBay selling secret Irish government encryption codes. Yeah, the UK section of eBay. Can you find out who placed the winning bid? OK. Here's the phone number here."
When Gabe returned the call, Seanain put the call on the speaker phone.
Gabe said "Yep, I found an auction that looks suspiciously like technology theft. The high bidder was belladonna@millionairesclub.com. That's an exclusive email address that means the winner proved he, she, or whoever had more a million in liquid funds. It shows they've got the money to back their bid. Know any Irish terrorist group that is named after a night blooming flower?"
Constable Seanain was taking notes.
"That's not all. While I was at it I checked for auctions containing 'Witchblade.' Lots of hits for the comic book. Yeah, Pez, there's a comic book, some artsy-fartsy deal where this mostly naked chick is always battling her arch nemesis. My friend Sly did some work on it. Those auctions looked legit. However . . ."
Sara didn't know whether to get angry or blush.
"Then I tried 'Cailleach' and I found 2 auctions for L.A. Cailleach - one with and one without the 'action figure'. That's you, Pez. The bidding on those has gone higher than the encryption code did."
"Who's the seller?"
"I'm working on it."
"When does the bidding close?"
"Day after tomorrow."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A/N: Gabe's comments about the TopCow comicbook 'Witchblade' do not reflect the opinion of the author. They are merely meant to reflect Gabe's irreverent attitude. Couldn't resist putting it in and besides that the TV show alludes to it.
Sorry about lack of posts for last few days. Real life has sent my muse into hiding and chocolate has not been sufficient to lure her/him out yet.