Page 48 of Wired Strong

“I think I might have something new on the case,” Raveaux said. “And we have an issue to bring up that we need clarity around.”

Sophie glanced between the two of them. “What is that?”

Raveaux inclined his head toward Leede. She was in her youthful guise today, snowy hair loose over her shoulders, wearing an exercise top and matching yoga pants. She tapped her leather messenger bag. “Raveaux and I contacted your friend Marcella Scott yesterday. She wants us to come in and present the case to her SAC, Ben Waxman. She thinks she can get us the warrant that will get us the name on the bank account in the Caymans, but not without opening a formal FBI case. I’m not at all sure Kama`aina Schools wants to go in that direction.”

Sophie frowned. “That is a dilemma. But I’m sure you’ve already considered that the name on the account may not be that illuminating. It’s probably an alias, anyway.”

“In light of that, I think we need to reach Rex Gibson, President of the Board, and ask him how they want to proceed, and whether or not they want to press formal charges when the perpetrator is found. I have arranged a video call. This could be our opportunity to update him on our progress,” Leede said.

Sophie gestured to the large monitor on her desk. “What do you want to use to tune him in? Gibson may have other members of his team he wants included.”

“Let’s set up your monitor on the table, so we can see them, and they can see us.”

A few minutes later, Sophie had done so, and they connected with the President of the Schools’ Board. Rex Gibson looked as skeletally thin and monk-like as he had when Raveaux met him in person. Behind him stood the scowling visage of the Headmaster, Dr. Ka`ula. Cho had been left out of this meeting.

“We are eager for an update,” Gibson said.

“And we have one for you.” Leede proceeded to fill the two men in on what they had been able to discern so far. “We are waiting on any news from the security that is deployed to watch the computers in the student lounge. We speculate that the perpetrator is a staff member who is using one of the terminals there in order to obscure their IP address, although, of course, they’re already using a VPN. We are also going to investigate someone within the Peerless Accounting office a little more closely. Ms. Smithson, why don’t you fill them in on what you’ve discovered on the computers.”

Sophie cleared her throat. “I have been digging through the mirror image hard drives of the accountants working on the Kama`aina Schools’ bookkeeping. You will be pleased to know that so far, I’ve found nothing on any of the computers associated with the board members, or either of yours.” Gibson nodded, relief and annoyance evident in his attitude, while Ka`ula rolled his eyes and gave a head shake.

“I was glad to get my computer back,” Ka`ula said. “Can’t do my job without it.”

Sophie inclined her head, “I do understand the inconvenience. My plan today is to go to Peerless Accounting in the guise of a computer work tech, and visit this person Ms. Cho has expressed concern about. I’ll plant spyware on her computer, and have the rig cast directly to my own so that I can track what our target is doing as it happens.” Sophie took a sip of water and went on. “There are ways that people can clear their cache and make sure that their computer appears to be clean, and if she is activating any of the routing that has led to us being aware of how the money is being skimmed, I should be able to perceive it in real time.”

“Excellent,” Gibson said. “What else do you need from us?”

Leede leaned forward, making a pyramid with her fingertips. “We’d like to know how you want to proceed with prosecuting the embezzler. We have an offer from the FBI to get us a warrant to identify the owner of the Caymans bank account where the money is being skimmed to. From our end, this is not entirely necessary or useful in solving the case, because many times these accounts are listed under aliases or shell corporations. It also requires our going to the FBI, and presenting the case to them in order to get the warrant. That opens a whole Pandora’s box: law enforcement involvement. I encourage you to discuss with the rest of the board whether you want us to move in that direction.”

Gibson’s eyebrows had risen at the same time as Ka`ula’s lowered. The two men looked like opposite comedy masks, but both of their expressions showed distaste. “We will have to get back to you on that.” Gibson said. “Do not proceed without talking to us, first.”

“Certainly. We will wait to hear from you. Was there anything else you want to know from our end?” Leede cocked her head, an inquisitive sparrow.

“No,” Gibson said. “Send your bill for this week to my inbox directly.” He ended the call with a push of a button.

“Well, I guess I better get into my computer tech disguise,” Sophie said. “I’m actually looking forward to getting into that coverall. It has a nice loose waistline.”

Leede patted her hand. “You look blooming, young lady.”

Sophie smiled. “You’re lovely to say so.” She stood up. “And if you two could work on the computers in the basement while I’m gone, I’d appreciate it.”

Leede pointed to Raveaux. “He’s all you get. I still have ledgers to cross-check.” She stood and picked up her leather bag. “Off to the salt mines.”

Raveaux stayed where he was. Sophie went behind her desk and bent to take a zippered carryall out of a cabinet. “You have a question, Pierre?”

“Did you speak to your father about his involvement with the multiagency task force?” Raveaux had been wondering how that went.

“It was unpleasant, but we worked it out.” Sophie did not seem inclined to elaborate. She had unzipped the bag and was checking the equipment inside. “If you don’t mind, I have work to do, and so do you.”

He had been dismissed.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Sophie

Sophie pickedup her zippered work tote and made sure her name tag was pinned onto her cotton work coverall. She pulled on a Security Solutions ball cap. Sophie was targeting Jana Kanekoa, the accountant whom Cho had shared concerns about, adding the hardware to the woman’s computer that would cast to Sophie’s for monitoring. She did not plan to lie about what she was doing; she would be introduced by Beverly Cho as a technician putting in a security upgrade.

Sophie appropriated a Security Solutions van and drove the relatively short distance through busy Honolulu traffic to the Peerless Accounting building. She punched the parking garage code that she had been given into the turnstile gate and parked in the cool downstairs garage.

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