Chapter 9. Two Weeks - Week Two

This chapter explores the coding for the hack Jane wrote when she was a teenager. I am not a coder or into anything involving hacking. To me, it's all technobabble that I really don't understand. C is a programming language that according to the internet, any good hacker should know inside out, along with several other programming languages. White hats are good computer hackers, often working for industry and government to find the black hats, or evil computer hackers. Some black hats, once they're caught, become white hats to redeem themselves and avoid jail time.

Jane

After the initial shock of my ex-husband, John Walker, getting his trial moved to New York passed, life returned to almost normal for a while. The FBI agents who informed me personally of that introduced me to the team who would keep watch on the apartment, mainly so that I would not be suspicious of them. Agents Warner, Belmont and Wong would take shifts staking out the apartment. After talking to Tony about the new developments he offered to have his security people pick me up and drop me off every day. He even offered to provide a driver for the weekends so I could go shopping or run errands. The FBI team gave their approval as it would allow them to keep a watch on the apartment during the times I wasn't home to make sure no one tried to enter the apartment. They vetted the people Tony hired and were impressed at their qualifications. At work Tony's team made sure no one could come into the office unless they were cleared by security first.

The others on my team were concerned. Peter and Ned were so sweet about it, saying they would walk me anywhere I had to go. We had a briefing with all the staff in the office and I showed them a picture of John in case he tried approaching anyone to glean information about me. Tony's security head, Happy Hogan, wanted any incidents or inquiries from strangers about me to be brought to his attention. They were all so nice to me, even though it put a crimp on my socializing with them and on my outreach time.

John phoning my parents did not go over well with my lawyer or the FBI. My dad was livid at the nerve of him, and wanted me to come home to Canada, but John knew where my parents lived and there was a fear that I would be more exposed there. The RCMP were informed about the possibility of my parents being targeted and apparently coordinated a plan with Canadian Border Services and the FBI to keep an eye on anyone affiliated with the groups that were being investigated if they crossed the border. After that initial phone call there were no attempts at contact for the rest of that first week, at least none that were passed on to me.

True to his word Bucky video called me every night during those two weeks, even on the weekends. I missed him, more than I thought I would considering our brief acquaintance. His face appearing on my phone every night comforted me and he always wanted to hear about my day first, before sharing what he could with me about the training he was receiving. I knew there were some things it was better I didn't know but Bucky didn't try to gloss over how dangerous this assignment could be for both of us. Every time he called I felt better knowing that my safety was important to him. Midweek we talked about what we would do when he got back.

"Don't make any plans Friday night," he said softly at the beginning of the call. "Try to nap in the afternoon because I want to make up for lost time. Is your bathtub big enough for two?"

I blushed. "Yeah, it's one of those big old claw foot tubs. One of the reasons I took the place. I have some romance bath salts and a couple of big aromatherapy candles that Natasha and I each picked up at a shop. I've been planning, too." He grinned. "I could pick up some chocolate covered strawberries, some nice rosé wine, make a playlist."

"Make sure Bobcaygeon is on it," he said. "I play it every night before I go to sleep. It reminds me of you." He hesitated for a moment. "You don't think we're moving too fast, do you? I worry about it as it's what doomed my other relationships."

"No, I feel the same way," I replied. "You're an incredible man, at least, what I've seen of you so far. Rose called me, did I tell you?" He looked surprised. "She wants us to come for dinner on Saturday. I said I would talk to you. She thinks I'm special. Said she never liked any of your girlfriends as much as she likes me. That has to mean something, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it means a lot," he said with a soft look. "It's true. She always found something lacking with the others, but she told me that Saturday morning that she liked you. I think it's because you kept her secret for her, showed that she could trust you. I've become closer to Joaquin while we're here. He told me I'm the reason he became a cop because of an interaction we had when he was a teenager. I don't even remember it, but I care about him. He's a good kid."

We talked a while longer then said our goodbyes. Sleep came easily to me, but I did wake up from an erotic dream with a need to finish it off. I imagined all sorts of things, all of them involving Bucky, while I brought myself to orgasm. Soon enough I would have the real thing in my bed.

On my way out the door the next morning, I acknowledged Agent Warner who had drawn the overnight shift. Happy himself was in the car with a driver, waiting for me. He opened the door for me and sat in back then nodded at the driver to begin driving. I knew he had something upsetting to say by how hesitant he was. I put my hand on his arm.

"Spit it out. I can take it."

"A couple of deliveries were made late yesterday that were not expected," he said. "Peggy alerted me and I came out. The delivery guys were legit, contracted by an unknown party to pick up some packages and deliver them to the office. They weren't in your name specifically but were addressed to your position. That's why Tony kept you in his office yesterday so the FBI could pick them up. They were rigged but they didn't have explosives in them. Instead they had cameras rigged to start broadcasting the moment you opened it. The consensus is they were a test of our defences and to confirm your location in the office. So, after consulting with the FBI, Tony has decided that all mail will be opened in another location first, with an FBI agent in attendance before allowing it into the office."

I sat back in the seat and looked out the tinted window at the neighbourhood. How had they found out where I was working? Happy must have guessed my thoughts.

"We suspect they've been beating the bushes for you since you got out of hospital. You moved to another location right away which slowed down their process then moved here but they may have hacked into closed camera systems on the streets and identified you that way. The FBI confirmed there were several hacks in major cities across the country and in your hometown in the past month."

"Are they putting me into witness protection?" I asked, desperately wanting to see Bucky before they took that step.

"Not yet, but it's likely to happen if they make any more attempts," he said grimly. "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Sergeant Barnes is likely to be updated this morning on this development." I looked with surprise at Happy who seemed embarrassed. "Peggy told us you were involved with him and that he is away on assignment. We don't think the militia knows about you two and want to keep it that way. Anyways, today is business as usual but stay alert and if there is a problem I will be there for you."

There was a considerable security presence at the building but Happy walked me right through it without delay. He said nothing on the way up while we were in the elevator then just smiled politely at me once we were in the door at Stark Technology, also with more security personnel in place. Peggy came forward and offered a hug.

"You okay?" she asked. "Tony wants to see you. Why don't you drop your things off in your office and I'll tell him you're here."

I went to my office, noticing the blinds were closed and started to open them then stopped. That camera might have had a GPS built into it so they could find my office and perhaps target me. I hated being paranoid about the possibility, but it was there, and I couldn't ignore the thought. Dropping my purse into the file cabinet I headed over to Tony's office. The door was open and Peggy said to go right in. He was alone and came from his desk to hug me. As I sat on that white leather couch, he brought us both a coffee.

"Happy updated you," he confirmed. "That was a bold move on their part. How they figured out you worked here is beyond me as we didn't publish your picture, just your assumed name. Didn't even use your first name, just your first initial. There has to be a leak somewhere in the building, somebody in maintenance or one of the leased offices who has seen you. We'll find out."

"You've done so much for me already," I said. "Am I really worth it?"

He looked at me with some alarm. "Worth it? You're a human being ... of course, you're worth it. You're valuable to this office, yes. Everyone on your team says you're an incredible executive. But you're a person that I promised a friend that I would take care of. I mean to follow through on that, no matter what. These criminals that are looking for you ... I won't let them hurt you or your family. Jane, you're part of my family now, just like anyone else in this office. I care."

His outburst surprised me with its vehemence. Ben Harmon had been supportive, but Tony Stark was sounding like my dad. It was comforting and a little strange at the same time. I sipped the coffee and sank back into the comfort of the couch. He studied me for a few moments then leaned forward.

"Your boyfriend, the cop," he said and I looked at him with surprise. "Yeah, I know about him. I'd like to meet him some time. He's training with the FBI at the moment. Truthfully, is it about your case?"

I sighed as I was unsure if I was allowed to talk to him about it. "It's about an investigation into police corruption and involvement with a militia, but there is a link between it and my ex-husband selling the software hack. The software turned up on a laptop that they seized. I don't know what they were trying to find out with it." He sat back, frowning slightly as if he was thinking of something. "You know, when I wrote the code for that I never once thought someone would use it to hack into government servers. It was just a way to bypass a pay wall so my friends and I could play RPGs for hours on end. Honestly, I was surprised that someone hadn't thought of it before. It's not like I was some coding genius. In fact, I don't really like coding. I just learned what I had to for school and then for work."

"What programming language did you use?" he asked.

"C," I replied. "That was in 2006 or 2007 as I wrote it when I was a teenager. I had been a hockey player but tore my ACL and MCL in one knee and it laid me up for the rest of the season. I got into online games and taught myself coding from one of those Dummies books."

"Could you show me what you wrote?" he asked. I made a face as the FBI had told me not to share it. "I just had a thought about why it works. If I'm right, you might have stumbled onto something big."

"Wouldn't the FBI computer geeks figure that out?" I countered.

"Did they go over your original code or the altered code that your ex-husband's buyers created?" he answered.

"I assumed both."

Now he had me wondering. He brought me a pen and paper and I quickly wrote out the original code for him. Sitting back, he studied it for some time, his brow furrowed as he went over it multiple times. Then he looked up at me.

"Are you sure this is what you told your ex? When did you show him?"

"About a year and a half ago," I replied. "I was pretty drunk at the time so maybe I made a mistake when I wrote it down but what I just gave you is the code I wrote when I was a teenager.

"There's no way this should have been seen as something new a couple of years ago," exclaimed Tony. "Your ex, was he a programmer?"

Slowly I nodded my head and considered Tony's words. What did I write for John?

"Is there anything that you would have changed that would turn my code into something dangerous?" I asked. "You're a white hat, right? You're known as one of the best programmers around."

He smiled grimly and nodded then pulled over another sheet of paper and wrote my code but with one change, showing it to me. My mouth opened in astonishment and I looked up at him.

"Is that what I wrote for John?" I asked. "How could I mess that up? This is something completely different, isn't it? I don't really understand it but I know it isn't good."

"I was one of the white hat consultants who was asked to look at the changed code," he admitted, then he winced as if he had something bad to tell me. "Part of the reason I took you on was to see if you were a black hat." He leaned forward and grasped my hands. "You're not. I could tell within minutes of meeting you. But John, he excelled in programming in college. Your simple code which is still floating around triggered something in his mind and he came up with the change, realized it could make a lot of money for him on the dark web. He showed the FBI this altered code, said it's what you gave him. I think it was his intent to implicate you."

For a long, painful moment I couldn't breathe. John tried to frame me by saying I wrote the changed code. But I wouldn't have because back when I originally wrote it, at the age of 15, I wouldn't have understood its implications. As I sat, almost on the edge of tears, Tony went to his desk and asked Peggy to call in Bruce Banner. I looked up at Tony as he did so. Bruce was a legend in the computer industry. A PhD in computer science by the time he was 22, he had been instrumental in creating a lot of security software, making him the top white hat in the industry.

"He's here?" I asked. "Banner works for you?"

Tony grinned a little self-consciously. "He works with me, is kind of a silent partner in the company. He taught me and Ben at MIT. Ben insisted you weren't responsible for this altered code. Said everything you did for him was by the book. John, on the other hand, was always looking for different ways to hack. Back when you originally wrote this programming was a lot simpler. This original code was like a back door but it always closed behind you, if I can use an analogy. John's change to it left the door open without triggering any alarms. It's like showing the robber where the valuables are. He was fully capable of writing this, then he sold it to the highest bidder."

A knock on the door was followed by it opening and a rumpled looking man, with unruly greying hair and glasses walked in. He came right in and sat next to me on the couch, offering me his hand.

"Hi Jane, I'm Bruce," he said in one of the kindest voices I ever heard. "It's good to finally meet you." He looked up at Tony. "So?"

"She didn't write it," stated Tony emphatically. "She wrote a standard bypass code that just hadn't been written yet back in 2006. That's where I tracked its first use and it was used exactly as she said, to bypass paywalls for RPGs. She hasn't coded, except as part of a group, since she graduated from her college course in Canada." He looked at me apologetically again. "Sorry, we kind of had to snoop into your own coding background to counter John's claim that you wrote the altered code. I'll be testifying to that in the trial when his lawyer tries to use it in his defence."

Tony gave Bruce both sheets and he looked at my original code and the altered one that Tony wrote out. He looked incredulously at mine.

"Your ex-husband is a very devious man," he said. "Our investigation of his coding showed he'd been trying to write this altered code for a long time, but he was missing something, something basic, and your code showed him the way." I must have looked confused as he smiled kindly at me. "You know the term savant, right?" I nodded. "Your ex is a savant, a coding genius but he makes leaps in logic sometimes without knowing the steps in-between, kind of like going from A to H, without bothering with B to G. You originally taught yourself coding, C for Dummies, am I right?" I nodded again. "When you showed him this basic code, which his brain kind of always skipped over as irrelevant he saw something, a foundation, if you will, that he could build on. Perhaps he found it for himself before he met you but learned it was your code. He changed part of it to turn it into something very bad; for governments, for corporations, just about anyone that needed secrecy. This is the proof that he wrote this code before he sold it. His defence was that you wrote it, gave it to him, then he sold it on your behalf via the dark web to buyers who adapted it to their needs."

"You were the one who alerted your boss and the FBI about the hack," added Tony. "You stepped back and let us white hats track it. That's not the trait of someone who wrote the dangerous hack. That's the trait of someone who was set up but didn't know it."

Now I was hyperventilating and Bruce patted my back, telling me it would be alright. "Tony, water for Jane, please," he said, as I began to breathe normally. Once I had a few sips I looked at him with a lot of questions in my eyes. "We think this is why he tried to kill you so that we wouldn't find this out. He gave us the altered code as the one you wrote out for him but based on our subsequent investigations we knew that wasn't possible as you never wrote anything close to it, except for that bypass coding when you were a kid. That laptop that the FBI confiscated from the militia? I cracked it open and found this altered source code on it. We backtracked it to a year and a half ago, a short time before you contacted the FBI and turned your ex-husband in, allowing us to track his financials. The altered code was all over his computers, both personal and work. So was his version of it that he tried to create before. None of it matched your coding signature. He was setting you up from the moment you began working for Ben. He had suspected John was into something before he hired you but we couldn't find it."

"You're saying he married me just to set me up? Did he become friendly with me to get me to show him the gaming code? I openly shared it with the gaming community when I was a teenager. He didn't need me to get it."

I was starting to cry, and Tony sat on the other side of me, taking my hand. "He needed you to take the fall, as he produced the "original" paper you supposedly hand wrote the altered code on. Handwriting analysis showed it was a forgery, a good one, but a forgery. Your whole marriage was a set up. I'm so sorry to be telling you this but better you hear it from friends, and we are your friends, Jane. We're not going to let him succeed."

It all made sense now. He didn't like me when I first started working with Ben, then he deliberately paired up with me on that team building exercise. When I broke my ankle ... a bad thought crossed my mind and I looked at Tony and Bruce in a bit of a panic. I told them about the accident, how we were in the woods without GPS and I stumbled, breaking my ankle.

"Do you think that's when he first decided to seduce me and use me as the fall guy?" I asked.

"What date was that retreat?" asked Tony.

I looked at the calendar on his phone and worked it out. He entered his computer and looked up when John began trying to create the code. When he looked up at us his face was grim then he nodded. That was it, I was now officially devastated. Right from the beginning he was trying to frame me for his illegal hacking attempts. I should have listened to my initial feelings about him. I should have known that he was a psychopath playing a long game to frame me. In his mind I was the enemy, a competent woman in a field dominated by men, who threatened his plans. For so long I believed he was driven by his faults; his ambition, his use of drugs, his cheating, and his aggression but it was all an act, just so he could say I was the genius behind his acts. No wonder he got his trial venue changed. No wonder he hired hit men to run me off Mulholland Road. There were too many witnesses at the crash site so they couldn't finish the job and while I was in hospital I was under guard. Moving to New York shook him off but he hacked his way into finding me, intent on finishing what he started.

Tony called for Happy. A few minutes later he entered Tony's office. "Double Jane's security detail," he ordered. "She's in more danger than we realized before. I'll talk to the FBI about getting her into a secure location until the trial. Happy, protecting this lady is a priority. That bastard ex-husband of hers is still trying to kill her."

With a serious look of determination, Happy went off to set up more security for me. By the end of the day the FBI confirmed they would put me into a secure location, and I went home to pack. Several times I tried to phone Bucky to tell him, but his phone kept going to voice mail and I began to worry that I wouldn't be able to see him or explain to him what was happening. Just before I left my apartment with my bags there was a knock on the door and another agent came in, a big man with blond hair and a beard.

"Mrs. Walker?" he asked, in a deep voice. "I'm Agent Thor Odinson. I'm the lead agent on the investigation into the White Sword militia, who have been using the hack your ex-husband created. Mr. Stark and Mr. Banner updated me on their findings about where you fit in on all of this. I'm sorry you've been put into danger. We're going to be transporting you to a new location, but you won't go alone. He wouldn't hear of it."

Nodding at the agent at the door who opened it I was shocked when Bucky walked in and opened his arms to me. As I cried bitter tears he kissed my head and stroked my back, whispering that it would be alright. He would be with me, at least to start.

"I'll explain everything," he said, looking intently into my eyes. Then he looked at Agent Odinson. "Let's go."

"I'll need your cell phone," said Odinson. "We'll issue you a new one that can't be tracked but yours stays here. Your parents will be told you've been moved to secure custody until the trial for your own protection."

I handed him my phone and charging cord, which was plugged in, and the phone left turned on. Then the other agents picked up my bags and together we went down the stairs to the bottom where they waited while two other agents verified it was safe to leave the building. There was a large SUV with tinted windows and a driver. Odinson got in the front while Bucky and I got in back. It pulled away, followed by another SUV, while my original security detail stayed put.

"What's the plan?" I asked Bucky.

"I'm going with you," he said simply. "It's all arranged. A female FBI agent who resembles you will take your place at home and at work. She'll carry your phone so that they continue to track it, as it appears they've already hacked into it. John's trial is set for two months from now. Once you've testified I'll be going undercover against the White Sword militia. It means I'll be away for some time but until then I'm your primary security. Even I don't know where we're going. But I wasn't going to leave it up to strangers to make sure you were safe."

"He set me up, Bucky," I replied. "Right from the beginning. Courted me, married me, all to get me to give him my base code then he wrote his altered code, forged it so it looked I wrote it. He told the FBI he sold it on the dark web on my behalf. Then he tried to kill me so I couldn't counteract his testimony."

"I know, Thor told me," he said with an assured tone. "Your old boss, Ben, knew you didn't do it as he always suspected John was trying to write the code. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner confirmed it when you showed them the actual code you wrote." He held me again. "John won't get away with it. You have a lot of people in your corner, not just me."

"Once you've testified and the verdict delivered you'll be placed in another secure location but Bucky will be undercover with me, as we tie the militia to the hacking of government investigations on them," said Odinson. "Buck, we'll need a week to alter your appearance and your sergeant's tattoo. It won't be permanent but should last for the duration of the assignment. Until then, keep each other safe."

The vehicle drove to a waterfront heliport where a military helicopter was waiting. As Bucky helped me in, he nodded at the pilot who grinned back at him. Once we got on our headphones the pilot introduced himself.

"I'm Major Jack Landon," he said. "Nice to see you again, Sergeant Barnes. I know you've been in a helicopter before. Mrs. Walker, have you?"

"No," I said, a little unsure of what was going to happen.

"Well, just relax as best you can," he said. "I've flown a helicopter for over 20 years, through two war zones and multiple relief efforts both domestically and internationally. I'll get you safely to your next destination. If you feel airsick just grab one of the paper bags next to you. There's no shame in throwing up on one of these but I'll try to keep the fancy acrobatics to a minimum."

Through the open window next to the pilot's seat an envelope was handed to the Major by Odinson who looked back and raised his hand to Bucky and me. The pilot opened the envelope and nodded before handing it back to Odinson. He stepped back out of the way of the rotors and watched as Landon lifted the helicopter straight up then began soaring over the city.

"Well, this is one way to show you New York," said Bucky's voice through the headphones. "The rest will have to wait but when this is over I'll show you the New York I love."

He held my hand as we flew over the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Seeing the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building from the air as well as flying over Times Square was incredible but it was also a goodbye to the city as the helicopter headed northwest into upstate New York. An hour later we landed at a private airfield beside a wide river and two men in suits approached, taking our luggage as Bucky helped me unstrap the harness. Stepping to the pilot's window he reached in and shook Landon's hand before stepping back and walking with me to the dark SUV waiting for us. As we settled in the back seat and did up our seatbelts the man in the passenger seat turned around and handed us passports. I looked at mine. It was my Canadian passport and picture, but the name and details had been changed. My name was now Rachel Matheson. Bucky's American passport was also his, but his name was changed to Paul Ellis. The agent asked for our bank cards and anything with our old identities on it then handed us new bank cards and New York driver's licenses, all with our new names on it.

"You didn't just get this done today," noted Bucky.

The man in the passenger seat smiled slightly. "No, Agent Odinson has been thinking ahead for some time. We've had these ready for over a week. The bank cards are connected to a special fund set aside to provide living expenses to you. The password for both is 3238, your ages. You should change them when you have a chance. You will cross the border on the ferry from Cape Vincent where we're taking you to Point Alexandria, Ontario. You are to tell Canadian Border Services there that you are taking a break from your busy lives at your fiancées family cottage as that will be the official reason entered in the system."

"Where is it?" asked Bucky. "Or are you allowed to tell us?"

"Somewhere in Ontario," said the first man. "In cottage country, something like that. You are to give this envelope to Canadian Border Services but where it actually is will be shared with you in Canada by your final contact. I am to give you this."

He held out the envelope and an engagement ring. Bucky took them and looked at the ring softly before turning to me.

Bucky looked at me with a grin. "He heard me playing Bobcaygeon and asked me about the song. I guess it seemed like a good location to him. So, for two months, will you wear this ring as my fiancée?"

I smiled and he placed the ring on my left ring finger. Holding hands again we both sat back, contemplating what the next two months would be like, living in or near a town I only knew from a song, written by a dead poet for his Canadian rock band. In a way I was relieved we were going to Canada. I needed some familiarity and looked forward to autumn in cottage country with the man I was falling in love with. At least, with him I felt secure.