Endworlds - Nicholas Read [51]
Sometimes commercial espionage was carried out by remote-controlled ‘mice’ that scuttled on caterpillar tracks, with extendable arms and tiny cameras. They could carry off a battery or two, but not all of them.
Hemmel’s response was characteristically analytic. “No matter how strong their servos it would take several to make off with all the power cells, not to mention lifting the guns.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” With a sigh McGregor turned to leave.
The eyes of the physicists, engineers, and technicians in the outer lab followed the two men as they exited the vault, but no one said anything. All were aware of the disappearances of valuable company material. None had been able to offer any ideas as to how the thefts had been carried out.
“If we only had some idea where the stolen material was going,” Hemmel murmured as the two men headed for a lift.
“Company really wants to know that. So does the government. Me, I’m a lot more interested in the how.” McGregor looked over at the scientist. “But just to keep you in the loop, Hemmel, you should know that we’ve put out discrete inquiries. The Russians, the Chinese, even Interpol. Evasiveness would be a clue in itself. But the responses are of bafflement. Nobody knows what the hell we’re talking about. Even the usual government and private sources draw a blank. CIA, FSB, Mossad, the S.A.S—it’s a classic case of nobody knows nothing. Except in this instance it appears to be true.”
Hemmel considered as they entered the lift and started toward the surface. “A private concern, then. Another company.”
McGregor looked dubious. “To penetrate the kind of security we have here at Burroughs would require techniques of which we and every one of those other state agencies is presently unaware. Something new.” He was first out of the lift when it stopped at the surface.
“So what are you going to do now?” Hemmel asked him.
“Keep digging. Show I followed due diligence procedure looking for a breakdown in our sec-tech. Continue putting pressure on those who, however absurd it appears, might be in a position to compromise lab security. Maybe someone will crack. Oh, and one other thing.” He paused as the two men prepared to go their separate ways. “You’ll probably get a visit from GRID.”
Hemmel looked bemused. “I’m familiar with general security procedures, of course, but that’s a name I don’t recognize. Who is he?”
“Not who. What. One of Burroughs Labs most important customers, if somewhat covert. They pay a premium and pay on time. You’ve probably developed electronic or optical products for them without ever knowing it.”
“Really,” Hemmel murmured, “I’ve never heard of them. And we never deal direct with customers in this lab. Let them talk to their account manager.”
“Yes, well I doubt it will play out that way. These are heavy guys, like a global version of the CIA. They usually deal through third parties, but this is the type of gaffe that will probably draw direct contact as they try to find out why some of their special devices are now in the hands of someone else. I expect they’ll be quite thorough.” He smiled flatly. “That’s security at work.”
Hemmel nodded slowly, his mind turning. “I do trust we won’t end up in orange jumpsuits over this. You’ll be posting round-the-clock guards in the most sensitive parts of the complex, like this lab for instance?”
The Security Chief nodded. “Of course, Dimitri. If the cameras aren’t seeing anything, maybe good old fashioned human beings with a K9 detachment will be harder to fool. I know it’s a nuisance but they’ll have strict orders just to watch and not to touch anything. My people are well-trained, the dogs even more so: they’ll keep out of people’s way. And they’ll watch over you if we have any customer site visits.”
The scientist wrung his fingers until they cracked some more, nodding vigorously. “Good. That should make a difference. So what about the equipment that already disappeared? Will we get it back?”
McGregor let out a