Free Daniel Ganninger - Icarus Investigations 01 - Flapjack by Daniel Ganninger

pages to Alex.
    “ I’m not sure.  It looks like pieces of a data stream, probably a program that was made in-house by the Genesis engineers.  If we had more time I could do some snooping, but I wouldn’t recommend it,” Alex said tapping on the computer screen.
    “ I agree with you, go ahead and shut her down.”  Galveston continued to study the pieces of paper.  “You know, it almost looks like it could be a cipher, you know, code.”
    “ It’s called cryptology,” I interjected.
    “ Thanks Mr. Science.  Here,” he handed me a few of the sheets.  “See what I mean?  There seems to be a definite pattern of some sort.”
    “ I see what you mean,” I said studying the paper.  “There is some sort of sequence going on here, but I can’t figure it out.  It’s only in the first few pages too, and then it goes back to a bunch of crazy symbols.”
    Alex finished exiting out of the Genesis system , and he too set his sights on the papers, studying them closely.  Then a smile crossed his face.
    “ You know what this is?” he asked as if we hadn’t been asking the exact same question.  “This is a good old fashioned Trimethius Tableau.  If I can remember correctly, it was invented around the Renaissance period.  It was an expansion, more or less of the Caesar shift.  It uses a matrix of every letter of the alphabet, twenty-six rows and columns and you read down each row to decipher or encrypt the code.”
    “ You know I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Galveston chided him.
    “ To put it simply for you, it’s an old cipher, an old way of writing secret code.”
    “ So this is old?”  I asked like a naïve school boy.
    “ No.  It’s just someone didn’t want anybody to read this part of the file, but they also didn’t want to make it too complicated that no one could figure it out.  I haven’t seen this since my training at the NSA.  Why are you so interested in this anyways?”  Alex asked.
    “ I’m more interested in the file name, it looks very familiar, Adamanthea 39598253 .  There is something about that file name, but I just can’t remember.”  He slid back in his seat with an air of contention.  “I need a stiff drink and a good nap,” Galveston said as Alex began closing the files and exiting out a backdoor in the Genesis system.
    I popped open some of our finest bubbly in response to his comment, a two liter bottle of generic cola, poured out three glasses , and added a generous portion of rum to each.
    “ Three cuba libres,” I announced handing out the glasses like a pompous bartender, a job I had held in my younger days.  “Cheers gentlemen.”  I held my glass high, waiting for a ceremonial clink from my compatriots.
    “ I think I’m going to cry,” Alex said dryly.
    “ I think I’m going to throw up,” Galveston retorted.
    We clashed our glasses together and downed our drinks like drunken alcoholics.  Galveston put his glass down and wiped his mouth.
    “ I don’t know about you two, but I smell like the stench of death.  I’m going to shower, put on my jammies, and hit the hay.  You guys can do whatever you want.  We’ll find out what damage we did tomorrow.”
    We said our respective goodnights, even though it was eight o’clock in the morning, and retired to our respective hovels.  Mine a one bedroom apartment, next to a rundown strip mall, and Alex to his four bedroom home near the coast.  Alex was doing better financially than what I had figured.  It seems he was spending time with us out of boredom and a need for a new challenge.
    Galveston stayed at the office, for it moonlighted as his home.  He fought the urge and temptation to think about anything further.  Instead he chose the better approach, get a good night sleep, finish up this job tomorrow, and then with a fresh mind, plot our next move.  He closed the curtains, blocking the available light, and with his curiosity at bay he crawled wearily into bed.
    It seemed