Agent 21: Codebreaker: Book 3 Read Online Free Page A
Author: Chris Ryan
is a remarkable individual.’ He coughed apologetically. ‘More remarkable than he looks. Six months ago, in one day, he successfully broke into the securest sections of the CIA, Pentagon and Department of Defense intranets. He did it securely – so securely that nobody would ever have traced it back to him if he hadn’t boasted about what he’d done on his personal blog. Needless to say, all traces of his actions have now been removed and classified under the Official Secrets Act – no press reports. That would have been most damaging to the security of our two nations.’
‘Why would he boast about it online?’ Zak asked.
‘You can read the psychiatric evaluations if you need to. The bottom line is that he’s different to most people. Different, but brilliant. Socially awkward, but with a mind like a computer. Astonishing powers of analysis, able to see patterns where nobody else can. However, our American cousins would like his head on a plate. They want to make an example of him, you see, to put him on trial for breaching their security. It’s all rather foolish, of course. If I was them, I’d be offering him a job.’ He looked thoughtful. ‘As a matter of fact, I still might.’
Zak ignored that. He was still catching up with what Michael had told him. ‘Is he crazy?’ he asked.
‘No,’ Michael said. ‘Unusual, but not unstable.’
‘Then what’s he doing in a secure hospital?’
‘The British government had him sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Rather a good idea actually, coming from them. So long as he’s certified insane, they can refuse to extradite him. Malcolm, alas, fails to see it that way. Admittedly, he doesn’t appreciate the full situation. He believes the authorities really do think he’s mentally disturbed.’
Zak stared at his handler. ‘That’s horrible,’ he whispered.
Michael raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’ he asked. ‘He’s safe where he is, and can be looked after. Do you really think he’d receive the same level of care in a Federal jail – if the Americans even let him survive the extradition process? Or at the hands of the Chinese?’
‘The Chinese?’
‘Certainly. A computer hacker who is able to access the deepest secrets of American intelligence would be quite an asset, wouldn’t you say? We know for a fact that the Chinese are interested in Malcolm Mann. The Iranians too, as it happens. Believe me, he doesn’t understand the danger he’s in, or that for the moment his accommodation at Harrington is the safest place for him to be. Of course, it isn’t all charity. There are certain sectors within MI6 that would give their eyes and teeth to have Malcolm’s technical ability. He’s puzzle-mad, this lad. If he can’t get his hands on a computer, he’ll tackle anything – Sudokus, crosswords, logic puzzles . . . But now he’s been supplied with a computer and an Internet connection in the hope that his keystrokes can be logged. He has, alas, found his way round this. We’re none the wiser as to his methods.
‘The Americans have agents posted around the institution. We know they’re there; they know we know they’re there. So far they’ve not been so bold as to try to kidnap him, but if we move him, they’ll know about it. It would cause a diplomatic incident, bring the politicians on board. Nobody wants that.’
There was a pause while Zak tried to get his head around this information. ‘Does he think he’s mad?’ he asked finally.
‘“Mad” isn’t really the word people use, Zak.’
‘You know what I mean.’
Another pause. ‘No,’ Michael said finally. ‘But, of course, nor do many people in such places, so he does rather fit in.’
‘I still don’t see what all this has to do with a bomb on the underground.’
‘Patience, Zak,’ Michael said in a low voice. ‘I’m coming to that.’ He cleared his throat and appeared to be collecting his thoughts. ‘This morning, at approximately 0100 hours, Malcolm
‘Why would he boast about it online?’ Zak asked.
‘You can read the psychiatric evaluations if you need to. The bottom line is that he’s different to most people. Different, but brilliant. Socially awkward, but with a mind like a computer. Astonishing powers of analysis, able to see patterns where nobody else can. However, our American cousins would like his head on a plate. They want to make an example of him, you see, to put him on trial for breaching their security. It’s all rather foolish, of course. If I was them, I’d be offering him a job.’ He looked thoughtful. ‘As a matter of fact, I still might.’
Zak ignored that. He was still catching up with what Michael had told him. ‘Is he crazy?’ he asked.
‘No,’ Michael said. ‘Unusual, but not unstable.’
‘Then what’s he doing in a secure hospital?’
‘The British government had him sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Rather a good idea actually, coming from them. So long as he’s certified insane, they can refuse to extradite him. Malcolm, alas, fails to see it that way. Admittedly, he doesn’t appreciate the full situation. He believes the authorities really do think he’s mentally disturbed.’
Zak stared at his handler. ‘That’s horrible,’ he whispered.
Michael raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’ he asked. ‘He’s safe where he is, and can be looked after. Do you really think he’d receive the same level of care in a Federal jail – if the Americans even let him survive the extradition process? Or at the hands of the Chinese?’
‘The Chinese?’
‘Certainly. A computer hacker who is able to access the deepest secrets of American intelligence would be quite an asset, wouldn’t you say? We know for a fact that the Chinese are interested in Malcolm Mann. The Iranians too, as it happens. Believe me, he doesn’t understand the danger he’s in, or that for the moment his accommodation at Harrington is the safest place for him to be. Of course, it isn’t all charity. There are certain sectors within MI6 that would give their eyes and teeth to have Malcolm’s technical ability. He’s puzzle-mad, this lad. If he can’t get his hands on a computer, he’ll tackle anything – Sudokus, crosswords, logic puzzles . . . But now he’s been supplied with a computer and an Internet connection in the hope that his keystrokes can be logged. He has, alas, found his way round this. We’re none the wiser as to his methods.
‘The Americans have agents posted around the institution. We know they’re there; they know we know they’re there. So far they’ve not been so bold as to try to kidnap him, but if we move him, they’ll know about it. It would cause a diplomatic incident, bring the politicians on board. Nobody wants that.’
There was a pause while Zak tried to get his head around this information. ‘Does he think he’s mad?’ he asked finally.
‘“Mad” isn’t really the word people use, Zak.’
‘You know what I mean.’
Another pause. ‘No,’ Michael said finally. ‘But, of course, nor do many people in such places, so he does rather fit in.’
‘I still don’t see what all this has to do with a bomb on the underground.’
‘Patience, Zak,’ Michael said in a low voice. ‘I’m coming to that.’ He cleared his throat and appeared to be collecting his thoughts. ‘This morning, at approximately 0100 hours, Malcolm