Read Online Exposure (Jackson Chase Novella Book 1) by Connor Black - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Connor Black
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part.”
I leaned forward and put my arms on the table, gesturing with my hands for her to continue.
“Some have mismatches. The social security number has already been assigned to a different name, typically someone deceased. Sometimes, just a random number. That’s one identifying factor.”
“Another identifier,” she continued, “is that by their very nature, they’re thin. The name or social has never popped up on a credit check. Or there’s only one credit card. One card is a red flag, since most people in the Western world tend to have at least two.”
“So,” I recapped, “you have mismatches and ‘thin’ IDs. Even if you could see them all, there would be millions, I would guess.”
“Yes,” she replied. “But those data points are a start. I’ve been working on writing some queries that map those factors against a narrowed geography and time range. I can then narrow the vectors by eliminating top tourist hotels and attractions.”
Sterba chimed in, “Commander, I only understood about half of what you said. But it sounds like you’re trying to pull information from a lot different sources.”
Chen nodded. “Yes, I’m running these strings against several databases that typically don’t interface. It hasn’t been easy.”
“What can we do to help?” I asked.
“Not much right now,” she said. “Unless you know how to write database queries?” She smiled. I realized that it was the first time I’d seen her smile. It was nice, warm, without being condescending, considering she’d just pointed out that I had little by way of computer skills.
“Afraid I can’t,” I said.
“Well, thanks to Mr. Clark, I have the access I need. Now I just need a little more time to finish writing the code.”
Her eyebrows raised, and we knew she was looking for a little more time to complete her work.
Clark read the signal, too, “Gentlemen, how about I show you around while we give Commander Chen some time?”
23
O utside the embassy , Clark turned to Sterba and I. “I imagine that despite the cold trail, you’d like to see the Internet café?”
“You read my mind, Mr. Clark,” I said.
“Call me Landon, please.”
“Call me hungry,” said Joe.
Clark laughed. “I’ll take care of you, Chief. There’s a great place for curry across the street from the café.”
“It’s Joe, Landon. And the last time someone said he would take care of my needs, he took me to see a bunch of little old ladies!”
I laughed. “Yeah, but you loved it.”
“I did,” he admitted with a smile. “Let’s eat.”
We could have taken an embassy car, but elected to pile into a tuk-tuk instead. When in Rome ... .
S eated at the small restaurant across from the Internet café, it was clear that Slater had chosen the place well. The street was busy, and the odd sizes and shapes of the buildings around the café provided cover and the maze of alleys offered opportunities for counter surveillance. It was also a dump of a place, with an assortment of dirty tourists coming in and out. Dressed the right way, he could easily come and go completely unnoticed.
“Think he’s staying in this neighborhood?” Joe asked.
“Hmmm,” Clark started, “tradecraft in this sort of a situation varies. You can stay on this side of the street and watch the café for surveillance before or after using the facility. But better, I think, to put a little distance between you and any footprint you may have left.”
“I think you’re right that he’s not coming back,” I said.
Clark simply nodded.
A waitress came to the table and asked to take our order.
“You mind?” Clark asked.
“Go right ahead.”
Clark proceeded to order in rapid Thai. But it quickly became more of a dialog than simply ordering lunch.
I had passed through here a few times when I was young, and knew only a small amount of the language.
But enough to gather that only a part of that conversation had to do with food.
The waitress left.
I leaned forward and put my arms on the table, gesturing with my hands for her to continue.
“Some have mismatches. The social security number has already been assigned to a different name, typically someone deceased. Sometimes, just a random number. That’s one identifying factor.”
“Another identifier,” she continued, “is that by their very nature, they’re thin. The name or social has never popped up on a credit check. Or there’s only one credit card. One card is a red flag, since most people in the Western world tend to have at least two.”
“So,” I recapped, “you have mismatches and ‘thin’ IDs. Even if you could see them all, there would be millions, I would guess.”
“Yes,” she replied. “But those data points are a start. I’ve been working on writing some queries that map those factors against a narrowed geography and time range. I can then narrow the vectors by eliminating top tourist hotels and attractions.”
Sterba chimed in, “Commander, I only understood about half of what you said. But it sounds like you’re trying to pull information from a lot different sources.”
Chen nodded. “Yes, I’m running these strings against several databases that typically don’t interface. It hasn’t been easy.”
“What can we do to help?” I asked.
“Not much right now,” she said. “Unless you know how to write database queries?” She smiled. I realized that it was the first time I’d seen her smile. It was nice, warm, without being condescending, considering she’d just pointed out that I had little by way of computer skills.
“Afraid I can’t,” I said.
“Well, thanks to Mr. Clark, I have the access I need. Now I just need a little more time to finish writing the code.”
Her eyebrows raised, and we knew she was looking for a little more time to complete her work.
Clark read the signal, too, “Gentlemen, how about I show you around while we give Commander Chen some time?”
23
O utside the embassy , Clark turned to Sterba and I. “I imagine that despite the cold trail, you’d like to see the Internet café?”
“You read my mind, Mr. Clark,” I said.
“Call me Landon, please.”
“Call me hungry,” said Joe.
Clark laughed. “I’ll take care of you, Chief. There’s a great place for curry across the street from the café.”
“It’s Joe, Landon. And the last time someone said he would take care of my needs, he took me to see a bunch of little old ladies!”
I laughed. “Yeah, but you loved it.”
“I did,” he admitted with a smile. “Let’s eat.”
We could have taken an embassy car, but elected to pile into a tuk-tuk instead. When in Rome ... .
S eated at the small restaurant across from the Internet café, it was clear that Slater had chosen the place well. The street was busy, and the odd sizes and shapes of the buildings around the café provided cover and the maze of alleys offered opportunities for counter surveillance. It was also a dump of a place, with an assortment of dirty tourists coming in and out. Dressed the right way, he could easily come and go completely unnoticed.
“Think he’s staying in this neighborhood?” Joe asked.
“Hmmm,” Clark started, “tradecraft in this sort of a situation varies. You can stay on this side of the street and watch the café for surveillance before or after using the facility. But better, I think, to put a little distance between you and any footprint you may have left.”
“I think you’re right that he’s not coming back,” I said.
Clark simply nodded.
A waitress came to the table and asked to take our order.
“You mind?” Clark asked.
“Go right ahead.”
Clark proceeded to order in rapid Thai. But it quickly became more of a dialog than simply ordering lunch.
I had passed through here a few times when I was young, and knew only a small amount of the language.
But enough to gather that only a part of that conversation had to do with food.
The waitress left.
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