Head Of The Snake. G. Rehder

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СКАЧАТЬ like to run some things by them. Have them meet me here in my living area. I want a little more casual atmosphere and have the kitchen send up waters, tea, and coffee, say, in ten minutes.”

      Maria turned to leave then stopped and looked at Lehan. “Would you like me to be in attendance?”

      “No, my dear, not this time, but thank you for asking.”

      She walked out and to the elevator.

      Ten minutes later, Maria escorted Bar-Lev and Fromer to the fifth-floor living area. She knocked on the door, and Lehan actually opened it himself to welcome in his guests. He looked at Maria.

      “Thank you, Ms. Simpson.”

      She turned and left.

      “Please sit,” Lehan said. “Be comfortable. How are your accommodations here? Satisfactory?”

      They both smiled.

      “Absolutely,” Fromer said.

      “We are being treated very well. Thank you,” Bar-Lev added.

      “Good, I am glad. Now to business, I would like to begin my travel schedule soon. You will be ready to handle arrangements say in a week?”

      Hava Fromer answered, “I have become familiar with your planes, your pilots, your airfields, and your global offices, their layouts, and security personnel. Your past protocols need some minor updating, but whoever put all those in place did an excellent job.”

      “I’ll get to him later,” Lehan said, “but I want all protocols changed, in all locations. Don’t use any of what the prior security chief used. I will explain more later. So do you need more time to train our people to your satisfaction?”

      Fromer answered, “Well, if we need to redo the protocols that were in place, may I suggest, bringing on board about six to eight of Masada Security’s best, let’s call them bodyguards for now. They are all trained by me even though they were well experienced in their line of work when I chose them. We all work very well together. Some or all can travel with you when you leave the island. And of course, I will always be with you as close as you need me to be.”

      Then Hava continued, “The need to change protocols will not hinder your time frame for travel. Masada’s protocols will be followed and then implemented into all your offices globally. My people can also provide additional security here at the estate.”

      “So if we bring your people on as you suggest, we can resume a travel regiment when they arrive?”

      “Absolutely,” Fromer said.

      “And Mr. Bar-Lev, what do you have to report?”

      “I have studied your cybersecurity extensively mainly here at the estate. I believe your previous cyber person, Peter Grayden, am I right?”—Lehan just nodded—“did a great job protecting your data, program writing, and server security. But I have found several areas that we need to discuss in regards to your personnel. Someone has been able to circumvent some internal monitoring capabilities.”

      “Such as?” Lehan asked.

      “Such as there are some security monitoring bypass systems in place, two rooms on the fourth floor in particular.”

      “So, what you are saying is that someone has been able to bypass the monitoring system in several of the rooms here at the estate?”

      “Yes, exactly.”

      “And what two rooms are we talking about?”

      “Both residential room suites on the fourth floor.”

      “I think I know which rooms you are talking about,” Lehan said with disdain.

      Lehan sat in a large overstuffed leather chair. He leaned forward to get closer to his guests. “I am sure you are both aware that the Chinese government is implementing programs to monitor every one of their citizens throughout their country. They will essentially be spied on and will be issued, let’s call it a grade for their actions and speech. If the government does not like what you are saying or doing, you will have less freedom to move about your city or country, or worse yet, you can be imprisoned.

      “It amazes me that one of the biggest tech companies headquartered in the United States is assisting in the development of this program. This should concern the average American citizen also, but that is not my concern.

      “With that said, let me tell you, Sarnev was a pioneer in putting such programs into use here at the Bermuda Estate. We have been monitoring all cell phone calls, all e-mails, and all conversations in all rooms with some exceptions, like my old office and this office and their living areas. We did exempt all bathrooms from visual monitoring, but we still listened into anything said verbally. We set it up so only voices would be picked up, and other sounds were ignored.

      “All state of the art, all this thanks to the deceased Peter Grayden, Sarnev’s original tech guru. He is probably the one responsible for the monitoring bypass. You probably located these bypass systems in his old room and the former room of Jason Orr. Two major players who were tasked with the security of Sarnev International and the protection of Andre himself. Have either of you heard of Jason Orr or know him?”

      Both Bar-Lev and Fromer answered no.

      “Let me go on.” Lehan got up from his seat and walked to a full-length open window.

      He turned to face the two as he began to speak, a strong ocean breeze had been cooling the room and now was blowing the back of Lehan’s hair in a way that made him seem animated to Fromer. She thought his features were rather odd to begin with, and now she held back her smile as she knew what he was about to say needed to be taken seriously.

      “I will be blunt. I believe Jason Orr was directly responsible for the disappearance and probable death of Andre Sarnev. The information that I have gathered through numerous sources have led me to believe Jason Orr left this island and ended up in Alaska where he began a full-on assault on this company.

      “He is a dangerous man without any ethical standards. I sent well-trained men to find him and bring him back to Bermuda to face justice, and he brutally murdered them, all four of them. I want Jason Orr found. I want him brought to me for justice.

      “His crimes have never been reported to authorities. A report on the disappearance of Andre Sarnev was never made, not in Alaska where it took place or locally here on the island. It was decided by the Sarnev governing body to withhold that information from the public.

      “Only those who attended the corporate meeting two days ago are aware, and obviously, you two. No unauthorized person here at the estate even knows. They all believe Andre is in a facility for his cancer treatment.

      “So, you two, how good are you at tracking someone down, someone with the training and skills of a Jason Orr? Someone who has gone off the grid, probably changed identities, and does not want to be found. Does your expertise encompass the skills that can accomplish this assignment in the name of Andre Sarnev and justice?”

      Lehan looked from Bar-Lev to Fromer, both looked confident and did not hesitate to assure Lehan by stating, “Yes, absolutely.”

      Bar-Lev then said, “We have history and experience. The Israeli government СКАЧАТЬ