Steve Vail - 02 - Agent X by Noah Boyd

Author:Noah Boyd
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Thriller
ISBN: 9780061826986
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-07-22T06:56:01+00:00

19

At a few minutes before eight the next morning, Vail walked into Les Carson’s office and asked, “Your people ready?”

“I just talked to Tommy. They’re locked onto that account. In fact, the deposit won’t move out of here until he personally releases it.”

“And if 13walker13 accesses it, we’ll be able to trace it to whoever is using the password?”

“To whatever computer is being used in this building, yes,” Carson said. “This must be a big case. One phone call and you get them to send half a million dollars that’s just going to disappear into . . . who-knows-where.”

When Vail had called Kalix, he told the deputy assistant director he wanted the half million dollars they had promised Calculus for the final double agent to be wired to the same Chicago bank first thing in the morning. Kalix had argued that was in effect tantamount to giving the Russians half a million dollars more for framing Kate. He feared that when it got out, which the Russians would make sure happened eventually, it would be highly embarrassing for the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division.

Vail said, “It’s the only way to track whoever set up Kate.”

“As much as I want to help Kate, I simply cannot authorize the release of that much money, knowing that it’s probably going to wind up in the hands of the Russians. We’ve already given them three-quarters of a million dollars.”

“Actually, we’re not going to give them anything. When you send the money, we’re hoping that their man here will transfer it to wherever he sent the other payments. I’ll have the bank put a twenty-four-hour hold on whatever bank it’s transferred to. Once it’s transferred out of here, we’ll immediately be able to determine the bank and the account number it’s being sent to. Then we’ll invalidate the transfer from here, and the money will be sent back to the account you forwarded it from. Zero loss.”

“Steve, it sounds like there are too many things that could go wrong, and then we’re out five hundred K.”

“John, take a few minutes to meditate over this. Even consult your ‘higher authority.’ ”

“Uh . . . oh, yes, yes, I could do that.” Kalix realized that Vail was hinting at contacting the director for approval.

“Good. Call me back when you’re done mulling it over.” An hour later Kalix called and told him the payment would be ready to be sent first thing in the morning.

Vail said to Carson, “Let me call Washington, Les, and then we’re on.”

While Vail made his call, Carson stayed on the line with the bank’s IT manager. After a few minutes, Carson hung up and said, “Okay, the half a million just arrived.”

Vail asked, “Right now, who can check on the account’s balance?”

“There are dozens of employees who have general access to account information, depending on their jobs.”

“And how many people can actually order transactions involving that account?”

“It takes a completely different level of clearance to move money out of it, generally vice presidents and above. You said these people are smart.

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