Page 46 of No Time Off

“We’re computer security experts,” I confirmed.

“For the CIA.”

“Not for the CIA, Manny.”

He held up his hands. “Okay, fine. It’s your story, so whatever. Just explain to me how you’re going to connect your laptop to her computer without a cell connection.”

“My laptop has some special features built into it, including a high-end cellular capability.”

“Sweet,” he said. “Where did you get it? I wouldn’t mind having a laptop like that.”

“It was provided to me with certain modifications I personally requested,” I said. “I doubt you could buy it at a store.”

“Aha. That’s because it’s super-secret CIA spy equipment.”

“It’s not spy equipment,” I said because it was the truth. This was my personal computer, not my work one, and I’d paid for everything I’d done to it. But he wasn’t far off in terms of being similar to one that might be designed for an in-the-field operative. Still, he’d broken the tension—maybe that was his goal all along—and I chuckled as he gave me a lopsided grin and motioned for me to follow him.

We started moving down from the rise on the far side to prevent being seen by anyone from the compound. We headed to the beach and then back up toward the compound behind a screen of thick bushes and trees.

“We’ll be exposed if a camera is mounted on one of those trees looking our way,” I said.

“I don’t think there’s anything there,” Manny responded. “I’ve been down here many times, and there’s never been a response from their security.”

“That’s good news.”

Once we reached the bushes with the palm trees looming over our heads, we found a tiny clearing in the foliage and crouched down. I pulled out my laptop and called Lexi. She instinctively knew to use text instead of voice as I shared my screen and typed a message.

“I’m approximately 50 feet from the camera and am picking up three Wi-Fi networks.”

There was a long pause before she responded. “Okay, I see them. One is much weaker, so I’m suspecting another source, perhaps a router from the police dormitory on the far side of the main building.”

“Agreed.”

“It could be either of the remaining two,”she typed.“We must know for sure, however, as I won’t have time to waste hacking the wrong network.”

“Stand by.”

I opened my network-scanning tools. I could detect the presence of multiple transmitting devices nearby. I wasn’t sure which one was the camera near us, or which network it was on.

“Manny, I need you to creep up closer to the camera and toss something into its field of view on my signal and then come back here. Make sure you aren’t seen.”

“Easy for you to say. How big an item do you need me to throw, and how close to the camera do I have to be?”

I considered. “Toss a rock or shell over the fence about ten feet or so in front of the camera.”

“You’re going to have to speak to me in meters, mate,” Manny said.

“Oh, sorry, force of habit,” I replied. “Three meters.”

Manny nodded and moved into position, picking up a rock on the way. He gave me a thumbs-up and tossed the rock.

It bounced off the top of the fence and into the compound. Simultaneously, I could see one of the signals I was monitoring jump.

Perfect.

Seconds later, Manny was back at my side. “Did it work?”

I nodded, watching the network signals, when one of the networks flashed additional traffic. Through the leaves I could make out the camera slowly searching for the source of the disturbance.

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