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Wolffe hung up and said, “We have a couple of systems isolated right now for you to check out. Can you do this today?”

Hobbes nodded slowly, then said, “Why am I being asked to do this, if I may? You guys have Cyber Command. You have the NSA. You have the heart of the United States offensive capability. Why are you asking me?”

President Hannister said, “Because we heard you were the best. That’s why.”

Hobbes shook his head and said, “That doesn’t make any sense. I dealt in your world for twenty years, and I’m not about to make my company cannon fodder because you’re afraid of using government assets on this problem. I’m not going to be a scapegoat like before.”

The people in the room let that comment settle like a turd in a punch bowl, then Wolffe spoke.

“It’s because what we’re dealing with is very, very delicate. We need someone discreet. We can’t use the usual architecture for this.”

“What’s that mean?”

Wolffe smiled and said, “It’s likeMission: Impossible. I can’t tell you unless you decide to accept the mission. If you do, I’ll read you on. If you don’t, you’re free to go, but I promise, it’s not because we’re looking for a scapegoat.”

Hobbes slowly nodded, thinking. He said, “Okay. I can help. But it won’t be just me. I need a team to do this.”

“Can they work with the code without knowing who or why?”

“Yes, as long as I’m directing them.”

“That’s not a problem. As far as they know, they’ll be working for a consulting business in Clarendon.”

President Hannister said, “Good, good. That will work. I want you to see if you can crack the ransomware code without paying the penalty, but your primary objective is to find out where this crew is located.”

Hobbes said, “Okay, but why? I’ll be wasting time on geolocation when I could be working on evidence for the FBI. Worst case, if we have to pay, they can recover the bitcoin like they did with the ransomware group REvil. You aren’t going to reach these guys in the physical world, but you can virtually.”

“Why is that?”

“They’re always in some place where the United States has no law enforcement reach. They aren’t doing these hacks from the United Kingdom.”

President Hannister glanced around the room, then said,“You’re about to be read onto a specific program that has a worldwide reach, and I’m a little sick of just stealing back the bitcoin and calling that success. I want to know where these guys are.”

Hobbes chuckled and said, “You’re not going to be able to arrest them. I can give you everything I find, but you won’t have enough to stand up in a court of law. These guys change names every month, from REvil to BlackMatter to DarkSide to who knows what. You won’t be able to arrest them or even connect whatever name they use now to what they did in the past.”

President Hannister said, “I think it’s time we made a statement here. I’m not going to arrest or sanction them. I’m going to hammer them.”

Chapter9

The sun began to dip lower in the sky, and I saw a Caucasian woman exit the mall, about five-six, wearing jeans and a loose shirt. She was lithe, with long muscles like a swimmer, and had a bob haircut, freckles on her face, and a cute little upturned nose. She hit the street, looking left and right.

Knuckles said, “She’s still a heartbreaker.”

I laughed and said, “Go get her.”

We were at what constituted a modern shopping center in Dushanbe, with multiple stores crammed into a four-story building of burnished metal and glass, selling everything from washing machines to work clothes. It was not unlike anything you’d see in the States, with the exception that every store had a purpose designed to satisfy the basest level of existence. There were no frivolous shops selling pet rocks or expensive designer shirts. It was all business.

Knuckles exited the vehicle at a trot, and Jennifer said, “I knew he still cared for her.”

I said, “He does. But Knuckles cares for them all. He just can’t not care. He’d take her back in a heartbeat, because he’s a romantic, but she knows better, because she’s a realist. She’s done with him, but he’s not done with her.”

Jennifer turned from the windshield and looked at me. I said, “What?”

“That’s probably the most introspective thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

“What do you mean? Knuckles is a man-whore. That’s all I meant.”

She shook her head and said, “That’s not what you meant. You’re just too big of a coward to admit to having feelings.”