He went back to bed and slept until 1000. He showered and got ready to go spend the morning busking in the plaza. At 1230, he headed up to the coffee shop. Again, Miz Johnson was waiting for him. She was dressed in khakis and a polo shirt with NeoNet embroidered on it. She handed him a shirt just like hers. BC changed his shirt in the middle of the shop. She also handed him a commlink.
He thumbed the ID. It came up as Roger Kennedy. A picture of his alter ego linked. The PAN was linked to hers, listing her as Pamela Martin.
“Now we wait for the trigger to happen.” She told him.
He nodded. Waiting was the longest part.
20 minutes later, she looked at him. “The drives was blown. We’re on.”
Together they went to his car. She punched in a downtown address not far from where they were into the navigation unit.
They leave the car carrying tool kits. They head up to the sixth floor. Glass doors with Fast Date on them.
As they enter, the receptionist looks at them. She looks slightly nervous. “Hi, can I help you?”
“Hardware support, we’re here to replace the faulty drive.”
She looks relived. “Good, one minute while I call Paul.”
A couple of minutes later a smartly dressed man comes out. “Glad you’re here. It just suddenly stopped working.” He directed them to a palm reader. All the while keeping up a conversation.
Pamela palmed in, then turned and winked at him. BC stepped up and palmed in. Paul led them down the hall to another door. This time only he palmed in.
They stepped into a cold room, with bright overhead lights. The room was huge. It must have taken up half the floor. He led them to a rack towards the middle of the room. “Here it is.”
Pamela starts working on the server, while Paul hovered. BC herded him back from her. He started asking questions. “I need more information on the event that caused this.” Paul looked at him. “Can you let me know if there was any data spikes or abnormal activity?”
Paul’s eyes went distant. “There was a spike in activity, but it was within normal parameters. Do you think that was the cause?”
“Anything is possible, it could have been hackers.” He replied.
“Roger, I misplaced my 12 pin connector. Do you have one?” Miz Johnson asked.
He made a show of looking in his kit. “No, but I think have one in the car.” He turned to Paul. “Can you escort me back out so I can grab it?”
Paul looked between the two of them. He seemed to be debating something in his head.
“Relax Paul, I understand you are here for security. I don't want you to get into any trouble for letting me run around on my own. Quick trip to the door and then we'll be right back". DB said soothingly. "I know you don't want to have people running around the premises on their own."
Paul looked at him and nodded. “It will be only a few minutes right?”
BC smiled reassuringly. “Quick as a bunny.”
They left the room. Once BC was out of the offices, by the elevator, he turned himself invisible and watched the room. Paul stood by the receptionist desk, chatting with her. After several minutes, he started getting agitated. He started towards the server room.
BC knew he waited long enough. He dropped the spell and came running up to the door. He hoped he gave Miz Johnson enough time. Yanking the door open. “I got it.”
“Great, let’s get back.”
“I need a drink first.” BC said still stalling.
Paul sighed but said nothing while waiting. BC made a show of drinking two glasses of water, and then he nodded.
The trip back was slightly faster.
BC’s small talk kept Paul busy while the replacement of the hard drive went on.
“We’re at the longest part, transfer of data.” Miz Johnson announced.
After what seemed to be forever, Miz Johnson said they was up and running. Paul looked distant again and then smiled.
BC turned to Paul. “I need your thumb print on this form showing you witnessed custody of the hard drive for the forensic report.”
Paul gave it willing. “Do you know how long it will take?”
BC looked at Miz Johnson. She shrugged and said “About 48 hours for a complete turnaround.”
Paul started herding them out while complaining about how his night was ruined.
BC drove them back to the coffee shop. Miz Johnson gave him a certified cred stick. BC gave back the commlink and they parted company.
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