Scattered Graves

Diane.
‘‘To keep people from getting their life savings sto len,’’ said the computer. ‘‘People can lose their home and not even know what happened.’’
    ‘‘You notice how comfortable Diane is talking to a com puter,’’ said David. ‘‘She probably thinks it’s an alien.’’
Diane ignored him.
‘‘Well, I think it’s fascinating,’’ said Neva. ‘‘I want to know if there’s a real person on the other end of this. You know, like instant mail.’’
‘‘That’s a good idea,’’ said Diane.
Neva wants to know if you are a real person on another computer talking to us, she typed.
She made it a more complex sentence on purpose to see what kind of answer she would get.
‘‘Hello, Neva,’’ said the voice.
‘‘Oh, my God,’’ said Neva.
‘‘I am not a person on another computer. I am in the computer,’’ said the voice.
‘‘This is unbelievable,’’ said Neva.
Can we believe you? asked Diane.
‘‘Yes. But that doesn’t help you, does it? I could be lying,’’ it said.
You sound real, typed Diane, who had decided it was a person after all and felt vaguely disappointed, like she would prefer to be talking to HAL.
‘‘I know. That’s the beauty of it,’’ it said.
Do you know who killed Jefferies and Peeks? typed Diane.
‘‘No. But you should have asked a better question,’’ said the voice. ‘‘Remember, I am a computer.’’
I don’t know what you mean, typed Diane.
‘‘Good,’’ said the voice.
Are you lying? typed Diane.
‘‘I am exactly not lying,’’ said the voice on the com puter. ‘‘Don’t you want to ask what other information I have?’’
I’m sorry. I do want to know what other information you have, typed Diane.
‘‘You are so polite. That’s nice,’’ said the voice.
I think you are real, typed Diane.
‘‘That is the nicest compliment you could have given me,’’ said the voice.
‘‘I’m not getting anything going out or coming in,’’ said Frank, looking at the screen on his laptop. ‘‘My guess is the guy is really good, or he’s telling the truth and it’s a program.’’
What is the other information you want to give me? typed Diane.
‘‘I want to give you bank account numbers,’’ it said. ‘‘I think you know whose.’’
Give me the numbers, typed Diane.
‘‘Look me in the eye,’’ said the voice.
Diane looked into the camera. On the screen a set of numbers scrolled by with the names of banks beside them. Just at a glance, they looked like offshore ac counts.
‘‘I’ll take those.’’
They all looked up sharply toward the new voice. Rikki Gillinick was standing in the doorway between Diane’s office and her sitting room. She was holding a gun.

Chapter 42
    ‘‘Rikki,’’ said Diane, ‘‘I thought you were off today.’’ ‘‘I knew you guys were up to something and if I
followed, I’d find my treasure. Give me the list of
bank account numbers now.’’
Rikki carried a book bag on her arm; it looked
empty. Diane wondered how long a list she was ex
pecting. Rikki moved inside the room and kicked the
door shut behind her.
Everyone stayed where they were around the com
puter, eyeing the gun.
‘‘How did you get a gun into the museum?’’ said
Diane. She might need to have a few words with her
security personnel.
‘‘Easy. A little chink in your security a while back.
When Bryce was still running the crime lab and had
his own guard, all he had to do was bring the gun into
the museum from the crime lab side and find a place
to hide it,’’ she said.
‘‘Why would he do that?’’ said Diane.
‘‘You need to think about that real hard,’’ said
Rikki. ‘‘Now, quit stalling. I want the numbers.’’ ‘‘Is this the money Jefferies made in his little cyber
crime venture?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘Yes. And it’s not so little. I’m serious about getting
those account numbers—about three hundred million
dollars’ worth of serious. They’re the only reason
Bryce and I stuck around.’’
‘‘That’s a lot of money,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Did Jefferies
make all of it with his cybergangs?’’
‘‘Mostly. His Atlanta business does well, but not
that well,’’ said Rikki.
‘‘How do you expect to get out of the building?’’
said Diane. ‘‘Do you plan to take one of us hostage?’’ Rikki laughed. ‘‘I have the best hostage of all,’’
she said looking around the room. ‘‘Bryce saw peo
ple as mice he could poke a stick at and they would
go