“Tell me about this hacker.”
“Gunther Ansell. His work is legendary, but he never could resist attaching a bit of flair for others to see so they could admire his architecture. He’s made a living hovering on the borders of society. But this time he trusted the wrong people. If we’re right, he was killed after he provided COE with the worm.”
Gray said, “One of the COE people must have flown over to Germany and killed him. In and out, fast.”
Nicholas added, “These people are playing for keeps, and this plot has been under way for a while, since it takes time to build software this sophisticated, able to break through firewalls and seize control of an entire system. It required a vast amount of planning and coordination. This was not easy to pull off, nor was it the work of a single person.”
“How long would it take?” Mike drank half her soda, felt the caffeine rush zing her brain.
“Weeks, even if they’re really talented. An attack of this scale? To find the funding—Gunther’s code is wildly expensive—develop the software, plan exactly where and when to gain entry? Plus time it to a bombing? It’s possible we’re looking at months of back-end work.”
Mike saw a chessboard in her mind, saw chess pieces moving slowly, one space at a time, getting into the proper position. It was hard to get her brain around all the complicated and unexpected moves COE had made, all the while sticking with their penny-ante refinery explosions. “But why did they waste time killing Mr. Hodges? He did nothing, nothing. And you know Larry Reeves is most likely dead, probably buried in the rubble at Bayway.”
Nicholas was stroking his hand over his chin. “What they’ve done, killing three agents—this group has to know we’ll come after them with everything we’ve got.”
Gray said, “Nicholas is right. They’ve declared war.”
It didn’t make sense to Nicholas, but he now knew the FBI would focus their incredible resources on this group. Did they want to go out as martyrs?
Mike finished off her soda and crushed the can. “We’ve got to find them before we line them all up and fire our cannon. Where are they? Who is their leader?”
Nicholas said, “We now have some light, Mike. What with the hiring of Gunther, the massive attack, we know they have ties to the hacktivist community. It changes everything. There are probably others ready and willing to help with whatever COE needs, since it appears the group has unlimited funds. Maybe even Anonymous.”
Mike said. “But to date, Anonymous has held government websites hostage and stirred up trouble in places like Ferguson, whipping the populace into a frenzy. But Anonymous doesn’t bomb refineries and take electric grids down and preach for people to stop importing Middle Eastern oil.”
Gray looked thoughtful. “Yet.”
“I know,” Mike said, “yet.”
19
QUEEN TO C5
Nicholas cracked open another soda. He took a sip, yawned, and stretched. “Tell me what you think.”
Mike said, “My gut tells me it’s got to be the new member, the person who’s come on board recently and changed the group’s focus, changed what they originally perceived their purpose to be—namely, to disable oil facilities that import Middle Eastern oil. It sure fits with the over-the-top cyber-attack.”
Nicholas was drumming his fingers on the table, never taking his eyes off her. She had bloody good instincts, and, he admitted to himself, he believed she was right, since that’s what he’d been thinking too.