“Well, imagine the entire Web as a constant light moving everywhere. That light constantly updates data or makes sure to update it as soon as it’s changed. When we press the Refresh button on a webpage, that has the same function if you wish, but more specifically for that page. The Internet is like an animal feeding on data, and it wants to make sure that data is constantly up to date. From what I can see with these accounts, the flow isn’t constant, not even pulsing regularly, but more like being opened and closed manually.”
“Isn’t that normal for accounts? Especially with security?”
Liam’s question made Devin scoff. “Damn no. Contrary to what those sharks want you to think, they’re not as isolated or secure as they seem. For the customers to see their updated data on their phones or computers so rapidly, the system has to talk constantly, leaving a breach wide open for bad boys like me to see.”
Catriona looked at the screen again. “What makes the flow, as you said, shut on and off like that? It means that someone is doing it, but the flow would be constant on a normal computer. A computer is open to the world, it’s what an internet connection does.”
“Not unless it’s a white tower.” Sam’s statement made them all turn in his direction. “A white tower or an ivory tower is a computer system isolated so that it doesn’t communicate with the outside world. They’re used for sensitive data storage mainly.”
Devin nodded. “Yeah. However, they’re also used as a way to do a little trick called a Juggler’s Ace. You use the white tower to duplicate a complex website, such as a bank, and relay it, or part of it, to a white tower where you can replace the data. It’s more stable than any other form of hacking, especially when the hacker is working on a site where there are so many layers of security. The breach becomes undetected as no alarm is triggered. The only sign is the flow inconsistency. You see, you can’t connect the white tower directly to the internet, it’s configuration won’t allow it, but if you use a laptop as a relay, you can have them talk together.”
Catriona swallowed hard, understanding. “That means the operator of that laptop is human as the signal goes on and off as the user uses his computer sporadically to make sure the system is still fed, but they can’t keep it on as the white tower isn’t configured for that kind of activity.”
Devin gave her a bright smile. “You’re correct.” Too soon his grin vanished. “The thing is, unless you’re as brilliant as I am, or as Catriona, if you look at the data, it appears real, and if the FBI or any other asshole organization looks at it, it means they’ll be on you like rabid dogs.”
“What if we shut down the bank’s servers, the entire system? Wouldn’t that disconnect it from the white tower?”
“The thing is, if you disconnect the system without shutting down the white tower first, the system will probably save the data that was last sent. The best solution is to disconnect the white tower, then wait for the system to stabilize with the real data before shutting it down. That way, the bank won’t feed off fake data anymore.”
“How do we find the white tower? And is it even in Chicago?” Liam was back in cop mode.
“For the white tower to work so seamlessly, you have to be relatively close. The closer, the better. All I need to do is set a discreet tracker and wait for the laptop to connect again. If he stays on the internet long enough, I should have a location for you.”
Devin started typing on his keyboard like a madman while a sort of exhilaration invaded Catriona. They were getting close. Frustration was the first thing she felt. She’d hoped to find a way to cut the most important source of Finch’s power, but maybe she’d been a bit too hopeful that it could be done on the first attempt.
“Damn you! I’m gonna get you, motherfucker!” The hacker’s sudden shout made Catriona jump. It wasn’t in the real world, but it was clear that Devin was in a fight of his own. “I didn’t expect whoever it is to reappear so soon, but they won’t get away.”
Catriona glanced at Liam and Sam, who were frowning at the man, not sure if he was addressing them until he pumped his arms in the air in the ultimate show of victory. “Yes! Yes! I got you! Oh yeah!”
He swirled his chair and finally addressed them. “I got a ping, it was brief, but I got it. And because I’m that good, I can confirm it’s in Chicago.”
The three of them moved forward, and Catriona couldn’t help but feel dread knotting in her belly as they got closer to Finch, one that sent shivers down her spine. How she wanted to find comfort in Liam, but he was standing there, eyes fixed on the screen, his body poised and ready to bolt as soon as Devin gave him the address. Sam, on the other hand, appeared to be retreating within himself.
“The location of the ping is where the white tower is? Does that mean the person operating the secondary computer will be there?”
That was the question. And from how heavy the atmosphere grew, the men had already considered it.
Liam sighed through clenched teeth. “We don’t know who’s operating it, and the goal is to protect Lazarus. If we arrest Finch, it’s a bonus.”
“If Finch is there, he dies.” Sam’s hiss told Catriona that the situation could go south very quickly.
“Is there any way to stop this from your computer, Devin? Do we need to go there to disable the white tower?”
Devin raked his hair. “It’s worse than that. I need to stay here and wait for the white tower to stop working. Until the link is disconnected, I can’t see what’s going on and erase what needs to be erased. Once the data is cleared, I can find a way to cut off Finch’s access to the money, as per what Lazarus told me. It won’t be legal, but there’s no way the authorities can trace who did it. The downside is that you won’t be able to use that data, any of it, to implicate Finch. In other words, if you don’t kill him, you’ll have to find another avenue to bring him down and neutralize him.”
The computer buzzed loudly behind him, and several windows popped open on the giant screen.
Sam cursed. “He can’t be this close. Damn, it feels like a trap.”
It took more than a few seconds for Catriona to orient herself, and when she did, it was difficult to believe what she was seeing. “It looks that the location is only a block away.”
“Next street to be exact. This can be over quickly. And if you’re lucky, the operator will still be on site.”
Liam scoffed. “Yeah, right. Walking across the street won’t be discreet or covert. They’ll see us coming.”
“Let me remind you that there might be another way. The Pedway.”
Catriona was unfamiliar with the term, and Liam explained that under the Loop were century-old tunnels crisscrossing a five-mile area under the heart of the city, allowing savvy Chicagoans and visitors to move without seeing the light of day. Now more of those tunnels were restored and accessible, and they connected to companies, bars, restaurants, and shops.
