Part 59 (2/2)

”I have an idea, but I can't prove it yet,” offered Scott

”Lay it on us, kid,” said Doug approvingly He loved controver- sial reporting, and this had the e we fell into a secret weapons prograan

”Too simple Been done before without this kind of backlash,”

Higgins said dis the idea

”Except, these weapons can be built by any high school kid with an electronics lab and a PC,” Scott retorted undaunted ”Maybe not as good, or as powerful, but nonetheless, effective If you were the government, would you want every Tom, dick and shi+thead to build hoerating a little, Scott” Higgins pinched his nose by the corners of his eyes ”Doug? What do you think?”

Doug was aly collected ”I think,” he said slowly, ”that Scott is onto a once in a lifetiut tells me this is real And still, we only have a sht back on it,” Doug ordered ”I want to knohat the big stink is Higgins will use outside counsel to see if they dig anything up, but I believe you'll have better luck

It see that the Governood work”

Scott was being congratulated on having a story pulled, which aroused ht it wonderful that it was pulled It all depends what side of the fence you're on, I guess

”I have a couple of calls to et back to his desk He dialed Duncan's private nuruffly

”fuck you verydown the phone as hard as he could

Scott's second call wouldn't be for hours He wished it could be sooner, so the day passed excruciatingly slowly But, it had to wait Safety was a concern, not getting caught was paraton, DC

”I will call you in 5 minutes”

Miles Foster heard the click of the phone in his ear It was hoht no less He had no choice It was better to speak to homosoto over the computer than in person He didn't have to hear the condescension He turned his Compaq 486 back on and initiated the auto-answer e

Miles was alone He had sent Perky ho, and saw the computer answer The com- puter automatically set the communications parameters and matched the crypt key as chosen by the caller, undoubtedly homosoto

Miles set his PRG code to prove to the computer that it was really hie

WE NEED TO TALK

That was obvious, why state the obvious, thought Miles

I a

ONE OF THE READERS IS DEAD HIS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN CAPTURED

By whom?

THE NEW YORK POLICE THERE WAS A CAR ACCIDENT THEN THE FBI GOT THE READER THEN THE NSA, STEPPED IN AND TOOK OVER THEY EVEN HAVE INTERFERED WITH THE PRESS SCOTT MASON WROTE A STORY ON THE READERS AND THE GOVERNMENT STOPPED HIM

How? We don't do that sort of stuff