Shadow Tyrants (Oregon Files 13)

“I doubt it. They’ll be ready for any attempt to damage the ship.”

“Then why are you still smiling.”

“Because I got word that his plane will be taking off two days from now.”

“Where is he going?”

“The destination wasn’t specified. But I do know that he’s contracted with a shipping company. He’s taking two of his cars with him.”

Carlton was a car aficionado, mixing classic antiques and state-of-the-art sports cars. He was known for using his private jet to move them between his homes in London, Cyprus, Mumbai, the Cayman Islands, Sydney, and Monte Carlo.

“You have a plan?” Mallik asked.

Torkan’s smile grew wider. “If we can’t take out the Colossus 5, eliminating Carlton is the next-best thing. My contact also found out that Lionel Gupta is with him. They were both spotted getting onto a helicopter at the Larnaca Airport.”

“Then it’s likely they’ll leave together as well. If they’re dead, Chen Min will have no choice but to follow my orders no matter what Carlton has told him.”

“I will take care of it.”

He turned to leave, bu

t Mallik stopped him.

“Asad, take a seat for a minute.” The news he had to deliver was unpleasant.

Torkan sat, a puzzled expression on his face.

Mallik searched for the words, but before he could say anything his phone buzzed.

He looked at the screen. It was the head of his network security department, somebody he wasn’t expecting a call from.

“Just a minute,” he said to Torkan, and answered it gruffly. “This better be important.”

“It is, sir,” came the tremulous reply. “We’ve just detected a breach in our network.”

A jolt of anger ran through him. His systems had some of the best encryption in the world. “How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, sir, but someone began downloading files to an unauthorized location a few minutes ago. We’re attempting to stop it now.”

“Tell me the name of the idiot who let this happen!” Mallik shouted.

“S . . . s . . . sir,” his internet security man stammered, “the breach is originating from your laptop.”

Mallik wasn’t sure if he heard right. Torkan tilted his head in confusion at the one-sided conversation.

“What?” Mallik said.

“We’ve tracked the leak to your computer,” the IT man said.

Mallik went red with rage. “Change the network password on the Kalinga immediately, and do not let my computer reconnect. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir!”

He hung up and slammed the phone on the desk in frustration.

Mallik wanted to destroy the computer but restrained himself, knowing his people would need to analyze it. All he could do was shut it down.

“My computer was compromised,” he said. “It has to be Carlton.”