Chapter 20

                Melman was in his office when he heard the half hearted knock at the door.  He was deep into the Center’s network software user list, familiarizing himself with the program’s search parameters in anticipation of pulling any names that would coincide with time and date stamps his friend Benson was sure to find in the code he was sifting through.

                “Doors open,” Melman said tiredly, he had only been able to catch a couple of cat naps since this whole Probe thing popped up. “I hope this is important, I’m trying to catch up on my neglected in box.”

                Melman’s job description was not as a programmer but he knew his way around all of the Center’s internal member software with system wide access.  He hoped he would soon be able to give his boss Mr. Kenfer, the information he needed to figure this mess out once and for all.  As Melman looking up, the door slid to the side and his personal secretary stepped forward, stopping at the edge of his desk sporting a serious expression.

                “Mr. Melman,” said his secretary apologetically, “I just received an encrypted message from a Corey Benson, sent to your attention.  It seems this Benson fellow has access to your private encryption protocol and the message has the standard Emergency ID tag attached.  Do you want me to send it to your desk comp or to security for investigation?”

                Melman was elated at this news.  The last time he saw Kenfer, he was in the conference room doing his best to bluff, stall, spin and dance his way around the Elders of the most powerful and important research program in the Center’s preview.  Handing Kenfer information of value at this juncture in the investigation was sure to impress the Elders and add to Kenfer’s indebtedness to Melman.   Efficiency has its price.

                “By all means put the message into my private communiqués.  I’ll decrypt it myself when I can and let security know if need be.” He did not let on that he hoped Benson had the answers he needed.

                Melman was pulling the message up from his personal files as his office door sealed shut.  It was then a simple matter to insert his password to get the decryption started.  As the program did its job he transferred the results to an internal sequestered file on his personal comp.  He involuntarily leaned toward his comp screen and read the following:

I HAVE DELEGATED SOME OF THE INITIAL WORK RELATED TO THE CODE SEARCH TO ASSOCIATES.  THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ONLY PARTS OF THE PUZZLE.  NO ONE PERSON CAN LEARN WHAT THE BIGGER PICTURE WILL EVENTUALLY SHOW.  NEEDED TO USE PERSONAL COMPS NOT CONNECTED TO THE CENTER’S NETWORK.  I HAVE KEPT THE SENSITIVE SECTIONS OF THE MATERIAL FOR MY OWN HANDLING WHEN THIS FIRST GO ROUND HAS NETTED CONDENSED RESULTS I CAN USE IN PART TWO OF THE FILTERING PROCESS.  MY PROGRAM IS PERFORMING AS EXPECTED AND I ANTICIPATE AT LEAST SOME RESULTS IN APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS.

I MUST REPORT TO YOU THAT OUR INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN DISCOVERED.  THE ASSOCIATES THAT ARE HELPING ME HAVE PROVEN MY TRUST IN THEM BY INFORMING ME OF AN INSIDE PLOT TO LOCATE THE INFORMATION WE NEED, PURGE IT AT ANY EXPENSE EVEN IF I MUST ALSO BE REMOVED. THE MESSAGE WAS DISCOVERED BECAUSE IT WAS SENT TO THE WRONG ADDRESS ON THE CENTER’S INTERNAL GRID.  MY NAME WAS PART OF THE MESSAGE ALONG WITH THE PROBE 4 IDENTIFIER.  THE MESSAGE WAS SIGNED “KL”.  I’M SURE THIS IS KYLE LOOMIS.

I AM FEARFUL THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INFORMATION WE ARE AFTER CAN NOT BE OVERSTATED AND MY ASSOCIATES AND MYSELF NEED PROTECTION IF WE ARE TO SUCEED WITH OUR SEARCH.  CAN YOU DISPATCH A TEAM TO UNABSTUSIVELY GUARD US WHILE WE PROCEED WITH OUR EFFORTS?  ANY NEW INFORMATION OF VALUE WILL BE FORWARDED THE SECOND WE GET IT.  SUGGEST AT THIS LATE TIME OF THE DAY YOU ARRANGE FOR A BREAK IN THE BRIEFING OF THE ELDERS TO GIVE MR. KENFER BREATHING ROOM AND US THE TIME TO FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.

RESPECTFULLY, BENSON

                Melman keyed the following message for Kenfer’s hand comp. 

<PROBE SEARCH CLOSE TO IMPORTANT RESULTS.  SUGGEST YOU OFFER THE ELDERS A BREAK FOR THE DAY.  INFORMATION EXPECTED TO BE ASSEMBLED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  SECRECY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.  I MUST AUTHORIZE A SECURITY ATTACHMENT FOR OUR TEAM MEMBERS.  MELMAN>

                Kenfer was stressing the last point he had in his bag of tricks to the Elders when his hand comp vibrated in its waist carrier.  He turned back to the podium and pulled it from his belt and read the screen.  Smiling he looked out at all the tired faces.  Loomis still was absent and all present were annoyed that they had waited almost an hour for Loomis to come back with an explanation but then never showed.

                “The hour is late and there has been a new development in the Probe case.  If we all break for the day, more light will be shed on our problem when we reconvene tomorrow.” Kenfer held his breath in hopes his guests would agree.

                Elder Lantz stood up.  He was next in line for Head Elder position. “I also think we all need a rest Director Kenfer and will divert to your good sense in this matter.” With a small movement of Lantz’s hand the rest of the Elders stood and filed out with Elder Lantz leading the way.  Kenfer turned as the last Elder left the conference room.  Walking to the front of the room he sat down in one of the two comfortable chairs reserved for any speakers needing to wait their turn when an ordinary lecture was in session.  He was both exhausted and grateful that he had Melman as his assistant….