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us again? John, you have known me for a lot of years, we have been through some hard
years. You have to trust me on this one, I could have just disappeared and sold this
information, but I am here to insure that Allied Magnetics can use this technology, our
employees and shareholder have been through a rough ride this last week, we are over the
hill with this stuff, give me two weeks and we will have our patient paperwork registered.
Bill, I speak for the board, you have your two weeks.
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Chapter 16
Code 20
The last few weeks were slow at the Corporation, Ralph was using care to try to avoid all
talk about his dealings with Allied Magnetics and Bill Farmer. The loss of Helflex was still
a topic of conversation, and the quick way Ralph was able to locate and apprehend Bill.
All Ralph would say was, just routine, follow procedures and things always work out. The
Division Chair for the Corporation was Lester Max, he was in charge of the Allied
Magnetic operation, his weeks had been filled with requests for information about how
this operation got so out of control. How did his agent Helflex Teller loss his man, and
why did he not get Bill Farmer before he published his technical details of his
developments on the Internet.
Over the last couple of weeks the Cooperation had to answer a lot of questions about why
they had not let their shareholders know of their magnetic product developments. Why
Allied Magnetics had published their finding first. Why did they have to abort their
attempt to buy Allied Magnetics? The development of this technology was to be years
away, after the Corporation squeezed every dollar out of their current technology. New
products in the design stages were already obsolete.
Lester Max had a nervous personality, he jittered and jumped with sudden sounds, the
pressure his current situation did not help matters. His hair was thinning and gray, he
looked too fragile. A man with his position had to instill fear, his word needed to be law.
He obtained his position not by strength and cunning, but by backstabbing and
corrosion. The former Division Chair, had developed a drug addiction, it was rumored a
little doping of the morning coffee was one contributing factor. Nobody ever accepted
food or drink from Lester after he obtained his position. A Code 20 was sounded when
word got out about Division Chair s directors drug problem. Helflex was the assigned,
Lester remembered giving the assignment to Helflex. He was told by Lester, Make him
suffer before disposal .
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Ralph was happy to keep a low profile, his actions were the only ones seen as following
the orders of the Corporation, someone had to pay for this screw up, he was trying to be
sure he would stay out of the way. In a few more days, Ralph knew trouble was coming.
The phone rang in Lester s office; he was quick to pick it up.
The phone extension was from the Corporation Director. Hello Director, this is Lester
Max how can I help you. I have one question, who has access to our data files in the
Magnetic development lab. Well, the way to the technical papers and data is thorough
my secure workstation, I have to be present and my secret password needs to be used.
No one can get the data but through me.
The Director answered, that was my understanding and hung up the phone.
Lester did not like the question just asked, and the abrupt ending of the phone call was
not a good sign. I d better check my files , he thought. As he suspected, during a time
he was out of the office his files have been accesses and a large volume of data
downloaded.
The circle of people who could have hacked into his files was very small, but the pool was
large enough that he knew that finding the guilty party in time to save his own skin
would be very hard. If he left suddenly he would just look more guilty. Lester knew he
had done way too many people wrong to expect help for anyone.
Ralph s pager went off, the Director was expecting a return call on a secure line. He
found a secure private area and returned the Directors call, Hello this is Ralph, returning
your call
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Ralph, I need to talk to you immediately, how soon can you arrive at my office said the
Director, his tone was telling Ralph it better be soon. I ll be there in less than 30
minutes. Good by.
The back entrance to the office was dark, late in the afternoon the sun was on the front of
the building, the lighting was kept intently dark, this entrance was only used when quiet
meetings were held. The pathway was not welcomed by anyone, it always harbored
trouble. Upon opening the door, the Director asked Ralph if he had any other projects
going on tonight, he indicated he did not.
Here s the thing Ralph, you are aware of the mess of this Allied Magnetics case, you did a
great job. I can always count on your skills, you found the guy but a bit too late to use
your services. Now I find out that Allied Magnetics has licensed our technology, the
files were downloaded by off Lester s computer using his passwords. What do you think
about all this, and who to blame for this mess.
Ralph knew his questions indicated he had suspicions that Lester was not in this alone, or
that someone had set-up Lester. Ralph spoke with caution, I do not want to place
blame on anyone, Lester is not liked by anyone here, and others could have done the
downloading. I have the corporation s best interest at heart, what do you want me to
do?
The Director was not giving up this line yet, Tell me, did you make personal contact with
Bill Farmer? Ralph knew his moment of truth was here, if he lied and was caught he
would be dead, if he told the true, he was unsure of his fate. He said Yes . A smile came
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