Zero Day_ A Novel - Mark Russinovich [104]
Fajer stood as Carlton approached. “Good morning,” he said, extending his hand.
Carlton ignored it and dropped to the bench. Fajer joined him.
“Did you have a good flight?”
“No,” Carlton almost shouted. “Tell me what’s going on, Fajer! What have you got me into?”
Americans, Fajer thought with disgust, always in a rush. “I’ve already told you. You supply information from time to time and are well paid for it.”
“What about this Superphreak you’re concerned with? What’s that?”
Fajer examined his cigar for a moment. “It is part of the financial operation I told you about last summer.”
“How?” Carlton glared at the Arab.
“Are you telling me the name is now of interest to your government?”
“I’m telling you nothing. I’m demanding answers.”
“I already told you. It’s distasteful, but I’m compelled to fulfill a family—”
“Cut the bullshit. This is an operation, isn’t it?”
“Operation? I don’t know how you are using the word.”
“As in a ‘mission,’” Carlton said, nearly as if talking to a child. “You’re involved with people planting viruses on the Internet, viruses meant to cause harm, not collect financial information. It’s some kind of attack, isn’t it?”
“Tell me what you know.” Fajer had not expected this, not now, not when he and his brother were so close. He could not imagine what had roused this man’s suspicion.
“No, Fajer, you’re going to tell me,” Carlton demanded. “I told you once but I don’t think you were listening. I may be a little bent but I’m no traitor. I’m getting reports about the planting of a massive number of viruses in computers all over America. They’ve all got the name Superphreak in them, and that’s the same name you’re suddenly interested in. I insist you tell me what’s really going on.”
Fajer drew a discreet, calming breath. “It’s as I told you. The man who created these things apparently uses that name. I have only just learned about it and thought it a more effective means for you to detect this financial business I told you about.”
Carlton looked about them out of habit. “I’m no fool, Fajer. You’re destroying me.” Carlton realized he was sweating and fought the urge to run his bare hand across his forehead.
Clearly the American knew more than he was letting on. The Arab dropped his cigar to the ground and stepped on it with his shoe. “Come with me. There are too many eyes for this to take place here.” He stood and began walking through the small park into one of the two narrow alleys. Carlton reluctantly followed, hesitating before entering the confined space. “What else is it you know?” Fajer demanded.
Carlton glared at the man. “These viruses. They’ve got the name Superphreak, all right. What you didn’t tell me was they’re triggered to go on September 11. Does the date sound familiar to you?”
“My God!” Fajer said, feigning shock. “The idiots! My friend, I know nothing about this. I think it’s someone’s idea of a bad joke. The people doing this are Arabs, I’ve made no secret of that. One of the computer experts writing the code surely picked that date for its symbolic value, but these are not terrorists, I assure you. They are simply thieves. You can relax. Everything is fine.”
For the first time since his meeting with Daryl and Jeff, Carlton felt doubt. Could Fajer be right? Was that all this was? Some Arab hacker filled with a bit of zealousness had picked 9/11 just to make a point?
“I told you,” Fajer continued smoothly, “that the code is being planted in thousands of computers and will be triggered to execute at the same time. As I understand it, a virus that is not functioning is harder to detect, so they want them all to launch on the same day. Some zealot picked that date for its irony. You know how young men can be. I’m sorry it has caused you this needless worry.”
Carlton struggled to remember what he’d been told and what he’d read. “These viruses—they destroy financial records, they don’t steal them.”
Fajer pursed his lips. “They’ve sent out a great many. I suppose some might have interacted with certain computers in a destructive way or more might have been