Okay, maybe not so much the last one, but questions draw everything to the surface. They make you look like you aren’t a team player and Looking Glass is all about the team and I’m all about graduating so—“Sure,” I say. “I can do that.”
Then I grin like I’m Susie Freaking Sunshine and get to work. The web address takes me to a password log-in page. Considering this is a timed test, I have to assume this computer has the same VNC password as the laptop and punch in “command: vncserver:1” followed by “vncpasswd” into the Linux box.
Wait for it . . . wait for—I’m in.
There are about three dozen devices within range of the remote laptop, and after a bit of hunting, I find one device that matches the serial number Norcut gave me. I hijack it and start running commands, looking for vulnerabilities in the device.
“Are you in?” Norcut asks.
I nod and she stands, takes a cell from her blazer’s pocket, and punches in a number. She waits, eyes on me. “Are you ready?”
“One second.” Something’s a little weird here. Well, not weird. Old. There’s an open port within the remote authentication, and immediately I start fuzzing—basically throwing variable inputs at the device until I can exploit a weakness. And it’s that weakness that catches my attention. Whatever I’m accessing isn’t properly secured. It’s not a phone, tablet, or even a laptop because those would be better updated. This is something different.
“We’re at the two-minute mark, Wick.”
“I—” I’ve got it. There. There’s an easily exploitable heap overflow. Now I just need a quick script.
I start typing code from memory, praying I get it right. If I do, the exploit will run as a privileged service, giving me total control of the device.
“Wick?”
“Yeah . . . yeah, I’m ready.” I fold both hands in my lap and take a deep breath, looking at Norcut.
“Do you have confirmation?” she asks into her phone. There’s a pause, then Norcut nods to me. “Turn it off, Wick.”
I blink, sudden nerves drying up my breath. Is there some other Looking Glass employee standing by the other computer? Is this how they’re checking my work?
“It’s okay, Wick.” Norcut sounds softer than I have ever heard her. “Just turn it off.”
I do. Nothing happens. I mean, on our end, nothing happens. On their end, obviously, everything’s just ground to a total halt.
Seconds later, Norcut asks me to turn it back on, and I type the command prompts, nodding at her when I’m finished.
Norcut’s eyes go a little blank as she listens to whoever’s on the other end of her phone, then she looks at me. “Off.”
It’s easier the second time. The pause stretches much longer though. The boys are supposed to be working on their own thing, but I know Kent’s watching us. I keep seeing his eyes following Norcut in those damn mirrors.
“On,” Norcut says.
I do, and when I’m finished, I sneak a glance at Alex. She grins and I give her a lopsided smile. I am trying. I am trying. I am trying.
Across from us, Norcut paces the length of the room, waiting, listening. The entire room is overstuffed with breathing and silence.
She stops. “Off.”
We repeat the cycle four more times. Each time, the pause is longer, and each time, I get faster. Start. Stop. Start. Stop. Whoever’s on the other end is getting a good idea of what I can do.
What I will do. Playing along is getting easier. At some point, Hart comes in. He leans against an empty desk, watching me, watching Norcut. Every time our gazes meet, his mouth twitches like we’re in on the same joke.
“We’re finished.” Norcut eyes the phone, putting it in her pocket. “Good job. That was nicely done.”
“She still took four minutes longer than I did.” Kent thumps a fist against the top of his desk. “I still hold the record.”
“Indeed you do,” Norcut says, attention still on me.
“So did I pass or whatever?” I ask.
“Of course. Did you doubt you would? The test is only a formality, Wick. We know you belong.”
Kent makes a disgusted noise like he disagrees. “I’m ready for you to look at this,” he says to Norcut. She walks to Kent’s side, stands next to his workstation to view his computer screen.
I’m glad for the space. I can’t settle. There’s something really wonderful about being able to do this in the open and yet I can’t make my smiles genuine. I can’t bring myself to really laugh. It’s like suspicion has tunneled through me—so deeply and for so long—that there’s nothing left but hollows.
“Alex,” Hart says. “Do you think you could show Wick those accounts you were working on?”
Alex gets up from her workstation and joins me at mine. Hart studies both of us as she walks me through the network, showing me the files I’ll need.
“These are a few of our newer clients,” Hart says. “I’d like you to take a closer look—”
“Mr. Hart?” Norcut lifts one slim hand, motioning to him. “Can you come here?”
“One second,” he says to us and joins the huddle at Kent’s computer.
“Alex.” I nudge my knee against hers. “What did I just do?”