Fatal Transaction (Thriller & Suspense, Cyber Crime) by W. Richard Lawrence
Book: Fatal Transaction (Thriller & Suspense, Cyber Crime) by W. Richard Lawrence
Read Free Book Online
Authors: W. Richard Lawrence
Ads: Link
her mind.
Finally, with what seemed like a very loud click, the cylinder rotated. Slowly twisting the knob, Sara opened the door. Her body stiffened with the door’s every creak and groan. Knowing the room was empty didn’t stop her from looking around before stepping in. Once inside, she eased the door shut. Using only the light coming through the window, she made her way across the dim office to Levy’s computer. Sara sat on the edge of the leather chair and reached up to verify that his monitor was turned off to prevent light from escaping into the room when the computer was turned on.
Using a straightened paper clip to open the CD drive, she inserted her disk. Stopping, she listened. The building remained quiet. She pulled a portable hard drive out of her bag, plugged it into the USB port, then turned on the system. The computer now used her CD to boot, giving her full access to all the files.
The CD, one of her own creations, copied the entire file system over to the hard drive. Then the software would install some of her own programs onto Levy’s computer. These programs would be buried deep in the boot sector of his system, a place few virus protection programs would look.
Once her programs were in place, the CD would remove all traces of her work and shut down the computer.
As she waited, she realized one mistake in her plan. The only way to know if the program had a problem was to see the screen. But turning on the monitor would flood the room with light, so she had to trust that her program would work correctly.
It was taking longer than it should. Was there a problem?
She fought the desire to look.
Three times, she jumped upon hearing a noise outside the door or out the window. The waiting seemed interminable. She resisted the urge to rifle through Levy’s desk. It would make too much noise and leave behind proof someone had been there.
Time passed slowly. Seeing Levy’s desk clock, she noted the time.
2:28.
How long had she been here? She didn’t think about checking the time when she came in.
She waited.
2:31.
The CD popped out as the computer went silent. Tension melted away. Her program had worked. She hoped. The only way to be sure was to examine the contents of the hard drive, but that would have to wait until she got home.
She closed the CD tray after removing her hard drive and CD. Sliding them into her pack, she took one more look around. Everything was just as it had been when she entered.
Rising to her feet, she moved the chair back to where she had found it and stealthily moved to the door. Again she listened. Nothing.
She opened the door and turned the lock on the inside. Stepping into the hall, she eased the door shut. The latch made a loud click. Sara froze and waited. All remained quiet. Trying the knob one last time, she made sure it was locked. Resisting the desire to run, she quickly retraced her path to exit the building and looked for a taxi.
***
The taxi stopped two blocks from her apartment building. Sara looked around before getting out. All clear.
A short walk took her to the end of her block, then an alley led to the parking lot for her apartment building. She peeked around the dumpster in the corner of the parking lot. Mike was still asleep in his car, his head leaning against the side window.
Continuing down the alley, Sara made her way behind the building and up the stairs at the far end. Two minutes later, she stood at her apartment door.
Before entering, Sara checked the small piece of paper she stuck in the crack between the door and doorjamb. Ever since discovering that Levy’s men had been in her apartment, Sara had started putting a very small paper in the doorjamb as she closed the door to leave, something she’d seen in a movie once. It was lame and she knew it, but it made her feel a little more secure. The paper was in place.
She opened the door and stepped in. After closing the door, she debated about turning on her living room lights.
Would
Finally, with what seemed like a very loud click, the cylinder rotated. Slowly twisting the knob, Sara opened the door. Her body stiffened with the door’s every creak and groan. Knowing the room was empty didn’t stop her from looking around before stepping in. Once inside, she eased the door shut. Using only the light coming through the window, she made her way across the dim office to Levy’s computer. Sara sat on the edge of the leather chair and reached up to verify that his monitor was turned off to prevent light from escaping into the room when the computer was turned on.
Using a straightened paper clip to open the CD drive, she inserted her disk. Stopping, she listened. The building remained quiet. She pulled a portable hard drive out of her bag, plugged it into the USB port, then turned on the system. The computer now used her CD to boot, giving her full access to all the files.
The CD, one of her own creations, copied the entire file system over to the hard drive. Then the software would install some of her own programs onto Levy’s computer. These programs would be buried deep in the boot sector of his system, a place few virus protection programs would look.
Once her programs were in place, the CD would remove all traces of her work and shut down the computer.
As she waited, she realized one mistake in her plan. The only way to know if the program had a problem was to see the screen. But turning on the monitor would flood the room with light, so she had to trust that her program would work correctly.
It was taking longer than it should. Was there a problem?
She fought the desire to look.
Three times, she jumped upon hearing a noise outside the door or out the window. The waiting seemed interminable. She resisted the urge to rifle through Levy’s desk. It would make too much noise and leave behind proof someone had been there.
Time passed slowly. Seeing Levy’s desk clock, she noted the time.
2:28.
How long had she been here? She didn’t think about checking the time when she came in.
She waited.
2:31.
The CD popped out as the computer went silent. Tension melted away. Her program had worked. She hoped. The only way to be sure was to examine the contents of the hard drive, but that would have to wait until she got home.
She closed the CD tray after removing her hard drive and CD. Sliding them into her pack, she took one more look around. Everything was just as it had been when she entered.
Rising to her feet, she moved the chair back to where she had found it and stealthily moved to the door. Again she listened. Nothing.
She opened the door and turned the lock on the inside. Stepping into the hall, she eased the door shut. The latch made a loud click. Sara froze and waited. All remained quiet. Trying the knob one last time, she made sure it was locked. Resisting the desire to run, she quickly retraced her path to exit the building and looked for a taxi.
***
The taxi stopped two blocks from her apartment building. Sara looked around before getting out. All clear.
A short walk took her to the end of her block, then an alley led to the parking lot for her apartment building. She peeked around the dumpster in the corner of the parking lot. Mike was still asleep in his car, his head leaning against the side window.
Continuing down the alley, Sara made her way behind the building and up the stairs at the far end. Two minutes later, she stood at her apartment door.
Before entering, Sara checked the small piece of paper she stuck in the crack between the door and doorjamb. Ever since discovering that Levy’s men had been in her apartment, Sara had started putting a very small paper in the doorjamb as she closed the door to leave, something she’d seen in a movie once. It was lame and she knew it, but it made her feel a little more secure. The paper was in place.
She opened the door and stepped in. After closing the door, she debated about turning on her living room lights.
Would
Similar Books
