Daemon

to him.’
    ‘Ted didn’t call the FBI, Jon.’
    ‘Then who did? You?’
    ‘No one did.’
    Ross stopped walking. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘They came here on their own. Because of what the Icarus-Seven server did.’
    Ross looked back to the FBI agents. Straub motioned for him to keep moving.
    Just what have I gotten involved in here?
Ross wondered.
    There were a lot of people in the data center. It was almost acceptably warm as a result. Sarkar’s boss, Ted Wynnik, leaned against a counter, glowering beneath thick eyebrows as he listened to two techs Ross hadn’t seen before. This was probably the A-team – the daytime shift. They looked at Ross with the special contempt reserved for young consultants.
    Half a dozen uniformed Woodland Hills police officers werein here along with more FBI agents. They were talking with a network admin – a pear-shaped guy with bad skin. He was probably Maynard. Pear-shaped pointed at various server racks enthusiastically. At least someone was enjoying this.
    What happened?
    As soon as Ross entered the room, everyone stopped talking and turned to face him. The sudden silence was almost embarrassing because Ross knew he had none of the answers they were looking for. He decided to ask the obvious question. ‘Anybody want to tell me what’s going on?’
    All eyes turned to someone behind Ross, so he spun on his heel to face a trim man in a crisp suit. The guy looked like a fifty-year-old varsity quarterback. A leader of men.
    ‘Mr Ross. I’m Special Agent Neal Decker, L.A. Division. Do you know why we’re here?’
    ‘Because of last night?’
    Decker sized him up. It unnerved Ross that no one was talking.
    But Decker was in no hurry. He finally placed his hand on a disconnected rack server sitting on the nearby counter. ‘They tell me this computer killed two men earlier today.’
    The shock took a while to work through Ross. He had expected some sort of child pornography ring or a credit card scam. ‘Killed? How?’
    ‘I was hoping you could help us explain that.’
    ‘Why on earth would you think that?’
    Decker smiled good-naturedly. ‘A lot of people are suspects right now. But once we get the people in here to help us interpret the evidence, we’ll know more. In the meantime, we’d like to take you gentlemen in for questioning.’ His gaze spanned the room to include all the men who were present during the incident.
    A wave of dread washed over Ross. ‘We’re not under arrest?’
    ‘No. I’m asking you to voluntarily come in for questioning.’
    Ross wondered what would happen if he said no. Of course,he couldn’t say no. What about a lawyer? ‘I must tell you, I’m just completely floored by this.’
    ‘I’m certain you are.’
    This guy was disconcertingly calm. He gave the impression that he knew more than he was letting on. Goddamnit.
    Just then a man appeared at the glass data center door. He was the linebacker to match Decker as quarterback. His casual confidence seemed to indicate he wasn’t FBI – the agents here were all keyed up in Decker’s presence. No, this guy was an outsider to them. The man rapped on the glass, and a Woodland Hills patrolman opened the door for him. The newcomer showed a badge and was let inside.
    ‘I’m looking for an Agent Decker.’
    Decker and the FBI agents turned and moved forward, hands extended. ‘Detective Sebeck. We spoke on the phone.’ They shook hands. Decker turned to some of his crew. ‘Agent Knowles, Agent Straub, Detective Sergeant Peter Sebeck, Ventura County Major Crimes Unit. Detective Sebeck was heading the murder investigation up in Thousand Oaks.’ Handshakes all around.
    Then everyone turned back to Ross.
    Sebeck pointed at him. ‘Who’s this?’
    Decker leaned against the counter. ‘This is Jon Ross, one of Alcyone’s independent computer consultants. He designs their corporate data systems. Isn’t that right, Mr Ross?’
    ‘Certain systems, yes. Not this one.’
    ‘Is he a suspect or a witness?’
    Ross thought it was a good question.
    Decker was calm as ever. ‘That depends.’ He looked to Ross. ‘Tell me, Mr Ross, why is it that no one at your home address has ever heard of you?’
    Damn it to hell …

Chapter 6:// Exile
    ‘Ms Anderson?’ The security guard stepped from the guard shack and ducked to look into the Jaguar XK8.
    Anji Anderson looked down her nose at him from behind the wheel, lowering her Vuitton sunglasses. ‘Yesss. Open the gate.’
    ‘Ma’am, if you