“Justin,” Alex asked, “could you get into the computer of Levy & Villiers in Georgetown on Grand Cayman?”
“I can try,” he said.
“What do you expect to find?” Oliver asked in surprise.
“Maybe nothing,” Alex said, “but maybe material that will secure your Pulitzer Prize.”
Oliver grinned, but Justin’s face turned grim after a few minutes.
“I need a specific password in order to get into the network on the Caymans,” he said.
“Why’s that? Do they use a different operating system?” Mark asked.
“It’s an added safety feature.” Justin shrugged his shoulders. “The computer isn’t linked to the one in New York.”
He went to work at a different computer.
Eventually, he said, “Let’s grab some food. If we’re lucky, CryptCrack will hack the password by the time we’re back.”
“What the hell is that?” Mark wanted to know.
“CryptCrack,” Justin said, “is a password-hacking program that I recently developed. Now I can test it in real circumstances.”
They left the computer alone with this Herculean task and went to the MIT cafeteria, located in a different building on the campus. They were starving after so many tense hours in the basement.
Mary Kostidis sighed. Even though he didn’t say anything, more and more she could feel the enormous pressure weighing on her husband. Vitali Junior’s death, the hostilities in the press, and this strange terrorist—all of this strained his nerves. At last night’s dinner for the Canadian ambassador, Nick was his old entertaining, charming, and relaxed self for a while. However, when Mary later went into his office—where he had disappeared with Ray Howard—she could tell from his expression that something else had happened. She asked him about it afterward, but he simply dismissed her question.
In the past, Nick had involved her in his life. They discussed their problems with each other, and he’d asked for her opinion. But during the last few months, something had changed between them. For the first time in their long marriage, Mary Kostidis didn’t know what her husband was dealing with. Why was he hiding important things from her? When she stepped out on the terrace last night, she had thought for a brief, crazy moment that there could possibly be another woman in his life. Mary noticed how her husband looked at Alex Sontheim, the beautiful and highly intelligent banker. The expression on his face caused a painful sting in her heart. For as long as she’d known him, he had never given her such an enraptured and fascinated look. Had Nick fallen in love with her? Without a doubt, Alex was an extraordinary woman: successful, independent, and exceptionally sharp. She was beautiful, but she was also Sergio Vitali’s lover. Was that possibly the reason why he had invited her? Did Nick think that he could finally get to his archenemy through Alex? Or was there more behind it?
The morning was still fresh, but the heat would become unbearable in a few hours. The months of July and August were intolerable in the city, which is why many New Yorkers who could afford to spent their time in the countryside or near the ocean did so. Nick Kostidis sat in the office at Gracie Mansion with his assistants Frank Cohen and Ray Howard, something they often did on Sunday mornings. After a light breakfast, they discussed important issues for which they rarely had time otherwise. Frank read the agenda for the imminent visit of a Korean delegation, and Nick watched out the window as Christopher and Britney loaded their luggage into their black BMW. He was glad that they were taking Mary with them for a while. The way that things were developing here, it seemed better for to get her out of the city for a few days. Especially considering the second threatening letter. Frank vehemently insisted on getting Nick more security, but he didn’t tell Mary any of this. There were some things he preferred to keep to himself to avoid unnecessarily upsetting his wife. Mary had been nervous, even depressed in recent months. Time and again, Nick caught her staring absentmindedly out the window. She was usually bursting with energy, but now she seemed to be collapsing like a withered flower. He feared that she was sick, but none of the doctors could explain her condition. They advised him to shield her from any worries and show her more attention. But he missed exchanging ideas with Mary. For so many years, she had accepted the idea that his work had priority without complaining. Now, in her weakened state, he decided not to bother her with his worries.
It had been difficult for him to maintain his fearless and strong demeanor recently, because he felt increasingly discouraged and depressed. Things had gotten worse because he secretly longed for a woman other than his own wife. Nick couldn’t explain his fascination for Alex Sontheim, but there wasn’t a single day that he didn’t think about her. Yesterday evening, he’d noticed with a racing heart that her open aversion toward him had given way to a cautious sympathy. Maybe it would have been better not to invite her after all.
“I think they’re having problems with the car,” Frank observed and pulled Nick from his thoughts. “It looks like it’s not starting.”
“Let me take a look.” Nick stood up. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
“The alternator is dead,” Christopher Kostidis announced as his father stepped into the parking lot. Carey Lhota shrugged his shoulders and stepped back from the open hood.
“Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about it,” the chauffeur apologized.
“Too bad,” Mary said. “Now we have to postpone our departure for a few hours.”
“We can’t fix it that fast.” Christopher was annoyed as he looked under the hood. “Especially on a Sunday.”
“Well,” Nick said with a grin, “if you drove a solid American car, then…”
“Then it’d also take time to get a new alternator,” Christopher proudly defended his BMW.
“Why don’t you take my car,” Nick suggested. “Carey can bring the BMW to the repair shop tomorrow.”
“But you still need the car,” Mary objected.
“I can ride with Frank or Ray.” Nick shook his head. “That’s no problem.”
“I hope you’re not riding around town on the subway?” Mary looked at her husband with concern.
“No, I know you don’t like when I do that.” Nick laughed and put an arm around his wife’s waist.
“I’d really like to leave before it occurs to the rest of New York to go to Long Island.” Christopher looked at his watch.
“Come on!” Nick called. “Reload your luggage.”
Mary took his hand.
“Can’t you come with us for a few days?” she asked. Nick smiled and touched her face with both of his hands.
“You know what I was just thinking?” he said quietly. “I actually thought about coming out to Montauk on Friday.”
“Really?” Mary looked at her husband incredulously. “And your work?”
“I’ll arrange it somehow.” He kissed her.
“You promise?” Mary suddenly seemed genuinely happy.
“Yes, I promise. I’m looking forward to it.”
“We’re ready to go, Mom!” Christopher called. Britney was already sitting in the limousine’s passenger seat.
“I love you, Nick,” Mary whispered. “Take good care of yourself!”
“What the heck are they doing?”
Raymond Howard looked out the window and saw Christopher Kostidis sitting behind the wheel of the limousine. His face suddenly turned as white as a sheet.