Here we find cyber agent Seph Carano, the series’ main character, meeting with an informant who calls himself Dante who claims to have information for her about an impending cyber attack.
The Grey Dog was a block off Seventh Avenue and only a short walk from Seph’s office. It was the first breakfast place she had discovered when she began working at the Cyber Security Agency. She remembered lively crowds lining up outside the bustling storefront, drawn by the promise of a hot, comforting breakfast to start their day. Some folks had stood patiently in the queue, scrolling through their phones or chatting with friends, while others bounced on their feet with the aroma of bacon making their mouths water. Online ordering had changed the scene. Now customers ordered in advance using the Grey Dog’s app, so when they arrived, their meals were waiting for them. They grabbed the bags labeled with their names and were gone in a flash. There were no more lines, but the constant flow of cheerful patrons in and out of the shop had created a festive atmosphere. Seph had texted ahead, so her latte and egg and cheese croissant were bagged up when she reached the counter. She found a table at the rear of the room where she could watch for Dante. She split the crescent and neatly wrapped the larger piece to save for lunch.
Seph had finished the croissant, refilled her latte, and was debating ordering a fruit cup when Dante arrived. Again, he was dressed like a fashion icon, this time in tan slacks, a navy blazer, and a powder blue shirt. Why would a cyber-hacker even have such stylish apparel? At the counter he ordered chorizo hash, glimpsed Seph at the back of the room and smiled. She resisted commenting on his appearance when he came to the table and said brusquely, “I’m eager to hear what you have to tell me that couldn’t be said on the phone.”
Feigning wounded feelings, Dante responded, “You’re a bit testy this morning. Have I offended you? You know I’m a friend, don’t you?”
“All I know for certain is you once kept a town’s water supply from being contaminated by closing a valve on an oil pipeline.”
Dante’s smile broadened. “Ah, so you’ve been looking into my past. My involvement with the pipeline was the act of a young lad, but it proves I’m a good guy, doesn’t it?”
“I need more than a single instance to make a judgment.”
“What else have you discovered about me?”
“Very little, except you’re discreet enough to avoid the limelight.”
“True, but if there’s something you’d like to know about me, just ask. I’ll share almost anything…almost anything.”
A server came to the table with Dante’s breakfast platter. Seph declined when the server asked if she wanted her latte refilled again. Hoping to catch Dante off guard, Seph waited until he’d taken a bite before asking, “What’s your real name?”
Her ruse failed. Dante finished chewing, then replied calmly, “I’m willing to share general information, but my name is too specific.”
Wanting to avoid wordplay, Seph snapped, “I agreed to meet because you claimed to have urgent information. What is it?”
“I’ll tell you after I’ve eaten because if I tell you now, you’ll leave. I came to the restaurant of your choice, expecting we could enjoy a meal together. Even though you’ve finished eating, grant me the pleasure of your company while I savor the Grey Dog breakfast special.”
Seph groused, “You’re insufferable.”
Dante said, “Most confidential informants expect to be paid for their information. All I’m asking for is pleasant company.”
“You fancy yourself a confidential informant? Where do you get your information? We have investigators who monitor the dark web constantly, and they haven’t seen any posts hinting at an attack on the Bridges and Tunnels Authority.”
“Your investigators monitor the chat rooms, but the most meaningful exchanges don’t take place in those public spaces. Serious issues are discussed in private channels accessible only by invitation.”
“And you participate in the private forums, I presume?”
“I do. I earned entry long ago, when I was a teenager.”
“We checked our database, and there’s no trace of anyone using the name Dante on the dark web more than seven years ago. Nothing from the time when you would have been a teenager.”
“I was a different person those many years ago. I became Dante when….” He searched for the right phrasing. “When I was re-born, and please don’t ask about my metamorphosis. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, not one I wish to dwell on.”
“You expect me to trust you; yet you admit to frequenting invitation-only forums swarming with cyber criminals, you won’t tell me your real name, and you keep your past hidden. You don’t give me much of a basis for trust.”
“We have different values, Seph. For example, while I might find it acceptable, even laudable, for someone to hack into the network of a bank charging usury loan rates to poor working people, I’m sure you would call the intrusion a crime. However, I’m sure we’d both consider it intolerable for anyone to disrupt the city’s infrastructure for his own personal gain.”
Silence hung in the air for a long minute. Dante broke it, saying, “Since our last meeting, I learned Needle24 has been recruited not just to breach the Bridges and Tunnels Authority, but to stage a series of coordinated attacks. The plan isn’t fully developed yet, but it will include attacks on different parts of the city’s infrastructure. The messages I saw mentioned subways, traffic lights, ferryboats, and airports, although those are merely options under consideration. And the purpose of the attacks is to make the present city administration appear incompetent.”
Seph stared in disbelief. “Did I hear you correctly? You’re saying cyber attacks will be carried out to make the mayor and his administration look bad?” Her eyes narrowed. “Someone wants to influence the election. Who?”
“I don’t know. The person pulling the strings is keeping his identity hidden.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“I’m sure.”
“What’s the timeframe?”
“The exact date hasn’t been decided yet, but it will have to be soon—before election day.”
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