Chapter 3: Double Cross
I was supposed to be looking for Paul "P.C." Cochran and a missing THX-1138 computer but all I'd found so far was evidence my client wasn't who she claimed to be. Why the dame would masquerade as the wife of Internet tycoon Hank Spamm and expect me to fall for it was a mystery, but I had a few ideas:
- She was desperate.
- She was in trouble.
- She took me for a fool.
Given the condition of my office - and my life - I had to admit number three was a distinct possibility.
I put it out of my mind and settled onto the office couch I'd called home since Lola left. As usual, I missed her all night long and then missed her coffee in the morning. I headed across the hall to Cable Internet Services. Scuzzy Cable, the owner, always had a fresh pot brewing and I figured he might also have some information on P.C. Cochran.
He did. In high school, Cochran had hacked into a Defense Department computer and put a fighter squadron on full alert. He'd gotten probation and then disappeared. Last year he resurfaced as the head of Research and Development for Spamm Internet Corporation.
I thanked Scuzzy and headed towards the door. "Just one more thing," I said, using my best Peter Falk imitation. "P.C. has one of those new laptop computers, a THX-1138. Can you tell me what it looks like?"
"There's one in the display case," he replied.
"Hope you don't mind if I borrow it," I said, taking it from the case and heading out the door before he could protest.
I dropped the computer off inside my office door and headed for Cochran's apartment. It was easy finding the place. I'd gotten the address from the WhoWhere? database and printed out a map at the MapQuest site. Making like Rockford, I jimmied the lock and let myself in. It was a two bedroom setup with one of the rooms converted to an office. I was about to search the place when a computer beeped and began flashing the message, "YOU HAVE MAIL."
Figuring I had nothing to loose, I hit the enter key and was confronted with the question, "WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY APARTMENT?" It seems Cochran had been expecting someone. He also had a plan.
An hour later I was back in my office arranging a little coming out party for P.C. and his THX-1138. The guests were Hank Spamm and my client who, according to P.C., was actually Susan Browser, vice president of security for Monstersoft Corporation. For hosting the meeting, I'd been promised one percent of whatever P.C. got for the computer.
When everything was set, I added one more person to the guest list and e-mailed the invitation.
Spamm and Browser arrived at my office promptly at seven. P.C. and the computer showed up fifteen minutes later. Spamm made the first bid, writing his offer on a piece of paper and pushing it dramatically across the table. At the same time, DeGauss reached for her briefcase. If I hadn't been so interested in checking out the number of zeros in Spamm's bid, I might have wondered what she was up to. When I finally did, it was too late. I was staring down the barrel of a 45.
"Gentlemen," Browser said taking the computer from P.C., "I think this gun makes me high bidder."
That answered one question. I'd definitely been taken me for a fool. Still, I had another question I needed answered, "Would you mind telling me what's on that computer that makes it so valuable?"
"Of course not," she smirked. "After all, you've been very helpful. You see Research and Development at Spamm Internet is really just hacking. P.C. steals corporate secrets and Spamm returns them in exchange for expensive "consulting" deals. When I heard Spamm had a contract with the Federal Communications Commission, I suspected they'd managed to steal the specs for the new Ultra-High Speed Digital Network. Monstersoft tried to buy a piece of the action, but P.C. got greedy and disappeared. That's when I contacted you. Any other questions?"
"No, I think that'll do," I replied. "Now, if you'll put down the gun, I'd like to introduce you to Agent DeGauss of the FBI."
With that the door burst open and a SWAT team filled the room. I took advantage of the distraction to relieve Ms. Browser of her gun and P.C.'s computer.
Within minutes DeGauss and his agents had my guests handcuffed and headed downtown. On his way out, he picked up the THX I'd left by the door. "I'll need this for evidence."
"Just don't forget where to send the reward," I called after him as he disappeared down the corridor.
When he was gone, I walked across the hall to return Scuzzy's laptop.
"I hope you didn't break it," Scuzzy said as I set it on the table and powered it up. "These THXs are worth a fortune."
"More than you can imagine," I said noticing the look of bewilderment on his face as the F.C.C. logo appeared on the screen. "Why don't you put on a new pot of coffee and I'll explain."
