Net Force - Tom Clancy [92]
Gridley said, We spoke on the phone. Nice to meet you. This a persona or Real World Appearance?
RW, the girl said.
She actually looks better in person, Tyrone said. Then he developed a sudden fascination with the tops of his shoes.
Gridley smiled. Good thing the kids skin was dark; otherwise hed be blushing so bright red you could use him for a taillight.
Tyrone knew it, too. Quickly, the boy pointed. Theres the car. The driver is inside.
Gridley nodded. Thanks for the call. You check the license plate?
Sure, first thing. Quikscan says it belong to a Wing Lu, out of Guangzhou, China. But a cross-index number check doesnt match.
So the plate is probably a fake, Gridley said. Big surprise.
To the girl, Tyrone said, A lot of people want to be anonymous on the net, so along with fake names and personas to mask their appearance, they layer in other fake ID-ersatz vehicle registrations, addresses, comcodes. One of the first rules of web walking is-
Never trust anything you see, the girl finished. I have been on the web before, even if Im not a total spider, Ty.
Sorry, Tyrone said.
Gridley shook his head. Puppy love. It was painful to watch. So, what else? he said, to steer the conversation back to the Vette.
Tyrone said, He drives fast, changes lanes without hitting the centerline bumps, never gets caught behind a slow packet or boxed by traffic.
A lubefoot, Gridley said.
No doubt, Tyrone said.
Whats a lubefoot? the girl asked.
Somebody who slides along the web without much friction, Tyrone answered. Means hes real good with this particular mode, probably used it a bunch, or else hes spent enough time on the web so he can probably use any mode well.
Which means?
Probably hes a programmer, Gridley said.
So, can I ask why youre looking for him?
I really cant tell you that just yet. Its part of an ongoing investigation.
But its a big deal?
Oh, yeah, if this guy is the one we want, its a gargantuan deal. More we can collect on him, the better. Gridley glanced at Tyrone. He see you?
We passed him to get a closer look. It was a narrow road. Weve hung back pretty far since then. I dont think he spotted us following him, but if he sees us again, he might recognize us from when we went around him.
All right. You want to stay on it, you ride with me, leave the bike here. Well see how long we can run with him.
Gridley walked to the car, the two teenagers behind him. He had a sudden thought. Better get in the back, he said, Ive got stuff piled up all over the front passenger seat.
That wasnt strictly true, but it would be by the time they got to the car. He could do that from here easily enough.
What the hell. Hed been that young once. Seemed like a long time ago as he looked at Tyrone and his friend Belladonna, but unless his memory had blown a fuse, getting to sit next to a beautiful girl in the backseat of a small car was still a pretty big thrill at that age.
Shoot, when you got right down to it, it was still a thrill at his age.
They had just entered the car when Tyrone said, There he is!
Gridley looked. Sure enough, a man was exiting the restaurant. He headed for the Vette. Jay got a good look, then grinned. Yes! It was the same persona hed seen in New Orleans! The guy was sure cocky, to keep using it. Stupid to keep using it, too. Here at last was the break they needed.
Way to go, Ty-rone! I owe you one.
Its him? Bella said.
Oh, yeah.
Exemplary, Ty!
It sounded as if somebodys stock had just gone up in the backseat. I have you now, Gridley said in his best Darth Vader imitation. He reached under the Neons dashboard and came out with a com mike. He keyed the mike. This is Jay Gridley, Net Force operative, ID number JG-six-five-eight-nine-nine, authorization Zeta one-one. I have a Priority Five at these coordinates, thats a Priority Five. Stand by for particulars. Gridley put out the code, the fake tags on the Vette, and a description of the vehicle and persona.
In the back, Tyrone quietly told the girl, Hes alerting law enforcement agencies. Any cop on the net who sees the Corvette