" That is not Collins . "
Katherine looked shocked and almost dropped her phone .
" Not Collins are you sure ? " She asked Walter .
Paige looked at the phone . " That is definatly not Collins , i know it as been over three years since i saw him but the one thing he could never change is the shape of his ears and i am sure a full length picture of him will show him a good 6 inches shorter than Collins . "
Both Walter and Katherine looked at her , Walter was first to speak . " Paige , how could you know that ?"
Paige smiled at him leaned over and kissed his cheek . " The ears of a person retain the same shape from birth to death , they grow in size but retain their shape . The height remark i am afraid it is a feeling and nothing more . "
Katherine looked at Paige , with i little glint in her eyes . " You are as bad as your fiance . "
" He does tend to rub off on you after a while . " Paige said as a big smile broke out on her face
Walter had stood at the side of Paige a somewhat confused look on his face . " When do you think you will be able to began to interview the man in the picture . "
" Well it is now 5.30pm. so i would expect the helicopter around midnight , he will then need to be processed , and given an eight hour rest . So i think i would expect the interagration to begin about 10.00am . tomorrow . Why do you ask ?"
" I would like to , at least watch the interview to see if i can pick up any clues about Collins . "
" I trust you Walter , so i can arrange for you to watch the interview through a one way mirror in the room next to the interview room . Do you want to attend as well Paige ? " Replied Katherine .
" Well you know the motto Walter told you ,Both or Neither . " Paige said as she smiled at Walter .
" Ok , i should be able to arrange that , but Ralph and Aneli will have to stay at home for this trip . " Explained Katherine .
Walter looked at Paige who just nodded .
" We can accept that , Ralph can carry on doing the work he started on yesterday and Aneli will be fine , she loves sitting on the porch , watching the beach and ocean . "
Katherine smiled and shook Walter and Paige's hands . " I suggest you take those two kids home and have a fun evening . Ralph deserves it , he was brilliant today , Paige you must be so proud of him . "
" He fills me with pride with everything he does , but if it was not for Walter's guidence i do not know were either of us would be today . I will tell him what you said about him , but he will accept much the same as Walter would do . "
Walter and Paige left Katherines office , an agent in the outer office took them to collect Ralph and Aneli and then escorted them to the reception area . They made their way home and spent a pleasant evening together .
Next day Walter and Paige arrived in Homeland's reception area and introduced themselves . They went through the same procedure as before , ten minutes later they were in Katherine's office .
" Morning , Paige , Walter I hope you had a good evening . Asked Katherine .
" Yes thank you Katherine , and good morning to you . " Replied Paige .
Walter just stood there in deep thought .
" Walter Katherine just wished you good morning , were are your manners ? " Paige admonished Walter .
" Sorry Katherine , good morning . I was just thinking it would be good if Toby was here . I know he his a pain in the butt and very annoying with his constant comments at times , but he is excellent lie detector and reading boy language . When will you be interviewing the prisoner ?"
" He is ready to be interviewed now , why ask ? " Katherine queried .
Walter looked between Katherine and Paige and took a moment or two to answer . " I would really like Toby with us in the interview observation room . " Stated Walter .
Katherine did not answer for nearly a minute . " Do you think he is that importent . We have people at Homeland that are good at reading people and pick up on lies . " She finally said .
" But they are not Toby , i have had my problems with him , and to be honest i am still wary of his actions towards Paige and myself . However he is still the best man for the job and he knows Collins as well as i do if not better , so he can pick up information given by the prisoner better than even i could . "
Paige immediatly stepped in . " Walter is correct , but obviously the final decision as got to be yours . "
Katherine looked to Walter and then to Paige , finally she gave a sigh . " Ok you win how soon can you get him here ? "
Walter looked at Paige . " Can you phone Happy and see if Toby is at the garage or the clinic . If he is at the garage , could you explain the situation and see how quickly he can get here . If he is at the clinic see if Happy will phone him . "
Paige pulled out her phone and contacted Happy .
Walter in the meantime began to prowl around Katherine's office deep in thought . Paige finished her phone call , walked to Walter and put her hand on his arm , he immediatly stopped and looked at her .
" Calm down my love , you cannot do anything at the moment . Toby was at the garage , Happy is shutting the garage and will bring him . She said thirty minutes , but if i know Happy it will be more like twenty . I have told them to ask for you Katherine when they arrive . I assume you can arrange for them to be bought up to your office . If the prisoner is not forthcoming with information , you could always leave him alone with Happy for five minutes , " Paige said with a straight face .
" Ok , i will tell the agents guarding the prisoner the interview will start in about a hour . Said Katherine .
By now Paige had got Walter to sit down . " Listen Toby will be here soon and we can start to get to the bottom of this Collins mystery , so sit here and gather your thoughts . " Paige spoke to Walter in her soothing voice .
" Thank you . " Walter said with a big smile on his face .
Twenty five minutes later , Katherine's phone rang , after answering it she went to her outer office and despatched an agent down to reception , when she returned she spoke to Walter and Paige .
" Happy and Toby have arrived , i have sent an agent to collect them and bring them back up here . You realize their Homeland status was taken away from them when they left Scorpion , so this job today is a one off , similar to how i allowed Ralph to work with you . "
" We understand , but before they get here , can you make the cheque , you would pay us for yesterdays work , to Happy . " Asked Paige .
" Happy not Toby ? " Katherine queried .
" Yes Happy controls all the finances , so Toby is not tempted to start gambleing again . " Paige explained .
" Ok , i will see that is done , but what about today's work ? "
Walter looked at Katherine , then answered . " We do not expect to be paid for today . I asked if i could come in and watch the interview , so we are not really working for you today . "
" As far as i am concerned you are still on the clock . You and Ralph are responislble for were we are now , so you should be here today . So i will ask again what about todays cheque ." Replied Katherine .
This time Paige answered first . " Any work we do for you now , all cheques should be made out to Waige and Son . "
Katherine looked a little surprised . " Waige and Son ? "
" Yes it is our company's new name Walter and Paige , Waige , son , Ralph . " Explained Paige .
" I thought you may have gone back to Scorpion . " Katherine still a little confused queried .
" Scorpion was the past , Waige and Son is our future . " Walter explained to Katherine .
By the time Katherine had grasped what she had been told , there was a knock on the door , an agent entered followed by Happy and Toby . Happy smiled as she saw Walter and Paige and immediatly walked over too them and hugged both of them . Toby had stayed at the door , until Katherine called him over .
" It is good to see you both again , although i am still upset with you both for walking out on Walter and help breakup Scorpion . Then you let your own company fail . But that is history .
However i will tell you the same as i have already told Paige . When i first learnt you had left Walter and started another company to compete against him , i was prepared to send agents round to arrest everyone , for interfering with a Goverment asset , But Cabe talked me out of it .
However when he told me you had closed the company down , i was going to do the same and maybe , i did not tell Paige this , charge you all with treason , a charge if proved could have ended in a death sentence. However Cabe just told me " Walter would not like you to do that " So even if he was on a different Continent it was really is unknon interferance that saved you .
That being said i can forgive you , but i will never forget , so make sure you always remember that . "
Both Happy and Toby were looking at their feet the whole time Katherine was speaking to them .
They both lifted their heads and rather quietly both said together . " We will ."
Katherine gave them one final glare , before speaking again . " Ok down to business , you are here because Walter requested Toby's presence to watch and interpretate a prisoner during interrogation . Walter would you like to Explain ?"
" First no sarcasm , no joking about , i want you just do what you are so good at and that is reading people . This is your chance and it will be your last chance if you decide to mess with me .
Let me start at the begining , yesterday we were called into Homeland as their system had been attacked , with Ralph's help we found the problem and tracked it down . I am certain it was Collins . Katherine sent Agents , but it was aeven hour flight . They found someone at the address but it was not Collins . I am sure he figured out we had tracked him down and before leaving he put a patsy in his home to delay us even more . This is who i want you to profile and make sure he his not lying . We will be in an observation room ,next to the interview room , watching though a oneway mirror and listening to all that is said ."
Toby remained silent for a minute . " I promise i will do my best , but what makes you think it was Collins that infiltrated the system ? "
Walter again began to explain . " Ralph had to go through at least forty different IP address to locate the source . Who else do you think it could be ? "
Toby removed his hat and turned it in his hand four times before putting it back on his head .
" Well apart from you and Ralph , i cannot think of anyone alive who could . "
At that Katherine stood up from her desk . " Right it is time to take you to the observation room , once you are settled i will have the prisoner bought up . I am going to lead this interrogation , with another agent . "
Five minutes later later they were all setttled in the observation room , the prisoner was bought up from the cells . As soon as he walked into the interview , they could see it was not Collins . He was led in by an agent who sat him down on a metal chair , removed the handcuff from one wrist then attached it to a metal bar that was fixed by two brackets to the metal table in front of them . The agent sat down on a chair opposite him . Katherine left the ubservation room and entered the interview room and sat on the chair next to the agent . She indicated to the agent to switch on the recording equipment .
" This is an interview ." She gave the time and date ." My name is Katherine Cooper also present Agent Botham ." She looked at the prisoner . " Please state your name for the tape ."
The prisoner just looked blank at her . " Your name . " She repeated . Still the prisoner just stared at her .
" For the third time what is your name ? " By now Katherine was losing patience with the prisoner .
Again the prisoner just looked blank at her .
In a fit of temper she slammed both of her hands on the metal table causing a loud bang . The prisoner never reacted .
Toby had been watching closely . " He is deaf . "
He hit the intercome button and spoke to Katherine . " He is deaf Katherine and possibly dumb as well . Would you let me in the interview room ? "
Katherine turned round and indicated for Toby to come round . As Toby entered the room the agent switched the recorder off .
Toby walked up to the prisoner and tapped him on the shoulder , the prisoner turned to him . Toby began sighing using his hands and fingers , immediatly the man responded .
The three people in the observation room turned to one another and all said at the same time .
" I did not know Toby could sign . "
Meanwhile Toby had continued to sign to the prisoner before turning to Katherine .
" He says his name is Joe Sly and wants to know why he is here . " Toby told Katherine .
" Could you ask him why he was at that address . " Katherine asked .
Toby signed some more and received a reply . " He says a man gave him $500 to stay for two or three days , as the man had to go away and did not want to leave the house empty . "
This time Walter hit the intercom button . " Katherine , show him a picture of Collins to see if he regonizes him . "
Katherine turned to the window and mouthed " OK."
She then turned to the agent who was in the room with her to go and find a picture of Collins .
While they were waiting , Toby carried on signing to Joe , first he asked him were he normally lived . Toby explained to Katherine he lived mainly on the streets begging for odd change to get food . So the $500 and a warm place to stay and sleep for a couple of days , was like a gift from Heaven .
Katherine told Toby to ask him if he wanted a coffee and a snack . Joe nodded enthusiasticly . The agent returned with the photo , which he handed to Katherine ,she then instructed him to get coffee and a sandwich for Joe .
Katherine showed Joe the photo and Toby signed to ask him if he knew the man , Joe nodded .
Toby then signed to ask him if he was the man who paid him the $500 . Again Joe nodded yes .
Katherine slumped in her chair . " Ok ,Toby tell him thank you and he will be released from custody and we will arrange to get him back home . "
Toby signed the information to Joe , who smiled at him .
" Where will you keep him until you can get him back home ? " Asked Toby .
" Well we could keep him here , although we are not really equiped to keep visitors , unless they are of the criminal kind . " Katherine answered in a sad voice .
Soon after the agent returned with coffee and a sandwich for Joe , Katherine indicated to Toby to follow her . Toby signed goodbye to Joe and followed Katherine who went to join the other three in the observation room .
" Well that was a waste of time . " Katherine said as she walked through the door .
The three people looked at her , Walter was the first to speak . " Well at least it proves it was Collins who hacked you . The next question is a lot harder to answer . "
" The next question ? " Paige said in a voice full of confusion .
Walter looked at her and smiled . " Why did he hack the computer , we found the worm and nothing appeared to be affected by it . So why bother . "
" As you found the worm so quickly maybe he did not have time to reenter the system . " Paige suggested .
Walter looked at her , the smile still on his face . " I certainly hope you are correct . I think maybe i should have another look at the system , it is possible he as planted some other Trojan Horse and the worm was a decoy . It would seem that the worm was to easy . He made the tracking of it difficult , but also it was a long way round , it was not really that difficult . I think i need Ralph back here so we can check again this time in tandam . "
" But i thought you had strengthened the firewall to stop any more breaches . " Said Katherine .
" I have , but you may remember i did say before anymore were changed the systems needed to be checked over to ensure nothing had already been planted . " Explained Walter .
" It looks i will have to extend Ralph's clearance . Paige can you fetch him ? " Asked Katherine
" Of course but what about Aneli ?" Aked Paige .
" We could go and look safter her , if you do not mind us being in your house when you are not there . " Suggested Happy .
" Well it would save us a lot of trouble . There are plenty of snacks and food in the cupboards and fridge so you would not go hungry . " Paige smiled as she answered .
" That is settled then . " Said Katherine .
" let me ring Ralph and tell him i am coming to collect him . " Paige told Katherine .
" I will get an agent to take you down to reception . " Katherine said as she pulled out her phone to contact an agent .
Within a hour Paige was back in Katherine's office with Ralph .
" Good morning Ralph , as your mom explained what is going on ? "
" Yes Ms Cooper and good morning to you . ." Ralph replied .
Katherine took Paige and Ralph down to the computer room , were Walter was already working . Mark was in the room again , but all he could do was watch the speed of Walter's fingers over the keyboard .
Once Paige and Ralph reached the computer room , Walter explained to Ralph what was required and pointed at the computer on the desk next to him were he had already set the computer up for Ralph . Paige sat on one of the seats and watched the two most importent people in her life , working , the look of pride on her face was undiscriable .
After four hours , Paige phoned Katherine and asked for a selection of sandwiches , coffee and milk for Ralph . The food and drink was set up in a small office next door to the computer room , as food and drink was banned in the computer room .
" Walter , Ralph stop what you are doing and eat and drink . "
Walter looked at her and saw the look on her face , the no nonsence one , he was going to complain until he saw the look .
" Ok Ralph , lets do as your mom says , we will take a thirty minute break . " Walter told Ralph .
" Thank you Walter , Mark would you like to join us ? " Paige asked .
" No thank you i have my lunch in my locker , but i will be back in thirty minutes .
The three of them went next door and ate lunch . Both Walter and Ralph hurried their food and within fifteen minutes and were ready to go back to work on their computers . As they began to get up from their chairs , Paige gave them a stare .
" Were do you two think you are going ? " She asked inher stern nerd wrangling voice .
Both stopped halfway up . Walter looked at her and asked . " Back to work dear heart . "
" No you are not , thirty minutes is your breaktime , not fifteen . We may have a three way partnership , but when it comes to both of your health and well being my share outguns you both . UNDERSTAND . "
" Yes my love . " Said Walter .
" Yes mom sorry . " Said Ralph .
After thirty minutes rest Paige told them they could go back to work . Both left to carry on working , Paige stayed behind to tidy the office , leaving everything on the tray for some one to collect later . Satisfied sne made her way back to the computer room . Once there she again sat on the chair and was more than happy to just watch again the two most importent people in her life work again . Ten minutes later Mark returned to the room .
Two hours of computer work later , Walter called Ralph over to his computer .
" What do you think Ralph ?"
Ralph studied the screen for a good five minutes . " I am sure you are right dad . Do you think it would be safe to open the file . " Ralph asked in a voice that was a little uneasy .B
" That is the problem , it seems to be alien to everything else on the computer , if it is a trojan Horse i do not know what i might release into the system . Mark would you come over here please . "
Mark made his way over to Walter . "How can i help . " He asked
" There is a file here , do you recognize it as one of yours ? " Walter asked .
Mark studied the file showing n the screen in front of Walter . " To be honest i can not be certain , the style of writing does not seem to be our standard way . But so many people write code for files i could not GUARANTEE if it is or not . "
" Ok Mark i understand . " Replied Walter .
" Dad , could we put a wall around the file to contain the data if it releases something that could hurt the system ? "
Walter's face broke out into a big smile . " Brilliant Ralph that may just work , we will need to work together . "
" Fine by me . " A very happy Ralph said .
Paige was listening to the conversation her heart filled with pride .
After about a hour , Walter and Ralph were satisfied that they had a secure wall built around the file .
" Here goes . " Said Walter as he hit the computer button to open the file . The information it released was contained by the wall built by Walter and Ralph .
" Now we have it contained lets check the contents . " Walter said as he began to check the contents of the file . Ralph kept an eye on what Walter was doing . It took a hour to check and remove all of the file .
" Was it a Trojan Horse like you suspected ? " Asked Paige .
" Yes and it could have caused chaos if Collins had managed to open it . As this is one of the main computers on the system Homeland have . I believe the others are safe at the moment but Mark , i suggest you get the extra firewalls on all of the Homeland computers . "
Mark looked at Walter still unable to understand just what the two people in front of him had managed to do .
" I thought i was a brilliant computer operator , but you two make me feel like a novice . Thank you for what you have done for me and Homeland . I will begin tomorrow to put the new firewall in all of Homeland's computers . Would you mind if i contact you again if i have any problems ? " Mark asked , his face , full of a star struck teenager's look who had just met their pop idol .
" As long as you go through Katherine first as we are responsible to her . " Replied Walter .
" No problem . " Said Mark .
Paige looked at Walter her face full of pride . " Have you finished now ? "
" Yes we just need to close the computers down . " Answered Walter .
Paige turned to Mark . " Could you contact Katherine and ask her to send someone down to escort us to her office . "
Five minutes later an agent arrived to take them to Katherine's office . After filling Katherine in on what had been going on . Katherine took them down to reception , herself .
Before they left reception Paige phoned Happy to tell them they were on their way home . She asked if they had eaten their evening meal yet , when she was told no , Paige told them they would pickup pizza on the way home . They all then went to the car and headed home after a stop off at the pizza palour
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A/N I am no computer expert , the work on the computers done at Homeland is out of my mind . But knowing Walter and Ralph they would still be able to pull it off .
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LouBe Well now we know what he has done , now to try and catch him .
Marti As i said to LouBe now to catch him .
JerBr23 Paige is still keeping an eye on them both and with some authority .