Terminal Compromise · Chapter 293Bye, You Mf
This chapter is not translated yet. You are reading the original.
<<<<<<CONNECTION TERMINATED>>>>>>
* * * * *
Monday, December 7 New York City
The phone on Scott Mason's desk had been unusually, but grateful- ly quiet. Higgins had been able to keep the First State lawyers at bay with the mounds of information the paper had accumulated on MacMillan's doings. The bank's stock was trading again, but at a dilution of over 75%. Most individual customers had cashed out their accounts, including Higgins, and only those long term portfolios remained. Scott's stories on First Bank had won him recognition by his peers. No awards, but an accolade at the New York Journalists Club dinner. Not bad, he thought.
Now the hard work continued for him. The full background analy- ses, additional proof, more witnesses now that Sidneys was under Federal indictment and out of work. MacMillan was in trouble, but it was clear to Scott, that if the heat got turned up too much, there was a cache of millions offshore for the person with the right access codes.
His phone rang.
"Scott Mason."
"Hey, Scott this is Kirk. We gotta talk, I'm in trouble." Kirk sounded panicked.
"Damn Klingons," Scott cracked.
"Seriously, I'm in trouble. You gotta help me out."
Scott realized this was no prank. "Sure, sure, calm down. What happened?"
"They found me, and they got into my computer and now it's gone . . .shit, I'm in trouble. You gotta help me."
"Kirk!" Scott shouted. "Kirk, relax, ground yourself. You're not making sense. Take it from the beginning."
Kirk exhaled heavily in Scott's ear, taking several deep breaths. "O.K., I'm O.K., but should we be talking on the phone?"
"Hey, you called me . . .," Scott said with irritation.
"Yeah, I know, but I'm not thinking so good. You're right, I'll call you tonight."
Click.
* * * * *
Nightline was running its closing credits when Scott's home computer beeped at him. Though Kirk had not told him when to expect a call, all other communications had begun precisely at midnight, so Scott made a reasonable deduction.
The dormant video screen came to life as the first message appeared.