Want You Gone by Chris Brookmyre

Author:Chris Brookmyre [Brookmyre, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781408707197
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2017-04-19T23:00:00+00:00

KEYBOARD PLAYER

Even the most ingeniously devised and perfectly executed strategy can yield nothing if your luck is out, especially when you’re firing blind.

Sam bought what she needed from a place off Tottenham Court Road, then Parlabane shipped the components north to his friend Spammy, along with Sam’s specifications. He got the finished product back three days later, which constituted a lightning turnaround for the big man. Spammy had done a grand job of the electronic engineering, then it was down to Sam to handle the social engineering.

She called Winter’s investment firm, where she spoke to his PA, the man himself apparently unavailable. This was preferable, because Parlabane had been warned that he was suspicious of favours. Flattering him via a subordinate was therefore ideal.

Her voice was bubbly and enthusiastic, like she was calling her best friend.

‘My name is Tess Jones, from Vizion Peripherals. That’s Vizion with a zed. The reason I’m calling is we’re launching our new top-of-the-range keyboard, the Vizion Maven, and as a marketing initiative, we’re offering a limited number free to people who are considered electronics industry visionaries: mavens. Obviously what we’re hoping is that they’ll talk and tweet about the brand, but there’s absolutely no obligation. We consider Mr Winter someone who has shown vision in his choice of investments, so I was wondering if he would be happy to try our new Vizion Maven?’

‘As I said, he’s not around right now, so I can’t ask him personally, but he’s always interested in new tech. I’m sure he’d be delighted.’

The keyboard was despatched the same day, addressed to the PA with a covering note reiterating what Sam had said on the phone. It was a backlit keyboard with the original logo removed and replaced by something Sam knocked up on her laptop. The result was an impressive-looking piece of kit, almost certainly preferable to whatever was already on Winter’s desk, but the most remarkable properties were out of sight.

As soon as the USB cable was connected, a hidden internal device inside – known as a Teensy HID – would install a program that allowed Sam to access the target computer. However, that was only half the payload: the keyboard also contained a microphone equipped with a mini SIM card for a pay-as-you-go account. It was audio-activated, so that if someone in the office was talking, it would dial a dedicated mobile, which would then record the call.

It should have given them eyes on Winter’s computer and ears on his conversations. Unfortunately, so far the bastard had never plugged the thing in.

Parlabane gets Sam to call again, ostensibly as a follow-up.

‘Hello, is that Clare? This is Tess Jones following up, from Vizion. Just checking if Mr Winter’s keyboard was delivered all right.’

‘Yes, it was. Thank you very much.’

‘And do you know is Mr Winter enjoying it?’

‘I’m afraid he hasn’t been in the office since it arrived. He is in China at the moment, but he’s due back next week.’

Four days later, Sam rings Parlabane to say that the keyboard is finally live.

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