Money Changes Everything

Money, money changes everything
We think we know what we're doing
That don't mean a thing
It's all in the past now
Money changes everything.

 

“Hi, Beatrix. Are you here to see Reid? I don’t have you on his calendar.”

Trixie smiled at Janiece, the ever-efficient secretary in blue jeans. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I might see if he were free for lunch. I wanted to check up on how things were going.”

Janiece frowned as she pulled up his calendar. “He’s with some people right now, but he doesn’t have any plans for lunch.” She smiled up at Trixie. “Of course, that’s just the calendar talking. He often adds things without telling me. Do you want me to interrupt and ask him?”

Trixie waved a dismissive hand. “Heavens no! I can wait for him to finish. In fact, if my cubicle is still empty, I can actually do a bit of work for him while I wait. Is anyone using it?”

“Actually, that man from the government has taken it over. But I have a better idea.” She stood up. “Follow me.”

“Wow!” Trixie looked around the fancy glass office with the terrific view of Manhattan. “Whose office is this?”

“Allison Beckhart’s,” Janiece replied. “But she never uses it. Occasionally she’ll use it as a stopping off spot between appointments when she’s in the city, but she really hasn’t been active in the business since we moved here to our own building.”

“B3 owns this building?” Trixie asked, wondering how that fact had escaped her.

“Yes. Reid wanted it that way.” Janiece smiled. “He leases out the bottom floors to other businesses. He always talks about how important it is to diversify.”

Trixie nodded. “When did B3 move to this building?”

“Oh, right after Reid hired me, four, almost five years ago.”

“You’re how old, Janiece?” Trixie turned and looked at her, a puzzled look on her face.

“I’ll be 24 later this year. Reid hired me right after I finished my office management course. I didn’t have any actual experience, but that’s exactly what Reid said he wanted. He told me that his previous staff was tainted by how things were done at other companies. He wanted someone who didn’t have that baggage.”

Trixie sat her laptop bag down on the bare glass-topped desk. “You have to give him credit; he has original ideas.”

“He’s been good to me,” Janiece replied. “Need anything else, Beatrix?”

“Actually, I do. I need some names for my report.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember the day that I found the security breach? Reid was in a meeting and you interrupted him?”

“Yes, of course, I remember.”

“Who was in the room meeting with him that day? I remember you said it was a sales review of a proposal, and the room was full of people. Do you happen to have everyone’s name that was in there?”

Janiece frowned. “I can pull up the calendar and send you the list of who was invited to the meeting, but that won’t be everyone. When it’s sales, there are always people added on at the last minute. The sales team is notorious for that. All the sales guys think if they could just have two minutes of Reid’s time, they can pitch their idea of what he should be developing that they could sell.” Janiece rolled her eyes.

“That’s a bad thing, huh?” Trixie asked.

“To hear Reid and Ted talk about it, yes. They don’t want sales guys selling what we don’t have … they want them to sell what we do have. They keep the research and new product development as far removed from sales as they can. Otherwise they get a bunch of pie in the sky forecasts for products we can’t deliver, that customers want.”

Trixie nodded. “If you take a look at the list of people who were on the official meeting list, do you think you could remember others who tagged on?”

“I’ll try. What report do you need this for?”

“Unfortunately, one for the government team that’s in here,” Trixie hedged. “But since I used to work with those guys, it needs to be correct. I don’t want them pointing to me as the problem, especially since my former boss stuck his neck out for Reid.”

Janiece nodded. “I’ll work it as soon as I get back to my desk. Is email okay?”

“Sure. Hopefully, I’ll be set up and working by the time you finish.”

Trixie unpacked her designer laptop bag and wondered what was transpiring at Langham Industries. Tammy had been most apologetic when she asked Trixie to suspend her review, explaining that there were some basic problems in business operation that she had to address with Harold before the security review could be completed. Taking advantage of the free day when they weren’t expected at Wheeler International, Trixie decided to call on Reid Beckhart to follow-up with him.

It didn’t take Trixie long to power up her computer and connect to the B3 system. She shook her head in dismay. Her login should have been disabled when she ordered Reid to have Madji reset all the logins and passwords. That was problem number one. There should have been no exceptions. Trixie leaned back thoughtfully. If Reid or Madji made an exception for me, who else did they make an exception for and left their password unchanged?

She picked up the phone to call Madji.

 

 

“I did reset all the logins and passwords,” Madji insisted. “Including yours, Beatrix. I even reset my own and all the system administration passwords. Come, I will show you.”

Trixie followed Madji to what appeared to be a system room, watching while he entered a combination into the keypad lock on the door.

Soon he was sitting in front of a computer screen and rapidly punching keys. He frowned as the software code appeared.

“Something is not right,” he muttered.

“Tell me about it,” Trixie said softly as she watched.

He typed and sighed, then punched the keys some more. “I do not understand, Beatrix.” He shook his head. “Someone has uploaded a file of logins and passwords, basically resetting logins and passwords for many people.”

“How many people?” she asked. “Can you locate the file?”

“Of course,” he replied. “Once you look, it is plain to find.” He punched the keys, opened a simple text file, and pointed to the monitor. “See. Here you are.”

Trixie studied the display and groaned. She recognized many of the names on the list; they were those she knew had been there when the discovery of the original security break occurred.

“Will you print that for me?” she asked. When he nodded his assent, she sat back quietly. “Is there any way you can ask Reid to come down here and not let on there’s a problem?”

“I think so,” he answered, opening up an instant messaging screen.

He thought for a moment and then typed. “Breakthru n ORCHID can u come?”

Trixie managed to keep a poker face despite her thudding heart. “What is ORCHID?” she managed to ask using a normal tone.

Madji shook his head. “You will need to ask the boss that question. I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t or won’t?” she quizzed.

“For me, it is the same.”

Madji’s answer created tension while Trixie waited for Reid. In less than ten minutes, he was breezing into the room.

“Beatrix!” he exclaimed. “What … how …” Frowning he turned to his partner. “Madji, how does Beatrix know about ORCHID?”

“I don’t,” she answered for him. “He wouldn’t tell me. I told him to get you down here without it being obvious something was wrong. First, let me explain what happened.”

Trixie related the story about waiting for Reid, and finding out she was still able to access the B3 network with her original login.

Reid frowned. “That’s a problem? Of course you should be able to get on the system. You’re still a consultant for me.”

“The system should’ve been prompted me to set a new password.” She waved a hand towards Madji. “It didn’t. Explain it to him, Madji.”

“Beatrix is correct. Several days ago, someone loaded a file of employees with their old logins and passwords into the system. They were able to override the command for all users to rest their passwords. The users listed in the file can continue to login without being asked to reset their password on the system.”

Reid pushed a frustrated hand through his hair. “You’re telling me that whoever was messing around with my system is still doing it?”

“Yes,” Madji answered.

“Who can do something like this?” Reid asked.

“Only a few people,” his long-time friend admitted.

“Name them,” he barked.

Madji rattled off a list of names, while Reid grew increasingly frustrated. “… and of course, there is you and me. I have sufficient rights and privileges to make this change. Judging by the date of the change in the system, a few more would have, as well. I would have to check and see who had reset their password first, though.”

Reid slapped his hands down on the computer table in front of Madji’s screen and looked at him. “I personally know every person you mentioned. You and Chris have been with me since the beginning. So has Ted. Now you want me to believe that one of us is deliberately trying to bring this business down? Every person you named has as much to gain from B3’s success and profitability as I do. Why would someone do that?”

“What’s ORCHID?” Trixie asked.

Reid glared at her. “A flower.”

Trixie returned the glare with one of her own. “What is your ORCHID?”

“It’s a code name. You should know its not uncommon in this business to assign code names to breaking-edge technology projects.”

“Yes, I do understand. Believe me when I say that I am very familiar with code names. But when I was here before, and I reviewed your research and development projects, I didn’t see anything called ORCHID. In fact, I didn’t see any code named projects. Is there more than one?” It was standard operating procedure in her investigations to search the company systems for keywords. Orchid had been on the list of search terms and she was certain that nowhere in the systems of B3 Software had there been any reference to orchids.

Reid began pacing back and forth across the system room. He stopped and stared at Trixie, who was waiting impatiently for an answer.

“ORCHID and all my other sensitive research projects aren’t in the standard reports. We work the sensitive research and development items under one project that we call retired software maintenance. Everyone thinks Madji and others are simply working to maintain the existing code on products that are no longer actively updated. They’re actually working on our most advanced R&D code-named projects. It keeps the information more secure.”

Trixie laughed. “Great. That’s just great.” She put her hands on her hips and glared at Reid. “The physical security of your system, you don’t care about. This place was wide open when I came in to help you over a month ago. But now, the real work, the real secret stuff, is done in plain sight by the original design crew.”

Madji looked at her and nodded. “Everyone thinks Chris and I are has-beens. That we developed the new system with Reid and haven’t been able to do anything since.” He laughed. “They don’t even know we developed both Kaba and Comperio, the two latest products –”

“Wait!” Trixie held up a hand. “You developed Comperio? The search and find tool being delivered with every new computer that lets you find anything in less than five seconds?”

“Yes,” Madji replied. “Chris is the co-inventor.”

“You own Comperio?” Trixie turned to look at Reid. “I thought Comperio was developed by the Wowzer Group.”

“We own forty percent of the Wowzer Group,” Reid answered. “It was set up years ago as a separate business. Since the ownership is still private, we can keep it a secret that we own part of it.”

“But … but … why?” Trixie asked.

He signed. “When you get big, and good at what you do, everyone wants to prove that you’re really not that great. We developed Comperio by accident. We were trying to enhance our own search tool, not develop one for consumer use. By spinning it off, we were able to keep our own development project on track and get an infusion of capital. Not to mention, we’re able to avoid problems other large computer companies have found themselves immersed in.”

Trixie looked thoughtful. “And Kaba? You own it as well?”

“Not anymore. It was a fluke. It didn’t work in our environment, so we sold it.”

“How do you keep this private?” she asked.

“It’s hard,” he admitted. “But that’s why we’re going to stay a private company. We can hide under layers of paperwork and names. We can spin off a wholly-owned subsidiary tomorrow, and since we’re privately held it doesn’t matter.”

“When Janiece told me you owned this building, she meant it. I mean you own it, it’s paid for, right?”

“Yes,” he answered. “It’s important to diversify your holdings. We plow a higher percentage of our profits back into research than any other company does. For us -- Ted, Madji, Chris, and me … it’s about staying interested in what we do.”

Madji spoke up. “Our product, it is good, yes? I mean you have used it and you like it?”

“Yes, it’s fabulous,” Trixie admitted. “It’s already saved me more time than I ever imagined.”

“See and you don’t hate us, like people hate HardMacro, right?”

Trixie took a deep breath. “I don’t hate you. But I don’t hate HardMacro either. They finally got their act together.”

“And it took years for them to overcome their rep. I’m trying to manage this company so we’re not like that,” Reid said. “Word gets out that you have something hot in development and people start hacking …” He stopped, realizing what he had said.

“Do you think that’s what’s happened?” Trixie asked quietly.

“I ... don’t … know,” he admitted. “Previously, I would have said yes. But I don’t think a hacker did this. Do you, Madji?”

“I’m sorry, Reid. No I don’t. I think it is one of us. One of the people you trust. I’m sorry – but this crime, it is intimate, do you know what I mean?”

Reid nodded.

“Think, Reid.” Trixie pushed. “Have you upset anyone? Or made a decision that someone didn’t agree with? Asked someone to do something that they opposed?”

“Nothing.”

“Sales? Janiece said the sales department is always trying to find out the latest thing you’re working on so they can sell it.”

“Ted would never do something like this,” Reid answered.

Madji nodded his consent. “He is right, Beatrix. Ted would not. Chris, Ted, Reid and I … we ate Ramen noodles for almost an entire year when we were trying to get B3 going.”

Trixie frowned. “What about your families? Any divorces, problems with kids, stuff like that?”

Madji shook his head. “Nothing for me. I am happily married and my kids are very young. You will have to ask the rest of them. I will not tell you anything about their families. If you’ll excuse me, Beatrix, I need to check on some other things.”

Madji left the room and Beatrix was alone with Reid. She took a deep breath.

“You’ve had some problems with your family?” she asked quietly.

“I guess it’s obvious, huh?” he answered. He sat on the edge of the desk, his foot swinging nervously. “Allison and I, we’ve had some rocky times. We’ve split up more than once, but we always manage to make it work.”

“Why did you split up?”

Reid shrugged. “A variety of reasons. We were young, and Allie walked away from a very rich and lavish lifestyle to be with me. I didn’t even have my own place when we hooked up. It was rough going.”

“Was Allison with you the year you ate Ramen noodles?”

Reid pushed a nervous hand through his hair. “No, she wasn’t. We were apart most of that time. We weren’t married, although we had told her parents we were engaged. It kept them off her back about me staying with her,” he hastened to add. “She moved back home for a while, started school and stuff. After we got our first break, she moved back into an apartment with me. We had a few more hiccups before things settled down for good.”

“What kind of hiccups?” She managed to contain her surprise that he answered her.

“The most common kind – money. Allison thought I was asking too much to walk away from her parent’s wealth and marry me. Despite the times, I did want to get married, even if her dad thought it was just to get my hands on her money.” He rolled his eyes. “Sometimes, I’m not sure it would’ve worked out like it did if Allie hadn’t gotten pregnant. That changed her mother’s mind very quickly. Once her father realized I was more than willing to sign a pre-nup, he gave in as well.”

Trixie nodded. She could understand how things might fall out that way. She took a deep breath. “I’m going to ask you something, and it’s important. Don’t get upset by the question. It may not seem like it’s important to you, but trust me. It’s a big deal.”

“Okay. What is it?”

“Do you know who hacked into B3?” She held up a hand, as she saw the look of anger flash into his eyes. “Hold on – let me explain. Agent Tibbs told me they couldn’t determine who hacked your system. But he also said you, Madji or Chris could figure it out. He thinks you’re hiding something.”

Reid took a deep breath. “The person who hacked the system isn’t important.”

“We can agree on that.” Trixie nodded. “Why they hacked the system, on the other hand, is very important.” Trixie put her hands on the desk and leaned forward, her tone deadly serious. “Reid, I know you’re protecting someone. I don’t know why you’re protecting them, and I’m not sure exactly who it is, but it’s one of a very few people. Do you want to tell me why?”

“What makes you think I’m protecting someone?”

“Are you saying that you’re not?”

“Look, Beatrix. This hacking, the security leak, it’s just not important. Nothing has happened to my business and we’re on top of things now, better security and controls, everything you recommended. If restitution needs to be made to Hoffman, then I’ll happily make it, but can’t we just drop this and move on?”

“Will you tell me what ORCHID is if I agree to drop it? What’s it supposed to do?”

“You are still under that non-disclosure agreement, correct?” He seemed more nervous telling her about ORCHID than he had disclosing very personal elements about his relationship with his wife.

“Yes, I’m still under non-disclosure. You can tell me anything in confidence and I’m bound to keep it secret for the next 25 years.”

“It’s operational implementation software. It’s a method to revolutionize how corporations use their systems and make all the business systems they use automatically talk to each other. It employs a wrapper technology that allows data to be input one time and fed to every system that needs it. It’s driven to the field level without changing the systems security and the functionality of each system.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Billions of dollars are spent every year by companies who want to integrate various systems, from accounting to sales to project management to help desk support. ORCHID is going to do that seamlessly. It will look at a system’s data tables and automatically let them start talking to each other. It will take less than a week of implementation for every system.”

“That’s amazing,” Trixie breathed as the realization of the idea hit her. “The Bureau spent millions implementing the technology to integrate databases.”

“Exactly!” he beamed. “Madji is close. But we can’t afford for word to get out until the product is fully tested.”

“How many ORCHID-type projects, the ones not in the official R&D budget, do you have in development at any time?”

“At least a dozen, sometimes twice that.”

“What are they?”

He snorted. “Sorry, Beatrix, but you’re asking me more than I’ve told my own wife. There’s no way I’m reviewing every single one of my research and development projects with you. Not even Madji knows everything.”

She gave him a hard look. “Does anyone know all of them, besides you?”

He slowly shook his head. “No.”

“But why?”

He shrugged. “Various reasons. Some of our projects are really out there. They’re so fantastical that some people might not believe they’re possible, much less that they should be funded. I have enough money that I can afford to, um, indulge my whimsy.”

“Reid,” she began, pausing until he looked at her. “I have a really good reason for wanting to know about all your research. I swear to you, my motives are pure. Is there any way I can persuade you to tell me?”

“What’s the reason?”

She shook her head and exhaled slowly. “I can’t tell you.”

He laughed. “Beatrix, I won’t tell you. So I guess we’re even. Now, before we both get upset with each other, is there anything else?”

Trixie wondered if her boss would clear her letting Reid know about the government’s ORCHID project. “What about the others?” she asked. “Madji told me his story. Will Chris and Ted tell me the same thing?”

“Chris is single. So is Ted.”

“What are you saying?” she asked.

“I’m telling you that there isn’t a story there. Ted has three ex-wives. He’s officially sworn off marriage, and changes girlfriends every six weeks just to keep the ladies from getting the wrong idea.”

“And Chris?” she asked. “Does she have a significant other?”

“No, Chris will never be serious about anyone.” He paused and smiled. “Chris is still waiting for Ted to notice her.”

Trixie was quiet as she considered the information.

“No. Chris would not do this to get back at Ted,” Reid volunteered with a smile. “Anything else you’re thinking?”

Trixie gave him a funny look. “Actually I wasn’t thinking that, but thanks any way. How did you come up with the name ORCHID?”

Reid frowned. “It seems like Chris picked that name.” He sat on the corner of the desk and crossed his arms. “Is there anything else? I need to get back to work soon.”

“How did you do it?” she asked. “I mean, you’re still friends with the people who started the company with you. All of you are still together. Isn’t that incredibly rare?”

He gave her a strange look. “Aren’t you the one who was telling me about your friends from Sleepyside? The club of quail you started when you were young and today all of you are still close and still good friends? I figured you’d get it.”

Trixie nodded slowly. “I see what you mean. Chris and Ted -- they’re your Bob-Whites.”

“I guess that’s one way to put it.”

 

 

Trixie burst into the offices of the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency. “Freeman!” she practically shouted. “Do we still have those flip charts where you and Barnes were brainstorming a couple of weeks ago?”

Amy looked up in surprise. “Yes. They’re in the war room.”

“Get Barnes! I have the list of people who were there the day I discovered the security break in B3’s firewall.”

“What’s up?” Sean, obviously hearing the commotion, appeared as his office door jerked open.

“Ideas!” The word burst from Trixie’s lips. “I think you and Freeman were on to something with the list of people who knew about the problem at B3. Whoever did it struck again, and added a list of people who had super privileges back into the system. Tibbs and his team didn’t catch it. I want to compare the two lists and see if we can narrow it down.”

The trio moved into the war room and Amy located the flip charts. “Here it is,” she announced. “We wanted to know who knew about the first incident.”

“I’ll call ‘em out, you write,” Trixie instructed. She looked at Sean. “Can you cross-reference this into our data base?”

“Of course I can,” he answered, pulling a keyboard closer to him before he began to punch keys rapidly.

“These are the people who had their logins restored.” Trixie began to read from her list. Amy scribbled the names furiously as Trixie called out both the Beckharts, Chris Williams, Ted, Andy, Janiece, Zelda, and several other names before adding her own.

Amy looked at Sean and Trixie. Both of them nodded and she picked up a different colored marker. “What about the original security risk?”

Trixie looked down at her list and again began to call out the names. The first few were the same. She and the Beckharts had known about the security breach. So had Janiece, Ted, Andy, Zelda and a host of sales types, as well as the head of finance.

Sean finished the names and then leaned back and studied the flip charts with them.

“It’s gotta be Chris,” he said. “I’ll bet you anything Agent Tibbs thinks so. She’s got the brains to do it, too.”

“Both Reid and Madji would protect her,” Trixie mused as she stared at the board. “But just in case …” She drummed her fingers on the table.

“Freeman,” she turned to the junior agent. “Give us everything you’ve uncovered on Allison Beckhart.”

Surprised, Amy took a moment to locate Allison’s file and display it on the smart board in the conference room. Skimming through the notes, she cleared her throat and started speaking. “The preliminary report you received from the Bureau was basic. Date of birth, parents, marital status, that kind of thing. The summary indicated she was involved in a few choice charity projects and spent most of her time with her children, friends and shopping. She has an office at B3 and is a silent member of the board. She does not take an active role in the business, despite having attended college.” Amy stopped and frowned. “Sorry, boss. That’s as far as the investigation goes at this point. “

Trixie nodded. “Finish this one yourself. Go back, all the way back. If Allison’s parents had a pony at her fifth birthday party, then I want to know about it. Especially about any and all friends and relationships since she met Reid Beckhart. Understood?”

Amy nodded. “Yes. Anything else?”

“Same thing – only for Chris Williams,” Trixie said.

Amy went through the same motions. “Emily Christine Williams is single and rich. She lives a modest lifestyle, and her friends and family consider her a workaholic and a geek. She never attended a single college social event and graduated from high school with an almost perfect record.”

“Almost perfect?” Sean asked.

“Yeah, she failed P.E.” Amy continued. “She met both Reid and Ted at HS 430, also known as Brooklyn Technical High School. She’s spent her entire career working for B3 Software and is an active member of the board.”

“What about relationships?” Sean interrupted.

Amy shook her head. “She participates in a local charity that provides support for girls interested in math and science and she’s on the board of the Greater New York Humane Society.” She blinked and looked at Sean. “No relationships. She’s authored several technical articles and holds seven patents, and on six of them she’s listed as the lead inventor.”

“Keep digging,” Trixie said. “If we really are looking for a female, then it’s got to be Chris or Allison making those changes. Nothing else makes sense. But Reid did say that Chris named the project Orchid.”

“What did you say?” Sean said leaning forward.

“Reid has a host of code-named projects. Top secret research and development work that he doesn’t want the competition to get wind of. Madji and Chris lead most of that development work, and meanwhile, everyone thinks they’re coasting doing maintenance work. One of the projects that Madji was working on today is code named ORCHID.”

“Holy smokes,” Sean whistled. “That can’t possibly be a coincidence.”

Trixie nodded. “I didn’t find it when I was there, and neither did Tibbs and his team. How could we both have missed such an important project?”

“He didn’t network his machines,” Sean answered. “I’ll bet you anything all his research projects are being done in a lab with stand-alone computers. They might have internet connections without being connected to his network, or they might just be cold machines.”

Trixie frowned. “Why?”

“It’s an old security standby. You set up the work on an independent computer and then all you have to worry about is physical security and smart passwords. You can even do a biometric password on the computer. “

“Our network searches would never find a machine that wasn’t connected,” she mused. “We wouldn’t even notice a missing IP address.”

“Exactly!”

“Can you run a computer like that?” Amy asked doubtfully. “How would it work?”

“Sure you can,” Sean answered, trying not to roll his eyes and failing. “Our computers here work just fine without internet and networking; they would just be limited in some areas. But we could do development on them just fine. We’d just lose the power of instant access to …. –” His voice trailed off as he realized the beauty of Reid’s solution. Two computers, set up side-by-side, one connected and one a standalone machine. “The security would be the tightest.”

“The most powerful computer in the world isn’t connected to the internet, Freeman,” Trixie reminded her. “It does what computers were designed to do – compute.”

“Yeah, I get what you’re saying,” Amy answered. “It just seems pointless.”

“Okay,” Trixie spoke up. “Let’s wrap this up and everyone get moving. This is the break we need. Tomorrow we can return to Wheeler and try to finish there. Is there anything else that came in today?”

“You friend Jim called,” Amy told her as she picked up her notebook and skimmed it. “Oh, and William Thornhill called. He wants to schedule an appointment.”