Free Daemon by Daniel Suárez Page B

us know where to get in touch with you if you leave town.” The agent handed Ross a business card. “And don’t leave the country.”
    Ross stared at the card. “Don’t leave the country ? I have a project in Toronto next month.” He studied the unsympathetic expressions on the agents’ faces, then pocketed the card. “Any chance of getting a ride back to Woodland Hills?”
    “Check with the sheriff’s. But it might be quicker to call a cab. Thanks again.” Both agents made a beeline for the training room door. They knocked twice and ducked inside, leaving Ross staring after them in the busy corridor.
    Sebeck called across the hallway, “I see the Feds haven’t lost their light touch.”
    Ross regarded Sebeck warily.
     
    Sebeck approached and extended his hand. “Detective Sebeck.”
    “I know who you are, Sergeant. You were at Alcyone last night.”
    “You need a ride someplace?”
    “I can call a cab.”
    “C’mon, it’s the least I can do. It looks like you’ve gotten the short end of the stick in this whole thing. I’m heading out, anyway.”
    Ross hesitated, then nodded. “Thanks.”
    Sebeck and Ross drove in silence for a few minutes. Ross was absorbed by a smart phone in his hand. He brushed his finger through several screens, reading intently. Eventually he looked up. “Interesting.”
    Sebeck glanced at him. “What’s that?”
    “I finally got a chance to read the news. It’s nice to know what I was almost accused of.”
    Sebeck said nothing.
    “Your murder case is all over the headlines. Look, there’s you.” Ross held up the phone to show a news Web site with a photo of Sebeck at the press conference.
    Sebeck barely looked. “Well, it’s not my case anymore.” They drove on for a few moments in silence. “So, you’re some kind of computer consultant, is that it?”
    “Yes. I design relational database management systems.”
    “How does a young guy like you get such big clients?”
    “Word of mouth. I’m good at what I do. You look young to be a sergeant of detectives.”
    Sebeck grimaced. “I got an early start.” They came up on the entrance ramp to the 101 freeway, but Sebeck headed across the bridge to the far side of town.
    “Sergeant, you just missed the freeway ramp.”
    “I need to stop off somewhere first. Listen, can I ask you some computer questions?”
    Ross looked uncertain. “What about?”
    “That virus at Alcyone. Everybody there was looking to you for help. So, you know a lot about viruses?”
    “I already told all this to the FBI. I’ve been cleared, remember?”
    Sebeck waved his hand in acknowledgment. “I know, I know. But our in-house guy doesn’t have the chops to deal with much more than teen hackers and drug dealers.”
    “Sergeant, the FBI has a cyber crime unit to deal with this. They don’t need my help.”
    “It’s not the FBI that’s asking.”
    Ross looked to Sebeck. “Ah…I see.” He raised his hands to represent headlines. “Local cop cracks case.”
    Sebeck looked darkly at Ross. “I’m just trying to stop a killer.”
    “To be frank, Sergeant, you’re going to have a difficult time finding whoever killed those men. This is essentially a computer forensics case, and the FBI is better equipped for that.”
    Sebeck took a chance. “What if I told you I know who the killer is?”
    Ross tensed visibly.
    “No, not you.”
    “That’s why the FBI let me go?”
    Sebeck nodded. “What if I also told you that the killer was dead at the time of the murders?”
    Ross looked puzzled for a moment—but then a look of realization came over his face. “No way.”
    “That’s what I need to know. Is it possible?”
    “Holy shit, you’re serious.”
    “The Feds believe it. But I don’t. I think the real killer is over at CyberStorm and that he’s framing this dead guy for the murders.”
    “It’s Matthew Sobol, isn’t it?”
    Sebeck cast a surprised look at Ross. “Where the hell did you hear that?”
    Ross gestured to his