Tyrone pointed his thumb at the computer. "Wise guy, eh?"

"Give him a chance. Generation gap." Tyrone didn"t take kindly to references to his age. Sensitive area.

Why?

CAUSE SOMEONE THINKS I KNOW SOMETHING THAT I DON"T

That"s clear.

THANKS

Do you want to make a formal complaint?

WOULD IT DO ANY GOOD?

No.

THEN, NO

You think it was First State?

YES.

Don"t you go around poking into other computers, too?

SURE

So why not someone else?

THEY DIDN"T GET INTO BIG TROUBLE FROM REPO MAN"S ARTICLE?

"He knows who you are?" Tyrone asked.

"Sure. He likes calling me Repo Man for some reason that still escapes me.

Where else do you go?

THAT WOULD BE TELLING

Gotcha. Well, I guess that"s about it.

PHEW!

>>>>>

"I guess you scared him off." Scott was amused.

"Sorry," Tyrone said.

"He"ll call back," Scott waved off the apology. "When the coast is clear."

"f.u.c.k off." Their friendship was returning to the level it once had been.

"Hey, it"s getting beyond late," Scott ignored him. "What say we get together in a few days and sort through some of this."

"I know, but one thing. Can you get into your computers, at the paper?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Dobbs said that the other victims had had their stock go down pretty dramatically. Can you look up stock prices and perform- ances over the last few months?"

"Yeah, do it all the time."

"Could you? I want to see if there are any names I recognize."

"No problem." Scott dialed the Times" computer and identified himself. After going into the bank computer with Kirk, every time he dialed up his office, he felt an increased sense of power, and an increased sense of responsibility. He had access to ma.s.sive amounts of information that if it got into the wrong hands . . .

He shook the thought. The computer offered the "Stocks and Bonds Menu" and Scott set up a query in a modified SQL that was simple enough for reporters to use:

ALL STOCKS LOSING 35% OR MORE OF VALUE IN LAST YEAR.

The computer flashed a message. "Working". Scott leaned back.

"Takes a few seconds. Oh, as I was saying, when I get back, I"ll call and we"ll see what we can screw together."

"Back from where?" Tyrone sounded accusatory but jealous.

"Europe. Amsterdam." Scott checked the computer screen. It was still busy.

"Rough life."

"No, it"s only for a couple of days. There"s a hackers confer- ence. I"ve been invited, by Kirk as a matter of fact."

"Hackers conference, sounds like tons of fun." Tyrone was not impressed.

"The best hackers in the world are going to be there. I hope to get some leads on the First State mess. The Freedom BBS is not all it seems."

"Please stay in touch," Tyrone implored.

"Sure. Here we go. It"s ready. Ah, let"s see, there are 267 companies who meet that criterion. I guess that narrows it down for you."

"Smart a.s.s. Ah, can you get those in New York only?"

"The city? Sure."

SORT BY ZIP 100XX

"That"ll give us . . ."