“Broken pipes, backed up toilets, they don’t know the difference between night and day, Skip. A business like Synco Systems is closed, but homeowners are there around the clock-you never know. When a resident of this affluent neighborhood needs the Water Connection, we’re as close as their phone.”
As close as my phone.
“As plumbers, we’ve got to be vigilant twenty-four hours a day.”
I said nothing more as we opened the doors and stepped out of the truck, flashlights in hand. Often there’s nothing left to say when James is done. We remained quiet as we walked a block and a half to the headquarters of Synco Systems.
“Skip, you’ve got the temporary entry card and the code?”
I stepped up and inserted the card. A green light flashed on the small electronic pad, and I turned the handle. The door swung quietly inward. The numbered pad was mounted on the right. With another light flashing red, I punched in 45693 and waited until I heard the shrill whine of the signal. Punching in 45789, the whining stopped and everything went still. For a brief time, I had total access to the facility. With the code to the building and the code to Conroy’s computer, the place was mine.
A security light from high on the wall cast shadows on the lobby, now showing our silhouettes on the far wall.
“Before we go any farther,” Em looked around, scouting out the location for the first time, “this is breaking and entering. We’re on very dangerous ground, guys.”
I held up my entry card. “It’s certainly not breaking. I’ve got the card right here. Remember, we’re just doing some preliminary work for the hookup tomorrow.” We all knew that excuse wouldn’t last ten minutes.
“Em, why don’t you be the lookout.” James was looking around the area like he’d never seen it before. I chalked it up to being nervous.
“If anyone finds me here, they’ll wonder why a stranger is in the lobby. It makes more sense if they find one of you. You have a reason to be here.”
I spoke up. “You’re right. However, I know the computer code and James is familiar with the office. He’s been in there a couple of times installing the smoke detector and taking out the card.”
She sighed. “Fine. I think it’s a dumb idea, but I’ll do lookout. What kind of signal do you want?”
“If you have time, a ‘Hey guys, someone is coming’ would be nice.”
“Screw you, James.”
I was somewhat relieved. The two of them were back to their normal relationship.
Things had been going almost too smoothly.
“But if you get caught by surprise, if someone shows up and you didn’t catch it, then get back to the office as quickly as possible.”
She said nothing.
I took Em’s arm and walked her back to the work area. “Number one. Right there. That’s Sandy’s office. If you need to see us, that’s where we’ll be. Okay?”
It wasn’t okay for any of us. But we needed some information, and we needed it now.
I left Em sitting in the lobby behind the reception desk. James and I walked down to Conroy’s office, and when I punched in a temporary code the door opened. I thought for a moment about the three Synco Systems offices I’d been in. Ralph Walters’s office, where we’d discovered the dead body, Sarah’s office where I’d gone in to ask her to please pay the deposit on our security system. I remembered the glass-topped desk and those fabulous legs and short skirt visible through the glass. And then there’d been Sandy Conroy’s office, where I’d been dressed down several hours ago. And here we were, back at the scene of the crime.
“If someone hadn’t shot at us, James-”
He raised his hand and shook his finger in my face. “But they did, amigo. Someone took three shots at us.”
“Could have been a mistake, James.”
“You know better.”
The dim security lights cast a pallor over the office as James and I stood there, not sure where to start. Three oak veneer file cabinets lined the far wall, and other than the papers on Conroy’s desk, his computer was the only item that might hold secrets.
“Tell me again what we’re looking for.”
“We’ll know when we find it, pard.” He pulled open the top file drawer in cabinet number one. “Not locked. Probably nothing valuable in here.”
Placing my laptop on Conroy’s desk, I sat behind the large wooden structure, realizing it would probably be a long time before I was ever in a position like this in my professional career. I pictured myself as Sandler Conroy, CEO of a big, successful company, married to the owner’s daughter.
“Skip, you look like you belong.”
In jeans, sandals, and a Green Day T-shirt, I doubted that.
“Just think. You marry Em, take over her daddy’s company, and you become the next Sandy Conroy.”
Could happen. “Never happen, James. Remember, she’s way out of my league.” I pulled out the piece of paper where I’d written down the code. A series of numbers and letters that were probably some word or combination that meant something to Conroy. I knew for a fact that people still used birthdays, phone numbers, anniversaries, and other common threads in their life so that they could remember their codes and passwords. The problem was that other people knew those birthdays, phone numbers, and anniversaries too. And with that information, identity theft was rampant.
Pulling out Conroy’s keyboard I punched in 305-805-500-1 AC. The screen on his desk blinked and a box appeared.
Failure to complete password.
Checking the paper in front of me, I punched in the code again.
305-805-500-1AC.
Once again the box appeared.
Failure to complete password
“How you comin’?”
“I know I copied it down right, James. I watched Conroy punch it in. It was on my computer screen.” I’d watched the action ten times. I was sure I was right. “Maybe he changes it daily.”
“Do people do that?”
“If they do, we’re screwed.” I wouldn’t put it past him. Conroy seemed like the kind of guy who would guard his privacy with his life.
“Mmmm. Let me see that.”
I handed him the paper, thinking about how much trouble we could be in and hoping that Em was all right.
“Seven numbers in a phone number, right?”
Standing up, I nodded. I opened the office door and gazed at the dimly lit work area, down to the entrance hall where I hoped Em was still sitting.
“And the area code is three numbers. Well, if you got the numbers wrong, just one digit, we’re screwed. We’d be punching in numbers all night.”
“Let’s assume the numbers are right.”
“So let’s say it’s a phone number. Okay. Does it ring a bell?”
“If you dial it, maybe.”
He thought about that for a moment, never cracking a smile. “Skip, let’s go with the number. If you got that right, then that leaves two letters. AC.”
“What do those stand for?”
“Could be as simple as the first and third letter of the alphabet. A and C. That could be it.”
“But it’s not the first and third letter.” He wasn’t thinking. “Because it doesn’t work. It’s got to be something else. People use initials, James. Even when they install our security systems. We always suggest a random number because it’s much safer. But they end up putting in the kid’s birthday or their wedding date or-”
“Their initials?”
“Yeah. Like, Sandy Conroy. S.C.”
James glanced again at the keyboard. “One letter off. If you thought Conroy was punching in an A, it could have been an S. SC. The A is right next to the S. Could be his initials.”
“Could be.” I’d studied Sandy Conroy at his computer for ten minutes. Watched the video over and over. I was certain it was AC.
“You were trying to see his code from up there. That’s quite a ways.” He pointed toward the new smoke detector.
I sat back down behind the desk. “Some systems only let you try the code twice before they shut down. If I punch another code in that’s not right, this thing could freeze up.”
James leaned over, putting both his hands on the desk. “This isn’t one of those systems. I can feel it, amigo. Punch the code back in and substitute an S for the A.