Trojan Horse (39 page)

“Are you aware of any connection between Turkey and Iran in all this?”

The man laughed. “Only if I look on a map.”

Henri read the alert once again and reviewed what he knew. The two Americans were kidnapped here in Geneva by three Iranians. The man escaped. One of the abductors murdered the UNOG official with whom they’d been working and had himself been killed by police. The other two had fled the country with the woman. She’d somehow gained her freedom in Prague. There was another dead Iranian there. The two were now wanted for questioning. Significantly, in Henri’s opinion, they’d not contacted the police or the American embassy. Instead, they’d boarded a commercial flight to Ankara.

No, the pattern seemed clear enough to him. He took another look at the earlier Paris report. Afterward he sent a notice to be kept informed of unfolding events.

By Livingston X. Gooden—Financial News Analysis

April 16

Most of the electrical grid systems in the United States report repeated attempts at penetration by aggressive forms of malware. The attacks are pervasive and not directed at any particular company or region. Experts believe that every significant electrical grid system in the nation has at least some software implanted there by China, Russia, and other nations. Though this malware does not interfere with current operations, it is believed much of it is intended to transfer control of our electricity producing capability to a foreign power in time of emergency.

The electrical blackout in Yakima, Washington, one week ago, originally attributed to a computer malfunction, is now believed to have been the test of such a capability. “We have found no cause for the fourteen-minute blackout of the WAyk5 [Yakima] region,” said a spokesperson with the company, who asked not to be identified. “We believe someone, somewhere, executed a kill switch as a test.” Efforts to locate malware capable of such an event have thus far been unsuccessful but are ongoing. The only nuclear power station in the Northwest, the Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Washington, shut down for three hours as a safety precaution.

American power companies are rapidly converting to a system known as Smart Grid. This is designed to be customer friendly, allowing individual customers to directly access their account and regulate power into their homes and offices. Many companies view the rapid adoption of Smart Grid as a way to leave behind issues of penetration. Unfortunately, those in charge of the new system appear to have learned nothing. According to the Government Accounting Office, two-thirds of all Smart Grid systems have no special security measures and are as vulnerable to a Yakima-style attack as the old system.

Significantly, analysis of the most recent power grid malware’s behavior reveals startling changes in purpose, according to Bruce Freeman of the Cyber Security Consortium in Seattle, Washington. “The code now permeating our national grid system is intended to stop the system at will. The new code also has the capacity to destroy infrastructure components,” he said in a recent interview. “This is the equivalent to targeted bombing by smart bombs.”

Should a cyber-attack be simultaneously launched against our entire national electric grid system, destroying components along the way, it would leave our military defenses and communications ineffective in time of emergency or war. Vast regions of the United States, perhaps even a majority of the country, could lay in darkness for weeks, even months. It would, in effect, turn the clock back to the nineteenth century.

© Copyright Financial News Analysis, LLC

ANKARA

TURKEY

7:36 A.M. EET

J
eff opened his eyes and stretched in the driver’s seat. It had been cold overnight and the morning was still chilly. The sun had been up for nearly an hour but they were parked in shadows, holding the car in twilight. He’d been so worn out he’d nodded off when he should have been watching. No police had knocked on the window during the night, and in the dark the red Fiat had not attracted notice. Other cars were parked just off the busy road behind him.

He was at the broadened entrance to an old and narrow street, mostly dirt, though ancient cobblestone sections still existed, exhausted from centuries of use. The street was coming alive as workers emerged from their apartments and set out for their jobs. Traffic on the road was picking up.

He twisted and looked behind him. Daryl was sound asleep. She needed it. The Fiat might be small by American standards but the area behind the two front seats was open and flat, just right for a tight bed. He didn’t know how she’d managed the events of these last few days and maintained her sanity. By most standards she should be in a hospital right now. But except for the cut on her hand and the dark circles about her eyes, she seemed remarkably sound. He was surprised by the feeling of relief that overwhelmed him as he watched her, to the point that he felt a knot in his throat.

Jeff turned forward and looked back at the front door he’d been watching through the night. Saliha would likely be leaving soon, he thought. He could only guess how she planned to reach Iran. Driving was the most obvious but it was a long haul to the border and he had no idea of the condition of the highways. Someone might take her or she could go alone.

“Wake up,” he said gently. “Need you bright and alert.”

Daryl moaned, then rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. “You fell asleep, didn’t you?”

“Only a little. She’s still there. No harm done.”

“You say. Maybe she already left.”

“We’ll know pretty soon. You need to get ready.”

They’d agreed the approach was best made by Daryl, woman to woman. It had worked with the roommate. Perhaps if Saliha knew what she was taking she might be persuaded to give it up. She was a Turk. It seemed unlikely to them that she’d want neighboring Iran to have a nuclear bomb. Of course, she could be an Islamist at heart and might see it as a weapon for all Muslims, though given the history between Turkey and Iran Jeff couldn’t see it. And, frankly, she’d not seemed political to Jeff in the time he’d been with her, just a girlfriend doing a favor for some extra cash and a chance to visit her family.

And he knew that Saliha really didn’t want to make this trip. It occurred to Jeff they might just offer her money. If that was why she was doing it, perhaps they could just buy her off. But however it worked out, it was up to Daryl to make the pitch.

She opened the rear doors and climbed out, straightening her hair and clothing as she did. She rubbed her arms against the cold. She had a bottle of water she used to wash her face, then went to the mirror away from the street and worked on her hair for a long minute. She unwrapped a toothbrush and brushed her teeth, spitting afterward into the gutter. She looked at Jeff and smiled brightly. “All set.”

She climbed into the passenger seat, dug into the bag she’d bought in Prague, and handed over a candy bar and fresh bottle of water. “Breakfast.”

Jeff peeled off the wrapper and as he was taking his first bite, the door opened and out stepped a girl of about eleven. Another girl, perhaps a year older, came out holding the hand of a boy, around eight years old. Then there she was, standing in the doorway, talking to a woman dressed in black.

Saliha was outfitted for a trip, wearing denims and a light blue jacket, with a tan travel bag hanging from her shoulder. Her dark hair was held in place with a dark blue band. She and the older woman embraced, then Saliha leaned over and gave each child a long hug in turn.

She stepped away with a determined smile, gave them all a farewell wave, then set off down the street away from Jeff and Daryl. Jeff started the Fiat, then slipped the car into gear, remaining in first gear as he drove slowly over the bumpy road, more comfortable with the stick shift now though not yet proficient.

“Stop before you get to her,” Daryl cautioned. “I’ll get out and catch up with her on foot. Stay back or you might frighten her.”

The street was suddenly very busy as more workers joined by young uniformed students poured out of the apartments. The street narrowed. A man cursed Jeff, raising his fist.

“What’s that for?” he asked nervously. Was this a one-way street?

“Just a little closer, then stop.” Daryl was silent, then said, “I think this street’s closed to cars. Look around. This is the only one.”

Jeff glanced in the rearview mirror, then ahead. She was right. Theirs was the only car. He braked to a stop and Daryl leaped out without a word. Jeff stayed as she briskly walked after Saliha. An older man wearing a dirty watch cap pounded on the driver window, shouting at him in Turkish.

Jeff looked at him and grinned. “Sorry. I’ll only be a minute.” He held up a finger as he watched Daryl closely. The man pounded again. Jeff searched for a way off the street. The shouting man was gesturing for Jeff to back up and he could see no suitable side street forward. A crowd was gathering, curious for now but if it turned ugly he was concerned that the noise would draw Saliha’s attention and that it would block his view of events. He unrolled the window and killed the engine. “I don’t speak Turkish. I’m sorry. What’s wrong? Anyone speak English?”

“American?” the man shouted. “American?” Jeff nodded, uncertain what was going to happen next. The man turned and shouted to the gathered crowd. His face contorted as he looked back and shouted, “Go away! Go back! Go to America!” He pushed on the door. Others put their hands on the Fiat and began rocking it with increasing agitation.

Jeff started the engine, put the car in gear, and slowly began backing up, hoping he didn’t run over anyone, now unable to watch Daryl.

Saliha heard the noise behind her but didn’t turn around. Something was always happening on this street. She wished her family lived somewhere else but this had been the first house of her parents after their marriage and her mother refused to consider leaving.

She glanced at her watch. She’d get to the rental agency just after it opened. With a good day driving she’d cross the border by sunset. She’d never wanted something to be over before the way she wanted this trip to end.

“Saliha!” she heard and turned to see who was just behind her. It was a tall, very pretty woman with blond hair. There was a bandage on one hand. “Just a minute. We need to talk.”

“What do you want?” Saliha said, not stopping.

Daryl hurried to catch up and started walking beside her. “My name is Daryl. You helped my husband find me. He got there in time and rescued me. I want to thank you.”

Saliha stopped. “You? You are the wife?” She looked at her closely. “Did Ahmed truly kidnap you?”

“Yes, in Geneva, with two other men. When I fought with the man to get away, I was cut.” Daryl held up her hand. “We need to talk. It will only take a minute.”

Saliha stepped away quickly. She had no idea what to make of this. “I must go.” Daryl ran up beside her. “How did you get here?” Saliha demanded. “How did you find me?”

“Ahmed told us your name and gave us the information.”

“Ahmed? I don’t think he would do that.”

Daryl smiled. “I think my husband persuaded him.”

Saliha laughed harshly. “I can believe that. Did he kill him?”

“Of course not.”

Saliha looked at her with suspicion. “You are married to a very dangerous man, I think.” She looked at her good hand. “Why don’t you wear a wedding ring?”

“I . . . well, actually we live together. We’re like husband and wife.” Saliha looked at her skeptically. “You mustn’t make this trip,” Daryl persisted. “You’re putting a great many lives at risk.”

Saliha eyed Daryl suspiciously. “What do you know about a trip?”

“You told Jeff you were going on one, remember? I know you’re going to Iran. I know you’re taking something for Ahmed, something very bad.”

Saliha stopped herself from looking at her purse where the thumb drive was. “What are you talking about?”

How to explain it?
Daryl thought.
What words to use?
“The thumb drive, it has code on it. It’s like a military weapon used against computers.”

“You mean it attacks computers? Like a virus or something?”

“Yes.” That wasn’t the truth but what was really happening was too complicated to explain on an increasingly busy street.

The noise down the street was suddenly very loud and a car honked. Saliha looked up. “Cars are not supposed to drive there,” she said. “Everyone knows that.” Daryl looked back with concern. “Your husband, he is in that car?” Saliha asked.

“Yes, we didn’t know about the street.” She looked back toward the crowd. “I think they’re mad at him.” Before she could say anything more Saliha was running from her, just as fast she could go. Daryl hesitated, torn between what was happening to Jeff and getting the thumb drive. She broke into a run herself, pursuing Saliha just as fast as she could.