The Poll Bearer Part 6 see more novels at www.writemeamystery.com

“You get that list and I’ll be right back,” Daniel said exiting the room and going directly to his office.

“Lisa, I need you to get me Mr. Postadolas on the phone,” he said. “It’s important.”

Two minutes later, Lisa returned.

“He’s on his way here,” she said. “Do you want me to wait?’

“No,” Daniel replied. “Just show him in as soon as he arrives.”

He was racing through excuses he would offer to the man, but none seemed to fit the bill. He thought he’d be able to do it over the phone where Louis couldn’t see his face, but Lisa had other ideas. The best thing to do was to say he screwed up and it wouldn’t happen again.

Louis walked into the room and sat down in the same chair he had used the day before.

“Problem?” he asked in his succinct style of speaking.

“I underestimated the storage requirements,” Daniel answered. “My experts say what we have is insufficient to hold the vast amounts of data as well as to process it expediently.”

“How much?” Louis asked getting right down to basics.

“Seven million,” Daniel answered. “Four to five if they build it themselves only that would take time.” Hoping to place the decision making on Louis’ shoulders, he continued. “Now if you want to extend the thirty days into sixty, we could -.”

“Give Lisa the list,” he said. “You’ll have your equipment.”

Rising, he raised his arm exposing his watch and pointed to it.

“Twenty-nine days,” he said then walked out.

Rushing back down to the large rooms, Daniel cornered Ron.

“Do you have the list?” Daniel asked.

“Right here,” Ron answered producing a piece of paper from his pocket and handing it to Daniel.

“Are you sure this will do it?” Daniel asked.

“Yes,” Ron answered. “When can we get it?”

“I assume it’ll be here this afternoon. Can you begin without it?” Daniel asked.

“We can start hacking our way in, but we’ll need the equipment for storage and processing as soon as possible,” Ron answered.

“How about your classes at the university?” Daniel asked.

“Our attendance records will show we haven’t missed a single one,” Ron replied with a smile.

CHAPTER 4

By late that afternoon, everything had arrived and been installed to Ron’s specifications. The team of students was busy hacking into top government and civilian sites and taking copies of records without leaving any indication that they had been stolen. The owl logo was never inserted to show that anyone had been there; so for all intents and purposes, nothing appeared to be touched. Daniel and Richie watched as lights went on and off on the machines indicating incoming data. Extra fans had to be brought in to supplement the regular cooling system to ensure that there was no overload. It almost looked as if students were racing each other as their fingers flew across the keyboards tapping out instructions for other computers located thousands of miles away.

“We’ll start working in a four-two rotation with four people on and two off during four hour shifts, that way we never really have to stop,” Ron said. “We’ll need some sleeping accommodations.”

“You can use my office,” Daniel said. “I’ll have beds brought in right away. There’s a bathroom with a shower as well. You tell me what clothes you need brought in from school, and I’ll have them here. Food will be supplied as you want it. Anything else, just ask my secretary, Lisa.”

After arranging with Lisa to turn his office into a modified dorm room, Daniel got a chef to stand by to cater to each student’s dietary needs. Right now, everything seemed to be progressing well, but the specter of Louis still hung over Daniel’s decision-making.

For the next week the students kept up their four-two pace never seeming to tire of what they were doing, nor were they asking why they were being asked to do it. The challenge was enough; of course they weren’t refusing the money and the new cars either. Then they hit their first snag.

“It’s one of the biggest online search engines,” Ron said. “They’ve been storing data on everybody who has ever used the internet, so they’ve built in unbelievable safeguards to protect it both from the government and hackers. We make the slightest mistake and we’ll have the F.B.I. up to our rectums so fast, it won’t be funny. It’s a goldmine of information, but think of getting it like walking in a minefield, blindfolded, while wearing swim fins and dragging an anchor. Eventually, you’re going to set one off, the trick is not be to in the immediate vicinity. We’re going to have to make it appear that another government is doing the hacking so that we get the results but they get the blame. You got any countries you particularly dislike?”

Daniel listed two: one had made him do a strip search at its airport, and the other had devalued its money while he was visiting making his dollars worth a lot less.

“We’ll start in the morning,” Ron said. “We’re all taking a break tonight.”

By the time Daniel returned to his office, Louis was already sitting in his favorite chair only this time it was between two beds.

“Problem?’ he asked in his clipped style of speaking.

“Not really,” Ron said trying to underplay the importance and risk of tomorrow’s attempt.

“Search engine?” Louis continued.

“Yes,” Daniel answered now knowing the two large rooms must be being monitored around the clock. Obviously some of those early technicians installed hidden cameras and listening devices per Louis’ instructions.

“Solutions?” Louis asked.

“Taken care of,” Daniel replied. He wanted to point at his own watch and say twenty-two, but he wasn’t sure how Louis would take the comment so he said nothing.

“Will you be ready on time?” Louis asked making a sentence of more than two words.

“Positively,” Daniel replied lying through his teeth.

“China,” Louis said rising from the chair and making his way around one of the beds before walking to the door.

“China? I don’t understand,” Daniel said puzzled at what Louis was saying.

“The country…China,” he said and then exited.

Now Daniel was sure, the rooms had been bugged and everything was being fed to Louis. From now on, all conversations with Ron would take place outside of the building. Even then he wasn’t sure they’d be safe.