Free No One Lives Twice (A Lexi Carmichael Mystery) by Julie Moffett Page B

in place. It’s much easier to break into someone’s home computer, steal a password and then log on to the company’s server using that method. If not, they wanted to know if they’d heard of this guy and how capable he was. They would look and exploit any vulnerability, including personnel, without being detected. It’s what they did best.
    I liked the fact that the twins were careful and thorough; they did their homework first. I guess that’s what made them the best in the country, perhaps the world.
    “You say that the parent company CGM, Inc. is big,” Xavier murmured, speaking more to himself than to us. “And international. They’ve likely got lots of money. My bet is they’ve got a good IDS system.”
    Any company worth their salt had a good intrusion detection system, but some systems were better than others.
    “Unless they outsource for their protection,” Elvis said.
    “True,” Xavier acknowledged. “Only one way to find out.”
    “Let’s take a look,” Elvis said, standing.
    That’s what I love about these guys. No challenge too big, no company too impenetrable.
    The twins sat down at adjacent computer terminals. I hovered behind them, watching with awe as Xavier quickly accessed an account in Singapore, and Elvis one in Budapest. From there they hopped across the country, leaving a trail that would lead nowhere. Then they began their investigation of the computer security of CGM, Inc.
    At this point, the twins’ rapid and unconventional maneuvering left me in the dust. I knew theoretically what they were trying to do, but had no understanding how they were going about it. I guess that’s why they get paid the big bucks and I don’t.
    During the session, Elvis and Xavier brainstormed constantly in a computer language I didn’t understand, their fingers flying over the keyboard so fast they were a blur. I was afraid to speak in case I interrupted their flow of concentration. So I just stood there uselessly—ready to offer moral support if needed.
    After about ten minutes, Xavier suddenly slammed a fist on the keyboard.
    “Backspace, backspace!” he shouted to Elvis. “Abort!”
    Elvis’s fingers hammered out some rapid-fire commands. Then he swiveled around his chair and looked at me.
    “Abort what?” I said nervously. “What happened?”
    “Someone was scanning us back.”
    “Shoot. I guess that means the company has a good IDS system,” I mourned.
    Elvis frowned, looking slightly offended. “Good, yes. But it won’t keep us out.”
    I believed that one hundred percent.
    “No it won’t,” Xavier agreed, stretching his arms above his head like he had just run a marathon. In a way, I guess he had. “We’ll get in sooner or later. The question is—how much time do we have?”
    “I don’t know,” I answered. “Based on the fact that I’m being chased around by guys with guns and Basia has mysteriously disappeared, I’d say the sooner the better. But truthfully, even if you do break in to CGM, I don’t know what I’m looking for.”
    “How about a file called Acheron?” Elvis suggested.
    I glanced over at Xavier. “Find anything different with that code I gave you?”
    He shook his head. “No and it feels amateur, so I’m going with Acheron, as well.”
    That had been my feeling exactly. “Okay, then let’s stay with Acheron. Right now, it’s my only clue. I don’t know how it’s connected to what’s going on, but Basia wrote it on those documents for a reason.”
    Elvis sat back, thinking. I know he was thinking because he always puts his finger against his chin and taps it while staring into space. Even Xavier didn’t interrupt him, although I suspect he was thinking, too. I guess I was the only one in the room who wasn’t thinking. I was too busy worrying.
    “You know, Elvis, we could do this a lot quicker if we brought some help on board.”
    “Help? What kind of help?” I asked. I didn’t want to get anyone else involved, or for that matter, in