Conscious Revenge Read online

  “During the period when they’re unable to access the financial information, I will introduce a virus which will play havoc with the day-to-day running of the business, e-mails, ordering mechanisms, etc.,” I said.

  My mind was now well and truly in gear. “I would like to run an idea past you,” I said to Paul. “During the time the servers are down, why don’t we intercept any inward bank transfers and redirect them into a bank account in their name, to a country that is renowned for tax evasion, other than Grand Cayman, maybe Switzerland. I can obtain the details for opening an account over there using their own details such as company names, addresses and any references the Swiss Bank may require. We could then make sure that the State Revenue Inspectors are informed, anonymously, of course.”

  “Money laundering is a serious offence, you know,” Paul jested.” I’m sure between both of us, we could be up and running in no time,” he said.

  “Hold on, we’re talking an awful lot of programming if any of this is to work,” I added, turning on my laptop. The data research that would be needed before we would be able to get the project underway and bring down the servers was immense, having discovered that their computer technicians had shown great foresight in planting many fail-safe mechanisms into the programming dialog.

  “These,” Paul explained, “may prove more problematic than we first thought, so the sooner we get on with the job, the better.”

  “I will move on with the financial interception,” I added, this being more in keeping with my technical skills.

  “It was your skills in interception that got you in trouble in the first place,” he muttered under his breath, thinking I would not hear his attempt at sarcasm. “Of course, I think that would be an excellent plan,” he said louder, thinking I hadn’t been party to his first remark.

  Having spent many long hours researching the data which was far superior to that G&F plc. had come up with, I began formulating a method of intercepting the incoming BACS payment transactions we had decided on for the shipping business. This would have to take a different path to the one that I had invented for my own money transfers, as two banks would be involved in the West’s transactions. It would need careful planning if I was not to be discovered, so the method I finally settled for was a data interception, were the payment as it moved from one bank to the other would automatically be collected and placed unnoticed by their accountants into a bank of our choosing.

  “We’ve only just begun but by the time we get to the real nitty gritty, they won’t know what’s hit them,” Paul added.

  “That’s the idea,” I said. We both laughed, although what was ahead was no laughing matter, having only just touched on the vast amount of work I realised would be involved.

  We decided to turn in. “I think that’s enough for one night. We have plenty of time to invent ways to make them sit up and smell the roses,” I suggested. “Once we get to grips with the other options that may be open to us, we can plan how to deliver disruption in other areas. Softly softly, catch a monkey,” I said, touching the side of my nose in jest.

  Once we decided which of the West’s companies to disrupt first, that being the shipping company, with offices in several states in America, we chose their Head Office which was based in San Francisco. “A no brainer,” Paul said, “it is the biggest tanker business in operation throughout the world. I have done my homework and know everything there is to know about this part of their operation.”

  “We can make a start on Saturday and work through the weekend,” I said. “I will pick up provisions that will last for the two days, that way we can work for as many hours as necessary.” That said, we knew this was only the beginning of what was to be a marathon in computer hacking.

  Paul looked quizzically at me. “I’ve also been looking into the hotel business while you’ve been at work and it dawned on me when I read the performance reviews that several customer ratings were less than favourable. The hotel posted apologies, you know the ones just standard ‘hope to have a chance to put right your concerns when you come back etc.’

  “If I try I’m sure I could get into their reply e-mails adding my own version of the ‘apology’ such as ‘stay away if you don’t like it’, or some such wording to put the holiday makers off going,” Paul laughed out loud. “You know how inventive I can be when I’m in the mood.”

  “I do,” I laughed, “but we won’t go there.”

  The weekend seemed to take forever to come around. All I could do was listen to Paul when I got home at night giving me chapter and verse on the cruise ship business. “It would appear the ‘Westward’ was the most recent ship and had been the brain child of Brandon West.”

  Paul said, “It seems that Brandon is a bit of a gambler and the idea for the Mississippi Showboat theme was all his idea, very proud of it he is to.”

  “Maybe we should look at how things could go wrong for him then,” I began, “perhaps we could look at how much technology he uses in this operation, I’m sure with your new inventive hat on you will come up with something. The devil makes work for idle hands.”

  With an indignant look, Paul said, “I will have you know it feels harder being bad than it does when I’m at work being good.”

  “You… good?” I quipped.

  “That’s a new slant on your working life.”

  “Will this banter never end?” I said. Paul and I bounce of each other like no one else I have ever known.

  With the weekend here at last, I began writing the first part of the program needed to disrupt their financial software Paul resumed his investigation into the Cruise Ship Technology, so very little banter was taking place. “We take our hacking very seriously these days,” I said to Paul.

  “Would you care for a drink?

  “Tea!” I said.

  “Suppose so,” Paul replied reluctantly. We had made a pact that during the serious programming, we would refrain from alcohol. “This tea-total lifestyle doesn’t suit me, you know,” he said, “feel sure a rum and coke would help oil the brain.”

  “Maybe, but is oil the best way to concentrate the mind!” I replied.

  “Okay,” he said, “you win, tea it is, but after dark is another matter.” We both laughed and then went quiet again.

  Hours went by and we both agreed a break was in order. Paul had made great progress in discovering the technical data used in the West’s Cruise Ship and I had written what seemed like War and Peace of computer speak. After patting each other on the back for a job well done, we went onto the veranda and opened a beer. “Nectar of the Gods,” Paul said, “abstinence certainly works for me.”

  I smiled, “You have only been without alcohol for a short while, how is that abstinence?”

  “Well, you know what I mean, it is for me.” We moved into the hammocks but couldn’t help discussing the day, though we had agreed we needed a rest.

  “I discovered some very interesting information about our Mr Brandon West. He is not above a little smoothing over the technology when it comes to the roulette wheels,” Paul said.

  My ear’s picked up. “Can we exploit that?” I said.

  “You took the words right out of my mouth,” Paul began. “I was wondering if there was a way to hack into the computer that controls his little secret, if so we may be able to reverse the odds that are now in his favour.”

  “What a clever way to cheat the customers,” I quipped.

  Paul continued, “We may be able to change the electrical pulses he uses to stop the ball landing in the winning slot.”

  “It has definite possibilities,” I said.

  “I’m not quite sure how he does it, so a trip around the bay on the ‘Westward’ maybe needed to clinch the deal.”

  “I know what you’re after, a night on the tiles,” I replied.

  “It would be a big help in the long run.” We both knew exactly what he had in mind.

  As long as you use your money and not mine,” I said. “I also think we may need a disgui
se for this one, wouldn’t want the Wests catching us out or any of their cronies, as they may remember us.”

  “Shouldn’t be too hard for you, old boy, you’re a master of the art now,” Paul said.

  The night had arrived for our trip of discovery, as Paul liked to call it, dicing with death may have been better, but then it was in a good cause, wasn’t it?

  Paul’s asked, “How do I look?” I would have no idea what to say, it was not only the dress suit and dickey bow, but with the disguise of a moustache and dark hair, I was in bits. I mustn’t let the tears run down my face, as the makeup Paul had put on me would run.

  “Are we quite ready?” he said. “The taxi will be here for us at five-thirty, that should get us there just in time for the fun.

  This was going to be anything but fun for me, as the memory of my past encounters with the West family are still ingrained in my brain. “I’m sure we will make the best of it,” Paul said, picking up on my natural reluctance, “I’ll look out for you.”

  “Yes, but who will be looking after you?” I asked.

  The taxi arrived spot on time. As I looked at the driver, I thought of Walter. I thanked the driver for being prompt and off we went. I was smiling to myself, wondering if we may be offered one of the West’s more colourful activities on our return? ‘Ladies of ill repute’ was how Walter put it. I felt sure Paul and I would not be partaking of the oldest profession in the world, not even though we had been forced to abstain for such a long time.

  Following the coast road as we had done on previous visits to Grand Cayman, the driver gave us a running commentary on the smuggling activities carried out by latter-day pirates and the more recent exploits of the get-rich gunrunners.

  We arrived at the dock safe and sound. I tipped the driver well, as I remembered how important every penny was for Walter. He thanked me and agreed to collect us whenever we were ready. “Just a phone call would do,” he said, “tonight or tomorrow, no need to worry.” I don’t think we will hang around once we have found what we came for, but we would have to play it by ear.

  “There is no telling what is around the corner for our version of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson,” I said to Paul as we boarded the launch that would take us to the floating casino ‘Westward’.

  Paul was the first to embark and he looked dumbstruck. “Wow,” he said, “can you believe this?” Most of the guests were dressed in costumes that fitted the ambience. The ship with its pretend steam paddle was decked out with the best money could buy. From the inside, you would not have known you were not part of the old Mississippi era.

  “Right out of the movies,” Paul remarked.

  “Only grander,” I added.

  We were offered complimentary drinks to begin with, by ladies a little too scantily dressed for the past, but then maybe not, they were well-known for their promiscuity even in those days. The job of hostess was to guide us through the different gambling tables and roulette wheels showing us how to change our money into chips ready for what I was sure would be an expensive evening on this ship as we were very aware losing money was the name of the game.

  Trying to find out West’s secret technology that took place for winning, was why we were here. “We mustn’t lose sight of why we are here” I told Paul who was getting a little too interested in sorting out which table he would try out first.

  “Don’t worry, Bill,” he said, “I know what I’m doing.”

  As the night was drawing in, we were several hundred dollars lighter. We began to examine the roulette wheels, a decorative strip that ran around the edge of the tables, must hold a cable containing computer generated pulses. These would pick up a signal given out from a computer chip placed beneath each red and black numbered squares. The heavier the chips, the higher the wagers, a signal would then be passed back to the roulette wheel, indicating the colour and number of the heaviest squares. From then on it wasn’t rocket science. The ball would fall into the losing slot, using the lightest black or red square, accurately worked out by the computer.

  You have to give it to the West’s they intend to not only get rich but stay rich, even if it means foul play. All Paul and I have to do now was to find a way to reverse the signal given out by the computer chip from lightest to the heaviest and ‘everyone’s a winner’, other than the Wests. I have to confess hacking into this type of sophisticated computer system was not something I have ever contemplated. Paul agreed that it was going to be a first and we have no idea how to begin.

  We decided not to stay the night as the hostess had suggested, “Just another way to make our pockets lighter,” Paul said as I rang for the taxi.

  We said very little on the way back. We had a great deal to consider, “Let’s eat,” Paul said, “I’m starving.” We could have eaten on-board but even millionaires have their limits, especially ones that were not spending any of it.

  Pulling over at the nearest eatery to home, we paid the taxi driver and made our way to the bar. “Rum and Coke twice please, bartender,” Paul said, “and two plates of your finest seafood.”

  We began to consider how we would progress with our latest task. “We haven’t finished the first one,” I said, “this way we will be here till next year.”

  “We haven’t that much time,” Paul said. “You have forgotten I have a job to get back to. G&F will only give me so much time to work from home, so I will have to get my skates on.” “Perhaps I could ask for some holiday. Andy is usually very amicable, if I promise to get this job I’m on finished, I feel sure he will be ok with it.”

  “That might help,” Paul said, “if it’s only a few days.”

  “I will check it out on Monday see what he says,” I replied. “In the meantime, we have Sunday not touched so we better get started as early as possible, just the one rum for now.”

  Paul scowled, “Looks like another dry time ahead. Let’s hope we can get this project out of the way as soon as possible.”

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Lorna

  I am loving my job. I didn’t realise how interesting making animated films could be, the drawings, the characters and mixing with the stars that use their voices to bring the images to life, is far more exciting than I could have hoped.

  The children seem to be happier these days, the school have given me good reports on how their concentration levels have progressed recently, this is down to time mostly, but also the support I have had from everyone around me, spending time with other children outside of school has also helped. We have been riding several times now with the West family, everyone has been so kind and the children are fitting in well with the many different activities that are organised for them, not only by the West’s, but also Mom and Dad. I think they are doing more things now than before William disappeared. I am sure they would prefer to have one more shared moment with their Dad, than all the attention they are getting from everyone else, that is certainly true of me.

  Brandon has said that I can take as long as I like before moving our relationship forward. He respects the fact that William is still very much the focus of my attention. I fear it may be some time before I can accept he is gone forever. He was my soulmate and I still miss him every waking hour.

  Alberto West is being helpful with my work. I was unaware of the skill and patience it takes to perfect one of his films, not only do I respect him for his intelligence, but also for the consideration he and his wife have shown to me and the children. The West family have many strings to their bow, so there is a constant round of events and functions that go along with their field of business and I am being invited to more and more of these events. I am unable to join in for most of them due to the busy lifestyle I have, not only as sole parent to the children, but I also enjoy time with my parents and friends.

  I have explained to Brandon who seems to want to include me in just about everything he does now that I will try whenever possible to join him. The past weeks have been an eye opener for me, as I was never quite sure how th
e other half live, but after meeting Brandon I am certainly finding out now. Many of the events I would love to go to as they sound really great especially the ones that involve the actors and actresses, not that I have any desire to be one of them but because they all have such different personalities and are great fun to be with.

  I have agreed to join him for what he calls a special surprise for me and have been given strict instructions not to ask what it is. He says it will be spoilt if I even get a murmur of what it could be. I have to dress up he said, so I will have to recruit Mom again to help me choose one of the other dresses that I have only worn once for William’s client evenings with G&F plc. I hope I don’t run out of outfits to wear for Brandon’s outings, as the cost of these can no longer be put down to expenses, as was the case in the past, I would find it difficult to fund new clothes even with the great job I have now.

  I will have plenty of time to organise things for the children. Even though the surprise is for a whole weekend, Mom and Dad say they’ll be happy to have them, so with a few more weeks to go, I should have enough time to put everything in place. In the meantime, it will be business as usual.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Sharing the programming has proven to be a really great idea, not only because two heads are better than one, or so Paul tells me, but also we have a knack of bouncing off one another, sharing data and ideas as we go. “At this rate, things will soon be falling into place,” he said. “The real test will be finding a way to try our methods out, without having a live system to work with.” Paul had downloaded as much of the original plan as possible for the roulette table’s structure, this was in the form of a blue print. The problem now is that it’s from the early stages of the construction, so we are unable to locate any changes that may have been made along the way. “We’ll have to deal with each hitch one at a time,” Paul said.