Industrial Magic
Page 41
True, but the systems are protected by both technical and supernatural means. To hack them would require a supernatural with an inside knowledge of Cabal security systems.
Someone who worked in the computer or security departments. Probably someone who was fired in the past year or so. The old disgruntled employee theory.
Lucas nodded Let me phone my father. See whether we can find anyone whod fit that theory.
Lucas had no trouble getting the Cortez Cabal employee list. Benicio knew that while Lucas might love to keep a copy of that list for his own investigations against the Cabals, he would do the honorable thing and destroy it as soon as it had served its stated purpose. Getting the other Cabal HR departments to cooperate wasnt nearly so easy. Benicio didnt tell them Lucas would be accessing the list, but they didnt want any Cortez getting his hands on their staff records. It took two hours just to get a list of dismissed employees names and positions.
Those lists were surprisingly short. I thought the Cabals were holding out on us, but Lucas assured me they looked accurate. When you hire only supernaturals, and you find ones who work out, you bend over backward to keep them. If they dont work out, its better to make them disappear rather than hand them a pink slipand not just to avoid paying severance. A pissed-off supernatural employee is a lot more dangerous than your average disgruntled postal worker.
Once we narrowed the list down to employees in the computer and security departments, we had two names from the Cortez list, three from the Nasts, and one from the St. Clouds. Put those together and we had five possibilities. And no, there was nothing wrong with my math skills. Two plus three plus one should equal six. So why did we have a list of five names? Because one appeared on two rosters. Everett Weber, computer programmer.
According to the Cortez files, Everett Weber was a druid whod worked as a programmer in their Human Resources department from June 2000 to December 2000, on a six-month contract. That didnt qualify as a dismissal, but people often take contract jobs expecting them to turn into permanent positions. We needed to find out how amicable Webers leaving had been. And we needed details of his employment with the Nasts. Lucas phoned Benicio again. Seventy minutes later, Benicio called back.
Well? I said as Lucas hung up.
Preliminary reports from the Human Resources department indicate that Webers contract ended without rancor, but my father will investigate further. Its not uncommon for managers to be less than forthcoming when confronted with a potentially unreported employee problem. As for the Nasts, Weber worked in their IT department from January of this year until August, in a contract position.
Another six-month contract?
No, a one-year contract that ended after seven months, but the Nasts refuse to elaborate.
I slammed my laptop shut. Damn it! Do they want this guy caught or not?
I suspect the problem is coming from both sides. My father would be reluctant to let the Nasts know were raising questions about someone in particular. Otherwise Weber may disappear into Nast custody before we can question him, a definite possibility considering hes currently residing in California.
And the Nast Cabal is based in Los Angeles, meaning theyd beat us to him.
Precisely. My fathers suggestion, and one I would second, is that we proceed to California ourselves and investigate Everett further, before we press the Nasts for details.
Sounds good, but
The ring of my cell phone cut me off. I checked the call display.
Adam, I said. Before I answer, what part of California are we heading to?
Close enough to Santa Cruz that you can ask him to join us.
I nodded and clicked on the phone.
An hour later we were back at the airport, picking up tickets purchased for us by the Cortez Corporation. This was, of course, Benicios doing, though it was one step down from what hed really wanted, which was for us to use the corporate jet. When Benicio offered the tickets instead, Lucaseager to stop arguing and start investigatinghad accepted. Neither of us was happy about the obvious manipulation, but the truth was that we could ill afford to be crisscrossing the country like this. Dana and Jacob deserved better than a low-budget investigation, and wed make sure they got it, even if it meant accepting transportation expenses from the Cabal.
Of course, Adam didnt mind playing host and tour guide, not when it came with the opportunity for excitement. Ive known Adam for half my life, long enough to accept that hes the kind of guy who does as little as he can get away withunless the doing involves straight-up ass-kicking action. Today, with the prospect of some less-than-legal adventuring, he was keen enough to actually meet our plane on time.
Adam was twenty-four, and good-looking in a wholesome California way with a perpetual tan, light brown hair sun-streaked blond, and the well-built body of a surfer. Like his stepfather, he was a half-demon. Robert had long since suspected Adam was the most powerful subtype of fire demonan Exustiobut it had only been last year that hed finally incinerated something and proved Robert right. That marked the culmination of seventeen years of increasing powers, dating back to childhood, when Talia had gone seeking answers for Adams early displays of power, not content to accept a psychiatrists explanation that Adams literally hot temper was only adolescent acting-out. Her search had led her to Robert Vasic, whod eventually given her the answers she soughtand fallen in love with her.
Someone who worked in the computer or security departments. Probably someone who was fired in the past year or so. The old disgruntled employee theory.
Lucas nodded Let me phone my father. See whether we can find anyone whod fit that theory.
Lucas had no trouble getting the Cortez Cabal employee list. Benicio knew that while Lucas might love to keep a copy of that list for his own investigations against the Cabals, he would do the honorable thing and destroy it as soon as it had served its stated purpose. Getting the other Cabal HR departments to cooperate wasnt nearly so easy. Benicio didnt tell them Lucas would be accessing the list, but they didnt want any Cortez getting his hands on their staff records. It took two hours just to get a list of dismissed employees names and positions.
Those lists were surprisingly short. I thought the Cabals were holding out on us, but Lucas assured me they looked accurate. When you hire only supernaturals, and you find ones who work out, you bend over backward to keep them. If they dont work out, its better to make them disappear rather than hand them a pink slipand not just to avoid paying severance. A pissed-off supernatural employee is a lot more dangerous than your average disgruntled postal worker.
Once we narrowed the list down to employees in the computer and security departments, we had two names from the Cortez list, three from the Nasts, and one from the St. Clouds. Put those together and we had five possibilities. And no, there was nothing wrong with my math skills. Two plus three plus one should equal six. So why did we have a list of five names? Because one appeared on two rosters. Everett Weber, computer programmer.
According to the Cortez files, Everett Weber was a druid whod worked as a programmer in their Human Resources department from June 2000 to December 2000, on a six-month contract. That didnt qualify as a dismissal, but people often take contract jobs expecting them to turn into permanent positions. We needed to find out how amicable Webers leaving had been. And we needed details of his employment with the Nasts. Lucas phoned Benicio again. Seventy minutes later, Benicio called back.
Well? I said as Lucas hung up.
Preliminary reports from the Human Resources department indicate that Webers contract ended without rancor, but my father will investigate further. Its not uncommon for managers to be less than forthcoming when confronted with a potentially unreported employee problem. As for the Nasts, Weber worked in their IT department from January of this year until August, in a contract position.
Another six-month contract?
No, a one-year contract that ended after seven months, but the Nasts refuse to elaborate.
I slammed my laptop shut. Damn it! Do they want this guy caught or not?
I suspect the problem is coming from both sides. My father would be reluctant to let the Nasts know were raising questions about someone in particular. Otherwise Weber may disappear into Nast custody before we can question him, a definite possibility considering hes currently residing in California.
And the Nast Cabal is based in Los Angeles, meaning theyd beat us to him.
Precisely. My fathers suggestion, and one I would second, is that we proceed to California ourselves and investigate Everett further, before we press the Nasts for details.
Sounds good, but
The ring of my cell phone cut me off. I checked the call display.
Adam, I said. Before I answer, what part of California are we heading to?
Close enough to Santa Cruz that you can ask him to join us.
I nodded and clicked on the phone.
An hour later we were back at the airport, picking up tickets purchased for us by the Cortez Corporation. This was, of course, Benicios doing, though it was one step down from what hed really wanted, which was for us to use the corporate jet. When Benicio offered the tickets instead, Lucaseager to stop arguing and start investigatinghad accepted. Neither of us was happy about the obvious manipulation, but the truth was that we could ill afford to be crisscrossing the country like this. Dana and Jacob deserved better than a low-budget investigation, and wed make sure they got it, even if it meant accepting transportation expenses from the Cabal.
Of course, Adam didnt mind playing host and tour guide, not when it came with the opportunity for excitement. Ive known Adam for half my life, long enough to accept that hes the kind of guy who does as little as he can get away withunless the doing involves straight-up ass-kicking action. Today, with the prospect of some less-than-legal adventuring, he was keen enough to actually meet our plane on time.
Adam was twenty-four, and good-looking in a wholesome California way with a perpetual tan, light brown hair sun-streaked blond, and the well-built body of a surfer. Like his stepfather, he was a half-demon. Robert had long since suspected Adam was the most powerful subtype of fire demonan Exustiobut it had only been last year that hed finally incinerated something and proved Robert right. That marked the culmination of seventeen years of increasing powers, dating back to childhood, when Talia had gone seeking answers for Adams early displays of power, not content to accept a psychiatrists explanation that Adams literally hot temper was only adolescent acting-out. Her search had led her to Robert Vasic, whod eventually given her the answers she soughtand fallen in love with her.
