The attack was deep, moving fast, overloading the grids as they watched, threatening to take down even more power. Nicholas had five guys working on each leg of the code, but no one was making any progress.
Martin said, “We’re not getting it done. Do you have any more ideas how to stop the code from spreading, Nicholas?”
Think. Think. Be the code.
The code was everything. Gunther was the architect. He’d built something new, so new Nicholas had never seen it before, but there was a key to unlock every code. He simply needed to find the way in. Think, think. And then an idea sparked. “I need to get into Gunther’s server, look at his code from the inside out.”
Savich said, “Nicholas, doesn’t Menard have Gunther’s computers? You can access them remotely.”
“Savich, you’ve nailed it. That’s it. Mike, get me Menard. Right now.”
Mike was fast. “It’s on speaker. What else can I do?”
“You can cross all your fingers.”
Menard said, “Nicholas, I have no more news for you. I—”
“Pierre, forgive me for interrupting. I need access to Gunther Ansell’s computers. Can you get me in?”
He blew out a breath and Nicholas could picture his Gallic shrug. “I can try, but it will be trés difficile. Give me some time.”
“We have no time, Pierre. I need in there, right now. Who can I speak to locally? Who’s working the case?”
“Hold a moment, I will conference you in.”
The phone went silent. Martin said from behind him, “What are you thinking?”
“Gunther always wrote a special key to his code. It’s something we all do, in case of catastrophe. If I can hijack his system I might be able to find the key. Without it, we can’t stop the attack quickly enough. It continues to grow, the power outages are spreading. The power could be out for days at this rate, and with no one prepared, the results could be devastating.”
Menard said, “Nicholas, I have on the line the head of Munich’s police technology intervention unit, Lieutenant Elsie Splatz. She is the one who has been working on compiling the information requested in the warrant you provided. She can help you.”
A woman’s voice came clear on the line, accented, but her English was excellent. “Special Agent Drummond, I have the hard drives of Gunther Ansell’s computers in my office. We have been searching them, but his security is very good. We have not been able to get back his second layer of firewalls.”
“Give me access to your servers, I’ll look myself.”
“I am sorry, Agent Drummond, but that will not be possible. Your warrants have not cleared.”
Mike rolled her eyes at him, and he smiled for the first time in an hour. He said, “We certainly wouldn’t want a little thing like errant paperwork to get in the way of an international cyber-attack.”
“Your sarcasm is duly noted. What would you like me to do?”
“Look for a file called ‘Roman.’ It will be in the subfolders of an encrypted drive called ‘Fever.’”
A few taps. “Yes, I see it here. As you say, it is encrypted. We have not been able to get through this firewall.”
“Stop trying. Every bit of code you throw at it is making it tighten down more instead of less. I can access it. Send it to me.”
“You do not know what is in this file. It could launch another virus, another attack.”
Nicholas said, his voice calm, “Lieutenant, it’s Gunther’s key file. Trust me. I know how he works. I know how to get into the drive, into the files, through the encryption, but I need it in front of me to do so. It’s too complex to walk you through over the phone. We’re losing time. Please, send it along now.”
Menard said, “I will take responsibility, Lieutenant, and FedPol will send the appropriate paperwork as soon as possible. Give him what he wants.”
“Yes, sir. I have sent it through our secure network. You will have it momentarily.”