FRIDAY, 3:40 A.M., AUGUST 2, 2001
The figure swooped down from the roof of the seventy-two-floor skyscraper and trailed the wall, using her rope, before expertly stopping in front of a window. Taking out a complicated looking gadget, she cut a small hole in the glass window next to the lock. Without a sound, she reached in and turned the lock. The window swung open easily.
Smiling to herself, she stepped onto the ledge and let go of the rope.
The intruder was clad in a black cat suit, not because she wanted to look sexy, but to evade anyone who might catch her lurking her in the dark alleys of New York. She wore black heels, black gloves, and her naturally brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She carried a large attaché briefcase, opened it, and took out yet another gadget.
Glancing up, she noticed a small security camera circling the room. It would soon catch her. No matter what, they couldn’t catch her.
She flipped opened what looked like a cell phone and directed it at the camera. The camera’s blinking red light immediately flickered off. The gadget had broken the camera’s satellite connection.
She set the briefcase down on an oak wood desk and snapped it open. She took out a long, black cord and plugged it into the computer on the desk. The cord was connected to a laptop in the briefcase.
The invader plopped down into the soft desk chair as the main computer flicked on to a screen. Numbers were flying across the screen. She waited a few minutes before clicking ‘Enter.’
The computer switched to another screen. In a blank, she typed ‘Harding Enterprise accounting.’ A little hourglass counted the minutes while the screen read ‘Searching...’
“Welcome to Harding Enterprise & Company,” a voice greeted so suddenly that the figure jumped. “Please state your password.”
She smirked to herself. Did this bigwig company really think they could keep her from their stocks and bonds? No way, she answered herself; I’m far ahead of them.
Since this was the master computer, she mused, the computer needs to know the user. Concentrating back on the glowing screen, she saw a small icon that said ‘Forgot Your Password?’
Some things were just too easy.
After clicking it, she discovered that by typing in the master computer user’s name, she could get the password, which was ‘confidential.’ How clever.
Shrugging, she downloaded the credit numbers, taxes paid by the company, billing information, and other things she would need for the money transactions to be made later onto her laptop.
Right before she had fully downloaded everything, she heard a click and the echo of footsteps coming down the hall.
No, not now! Please, not now! she pleaded silently.
91 percent downloaded...
The footsteps were coming closer.
92 percent...93...
The footsteps were right outside the office door.
I can’t stay any longer, she realized, I’m going to get caught. Who cares what Boss says? I can’t get caught!
The door opened and a security guard stepped in. “Hey, what’s goin’ on?” he yelled and took his gun out of its holster.
She yanked her laptop, making the cord pop out of the main computer system. “Download Incomplete,” the electronic voice announced. “Self-destruct in ten seconds.”
The guard was coming after her now. By the way he was staggering, she could guess he was drunk. She tucked her briefcase under her arm and stepped out onto the ledge.
The guard reached out, touching her leg. The touch was enough to knock her off balance. She fell of the ledge, plummeting seventy-two floors below.
She was falling...
Falling...