Chapter 80

When they arrived at Harry's office Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mike were there.

"What's our next move?" Jessica asked.

"I need to get that Trojan out of their network," Alex said before Harry could answer. "If they find it they probably won'g be able to find where it came from but knowing it's there could alert them. The regular anti-virus and other tools they use wouldn't find it but if they have smart enough people looking they might."

"Can you do that?" Harry asked.

"I can. Let me think... they may be watching Elizabeth. If they're suspicious... she shouldn't do anything to make them that way. I can get in and remove it. As of Friday it was still the way I left it - I didn't use it any more after that."

"Can you tell if it's been detected?" Harry asked.

"Maybe. And maybe not depending on who's looking for it."

"There's hardly any management there on weekends," Elizabeth said. "Copeland is in for a while, an hour or so, Cox is almost never there. Same for the pharmacy boss."

"I'll take a look as soon as we get home," Alex said. "If it looks like they found it... I can give you a tool to eradicate it from the network. It's the same deal as when you put it in - plug in a USB stick and follow the instructions. If you can call me when you're ready I can help you do it."

"I rarely go in on weekends," Elizabeth replied. "On a regular day no one will notice. Monday morning Philip is an a meeting early, he's usually gone for a couple of hours. It's just me and one other normally."

"I can have it ready in a couple of hours," Alex said. "You want me to leave it with Harry and you pick it up before Monday?"

"That will work."

"OK, I'll bring it over later today. Just call me when you plug it in. It's best if no one sees you, just to be safe."

"Not a problem. Our computers are in cubes where it's easy to see if anyone is around."

"The sooner you get it done the better," Harry said. "

"If you haven't already told Kaylee to stand down," Harry said, "you should. And you probably shouldn't be seen talking."

"I will," Elizabeth said. "We only talk away from work, as far as anyone there knows we barely know each other."

"Sounds good," said Harry. "Once you get Alex's spyware removed there shouldn't be anything to draw attention to you. I'll be here by noon Sunday - the door will be locked but if you call me I'l be watching for you. For now that's about all we can do."

"Should we be getting our lawsuit started?" Jessica asked. "Against the hospital."

"Probably," Harry replied. "Where are you on it?"

"I believe everything we need is ready," Jessica replied. "All the evidence is there, any competent lawyer can do the paperwork. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Let me call a couple of guys," Harry said. "They're in Little Rock so they won't have any reservations about a Jonesbro hospital. If the one I'm thinking of is available I'll get you in touch - if not I know a couple of others. Have everything ready and I'll set up a meeting. It would be good to have that in the works before they know who is after them. Or not."

"What do you mean?"

"They'll know - or suspect strongly - that you're the ones spying on them. Do you have the material ready for the attorney general and the medical boards as well?"

"We do."

"You should send that before filing the lawsuit. Once they're on law enforcement radar they'll think twice about going after you. I hope."

"That's comforting," Jessica said.

"It's getting serious," Harry said. "Actually it is serious. If this thing is as big as it looks... be careful. More than you already are. I'm going to have Mike stay around here and keep tabs on our friends. Liz, you be careful too - you're in a position to see and hear things that could be useful but don't take any risks. If you have to get of there don't hesitate to bail."

"Got it," Elizabeth said.

"OK, stay calm and alert. I have a feeling it's about to get interesting. Mike and I are going to start putting together a plan. We'll want to prepare information for the Attorney General - I'm going to dump this in his lap and let him do what he will. I know he won't try to sweep it under the rug for several reasons but the main one is that he wouldn't dare even if he was so inclined. He'll know that even if he ignores it it will get out and then he'll have to explain himself. It will involve other states - certainly Texas - so at some point it becomes a federal matter.

"Meanwhile I'll put you in touch with the lawyers, you can start working on your case. I'll call you in a day or two. If you've got other things you've been putting off this would be a good time to deal with them. I don't know how long it will take for things to start happening but I'll keep you advised. I'll fill Karen and Jennifer in and keep them up to date as well."