Zero Day_ A Novel - Mark Russinovich [82]
Labib attached a blanc to a rootkit with satisfaction. He was certain that within weeks the United States would be withdrawing from Afghanistan and would abandon its plans for Iran and Syria.
“Try this one,” Dufour said, handing Labib a disk. “The hacker claims it will destroy Nasdaq’s records.” Then he reached back to his desk. “And here’s the information your brother wanted.”
“What information?”
“On someone with the handle Dragon Lady.”
38
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK
MIDTOWN
HEMINGWAY HOTEL
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30
6:57 P.M.
Sue Tabor gave a deep, throaty laugh as she sat up and reached for his groin.
“Not again,” Joshua Greene moaned. “I’m only flesh and blood.”
“Hush,” Sue said. “I’ve got some ancient Chinese sex techniques I want to show you.”
Greene laughed. “You’re about as Chinese as I am English.”
“Hey! You don’t know. Maybe Mom passed along a few things I’ve been holding back.”
“Right. Let go of that. I mean it. I want to talk.”
“That’s not what you wanted a few minutes ago.”
“I need to recharge. For God’s sake, Sue, I’m not some young stud. Let it alone. Tell me what’s going on with my records.”
“Spoilsport.” Sue sat back onto the pillows, her breasts rising like tiny mounds. “If we’re going to talk, look up here and not at my tits.” She reached onto the nightstand and lit a cigarette.
“Right.” Greene pulled the sheet up to cover his growing stomach. He was always self-conscious in the nude, but especially so with Sue, whose body he considered to be perfect.
“It’s been three weeks. We’ve lost a third of our accounts. I’m getting resignations. We’ll be closing our doors at this rate. Can you give me any hope?”
She looked at him, then solemnly announced, “I’m pretty sure I can get you up again.”
Greene laughed. “Not that, though I’d be grateful. But we’re screwed if you or this Aiken guy don’t come up with something very soon.”
“Yeah. I know.” She sat back and turned serious. “I’ve tried three boots so far and all were failures. We were struck by viruses with very sophisticated cloaking devices, making them very difficult to remove. The good news is we still have the backups.”
“It may be too late,” Greene said, “given the speed with which the firm is falling apart.”
“Josh, I’m really sorry.” Sue leaned closer and placed her hand on his chest. “I can’t help but blame myself. You’ve been great not to make my life miserable over this.”
Greene shrugged. “Aiken says it wasn’t your fault. No security system could have stopped the virus. I’ve not been able to sell that to the partners, but I believe it.” He seemed to hesitate.
“There’s something else?” Sue asked. She’d always been impressed with Greene’s ability to be involved with her while keeping the business aspect of their relationship clear. In her experience that was quite rare.
“It’s not important. Really.” Greene smiled weakly, clearly wanting to avoid saying more.
“What’s not important?”
Greene sighed. “I’ve been ordered to fire you.”
Sue looked into his eyes for a moment. “I see. You thought you’d get your blow job first, then tell me? You bastard!” Flipping over, she stabbed her cigarette out in the ashtray, then flung the sheet off her.
“No, no, it’s not like that. Well, maybe a little, I guess. It’s just … the partners insist I do something. I told them it won’t improve a thing to get rid of you, but they don’t see it that way.”
“So I’m out of a job?” she said, standing beside the bed with her hands braced on her hips.
“I’m not supposed to tell you.”
“Oh, I get it. First I fix the problem, then you can me! Is that the plan?” She sat on the edge of the bed.
“Yeah, I’d say that’s about it.” He reached for a breast. She bumped his hand away with her arm. “What difference does it make? I don’t have to do it now, and anyway, it doesn’t look like any of us are going to have a job before long.”
Sue breathed out. “I guess not.” She’d seen this coming, now that she thought about it. What else could the firm do? With the failed third attempt to reboot,