Stage Three
Chapter 37
Lisa Valante worked for Nene Romanova, for computer security and, in a limited way on 'black projects' for Genom. Not anywhere near what Brian Mason had been doing, of course, but in spying on other companies and preventing cyber attacks.
"So, Gulf and Bradly backed off on their attemps to invade our systems?" Nene noted as she read an update from their department.
"No more attempts other than an apology note left in our internal forum," Lisa noted, amused.
"Ha!: Nene chuckled.
"With a zip file on how they got in," Lisa added. "It was a known back door we monitor, too."
"Good," Nene nodded, "Sylia is hoping we can bury the hatchet with them, now."
"We'll see," Lisa shrugged. "we still have no way to control what the US side is doing."
"Any updates on the system mapping project?" Nene asked.
Nene had informed Lisa about the mysteries involving Genom's computer systems. Or at least told her about SOME of it... she suspected Nene hadn't told her everything. But the idea that their systems were THAT badly compromised was very worrying.
"We're getting there," Lisa admitted, "the hardware is mostly unchanged, but yes we've clearly seen substantial reorganization in the system architecture."
"We think to hide something," Nene nodded.
Lisa agreed, "The problem is, I suspect even the original system maps were inaccurate."
Nene paused, "What."
Lisa shrugged, "How do we know that the 'original' system design is what was really there? If I had something to hide, that's what I would do."
It was funny seeing how torn Nene looked. She clearly wanted to say something, but for whatever reason couldn't.
"It's a good thought," Nene finally said, "I'll pass it on to President Stingray."
"I'll keep digging," Lisa agreed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"So you've already been thinking that?" Nene asked.
Sylia made a face, "Somewhat. It's a rabbit hole I don't want to go down."
"Oh?" Linna asked, there on her turn at guarding Sylia.
"My father was brilliant," Sylia admitted, "it's certainly possible. But why? And how complex did this decepton go?"
"Oh?' Reika Chang asked, visiting from her office one floor down.
"Its POSSIBLE they had multiple, layered systems," Sylia sighed.
"Assuming things are THAT bad, what are our options?" Reika asked reasonably.
"Tear out everything and start over," Nene suggested.
"Which would be incredibly expensive," Linna offered, "the board would have a cow. You'd have a shareholders revolt."
On paper, Sylia Stingray owned Genom, but it was a bit more complicated than that. Her father had put it on the stock market, and while she retained 51% of the stock, she was responsible to shareholders and the board of directors.
"And there's explaining WHY we're doing it," Sylia added. "Telling people our systems are THAT compromised, with no hard evidence..."
"Yeah, it wouldn't fly," Reika agreed.
"Well, I'll keep digging," Nene promised, "I will want to know what, if anything, is hidden in the locked archives."
"Please do," Sylia nodded.
"So.. I hear Jeena Malso is upset with you?" Reika teased.
Sylia groaned, "Yeah. She was in here lecturing me this morning."
"Sorry.. I didn't realize Lisa had told her THAT much," Nene apologized.
"Well, I had intended to tell her everything," Sylia waved it off, "I just probably would have put it more diplomatically."
"Diplomatically," Linna snorted. She did a 'Sylia voice' "It was only a FEW attacks! Really."
Reika copied her, "It was barely dangerous at all!"
Nene snickered as she looked at Sylia, "They've got you there."
Sylia rolled her eyes, I0o0om not THAT bad."
All three just LOOKED at her.
"I get NO respect," Sylia sighed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Did we get anything useful out of Reiko Asagi?" Fargo asked, sighing.
Madigan made a face, "God the woman was such a whining bitch."
Fargo had to laugh as he dryly said, "Don't hold back."
"God, she is though. Most of her interview was bitching about Stingray and her husband suing her," Madigan grumbled.
"But you did get something...?" Fargo asked.
"Well, we found out that YES Genom and the Police have Mason's blackmail files," Madigan sighed, "but apparently we're not named."
"Apparently?" Fargo noted.
"Reiko didn't get access to the files directly," Madigan admitted, "but that was also backed up by our source in the cops."
Of course by 'source' she meant 'guy they had dirt on' but both worked. He was a police Sargent, and while not read in on everything, he knew the gossip and such at the station. If there was a investigation naming them, he'd know.
"And the Mason case?" Madigan asked, knowing her boss had sources in the police too.
Fargo smiled grimly, "Still ongoing, but my source says they're moving it to the inactive files."
"Lack of witnesses and evidence?" Madigan guessed.
"Exactly," Fargo agreed. He added, "Mind you, I doubt Detective Naoko Asami will completely drop it. She has a rep for tenacity."
"On the other hand, other cases will take priority," Madigan noted. "Have they taken the bait with Jiro Tainaka, our patsy?"
:Looks like. We'll have to see if he's enough," Fargo sighed. "All right, we've got a new job, and it's from a old friend," Fargo changed the subject.
"PLEASE tell me it's not another job where I have to seduce the husband," Madigan groaned. She hated being bait for unfaithful husbands.
"Thankfully, no," Fargo chuckled.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"At least the number of Boomer attacks are declining," Leon McNicol noted.
Naoko Asami just gave him a LOOK.
"Well, according to official numbers from ADP," Daley Wong added.
"You too?" Leon asked Daley.
"We don't KNOW if the official numbers are real," Daley shrugged, "though the incidents we've been seeing are down, at least."
"Don't get into that 'BIG BOOMER CONSPIRACY' stuff, please," Naoko sighed.
"Like you trust Genom completely?" Leon challenged.
"That's just part of the job," Naoko shrugged.
Before they continue, the Chief hurried into the meeting room. "Sorry for the wait," he said to them gruffly.
"You wanted to see us?" Leon asked.
"The Brian Mason case is being put on standby," the older man said briskly.
"WHAT," Naoko barked.
He ignored that, as he was used to her. "WE both know you've hit a wall," he pointed out, "and we're not closing the case."
"STILL," Naoko gestured, "a man's dead! And his killer is out there!"
"A scumbag is dead," Leon pointed out. "I doubt anyone is weeping over his loss."
"Leon," Daley sighed, though no one there disagreed, really.
The Chief ignored that, "Besides, isn't the other vic, Jiro Tainaka, a good fit for it?"
"One of our theories is Jiro Tainaka arranged Mason's death," Naoko admitted, "then was offed himself. But the evidence is scanty."
"You're welcome to keep digging, but new cases take priority," the Chief told them.
Her, Leon and Daley exchanged looks, but knew arguing would be pointless.
"Yes sir," Daley nodded, "we'll get right to it."
"That's all," the older man left.
"Think it was politics?" Naoko wondered.
"Probably," Leon scowled.
To be continued...
