Dave knocked on Jane Goodley’s office door, he brought a coffee with him, he wasn’t sure what mood she would be in. “Have you recovered from last week?” “Yes, I was exhausted when I came out the interview, situations like that are very intensive, I’m watching for physical movements as I speak, I saw his attempted attack coming, the muscles in his wrist twitched. I also have to look at his face for signs of a breakthrough.” “David, how do you do it, usually it takes an age to train an interviewer, for you it comes naturally, you never raised your voice, but you destroyed him.” “I pointed out the situation he was in, gave him his options and let him decide.” “You know it’s much more complex than that. You used the same technique on the Americans, I think there will be people studying the video of last week.” “It’s nothing special, I don’t have notes and there isn’t much preparation. The case is my preparation, being immersed in it gives you an insight into each person’s profile, once they realise how much I know, it’s usually easy. I couldn’t have done the same if all the facts were given to me and I was asked to do the interview, the outcome would be different. It’s what wears me out. I had reflexology last Friday, I think it has helped.” “What was it with the biscuits, why did you take them in with you?” “There a prop, a distraction and a timer, if I hadn’t achieved anything by the time the packet was finished, there wasn’t going to be a result. I like to sit back and eat noisily while waiting for an answer or letting a point sink in, it’s very disconcerting for the person on the other side of the table, they don’t know what to think, they haven’t usually encountered anything like it before.” Jane asked what his plans were. “I will be here on Thursday and Friday, Sally will be here for the Friday. Today, I am going over to see the Brigadier, then home unless there is anything you want me for.” “The PM would like to see you, he wants to see the video of the software in action. Your request regarding the payment for the software was eventually approved, the Treasury had to look at the implications of the deal and whether it was legal. I’ll arrange the meeting for after you have seen the Brigadier. David, thank you for everything you have done.” “Do a bit of research on a policeman, I only know his nickname, ‘Brick’, he helped us out in Acton, he might be a possible recruit, drives an armed response car.” Jane wrote down the details, “I’ll text over the information for the PM.”
The Brigadier welcomed Dave with a handshake. “You did an excellent job last week. I understand, he has told the whole story, I’ve yet to see the report. Are you here for lunch?” Dave said if he was offering then he would accept. “Over lunch, he was keen to hear Dave’s take on what had happened, “It’s only words on the page, it doesn’t tell me your feelings and thoughts.”
His appointment was at 15:30 in Downing Street, it was only a short walk from the MOD, he was there fifteen minutes early, he sat in the waiting room, five minutes later he was in a room with the Prime Minister, other people in suits, several aides and another who by the look of him was from IT. “I wasn’t expecting to be here, the video is on my phone, I didn’t bring my laptop, but I’m sure we can make it work.” The man from IT asked for Dave’s phone, “no, it stays with me, I can send it to you by Bluetooth or email, your choice.” Minutes later the video was playing on a large screen TV, it was watched in silence, when it was finished, it was immediately replayed. Following the second showing there was a discussion of which Dave took no part. Everyone left except the Prime Minister, one of his aides and another man in a suit. He was introduced as Peter Rothwell, Head of Cyber Security, “Does this work, have you seen it running?” “No, I have only seen the video, however, my contact will only sell software which works, due to its nature, he can’t supply samples, have your people go through the video, look for any part that might be cut and spliced, I don’t think you will find anything. You will be getting a free copy, you have nothing to lose, the Americans want two copies, I think they want to dig in to find out how it works.” Richard Carlton now spoke, I understand we are to act as middlemen for the deal,” “Yes, you will have a free copy in return, the Americans are trying to find out who my supplier is, I am having to be extra careful.” “David, you are very resourceful is there anything you cannot do?” “May I answer freely, I cannot understand politicians, it’s difficult to believe anything they say, I’m sorry if you don’t agree, but my encounters with them have made me cynical.” “Like society, there is good and bad.”
Dave walked down Whitehall towards the tube station, he called Cyrus to say the deal was on, “MI5 will contact you with their address, $1m in Bitcoins to be transferred, they will tell me when the payment has been made, I will have the software shortly afterwards and will contact you regarding handover.” In St. Pancras, he stayed in the station amongst the crowds, using a burner phone, he called Yuri, “It’s sorted, $760k in Bitcoins will be transferred to you, it includes the $10k from the last piece I had. Send me the address, I need three copies, can you do it before the end of the week, I’m travelling to London by train on Thursday morning, arriving just after 08:00?” “If the transfer is done tomorrow, then it will be OK,” Dave asked about the delivery. “I will take care of it, do not worry.” The train was quiet, he called Jane Goodley, “the payment for the software will be tomorrow hopefully,” “we have it already, it came in about fifteen minutes ago, what do you want me to do with it?” “I am waiting for the address, I will call you from a burner phone in the morning, with the details.” He took the sim card out the burner phone, he sat bending it until it broke, at Loughborough station, he threw part of it in a litter bin, the other part would go in the bin at home. Climbing into the car Sally asked him how the day had gone, “very well,” he didn’t say any more.
They spent Tuesday together, before they went out, he checked his emails, there was one from Yuri, he went upstairs for a sim card for the burner phone. “We have to go somewhere busy, I need to make a couple of calls.” Sally thought, no place was busy on a Tuesday morning at 10:00, “Dave we can go to the university, the dining rooms and cafes will be busy, I can get us in.” Quarter of an hour later, they were in a building full of noisy students, Dave looked round to see how many were on phones, nearly everyone, “Is there anywhere less noisy in here?” Sally led him to a breakout room, it was much quieter. The first call was to Jane Goodley, he spoke to her deputy, Howard, “It’s Dave Stretton, is she about?” “Yes, she said you would call, you’re not using your usual phone, the number wasn’t recognised, that’s why I picked up, I’ll put you through.” “Jane, I have the Bitcoin address for the payment, can you write it down and then read it back to me?” He waited until she read it back to make sure it was correct, “transfer $760k in Bitcoins to the address I’ve just given you, confirm the amount please, the remainder, convert into Sterling and put it in my business account. Did you understand the instructions?” “David, I’m not stupid.” “I know, I just have to be sure, sorry, I wouldn’t be popular if I got it wrong, when will you do it?” “I will go down to finance now with the details, I’ll make sure it is input correctly.” “Thank you, I’ll buy you dinner when we see you next, bring Ruth, we can celebrate your news.” He put his finger up to his lips as he dialled the next number, “Yuri, it’s Dave, it should be with you within the next hour, if it isn’t email me, don’t call this number, have you sorted out delivery?” “Yes, don’t worry.” The sim card was taken out the phone and he did the same as yesterday, broke it in half. “Was he Russian?” “Yes, he moves about, but was originally from Moscow, he acts as a middleman between the developers and people like me, and less popular governments, he is usually someone different when he travels, I’m not sure how many people know his proper name, I’m not even sure I do.” They went over to Bradgate Park and spent time walking, talking and laughing, stopping at the little café to have lunch.
Dave spent Wednesday in his cab, he did a few jobs before heading to the meeting point for the drivers, the sun was shining, he sat outside chatting, the cost of fuel and lack of customers were the main talking points. He didn’t want to listen to moans, he was in a good mood, he took the first job he saw. It was busy for the rest of the afternoon, at 17:00, the app was switched off, it was to be an early start in the morning. Sally was packing his case, some of her clothes were already in, “the laptop can go in my briefcase, I want to take the backpack as well, put in the Glocks.” “What do we want them for?” “I like Cyrus, but I don’t trust him, just a little security for us at the handover.”
The train in the morning was busy, Dave was carrying a suitcase, briefcase and his backpack, at St. Pancras, he headed for the Victoria Line on the tube, as he stood in line for the barriers, there was jostling behind him, he pushed back to give himself more space, he checked the backpack hadn’t been messed with. The platform was packed, he stood towards the back, people were pushing past him to get further along the platform, he felt something being pushed under his arm as an old man squeezed past him, looking down he saw a newspaper. Dave looked for the man, he was gone, the doors to the train opened, there was a surge forward, he stayed where he was, the platform emptied, it wouldn’t be like this for long. He took off his backpack and opened it, he ran his hand along the paper, there was something inside. He put it in the backpack, closed it up and moved forward to make sure he was on the next train. Getting off at Green Park, he walked to the hotel, his room wasn’t ready, he kept his backpack, he asked the porters if he could use one of the private meeting rooms for five minutes, he was given a key and asked to return it when he had finished. He locked the door behind him, opening the paper, he saw parts of the inner pages had been cut out, in their place was a slim package taped to the remaining sheets. Carefully opening it, he saw six USB sticks, three red, three green. He laid them out on the table and looked at them, $1m for six sticks. He took his shoulder holster out the backpack and quickly put it on, he slipped in one of the Glocks. With his jacket back on, he returned the key and ordered coffee, whatever he had planned for today wasn’t going to happen. Sitting in the lounge, he phoned Jane Goodley, “I have the software, on Monday I saw someone from Cyber Security, do we need to set up a meeting with him, I’m in the hotel, and armed, I don’t know how that may affect what happens. I’m having a coffee at the moment, call me back.” When his first cup was empty, he went off to find three small padded envelopes. Into each one he put a red and green stick. Back at reception, he asked for an envelope to put something in the hotel safe, he put two of the envelopes in a larger on, sealed it, signed over the flaps and then sellotaped over his signature, he took the receipt, putting it in his wallet.” He ordered more coffee and roast beef sandwiches, as he was eating, he saw Jane Goodley at reception, the receptionist pointed over towards him. Sitting down, Dave asked for another cup, he offered her a sandwich which she declined. “It’s my breakfast,” she poured herself a drink as he ate. “We have a meeting at the Home Office, I think there will be quite a crowd, I hope it works,” “not as much as I do, I don’t want some arsey Americans chasing me wanting a refund.” They left when he had finished eating, “will there be an issue as I go through security?” “They have been warned, hopefully the message will have trickled down.” Although Dave set off the alarms, he was waived through, instead of going to see the head of Cyber Security, they were taken down to the IT workshops, several laptops were set up and waiting. The head was there together with a technician, “we want to see if it works before we call a full meeting.” Dave handed over the envelope, “Put the red stick in a standalone machine, you will see that it works as normal, now plug in another machine using a network cable.” They watched as seconds after the connection was made, the screen on the first one went blank. “Put the green stick in the next machine, then connect it to the working one, see, they both still work, it doesn’t matter if it is via a network or wi-fi. Reconfigure your network using a router, but don’t connect in the infected machine.” Three more machines were connected up, “now connect the infected machine to the router,” it immediately died, “two more machines died, leaving one working. The working one was the last infected, the one with the green stick is still working as well, it will cascade through a system in minutes. That’s the software.” Dave was relieved it worked, “the Americans have requested two copies, I think they will try to figure out how it works, I don’t know, but none of the anti-virus programs can spot it. Pretty clever isn’t it.” The sticks were removed and put back in the envelope. More computers were ordered to be taken up to a meeting room and set up ready for another demonstration. Dave and the head of MI5 went for more coffee, he had another call to make, before he did, he asked Jane if she had time to think about his invitation to dinner, “if you can’t make dinner, why not come for afternoon tea?” “Are you planning something?” “Yes, I need another pair of hands when I meet the Americans.” “Tell me your plan before I decide.” “I want the handover to be in the hotel lounge, Sally will be sitting at a different table, she will be armed, I need a third person, you don’t need to be carrying, just smile when I point you out. I’m sure there won’t be any trouble but, I want to cover myself. If anything kicks off, I don’t think we will be allowed back.” Jane’s phone rang, the meeting was about to start, among those present were the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, most of the others he didn’t recognise. Dave stood to one side as the head of Cyber Security gave a demonstration, he was there to give assistance if required. All eyes round the table were watching the demo, when it was over, there was a frenzied discussion, too many people were asking questions at once, the Prime Minister banged the table, “one at a time please, we will go round the table.” Most of the questions were about how the government would protect itself from the threat. There was a question about how it hid itself in the host computer, Dave answered saying he understood it found its way into the bios, anti-virus didn’t check there. The next question was for Dave, “where did you get it?” “In King’s Cross tube station, earlier on today.” This wasn’t the answer he was supposed to give. “Who gave it to you?” “I think it was a little old man, it was crowded so I’m not sure.” The questioner was becoming angry, “I will ask you one more time, where did you get this software.” “I’ve already told you, what more can I say,” he looked across at Jane Goodley, her head was down. “I will have you arrested, if you don’t tell me where you got the software from.” “I don’t think that will happen, you are asking the wrong question, it should be, from whom did you buy the software. I won’t be answering any questions relating to the developers or my supplier.” The man was now on his feet. “Do you know who I am?” “I don’t know and I don’t care, this software was destined for the USA, I obtained another copy for the UK Government free of charge. The Americans are paying $1m for their copies. I didn’t have to do this, I put my life on the line for this country, I don’t like people threatening me with arrest, there are several people round this table who will vouch for me.” The Prime Minister interrupted, “we are not here to question Mr. Stretton’s integrity, he will answer any questions where his technical knowledge is required, I will speak to any of you afterwards who question his methods.” The meeting carried on for another half hour, Dave was only called on a couple of times afterwards. As the meeting wound up, the Prime Minister spoke to the Home Secretary, he left immediately, “Sir Jeremy, Miss Goodley and Mr. Stretton, please remain behind. The Home Secretary will return in a few minutes.” He came in carrying a folder which was put on the table, “Sir Jeremy, would you please read through this file,” Dave saw his name on the front. Coffee was brought in. “David, is there more like this?” “Yes, the developers don’t do it because they want to bring down a government or ruin a business, it’s a challenge, my contact gives them ideas, he pays well, I pick up bits I think might help me, the Americans want to see a list, but there won’t be one. They are desperate to find out who I deal with, we keep contact to a minimum.” “Miss Goodley, I don’t envy you having to control this man and his partner.” Jane said it was a challenge. Sir Jeremy closed the file, “I’m sorry, I had no idea who you were?” “It’s OK. Not many people do, I like to come and go unseen. You don’t need to apologise, it happens all the time, I have a knack of upsetting politicians, I don’t know why,” he smiled as he said it. There were handshakes all round as they left. “Jane, I’m going back to the hotel for lunch, would you like to join me?” “Dinner on Saturday night, arrange your meeting for 19:30, we will eat at 20:00.” In the hotel, Dave rang Cyrus, saying the software would arrive on Saturday and the handover would be at 19:30. “Who are you sending, I want an image emailing over.” “It will be me, I will leave tomorrow and fly back as soon as I have the sticks.” He phoned Sally to say they were having dinner on Saturday night with Jane and Ruth.
© 10210ken 2025
