Ghost in the Wires_ My Adventures as the - Mitnick_ Kevin

8/11/2019 Ghost in the Wires_ My Adventures as the - Mitnick_ Kevin

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LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY

New York Boston London



Begin Reading

Table of Contents

Photo Inserts

Copyriht Pae



For my mother and grandmother

! K.D.M "

For Arynne, Victoria, and David,

Shedon, Vincent, and !ena "ose

and es#eciay $or %harotte

! &.L.S "



FOREWORD

I #et $e%in Mitni&' for the first ti#e in ())*, +rin the fil#in of a Dis&o%ery Channel+o&#entary &alle+ 'he (istory o$ (acking , an+ -e &ontine+ the &onta&t" T-o years later, I fle- toPittsbrh to intro+&e hi# for a tal' he -as i%in at Carneie Mellon .ni%ersity, -here I -as+#bfon+e+ to hear his ha&'in history" /e bro'e into &orporate &o#pters bt +i+n0t +estroyfiles, an+ he +i+n0t se or sell &re+it &ar+ n#bers he ha+ a&&ess to" /e too' soft-are bt ne%er sol+any of it" /e -as ha&'in 1st for the fn of it, 1st for the &hallene"

In his spee&h, $e%in spelle+ ot in +etail the in&re+ible story of ho- he ha+ &ra&'e+ the &aseof the 2BI operation aainst hi#" $e%in penetrate+ the -hole operation, +is&o%erin that a ne-ha&'er 3frien+4 -as really an 2BI snit&h, learnin the na#es an+ ho#e a++resses of the entire 2BI

tea# -or'in his &ase, e%en listenin in on the phone &alls an+ %oi&e#ails of people tryin toather e%i+en&e aainst hi#" An alar# syste# he ha+ set p alerte+ hi# -hen the 2BI -as

preparin to rai+ hi#"When the pro+&ers of the T5 sho- Screen Savers in%ite+ $e%in an+ #e to host an episo+e,

they as'e+ #e to +e#onstrate a ne- ele&troni& +e%i&e that -as 1st then &o#in onto the &ons#er#ar'et6 the 7P8" I -as sppose+ to +ri%e aron+ -hile they tra&'e+ #y &ar" On the air, they+isplaye+ a #ap of the see#inly ran+o# rote I ha+ +ri%en" It spelle+ ot a #essae6

FREE KEVIN

We share+ the #i&rophones aain in ())9, -hen $e%in -as the stan+:in host of Art Bell0s

tal' sho- %oast to %oast AM an+ in%ite+ #e to 1oin hi# as his on:air est" By then I ha+ hear+ a

lot of his story; that niht he inter%ie-e+ #e abot #ine an+ -e share+ #any lahs, as -e sally+o -hen -e0re toether"

My life has been &hane+ by $e%in" One +ay I reali<e+ that I -as ettin his phone &allsfro# fara-ay pla&es6 he -as in Rssia to i%e a spee&h, in 8pain to help a &o#pany -ith se&rityisses, in Chile to a+%ise a ban' that ha+ ha+ a &o#pter brea':in" It son+e+ pretty &ool" I ha+n0tse+ #y passport in abot ten years ntil those phone &alls a%e #e an it&h" $e%in pt #e in to&h-ith the aent -ho boo's his spee&hes" 8he tol+ #e, 3I &an et spea'in enae#ents for yo, too"48o than's to $e%in, I0%e be&o#e an international tra%eler li'e hi#"

$e%in has be&o#e one of #y best frien+s" I lo%e bein aron+ hi#, hearin the stories abothis e=ploits an+ a+%entres" /e has li%e+ a life as e=&itin an+ rippin as the best &aper #o%ies"

No- yo0ll be able to share all these stories that I ha%e hear+ one by one, no- an+ thenthroh the years" In a -ay, I en%y the e=perien&e of the 1orney yo0re abot to start, as yo absorbthe in&re+ible, al#ost nbelie%able tale of $e%in Mitni&'0s life an+ e=ploits"

!8te%e Wo<nia',&ofon+er, Apple, In&"



PROLOGUE

Physi&al entry46 slippin into a bil+in of yor taret &o#pany" It0s so#ethin I ne%er li'eto +o" Way too ris'y" >st -ritin abot it #a'es #e pra&ti&ally brea' ot in a &ol+ s-eat"

Bt there I -as, lr'in in the +ar' par'in lot of a billion:+ollar &o#pany on a -ar#e%enin in sprin, -at&hin for #y opportnity" A -ee' earlier I ha+ pai+ a %isit to this bil+in in

broa+ +ayliht, on the prete=t of +roppin off a letter to an e#ployee" The real reason -as so I &ol+et a oo+ loo' at their ID &ar+s" This &o#pany pt the e#ployee0s hea+ shot pper left, na#e 1st

belo- that, last na#e first, in blo&' letters" The na#e of the &o#pany -as at the botto# of the &ar+,in re+, also in blo&' letters"

I ha+ one to $in'o0s an+ loo'e+ p the &o#pany0s -ebsite, so I &ol+ +o-nloa+ an+ &opy

an i#ae of the &o#pany loo" With that an+ a s&anne+ &opy of #y o-n photo, it too' #e abott-enty #intes -or'in in Photoshop to #a'e p an+ print ot a reasonable fa&si#ile of a &o#panyID &ar+, -hi&h I seale+ into a +i#e:store plasti& hol+er" I &rafte+ another phony ID for a frien+ -hoha+ aree+ to o alon -ith #e in &ase I nee+e+ hi#"

/ere0s a ne-s flash6 it +oesn0t e%en ha%e to be all that athenti& loo'in" Ninety:nine per&ent of the ti#e, it -on0t et #ore than a lan&e" As lon as the essential ele#ents are in theriht pla&e an+ loo' #ore or less the -ay they are sppose+ to, yo &an et by -ith it? nless, of&orse, so#e o%er<ealos ar+ or an e#ployee -ho li'es to play the role of se&rity -at&h+oinsists on ta'in a &lose loo'" It0s a +aner yo rn -hen yo li%e a life li'e #ine"

In the par'in lot, I stay ot of siht, -at&hin the lo- of &iarettes fro# the strea# of people steppin ot for a s#o'e brea'" 2inally I spot a little pa&' of fi%e or si= people startin ba&'

into the bil+in toether" The rear entran&e +oor is one of those that nlo&' -hen an e#ployeehol+s his or her a&&ess &ar+ p to the &ar+ rea+er" As the rop sinle:files throh the +oor, I fall inat the ba&' of the line" The y ahea+ of #e rea&hes the +oor, noti&es there0s so#eone behin+ hi#,ta'es a @i&' lan&e to #a'e sre I0# -earin a &o#pany ba+e, an+ hol+s the +oor open for #e" Ino+ a than's"

This te&hni@e is &alle+ 3tailatin"4 Insi+e, the first thin that &at&hes #y eye is a sin poste+ so yo see it i##e+iately as yo-al' in the +oor" It0s a se&rity poster, -arnin not to hol+ the +oor for any other person bt tore@ire that ea&h person ain entran&e by hol+in p his &ar+ to the rea+er" Bt &o##on &ortesy,e%ery+ay politeness to a 3fello- e#ployee,4 #eans that the -arnin on the se&rity poster isrotinely inore+"

Insi+e the bil+in, I bein -al'in &orri+ors -ith the stri+e of so#eone en rote to ani#portant tas'" In fa&t I0# on a %oyae of e=ploration, loo'in for the offi&es of the Infor#ationTe&hnoloy IT Depart#ent, -hi&h after abot ten #intes I fin+ in an area on the -estern si+e ofthe bil+in" I0%e +one #y ho#e-or' in a+%an&e an+ ha%e the na#e of one of the &o#pany0snet-or' enineers; I fire he0s li'ely to ha%e fll a+#inistrator rihts to the &o#pany0s net-or'"

Da#n When I fin+ his -or'spa&e, it0s not an easily a&&essible &bi&le bt a separateoffi&e? behin+ a lo&'e+ +oor" Bt I see a soltion" The &eilin is #a+e p of those -hiteson+proofin s@ares, the 'in+ often se+ to &reate a +roppe+ &eilin -ith a &ra-l spa&e abo%e for

pipin, ele&tri&al lines, air %ents, an+ so on"I &ell:phone to #y b++y that I nee+ hi#, an+ #a'e #y -ay ba&' to the rear entran&e to let

hi# in" Lan'y an+ thin, he -ill, I hope, be able to +o -hat I &an0t" Ba&' in IT, he &la#bers onto a+es'" I rab hi# aron+ the les an+ boost hi# p hih enoh that he0s able to raise one of the tilesan+ sli+e it ot of the -ay" As I strain to raise hi# hiher, he #anaes to et a rip on a pipe an+



pll hi#self p" Within a #inte, I hear hi# +rop +o-n insi+e the lo&'e+ offi&e" The +oor'nob trnsan+ he stan+s there, &o%ere+ in +st bt rinnin brihtly"

I enter an+ @ietly &lose the +oor" We0re safer no-, #&h less li'ely to be noti&e+" The offi&eis +ar'" Trnin on a liht -ol+ be +aneros bt it isn0t ne&essary!the lo- fro# the enineer0s&o#pter is enoh for #e to see e%erythin I nee+, re+&in the ris'" I ta'e a @i&' s&an of his+es' an+ &he&' the top +ra-er an+ n+er the 'eyboar+ to see if he has left hi#self a note -ith his

&o#pter pass-or+" No l&'" Bt not a proble#"2ro# #y fanny pa&', I pll ot a CD -ith a bootable %ersion of the Lin= operatin syste#

that &ontains a ha&'er tool'it an+ pop it into his CD +ri%e, then restart the &o#pter" One of thetools allo-s #e to &hane the lo&al a+#inistrator0s pass-or+ on his &o#pter; I &hane it toso#ethin I 'no-, so I &an lo in" I then re#o%e #y CD an+ aain restart the &o#pter, this ti#eloin in to the lo&al a+#inistrator a&&ont"

Wor'in as fast as I &an, I install a 3re#ote a&&ess Tro1an,4 a type of #ali&ios soft-are thati%es #e fll a&&ess to the syste#, so I &an lo 'eystro'es, rab pass-or+ hashes, an+ e%en instr&tthe -eb&a# to ta'e pi&tres of the person sin the &o#pter" The parti&lar Tro1an I0%e installe+-ill initiate an Internet &onne&tion to another syste# n+er #y &ontrol e%ery fe- #intes, enablin#e to ain fll &ontrol of the %i&ti#0s syste#"

Al#ost finishe+, as a last step I o into the reistry of his &o#pter an+ set 3last loe+:inser4 to the enineer0s serna#e so there -on0t be any e%i+en&e of #y entry into the lo&ala+#inistrator a&&ont" In the #ornin, the enineer #ay noti&e that he0s loe+ ot" No proble#6 assoon as he los ba&' in, e%erythin -ill loo' 1st as it shol+"

I0# rea+y to lea%e" By no- #y b++y has repla&e+ the o%erhea+ tiles" On the -ay ot, Ireset the lo&'" The ne=t #ornin, the enineer trns on his &o#pter at abot 6) a"#", an+ it establishes a&onne&tion to #y laptop" Be&ase the Tro1an is rnnin n+er his a&&ont, I ha%e fll +o#aina+#inistrator pri%ilees, an+ it ta'es #e only a fe- se&on+s to i+entify the +o#ain &ontroller that&ontains all the a&&ont pass-or+s for the entire &o#pany" A ha&'er tool &alle+ 3f+#p4 allo-s #eto +#p the hashe+ #eanin s&ra#ble+ pass-or+s for e%ery ser"

Within a fe- hors, I ha%e rn the list of hashes throh 3rainbo- tables4!a he +atabaseof pre&o#pte+ pass-or+ hashes!re&o%erin the pass-or+s of #ost of the &o#pany0s e#ployees"I e%entally fin+ one of the ba&':en+ &o#pter ser%ers that pro&ess &sto#er transa&tions bt+is&o%er the &re+it &ar+ n#bers are en&rypte+" Not a proble#6 I fin+ the 'ey se+ to en&rypt the&ar+ n#bers is &on%eniently hi++en in a store+ pro&e+re -ithin the +atabase on a &o#pter'no-n as the 38FL ser%er,4 a&&essible to any +atabase a+#inistrator"

Millions an+ #illions of &re+it &ar+ n#bers" I &an #a'e pr&hases all +ay lon sin a+ifferent &re+it &ar+ ea&h ti#e, an+ ne%er rn ot of n#bers"

Bt I #a+e no pr&hases" This tre story is not a ne- replay of the ha&'in that lan+e+ #e ina lot of hot -ater" Instea+ it -as so#ethin I -as hired to +o"

It0s -hat -e &all a 3pen test,4 short for 3penetration test,4 an+ it0s a lare part of -hat #ylife &onsists of these +ays" I ha%e ha&'e+ into so#e of the larest &o#panies on the planet an+ penetrate+ the #ost resilient &o#pter syste#s e%er +e%elope+!hire+ by the &o#paniesthe#sel%es, to help the# &lose the aps an+ i#pro%e their se&rity so they +on0t be&o#e the ne=tha&'in %i&ti#" I0# larely self:taht an+ ha%e spent years st+yin #etho+s, ta&ti&s, an+strateies se+ to &ir&#%ent &o#pter se&rity, an+ to learn #ore abot ho- &o#pter syste#s an+tele&o##ni&ation syste#s -or'"

My passion for te&hnoloy an+ fas&ination -ith it ha%e ta'en #e +o-n a b#py roa+" Myha&'in es&apa+es en+e+ p &ostin #e o%er fi%e years of #y life in prison an+ &asin #y lo%e+ones tre#en+os hearta&he"

/ere is #y story, e%ery +etail as a&&rate as I &an #a'e it fro# #e#ory, personal notes,

pbli& &ort re&or+s, +o&#ents obtaine+ throh the 2ree+o# of Infor#ation A&t, 2BI -iretap an+ bo+y:-ire re&or+ins, #any hors of inter%ie-s, an+ +is&ssions -ith t-o o%ern#ent infor#ants"

This is the story of ho- I be&a#e the -orl+0s #ost -ante+ &o#pter ha&'er"



PART ONE



Ro!gh "#a#

Y)cv k* v)g #cog +h v)g *a*vgo w*g$ da )co +rgtcv+t*

v+ ocmg htgg r)+#g ecnn*

My instin&t for fin+in a -ay aron+ barriers an+ safear+s bean %ery early" At abot ae

one an+ a half, I fon+ a -ay to &li#b ot of #y &rib, &ra-l to the &hil+ ate at the +oor, an+ fireot ho- to open it" 2or #y #o#, it -as the first -a'e:p &all for all that -as to follo-"

I re- p as an only &hil+" After #y +a+ left -hen I -as three, #y #other, 8helly, an+ Ili%e+ in ni&e, #e+i#:pri&e+ apart#ents in safe areas of the 8an 2ernan+o 5alley, 1st o%er the hillfro# the &ity of Los Aneles" My #o# spporte+ s -ith -aitressin 1obs in one or another of the

#any +elis strn ot alon 5entra Bole%ar+, -hi&h rns eastG-est for the lenth of the %alley"My father li%e+ ot of state an+, thoh he &are+ abot #e, -as for the #ost part only o&&asionallyin%ol%e+ in #y life ro-in p ntil he #o%e+ to Los Aneles -hen I -as thirteen years ol+"

Mo# an+ I #o%e+ so often I +i+n0t ha%e the sa#e &han&e to #a'e frien+s as other 'i+s +i+" Ispent #y &hil+hoo+ larely in%ol%e+ in solitary, #ostly se+entary prsits" When I -as at s&hool,the tea&hers tol+ #y #o# that I -as in the top * per&entile in #athe#ati&s an+ spellin, years ahea+of #y ra+e" Bt be&ase I -as hypera&ti%e as a &hil+, it -as har+ for #e to sit still"

Mo# ha+ three hsban+s an+ se%eral boyfrien+s -hen I -as ro-in p" One abse+ #e,another!-ho -or'e+ in la- enfor&e#ent!#oleste+ #e" .nli'e so#e other #o#s I0%e rea+ abot,she ne%er trne+ a blin+ eye" 2ro# the #o#ent she fon+ ot I -as bein #istreate+!or e%enspo'en to in a roh -ay!the y -as ot the +oor for oo+" Not that I0# loo'in for e=&ses, bt

I -on+er if those absi%e #en ha+ anythin to +o -ith #y ro-in p to a life of +efyin athorityfires"

8##ers -ere the best, espe&ially if #y #o# -as -or'in a split shift an+ ha+ ti#e off inthe #i++le of the +ay" I lo%e+ it -hen she0+ ta'e #e s-i##in at the a#a<in 8anta Moni&a Bea&h"8he0+ lie on the san+, snnin an+ rela=in, -at&hin #e splashin in the -a%es, ettin 'no&'e++o-n an+ &o#in p lahin, pra&ti&in the s-i##in I ha+ learne+ at a YMCA &a#p that I -entto for se%eral s##ers an+ al-ays hate+ e=&ept -hen they too' s all to the bea&h"

I -as oo+ at sports as a 'i+, happy playin Little Leae, serios enoh to en1oy spen+inspare ti#e at the battin &ae" Bt the passion that set #e on a life &orse bean -hen I -as ten" Aneihbor -ho li%e+ in the apart#ent a&ross fro# s ha+ a +ahter abot #y ae -ho# I ess I+e%elope+ a &rsh on, -hi&h she re&ipro&ate+ by a&tally +an&in na'e+ in front of #e" At that ae,I -as #ore intereste+ in -hat her father broht into #y life6 #ai&"

/e -as an a&&o#plishe+ #ai&ian -hose &ar+ tri&'s, &oin tri&'s, an+ larer effe&tsfas&inate+ #e" Bt there -as so#ethin else, so#ethin #ore i#portant6 I sa- ho- his a+ien&esof one, three, or a roo#fl fon+ +eliht in bein +e&ei%e+" Thoh this -as ne%er a &ons&iosthoht, the notion that people en1oye+ bein ta'en in -as a stnnin re%elation that inflen&e+ the&orse of #y life"

A #ai& store 1st a short bi'e ri+e a-ay be&a#e #y spare:ti#e hanot" Mai& -as #yoriinal +oor-ay into the art of +e&ei%in people"

8o#eti#es instea+ of ri+in #y bi'e I0+ hop on the bs" One +ay a &ople of years later a bs +ri%er na#e+ Bob Ar'o- noti&e+ I -as -earin a T:shirt that sai+, 3CBers Do It on the Air"4 /e

tol+ #e he0+ 1st fon+ a Motorola han+hel+ that -as a poli&e ra+io" I thoht #aybe he &ol+listen in on the poli&e fre@en&ies, -hi&h -ol+ be %ery &ool" It trne+ ot he -as pllin #y leabot that, bt Bob -as an a%i+ ha# ra+io operator, an+ his enthsias# for the hobby spar'e+ #y



interest" /e sho-e+ #e a -ay to #a'e free telephone &alls o%er the ra+io, throh a ser%i&e &alle+an 3ato pat&h4 pro%i+e+ by so#e of the ha#s" 2ree phone &alls That i#presse+ #e no en+" I -ashoo'e+"

After se%eral -ee's of sittin in a nihtti#e &lassroo#, I ha+ learne+ enoh abot ra+io&ir&its an+ ha# ra+io relations to pass the -ritten e=a#, an+ #astere+ enoh Morse &o+e to#eet that @alifi&ation as -ell" 8oon the #ail#an broht an en%elope fro# the 2e+eral

Co##ni&ations Co##ission -ith #y ha# ra+io li&ense, so#ethin not #any 'i+s in their earlyteens ha%e e%er ha+" I felt a he sense of a&&o#plish#ent"

2oolin people -ith #ai& -as &ool" Bt learnin ho- the phone syste# -or'e+ -asfas&inatin" I -ante+ to learn e%erythin abot ho- the phone &o#pany -or'e+" I -ante+ to #asterits inner -or'ins" I ha+ been ettin %ery oo+ ra+es all the -ay throh ele#entary s&hool an+in 1nior hih, bt aron+ eihth or ninth ra+e I starte+ &ttin &lasses to han ot at /enry Ra+io,a ha# ra+io store in West Los Aneles, rea+in boo's for hors on ra+io theory" To #e, it -as asoo+ as a %isit to Disneylan+" /a# ra+io also offere+ so#e opportnities for helpin ot in the&o##nity" 2or a ti#e I -or'e+ as a %olnteer on o&&asional -ee'en+s to pro%i+e &o##ni&ationsspport for the lo&al Re+ Cross &hapter" One s##er I spent a -ee' +oin the sa#e for the 8pe&ialOly#pi&s"

Ri+in the bses -as for #e a bit li'e bein on holi+ay!ta'in in the sihts of the &ity,e%en -hen they -ere fa#iliar ones" This -as 8othern California, so the -eather -as al#ostal-ays near perfe&t, e=&ept -hen the s#o settle+ in!#&h -orse in those ti#es than to+ay" The

bs &ost t-enty:fi%e &ents, pls ten &ents for a transfer" On s##er %a&ation -hen #y #o# -as at-or', I0+ so#eti#es ri+e the bs all +ay" By the ti#e I -as t-el%e, #y #in+ -as alrea+y rnnin in+e%ios &hannels" One +ay it o&&rre+ to #e, -$ - co*d #*nch my own trans$ers, the *s rides

wo*dn/t cost anything "My father an+ #y n&les -ere all sales#en -ith the ift of ab" I ess I share the ene that

a%e #e #y ability fro# %ery early on to tal' people into +oin thins for #e" I -al'e+ to the frontof the bs an+ sat +o-n in the &losest seat to the +ri%er" When he stoppe+ at a liht, I sai+, 3I0#-or'in on a s&hool pro1e&t an+ I nee+ to pn&h interestin shapes on pie&es of &ar+boar+" The

pn&h yo se on the transfers -ol+ be reat for #e" Is there so#epla&e I &an by oneH4I +i+n0t thin' he0+ belie%e it be&ase it son+e+ so stpi+" I ess the i+ea ne%er &rosse+ his

#in+ that a 'i+ #y ae #iht be #aniplatin hi#" /e tol+ #e the na#e of the store, an+ I &alle+an+ fon+ ot they sol+ the pn&hes for *J" When yo -ere t-el%e, &ol+ yo &o#e p -ith areasonable e=&se yo #iht ha%e i%en yor #other abot -hy yo nee+e+ *JH I ha+ no troble"The %ery ne=t +ay I -as in the store byin a pn&h" Bt that -as only 8tep One" /o- -as I ointo et boo's of blan' transfersH

Well, -here +i+ the bses et -ashe+H I -al'e+ o%er to the nearby bs +epot, spotte+ a biD#pster in the area -here the bses -ere &leane+, plle+ #yself p, an+ loo'e+ in"

>a&'pot

I stffe+ #y po&'ets -ith partially se+ boo's of transfers!#y first of -hat -ol+ be#any, #any a&ts of -hat &a#e to be &alle+ 3D#pster:+i%in"4My #e#ory has al-ays been -ay better than a%erae an+ I #anae+ to #e#ori<e the bs

s&he+les for #ost of the 8an 2ernan+o 5alley" I starte+ to roa# by bs e%ery-here the bs syste#&o%ere+!Los Aneles Conty, Ri%ersi+e Conty, 8an Bernar+ino Conty" I en1oye+ seein allthose +ifferent pla&es, ta'in in the -orl+ aron+ #e"

In #y tra%els, I #a+e frien+s -ith a 'i+ na#e+ Ri&har+ Willia#s, -ho -as +oin the sa#ethin, bt -ith t-o pretty #a1or +ifferen&es" 2or one thin, his free:roa#in tra%els -ere leal

be&ase, as the son of a bs +ri%er, Ri&har+ ro+e for free" The se&on+ aspe&t that separate+ sinitially, any-ay -as or +ifferen&e in -eiht6 Ri&har+ -as obese an+ -ante+ to stop at >a&' inthe Bo= for a 8per Ta&o fi%e or si= ti#es a +ay" Al#ost at on&e I a+opte+ his eatin habits an+

bean ro-in aron+ the #i++le"It -asn0t lon before a pitaile+ blon+ irl on the s&hool bs tol+ #e, 3Yo0re 'in+a &te,

bt yo0re fat" Yo ohta lose so#e -eiht"4



Di+ I ta'e her sharp bt n@estionably &onstr&ti%e a+%i&e to heartH Nope" Di+ I et into troble for D#pster:+i%in for those bs transfers an+ ri+in for freeH Aain,no" My #o# thoht it -as &le%er, #y +a+ thoht it sho-e+ initiati%e, an+ bs +ri%ers -ho 'ne- I-as pn&hin #y o-n transfers thoht it -as a bi lah" It -as as thoh e%eryone -ho 'ne--hat I -as p to -as i%in #e attaboys"

In fa&t, I +i+n0t nee+ other people0s praise for #y #is+ee+s to lea+ #e into #ore troble"

Who -ol+ ha%e thoht that a little shoppin trip &ol+ pro%i+e a lesson that -ol+ set #y life ona ne- &orse? in an nfortnate +ire&tionH



$!%# Vi%i#ing

&th a voe htat oy voe w0irtn v$1+t wagye % #oh aeovsn vo)gav

E%en #any >e-ish fa#ilies that aren0t %ery reliios -ant their sons to ha%e a bar #it<%ah,

an+ I fell into that &ateory" This in&l+es stan+in p in front of the &onreation an+ rea+in a passae fro# the Torah s&roll!in /ebre-" Of &orse, /ebre- ses a &o#pletely +ifferent alphabet,

-ith , , , an+ the li'e, so #asterin the Torah portion &an ta'e #onths of st+y"I -as sine+ p at a /ebre- s&hool in 8her#an Oa's bt ot boote+ for oofin off" Mo#

fon+ a &antor to tea&h #e one:on:one, so I &ol+n0t et a-ay -ith rea+in a te&hnoloy boo'n+er the table" I #anae+ to learn enoh to et throh the ser%i&e an+ rea+ #y Torah passae

alo+ to the &onreation -ith no #ore than the sal a#ont of st#blin, an+ -ithote#barrassin #yself"

After-ar+ #y parents &hi+e+ #e for #i#i&'in the a&&ent an+ estres of the rabbi" Bt it-as sb&ons&ios" I0+ later learn that this is a %ery effe&ti%e te&hni@e be&ase people are attra&te+to others -ho are li'e the#sel%es" 8o at a %ery early ae, all na-are, I -as alrea+y pra&ti&in -hat-ol+ &o#e to be &alle+ 3so&ial enineerin4!the &asal or &al&late+ #aniplation of people toinflen&e the# to +o thins they -ol+ not or+inarily +o" An+ &on%in&in the# -ithot raisin theleast hint of sspi&ion"

The typi&al sho-er of presents fro# relati%es an+ fro# people -ho atten+e+ the re&eptionafter the bar #it<%ah at the O+yssey Restarant left #e -ith ifts that in&l+e+ a n#ber of ."8"Treasry bon+s that &a#e to a srprisinly han+so#e s#"

I -as an a%i+ rea+er, -ith a parti&lar fo&s that le+ #e to a pla&e &alle+ the 8r%i%alBoo'store in North /olly-oo+" It -as s#all an+ in a see+y neihborhoo+ an+ -as rn by a #i++le:ae+, frien+ly blon+ la+y -ho sai+ I &ol+ &all her by her first na#e" The pla&e -as li'e fin+in a

pirate0s treasre &hest" My i+ols in those +ays -ere Br&e Lee, /o+ini, an+ >i# Ro&'for+, the &ool pri%ate +ete&ti%e playe+ by >a#es 7arner in 'he "ock$ord Fies, -ho &ol+ pi&' lo&'s, #aniplate people, an+ ass#e a false i+entity in a #atter of #o#ents" I -ante+ to be able to +o all the neatthins Ro&'for+ &ol+"

The 8r%i%al Boo'store &arrie+ boo's +es&ribin ho- to +o all those nifty Ro&'for+ thins,an+ lots #ore besi+es" 8tartin at ae thirteen, I spent #any of #y -ee'en+s there, all +ay lon,st+yin one boo' after another!boo's li'e 'he 2a#er 'ri# by Barry Rei+, on ho- to &reate a ne-i+entity by sin a birth &ertifi&ate of so#eone -ho ha+ passe+ a-ay"

A boo' &alle+ 'he Big Brother 3ame, by 8&ott 2ren&h, be&a#e #y Bible be&ase it -as&ra##e+ -ith +etails on ho- to et hol+ of +ri%in re&or+s, property re&or+s, &re+it reports,

ban'in infor#ation, nliste+ n#bers, an+ e%en ho- to et infor#ation fro# poli&e +epart#ents"M&h later, -hen 2ren&h -as -ritin a follo-:p %ol#e, he &alle+ to as' #e if I -ol+ +o a&hapter on te&hni@es for so&ial:enineerin the phone &o#panies" At the ti#e, #y &oathor an+ I-ere -ritin or se&on+ boo', 'he Art o$ -ntr*sion, an+ I -as too bsy for 2ren&h0s pro1e&t, thoha#se+ by the &oin&i+en&e, an+ flattere+ to be as'e+"

That boo'store -as &ra##e+ -ith 3n+erron+4 boo's that taht yo thins yo -eren0tsppose+ to 'no-!%ery appealin to #e sin&e I ha+ al-ays ha+ this re to ta'e a bite of'no-le+e fro# the forbi++en apple" I -as soa'in p the 'no-le+e that -ol+ trn ot to be

in%alable al#ost t-o +e&a+es later, -hen I -as on the rn"The other ite# that intereste+ #e at the store besi+es their boo's -as the lo&'pi&'in toolsthey offere+ for sale" I boht se%eral +ifferent 'in+s" Re#e#ber the ol+ 1o'e that oes, 3/o- +o



yo et to Carneie /allH Pra&ti&e, pra&ti&e, pra&ti&e4H That0s -hat I +i+ to #aster the art oflo&'pi&'in, so#eti#es oin +o-n to the area of tenant storae lo&'ers in the arae of orapart#ent bil+in, -here I0+ pi&' open so#e of the pa+lo&'s, s-ap the# aron+, an+ lo&' the#aain" At the ti#e I thoht it -as an a#sin pra&ti&al 1o'e, thoh loo'in ba&', I0# sre it

probably thre- so#e people into anry fits an+ pt the# to a oo+ +eal of troble, pls the e=penseof a ne- lo&' after they ha+ #anae+ to et the ol+ one re#o%e+" Only fnny, I ess, -hen yo0re

a teenaer"One +ay -hen I -as abot forteen, I -as ot -ith #y n&le Mit&hell, -ho -as a briht star

of #y life in those years" We s-n by the Depart#ent of Motor 5ehi&les an+ fon+ it pa&'e+ -ith people" /e left #e to -ait -hile he -al'e+ straiht p to the &onter!1st li'e that, -al'in paste%eryone stan+in in line" The DM5 &ler', a la+y -ith a bore+ e=pression, loo'e+ p in srprise"/e +i+n0t -ait for her to finish -hat she -as +oin -ith the #an at the -in+o- bt 1st starte+tal'in" /e ha+n0t sai+ #ore than a fe- -or+s -hen the &ler' no++e+ to hi#, sinale+ the other#an to step asi+e, an+ too' &are of -hate%er it -as .n&le Mit&hell -ante+" My n&le ha+ so#espe&ial talent -ith people"

An+ I appeare+ to ha%e it, too" It -as #y first &ons&ios e=a#ple of so&ial enineerin" /o- +i+ people see #e at Monroe /ih 8&hoolH My tea&hers -ol+ ha%e sai+ that I -as

al-ays +oin ne=pe&te+ thins" When the other 'i+s -ere fi=in tele%isions in T5 repair shop, I-as follo-in in 8te%e >obs an+ 8te%e Wo<nia'0s footsteps an+ bil+in a ble bo= that -ol+allo- #e to #aniplate the phone net-or' an+ e%en #a'e free phone &alls" I al-ays broht #yhan+hel+ ha# ra+io to s&hool an+ tal'e+ on it +rin ln&h an+ re&ess"

Bt one fello- st+ent &hane+ the &orse of #y life" 8te%en 8halita -as an arroant y-ho fan&ie+ hi#self as an n+er&o%er &op!his &ar -as &o%ere+ -ith ra+io antennas" /e li'e+ tosho- off the tri&'s he &ol+ +o -ith the telephone, an+ he &ol+ +o so#e a#a<in thins" /e+e#onstrate+ ho- he &ol+ ha%e people &all hi# -ithot re%ealin his real phone n#ber by sina phone &o#pany test &ir&it &alle+ a 3loop:aron+4; he -ol+ &all in on one of the loop0s phonen#bers -hile the other person -as &allin the loop0s se&on+ phone n#ber" The t-o &allers -ol+

be #ai&ally &onne&te+" /e &ol+ et the na#e an+ a++ress assine+ to any phone n#ber, liste+ ornot, by &allin the phone &o#pany0s Csto#er Na#e an+ A++ress CNA Brea" With a sinle&all, he ot #y #o#0s nliste+ phone n#ber" Wo- /e &ol+ et the phone n#ber an+ a++ress ofanyone, e%en a #o%ie star -ith an nliste+ n#ber" It see#e+ li'e the fol's at the phone &o#pany-ere 1st stan+in by to see -hat they &ol+ +o to help hi#"

I -as fas&inate+, intrie+, an+ I instantly be&a#e his &o#panion, eaer to learn all thosein&re+ible tri&'s" Bt 8te%en -as only intereste+ in sho-in #e -hat he &ol+ +o, not in tellin #ehow all of this -or'e+, ho- he -as able to se his so&ial:enineerin s'ills on the people he -astal'in to"

Before lon I ha+ pi&'e+ p 1st abot e%erythin he -as -illin to share -ith #e abot3phone phrea'in4 an+ -as spen+in #ost of #y free ti#e e=plorin the tele&o##ni&ations

net-or's an+ learnin on #y o-n, firin ot thins 8te%en +i+n0t e%en 'no- abot" An+3phrea'ers4 ha+ a so&ial net-or'" I starte+ ettin to 'no- others -ho share+ si#ilar interests an+oin to their et:toethers, e%en thoh so#e of the 3phrea's4 -ere, -ell, frea'y!so&ially ineptan+ n&ool"

I see#e+ &t ot for the so&ial:enineerin part of phrea'in" Col+ I &on%in&e a phone&o#pany te&hni&ian to +ri%e to a 3CO4 a &entral offi&e!the neihborhoo+ s-it&hin &enter thatrotes &alls to an+ fro# a telephone in the #i++le of the niht to &onne&t a 3&riti&al4 &ir&it

be&ase he thoht I -as fro# another CO, or #aybe a line#an in the fiel+H Easy" I alrea+y 'ne- Iha+ talents alon these lines, bt it -as #y hih s&hool asso&iate 8te%en -ho taht #e 1st ho-

po-erfl that ability &ol+ be"The basi& ta&ti& is si#ple" Before yo start so&ial enineerin for so#e parti&lar oal, yo

+o yor re&onnaissan&e" Yo pie&e toether infor#ation abot the &o#pany, in&l+in ho- that+epart#ent or bsiness nit operates, -hat its fn&tion is, -hat infor#ation the e#ployees ha%ea&&ess to, the stan+ar+ pro&e+re for #a'in re@ests, -ho# they rotinely et re@ests fro#,



n+er -hat &on+itions they release the +esire+ infor#ation, an+ the lino an+ ter#inoloy se+ inthe &o#pany"

The so&ial:enineerin te&hni@es -or' si#ply be&ase people are %ery trstin of anyone-ho establishes &re+ibility, s&h as an athori<e+ e#ployee of the &o#pany" That0s -here theresear&h &o#es in" When I -as rea+y to et a&&ess to nonpblishe+ n#bers, I &alle+ one of the

phone &o#pany0s bsiness offi&e representati%es an+ sai+, 3This is >a'e Roberts, fro# the Non:Pb

Brea" I nee+ to tal' to a sper%isor"4When the sper%isor &a#e on the line, I intro+&e+ #yself aain an+ sai+, 3Di+ yo et or

#e#o that -e0re &hanin or n#berH4 8he -ent to &he&', &a#e ba&' on the line, an+ sai+, 3No, -e +i+n0t"4

I sai+, 3Yo shol+ be sin (* 9K:9("4 3No,4 she sai+" 3We +ial (* ():))JJ"4 Bino 3O'ay,4 I tol+ her" 3We0ll be sen+in a #e#o to a se&on+:le%el4!the phone &o#pany linofor a #anaer!3rear+in the &hane" Mean-hile 'eep on sin ():))JJ ntil yo et the#e#o"4

Bt -hen I &alle+ the Non:Pb Brea, it trne+ ot #y na#e ha+ to be on a list of

athori<e+ people, -ith an internal &allba&' n#ber, before they -ol+ release any &sto#erinfor#ation to #e" A no%i&e or inept so&ial enineer #iht ha%e 1st hn p" Ba+ ne-s6 it raisessspi&ions"

A+:libbin on the spot, I sai+, 3My #anaer tol+ #e he -as pttin #e on the list" I0ll ha%eto tell hi# yo +i+n0t et his #e#o yet"4

Another hr+le6 I -ol+ so#eho- ha%e to be able to pro%i+e a phone n#ber internal to the phone &o#pany that I &ol+ re&ei%e &alls on

I ha+ to &all three +ifferent bsiness offi&es before I fon+ one that ha+ a se&on+:le%el -ho-as a #an!so#eone I &ol+ i#personate" I tol+ hi#, 3This is To# /ansen fro# the Non:PbBrea" We0re p+atin or list of athori<e+ e#ployees" Do yo still nee+ to be on the listH4

Of &orse he sai+ yes" I then as'e+ hi# to spell his na#e an+ i%e #e his phone n#ber" Li'e ta'in &an+y fro# a

baby" My ne=t &all -as to RCMAC!the Re&ent Chane Me#ory Athori<ation Center, the phone&o#pany nit that han+le+ a++in or re#o%in &sto#er phone ser%i&es s&h as &sto#:&allinfeatres" I &alle+ posin as a #anaer fro# the bsiness offi&e" It -as easy to &on%in&e the &ler' toa++ &all for-ar+in to the #anaer0s line, sin&e the n#ber belone+ to Pa&ifi& Telephone"

In +etail, it -or'e+ li'e this6 I &alle+ a te&hni&ian in the appropriate &entral offi&e" Belie%inI -as a repair te&h in the fiel+, he &lippe+ onto the #anaer0s line sin a line#an0s han+set an++iale+ the +iits I a%e hi#, effe&ti%ely &all:for-ar+in the #anaer0s phone to a phone &o#pany3loop:aron+4 &ir&it" A loop:aron+ is a spe&ial &ir&it that has t-o n#bers asso&iate+ -ith it"

When t-o parties &all into the loop:aron+, by +ialin the respe&ti%e n#bers, they are #ai&ally 1oine+ toether as if they &alle+ ea&h other"I +iale+ into the loop:aron+ &ir&it an+ three:-aye+ in a n#ber that -ol+ 1st rin, rin,

an+ rin, so -hen Non:Pb &alle+ ba&' to the athori<e+ #anaer0s line, the &all -ol+ befor-ar+e+ to the loop:aron+, an+ the &aller -ol+ hear the rinin" I let the person hear a fe- rinsan+ then I ans-ere+, 3Pa&ifi& Telephone, 8te%e $aplan"4

At that point the person -ol+ i%e #e -hate%er Non:Pb infor#ation I -as loo'in for"Then I0+ &all ba&' the fra#e te&hni&ian an+ ha%e the &all:for-ar+in +ea&ti%ate+"

The toher the &hallene, the reater the thrill" This tri&' -or'e+ for years an+ -ol+ %eryli'ely still -or' to+ay In a series of &alls o%er a perio+ of ti#e!be&ase it -ol+ see# sspi&ios to as' Non:Pb

to loo' p the n#bers of se%eral &elebrities!I ot the phone n#bers an+ a++resses of RoerMoore, L&ille Ball, >a#es 7arner, Br&e 8prinsteen, an+ a bn&h of others" 8o#eti#es I0+ &allan+ a&tally et the person on the line, then say so#ethin li'e, 3/ey, Br&e, -hat0s pH4 No har#



+one, bt it -as e=&itin to fin+ anyone0s n#ber I -ante+"Monroe /ih offere+ a &o#pter &orse" I +i+n0t ha%e the re@ire+ #ath an+ s&ien&e &orses

to @alify, bt the tea&her, Mr" Christ pronon&e+ to rhy#e -ith 3t-ist4, sa- ho- eaer I -as,re&oni<e+ ho- #&h I ha+ alrea+y learne+ on #y o-n, an+ a+#itte+ #e" I thin' he &a#e to reretthe +e&ision6 I -as a han+fl" I ot his &o#pter pass-or+ to the s&hool +istri&t0s #ini&o#ptere%ery ti#e he &hane+ it" In +esperation, thin'in to otfo= #e, he pn&he+ ot his pass-or+ on a

pie&e of &o#pter paper tape, -hi&h -as the type of storae se+ in those pre:floppy:+ri%e +ays; he-ol+ then fee+ that throh the tape rea+er -hene%er he -ante+ to sin on" Bt he 'ept the short

pie&e of pn&he+ tape in his shirt po&'et, -here the holes -ere %isible throh the thin &loth" 8o#eof #y &lass#ates helpe+ #e fire ot the pattern of holes on the tape an+ learn his latest pass-or+e%ery ti#e he &hane+ it" /e ne%er +i+ &at&h on"

Then there -as the telephone in the &o#pter lab!the ol+ 'in+ of phone, -ith a rotary +ial"The phone -as prora##e+ for only &allin n#bers -ithin the s&hool +istri&t" I starte+ sin it to+ial into the .8C &o#pters to play &o#pter a#es, by tellin the s-it&hboar+ operator, 3This isMr" Christ" I nee+ an otsi+e line"4 When the operator starte+ to et sspi&ios after n#eros &alls,I s-it&he+ to phone:phrea'er ta&ti&s, +ialin into the phone &o#pany s-it&h an+ trnin off therestri&tion so I &ol+ 1st +ial into .8C -hene%er I -ante+" E%entally he fire+ ot that I ha+

#anae+ to #a'e nrestri&te+ otoin &alls"8oon after he pro+ly annon&e+ to the &lass ho- he -as oin to stop #e fro# +ialin into

.8C on&e an+ for all, an+ hel+ p a lo&' #a+e espe&ially for +ial telephones6 -hen lo&'e+ in pla&ein the 3*4 hole, it pre%ente+ the +ial fro# bein se+"

As soon as he ha+ the lo&' in pla&e, -ith the -hole &lass -at&hin, I pi&'e+ p the han+setan+ starte+ &li&'in the s-it&h hoo'6 nine fast &li&'s for the n#ber 34 to et an otsi+e line, se%enfast &li&'s for the n#ber 3K"4 2or &li&'s for the n#ber 3"4 Within a #inte, I -as &onne&te+ to.8C"

To #e it -as 1st a a#e of -its" Bt poor Mr" Christ ha+ been h#iliate+" /is fa&e a brihtre+, he rabbe+ the phone off the +es' an+ h*red it a&ross the &lassroo#"

Bt #ean-hile I -as tea&hin #yself abot R8T8E spo'en as 3RI8:tisEE4, the operatinsyste# #anfa&tre+ by Diital E@ip#ent Corporation DEC se+ on the s&hool0s #ini&o#pterlo&ate+ in +o-nto-n Los Aneles" The nearby Cal 8tate &a#ps at Northri+e C8.N also se+R8T8E on its &o#pters" I set p an appoint#ent -ith the &hair#an of the Co#pter 8&ien&eDepart#ent, Wes /a#pton, an+ tol+ hi#, 3I0# e=tre#ely intereste+ in learnin abot &o#pters"Col+ I by an a&&ont to se the &o#pters hereH4

3No, they0re only for or reistere+ st+ents"4 7i%in p easily isn0t one of #y &hara&ter traits" 3At #y hih s&hool, the &o#pter lab shts+o-n at the en+ of the s&hool +ay, three o0&lo&'" Col+ yo set p a prora# so the hih s&hool&o#pter st+ents &ol+ learn on yor &o#ptersH4

/e trne+ #e +o-n bt &alle+ #e soon after" 3We0%e +e&i+e+ to i%e yo per#ission to se

or &o#pters,4 he sai+" 3We &an0t i%e yo an a&&ont be&ase yo0re not a st+ent, so I0%e+e&i+e+ to let yo se #y personal a&&ont" The a&&ont is J,0 an+ the pass-or+ is Wes"0 4This #an -as &hair#an of the Co#pter 8&ien&e Depart#ent, an+ that -as his i+ea of a

se&re pass-or+!his first na#eH 8o#e se&rityI starte+ tea&hin #yself the 2ortran an+ Basi& prora##in lanaes" After only a fe-

-ee's of &o#pter &lass, I -rote a prora# to steal people0s pass-or+s6 a st+ent tryin to sin onsa- -hat loo'e+ li'e the fa#iliar loin banner bt -as a&tally #y prora# #as@era+in as theoperatin syste#, +esine+ to tri&' sers into enterin their a&&ont an+ pass-or+ si#ilar to

phishin atta&'s to+ay" A&tally, one of the C8.N lab #onitors ha+ i%en #e a han+ +ebin#y &o+e!they thoht it -as a lar' that this hih s&hooler ha+ fire+ ot ho- to steal pass-or+s"On&e the little prora# -as p an+ rnnin on the ter#inals in the lab, -hene%er a st+ent loe+

in, his or her serna#e an+ pass-or+ -ere se&retly re&or+e+ in a file"WhyH My frien+s an+ I thoht it -ol+ be &ool to et e%eryone0s pass-or+" There -as no

sinister plan, 1st &olle&tin infor#ation for the hell of it" >st be&ase" It -as another of those



&hallenes I repeate+ly pt to #yself throhot the entire early part of #y life, fro# the ti#e I sa-#y first #ai& tri&'" Col+ I learn to +o tri&'s li'e thatH Col+ I learn to fool peopleH Col+ I ain

po-ers I -asn0t sppose+ to ha%eH8o#eti#e later one of the lab #onitors ratte+ #e ot to the syste# a+#inistrator" Ne=t thin

I 'ne-, three &a#ps poli&e offi&ers stor#e+ the &o#pter lab" They hel+ #e ntil #y #o# &a#eto pi&' #e p"

The +epart#ent &hair#an, -ho ha+ i%en #e per#ission to se the lab an+ let #e lo in onhis o-n a&&ont, -as frios" Bt there -asn0t #&h he &ol+ +o6 in those +ays, there -ere no&o#pter la-s on the boo's so there -as nothin to &hare #e -ith" 8till, #y pri%ilees -ere&an&ele+, an+ I -as or+ere+ to stay off the &a#ps"

My #o# -as tol+, 3Ne=t #onth a ne- California la- oes into effe&t #a'in -hat $e%in is+oin a &ri#e"4 The ."8" Conress -ol+n0t et aron+ to passin a fe+eral la- abot &o#pter&ri#e for another for years, bt a litany of #y a&ti%ities -ol+ be se+ to &on%in&e Conress to

pass the ne- la-"In any &ase, I -asn0t pt off by the threat" Not lon after that %isit, I fon+ a -ay to +i%ert

&alls to Dire&tory Assistan&e fro# people in Rho+e Islan+, so the &alls -ol+ &o#e to #e instea+"/o- +o yo ha%e fn -ith people -ho are tryin to et a phone n#berH A typi&al &all in one of

#y rotines -ent li'e this6Me6 What &ity, pleaseH

Caller6 Pro%i+en&e" Me6 What is the na#e, pleaseH Caller6 >ohn Norton" Me6 Is this a bsiness or a resi+en&eH Caller6 Resi+en&e" Me6 The n#ber is 9, J one:half 99" At this point the &aller -as sally either baffle+ or in+inant" Caller6 /o- +o I +ial one:halfH Me6 7o pi&' p a ne- phone that has h:half on it" The rea&tions I ot -ere hilarios" In those +ays, t-o separate phone &o#panies ser%e+ +ifferent parts of the Los Aneles area"7eneral Telephone an+ Ele&troni&s Corporation 7TE ser%e+ the northern part of the 8an 2ernan+o5alley, -here -e li%e+; any &alls o%er t-el%e #iles -ere &hare+ at a lon:+istan&e rate" Of &orse I+i+n0t -ant to rn p #y #o#0s phone bill, so I -as #a'in so#e &alls sin a lo&al ha# ra+ioato pat&h"

One +ay on the air I ha+ heate+ -or+s -ith the &ontrol operator of the repeater o%er -hat helabele+ 3-eir+ &alls4 I -as #a'in" /e ha+ noti&e+ I -as relarly 'eyin in a lon series of +iits-hen I -as sin the ato pat&h" I -asn0t abot to e=plain that those +iits I -as enterin allo-e+#e to #a'e free lon:+istan&e &alls throh a lon:+istan&e pro%i+er &alle+ MCI" Thoh he ha+ no

&le abot -hat I -as a&tally +oin, he +i+n0t li'e the fa&t that I -as sin the ato pat&h in astrane -ay" A y listenin in &onta&te+ #e after-ar+ on the air, sai+ his na#e -as Le-is DePayne, an+ a%e #e his phone n#ber" I &alle+ hi# that e%enin" Le-is sai+ he -as intrie+ by-hat I -as +oin"

We #et an+ be&a#e frien+s, a relationship that laste+ for t-o +e&a+es" Of Arentineanheritae, Le-is -as thin an+ ee'y, -ith short:&roppe+ bla&' hair, sli&'e+ +o-n an+ brshe+straiht ba&', an+ sportin a #sta&he that he probably thoht #a+e hi# loo' ol+er" On ha&'in

pro1e&ts, Le-is -as the y I -ol+ &o#e to trst #ost in the -orl+, thoh he &a#e -ith a personality fille+ -ith &ontra+i&tions" 5ery polite, bt al-ays tryin to ha%e the pper han+" Ner+y,-ith his ot:of:fashion &lothin &hoi&e of trtlene&'s an+ -i+e:botto#e+ trosers, yet -ith all theso&ial ra&es" Lo-:'ey yet arroant"

Le-is an+ I ha+ si#ilar senses of h#or" I thin' any hobby that +oesn0t pro%i+e so#e fnan+ a fe- lahs no- an+ then probably isn0t -orth the ti#e an+ effort yo pt into it" Le-is an+ I-ere on the sa#e -a%elenth" Li'e or 3M&Donal+0s ha&'s"4 We fon+ ot ho- to #o+ify a t-o:



#eter ra+io so -e &ol+ #a'e or %oi&es &o#e ot of the spea'er -here &sto#ers pla&e+ theiror+ers at the +ri%e:throh of a fast:foo+ restarant" We0+ hea+ o%er to a M&Donal+0s, par' nearby-here -e &ol+ -at&h the a&tion -ithot bein noti&e+, an+ tne the han+hel+ ra+io to therestarant0s fre@en&y"

A &op &ar -ol+ pll in to the +ri%e:throh lane, an+ -hen it ot p to the spea'er, Le-isor I -ol+ annon&e, 3I0# sorry" We +on0t ser%e &ops here" Yo0ll ha%e to o to >a&' in the Bo="4

On&e a -o#an plle+ p an+ hear+ the %oi&e o%er the spea'er #ine tell her, 38ho- #e yortitties, an+ yor Bi Ma& is free4 8he +i+n0t ta'e it -ell" 8he trne+ off the &ar, rabbe+ so#ethinot of her trn', an+ ran insi+e? -iel+in a baseball bat"

3Co#pli#entary apple 1i&e4 -as one of #y fa%orite as" After a &sto#er pla&e+ an or+er,-e0+ e=plain that or i&e #a&hine -as bro'en, so -e -ere i%in a-ay free 1i&e" 3We0%e otrapefrit, orane, an+? oh, sorry, loo's li'e -e0re ot of rapefrit an+ orane" Wol+ yo li'eapple 1i&eH4 When the &sto#er sai+ yes, -e0+ play a re&or+in of so#eone peein into a &p,then say, 3O'ay" Yor apple 1i&e is rea+y" Please +ri%e for-ar+ to the -in+o- an+ pi&' it p"4

We thoht it -ol+ be fnny if -e +ro%e people a little nts by #a'in it i#possible to pla&e their or+er" Ta'in o%er the spea'er, ea&h ti#e a &sto#er plle+ p an+ pla&e+ an or+er, afrien+ of ors -ol+ repeat the or+er, bt in a stron /in+i a&&ent -ith har+ly a -or+

n+erstan+able" The &sto#er -ol+ say he &ol+n0t n+erstan+, an+ or frien+ -ol+ sayso#ethin else 1st as i#possible to n+erstan+, o%er an+ o%er!+ri%in &sto#ers &ra<y, one afterthe other"

The best part -as that e%erythin -e sai+ at the +ri%e:throh also blare+ ot o%er thespea'er otsi+e, bt the e#ployees &ol+n0t o%erri+e it" 8o#eti#es -e0+ -at&h the &sto#erssittin otsi+e at the tables, eatin their brers an+ lahin" No one &ol+ fire ot -hat -asoin on"

One ti#e, a #anaer &a#e ot to see -ho -as #essin -ith the spea'er" /e lan&e+ aron+the par'in lot, s&rat&hin his hea+" There -as no one aron+" The &ars -ere e#pty" No one -ashi+in behin+ the sin" /e -al'e+ o%er to the spea'er an+ leane+ in &lose, s@intin, as if hee=pe&te+ to see a tiny person insi+e"

4&hat the $*ck are yo* ooking at56 I shote+ in a raspy %oi&e"/e #st0%e 1#pe+ ba&' ten feet

8o#eti#es -hen -e -ere playin these pran's, the people -ho li%e+ in the apart#entsnearby -ol+ stan+ on their bal&onies, lahin" E%en people on the si+e-al' -ere in stit&hes"Le-is an+ I a&tally broht frien+s alon -ith s se%eral ti#es, be&ase it -as so hilarios"

O'ay, &hil+ish, bt I -as only si=teen or se%enteen at the ti#e" 8o#e of #y es&apa+es -eren0t @ite as inno&ent" I ha+ a personal rle abot not enterinany phone &o#pany fa&ilities, te#ptin thoh it -ol+ be to a&tally ain a&&ess to the syste#san+ #aybe rea+ so#e phone &o#pany te&hni&al #anals" Bt, as they say, it -as less li'e a rle for#e than a i+eline"

One niht in **, -hen I -as se%enteen, I -as hanin ot -ith another phone:phrea'er b++y, 8te%en Rhoa+es" We +e&i+e+ to snea' into Pa&ifi& Telephone0s 8nset:7o-er &entral offi&e,in /olly-oo+" 8in&e -e -ere alrea+y phone phrea'in, strollin into the phone &o#pany in #erson

-as the lti#ate ha&'" A&&ess -as by pressin the riht &o+e n#bers on the otsi+e +oor0s 'eypa+,an+ -e so&ial:enineere+ the &o+e -ithot a proble#, lettin s -al' riht in"

My 7o+!ho- e=&itin 2or s, it -as the lti#ate playron+" Bt -hat shol+ -e loo'forH A lare #an in a se&rity ar+0s nifor# -as #a'in his ron+s of the bil+in an+ &a#epon s" /e -as bilt li'e a niht&lb bon&er or an N2L line#an!%ery inti#i+atin" >st stan+in@ietly, han+s at his si+es, he &ol+ s&are the pants off yo" Yet so#eho-, the tihter the sitation,the &al#er I see# to et"

I +i+n0t really loo' ol+ enoh to pass for a fll:ti#e e#ployee" Bt I +i%e+ in any-ay"3/i,4 I sai+" 3/o-0re yo tonihtH4 /e sai+, 32ine, sir" May I see yor &o#pany ID ba+es pleaseH4



I &he&'e+ #y po&'ets" 3Da#n" I #st ha%e left it in the &ar" I0ll 1st o et it"4 /e -asn0t ha%in any of that" 3No, yo0re both &o#in pstairs -ith #e,4 he sai+" We +i+n0t are" /e brins s to the 8-it&hin Control Center on the ninth floor, -here other e#ployees are-or'in"

(eart #o*nding. %hest heaving "

A &ople of s-it&h te&hs &o#e o%er to see -hat0s oin on" I0# thin'in that #y only optionis to try to otrn the rent:a:&op, bt I 'no- there0s sli# &han&e of ettin a-ay" I0# +esperate" Itfeels li'e there0s nothin bet-een #e an+ 1ail bt #y so&ial:enineerin s'ills"

By no- I 'no- enoh na#es an+ titles at Pa&ifi& Telephone to try a ploy" I e=plain, 3I -or'at the CO8MO8 in 8an Dieo, an+ I0# 1st sho-in a frien+ -hat a &entral offi&e loo's li'e" Yo&an &all #y sper%isor an+ &he&' #e ot"4 An+ I i%e hi# the na#e of a CO8MO8 sper%isor"Than' 7o+ for a oo+ #e#ory, yet I 'no- -e +on0t loo' li'e -e belon there, an+ the story isla#e"

The ar+ loo's p the sper%isor0s na#e in the inter&o#pany +ire&tory, fin+s her ho#e phone n#ber, an+ pla&es the &all" "ing, ring, ring " /e starts -ith an apoloy for &allin so late an+e=plains the sitation"

I say, 3Let #e tal' to her"4 /e han+s #e the phone, -hi&h I press har+ aainst #y ear, prayin he -on0t be able to hearher %oi&e" I a+:lib so#ethin alon the lines of, 3>+y, I0# really sorry abot this!I -as i%in #yfrien+ a tor of the s-it&hin &enter an+ left #y &o#pany ID &ar+ in the &ar" The se&rity ar+ is

1st %erifyin I0# fro# the CO8MO8 &enter in 8an Dieo" I hope yo -on0t hol+ this aainst #e"4I pase a fe- beats, as if listenin to her" 8he0s rantin" 3Who is thisH Do I 'no- yoH What

are yo +oin thereH4I start in aain" 3It -as 1st that I ha+ to be here in the #ornin any-ay, for the #eetin on

that ne- trainin #anal" An+ I ha%e a re%ie- session -ith >i# on Mon+ay at ele%en, in &ase yo-ant to +rop in" Yo an+ I are still ha%in ln&h on Tes+ay, rihtH4

Another pase" 8he0s still rantin" 38re" 8orry aain for +istrbin yo,4 I say" An+ then I han p" The ar+ an+ s-it&h te&hs loo' &onfse+; they -ere e=pe&tin #e to han+ the phone ba&'to the se&rity ar+ so she &ol+ tell hi# it -as o'ay" Yo &ol+ 1st see the loo' on the ar+0sfa&e6 Di+ he +are +istrb her a second ti#eH

I tell hi#, 38he sre -as pset at bein -o'en p at t-o thirty in the #ornin"4Then I say, 3There0s 1st a &ople other thins I -ant to sho- #y frien+" I0ll only be another

ten #intes"4 I -al' ot, Rhoa+es follo-in &lose behin+" Ob%iosly I -ant to rn bt 'no- I &an0t"

We rea&h the ele%ator" I ban the btton for the ron+ floor" We sih -ith relief -hen -eet ot of the bil+in, s&are+ shitless be&ase it -as s&h a &lose &all, happy to be ot of there"Bt I 'no- -hat0s happenin" The la+y is &allin aron+ +esperately, tryin to fin+

so#ebo+y -ho 'no-s ho- to et the phone n#ber for the ar+0s +es' at the 8nset:7o-er CO,in the #i++le of the niht"

We et to the &ar" I +ri%e a blo&' a-ay -ithot trnin on #y hea+lihts" I stop an+ -e sitthere, -at&hin the front +oor of the bil+in"

After abot ten #intes, the brly ar+ &o#es ot, loo'in aron+ in e%ery +ire&tion bt'no-in +a#ne+ -ell -e0re lon one" Of &orse, he0s -ron"

I -ait ntil he oes ba&' insi+e, then +ri%e a-ay, trnin on #y hea+lihts after ron+inthe first &orner"

That -as too &lose" If he ha+ &alle+ the &ops, the &hare -ol+ ha%e been brea'in an+enterin, or e%en -orse, brlary" 8te%e an+ I -ol+ ha%e been hea+e+ to >%enile /all"

I -ol+n0t be oin ba&' into a telephone &o#pany fa&ility aain anyti#e soon, bt I -as



'een to fin+ so#ethin else!so#ethin bi!to &hallene #y inenity"



THREE



Oigina& "in

Nyrk gr))n$i* *1* 7 01mv k$ )vk g re rtt$ek $e Kyv "i

After I fire+ ot ho- to obtain npblishe+ n#bers, fin+in ot infor#ation abot

people!frien+s, frien+s of frien+s, tea&hers, e%en straners!hel+ a fas&ination for #e" TheDepart#ent of Motor 5ehi&les is a reat storehose of infor#ation" Was there any -ay I &ol+ tapitH

2or openers, I si#ply &alle+ a DM5 offi&e fro# the pay phone in a restarant an+ sai+so#ethin li'e, 3This is Offi&er Ca#pbell, LAPD, 5an Nys station" Or &o#pters are +o-n, an+so#e offi&ers in the fiel+ nee+ a &ople of pie&es of infor#ation" Can yo help #eH4

The la+y at the DM5 sai+, 3Why aren0t yo &allin on the la- enfor&e#ent lineH4 Oh, o'ay!there -as a separate phone n#ber for &ops to &all" /o- &ol+ I fin+ ot then#berH Well, ob%iosly the &ops at the poli&e station -ol+ ha%e it, bt? -as I really oin to&all the poli&e station to et infor#ation that -ol+ help #e brea' the la-H Oh, yeah"

Pla&in a &all to the nearest station hose, I sai+ I -as fro# the Los Aneles Conty8heriff0s Depart#ent, -e nee+e+ to &all the DM5, an+ the offi&er -ho ha+ the n#ber for the la-enfor&e#ent +es' -as ot" I nee+e+ the operator to i%e #e the n#ber" Whi&h she +i+" >st li'ethat"

As I -as re&ontin this story re&ently, I thoht I still re#e#bere+ that DM5 la-enfor&e#ent phone n#ber or &ol+ still et it" I pi&'e+ p the phone an+ +iale+" The DM5 has aCentre= phone syste#, so all the n#bers ha%e the sa#e area &o+e an+ prefi=6 *9:9JK" Only the

e=tension n#ber!the last for +iits!%aries by +epart#ent" I 1st &hose those last +iits atran+o#, 'no-in I0+ et someody at the DM5, an+ I0+ ha%e &re+ibility be&ase I -as &allin aninternal n#ber"

The la+y -ho ans-ere+ sai+ so#ethin I +i+n0t et" I sai+, 3Is this the n#ber for la- enfor&e#entH4 8he sai+, 3No"4 3I #st ha%e +iale+ -ron,4 I sai+" 3What0s the n#ber for la- enfor&e#entH4 8he a%e it to #e After all these years, they still ha%en0t learne+" After phonin the DM50s la- enfor&e#ent line, I fon+ there -as a se&on+ le%el of

prote&tion" I nee+e+ a 3Re@ester Co+e"4 As in the past, I nee+e+ to &o#e p -ith a &o%er story onthe spr of the #o#ent" Ma'in #y %oi&e son+ an=ios, I tol+ the &ler', 3We0%e 1st ha+ an rentsitation &o#e p here, I0ll ha%e to &all yo ba&'"4

Callin the 5an Nys LAPD station, I &lai#e+ to be fro# the DM5 an+ sai+ I -as&o#pilin a ne- +atabase" 3Is yor Re@ester Co+e 9K(H4

3No, it0s 9("4 That0s a tri&' I0%e +is&o%ere+ %ery often -or's" If yo as' for a pie&e of sensiti%einfor#ation, people natrally ro- i##e+iately sspi&ios" If yo preten+ yo alrea+y ha%e theinfor#ation an+ i%e the# so#ethin that0s -ron, they0ll fre@ently &orre&t yo!re-ar+in yo-ith the pie&e of infor#ation yo -ere loo'in for"

With a fe- #intes0 -orth of phone &alls, I ha+ set #yself p for ettin the +ri%er0s li&ensen#ber an+ ho#e a++ress of anyone in the state of California, or rnnin a li&ense plate an+ ettin

the +etails s&h as the o-ner0s na#e an+ a++ress, or rnnin a person0s na#e an+ ettin +etailsabot his or her &ar reistration" At the ti#e it -as 1st a test of #y s'ills; in the years ahea+ theDM5 -ol+ be a ri&h lo+e that I -ol+ se in #yria+ -ays"



All these e=tra tools I -as a&&#latin -ere li'e the s-eet at the en+ of a #eal" The #ain&orse -as still #y phone phrea'in" I -as &allin a lot of +ifferent Pa&ifi& Telephone an+ 7eneralTelephone +epart#ents, &olle&tin infor#ation to satisfy that 3What infor#ation &an I etH4 re,#a'in &alls to bil+ #y 'no-le+e ban' of the &o#panies0 +epart#ents, pro&e+res, an+ lino an+rotin #y &alls throh so#e lon:+istan&e &arriers to #a'e the# har+er to tra&e" Most of thisfro# #y #o#0s phone in or &on+o#ini#"

Of &orse phrea'ers li'e to s&ore points by sho-in other phrea'ers -hat ne- thinsthey0%e learne+ ho- to +o" I lo%e+ pllin pran's on frien+s, phrea'ers or not" One +ay I ha&'e+into the phone &o#pany s-it&h ser%in the area -here #y b++y 8te%e Rhoa+es li%e+ -ith hisran+#other, &hanin the 3line &lass &o+e4 fro# resi+ential to pay phone" When he or hisran+#other trie+ to pla&e a &all, they -ol+ hear, 3Please +eposit ten &ents"4 Of &orse he 'ne--ho ha+ +one it, an+ &alle+ to &o#plain" I pro#ise+ to n+o it, an+ I +i+, bt &hane+ the ser%i&e toa prison pay phone" No- -hen they trie+ to #a'e a &all, an operator -ol+ &o#e on the line an+say, 3This -ill be a &olle&t &all" What is yor na#e, please"4 8te%e &alle+ to say, 35ery fnny! &hane it ba&'"4 I ha+ #y lahs; I &hane+ it ba&'"

Phone phrea'ers ha+ +is&o%ere+ a -ay to #a'e free phone &alls, ta'in a+%antae of a fla-in so#e types of 3+i%erters4!+e%i&es that -ere se+ to pro%i+e &all for-ar+in for e=a#ple, to an

ans-erin ser%i&e in the +ays before &all for-ar+in -as offere+ by the phone &o#panies" A phrea'er -ol+ &all at an hor -hen he 'ne- the bsiness -ol+ be &lose+" When the ans-erinser%i&e pi&'e+ p, he -ol+ as' so#ethin li'e, 3What hors are yo openH4 When the person -hoha+ ans-ere+ +is&onne&te+ the line, the phrea'er -ol+ stay on; after a fe- #o#ents, the +ial tone-ol+ be hear+" The phrea'er &ol+ then +ial a &all to any-here in the -orl+, free!-ith the&hares oin to the bsiness"

The +i%erter &ol+ also be se+ to re&ei%e in&o#in &alls for &all:ba&'s +rin a so&ial:enineerin atta&'" In another approa&h -ith the +i%erter, the phrea'er +iale+ the 3ato#ati& n#beri+entifi&ation,4 or ANI n#ber, se+ by phone &o#pany te&hni&ians, an+ in this -ay learne+ the

phone n#ber for the otoin +i%erter line" On&e the n#ber -as 'no-n, the phrea'er &ol+ i%eot the n#ber as 3his4 &allba&'" To ans-er the line, the phrea'er 1st &alle+ the bsiness0s #ainn#ber that +i%erte+ the &all" Bt this ti#e, -hen the +i%erter pi&'e+ p the se&on+ line to &all theans-erin ser%i&e, it effe&ti%ely ans-ere+ the in&o#in &all"

I se+ this -ay of tal'in -ith #y frien+ 8te%e late one niht" /e ans-ere+ sin the+i%erter line belonin to a &o#pany &alle+ Prestie Coffee 8hop in the 8an 2ernan+o 5alley"

We -ere tal'in abot phone phrea'in stff -hen s++enly a %oi&e interrpte+ or&on%ersation" 3We are #onitorin,4 the straner sai+" 8te%e an+ I both hn p i##e+iately" We ot ba&' on a +ire&t &onne&tion, lahin at thetelephone &o#pany0s pny atte#pt to s&are s, tal'in abot -hat i+iots the people -ho -or'e+

there -ere" The sa#e %oi&e interrpte+ aain6 4&e are sti monitoring56 Who -ere the i+iots no-H 8o#eti#e later, #y #o# re&ei%e+ a letter fro# 7eneral Telephone, follo-e+ by an in:

person %isit fro# Don Moo+y, the hea+ of 8e&rity for the &o#pany, -ho -arne+ her that if I +i+n0tstop -hat I -as +oin, 7TE -ol+ ter#inate or telephone ser%i&e for fra+ an+ abse" Mo# -assho&'e+ an+ pset by the i+ea of losin or phone ser%i&e" An+ Moo+y -asn0t 'i++in" When I&ontine+ #y phrea'in, 7TE +i+ ter#inate or ser%i&e" I tol+ #y #o# not to -orry, I ha+ an i+ea"

The phone &o#pany asso&iate+ ea&h phone line -ith a spe&ifi& a++ress" Or ter#inate+ phone -as assine+ to .nit *" My soltion -as pretty lo-:te&h6 I -ent +o-n to the har+-are storean+ sorte+ throh the &olle&tion of letters an+ n#bers that yo ta&' p on yor front +oor" When Iot ba&' to the &on+o, I too' +o-n the 3*4 an+ naile+ p 3*(B4 in its pla&e"

Then I &alle+ 7TE an+ as'e+ for the +epart#ent that han+le+ pro%isionin" I e=plaine+ thata ne- nit, *(B, -as bein a++e+ to the &on+o#ini# &o#ple= an+ as'e+ the# to a+1st theirre&or+s a&&or+inly" They sai+ it -ol+ ta'e t-enty:for to forty:eiht hors to p+ate the syste#"



I -aite+" When I &alle+ ba&', I sai+ I -as the ne- tenant in *(B an+ -ol+ li'e to or+er phoneser%i&e" The -o#an at the phone &o#pany as'e+ -hat na#e I0+ li'e the n#ber liste+ n+er"

3>i# Bon+,4 I sai+" 3.h, no? -hy not #a'e that #y leal na#eH >a#es"4 3>a#es Bon+,4 she repeate+, #a'in nothin of it!e%en -hen I pai+ an e=tra fee to &hoose#y o-n n#ber6 J:J? 889 "

After the phone -as installe+, I too' +o-n the 3*(B4 otsi+e or +oor an+ repla&e+ it -ith3*4 aain" It -as se%eral -ee's before so#ebo+y at 7TE &aht on an+ sht the ser%i&e +o-n"

Years later I -ol+ learn that this -as -hen 7TE starte+ a file on #e" I -as se%enteen yearsol+" Abot the sa#e ti#e, I ot to 'no- a #an na#e+ Da%e $o#pel, -ho -as probably in his#i+t-enties bt ha+ not otro-n teenae a&ne that -as so ba+ it +isfire+ his appearan&e" In&hare of #aintainin the Los Aneles .nifie+ 8&hool Distri&t0s PDP:**K) #ini&o#pter rnninthe R8T8E operatin syste#, he!alon -ith a n#ber of his frien+s!possesse+ &o#pter'no-le+e I hihly pri<e+" Eaer to be a+#itte+ into their &ir&le so they -ol+ share infor#ation-ith #e, I #a+e #y &ase to Da%e an+ one of his frien+s, Neal 7ol+s#ith" Neal -as an e=tre#elyobese y -ith short hair -ho appeare+ to be &o++le+ by his -ealthy parents" /is life see#e+ to be

fo&se+ only on foo+ an+ &o#pters" Neal tol+ #e they0+ aree+ to allo- #e into their &ir&le, bt I ha+ to pro%e #yself first"

They -ante+ a&&ess to a &o#pter syste# &alle+ 3the Ar',4 -hi&h -as the syste# at DiitalE@ip#ent se+ by the +e%elop#ent rop for R8T8E" /e tol+ #e, 3If yo &an ha&' into the Ar',-e0ll fire yo0re oo+ enoh for s to share infor#ation -ith"4 An+ to et #e starte+, Nealalrea+y ha+ a +ial:p n#ber that he ha+ been i%en by a frien+ -ho -or'e+ on the R8T8EDe%elop#ent Tea#"

/e a%e #e that &hallene be&ase he 'ne- there -as no -ay in the -orl+ I0+ be able to +oit" Maybe it really -as i#possible, bt I sre -as oin to try" The #o+e# n#ber broht p a loon banner on the Ar', bt of &orse yo ha+ to enter a%ali+ a&&ont n#ber an+ pass-or+" /o- &ol+ I et those &re+entialsH

I ha+ a plan I thoht #iht -or', bt to et starte+ I -ol+ nee+ to 'no- the na#e of asyste# a+#inistrator!not so#eone in the +e%elop#ent rop itself bt one of the people -ho#anae+ the internal &o#pter syste#s at Diital" I &alle+ the s-it&hboar+ for the fa&ility inMerri#a&', Ne- /a#pshire, -here the Ar' -as lo&ate+, an+ as'e+ to be &onne&te+ to the &o#pterroo#"

3Whi&h oneH4 the s-it&hboar+ la+y as'e+" Oops" I ha+n0t e%er thoht to resear&h -hi&h lab the Ar' -as in" I sai+, 32or R8T8E+e%elop#ent"4

3Oh, yo #ean the raise+:floor lab" I0ll &onne&t yo"4 Lare &o#pter syste#s -ere often

#onte+ on raise+ floors so all the hea%y:+ty &ablin &ol+ be rn n+erneath"A la+y &a#e on the line" I -as ta'in a a#ble, bt they -ol+n0t be able to tra&e the &all,so e%en if they ot sspi&ios, I ha+ little to lose"

3Is the PDP:**K) for the Ar' lo&ate+ in this labH4 I as'e+, i%in the na#e of the #ost po-erfl DEC #ini&o#pter of the ti#e, -hi&h I fire+ the +e%elop#ent rop -ol+ ha%e to besin"

8he assre+ #e it -as" 3This is Anton Chernoff,4 I bra<enly &lai#e+" Chernoff -as one of the 'ey +e%elopers onthe R8T8E De%elop#ent Tea#, so I -as ta'in a bi ris' that she -ol+n0t be fa#iliar -ith his%oi&e" 3I0# ha%in troble loin in to one of #y a&&onts on the Ar'"4

3Yo0ll ha%e to &onta&t >erry Co%ert"4

I as'e+ for his e=tension; she +i+n0t hesitate to i%e it to #e, an+ -hen I rea&he+ hi#, I sai+,3/ey, >erry, this is Anton,4 firin that e%en if he +i+n0t 'no- Chernoff personally, he -as al#ost&ertain to 'no- the na#e"



3/ey, ho-0re yo +oinH4 he ans-ere+ 1o%ially, ob%iosly not fa#iliar enoh -ithChernoff in person to 'no- that I +i+n0t son+ li'e hi#"

3O'ay,4 I sai+, 3bt +i+ yo ys +elete one of #y a&&ontsH I &reate+ an a&&ont for testinso#e &o+e last -ee', an+ no- I &an0t lo in"4 /e as'e+ -hat the a&&ont lo:in -as"

I 'ne- fro# e=perien&e that n+er R8T8E, a&&ont n#bers -ere a &o#bination of the pro1e&t n#ber an+ the prora##er n#ber, s&h as *,**!ea&h n#ber rnnin p to (J"

Pri%ilee+ a&&onts al-ays ha+ the pro1e&t n#ber of *" An+ I ha+ +is&o%ere+ that the R8T8EDe%elop#ent Tea# se+ prora##er n#bers startin at ())"

I tol+ >erry that #y test a&&ont -as 3*,**,4 &rossin #y finers that it -asn0t assine+ toanyone" It -as a l&'y ess" /e &he&'e+ an+ tol+ #e there -asn0t any *,** a&&ont" 3Da#n,4 Ians-ere+" 38o#ebo+y #st ha%e re#o%e+ it" Can yo re:&reate it for #eH4

What Chernoff -ante+, Chernoff ot" 3No proble#,4 >erry sai+" 3What pass-or+ +o yo-antH4 I spotte+ a 1ar of stra-berry 1elly in the 'it&hen &abinet a&ross fro# #e" I tol+ hi#, 3Ma'e it1elly"0 4

In har+ly #ore than a blin', he sai+, 3O'ay, all +one"4

I -as stoked , the a+renaline rnnin hih" I &ol+ har+ly belie%e it &ol+0%e been so easy"Bt -ol+ it really -or'H

2ro# #y &o#pter, I &alle+ the +ial:in n#ber #y -ol+:be #entor Neal ha+ i%en #e"The &all &onne&te+ an+ this te=t appeare+6 R8T8 5K"):)K The Ar' >ob (J $B( )J:>l:) **6*K AM Q *,** Pass-or+6 Dialp pass-or+6 Da#n, +a#n, +a#n" I +iale+ >erry Co%ert ba&', aain as Chernoff" 3/ey, I0# +ialin in fro#ho#e, an+ it0s as'in for a +ial:p pass-or+"4

3Yo +i+n0t et it in yor e#ailH It0s bffoon"0 4 I trie+ aain an+ - was in5

Before anythin else, I starte+ rabbin all the pass-or+s for the ys in the +e%elop#enttea#" When I ot toether -ith Neal, I tol+ hi#, 37ettin into the Ar' -as a snap" I ha%e e%eryR8T8E +e%eloper0s pass-or+"4 /e rolle+ his eyes -ith an e=pression that sai+, &hat/s this g*y

een smoking

/e +iale+ the #o+e# n#ber an+ ot to the Ar'0s lo:in banner" Tellin hi# to 3#o%eo%er,4 I type+ the lo:on &re+entials an+ ot the 3Rea+y4 pro#pt"

38atisfie+, NealH4 I as'e+" /e &ol+n0t belie%e -hat he -as seein" It -as li'e I ha+ sho-n hi# a -innin lottery

ti&'et" After they ha+ pi&'e+ #y brain for +etails of ho- I ha+ aine+ a&&ess, Neal, Da%e, an+ a fe-other frien+s -ent to a &o#pany &alle+ P8I near Cl%er City, -here they ha+ the ne-est, fastest#o+e#s, rnnin at *,()) ba+!for ti#es as fast as the )):ba+ #o+e#s the rest of s ha+" Theys starte+ +o-nloa+in the R8T8E sor&e &o+e"

The ol+ a+ae says there0s no honor a#on thie%es" Instea+ of ta'in #e into their&onfi+en&e an+ sharin infor#ation, they +o-nloa+e+ the sor&e &o+e for R8T8E an+ 'ept it tothe#sel%es"

I learne+ later that these bastar+s a&tally &alle+ DEC an+ tol+ the# the Ar' ha+ beenha&'e+, an+ a%e my na#e as the ha&'er" Total betrayal" I ha+ no sspi&ion these ys -ol+ +rea#of snit&hin on #e, espe&ially -hen they ha+ reape+ s&h ri&h re-ar+s" It -as the first ti#e of #anyinstan&es to &o#e -hen the people I trste+ -ol+ betray #e"

At se%enteen, I -as still in hih s&hool bt +e+i&ate+ to -or'in on -hat #iht be &alle+ aPhD in R8T8E ha&'in" I -ol+ fin+ tarets by &he&'in -ant a+s for &o#panies loo'in to hire a&o#pter person e=perien&e+ -ith R8T8E" I0+ &all, &lai#in to be fro# DEC 2iel+ 8pport, an+



-as sally able to tal' a syste# a+#inistrator into re%ealin +ial:p n#bers an+ pri%ilee+a&&ont pass-or+s"

In De&e#ber *), I ran into a 'i+ na#e+ Mi&ah /irs&h#an, -hose father happene+ to ha%ean a&&ont -ith a &o#pany &alle+ Bloo+sto&' Resear&h, -hi&h se+ a R8T8E syste#; I ass#e the&o#pany 'ept histori&al re&or+s on the bloo+lines of ra&ehorses for bree+ers an+ bettors" I se+ the/irs&h#an a&&ont to &onne&t to Bloo+sto&' Resear&h so I &ol+ e=ploit a se&rity fla- an+ ain

a&&ess to a pri%ilee+ a&&ont, then Mi&ah an+ I playe+ -ith the operatin syste# to tea&h orsel%esabot it, basi&ally for 'i&'s"

The episo+e ble- p in or fa&es" Mi&ah loe+ in late one niht -ithot #e, an+Bloo+sto&' spotte+ the brea':in an+ alerte+ the 2BI, tellin the# that the atta&' ha+ been throhthe /irs&h#an a&&ont" The 2e+s pai+ Mr" /irs&h#an a %isit" /e +enie+ 'no-in anythin abotthe atta&'" When they pressre+ hi#, he finere+ his son" Mi&ah finere+ #e"

I -as in #y be+roo# on the se&on+ floor of or &on+o, online, ha&'in into the Pa&ifi&Telephone s-it&hes o%er a +ial:p #o+e#" /earin a 'no&' at the front +oor, I opene+ #y -in+o-an+ &alle+ +o-n, 3Who is itH4 The ans-er -as one that I -ol+ &o#e to ha%e niht#ares abot63Robin Bro-n, 2BI"4

My heart bean pon+in"

Mo# &alle+ to #e, 3Who is itH4 3A #an -ho says he0s fro# the 2BI,4 I &alle+ ba&'" Mo# 1st lahe+" 8he +i+n0t 'no- -ho it -as bt she +i+n0t thin' it &ol+ possibly be the2BI" I -as in a pani&, alrea+y hanin p the phone fro# the &o#pter #o+e# &ra+le an+stashin n+er the be+ the TI:K)) &o#pter ter#inal Le-is De Payne ha+ lent #e for a fe- -ee's"Ba&' then, before the +ays of the personal &o#pter, all I ha+ -as a ter#inal an+ a #o+e# that I-as sin to &onne&t to a syste# at a &o#pany or ni%ersity" No &o#pter #onitor6 the responses to#y &o##an+s -ol+ print ot on a lon roll of ther#al paper"

I -as flashin on the fa&t that I ha+ a ton of that ther#al paper n+er #y be+, fille+ -ith+ata that -ol+ sho- I ha+ been ha&'in for #any hors a -ee' into telephone &o#pany &o#ptersan+ s-it&hes, as -ell as a loa+ of &o#pters at pri%ate fir#s"

When I -ent +o-nstairs, the aent offere+ #e his han+, an+ I shoo' it" 3I bste+ 8tanleyRif'in,4 he tol+ #e, n+erstan+in that I0+ 'no- -ho# he -as tal'in abot6 the y -ho ha+

plle+ off the biest theft of its 'in+ in history, stealin *) #illion fro# 8e&rity Pa&ifi& NationalBan' by a -ire:transfer rse" The aent thoht that -ol+ s&are #e, e=&ept I 'ne- that Rif'in ha+

been &aht only be&ase he ha+ retrne+ to the 8tates an+ then blabbe+ abot -hat he ha+ +one"Other-ise he0+ still be li%in abroa+ in l=ry"

Bt this y -as a 2e+, an+ there sti -eren0t any fe+eral la-s &o%erin the 'in+ of&o#pter brea':ins I -as +oin" /e sai+, 3Yo &an et t-enty:fi%e years if yo &ontine #essin-ith the phone &o#pany"4 I 'ne- he -as po-erless, 1st tryin to s&are #e"

It +i+n0t -or'" As soon as he left, I -ent riht ba&' online" I +i+n0t e%en brn the printots"Yes, it -as stpi+" I -as alrea+y in&orriible"If the aent0s %isit +i+n0t i%e #e any &hills, #y #other0s rea&tion -as not -hat yo #iht

e=pe&t" To her, the -hole thin -as li'e a +#b 1o'e6 What har# &ol+ a boy &o#e to 1st fro# playin -ith a &o#pter at ho#eH 8he ha+ no &on&ept of -hat I -as p to"

The thrill an+ satisfa&tion of +oin thins I -asn0t sppose+ to +o -ere 1st too reat" I -as&ons#e+ by a fas&ination -ith the te&hnoloy of phones an+ &o#pters" I felt li'e an e=plorer,tra%elin &yberspa&e -ithot li#itations, snea'in into syste#s for the pre thrill an+ satisfa&tion,ots#artin enineers -ith years of e=perien&e, firin ot ho- to bypass se&rity obsta&les,learnin ho- thins -or'e+"

It -asn0t lon before I bean e=perien&in so#e trblen&e fro# the athorities" Mi&ah ha+

left shortly after for a trip to Paris" The Air 2ran&e fliht ha+ been in the air for a &ople of hors-hen an annon&e#ent &a#e o%er the PA syste#6 3Mr" Mi&ah /irs&h#an, please trn on yorste-ar+ess &all btton"4 When he +i+, a ste-ar+ess &a#e to hi# an+ sai+, 3The pilot -ants to spea'



-ith yo in the &o&'pit"4 Yo &an 1st i#aine his srprise"/e -as le+ to the &o&'pit" The &opilot spo'e into the ra+io to say Mi&ah -as present, then

han+e+ hi# a #i&rophone" A %oi&e o%er the ra+io sai+, 3This is 2BI 8pe&ial Aent Robin Bro-n"The Brea has learne+ that yo ha%e left the &ontry, hea+e+ for 2ran&e" Why are yo oin to2ran&eH4

The -hole sitation #a+e no sense" Mi&ah a%e his ans-er, an+ the aent rille+ hi# for a

fe- #intes" It trne+ ot the 2e+s thoht that Mi&ah an+ I -ere pllin off so#e 8tanley Rif'inG style bi &o#pter ha&', #aybe settin p a phony transfer of #illions fro# a ."8" ban' to so#eother ban' in Erope"

It -as li'e a s&ene fro# a &aper #o%ie, an+ I lo%e+ the thrill of it" After ettin a taste of that 'in+ of e=&ite#ent, I -as hoo'e+!an+ I hnere+ for #ore" Inhih s&hool #y brain -as so o&&pie+ -ith ha&'in an+ phrea'in that I ha+ little attention or#oti%ation left for the &lassroo#" /appily, I +is&o%ere+ a soltion that -as one bi step better than

be&o#in a +ropot or -aitin for the Los Aneles 8&hool Distri&t to sho- its +ispleasre by'i&'in #e ot"

Passin the 7ED e=a# -ol+ i%e #e the e@i%alent of a hih s&hool +iplo#a -ithot-astin any #ore of #y ti#e or #y tea&hers0 ti#e" I sine+ p for the e=a#, -hi&h trne+ ot to be

-ay easier than I ha+ e=pe&te+!abot an eihth:ra+e le%el, I thoht"What &ol+ be better than be&o#in a &ollee st+ent st+yin &o#pters, -or'in to-ar+ a

+eree -hile fee+in #y insatiable thirst for &o#pter 'no-le+eH In the s##er of **, at theae of se%enteen, I enrolle+ at Pier&e Collee, a t-o:year s&hool in nearby Woo+lan+ /ills"

The s&hool0s &o#pter:roo# #anaer, 7ary Le%i, re&oni<e+ #y passion" /e too' #e n+erhis -in, i%in #e spe&ial stats by allo-in #e to ha%e a 3pri%ilee+ a&&ont4!on the R8T8Esyste#"

/is ift ha+ an e=piration +ate" /e left the s&hool; not lon after, the Co#pter 8&ien&e&hair, one Ch&' Al%are<, noti&e+ I -as loe+ in to a pri%ilee+ a&&ont an+ tol+ #e to sin offi##e+iately" I e=plaine+ that Le%i ha+ i%en #e per#ission, bt it +i+n0t -ash; he boote+ #e fro#the &o#pter lab" My +a+ -ent in -ith #e for a #eetin -ith Al%are<, -ho offere+ as an e=&se,3Yor son alrea+y 'no-s so #&h abot &o#pters that there is nothin Pier&e Collee &an tea&hhi#"4

I +roppe+ ot" I ha+ lost #y a&&ess to a reat syste#, bt in the late *K)s an+ the beinnin of the *)s,the -orl+ of personal &o#ptin -ent throh a +ra#ati& transition perio+, brinin the first+es'top #a&hines that in&l+e+ a #onitor or e%en ha+ one bilt in" The Co##o+ore PET, the AppleII, an+ the first IBM PC bean to #a'e &o#pters a tool for e%eryone, an+ to #a'e &o#pters #&h#ore &on%enient for hea%y sers? in&l+in &o#pter ha&'ers" I &ol+n0t ha%e been happier"

Le-is De Payne ha+ been #y &losest ha&'in an+ phrea'in partner 1st abot fro# thatfirst ti#e he &alle+ an+ sai+ he -ante+ to et toether an+ learn fro# #e" E%en thoh he -as fi%e

years ol+er!-hi&h at that stae of life #a'es @ite a +ifferen&e!-e share+ the sa#e boyishe=hilaration fro# phone phrea'in an+ ha&'in" An+ -e share+ the sa#e oals6 a&&ess to&o#panies0 &o#pters, a&&ess to pass-or+s, a&&ess to infor#ation that -e -eren0t sppose+ toha%e" I ne%er +a#ae+ anyone0s &o#pter files or #a+e any #oney fro# the a&&ess I aine+; as faras I 'no-, Le-is +i+n0t either"

An+ -e trste+ ea&h other!e%en thoh his %ales -ere, -ell, +ifferent fro# #ine" A pri#ee=a#ple -as the ."8" Leasin ha&'" I ot into ."8" Leasin0s syste# sin a ta&ti& that -as so ri+i&losly easy I shol+ ha%e

been e#barrasse+ to try it" It -ent li'e this"I -ol+ &all the &o#pany I0+ tarete+, as' for their &o#pter roo#, #a'e sre I -as tal'in

to a syste# a+#inistrator, an+ tell hi#, 3This is -hate%er fi&titios na#e poppe+ into #y hea+ at

that #o#entS, fro# DEC spport" We0%e +is&o%ere+ a &atastrophi& b in yor %ersion of R8T8E"Yo &ol+ lose +ata"4 This is a %ery po-erfl so&ial:enineerin te&hni@e, be&ase the fear oflosin +ata is so reat that #ost people -on0t hesitate to &ooperate"



@i&' s&&ession, e@i%alent to +ialin the n#ber 3,4 -ol+ et #e a +ial tone for an otsi+e line"Then I -ol+ flash ten ti#es, e@i%alent to +ialin 3),4 for an operator"

When the operator &a#e on the line, I0+ as' her to &all #e ba&' at the phone n#ber for the#o+e# at the &o#pter ter#inal I -as sin" The &o#pter ter#inals in the lab at that ti#e +i+ notha%e internal #o+e#s" Instea+, to #a'e a #o+e# &onne&tion, yo ha+ to pla&e the telephonehan+set into an a+1a&ent a&osti& &opler, -hi&h sent sinals fro# the #o+e# into the telephone

han+set an+ ot o%er the phone lines" When the operator &alle+ ba&' on the #o+e# telephone, I0+ans-er the &all an+ as' her to +ial a phone n#ber for #e"

I se+ this #etho+ to +ial in to n#eros bsinesses that se+ DEC PDP:**0s rnninR8T8E" I -as able to so&ial:enineer their +ial:ps an+ syste# &re+entials sin the DEC 2iel+8pport rse" 8in&e I +i+n0t ha%e a &o#pter of #y o-n, I -as li'e a +rifter #o%in fro# one&ollee &a#ps to another to et the +ose of &o#pter a&&ess that I so +esperately -ante+" I felts&h an a+renaline rsh +ri%in to a &ollee &a#ps to et online" I -ol+ +ri%e, o%er the spee+li#it, for forty:fi%e #intes e%en if it #eant only fifteen #intes of &o#pter ti#e"

I ess it 1st ne%er o&&rre+ to #e that a st+ent at one of these &o#pter labs #ihto%erhear -hat I -as +oin an+ blo- the -histle on #e"

Not ntil the e%enin -hen I -as sittin at a ter#inal in a lab at .CLA" I hear+ a &la#or,

loo'e+ p, an+ sa- a s-ar# of &a#ps &ops rshin in an+ hea+in straiht for #e" I -as tryinhar+ to appear &on&erne+ bt &onfi+ent, a 'i+ -ho +i+n0t 'no- -hat the fss -as all abot"

They plle+ #e p ot of the &hair an+ &la#pe+ on a pair of han+&ffs, &losin the# #&htoo tihtly" Yes, California no- ha+ a la- that &ri#inali<e+ ha&'in" Bt I -as still a 1%enile, so I-asn0t fa&in prison ti#e" Yet I -as pani&'e+, s&are+ to +eath" The +ffel ba in #y &ar -as &ra##e+ -ith printotsre%ealin all the &o#panies I ha+ been brea'in into" If they sear&he+ #y &ar an+ fon+ the treasretro%e of printots an+ n+erstoo+ -hat it -as, I0+ be fa&in a lot -orse than any pnish#ent they#iht han+ ot for sin the s&hool0s &o#pters -hen I -asn0t a st+ent"

One of the &a#ps &ops lo&ate+ #y &ar after sei<in #y &ar 'eys an+ fon+ the ba ofha&'in &ontraban+" 2ro# there, they hstle+ #e to a poli&e station on &a#ps, -hi&h -as li'e bein n+erarrest, an+ tol+ #e I -as bein +etaine+ for 3trespassin"4 They &alle+ #y #o# to &o#e et #e"

In the en+, .CLA +i+n0t fin+ anybo+y -ho &ol+ #a'e sense of #y printots" Theni%ersity ne%er file+ any &hares" No a&tion at all beyon+ referrin #y &ase to the &ontyProbation Depart#ent, -hi&h &ol+ ha%e petitione+ >%enile Cort to hear the &ase? bt +i+n0t"

Perhaps I -as nto&hable" Perhaps I &ol+ 'eep on -ith -hat I -as +oin, fa&in a sha'e:p no- an+ then bt ne%er really ha%in to -orry" Thoh it ha+ s&are+ the hell ot of #e, on&eaain I ha+ +o+e+ a bllet"



E%ca)e A#i%#

Fe *)w esc we0# mo 0s# k)r hsm hiwwcm, 4&##

st+ ec +ma e w1erg m1kk56

O%er Me#orial Day Wee'en+, **, Le-is De Payne an+ I 1oine+ a bn&h of phone

phrea'ers -ho -ere atherin for a 3party"4 The @otation #ar's are be&ase -ho besi+es a si=:year:ol+ ha%in a birth+ay or a bn&h of ee's -ol+ &hoose a 8ha'ey0s pi<<a parlor as a pla&e toather an+ froli&H

8o#ethin li'e t-o +o<en people sho-e+ p, ea&h one al#ost as #&h of a ner+ as the-orst of the ha# ra+io enthsiasts" Bt so#e of the# ha+ oo+ te&hni&al 'no-:ho-, -hi&h #a+e

#e feel I -asn0t entirely -astin #y ti#e"The &on%ersation ine%itably ot aron+ to one of #y fa%orite tarets, CO8MO8, the

Co#pter 8yste# for Mainfra#e Operations, the Pa&ifi& Telephone #ission:&riti&al syste# that&ol+ besto- so #&h po-er on any phrea'er -ho &ol+ a&&ess it"

Le-is an+ I alrea+y ha+ a&&ess to CO8MO8, one of the first Pa&ifi& Telephone &o#pters Iha+ ha&'e+ into, bt probably only a fe- of the others ha+ otten in at the ti#e, an+ I -asn0t ointo tell the# ho- I ha+" As -e starte+ tal'in, I reali<e+ the bil+in that hose+ CO8MO8 -asnearby, only a fe- #iles a-ay" I fire+ if a fe- of s -ent o%er there an+ ha+ a o at a littleD#pster:+i%in, -e #iht fin+ so#e sefl infor#ation"

Le-is -as al-ays rea+y for 1st abot anythin" We in%ite+ only one other y, a fello-na#e+ Mar' Ross, -ho -as %ery fa#iliar -ith phone syste#s an+ so#eone -e thoht -e &ol+

trst"En rote, -e s-n by an all:niht phar#a&y an+ pi&'e+ p lo%es an+ flashlihts, then on

to the CO8MO8 bil+in" The D#pster:+i%in trne+ p a fe- interestin ite#s bt nothin ofreal %ale" After abot an hor, +is&orae+, I seste+, 3Why +on0t -e see if -e &an et insi+eH4

They both -ante+ #e to o in, see if I &ol+ so&ial:enineer the ar+, an+ then sen+ ato&h:tone sinal fro# #y han+hel+ ha# ra+io" Nothin +oin!-e -ere oin to be the ThreeMs'eteers or nothin"

We -al'e+ in" The ar+ -as a yon y, the 'in+ -ho loo'e+ li'e he #iht en1oy a to'e pretty often" I sai+, 3/ey, ho- yo +oinH We0re ot late, I -or' here, I -ante+ to sho- #y frien+s-here I -or'"4

38re,4 he sai+" 3>st sin in"4 Di+n0t e%en as' for ID" 8#ooth" We ha+ been &allin +epart#ents, analy<in phone &o#pany operations for so lon that -e'ne- -here the CO8MO8 e#ployees -or'e+6 3Roo# *)4 'ept &o#in p in Pa&ifi& Telephone&o##ni&ations" We fon+ or -ay to it"

CO8MO8" The #other lo+e" The 1a&'pot" A fol+er on the -all hel+ sheets of paper listin +ial:p n#bers for e%ery -ire &enter in8othern California" They loo'e+ e=a&tly li'e those lossy bro&hres in a +o&tor0s offi&e, -here thesti&'er says 3Ta'e One4 I &ol+n0t belie%e or l&'" This -as a real treasre, one of the thins I#ost &o%ete+"

Ea&h &entral offi&e has one or #ore -ire &enters" The telephone e=&hanes in ea&h &entraloffi&e are assine+ to a parti&lar -ire &enter" Ar#e+ -ith the list of +ial:p n#bers for ea&h -ire

&enter, an+ lo:in &re+entials, I0+ ha%e the ability to &ontrol any phone line in Pa&ifi& Telephone0s8othern California ser%i&e area"It -as an e=&itin fin+" Bt I nee+e+ pass-or+s to other a+#inistrati%e a&&onts as -ell" I



-an+ere+ throh the offi&es aron+ the CO8MO8 roo#, openin fol+ers an+ loo'in into +es'+ra-ers" I opene+ one fol+er an+ fon+ a sheet labele+ 3Pass-or+s"4

Whoa 2antasti&" I -as rinnin fro# ear to ear" We shol+ ha%e left then" Bt I spotte+ a set of CO8MO8 #anals that -ol+ be &ra##e+ -ith otta:ha%e

infor#ation" The te#ptation -as irresistible" These #anals &ol+ tell s e%erythin -e nee+e+ to'no-, fro# ho- to #a'e in@iries -ith the &rypti& &o##an+s se+ by phone &o#pany personnel toe%ery aspe&t of ho- the syste# -or'e+" To+ay yo -ol+ be able to fin+ all this -ith a 7oolesear&h, bt ba&' then, it -as store+ only in these #anals"

I tol+ the ys, 3Let0s ta'e the #anals to a &opy shop, rn off a &opy for ea&h of s, an+then retrn the #anals before people start &o#in ba&' to -or' in the #ornin"4

The ar+ +i+n0t e%en &o##ent that -e ha+ &o#e in e#pty:han+e+ an+ -ere lea%in -ithse%eral #anals, in&l+in se%eral stffe+ into a brief&ase that Le-is ha+ spotte+ in one of theoffi&es"

It -as the #ost stpi+ +e&ision of #y early life" We +ro%e aron+ loo'in for a &opy shop bt &ol+n0t fin+ one" An+ of &orse the or+inary

&opy shops -eren0t open at (6)) a"#" An+ then -e +e&i+e+ it -as too ris'y any-ay to o ba&' intothe bil+in a se&on+ ti#e to retrn the #anals, e%en after the shift &hane!#y e%er:reliable

plasible:story:on:the:spot #e&hanis# -asn0t &o#in p -ith a sinle belie%able e=planation tooffer"

8o I too' the #anals ho#e -ith #e" Bt I ha+ a ba+ feelin abot the#" Into se%eral /eftytrash bas they -ent, an+ Le-is too' possession for #e an+ hi+ the# so#e-here" I +i+n0t -ant to'no-"

E%en thoh Le-is -asn0t hoo'e+ p -ith 8san Thn+er any#ore, he -as still asso&iatin-ith her, an+ he still ha+ that bi #oth of his" 8o#eho- in&apable of 'eepin @iet e%en abotthins that &ol+ et hi# or his frien+s in +eep troble, he tol+ her abot the #anals"

8he ratte+ s ot to the phone &o#pany" On a hot s##er e%enin se%eral +ays later, as I pll ot of the par'in lot to +ri%e ho#e fro# #y 1ob, as a telephone re&eptionist at the 8te%en 8"Wise Te#ple, I pass a 2or+ Cro-n 5i&toria -ith three #en insi+e" Why +o la- enfor&e#ent ysal-ays +ri%e the sa#e #o+el of &arH Di+ nobo+y e%er fire ot that it #a'es the# as ob%ios as ifthey ha+ 3.NDERCO5ER COP84 painte+ on the si+eH

I spee+ p to see if they0ll .:trn an+ follo-" Yes" 8hit" Bt #aybe it0s 1st a &oin&i+en&e" I pi&' p spee+, rollin onto the ra#p for the I:)J hea+e+ for 8an 2ernan+o 5alley"

The Cro-n 5i& is &at&hin p" As I -at&h in #y rear%ie- #irror, an ar# rea&hes ot an+ pla&es a set of &op:&ar flashers onthe roof, an+ the lihts start blin'in" Oh shit Why are they pllin #e o%erH The thoht of

nnin it ra&es throh #y #in+" A hih:spee+ &haseH Insane" No -ay a# I oin to try to rn" I pll o%er" The &ar plls p behin+ #e" The three ys leap ot" They start rnnin to-ar+ #e" 'hey/re drawing their g*ns555

They0re shotin, 43et o*t o$ the car56

In an instant, I0# in han+&ffs" On&e aain they0re &lose+ painflly tiht" One of the ys shots in #y ear, 4Yo*/re gonna sto# $*cking aro*nd with the #hone

com#any5 &e/re gonna teach yo* a esson56 I0# so s&are+ I start &ryin"Another &ar plls p" The +ri%er hops ot an+ rns to-ar+ s" /e0s shotin at the &ops,

4Search his car $or the om5 (e/s got a ogic om556

No- I0# pra&ti&ally lahin throh #y tears" A loi& bo#b is a pie&e of soft-are, bt

these ys +on0t see# to 'no- that" They thin' I0# &arryin so#ethin that &an blo- e%erybo+yp

They start rillin #e" 3Where are the #analsH4



I tell the#, 3I0# a 1%enile, I -ant to &all #y la-yer"4 Instea+ they treate+ #e li'e a terrorist, ta'in #e to a poli&e station in Pasa+ena, abot aforty:fi%e:#inte +ri%e a-ay, an+ para+in #e to a hol+in &ell" No bars, 1st a s#all roo# li'e a&e#ent &offin, -ith a he steel +oor that no son+s &ol+ penetrate" I trie+ to et #y one phone&all, bt the &ops refse+" Apparently 1%eniles +i+n0t ha%e any &onstittional rihts"

2inally a Probation Offi&er sho-e+ p to inter%ie- #e" Althoh he ha+ the po-er to

release #e to #y parents, the &ops &on%in&e+ hi# that I -as -hat to+ay #iht be +es&ribe+ as the/annibal Le&ter of &o#pter ha&'in" I -as transferre+ in han+&ffs to >%enile /all in East LosAneles o%erniht, an+ broht into &ort for an appearan&e the ne=t +ay" My #o# an+ +a+ -erethere, both tryin to et #e release+"

The 2asadena Star:News ran a lenthy arti&le abot #e" That -as follo-e+ by an e%en bier story in the 8n+ay Los Angees 'imes" Of &orse, sin&e I -as a 1%enile, they -eren0tallo-e+ to pblish #y na#e"

They +i+ any-ay, an+ it -ol+ ha%e &onse@en&es for #e later" As a si+e note to this story, I -ol+ later fin+ ot that the y shotin abot the loi&

bo#b -as 8te%e Cooley, the assistant +istri&t attorney assine+ to #y &ase; to+ay, he is top +o, the

+istri&t attorney for Los Aneles Conty" My ant Chi&'ie Le%enthal, -ho has lon rn an

operation &alle+ Chi&'ie0s Bail Bon+s, 'no-s Cooley; so#e years ao, after #y boo' 'he Art o$ Dece#tion -as pblishe+, she offere+ it as one of the pri<es for a fn+:raiser to benefit a &hil+ren0s&harity that Cooley atten+e+" When she tol+ hi# I -as her nephe-, he sai+ he -ante+ a &opy of the

boo'" /e as'e+ if I0+ sin it an+ -rite in it, 3We0%e both &o#e a %ery lon -ay"4 In+ee+ -e ha%e" I-as la+ to +o it for hi#"

The >%enile Cort 1+e -ho hear+ #y &ase see#e+ p<<le+6 I -as &hare+ -ith bein aha&'er, bt I ha+n0t stolen an+ se+ any &re+it &ar+ n#bers, nor ha+ I sol+ any proprietarysoft-are or tra+e se&rets" I ha+ 1st ha&'e+ into &o#pters an+ phone &o#pany syste#s for thesheer entertain#ent" The 1+e +i+n0t see# to n+erstan+ -hy I -ol+ +o s&h thins -ithot

profitin fro# #y a&tions" The i+ea that I -as +oin it for fn +i+n0t see# to #a'e sense"8in&e he -asn0t sre e=a&tly -hat I -as +oin on&e I ot into the &o#pters an+ phone

syste#s, he fire+ #aybe he -as #issin so#ethin" Maybe I -as ta'in #oney or #a'in a profit in so#e hih:te&h -ay he +i+n0t &o#prehen+" The -hole thin probably #a+e hi#sspi&ios"

The trth -as, I bro'e into the phone syste# for the sa#e reason another 'i+ #iht brea'into an aban+one+ hose +o-n the blo&'6 1st to &he&' it ot" The te#ptation to e=plore an+ fin+ot -hat0s in there -as too reat" 8re, there #iht be +aner, bt ta'in a ris' -as part of the fn"

Be&ase this -as the first ha&'in &ase e%er, there -as #ore than a little &onfsion o%ere=a&tly -hat the +istri&t attorney &ol+ &hare #e -ith" While so#e of the &hares -ere leiti#ate,ha%in to +o -ith #y brea'in into an+ enterin the phone &o#pany, others -ere not" The

prose&tor &lai#e+ that in #y ha&'in I ha+ +a#ae+ &o#pter syste#s at ."8" Leasin" I ha+n0t,

bt it -ol+n0t be the last ti#e I -as a&&se+ of this"The >%enile Cort 1+e sent #e to the California Yoth Athority CYA re&eption fa&ilityin Nor-al', California, for a ninety:+ay psy&holoi&al e%alation to +eter#ine -hether I -as site+for in&ar&eration in that aen&y0s fa&ilities" I0%e ne%er been so inti#i+ate+" The other 'i+s -erethere for &ri#es li'e assalt, rape, #r+er, an+ an hits" These -ere 1%eniles, sre, bt they -eree%en #ore %iolent an+ +aneros be&ase they felt in%in&ible"

We ea&h ha+ or o-n roo# an+ -ere 'ept lo&'e+ p in it, let ot in s#all rops for onlythree hors ea&h +ay" I -rote a +aily letter ho#e, beinnin ea&h -ith 3$e%in Mitni&' hel+ hostaeGDay *,4 3Day(,4 3Day "4 E%en thoh Nor-al' is a&tally in LA Conty, it -as an hor an+ a half +ri%e for #y#o# an+ her #other, #y 37ra#"4 Loyal beyon+ #y +eser%in, they &a#e e%ery -ee'en+, brinin

foo+; they -ol+ al-ays lea%e their ho#es early enoh to be the first in line"My eihteenth birth+ay &a#e an+ -ent -hile I -as bein hel+ in Nor-al'" Thoh the

California Yoth Athority -ol+ still ha%e &sto+y of #e for so#e ti#e, I -as no loner a



1%enile" I 'ne- that for any frther offenses, I -ol+ be &hare+ as an a+lt an+ &ol+, if&on%i&te+, be sent to prison"

At the en+ of #y ninety +ays, the California Yoth Athority re&o##en+e+ that I berelease+ to o ho#e on probation, an+ the 1+e a&&epte+ the re&o##en+ation"

My assine+ Probation Offi&er -as an e=traor+inarily obese la+y na#e+ Mary Ri+e-ay,-ho I thoht fon+ pleasre only in eatin an+ in lashin ot at the 'i+s in her &hare" /er phone

stoppe+ -or'in one +ay; #onths later, I learne+ that after the phone &o#pany fi=e+ her line, theytol+ her they +i+n0t 'no- -hy it ha+ one +ea+" 8he fire+ it #st ha%e been #e an+ pt anotation in #y re&or+ that -ol+ be&o#e a&&epte+ as fa&t an+ se+ aainst #e" Too #any ti#es inthose +ays, ne=plaine+ failres in te&hnoloy any-here -ol+ be attribte+ to #e"

Alon -ith probation &a#e psy&holoi&al &onselin" I -as sent to a &lini& that treate+ se=offen+ers an+ other har+&ore a++i&ts" My &onselor -as a +o&toral intern fro# 7reat Britain na#e+Roy Es'apa" When I e=plaine+ that I -as on probation for phone phrea'in, his eyes lit p" 3/a%eyo hear+ abot ITTH4The initials stoo+ for International Telephone an+ Teleraph"

3Of &orse,4 I sai+" 3Do yo 'no- -here I &an et any &o+esH4 /e -as as'in #e abot ITT a&&ess &o+es" On&e yo ha+ a &o+e, yo &ol+ si#ply +ial a

lo&al ITT a&&ess n#ber an+ pn&h in the a&&ess &o+e, follo-e+ by the lon:+istan&e n#ber yo-ante+ to &all" If yo se+ so#eone else0s &o+e, yor &all -ol+ be bille+ to that poor sbs&riber,an+ yo -ol+n0t ha%e to pay a &ent"

I s#ile+" Roy an+ I -ere oin to et alon 1st fine" Drin #y &ort:or+ere+ &onselin sessions in ** an+ *(, -e basi&ally 1st &hatte+an+ be&a#e oo+ frien+s" Roy tol+ #e that -hat I ha+ been +oin -as e=&ee+inly ta#e &o#pare+to the &ri#es of his other patients" Years later, in *, -hen I ot into troble aain, he -rote aletter to the 1+e, e=plainin that I -as +ri%en to ha&' not by #ali&ios or &ri#inal #oti%es, bt bya &o#plsi%e +isor+er" I -as, he sai+, 3a++i&te+4 to ha&'in"

As far as #y attorney an+ I ha%e been able to +eter#ine, this -as the first ti#e that ha&'inha+ e%er been labele+ that -ay an+ pla&e+ on par -ith a +r, al&ohol, a#blin, or se= a++i&tion"When the 1+e hear+ the +ianosis of a++i&tion an+ reali<e+ that I sffere+ fro# an ail#ent, shea&&epte+ or plea aree#ent"

On De&e#ber ((, *(, three +ays before Christ#as, nearly #i+niht, I -as in the &o#pterroo# in 8al%atori /all on the &a#ps of .8C, the .ni%ersity of 8othern California, near+o-nto-n LA, -ith #y ha&'in b++y Lenny DiCi&&o, a lan'y, athleti& si=:footer -ho -as to

be&o#e a &lose, trste+ ha&'in partner? an+ ftre +oble:&rosser"We ha+ been ha&'in into the .8C syste#s o%er +ial:p #o+e#s bt -ere frstrate+ -ith

their slo- spee+s" A little e=plorin ha+ trne+ p the te#ptin fa&t that a bil+in &alle+ 8al%atori/all ha+ a rop of DEC TOP8:() #ainfra#es that -ere &onne&te+ to the Arpanet, the pre&rsor ofthe Internet" Bein on &a#ps -ol+ i%e s #&h faster a&&ess to syste#s on &a#ps"

.sin a ne-ly +is&o%ere+ %lnerability that Lenny ha+ #anae+ to pi&'po&'et fro# Da%e$o#pel at a DEC.8 Diital E@ip#ent Co#pter .sers0 8o&iety &onferen&e -e atten+e+ a -ee'earlier, -e ha+ alrea+y aine+ fll syste# or 3-heel4 pri%ilees on all of the st+ent DEC ()0s"Bt -e -ante+ to et as #any pass-or+s as possible" E%en thoh -e ha+ syste# a+#inistrator

pri%ilees, the syste# -as &onfire+ to en&rypt all pass-or+s" No s-eat" I starte+ sear&hin throh the e#ail a&&onts of staff #e#bers -ho ha+ -heel

pri%ilees" /ntin aron+ insi+e the syste# le+ #e to the #ail of the a&&ontin +epart#ent,-hi&h -as responsible for issin serna#es an+ pass-or+s" When I sear&he+ that a&&ont0s e#ail,it -as &ho&':fll of #essaes han+in ot serna#es an+ pass-or+s in #ain te0t " >a&'pot

$no-in it -as ris'y, I sent the entire e#ail file to the printer" Abot fifteen #intes after Ia%e the Print &o##an+, an operator +roppe+ a thi&' printot into the st+ent bin" In a roo#fl of

st+ents at &o#pter ter#inals, ho- +o yo &he&' that yo0re not bein -at&he+, bt +o it in a -aythat +oesn0t #a'e yo loo' sspi&iosH Doin #y best, I pi&'e+ p the printot an+ &arrie+ it ba&'to -here Lenny an+ I -ere -or'in"



A -hile later, t-o &a#ps &ops &hare+ into the roo# an+ rshe+ +ire&tly to-ar+ Lenny an+#e, shotin, 4Free1e56

Apparently I ha+ be&o#e notorios" They 'ne- -hi&h of s -as their real taret, an+ they'ne- #y na#e" Later, I learne+ that one of the a+#inistrators, >on 8olo#on, ha+ been at the sa#eDEC.8 &on%ention that Lenny an+ I ha+ atten+e+ +ays earlier" >on sa- #e in the &o#pter lab an+re&oni<e+ #e" /e &alle+ Da%e $o#pel, -ho ha+ been part of the rop that &hallene+ #e to

brea' into DEC0s R8T8E De%elop#ent syste# -hen I -as a st+ent at Monroe /ih 8&hool"$o#pel tol+ hi# to &all the &a#ps poli&e an+ ha%e #e arreste+"

They rabbe+ the sta&' of printots -ith all those pass-or+s" Be&ase I -as alrea+y on probation, I 'ne- this #eant serios troble" The &ops hstle+ Lenny an+ #e to their on:&a#pshea+@arters an+ han+&ffe+ s to a ben&h, then +isappeare+ into their offi&es, lea%in s sittinalone ne=t to the e=it" After a little s@ir#in, Lenny sho-e+ #e his han+s!free of the &ffs" /erotinely &arrie+ a han+&ff 'ey in his -allet an+ ha+ #anae+ to retrie%e it an+ free hi#self"

/e nlo&'e+ #ine an+ sai+, 3Yo0%e ot #ore to lose, 1st ta'e off"4 Bt ho- &ol+ I eta-ayH The &ops ha+ ta'en #y &ar 'eys, an+ besi+es, they 'ne- -ho I -as"

One of the &ops &a#e ba&' in" Behin+ #y ba&', I snappe+ #y &ff &lose+ aain, bt the &ophear+ the son+ an+ &a#e o%er to ta'e a &loser loo'" 3/ey, -e0%e ot /o+ini here,4 he &alle+ ot

in the +ire&tion of the offi&es, -hile Lenny, nobser%e+, #anae+ to +rop the 'ey onto the floor an+'i&' it a fe- feet, -here it be&a#e hi++en beneath a &ar tire that for so#e o++ reason ha+ been left

proppe+ aainst the -all"Pisse+, the &ops +e#an+e+, 3Where0s the 'eyH4 They too' ea&h of s to the bathroo# for a

strip sear&h an+ -ere #ystifie+ -hen they &ol+n0t fin+ it"Cops fro# the LAPD Bn'o an+ 2orery 8@a+ sho-e+ p an+ hstle+ #e a-ay" I -as

boo'e+ into 1ail at Par'er Center, the LAPD hea+@arters" This ti#e I -as tosse+ into a hol+in &ell-ith a &ople of pay phones insi+e" My first &all -as to #y #o# to tell her -hat ha+ happene+, an+the ne=t -as to Ant Chi&'ie, plea+in that she &o#e bail #e ot as @i&'ly as possible!rent

be&ase I -ante+ to et to #y &ar before the &ops +i+, sin&e it -as, 1st as before, loa+e+ -ith e%en#ore in&ri#inatin notes an+ +is's" A &olleae of hers ot #e ot a fe- hors later, abot J6))a"#"

My #&h:pt:pon bt e%er:reliable #o# -as there to pi&' #e p an+ +ri%e #e to the&a#ps to retrie%e #y &ar" 8he -as relie%e+ that I -as o'ay an+ ha+n0t been hel+" Whate%er I #ihtha%e +eser%e+ in the -ay of aner or s&ol+in, that -asn0t #y #o#0s style" Instea+, she -as-orrie+ for #e, -orrie+ abot -hat -ol+ be&o#e of #e"

I -as ot on bail, bt #y free+o# +i+n0t last lon" As I +ro%e in to -or' that e%enin, I phone+ p #y #o# at 2ro#in0s Deli, -here -e -ere both then -or'in, to as' if anyone ha+sho-n p loo'in for #e" 3Not e=a&tly,4 she respon+e+" Inorin her &rypti& response, I -al'e+into -or'" My >%enile Probation Offi&er, Mary Ri+e-ay, -as -aitin -ith t-o +ete&ti%es" Whenshe sa- #e, she annon&e+ that I -as n+er arrest for probation %iolation, an+ the +ete&ti%es a%e

#e a ri+e to the >%enile Detention Center in 8yl#ar"A&tally, oin to 8yl#ar -as a reat relief" I -as o%er eihteen no-, an a+lt in the eyes ofthe la-, bt sin&e I -as still on probation fro# >%enile Cort, I -as still n+er its 1ris+i&tion" I-as han+le+ the sa#e -ay I -ol+0%e been if I -ere still a 1%enile"

The +istin&tion -as lost on #y #o#" I -as n+er arrest aain, lo&'e+ p" It -as be&o#in a pattern" What -as oin to be&o#e of her +ear sonH Was I oin to spen+ #y life in an+ ot of prisonH 8he %isite+ #e an+ bro'e +o-n in tears" 8he ha+ +one so #&h for #e, an+ this -as ho- I-as repayin her!-ith #isery an+ -orry" It bro'e #y heart to see her &ry" /o- #any ti#es ha+ I

pro#ise+ her I0+ i%e p ha&'in, really, trly #eanin it bt no #ore able to sti&' to #y -or+ thanthe al&oholi& -ho 'eeps fallin off the -aonH

It trne+ ot that the ha&'in that ha+ lan+e+ #e ba&' insi+e -as to ha%e an e%en loner:

lastin i#pa&t than I &ol+ ha%e reali<e+ at the ti#e" One of the a&&onts I ha+ loe+ on to fro#the &a#ps &o#pter roo# -as for so#eone -ho ha+ a ni%ersity a&&ont bt in fa&t -or'e+ at thePentaon" When the poli&e +is&o%ere+ that, they fe+ the story to the #e+ia, an+ the ne-spapers ran



o%erblo-n arti&les #anlin the fa&ts, &lai#in I ha+ ha&'e+ into the Depart#ent of Defense"Totally ntre, bt a &lai# that still follo-s #e to+ay"

I a+#itte+ to the &hare of %iolatin #y probation an+ -as senten&e+ to the &sto+y of the 1%enile athorities for three years an+ eiht #onths, the #a=i## ter# I &ol+ be i%en"

Bt I -as hoo'e+!lo&'e+ p an+ still loo'in for -ays to beat the syste#"



A&& (o! Phone Line% Be&ong #o Me

Bm$y yts ini N mni) t1y ns 1syn+ ym) ;1a)sn+) (t1wy

+t0y o1wn0inhynts ta)w r)

After senten&in, I -as transferre+ on&e aain to the fa&ility in Nor-al', for &lassifi&ation" I

too' refe in the library an+ then reali<e+ it ha+ a %ery oo+ &olle&tion of la- boo's" They be&a#e#y ne- fo&s"

A n#ber of the 'i+s in &sto+y there -ante+ to file appeals or fin+ ot -hat rihts theyha+, an+ I bean len+in a han+ by +oin resear&h for the#" At least I -as +oin so#e little oo+for others, an+ I fon+ satisfa&tion in that"

The library0s &olle&tion trne+ ot to in&l+e the pro&e+ral #anals o%ernin theCalifornia Yoth Athority" (ow convenient , I thoht" 'hey/re going to et me $ind o*t how they/re

s*##osed to e doing things, so - can ook $or $aws and oo#hoes" I +i%e+ in"I -as assine+ to a &onselor -ho tal'e+ to #e a fe- ti#es an+ then +re- p the

re&o##en+ation that I be sent to Preston, the 1%enile e@i%alent of 8an Fentin, a pla&e fll of the#ost +aneros, #ost %iolent 'i+s in California0s 1%enile prison syste#" WhyH I #st0%e been oneof the fe- 3-hite:&ollar4 &ri#inals the 1%enile syste# ha+ e%er han+le+"

/e e%en tol+ #e he pi&'e+ the pla&e partly be&ase it -as so far a-ay!a se%en: or eiht:hor +ri%e, #eanin #y #o# an+ 7ra# -ol+ be able to %isit only on&e in a -hile" Maybe hefire+ this #i++le:&lass 'i+ ha+ ha+ all the opportnities that the toh ys fro# the inner &ityha+ ne%er ha+, an+ instea+ of ettin a &ollee +eree an+ a stea+y, -ell:payin 1ob, I 'ept lan+in

#yself in troble? an+ if he sent #e to a +aneros, har+:&ore pla&e, it #iht be enoh to s&are#e into 3oin straiht"4 Or #aybe he -as 1st a #ali&ios 8OB, #issin his athority"

Bt -ha++aya 'no-H In the CYA pro&e+ral #anals, I fon+ a list of the fa&tors that #st be ta'en into &onsi+eration in +e&i+in -hi&h fa&ility a yoth shol+ be sent to" /e shol+ be &loseto his fa#ily" If he -as a hih s&hool ra+ate or ha+ re&ei%e+ a 7ED, he shol+ be at a fa&ility thatoffere+ &ollee prora#s!-hi&h Preston &ertainly +i+ not" The fa&ility shol+ be &hosen base+ onhis propensity for %iolen&e an+ -hether he -as li'ely to try to es&ape" I ha+ ne%er e%en been in afist fiht, an+ ha+ ne%er atte#pte+ an es&ape" .n+erlyin it all, a&&or+in to the #anal, the oal-as rehabilitation" 7reat"

I #a+e &opies of these paes" The rie%an&e pro&ess also #a+e for an interestin rea+6 an in#ate &ol+ as' for a series ofhearins, en+in -ith one at -hi&h an otsi+e arbitrator &a#e to listen to the fa&ts an+ ren+er ani#partial, bin+in +e&ision"

I -ent throh the staes of hearins" When the i#partial arbitrator -as broht in,#e#bers of the Yoth Athority staff! $ive of the#!presente+ their si+e of #y &ase, &o#plete-ith &opie+ paes fro# their pro&e+ral #anal to spport their +e&ision"

A &le%er #o%e, e=&ept they -ere sin -hat I 'ne- -as an ot:of:+ate &opy of the #anal,-ith pro%isions not nearly as fa%orable to #e"

When it &a#e #y trn to spea', I sai+, 3Let #e sho- yo the c*rrent re%ision of the #analthat these fol's ha%e not trne+ o%er to yo"4 An+ I #a+e a fer%ent appeal that I -ante+ torehabilitate #yself"

The arbitrator loo'e+ at the +ates on the paes that the &onselor ha+ sb#itte+, an+ loo'e+at the +ates on the paes fro# #e"An+ he a&tally -in'e+ at #e"



/e or+ere+ the# to sen+ #e to a fa&ility -ith a &ollee prora#" They sent #e to $arl/olton, in 8to&'ton, east of 8an 2ran&is&o" 8till a %ery lon -ay fro# ho#e, bt I felt I ha+ -on,an+ felt %ery pro+ of #yself" Loo'in ba&', I0# re#in+e+ of the lyri&s fro# that To# Petty son63Yo &ol+ stan+ #e p at the ates of hell bt I -on0t ba&' +o-n"4

$arl /olton trne+ ot to be, for #e, the /oli+ay Inn of the California Yoth Athority"Better li%in &on+itions, better foo+" Thoh it -as a fi%e:hor +ri%e, #y #o# an+ 7ra# &a#e

e%ery other -ee'en+, as before brinin loa+s of foo+" We0+ &oo' stea' or lobsters on the ot+oorrills, li'e &i%ili<e+ people, an+ Mo# an+ I -ol+ hnt for:leaf &lo%ers on the la-n of the ot+oor%isitin area" Their %isits helpe+ #a'e #y ti#e in &sto+y feel shorter"

The &onselors -ol+ +rop aron+ to #eet the parents, an+ #ine really see#e+ e=tra politeto #y #o#" Other aspe&ts of #y stay +i+n0t o as s#oothly" The only ra<ors allo-e+ -ere the thro-:a-ay 'in+, fore%er ni&'in #y s'in, so I stoppe+ sha%in" My bear+ re- fll an+ thi&', &o#pletely&hanin #y appearan&e; I -ol+ 'eep it only as lon as I -as insi+e"

I -as i%en early release after only si= #onths" When #y Con+itions of Release +o&#ent-as bein prepare+, I -as as'e+, 3What &on+ition &an -e pt on yo that yo -on0t 'eepha&'inH4

/o- &ol+ I ans-er thatH I sai+, 3Well, there0s ethi&al ha&'in an+ there0s nethi&alha&'in"4 3I nee+ so#e for#al lanae,4 -as the reply" 3What &an I pt +o-nH4 Star &ars &a#e to #in+" I sai+, 3Yo &ol+ &all it +ar'si+e ha&'in"0 4

That0s the -ay it -as entere+ into #y Con+itions6 3No +ar'si+e ha&'in"4 I thin' it -as an LA 'imes reporter -ho so#eho- &a#e pon that ter#" It ot pi&'e+ p an+-i+ely reporte+ by the press; it be&a#e a 'in+ of ni&'na#e for #e" $e%in Mitni&', the Dar'si+e/a&'er"

After #y release, a &op &alle+ #e, i%in his na#e as Do#ini&' Do#ino an+ e=plainin thathe -as the y -ho ha+ +ri%en #e to 1%enile hall -hen I -as pi&'e+ p at 2ro#in0s" /e -as-or'in on an LAPD trainin %i+eo abot &o#pter &ri#e" Wol+ I be -illin to &o#e in for an on:&a#era inter%ie-H 8re, -hy notH

I +obt they0re still sin the pro+&tion this #any years later, bt for a -hile I -as part ofthe effort to help LA &ops learn abot &at&hin ys li'e #e"

At that ti#e, 7ra# -as sharin +is -ith a frien+ of hers, Donna Rssell, -ho as a +ire&torof soft-are +e%elop#ent at ()th Centry 2o= -as able to offer #e a 1ob" I thoht, &ay coo<

maye -/ even r* sho*ders with some movie stars" I lo%e+ that 1ob" I -or'e+ riht on the lot,-al'in past son+staes to et to #y bil+in; the pay -as fair, they -ere trainin #e in+e%elopin appli&ations sin COBOL an+ IBM0s Basi& Asse#bly Lanae, pls I -as learninabot -or'in -ith IBM #ainfra#es an+ /P #ini&o#pters"

Bt all oo+ thins &o#e to an en+, they say!in this &ase, sooner rather than later" Another

e#ployee pt in a rie%an&e that n+er nion rles the 1ob shol+ ha%e been offere+ to &rrente#ployees"After only t-o #onths, I -as ba&' on the street, 1obless"

It &a#e as a real sho&' one +ay -hen #y Parole Offi&er, Mel%in Boyer, &alle+ to say,3$e%in, ha%e a bi brea'fast, eat all yo &an, then &o#e in to see #e"4 That &ol+ only #ean onethin6 troble"

In the ha# ra+io -orl+ of Los Aneles, there -as a repeater rop on *K"J Mh< that ha+ been +bbe+ 3the ani#al hose"4 People -ol+ atta&' one another, se fol lanae, an+ 1a# other people0s trans#issions" 2or #e, it -as a a#e" I0+ later learn that a y in the ani#al hose rop-ho #st ha%e ha+ so#e r+e aainst #e ha+ &alle+ the Yo*th A*thority Parole Offi&e to&o#plain I ha+ ha&'e+ into his &o#pany0s net-or'" I ha+n0t" Bt the y -or'e+ for ero=, -hi&h I

ess #a+e hi# &re+ible"Mo# +ro%e #e in" The sper%isin parole aent as'e+ #e to a&&o#pany hi# to his offi&e"

/e tol+ #y #o# I0+ be riht ba&' an+ sai+ she shol+ -ait in the lobby" Instea+, I -as i##e+iately



han+&ffe+ by the sper%isor as they -his'e+ #e a-ay ot the si+e +oor to a -aitin &ar" I yelle+ to#y #o# that they -ere snea'in #e ot the si+e an+ arrestin #e for so#ethin I ha+n0t e%en+one"

I -as +roppe+ off at the 5an Nys 1ail by #y Parole Offi&er an+ his sper%isor" By a -eir+&oin&i+en&e, #y n&le Mit&hell ha+ &alle+ #e fro# that sa#e 1ail only a fe- -ee's earlier" /is lifeha+ been a s'yro&'et p an+ a pl##et +o-n6 he ha+ be&o#e a real:estate #lti#illionaire, settle+

into a #ansion in Bel Air, -hi&h is -ay #ore ps&ale than Be%erly /ills, a n#ber:one a++ress inall of LA" Bt then he ha+ +is&o%ere+ &o&aine, -hi&h le+ to heroin, -hi&h!ol+ story!le+ to theloss of hose, fortne, honor, an+ self:respe&t"

Bt at that point I still ha+ a lot of affe&tion for hi#" The niht -hen he &alle+ fro# the 5an Nys 1ail, I ha+ sai+, 3Do yo -ant #e to fi= the pay phone so yo &an #a'e &alls for freeH4 8rehe +i+"

I tol+ hi#, 3When -e han p, et ba&' on an+ +ial (**:(J" That0ll i%e yo anato#ate+ annon&e#ent of the n#ber of the phone yo0re sin" Then &all #e ba&' &olle&t an+tell #e the n#ber"4 When I ha+ the n#ber, the ne=t step in%ol%e+ #aniplatin one of the phone&o#pany s-it&hes" 2ro# #y &o#pter I +iale+ into the appropriate s-it&h an+ &hane+ the 3line&lass &o+e4 on that phone to the &o+e for a ho#e telephone, -hi&h -ol+ allo- in&o#in an+

otoin &alls" While I -as at it, I a++e+ three:-ay &allin an+ &all:-aitin" An+ I prora##e+ the phone so all the &hares -ol+ o on the bill of LAPD0s 5an Nys station"

No- it -as a -ee' later an+ -here a# I bt at the sa#e 5an Nys 1ail, -here than's to #yfa%or for .n&le Mit&hell, I &an #a'e all the &alls I -ant, free" I staye+ on the phone all niht"Tal'in -ith #y frien+s helpe+ #e es&ape the reality of -here I -as" Pls I nee+e+ to fin+ anattorney -ho &ol+ represent #e be&ase I 'ne- it -as oin to be an phill battle -hen I -as sent

ba&' to fa&e the California Yoth Athority Parole Boar+" Parolees ha%e %ery li#ite+ rihts, an+ the boar+ #e#bers -ol+ only nee+ to belie%e I #roay +i+ -hate%er I -as bein a&&se+ of; thee%i+en&e +i+n0t ha%e to #eet the stan+ar+ of 3beyon+ a reasonable +obt4 as in a &ri#inal trial"

Then thins -ent fro# ba+ to -orse" They transferre+ #e to LA Conty >ail, -here I -asreete+ by bein tol+ to strip na'e+ so they &ol+ spray #e -ith inse&ti&i+e" I -as le+ to a+or#itory that s&are+ the hell ot of #e" I +i+n0t 'no- -ho# to be #ore frihtene+ of6 the really+aneros ys -ho loo'e+ li'e they0+ steal an eyeball if they ot the &han&e, or the &ra<y ys-ho &ol+ hrt so#ebo+y an+ not e%en 'no- they -ere +oin it" All the &ots -ere alrea+y ta'en,lea%in #e no pla&e to sleep" I 1st sat aainst the -all strlin to 'eep #y eyes open so -hen thesn &a#e p I0+ still ha%e all the possessions I arri%e+ -ith"

Boyer, #y Yoth Athority Parole Offi&er, tol+ #y #o#, 3LA Conty is a %ery +aneros pla&e" /e &ol+ et hrt there,4 an+ ot #e transferre+ the ne=t +ay, ba&' to Nor-al'" If I sa-Boyer to+ay, I0+ probably i%e hi# a bi h for that"

I -as t-enty years ol+ bt, than's to the probation, still n+er the 1ris+i&tion of the YothAthority" This -as #y thir+ ti#e in Nor-al' Re&eption Center; so#e of the ar+s -ere li'e ol+

frien+s"In #y appearan&e before the parole boar+, they ob%iosly +i+n0t ta'e the &hare tooseriosly, #aybe be&ase there -as no e%i+en&e bt a report fro# the Parole Offi&er base+ on asinle &o#plaint" They hel+ I +isobeye+ an or+er fro# the Probation Depart#ent to stop sin #yha# ra+io" Bt it ha+n0t been a leal or+er6 only the 2CC ha+ the athority to ta'e a-ay #y ha#

pri%ilees" They a%e #e si=ty +ays; by then I ha+ alrea+y been insi+e for abot fifty:se%en, so I-as release+ a fe- +ays later"

When #y #o# pi&'e+ #e p, I ha+ her +ri%e #e to the LA Poli&e A&a+e#y" I ha+ hear+they sol+ a li&ense:plate fra#e that sppose+ly -as &op:frien+ly!a &op -ho sa- it #iht not pllyo o%er for a traffi& infra&tion" In the store I noti&e+ a sta&' of boo's6 the LAPD yearboo'" I sai+ I-ante+ one 3as a ift for #y n&le, -ho0s -ith the LAPD"4 It &ost KJ bt it -as a#a<in, li'e

fin+in the /oly 7rail6 it ha+ the pi&tre of e%ery LAPD offi&er, even the *ndercover g*ys assignedto organi1ed crime"

I -on+er if they still pt that boo' ot e%ery year? an+ sell a &opy to anyone -ho sho-s p



-ith &ash in han+" A frien+ of #y #other0s, an entreprener na#e+ Don Da%i+ Wilson, -as rnnin se%eral&o#panies n+er an #brella fir# &alle+ 2ran#ar'" /e hire+ #e to help -ith &o#pter:relate+tas's!prora##in, +ata entry, et&" The -or' -as borin, so for fn, e=&ite#ent, an+ intelle&tal&hallene!this -on0t srprise yo!I trne+ ba&' to ha&'in an+ phrea'in, often -ith #y ol+

phone:phrea'er b++y 8te%e Rhoa+es, -ho -ol+ &o#e o%er in the e%enins to se the &o#pters

at 2ran#ar'"One +ay on the -ay to ln&h -ith a yon la+y fro# -or', I spotte+ a bn&h of ys in sits

-ho loo'e+ li'e &ops, then re&oni<e+ one as #y Parole Offi&er an+ another as one of the ys -hoha+ sear&he+ #y &ar years earlier for the 3loi& bo#b"4 I 'ne- they -eren0t there for a so&ial %isit"8hit My a+renaline starte+ p#pin, fear plsin throh #e" I &ol+n0t start rnnin or -al'infast -ithot attra&tin attention" 8o I #o%e+ to pt #y ba&' to the sits an+ plle+ the al into a bih, -hisperin in her ear that I spotte+ an ol+ frien+ an+ +i+n0t -ant hi# to see #e" We ot intoher &ar, still -ithin siht of the rop"

I +&'e+ +o-n an+ as'e+ her to please +ri%e ot in a hrry be&ase I nee+e+ to #a'e ani#portant &all" 2ro# a pay phone, I +iale+ the LAPD0s West 5alley Di%ision an+ as'e+ to betransferre+ to re&or+s" 3This is Dete&ti%e 8&haffer,4 I sai+" 3I nee+ to &he&' a sb1e&t for any hits,

lo&al an+ in NCIC4 the 2BI0s National Cri#e Infor#ation Center" 3Mitni&', that0s M:I:T:N:I:C:$, $e%in Da%i+" The sb1e&t0s DOB is :9:*9"4

I pretty +a#n -ell 'ne- -hat the ans-er -as oin to be" 3Yes, I ha%e a hit on hi#" It loo's li'e a %iolation -arrant isse+ by the CYA"4 F**ck5 Bt at least they +i+n0t et to arrest #e"

I &alle+ #y #o# an+ sai+, 3/ey, I0# at K:Ele%en, -e shol+ tal'"4 It -as a &o+e I ha+ establishe+ -ith her" 8he 'ne- -hi&h K:Ele%en, an+ that I nee+e+ to tal'

be&ase I -as in troble" When she sho-e+ p, I tol+ her the story an+ that I nee+e+ a pla&e to stayntil I +e&i+e+ -hat I -as oin to +o"

7ra# -or'e+ ot -ith her frien+ Donna Rssell, the la+y -ho ha+ hire+ #e at 2o=, that I&ol+ sleep on her li%in roo# &o&h for a fe- +ays"

Mo# +ro%e #e o%er there, stoppin en rote so I &ol+ by a toothbrsh, ra<or, an+ so#e&hanes of n+ershorts an+ so&'s" As soon as I -as settle+, I loo'e+ in the Yello- Paes for thenearest la- s&hool, an+ spent the ne=t fe- +ays an+ e%enins there porin o%er the Welfare an+Instittions Co+e, bt -ithot #&h hope"

8till, hey, 3Where there0s a -ill?4 I fon+ a pro%ision that sai+ that for a non%iolent &ri#e,the 1ris+i&tion of the >%enile Cort e=pire+ either -hen the +efen+ant trne+ t-enty:one or t-oyears after the &o##it#ent +ate, -hi&he%er o&&rre+ later" 2or #e, that -ol+ #ean t-o years fro#2ebrary *, -hen I ha+ been senten&e+ to the three years an+ eiht #onths"

8&rat&h, s&rat&h" A little arith#eti& tol+ #e that this -ol+ o&&r in abot for #onths" Ithoht, &hat i$ - )*st disa##ear *nti their )*risdiction ends

I &alle+ #y attorney to try ot the i+ea on hi#" /is response son+e+ testy6 3Yo0reabsoltely -ron" It0s a fn+a#ental prin&iple of la- that if a +efen+ant +isappears -hen there0s a-arrant ot for hi#, the ti#e li#it is tolle+ ntil he0s fon+, e%en if it0s years later"4

An+ he a++e+, 3Yo ha%e to stop playin la-yer" -/m the la-yer" Let #e +o #y 1ob"4I plea+e+ -ith hi# to loo' into it, -hi&h annoye+ hi#, bt he finally aree+" When I &alle+

ba&' t-o +ays later, he ha+ tal'e+ to #y Parole Offi&er, Mel%in Boyer, the &o#passionate y -hoha+ otten #e transferre+ ot of the +aneros 1nle at LA Conty >ail" Boyer ha+ tol+ hi#,3$e%in is riht" If he +isappears ntil 2ebrary *J, there0ll be nothin -e &an +o" At that point the-arrant -ill e=pire, an+ he0ll be off the hoo'"4

8o#e people are anels" Donna Rssell &onta&te+ her parents, -ho ha+ a pla&e in Oro%ille,California, abot *J) #iles northeast of 8an 2ran&is&o" An+ yes, they -ol+ be -illin to ta'e in a

lo+er -ho -ol+ help aron+ the pla&e, sbsi+i<e+ by #onthly pay#ents fro# his #o#"I -as on a 7reyhon+ the ne=t +ay for the lon trip, -hi&h a%e #e ti#e to pi&' a te#porary

na#e for #yself6 Mi&hael Phelps the last na#e ta'en fro# the T5 series Mission -m#ossie"



A r#or, probably starte+ by one of those reliable ha&'er 3frien+s4 of #ine, &ir&late+ that Iha+ fle+ to Israel" In fa&t I +i+ not then!an+ -ol+ not for @ite a fe- #ore years!e%en &ross the

bor+er into Cana+a or Me=i&o, #&h less tra%el o%erseas" Bt this -as another of those stories that-ol+ be&o#e part of the leen+, another ntre 3fa&t4 of #y history that -ol+ later be se+ to&on%in&e 1+es not to rant #e bail"

My hosts in Oro%ille, >essie an+ D'e, -ere retire+, li%in on a ho#estea+ of half an a&re in

a far#in area" Ni&e people bt %ery set in their -ays" The +ays -ere pre&ise in their rotine" .p atJ6)) e%ery #ornin, &orn brea+ an+ #il' for brea'fast" After +inner, -at&h a#e sho-s on T5" No&o#pter" No #o+e#" No ha# ra+io" Toh for a 'i+ li'e #e, bt -ay better than bein behin+ the-alls of a Yoth Athority fa&ility"

The &ople 'ept &hi&'ens an+ pis, an+ ha+ t-o +os" To #e, it felt li'e 3reen Acres" Is-ear one of their pis loo'e+ e=a&tly li'e Arnol+, the pi on the sho-

Ob%iosly I &ol+n0t +ri%e, sin&e the only li&ense I ha+ -as in #y real na#e, an+ there -asa -arrant ot for #y arrest" 8o to et aron+ the neihborhoo+, I boht a bi'e"

I0+ ri+e to the lo&al library an+ spen+ hors rea+in" 2or so#ethin else to 'eep #y #in+enae+, I sine+ p for a &orse at the lo&al &ollee!in Cri#inal >sti&e" The instr&tor -as asittin &ri#inal &ort 1+e in Btte Conty" Drin the &orse, he playe+ tapes of &onfessions" An+

then le&tre+ ho- nai%e the sspe&ts -ere to tal' to the poli&e -ithot a la-yer" /e on&e sai+,3Most &ri#inals belie%e they &an tal' their -ay ot of troble"4 I s#ile+, 'no-in that -as reata+%i&e" It a#se+ #e to -on+er -hat he -ol+ ha%e thoht if he ha+ fon+ ot that a st+entsittin in the front roof the &lass ha+ a fiti%e -arrant ot for hi#"

I st&' -ith the 3reen Acres lifestyle for for #onths, ntil a &all to #y attorney &onfir#e+that he ha+ re&ei%e+ a &opy of the CYA +is&hare paper in+i&atin they no loner ha+ 1ris+i&tiono%er #e" The attorney pointe+ ot that it -as a 3+ishonorable4 +is&hare" I 1st lahe+" Who0+i%e a +a#n if it -as +ishonorableH It -as ne%er that honorable to start -ith" It0s not li'e I0+ left thear#e+ for&es"

Within +ays, I -as ba&' in Los Aneles, fll of anti&ipation" Lenny DiCi&&o ha+ lan+e+ a 1ob at /hes Air&raft as a &o#pter operator an+ he -as eaer for #e to &o#e o%er an+ %isit" E%en better, Lenny sai+ he ha+ so#ethin to share -ith #e, so#ethin he +i+n0t -ant to tell #e o%er the phone" I -on+ere+ -hat it &ol+ be"



Wi&& Hack fo Lo*e

Kyoo o0i r1r Niyovo %oh)#c0 o)y dn ' a#o#sy

In his ti#e at /hes Air&raft, Lenny DiCi&&o tol+ #e, he ha+ be&o#e b++y:b++y -ith a

la+y se&rity ar+" I -as to &o#e see hi# on a niht -hen this la+y -ol+ be on +ty, an+ say I-as a DEC e#ployee" When I sho-e+ p, she sine+ #e in -ith a -in', not as'in to see any ID"

Lenny arri%e+ to es&ort #e fro# the lobby, barely able to &ontrol his e=&ite#ent, bt stillarroant an+ fll of hi#self" /e le+ #e to a /hes 5A &o#pter that ha+ a&&ess to the Arpanet,lin'in a &olle&tion of ni%ersities, resear&h labs, o%ern#ent &ontra&tors, an+ the li'e" Typin&o##an+s, he tol+ #e he -as a&&essin a &o#pter syste# &alle+ Do&'#aster, -hi&h -as o-ne+

by the National Co#pter 8e&rity Center NC8C, a pbli& ar# of the sperse&ret National8e&rity Aen&y" We -ere elate+, 'no-in that this -as the &losest -e0+ e%er &o#e to establishina real &onne&tion to the N8A"

Brain abot his so&ial enineerin, Lenny sai+ he ha+ preten+e+ to be a #e#ber of the National Co#pter 8e&rity Center0s IT Tea# an+ &onne+ a -or'er there na#e+ T" Arnol+ intore%ealin his &re+entials to the syste#" Lenny -as pra&ti&ally +an&in -ith pri+e" /e -as still s&ha ee', it see#e+ li'e he #st be hih on so#e reat +ope -hen he boaste+, 3I0# as oo+ a so&ialenineer as yo are, $e%in4

We fishe+ aron+ for #aybe an hor bt &a#e p only -ith ninterestin infor#ation" M&h later, that hor -ol+ &o#e ba&' to hant #e" I -as sre there -as so#e -ay I &ol+ fast:tra&' #y &o#pter s'ills to so#ethin that &ol+

lan+ #e a 1ob I &o%ete+6 -or'in for 7eneral Telephone" I fon+ ot the &o#pany -as a&ti%elyre&ritin ra+ates fro# a te&hni&al s&hool &alle+ the Co#pter Learnin Center" It -as an easy+ri%e fro# #y pla&e an+ I &ol+ earn a &ertifi&ate by oin to s&hool there for only si= #onths"

A 2e+eral Pell 7rant pls a st+ent loan pai+ #y -ay, an+ #y #o# &a#e p -ith the brea+for so#e of the e=tra e=penses" The s&hool re@ire+ #ale st+ents to -ear a sit an+ tie to &lasse%ery +ay" I ha+n0t +resse+ li'e that sin&e #y bar #it<%ah at ae thirteen, an+ no-, sin&e I -ast-enty:three an+ fairly beefe+ ot, that sit -ol+ ha%e been a pretty #iserable fit" Mo#0s &ash

pai+ for t-o ne- sits"I really en1oye+ prora##in in 3asse#bler lanae,4 #ore &hallenin be&ase the

prora##er has to #aster #any te&hni&al +etails, bt yiel+in #&h #ore effi&ient &o+e that ses a#&h s#aller #e#ory footprint" Co+in in this lo-er:le%el lanae -as fn" It felt li'e I ha+ #ore&ontrol o%er #y appli&ations6 I -as &o+in #&h &loser to the #a&hine le%el than sin a hiher:le%el prora##in lanae s&h as COBOL" The &lass-or' -as rotine to so#e-hat &hallenin,

bt also fas&inatin" I -as +oin -hat I lo%e+6 learnin #ore abot &o#pter syste#s an+ prora##in" When the sb1e&t of ha&'in &a#e p e%ery no- an+ then, I playe+ +#b, 1stlistenin"

Bt of &orse, I -as &ontinin to ha&'" I ha+ been playin &at:an+:#ose a#es -ithPa&ifi& Bell, as the for#er Pa&ifi& Telephone ha+ restyle+ itself" E%ery ti#e I fire+ ot a ne- -ayof ettin into the &o#pany0s s-it&hes, so#ebo+y there -ol+ e%entally fire ot a -ay of

blo&'in #y a&&ess" I0+ se the +ial:p n#bers that RCMAC -as sin to &onne&t to %arioss-it&hes to pro&ess ser%i&e or+ers an+ they0+ &at&h on, then &hane the +ial:p n#bers or restri&t

the# so I &ol+n0t +ial in" An+ then I -ol+ re#o%e the restri&tion -hen they -eren0t payinattention" It -ent ba&' an+ forth for #onths" Their &onstant interferen&e ha+ otten to the point-here ha&'in into Pa&ifi& Bell s-it&hes -as ettin to be #ore li'e -or'"



Then I ot the i+ea of tryin ot a hiher:le%el approa&h6 atta&'in their 8-it&hin ControlCenter 8yste#, or 8CC8" If I &ol+ +o that, I0+ ha%e 1st as #&h &ontrol as if I0+ been sittin infront of the s-it&hes the#sel%es, able to +o -hate%er I -ante+ -ithot ha%in to so&ial:enineer&leless te&hni&ians +ay after +ay" .lti#ate a&&ess an+ po-er &ol+ be #ine"

I starte+ -ith an atta&' ai#e+ at the 8CC8 at Oa'lan+, in Northern California" On #y first&all, I planne+ to say I -as fro# E8AC the Ele&troni& 8yste#s Assistan&e Center, pro%i+in

spport for all the 8CC8 soft-are +eploye+ throhot the &o#pany" 8o I +i+ #y resear&h, &o#inp -ith the na#e of a leit E8AC -or'er, then &lai#in, 3I nee+ to et into the Oa'lan+ 8CC8 btor Data 'it e@ip#ent is +o-n for #aintenan&e, so I0ll ha%e to et a&&ess throh +ial:p"4

3No s-eat"4 The #an I ha+ rea&he+ a%e #e the +ial:p n#ber an+ a series of pass-or+s, an+ staye+ onthe line -ith #e, tal'in #e throh ea&h step"

Oops, this -as a syste# -ith 3+ial ba&'4 se&rity6 yo ha+ to enter a phone n#ber an+ -aitfor the &o#pter to rin yo ba&'" What no-H

3Loo', I0# off:site at a re#ote offi&e,4 I sai+ off the top of #y hea+" 38o I -on0t be able tota'e a &allba&'"4 I ha+ #ai&ally hit on a reasonable:son+in e=&se" 38re, I &an prora# it to bypass the

+ial ba&' -hen yo lo in -ith yor serna#e,4 he assre+ #e!+efeatin the &o#pany0s elaboratese&rity that -ol+ other-ise ha%e re@ire+ that I be at an athori<e+ &allba&' n#ber"

Lenny 1oine+ #e in the 8CC8 brea':in effort" Ea&h one -e ot into a%e s a&&ess to fi%e orsi= &entral:offi&e s-it&hes, -ith fll &ontrol o%er the#, so -e -ere able to +o anythin a te&h -ho-as in the CO &ol+ +o, sittin at the s-it&h" We &ol+ tra&e lines, &reate ne- phone n#bers,+is&onne&t any phone n#ber, a++re#o%e &sto# &allin featres, set p traps:an+:tra&es, an+a&&ess los fro# traps:an+:tra&es" A trap:an+:tra&e is a featre pla&e+ on a line that &aptresin&o#in n#bers, sally pla&e+ on &sto#ers0 lines if they are the %i&ti# of harassin phone&alls"

Lenny an+ I pt a he a#ont of ti#e into this, fro# late *J throh #&h of *9" Wee%entally ot into the s-it&hes for all of Pa&ifi& Bell, then Manhattan, then .tah an+ Ne%a+a, an+in ti#e #any others throhot the &ontry" A#on these -as the Chesapea'e an+ Poto#a&Telephone Co#pany, or CUP, -hi&h ser%e+ the Washinton, DC, area, in&l+in all of the DC:

base+ +epart#ents of the 2e+eral o%ern#ent as -ell as the Pentaon"The National 8e&rity Aen&y te#ptation -as an it&h I &ol+n0t resist" N8A0s telephone

ser%i&e -as pro%i+e+ throh a phone &o#pany s-it&h in Larel, Marylan+, -hi&h -e ha+ alrea+yaine+ a&&ess to" Dire&tory assistan&e liste+ the aen&y0s pbli& phone n#ber as )* 9:9**"After ran+o#ly &he&'in ot se%eral n#bers -ith the sa#e prefi=, I pro&ee+e+ on the reasonablehn&h that N8A -as assine+ the entire prefi=" .sin a test fn&tion for s-it&h te&hni&ians &alle+3Tal' U Monitor,4 I -as able to set p a &ir&it to listen to ran+o# &alls in proress" I poppe+ in onone line an+ hear+ a #an an+ a -o#an tal'in" /ar+ly able to belie%e I -as a&tally listenin in on

the N8A, I -as thrille+ an+ ner%os at the sa#e ti#e" The irony -as reat!I -as -iretappin the-orl+0s biest -iretappers"O'ay, I0+ pro%e+ I &ol+ +o it? ti#e to et ot, in a hrry" I +i+n0t stay on lon enoh to

hear -hat they -ere tal'in abot, an+ I +i+n0t -ant to 'no-" If the &all ha+ been really sensiti%e,I0# sre it -ol+ ha%e been on a se&re line, bt e%en so, it -as -ay too ris'y" The li'elihoo+ of#y ettin &aht -as sli# if I 1st +i+ it on&e an+ +i+n0t e%er o ba&'"

The o%ern#ent ne%er fon+ ot I ha+ aine+ this a&&ess" An+ I -ol+n0t be in&l+in ithere, e=&ept the statte of li#itations has lon rn its &orse"

2or Lenny an+ #e, it -as thrillin e%ery ti#e -e &o#pro#ise+ another 8CC8!li'e ettininto hiher an+ hiher le%els of a %i+eo a#e"

This -as the #ost sinifi&ant ha&'in of #y &areer be&ase of the i##ense &ontrol an+

po-er it a%e s o%er the phone syste#s of #&h of the .nite+ 8tates" An+ yet -e ne%er #a+e anyse of it" 2or s, the thrill lay si#ply in 'no-in -e ha+ aine+ the po-er"

Pa&ifi& Bell e%entally fon+ ot abot the a&&ess -e ha+ aine+" Yet -e -ere ne%er



arreste+ an+ &hare+ be&ase, I later learne+, &o#pany #anae#ent -as afrai+ of -hat -ol+happen if others fon+ ot -hat I ha+ been able to +o an+ starte+ tryin to +pli&ate #y efforts"

Mean-hile Lenny0s a&&essin of Do&'#aster ha+ not one nnoti&e+" N8A tra&e+ the brea':in ba&' to /hes, -hi&h in trn tra&e+ it ba&' to the &o#pter roo# -here Lenny -as-or'in on the niht I %isite+" 8e&rity at /hes @estione+ hi# first, then the 2BI s##one+hi# for an offi&ial inter%ie-" Lenny hire+ an attorney -ho a&&o#panie+ hi# to the #eetin"

Lenny tol+ the aents he an+ I ha+ ne%er +one anythin -ith Do&'#aster" /e -as rille+se%eral ti#es by /hes #anae#ent" /e stoo+ his ron+ an+ -ol+n0t point a finer at #e"M&h later, thoh, to sa%e his o-n ne&', he &lai#e+ that I ha+ ha&'e+ into Do&'#aster -hile I%isite+ /hes that e%enin" When they as'e+ -hy he0+ lie+ abot #y not bein in%ol%e+ in thefirst pla&e, he sai+ he0+ been afrai+ be&ase I0+ threatene+ to 'ill hi# if he a%e #e p" Clearly, he-as +esperately tryin to &o#e p -ith an e=&se -hy he lie+ to 2e+eral aents"

The %isitors0 lo sho-e+ that a $e%in Mitni&' ha+ in+ee+ sine+ in as a est of Lenny0s" Of&orse he -as s##arily &anne+ fro# /hes"

T-o years later I -ol+ be a&&se+ of possessin se&ret a&&ess &o+es for the N8A, -hen Ia&tally only ha+ the otpt of a 3-hois4 &o##an+!-hi&h sho-e+ the na#es an+ telephonen#bers of reistere+ sers -ith a&&onts on Do&'#aster!so#ethin rea+ily a%ailable to anyone

-ith a&&ess to the Arpanet"Mean-hile, ba&' at the &o#pter s&hool, the st+ents -eren0t all ys" One of the irls -as

a &te, petite &oe+ na#e+ Bonnie" I -asn0t e=a&tly the #ost attra&ti%e y aron+, &arryin all thee=tra -eiht I ha+ pt on e%er sin&e that frien+ fro# #y preteen bs:ri+in +ays ha+ intro+&e+ #eto 1n' foo+ as a basi& foo+ rop" I -as -eihin in at aron+ fifty:fi%e pon+s o%er-eiht"3Obese4 -ol+ ha%e been a #ore:than:polite ter#"

8till, I thoht she -as really &te" When -e -ere both in the &o#pter roo# -or'in ons&hool pro1e&ts, I starte+ sen+in #essaes to her a&ross the roo#, as'in her not to stop any of #y

prora#s that -ere rnnin at a hiher priority, an+ her replies -ere frien+ly enoh" I as'e+ herot to +inner" 8he sai+, 3I &an0t" I0# enae+"4 Bt I ha+ learne+ fro# #y ha&'in not to i%e peasily; there0s sally a -ay" A &ople of +ays later I as'e+ aain abot +inner, an+ tol+ her she ha+a beatifl s#ile" An+ -ha++aya 'no-H This ti#e she a&&epte+"

Later, she tol+ #e she thoht her fian&V #iht be lyin to her abot his finan&es!-hat&ars he o-ne+ an+ ho- #&h he o-e+ on the#" I tol+ her, 3I &an fin+ ot if yo -ant"4 8he sai+,3Yes, please"4

I ha+ l&'e+ #y -ay into a&&essin TRW, the &re+it:reportin &o#pany, -hile still in hihs&hool" Nothin &le%er abot this" One niht I -ent ot to the ba&' of 7alpin 2or+ in the 8an2ernan+o 5alley an+ + throh the trash" It too' abot fifteen #intes, bt #y little D#pster:+i%in e=pe+ition pai+ off" I fon+ a bn&h of &re+it reports on people byin &ars fro# the+ealership" In&re+ibly, printe+ ot on ea&h report -as 7alpin0s a&&ess &o+e for TRW" E%en #orein&re+ible6 they -ere still printin ot the a&&ess &o+e on ea&h &re+it report years later"

In those +ays, TRW -as %ery helpfl to its &lients" If yo &alle+ in an+ a%e a #er&hant0sna#e an+ the &orre&t a&&ess &o+e, an+ e=plaine+ that yo +i+n0t 'no- the pro&e+re, the ni&e la+y-ol+ tal' yo throh e%ery step of ettin a person0s &re+it report" 5ery helpfl to real &lients,%ery helpfl as -ell to ha&'ers li'e #e"

8o -hen Bonnie sai+ she0+ li'e #e to loo' into -hat her boyfrien+ -as really p to, I ha+all the tri&'s I nee+e+" A &all to TRW an+ a fe- hors on the &o#pter a%e #e his &re+it report, his

ban' balan&e, his property re&or+s" 8spi&ions &onfir#e+6 he -as no-here near as -ell:off as heha+ been &lai#in, an+ so#e of his assets -ere fro<en" DM5 re&or+s sho-e+ he still ha+ a &ar hetol+ Bonnie he ha+ sol+" I felt ba+ abot all this!I -asn0t tryin to n+er#ine her relationship" Btshe bro'e off their enae#ent"

Within t-o or three -ee's, -hen she ha+ otten o%er her initial e#otions abot the brea'p,

-e starte+ +atin" Thoh si= years ol+er than I -as an+ &onsi+erably #ore e=perien&e+ at thisa#e, she thoht I -as s#art an+ oo+:loo'in, +espite #y -eiht" This -as #y first seriosrelationship; I -as soarin"



Bonnie an+ I both li'e+ Thai foo+ an+ oin to the #o%ies, an+ she trne+ #e on to hi'in,so#ethin far ot of #y nor#al &o#fort <one, sho-in #e the beatifl trails in the nearby 8an7abriel Montains" 8he -as fas&inate+ by #y ability to ather infor#ation on people" An+ onethin #ore, a &oin&i+en&e I still lah at6 #y ne- irlfrien+ -as ha%in her salary pai+ an+ hertition &o%ere+ by one of #y prin&ipal lifelon ha&'in tarets, the phone &o#pany 7TE"

After finishin the pres&ribe+ half year for #y &ertifi&ate at the &o#pter s&hool, I en+e+ p

stayin on a bit loner" The syste# a+#in, Ariel, ha+ been tryin to &at&h #e ettin a+#inistrator pri%ilees on the s&hool0s 5MCM8 syste# for #onths" /e finally naile+ #e by hi+in behin+ a&rtain in the ter#inal roo# -hile I -as snoopin insi+e his +ire&tory, &at&hin #e re+:han+e+" Btinstea+ of bootin #e ot of the prora#, he offere+ #e a +eal6 he -as i#presse+ -ith the s'illsthat ha+ allo-e+ #e to ha&' into the s&hool0s &o#pters, an+ if I -ol+ aree to -rite prora#s that-ol+ #a'e their IBM #ini&o#pter #ore se&re, he -ol+ label it an 3honors pro1e&t"4 /o-abot that6 the s&hool -as trainin st+ents in the esoteri& 'no-le+e of &o#pters, bt re&ritin ast+ent to i#pro%e its o-n se&rity" That -as a bi first for #e" I too' it as a &o#pli#ent an+a&&epte+ the assin#ent" When I finishe+ the pro1e&t, I ra+ate+ -ith honors"

Ariel an+ I e%entally be&a#e frien+s" The Co#pter Learnin Center ha+ an in+&e#ent it se+ for sinin p st+ents6 a n#ber

of hih:profile &o#panies #a+e a pra&ti&e of hirin its ra+ates" An+ one of the# -as Bonnie0se#ployer, 7TE, #y ha&'in taret for so #any years" /o- fantasti& -as thatH

After inter%ie-in -ith 7TE0s IT Depart#ent, I -as broht ba&' for an inter%ie- -iththree people fro# /#an Resor&es, then offere+ a 1ob as a prora##er" Drea#s really +i+ &o#etre No #ore ha&'in for #e!I -ol+n0t nee+ it" I0+ be ettin pai+ for +oin -hat I lo%e+, at the

pla&e I lo%e+ +oin it"The 1ob bean -ith e#ployee orientation to tea&h ne- hires abot the na#es an+ fn&tions

of all the +ifferent 7TE &o#pter syste#s" /ello It -as a telephone &o#pany6 I &ol+ ha%e beentea&hin the &lasses" Bt of &orse I sat there ta'in notes li'e e%eryone else"

Cool ne- 1ob, a +aily @i&' stroll to the &afeteria for ln&h -ith #y irlfrien+, a leiti#ate pay&he&'!I ha+ it #a+e" Wal'in throh the offi&es, I0+ s#ile at the hn+re+s of serna#es an+ pass-or+s that -ere riht in front of #y nose, -ritten ot on Post:it notes" I -as li'e a refor#e++rn' on a >a&' Daniel0s +istillery tor, &onfi+ent bt nearly +i<<y fro# i#ainin 4&hat i$6

Bonnie an+ I -ol+ relarly ha%e ln&h -ith a frien+ of hers, a y fro# their 8e&rityDepart#ent" I -as al-ays &arefl to trn #y ID ba+e aron+; he ob%iosly ha+n0t &aht #y fllna#e -hen -e -ere intro+&e+, so -hy let hi# rea+ it on #y ba+e li'e a billboar+ flashin3Phone Co#pany Pbli& Ene#y Q*4H

Altoether, this -as one of the &oolest ti#es of #y -hole life!-ho nee+e+ ha&'inH Bt only a -ee' after I starte+, #y ne- boss +roppe+ a bo#b on #e" /e han+e+ #e ase&rity for# for an all:a&&ess ba+e that -ol+ rant #e entry to the +ata &enter t-enty:forse%en, sin&e I -ol+ be on &all for e#eren&ies" I##e+iately, I 'ne- I -as oin to et

&anne+; as soon as staff fro# 7TE 8e&rity loo'e+ at #y for#, they0+ re&oni<e #y na#e an+-on+er ho- I ha+ bypasse+ all of their se&rity &he&'s an+ a&tally been hire+!as a prora##er,no less"

A &ople of +ays later, I -ent to -or' -ith a ba+ t feelin" Later that #ornin, #ysper%isor sent for #e, an+ his boss, Rss Tro#bley, han+e+ #e #y pay&he&' pls se%eran&e pay,sayin he ha+ to let #e o be&ase #y referen&es ha+ not &he&'e+ ot" An ob%ios rse" I ha+

pro%i+e+ the na#es only of people -ho -ol+ say oo+ thins abot #e"I -as es&orte+ ba&' to #y +es' to ather #y personal effe&ts" Within #intes, a posse fro#

8e&rity sho-e+ p, in&l+in the y -ho ha+ been ha%in ln&h -ith Bonnie an+ #e" A &ople ofthe# starte+ sear&hin #y bo= of floppies for any &o#pany property" Whate%er" There -as none,

1st leiti#ate soft-are" The -hole posse -al'e+ #e to the +oor an+ all the -ay to #y &ar" As I

+ro%e off into the +istan&e, I lan&e+ in #y rear%ie- #irror" They -ere all -a%in oo+:bye"My &areer at 7TE ha+ laste+ a total of nine +ays"

I hear+ later that the ys fro# Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity ra<<e+ the hell ot of their b++ies at



7TE, thin'in it -as hilarios that any &o#pany &ol+ be stpi+ enoh to hire the notorios phone phrea'er $e%in Mitni&'!-ho# Pa&ifi& Bell ha+ been 'eepin a file on for years"

One step ba&' an+ one step for-ar+" A Co#pter Learnin Center instr&tor -ho also-or'e+ at 8e&rity Pa&ifi& National Ban' as an Infor#ation 8e&rity 8pe&ialist seste+ I applyfor a 1ob there" O%er a perio+ of -ee's, I ha+ three sets of inter%ie-s, the last one -ith a %i&e

presi+ent of the ban'" Then a fairly lenthy -ait" 2inally the phone &all &a#e6 3One of the other

&an+i+ates has a &ollee +eree, bt -e0%e +e&i+e+ yo0re the person -e -ant"4 The salary -as,))), -hi&h for #e -as reat

They sent an in:hose #e#o aron+ that annon&e+, 3Please -el&o#e ne- e#ployee $e%inMitni&', -ho starts ne=t -ee'"4 Re#e#ber that arti&le in the Los Angees 'imes, -hi&h &o%ere+ #y 1%enile arrest an+

printe+ #y na#e, a %iolation of la- as -ell as a %iolation of #y pri%a&y be&ase I -as a #inorHWell, one of the people at 8e&rity Pa&ifi& National Ban' re#e#bere+ that arti&le, too"

The +ay before I -as to start, I ot a strane &all fro# 8an+ra La#bert, the la+y -ho0+ hire+#e an+ -ho fon+e+ the se&rity orani<ation Infor#ation 8yste#s 8e&rity Asso&iation I88A"The &on%ersation -as a&tally #ore li'e an interroation6

8L6 3Do yo play /eartsH4

Me6 3The &ar+ a#eH4 8L6 3Yes"4 I ha+ a sin'in feelin that the party -as o%er" 8L6 3Are yo a ha# ra+io operator -ith the &all sin WA95P8H4 Me6 3Yes"4 8L6 3Do yo +i aron+ in the D#psters behin+ offi&e bil+insH4 Me6 .h:oh" 3Only -hen I0# hnry"4 My atte#pt at h#or fell" 8he sai+ oo+:bye an+ hn p" I re&ei%e+ a phone &all fro#/#an Resor&es the ne=t +ay -ith+ra-in the e#ploy#ent offer" On&e aain, #y past ha+ &o#e

ba&' to bite #e in the ass"8o#eti#e later, #e+ia otlets re&ei%e+ a press release fro# 8e&rity Pa&ifi& National Ban'

annon&in a )) #illion loss for the @arter" The release -as a phony!it -asn0t really fro# the ban', -hi&h ha+ not in fa&t lost #oney in that @arter" Of &orse the hiher:ps at the ban' -eresre I -as behin+ it" I +i+n0t learn abot any of this ntil #onths later, at a &ort hearin, -hen

prose&tors tol+ the 1+e that I ha+ &o##itte+ this #ali&ios a&t" Thin'in ba&', I re#e#bere+tellin De Payne that #y 1ob offer ha+ been plle+" Years after-ar+, I as'e+ hi# if he ha+ been

behin+ that press release" /e %ehe#ently +enie+ it" The fa&t is, I +i+n0t +o it" That -asn0t #y style6I0%e ne%er pra&ti&e+ any 'in+ of %i&ios retribtion"

Bt the phony press release be&a#e another part of the Myth of $e%in Mitni&'" 8till, I ha+ Bonnie in #y life, one of the best thins that ha+ e%er happene+ to #e" Bt ha%eyo e%er felt that so#ethin -as so oo+ it &ol+n0t possibly lastH



"EVEN



Hi#ched in Ha%#e

Kvoh wg hvs oas ct hvs Do+wtw+ 2s11 sad1cmss kvc $sor hvs whs$o1

asac o#cih am vo+yw* o+hw)whwsg c)s$ hvs voa $orwc

Bonnie re&ently sai+ that she still re#e#bers 3ho- #&h fn $e%in -as, ho- s-eet he

-as"4I felt the sa#e abot her" There ha+ been other irls I0+ ha+ &rshes on, bt Bonnie -as a

first for #e in ho- serios I felt, a first in ho- #&h I &are+" We en1oye+ so #any of the sa#ethins, e%en +o-n to the Reese0s Peant Btter Cps that -e0+ +ri%e ot of or -ay to pi&' p at aK:Ele%en on or -ay ho#e" Yo probably 'no- the satisfa&tion -hen yo0re 1st &o#fortable an+

happy bein in one parti&lar person0s &o#pany" There -as no +obt that ha%in her there for #e,after those t-o rapi+:fire 1ob losses, -as e=a&tly -hat the +o&tor or+ere+" I -as spen+in so #&hti#e at her pla&e that I bean #o%in so#e of #y &lothes there" We ne%er really +e&i+e+, ;kay, et/s

ive together " It 1st sort of happene+"We lo%e+ bi'in toether" We lo%e+ oin to the bea&h -ith a bottle of -ine" We lo%e+

hi'in in the Chantry 2lat, in Ar&a+ia, a beatifl area -ith -aterfalls that0s riht in Los AnelesConty bt feels li'e bein in a forest!really &ool, s&h a refreshin es&ape for a pale y li'e #e-ho sat in front of a &o#pter all +ay an+ all niht"

I +i+n0t e%en #in+ that she -as a la<y hose'eeper, -ith a bi pile of her +irty &lothessally o&&pyin spa&e on the be+roo# floor" I0%e ne%er been a neat frea' li'e #y parents, bt I +oli'e thins ti+y an+ orani<e+" The t-o of s -ere ali'e in so #any other -ays that -hen it &a#e to

the &on+ition of the apart#ent, I 1st &lose+ #y eyes"8in&e I +i+n0t ha%e a 1ob, I sine+ p for an e=tension &orse at .CLA in West-oo+, not far

fro# s" Bonnie -ent -ith #e to reister"Bt it -as a +e&eption!the first ti#e in or relationship that I -as, in a sense, &heatin on

her" I0+ o ot three e%enins a -ee' sayin I -as oin to &lass, an+ instea+ I0+ +ri%e o%er toLenny DiCi&&o0s -or' an+ ha&' -ith hi# ntil al#ost snp" It -as a pretty rotten thin to +o"

On the nihts -hen I +i+n0t o ot, I0+ sit at #y &o#pter in the apart#ent, sin Bonnie0stelephone line for ha&'in -hile she rea+ by herself, -at&he+ tele%ision by herself, an+ then -ent to

be+ by herself" I &ol+ say it -as #y -ay of han+lin the +isappoint#ent of those t-o al#ost:bt:oh:ne%er:#in+ 1obs, bt I0+ be lyin" 8re, I -as ha%in proble#s han+lin the #assi%e+isappoint#ent" Bt that -asn0t the reason" The real reason -as si#ply that I -as in the thrall of a

po-erfl obsession"Thoh that ha+ to be frstratin for her, she -as so#eho- as a&&eptin as I -as abot her

less:than:a+#irable hose'eepin" After a fe- #onths of li%in toether, -e both 'ne- -e -ere&o##itte+ to the relationship" We -ere in lo%e, -e starte+ tal'in abot ettin #arrie+, an+ -e

bean sa%in #oney" Whate%er -as left o%er fro# #y pay&he&' I -as hire+ by 2ro#in0sDeli&atessen to #irate the# o%er to a point:of:sale syste#, I -ol+ &on%ert into hn+re+:+ollar

bills that I stashe+ in the insi+e breast po&'et of a 1a&'et in or &oat &loset"I -as t-enty:three years ol+, li%in in #y irlfrien+0s apart#ent an+ spen+in %irtally

e%ery -a'in hor on #y &o#pter" I -as Da%i+ on #y PC, atta&'in the 7oliath net-or's of the#a1or telephone &o#panies throhot the .nite+ 8tates"

The phone &o#pany &ontrol syste#s se+ a bastar+i<e+ %ersion of .ni=, -hi&h I -ante+ tolearn #ore abot" A &o#pany in Northern California &alle+ 8anta Cr< Operations, or 8CO, -as+e%elopin a .ni=:base+ operatin syste# &alle+ eni= for PCs" If I &ol+ et #y han+s on a &opy



of the sor&e &o+e, that -ol+ i%e #e a &han&e to st+y the inner -or'ins of the operatin syste#on #y o-n &o#pter" 2ro# Pa&ifi& Bell, I -as able to obtain 8CO0s se&ret +ial:p n#bers for its&o#pter net-or', an+ then #aniplate+ an e#ployee into re%ealin her serna#e an+ &haninher pass-or+ to a ne- pass-or+ that I ha+ pro%i+e+, -hi&h a%e #e a&&ess"

At one point -hile i##erse+ in st+yin the +etails of 8CO0s syste# tryin to lo&ate thesor&e &o+e I -ante+ to st+y, I noti&e+ a syste# a+#in -as -at&hin #y e%ery #o%e" I sent hi# a

#essae, 3Why are yo -at&hin #eH4To #y srprise, he ans-ere+6 3It0s #y 1ob,4 his #essae sai+"

>st to see ho- far he0+ allo- #e to o, I -rote ba&' that I -ante+ #y o-n a&&ont on thesyste#" /e &reate+ an a&&ont for #e, e%en i%in #e the serna#e I re@este+6 3ha&'er"4 $no-inthat he0+ be 'eepin the a&&ont n+er sr%eillan&e, I 1st +istra&te+ hi# by po'in aron+ atnothin in parti&lar" I -as able to lo&ate the &o+e I -ante+, bt in the en+ I ne%er trie+ to +o-nloa+it be&ase the transfer -ol+ ha%e ta'en fore%er o%er #y (,)):ba+ #o+e#"

Bt that -asn0t oin to be the en+ of this tale" Bonnie &a#e ho#e fro# -or' one +ay at the beinnin of >ne to fin+ e%erythin in+isarray6 -e ha+ been robbe+" 8he pae+ #e, I &alle+, an+ I &ol+ hear the alar# an+ pset in her%oi&e"

I as'e+ her to &he&' #y &oat po&'et for the #oney I0+ been sa%in for or -e++in" Btthen she noti&e+ that #y stash of hn+re+:+ollar bills!totalin abot ,)))!ha+ been neatly lai+ot on the 'it&hen table? alon -ith a sear&h -arrant"

We ha+n0t been robbe+; -e0+ been rai+e+" By offi&ers of the 8anta Cr< Poli&e Depart#ent"8anta Cr< I 'ne- it ha+ to be &onne&te+ to #y nihtti#e ha&'in e=&rsions into the &o#pters of8anta Cr< Operations"

When Bonnie sai+ #y &o#pter an+ +is's -ere one, #y -orl+ i##e+iately &r#ble+" Itol+ her to @i&'ly pa&' so#e &lothes an+ #eet #e" I 'ne- there -ol+ be a lot of troble &o#in#y -ay" I nee+e+ to et a la-yer to +o +a#ae &ontrol" 2ast

Bonnie 1oine+ #e at a lo&al par', an+ #y #o# &a#e, too" I tol+ the# both it -asn0t a bi+eal, sin&e I ha+ 1st po'e+ aron+!I ha+n0t +a#ae+ any of the 8CO files or e%en +o-nloa+e+their sor&e &o+e" I -asn0t as -orrie+ abot +ealin -ith the la- as I -as abot the pain an+sfferin I -as brinin +o-n on these t-o an+ 7ra#, the #ost i#portant people in #y life"

Mo# +ro%e ho#e, I too' Bonnie to a nearby #otel" 8he -as pset, feelin %iolate+" If sheha+ -al'e+ ot on #e riht then, I -ol+ ha%e +eser%e+ it" Instea+, -ithot hesitation, she sho-e+her tre &olors, her loyalty" /er attit+e -asn0t 3What ha%e yo +one to #eH4 It -as #ore, 3What+o -e +o no-H4

The ne=t #ornin she &alle+ her -or' an+ as'e+ to ta'e so#e %a&ation ti#e for a fa#ilye#eren&y" /er boss tol+ her that so#e poli&e offi&ers ha+ sho-n p, -antin to inter%ie- her" Myfirst thoht -as that sin&e I ha+ been ha&'in fro# her apart#ent an+ on her telephone, they -ereass#in that she -as the ha&'er" Bt then I &on&l+e+ that their stratey -as probably to se

arrestin #y irlfrien+ as a barainin &hip6 3A+#it e%erythin or yor irlfrien+ oes to 1ail"4I spent the ne=t fe- +ays &allin la-yers, e=plainin the sitation, #a'in plans" The -ayBonnie re#e#bers it, 3We &rie+ a lot toether bt -e st&' by ea&h other"4

Why +i+n0t she 1st -al' otH 3I -as &ra<y abot $e%in,4 she says to+ay" We -ere able to release so#e a#ont of an=iety an+ -orry by spen+in a lot of ti#e #a'inlo%e" I felt really sorry that I ha+ pt Bonnie in this position, an+ that I &ase+ #y #o# an+ran+#other s&h an=iety, an+ I ess Bonnie an+ I fon+ &o#fort in that basi& otlet"

Ant Chi&'ie +ro%e Bonnie an+ #e +o-n to the Los Aneles Conty 8heriff0s West/olly-oo+ station" We trne+ orsel%es in, an+ Chi&'ie i##e+iately poste+ or bon+, J,))) ea&h"8o#eho- the poli&e nele&te+ to finerprint an+ photoraph s" Be&ase of this #a1or pro&e+ralerror, there -as no arrest re&or+ &reate+ for either of s" 8till to+ay, there is no offi&ial re&or+ that I

-as e%er arreste+ on the 8anta Cr< Operations &hare" Please +on0t tell anyone"O%er the ne=t fe- #onths, for e%ery appearan&e -e ha+ to #a'e in the 8anta Cr< &orts, I

ha+ to by for ron+:trip airplane ti&'ets!Bonnie -as sin a +ifferent attorney!pls sprin for



hotel roo#s, a rental &ar, an+ #eals" Both of the attorneys ha+ re@ire+ a retainer p front" 8o #&hfor the #oney I ha+ been sa%in for the -e++in6 the entire ,))) -ent to pay #y attorney0sretainer" Mo# an+ 7ra# loane+ #e #oney to pay for Bonnie0s attorney an+ all the other e=penses"

8o -e +i+n0t ha%e the #oney any#ore for a proper -e++in, bt it -as -orse than that"There isn0t any lo%in, ro#anti& -ay to pt this6 I tol+ Bonnie -e nee+e+ to et #arrie+ so she&ol+n0t testify aainst #e, an+ also so she &ol+ %isit #e if I lan+e+ in 1ail, -hi&h -as loo'in li'e

the -ay thins -ere hea+e+"I a%e Bonnie a +ia#on+ enae#ent rin, an+ -e -ere #arrie+ by a #inister -ho

&on+&te+ -e++ins in his ho#e in Woo+lan+ /ills" 7ra# -as there, alon -ith #y #o# an+ her&rrent boyfrien+, +eli entreprener Arnie 2ro#in" None of Bonnie0s fa#ily 1oine+ s; her #other-as n+erstan+ably frios at the sitation I ha+ lan+e+ her +ahter in"

It -asn0t the #ai&al o&&asion so #any irls +rea# abot -hen they0re yon" Bonnie -ore pants, a top, an+ flip:flops" 8he ha+n0t bothere+ to e%en atte#pt to pt herself toether" After-ar+-e all hea+e+ o%er to or apart#ent, 7ra# brinin a platter of foo+"

The leal pi&tre trne+ fro# ba+ to -orse" On top of the &ri#inal &hares, 8CO file+ a *"#illion la-sit aainst #e for +a#aes" An+ +itto aainst Bonnie"

Then a little sn bro'e throh" It trne+ ot the la-sits -ere 1st for le%erae6 the

opposin la-yers sai+ the fol's at 8CO -ol+ +rop the &i%il sits if I -ol+ tell the# ho- I0+ha&'e+ in" They ha+ ne%er been able to fire it ot"

Of &orse I aree+, an+ sat +o-n -ith a syste# a+#in na#e+ 8tephen Marr, -ho a&te+ as ifhe thoht -e -ere oin to &hat li'e oo+ b++ies" I treate+ it the sa#e -ay I -ol+ ha%e if it ha+

been a +eposition6 he as'e+ @estions, I ans-ere+" Bt there -asn0t all that #&h to tell" No hih:te&h ha&'in se&rets" I tol+ hi# ho- I ha+ si#ply &alle+ a se&retary an+ s&h#oo<e+ her into i%in#e her lo:in na#e an+ &hanin her pass-or+ to one I pro%i+e+!no bi +eal"

Thoh Bonnie0s #other -ol+n0t &o#e to the -e++in, she +i+ i%e s a -e++inre&eption at her ho#e in 8an Di#as" This ti#e Bonnie -ore a -e++in +ress an+ I -as in a rente+t=" My +a+ an+ #y brother, A+a#, -ere there an+ of &orse #y #o# an+ 7ra#, as -ell asBonnie0s sister an+ brothers, an+ e%en Bonnie0s e=:boyfrien+" This -as a #&h happier +ay than thereal -e++in, &o#plete -ith -e++in &a'e an+ a photorapher"

The &ri#inal &hares for the 8CO brea':in trne+ ot better than I &ol+ ha%e hope+" The&hares aainst Bonnie -ere +roppe+, an+ #y attorney, -ho 'ne- the prose&tor, Mi&hael Barton,ot #e a oo+ +eal" 2or anyone else!for -hat -as te&hni&ally a first offense, sin&e #y 1%enilere&or+s -ere seale+!the &ase -ol+ ha%e been &hare+ as a #is+e#eanor" Bt be&ase I -as$e%in Mitni&', -ith a ba+ass reptation, the prose&tor initially insiste+ on &harin #e -ith afelony!e%en thoh #y trespass into 8CO0s net-or' still a#onte+ to only a #is+e#eanor n+erthe la-" I aree+ to a+#it to the trespass to settle the &ase an+ et the &hares aainst Bonnie+roppe+" I -ol+n0t ha%e to ser%e any 1ail ti#e, only pay a -ay:#o+est (*9 fine an+ be on3s##ary probation4 for thirty:si= #onths!#eanin that I -ol+n0t ha%e to report to a Probation

Offi&er" The only other ob%ios &on+ition -as that I ha+ to pro#ise not to 3&o##it any &ri#es"4A fe- +ays later I +ro%e p to 8anta Cr< for the retrn of the stff that ha+ been sei<e+" The&ops a%e #e ba&' #y &o#pter ter#inal bt not the +is's, -hi&h -orrie+ #e be&ase thosein&ri#inatin +is's &ontaine+ e%i+en&e of #y ha&'s into Pa&ifi& Bell, a#on other interestin

pla&es" Another bo= that they +i+ retrn, thoh, they #st not ha%e loo'e+ at %ery &areflly or&are+6 it hel+ Bonnie0s pot stash an+ bon pipe" Then aain, this -as 8anta Cr<, -ith a s#all:to-n

poli&e +epart#ent"There -as an after#ath to the 8anta Cr< story" As I ha+ feare+, the 8anta Cr< +ete&ti%es

apparently ot aron+ to loo'in at those &o#pter +is's, an+ trne+ infor#ation o%er to Pa&ifi&Bell abot -hat I ha+ been +oin -ith its syste#s" Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity -as alar#e+ enoh toenerate an internal #e#o to all #anaers, -hi&h I fon+ ot abot in a #ost nli'ely -ay6 a

Pa&ifi& Bell e#ployee na#e+ Bill Coo', also a ha# operator -ho fre@ently se+ the infa#os*K"J #eahert< repeater in Los Aneles, rea+ the #e#o on the air, 1st to antaoni<e #e"

Of &orse, I ha+ to see the #e#o for #yself" /o- &ol+ I et itH



I &onta&te+ Le-is De Payne at -or' an+ as'e+ hi# to te#porarily reprora# the fa=#a&hine there so in&o#in &alls -ol+ be ans-ere+ by a #a&hine that sai+ it belone+ to Pa&ifi&Bell 8e&rity"

Then I +iale+ into the phone &o#pany s-it&h that han+le+ the telephone ser%i&e for Pa&ifi&Bell 8e&rity, an+ reprora##e+ the phone line for its fa= #a&hine so it -ol+ &all:for-ar+ to the

phone n#ber for the #a&hine at Le-is0s -or'" That too' &are of the preparations"

I then &alle+ the offi&e of Pa&ifi& Bell %i&e presi+ent 2ran' 8piller" /is e=e&ti%e se&retaryans-ere+" I sai+ I -as &allin fro# Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity an+ a%e the na#e of one of the a&talse&rity in%estiators!#aybe I sai+ I -as 8te%e Doherty"

I as'e+, 3Di+ 2ran' et the #e#o on the $e%in Mitni&' &aseH4 3What0s it abotH4 she as'e+" 3A ha&'er -ho0s been brea'in into or &o#pters"4 3Oh, yes, riht" I0%e ot it riht here"4 I sai+, 3I thin' -e sent yo an ol+er re%ision that has sin&e been p+ate+" Can yo fa= the%ersion yo ha%e to #eH4 I a%e her the internal fa= n#ber for Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity in NorthernCalifornia"

38re,4 she sai+" 3I0ll +o it riht no-"4 As soon as Le-is ot the fa=, he refa=e+ it to #e,

then he an+ I both n+i+ or setp steps"/ere0s the list of thins the #e#o sai+ ha+ been fon+ on #y floppy +is's6

Mitni&'0s &o#pro#ise of all 8othern California 8CCE8AC &o#pters" On file -ere thena#es, lo:ins, pass-or+s, an+ ho#e telephone n#bers for northern an+ sothern E8ACe#ployees"

The +ial:p n#bers an+ &ir&it i+entifi&ation +o&#ents for 8CC &o#pters an+ +ata 'its"The &o##an+s for testin an+ sei<in trn' testin lines an+ &hannels"The &o##an+s an+ lo:ins for CO8MO8 -ire &enters for northern an+ 8othern California"The &o##an+s for line #onitorin an+ the sei<re of +ial tone"Referen&es to the i#personation of 8othern California se&rity aents an+ E8AC

e#ployees to obtain infor#ation"The &o##an+s for pla&in ter#inatin an+ oriinatin traps"The a++resses of Pa&ifi& Bell lo&ations an+ the ele&troni& +oor lo&' a&&ess &o+es for the

follo-in 8othern California &entral offi&es EL87*(, L8AN)9, L8AN*(, L8AN*J, L8ANJ9,A5LN**, /LWD)*, /WT/)*, I7WD)*, LOMT**, an+ 8NPD)*"

Inter&o#pany ele&troni& #ail +etailin ne- lo:inpass-or+ pro&e+res an+ safear+s"The -or'sheet of an .NI en&ryption rea+er ha&'er file" If s&&essfl, this prora# &ol+

brea' into any .NI syste# at -ill"I i#aine a lot of people in the &o#pany #st ha%e been #ore than a little pset to fin+ ot

ho- +eeply I ha+ penetrate+ their syste#s, bypassin all of their elaborate se&rity safear+s"Base+ on -hat ha+ been fon+ on those +is's, I -as 1st stnne+ that the 2BI +i+n0t sho- p at #y

+oor" 8e%eral #onths later, by the fall of *, I -as ba&' at -or' -ith Don Da%i+ Wilson at2ran#ar'" Bonnie -as still at 7TE, thoh she -as sre their se&rity +epart#ent ha+ trie+ to fin+e%i+en&e that she ha+ been ha&'in into &o#pany &o#pters" We -ere sa%in #oney aain, tryinto pt toether enoh for the +o-n pay#ent on a hose" There -ere so#e ni&e pla&es -e &ol+affor+, bt they -ere so far ot of to-n that the &o##te -ol+ ha%e been +antin an+ -earin onor ner%es an+ patien&e"

Tryin to spport or ho#e:o-nership oal, #y #o# offere+ s the spare be+roo# in herho#e so -e &ol+ sa%e on rent an+ bil+ or +o-n:pay#ent fn+ @i&'er" Thoh neither Bonnienor I #&h li'e+ the i+ea, -e +e&i+e+ to i%e it a try"

Or li%in -ith #y #o# trne+ ot to be a ba+ i+ea" As eaer as she -as to #a'e it -or'

for s, -e si#ply ha+ no pri%a&y" Bonnie -ol+ later &o#plain, in a personal #e#o that she left behin+ at #y #o#0s, that she -as 3rel&tant an+ a bit bitter? abot it"4

We -ere ro-in apart, an+ I -as ettin +eeper an+ +eeper ba&' into ha&'in, spen+in all



#y +ays at -or' at 2ran#ar' an+ #y nihts al#ost ntil snp -ith Lenny DiCi&&o, larelyfo&se+ on ha&'in into Diital E@ip#ent Corporation"

When Lenny tol+ #e he -as sinin p to ta'e a &o#pter &orse at nearby Pier&e Collee,I sai+ I0+ sin p as -ell to 'eep hi# &o#pany, +espite #y earlier rn:in -ith the &hair of theCo#pter 8&ien&e Depart#ent, -hi&h ha+ le+ to #y @ittin the prora#" It trne+ ot thea+#inistrators ha+ not forotten #e, bt I +i+n0t 'no- it at the ti#e"

One +ay, Lenny an+ I -ent into the st+ent &o#pter roo#, -hi&h ha+ a bn&h of ter#inals&onne&te+ to a Mi&ro5A 5M8 syste#" We ha&'e+ into the #a&hine @i&'ly an+ obtaine+ all

pri%ilees" Lenny ha+ -ritten a s&ript that -ol+ allo- s to #a'e a ba&'p of the entire syste#"We ha+ no real se for it6 -e 1st planne+ to treat it as a trophy" 8o, on&e -e ot in, Lenny pt a&artri+e tape into the &o#pter tape +ri%e, an+ ran his s&ript to start the ba&'p, an+ -e left" We-ere oin to retrn for it a fe- hors later, after the &opy ha+ finishe+"

A bit later as -e -ere -al'in a&ross &a#ps, I ot a pae fro# Eliot Moore, a lonti#efrien+ I ha+n0t been in to&h -ith for a -hile" I -ent to a pay phone to &all hi# ba&'"

3Are yo at Pier&e ColleeH4 he as'e+" 3Yes"4 3Di+ yo lea%e a tape in the tape +ri%eH4

3Oh, shit? ho- +i+ yo 'no-H4 I sai+" 3Don0t o ba&' to the &o#pter roo#,4 he -arne+ #e" 3They0re -aitin for yo"4 By so#estrane &han&e, Eliot ha+ been in the &o#pter lab -hen the instr&tor noti&e+ the blin'in liht onthe Mi&ro5A tape +ri%e" It -as ob%ios that so#eone ha+ inserte+ a &artri+e tape an+ -as&opyin so#e files"

The &o#pter s&ien&e instr&tor, Pete 8&hleppenba&h, ha+ i##e+iately sspe&te+ s" Elioto%erhear+ the instr&tor +is&ssin the sitation -ith another staff #e#ber an+ &alle+ #e rihta-ay" If he ha+n0t, -e -ol+0%e -al'e+ riht into a trap"

The &ollee later &onta&te+ the LAPD to report the in&i+ent" 8in&e -e ne%er -ent to pi&' p the tape, they ha+ no e%i+en&e, an+ -e -ere allo-e+ to&ontine as st+ents, atten+in &lasses an+ sin the &o#pter lab" Bt the LAPD 'ept an eye on s,

positionin their tea# on the &lassroo# rooftops an+ trailin s for +ays" Apparently, atte#ptin to&opy st+ent lab -or' be&a#e a top priority" Yo0+ thin' they0+ ha%e #ore interestin &ases to-or' on" At niht, they0+ follo- s to Lenny0s -or', -here -e staye+ at his offi&e ha&'in ntil the-ee hors of the #ornin" They 'ne- -e -ere p to no oo+, bt they &ol+n0t pro%e anythin"

I ess the Pier&e Collee fol's -ere +isappointe+, an+ -eren0t rea+y to +rop it" I noti&e+ aDEC &o#pany %ehi&le in the &ollee par'in lot" 8o I &alle+ the lo&al DEC fiel+ offi&e for LosAneles, sai+ I -as fro# A&&onts Payable at Pier&e Collee, an+ as'e+ -hat spport they -ere

pro%i+in at the ti#e"3Oh,4 the y tol+ #e, 3-e0re tryin to help yo &at&h so#e ha&'ers"4At a ter#inal in the Pier&e &o#pter lab, I -as able to e=a#ine a #e#ory lo&ation fro# #y

st+ent a&&ont that sho-e+ #e that all 3se&rity a+itin4 -as enable+ on #y a&&ont" Lenny&he&'e+ his a&&ont sin the sa#e te&hni@e; se&rity a+itin -as enable+ on it, as -ell" The yfro# DEC -as &losete+ in a s#all roo# -ith a &o#pter an+ printer, -at&hin e%erythin -e -ere+oin fro# or st+ent a&&onts" I +is&o%ere+ this by sho-in p early one +ay before the te&harri%e+ an+ follo-in hi# to the roo#" I thoht this -as a bit o%er'ill sin&e the syste# -as onlyse+ by st+ents to &o#plete their lab -or', an+ not &onne&te+ to any net-or' or phone line" Bt Ifon+ a -ay to 'eep hi# bsy6 I -rote a %ery si#ple s&ript that liste+ the files in #y +ire&tory, o%eran+ o%er" 8in&e the se&rity a+itin -as +esine+ to sen+ a +etaile+ alert for e%ery file opene+ orrea+, I 'ne- his printer -ol+ be -or'in nonstop" I &ol+ pi&tre the y &lose+ p in his tinyroo#, pllin his hair ot that his printer 'ept rnnin ntil it -as ot of paper" An+ as soon as he-ol+ loa+ #ore paper, the file lists -ol+ start printin ot aain"

A short -hile later, the instr&tor plle+ Lenny an+ #e ot of the &o#pter roo# an+a&&se+ s of typin nathori<e+ &o##an+s" I as'e+, 3Is +oin a +ire&tory of #y o-n filesnathori<e+H4 Both Lenny an+ I -ere sent to the +ean for frther pro&ee+ins"



O%er the ne=t se%eral -ee's, Pier&e0s a+#inistrators hel+ a 'anaroo &ort hearin on or&ase" They still sspe&te+ -e -ere behin+ the ha&'in in&i+ent, bt still &ol+n0t pro%e it" Noeye-itnesses" No finerprints" No &onfessions" Nonetheless, Lenny an+ I -ere both e=pelle+ fro#Pier&e, base+ on &ir&#stantial e%i+en&e"



EIGHT



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Lenny an+ I -ante+ to et the sor&e &o+e for Diital E@ip#ent Corporation0s 5M8

operatin syste# so -e &ol+ st+y it to fin+ se&rity fla-s" We -ol+ also be able to loo' for+e%elopers0 &o##ents abot fi=in se&rity proble#s, -hi&h -ol+ let s -or' ba&'-ar+ an+fire ot -hat those proble#s -ere an+ ho- -e &ol+ e=ploit the#" We also -ante+ to be able to&o#pile parts of the operatin syste# orsel%es, so it -ol+ be easier for s to install so#e

ba&'+oor pat&hes in the syste#s -e &o#pro#ise+" Or plan -as to lan&h a so&ial:enineerin

atta&' on DEC to et into the 5M8 +e%elop#ent &lster" I ot the +ial:p n#ber for the 5M8+e%elop#ent #o+e# pool"

When Lenny -as at -or', he -ent to the ter#inal bo= for the bil+in to fin+ a fa= line belonin to another tenant" Be&ase a lot of &o#panies ha+ offi&e sites in the sa#e bil+in, he&ol+ pn&h +o-n so#eone else0s line on an nse+ &able pair that -ent into 5PA0s &o#pterroo#, an+ no one -ol+ be able to tra&e or otoin &alls"

Mean-hile, I -ent to the Contry Inn hotel near his offi&e an+ se+ a pay phone to &allLenny" On&e I ha+ hi# on the line on one phone, I se+ another pay phone to &all DEC0s #ainn#ber in Nasha, Ne- /a#pshire, -here its labs an+ +e%elopers -ere"

Then I stoo+ there bet-een the t-o phones -ith a re&ei%er hel+ p to ea&h ear" I tol+ the -o#an -ho ans-ere+ in Nasha that I -or'e+ at DEC too, then as'e+ -here the

&o#pter roo# -as an+ ot the phone n#ber for operations"When I &alle+ that +epart#ent, I se+ the na#e of so#eone in +e%elop#ent an+ as'e+ if

operations spporte+ the 38tar &lster4 rop of 5M8 syste#s that -ere se+ by 5M8+e%elop#ent" The DEC e#ployee sai+ yes" I then &o%ere+ that #othpie&e -ith #y han+ an+ spo'eto Lenny throh the other one, tellin hi# to +ial the #o+e# n#ber"

Ne=t I tol+ the operator to type in a 3sho- sers4 &o##an+ to sho- -ho -as loe+ in" Ifyo -ere in the pro&ess of loin in, as Lenny -as, it -ol+ sho- this by +isplayin 3LO7INX4alon -ith the +e%i&e na#e of the ter#inal that -as bein se+ for loin in" This is -hat she sa-on her +isplay6

5M8 .ser Pro&esses at :>.N:* )(6( PM Total n#ber of sers , n#ber of pro&esses .serna#e No+e Pro&ess Na#ePID Ter#inal 7OLD8TEIN 8TAR AaaaaaZfta(6 (*))*(D2TA(6 PIPER 8TAR DY8LI (*))**A 2TA*6 LO7INX (*))**E TT76 The 3LO7INX4in+i&ate+ the type of +e%i&e Lenny -as on, TT7" I then as'e+ the operator to type in a 3spa-n4 &o##an+6 spa-nno-aitnolononotifyinpttt6otpttt6 Be&ase she -asn0t 'eyin in serna#es or pass-or+s, she +i+n0t thin' anythin abot -hatI -as as'in her to +o" 8he shol+0%e 'no-n -hat a spa-n &o##an+ +i+, bt apparently operatorsrarely se+ it, so e%i+ently she +i+n0t re&oni<e it"

That &o##an+ &reate+ a loe+:in pro&ess on the #o+e# +e%i&e that Lenny -as &onne&te+to in the &onte=t of the operator0s a&&ont" As soon as the operator type+ in the &o##an+, a 34

pro#pt appeare+ on Lenny0s ter#inal" That #eant he -as loe+ in -ith the fll pri%ilees of theoperator" When the 34 sho-e+ p, Lenny -as so e=&ite+ that he starte+ shotin into the phone,3I0%e ot a pro#pt I0%e ot a pro#pt4



I hel+ Lenny0s phone a-ay fro# #y hea+ an+ sai+ &al#ly to the operator, 3Wol+ yoe=&se #eH I0ll be riht ba&'"4

I presse+ that phone aainst #y le to #te the #othpie&e, pi&'e+ p the other phone, an+tol+ Lenny, 38ht p4 Then I -ent ba&' to #y &all -ith the operator"

Lenny i##e+iately &he&'e+ to see if se&rity a+its -ere enable+" They -ere" 8o ratherthan settin p a ne- a&&ont for s, -hi&h -ol+ ha%e raise+ sspi&ions by trierin an a+it

alar#, he 1st &hane+ the pass-or+ on a +or#ant a&&ont that ha+ all syste# pri%ilees"Mean-hile, I than'e+ the operator an+ tol+ her that she &ol+ lo ot no-"

After-ar+, Lenny +iale+ ba&' p an+ loe+ in to the +or#ant a&&ont -ith his ne- pass-or+" On&e -e ha+ &o#pro#ise+ 5M8 +e%elop#ent, or ob1e&ti%e -as to et a&&ess to the latest%ersion of the 5M8 sor&e &o+e" It -asn0t too +iffi&lt" When -e liste+ the +is's that -ere#onte+, one of the# -as labele+ 35M8Z8O.RCE"4 Nothin li'e #a'in it easy for s"

At that point, -e ploa+e+ a s#all tool +esine+ to +isable any se&rity a+its in a -ay that-ol+n0t trier an alar#" On&e the alar#s ha+ been +isable+, -e set p a &ople of ser a&&onts-ith fll pri%ilees an+ &hane+ a fe- #ore pass-or+s on other pri%ilee+ a&&onts that ha+n0t

been se+ in at least si= #onths" Or plan -as to #o%e a &opy of the latest %ersion of the 5M8

sor&e &o+e to .8C so -e &ol+ #aintain fll a&&ess to the &o+e e%en if -e ot boote+ off the 8tar&lster"

After settin p or ne- a&&onts, -e also -ent into the e#ail of An+y 7ol+stein" /e ha+ been a #e#ber of the oriinal 5M8 +esin tea# at Diital an+ -as -ell 'no-n throhot the5M8 &o##nity as an operatin:syste# r" We 'ne- he also -or'e+ -ith 5M8 se&rity isses,so -e fire+ his e#ail -ol+ be a oo+ pla&e to loo' for infor#ation abot the latest se&rityisses DEC -as tryin to fi="

We +is&o%ere+ that 7ol+stein ha+ re&ei%e+ se&rity b reports fro# a y na#e+ NeillClift" I @i&'ly learne+ that Clift -as a ra+ st+ent at Lee+s .ni%ersity in Enlan+, st+yinorani& &he#istry" Bt he -as ob%iosly also a &o#pter enthsiast -ith a ni@e talent6 he -as%ery s'ille+ at fin+in %lnerabilities in the 5M8 operatin syste#, -hi&h he faithflly alerte+ DECto" What he +i+n0t reali<e -as that no- he -as alertin #e as -ell"

This lai+ the ron+-or' for -hat -ol+ pro%e to be a ol+#ine for #e"While sear&hin throh 7ol+stein0s e#ails, I fon+ one that &ontaine+ a fll analysis of a

&le%er pat&h for 3Loinot,4 the 5M8 lo:in prora#" The pat&h -as +e%elope+ by a rop of7er#an ha&'ers -ho belone+ to so#ethin they &alle+ the 3Chaos Co#pter Clb4 CCC" A fe-#e#bers of the rop fo&se+ on +e%elopin pat&hes for parti&lar 5M8 prora#s that enable+ yoto ta'e fll &ontrol of the syste#"

Their 5M8 Loinot pat&h also #o+ifie+ the lo:in prora# in se%eral -ays, instr&tin itto se&retly store ser pass-or+s in a hi++en area of the syste# athori<ation file; to &loa' the ser-ith in%isibility; an+ to +isable all se&rity alar#s -hen anyone loe+ in to the syste# -ith a

spe&ial pass-or+" Ne-spaper stories abot the Chaos Co#pter Clb #entione+ the na#e of the rop0slea+er" I tra&'e+ +o-n the y0s n#ber an+ &alle+ hi# p" By this ti#e, #y o-n reptation in theha&'in &o##nity -as startin to ro-, so he re&oni<e+ #y na#e" /e sai+ I shol+ tal' toanother #e#ber of the rop, -ho, sa+ly, trne+ ot to be in the en+ staes of &an&er" When I &alle+hi# at the hospital, I e=plaine+ that I0+ obtaine+ an analysis of the &lb0s ba&'+oor pat&hes for the5M8 Loinot an+ 38ho-4 prora#s an+ thoht they -ere -i&'e+ly &le%er" I as'e+ if he ha+ anyother &ool tools or pat&hes he0+ be -illin to share"

The y -as both sper&ool an+ tal'ati%e, an+ he offere+ to sen+ #e so#e infor#ation".nfortnately, he sai+, he0+ ha%e to sen+ it by snail #ail, sin&e the hospital +i+n0t ha%e a &o#pter"8e%eral -ee's later, I re&ei%e+ a pa&'et of printots +etailin so#e of the ha&'s the rop ha+

&reate+ that -eren0t alrea+y in the pbli& +o#ain"E=pan+in on the Chaos Co#pter Clb0s -or', Lenny an+ I +e%elope+ so#e i#pro%e+

pat&hes that a++e+ e%en #ore fn&tionality" Essentially, the CCC &reate+ a fra#e-or' that -e then



bilt pon" As ne- %ersions of 5M8 &a#e ot, Lenny an+ I 'ept a+aptin or pat&hes" Be&aseLenny al-ays -or'e+ at &o#panies that ha+ 5M8 syste#s, -e -ere able to test or pat&hes on his-or' syste#s an+ +eploy the# into syste#s -e -ante+ to #aintain a&&ess to"

After so#e #a1or DEC &lients -ere &o#pro#ise+, the &o#pany0s prora##ers -rote ase&rity tool that -ol+ +ete&t the Chaos pat&h" Lenny an+ I lo&ate+ the +ete&tion soft-are an+analy<e+ it, then si#ply #o+ifie+ or %ersion of the Chaos pat&h so DEC0s tool -ol+n0t be able to

fin+ it any#ore" It -as @ite si#ple, really" This #a+e it easier for s to install or pat&h inton#eros 5M8 syste#s on Diital0s -orl+-i+e net-or', 'no-n as Easynet"

If lo&atin the &o+e -asn0t har+, transferrin it -as" This -as a lot of &o+e" To re+&e the%ol#e of &o+e, -e &o#presse+ it" Ea&h +ire&tory &ontaine+ hn+re+s of files" We0+ &o#press all ofthe# in a sinle file an+ en&rypt it, so that if anyone fon+ it, it -ol+ loo' li'e arbae"

The only -ay to retain a&&ess to the files so -e0+ be able to st+y the# at leisre -as to fin+syste#s on DEC0s Easynet that &onne&te+ to the Arpanet, i%in s the ability to transfer the#otsi+e DEC0s net-or'" We only fon+ for syste#s on Easynet that ha+ Arpanet a&&ess, bt -e&ol+ se all for to #o%e the &o+e ot pie&e by pie&e"

Or oriinal plan to store a &opy of the &o+e at .8C pro%e+ a little shortsihte+" 2irst of all,-e reali<e+ -e shol+ se #ore than one storae lo&ation for re+n+an&y, so all that -or' -ol+n0t

o to -aste if the &o+e -as +is&o%ere+" Bt it trne+ ot there -as an e%en bier isse6 the &o+e base -as h#onos" Tryin to store it all in one lo&ation -ol+ rn too bi a ris' of bein+ete&te+" 8o -e bean spen+in a lot of ti#e ha&'in into syste#s on the Arpanet, loo'in for othersafe 3storae lo&'ers"4 It bean to feel li'e ettin the &o+e fro# DEC -as the easy part, -hile the

bi &hallene -as firin ot -here to stash &opies of it" We aine+ a&&ess to &o#pter syste#s atPat=ent Ri%er Na%al Air 8tation, in Marylan+, an+ other pla&es" .nfortnately, the syste# atPat=ent Ri%er ha+ #ini#al storae a%ailable"

We also trie+ to set orsel%es p on the &o#pter syste#s at the >et Proplsion Laboratory,in Pasa+ena, California, sin or &sto#i<e+ %ersion of the Chaos pat&h"

>PL e%entally reali<e+ one of their syste#s ha+ been &o#pro#ise+, possibly be&ase they-ere -at&hin for any nathori<e+ &hanes to the 5M8 Loinot an+ 8ho- prora#s" They #stha%e re%erse enineere+ the binaries to i+entify ho- the prora#s -ere bein #o+ifie+ an+ +e&i+e+it -as the Co#pter Chaos Clb -ho ha+ aine+ a&&ess" >PL #anae#ent -ent to the #e+ia -iththat %ersion of the story, -hi&h le+ to he ne-s &o%erae abot the 7er#an ha&'ers -ho ha+ been&aht brea'in into the >PL &o#pters" Lenny an+ I &h&'le+ o%er the in&i+ent" Bt at the sa#eti#e, -e -ere a bit ner%os be&ase -e -ere +ete&te+"

On&e -e starte+ the transfers, -e ha+ to 'eep the# oin niht an+ +ay, #o%in the &o+e bit by bit" It -as a %ery slo- pro&ess" The +ial:p spee+ of the &onne&tions at the ti#e if yo &ol+e%en se the -or+ 3spee+4 -as a #a=i## of T* spee+s, -hi&h -as abot *"J #eabits perse&on+" To+ay, e%en &ell phones are #&h faster than that"

8oon DEC +ete&te+ or a&ti%ity" The ys responsible for 'eepin the syste#s p an+

operational &ol+ tell that so#ethin -as oin on be&ase of the hea%y net-or' traffi& in the#i++le of the niht" To #a'e #atters -orse, they +is&o%ere+ that their a%ailable +is' spa&e -as+isappearin" They +i+n0t sally ha%e a lot of %ol#e on the syste#6 it -ol+ be &ontin in#eabytes, -hereas -e -ere #o%in iabytes"

The nihtti#e a&ti%ity an+ the +isappearin +is' spa&e pointe+ to a se&rity isse" They@i&'ly &hane+ all the a&&ont pass-or+s an+ +elete+ all the files -e store+ on the syste#" It -as a&hallene, bt Lenny an+ I -eren0t +eterre+" We 1st 'ept ha&'in ba&' in, niht after niht, +espitetheir best efforts" In fa&t, be&ase the staff an+ sers of the syste# +i+n0t reali<e that -e ha+ their

personal -or'stations n+er or &ontrol an+ &ol+ inter&ept their 'eystro'es, it -as easy for s toi##e+iately obtain their ne- lo:in &re+entials e%ery ti#e they &hane+ the#"

DEC0s net-or' enineers &ol+ see all alon that lots of lare files -ere bein transferre+,

bt they &ol+n0t fire ot ho- to stop it" Or nrelentin assalt ha+ the# &on%in&e+ that they-ere n+er so#e 'in+ of &orporate espionae atta&' by international #er&enaries -ho0+ been hire+to steal their flaship te&hnoloy" We rea+ their theories abot s in their e#ails" It -as &learly



+ri%in the# &ra<y" I &ol+ al-ays lo on to see ho- far they -ere ettin an+ -hat they -ereoin to try ne=t" We +i+ or best to 'eep the# &hasin re+ herrins alon the -ay" Be&ase -e ha+fll a&&ess to Easynet, -e &ol+ +ial in fro# the .nite+ $in+o#, an+ other &ontries throhotthe -orl+" They &ol+n0t i+entify or entry points be&ase -e -ere &onstantly &hanin the#"

We -ere fa&in a si#ilar &hallene at .8C" A+#inistrators there ha+ li'e-ise noti&e+ that+is' spa&e on a fe- Mi&ro5Aes -as +isappearin" We0+ start transferrin +ata at niht, an+ they0+

&o#e on an+ 'ill the net-or' &onne&tion" We0+ start it p aain, an+ they0+ brin the syste# +o-nfor the niht" We0+ 1st -ait the# ot, then start p or transfer aain" This a#e &ontine+ for#onths"

8o#eti#es, bet-een fen+in off the syste# a+#ins, rapplin -ith the iabytes of &o+e,an+ pttin p -ith the painflly slo- ban+-i+th, -e felt li'e -e -ere tryin to s&' an o&eanthroh a stra-" Bt -e en+re+"

On&e all the 5M8 sor&e &o+e ha+ been #o%e+ to se%eral syste#s at .8C, -e nee+e+ to ptit on #aneti& tape so -e &ol+ sift throh the &o+e -ithot -orryin abot bein tra&'e+ ba&'-hile +iale+ into Easynet" Mo%in the sor&e &o+e onto tape -as a three:#an operation"

Le-is De Payne -as statione+ on &a#ps, posin as a st+ent" /e -ol+ as' one of the&o#pter operators to #ont a tape he pro%i+e+ onto the syste#0s tape +ri%e"

A&ross to-n, at the offi&e of #y frien+ Da%e /arrison, I -ol+ &onne&t to a 5M8 syste#&alle+ 3ra#oth4 o%er a +ial:p #o+e# that ha+ Le-is0s tape #onte+ on the +ri%e" I -ol+ fill pthe tape -ith as #&h 5M8 sor&e &o+e as -ol+ fit" Le-is -ol+ then han+ the operator another

blan' one an+ pass the -ritten tape to Lenny DiCi&&o" At the en+ of ea&h session, Lenny -ol+ ta'eall the ne- tapes to hi+e in a rente+ storae lo&'er" We repeate+ this &y&le ntil, e%entally, -e ha+thirty to forty tapes &ontainin the fll 5M8 5ersion J sor&e &o+e"

While I -as spen+in so #&h ti#e at /arrison0s, it o&&rre+ to #e that a &o#pany &alle+7TE Telenet, -hi&h ha+ offi&es in the sa#e bil+in, operate+ one of the larest 3(J4 net-or's,ser%in so#e of the biest &sto#ers in the -orl+" Maybe I &ol+ ain a+#inistrati%e a&&ess totheir net-or' an+ #onitor &sto#er traffi&" Da%e ha+ pre%iosly pi&'e+ the lo&' to the fire#en0s

bo= an+ lifte+ the #aster 'ey to the bil+in" Late one niht, Da%e an+ I se+ the 'ey to -al' intothe 7TE Telenet offi&es, 1st to loo' aron+" When I sa- they se+ 5M8, I -as elate+; I felt riht atho#e"

I +is&o%ere+ a 5M8 syste# -ith a no+e:na#e of 38noopy"4 After po'in aron+ for a bit, I+is&o%ere+ that 8noopy -as alrea+y loe+ in to a pri%ilee+ a&&ont, i%in #e fll a&&ess to thesyste#" The te#ptation -as too reat" E%en thoh Telenet people -ere in an+ ot of the offi&est-enty:for hors a +ay, I sat +o-n at the ter#inal an+ starte+ to e=plore, loo'in at s&ripts an+thir+:party appli&ations to fire ot -hat tools they ha+ an+ ho- those tools &ol+ be se+ to#onitor the net-or'" Within a %ery short ti#e, I fire+ ot ho- to ea%es+rop on &sto#er net-or'traffi&" Then it hit #e" The no+e ha+ been na#e+ 8noopy be&ase it allo-e+ the te&hni&ians to#onitor traffi& on &sto#er net-or's6 it allo-e+ the# to snoop"

I alrea+y ha+ the (J a++ress to &onne&t to the 5M8 syste# at the orani& &he#istry+epart#ent at Lee+s .ni%ersity, -here Neill Clift st+ie+, so I &onne&te+" I +i+n0t ha%e any lo:in&re+entials; none of #y esses -ere &orre&t" /e -as alrea+y loe+ in to the syste# be&ase of theti#e +ifferen&e, sa- #y lo:in atte#pts, an+ e#aile+ the a+#inistrator of 8noopy to say thatso#eone -as tryin to et into his ni%ersity0s syste#; of &orse I +elete+ the e#ail"

Thoh I +i+n0t et into Lee+s .ni%ersity that niht, #y efforts ha+ lai+ the ron+-or' fortaretin Clift later on that -ol+ pro%e to be a ol+#ine"

Lenny an+ I fell into a battle of -its aainst ea&h other" /e -as a &o#pter operator at a&o#pany &alle+ 5PA, an+ I ha+ 1oine+ a &o#pany &alle+ C$ Te&hnoloies, in Ne-bry Par'" We'ept #a'in bets on -hether -e &ol+ brea' into ea&h other0s &o#pter syste#s that -e #anae+for or e#ployers" Whoe%er &ol+ ha&' into the 5M8 syste# at the other0s &o#pany -ol+ et the

pri<e" It -as li'e a a#e of 3&aptre the fla,4 +esine+ to test or s'ill at +efen+in or syste#saainst ea&h other"

Lenny -asn0t astte enoh to 'eep #e ot" I 'ept ettin into his syste#s" The bet -as



al-ays *J), the &ost of +inner for t-o at 8pao, the Be%erly /ills restarant of &elebrity &hefWolfan P&'" I ha+ -on this onoin bet enoh ti#es that Lenny -as startin to feel annoye+"

Drin one of or all:niht ha&'in sessions, Lenny starte+ &o#plainin that he ne%er -onthe bet" I tol+ hi# he &ol+ @it anyti#e he -ante+" Bt he -ante+ to -in"

/is &o#pany ha+ 1st installe+ a +iital lo&' on the +oor to its &o#pter roo#; Lenny&hallene+ #e to bypass the lo&' by g*essing the code, 'no-in it -ol+ be al#ost i#possible to

+o" 3If yo &an0t et in,4 he sai+, 3yo ha%e to pay me a hn+re+ an+ fifty b&'s riht no-, toniht"4I tol+ hi# I +i+n0t -ant to ta'e his #oney be&ase it -ol+ be too easy" An+ then I a++e+

that he0+ be pset -ith hi#self after-ar+ sin&e I -as al-ays oin to -in, no #atter -hat" Thesetants #a+e hi# e%en #ore an=ios for #e to a&&ept the bet"

A&tally, it wo*d ha%e been +iffi&lt for #e to -in it straiht p" Bt +#b l&' &a#e to#y res&e" As I -as -or'in on Lenny0s ter#inal, ha&'in into Diital0s net-or', I spotte+ a -alleton the floor n+er his +es'" I 3a&&i+entally4 +roppe+ #y pen, then bent o%er to et it an+ stffe+ the-allet into #y so&'" I tol+ Lenny I ha+ to ta'e a lea'"

Insi+e the -allet, I fon+ a slip of paper -ith the &o+e for the +iital +oor lo&' -ritten on it"I &ol+n0t belie%e it6 Lenny -as s&h a &le%er ha&'er, bt he &ol+n0t re#e#ber a si#ple n#berHAn+ he0+ been foolish enoh to -rite +o-n the &o+e an+ lea%e it in his -alletH It see#e+ so

preposteros that I -on+ere+ if he -as settin #e p" /a+ he plante+ the -allet 1st to 1er' #y&hainH

I -ent ba&' to his +es', repla&e+ the -allet, an+ tol+ hi# he0+ ha%e to i%e #e an hor toess the +oor &o+e" We aree+ that the only rle -as that I &ol+n0t brea' the lo&'" Anythin else-as fair a#e"

A fe- #intes later, he -ent +o-nstairs to et so#ethin" When he &a#e ba&', he &ol+n0tfin+ #e" /e sear&he+ e%ery-here, then finally nlo&'e+ the +oor to the &o#pter roo#" I -assittin insi+e, typin on the 5M8 &onsole, loe+ in -ith fll pri%ilees" I s#ile+ at hi#"

Lenny -as frios" 4Yo* cheated56 he shote+"I st&' ot #y han+" 3Yo o-e #e a hn+re+ an+ fifty b&'s"4 When he resiste+, I sai+, 3I0ll

i%e yo a -ee'"4 It felt reat to 'no&' the eo of the self:i#portant Lenny +o-n a fe- not&hes"/e +i+n0t pay an+ +i+n0t pay" I 'ept i%in hi# e=tensions, then tol+ hi# I -as oin to

&hare hi# interest" Nothin" 2inally, #ore as a 1o'e than anythin else, I &alle+ a&&onts payable athis &o#pany an+ preten+e+ to be fro# the IR80s Wae 7arnish#ent Di%ision" 3Do yo still ha%e aLeonar+ DiCi&&o -or'in thereH4 I as'e+"

3Yes, -e +o,4 sai+ the la+y on the other en+" 3We ha%e a arnish#ent or+er,4 I sai+" 3We nee+ yo to -ithhol+ his pay"4 The la+y sai+she0+ ha%e to ha%e athori<ation in -ritin" I tol+ her, 3Yo0ll ha%e a fa= on Mon+ay, bt I0# i%inyo offi&ial noti&e to -ithhol+ all pay&he&'s ntil yo re&ei%e frther +o&#entation fro# s"4

I thoht Lenny #iht be a little in&on%enien&e+, bt no -orse than that" When no fa=arri%e+ on Mon+ay, payroll -ol+ 1st i%e hi# his #oney"

When the people fro# a&&ontin tol+ Lenny abot the IR8 &all, he 'ne- instantly -ho0+ been behin+ it" Bt he -as so o%er:the:top, ot:of:&ontrol frios that he lost all sense of reason an+ +i+ areally stpi+ thin6 he -ent to his boss an+ tol+ hi# that the t-o of s ha+ been ha&'in into DECfro# 5PA0s offi&es"

/is boss +i+n0t &all the &ops; instea+, he an+ Lenny toether &alle+ se&rity staff at DEC an+tol+ the# -ho0+ been plain the# o%er the past se%eral #onths" E%entally the 2BI -as &alle+in, an+ its aents set p a stin"

Personnel fro# the 2BI an+ Diital E@ip#ent Corporation set p &a#p at 5PA prior to oneof or late:niht ha&'in sessions" They pla&e+ #onitorin soft-are on 5PA0s &o#pters that -ol+re&or+ e%erythin -e +i+" Lenny -as -earin a -ire to &aptre or &on%ersations" That niht #y

taret -as Lee+s .ni%ersity in Enlan+" After earlier i+entifyin Neill Clift as one of Diital0s #ainsor&es of infor#ation abot 5M8 se&rity bs, I -ante+ to et into the 5M8 syste# in Lee+s0sOrani& Che#istry Depart#ent, -here Clift ha+ an a&&ont"



At one point I sense+ that so#ethin a bit -eir+ -as oin on -ith Lenny an+ as'e+ hi#,3Is e%erythin all rihtH Yo0re a&tin strane"4 /e sai+ he -as 1st tire+, an+ I shre+ off his o++

beha%ior" /e -as probably petrifie+ I0+ fire ot -hat -as really happenin" After se%eral hors ofha&'in, -e &alle+ it @its" I -ante+ to 'eep oin, bt Lenny sai+ he ha+ to et p early"

8e%eral +ays later, I ot a &all fro# Lenny, -ho sai+, 3/ey, $e%in, I finally ot #y %a&ation pay" I ha%e yor #oney" C0#on o%er"4

T-o hors later I rolle+ into the s#all ron+:floor par'in arae of the bil+in -here5PA ha+ its offi&es" Lenny -as stan+in there, not #o%in" /e sai+, 3I nee+ to et the 5T*))ter#inal e#lator soft-are to #a'e a &opy for a frien+,4 referrin to soft-are on +is's he 'ne- Iha+ in the &ar" It -as alrea+y J6)) p"#" an+ I tol+ hi# I ha+n0t eaten all +ay an+ -as star%in, an+e%en offere+ to by hi# +inner" /e 'ept insistin" I -ante+ to et the hell ot of there6 so#ethinfelt -ron" Bt finally I a%e in an+, lea%in the #otor rnnin, steppe+ ot of the &ar to et the+is's"

3Yo 'no- that feelin in yor sto#a&h -hen yo0re abot to et arreste+H4 Lenny tante+"3Well, et rea+y4 The -hole arae -as s++enly fille+ -ith the son+s of &ar enines" Cars shot ot at sfro# -hat see#e+ li'e e%ery +ire&tion, stoppin in a &ir&le aron+ s" 7ys in sits 1#pe+ ot an+

starte+ s&rea#in at #e, 4FB-56 4Yo*/re *nder arrest56

4(ands on the car56

If Lenny ha+ stae+ all this 1st to s&are #e, I thoht, it -as an i#pressi%e +isplay" 3Yo ys aren0t 2BI" 8ho- #e yor ID"4 They plle+ ot their -allets an+ flippe+ the# open" 2BI ba+es all aron+ #e" The realthin" I loo'e+ at Lenny" /e -as +an&in in a little &ir&le of 1oy, as if he -ere &elebratin so#e'in+ of %i&tory o%er #e" 3Lenny, -hy -ol+ yo +o this to #eH4 As an aent han+&ffe+ #e, I as'e+ Lenny to &all #y #o# an+ tell her I0+ been arreste+"The bastar+ +i+n0t e%en +o that one last s#all bit of 'in+ness for #e"

I -as +ri%en by t-o aents to the Ter#inal Islan+ 2e+eral Prison" I ha+ ne%er seen anythinli'e this otsi+e of a #o%ie or a tele%ision sho-6 lon ro-s of open &ells, -ith ys hanin theirar#s ot of the bars" >st the siht of it #a+e #e feel li'e I -as +rea#in, ha%in a niht#are" Btthe other prisoners srprise+ #e by bein &ool an+ frien+ly, offerin to len+ #e so#e stff that -assol+ in the &o##issary an+ the li'e" A lot of the# -ere -hite:&ollar ys"

Bt I &ol+n0t sho-er" I felt +isstin by the ti#e so#e 2BI aents finally pi&'e+ #e pan+ too' #e to 2BI hea+@arters in West Los Aneles, -here they too' a # shot of #e" I 'ne- Iloo'e+ a #ess!nsho-ere+, n&o#be+, -earin the sa#e &lothes I0+ been in for three +ays, an+ha%in slept ba+ly ea&h niht on a s#all &ot" At least that pi&tre -as to i%e #e so#e s#all

&o#fort at a &r&ial ti#e later on"After bein hel+ o%er the -ee'en+, I -as ta'en before Maistrate 5enetta Tassoplos for #yinitial +etention hearin on Mon+ay #ornin, e=pe&tin to be release+ on bail" I -as assine+ a&ort:appointe+ la-yer, -ho as'e+ if I0+ been a fiti%e" It trne+ ot he0+ alrea+y tal'e+ to the

prose&tor, -ho tol+ hi# I0+ fle+ to Israel ba&' in *, -hi&h -asn0t tre"On&e the hearin bean, I sat there in +isbelief as the Cort ot an earfl fro# the

prose&tor, Assistant ."8" Attorney Leon Wei+#an" Wei+#an tol+ the 1+e, 3This thin is so#assi%e, -e0re 1st rnnin aron+ tryin to fire ot -hat he +i+"4 A#on other thins, he sai+that I ha+6

ha&'e+ into the N8A an+ obtaine+ &lassifie+ a&&ess &o+es+is&onne&te+ #y for#er Probation Offi&er0s phone

ta#pere+ -ith a 1+e0s TRW report after re&ei%in nfa%orable treat#ent plante+ a false ne-s story abot 8e&rity Pa&ifi& National Ban'0s ha%in lost #illions of

+ollars, after I ha+ an e#ploy#ent offer -ith+ra-n



repeate+ly harasse+ an+ trne+ off the phone ser%i&e of a&tress $risty M&Ni&holha&'e+ into Poli&e Depart#ent &o#pters an+ erase+ #y prior arrest re&or+s"

E%ery one of these &lai#s -as blatantly false" The alleation that I ha+ ha&'e+ into the N8A -as totally ri+i&los" On one of the floppy+is's sei<e+ by the 8anta Cr< poli&e -as a file labele+ 3N8A"TT"4 It -as the 3-hois4 otptlistin all the reistere+ sers of Do&'#aster, the *ncassi$ied National 8e&rity Aen&y &o#pter

syste# that Lenny ha+ so&ial:enineere+ hi#self into -hen he -or'e+ at /hes Air&raft"E%erythin in the file -as pbli& infor#ation, in&l+in the lists of telephone e=tensions at the

National Co#pter 8e&rity Center" The prose&tor, -ho ob%iosly +i+n0t n+erstan+ -hat he -asloo'in at, -as &hara&teri<in pbli& telephone e=tensions as 3&lassifie+ a&&ess &o+es"4.nbelie%able"

Another alleation, the &lai# that I0+ ha&'e+ into poli&e &o#pters an+ +elete+ #y arrestre&or+, -as relate+ to #y 8anta Cr< Operations ha&'in &ase, bt the #issin re&or+ -as reallyla- enfor&e#ent0s o-n falt" Re#e#ber, -hen Bonnie an+ I srren+ere+ orsel%es to the West/olly-oo+ 8heriff0s Depart#ent, be&ase they nele&te+ to finerprint or photoraph s, no re&or+-as &reate+ of or arrest" In short, it -as their o-n s&re-p6 they +i+n0t +o their 1ob"

All the other alleations -ere also false, rehashes of r#ors that apparently &on%in&e+ the

#aistrate I -as a serios threat to national se&rity"The one that #ystifie+ #e #ost -as that I ha+ repeate+ly ha+ the phone ser%i&e of the

a&tress $risty M&Ni&hol trne+ off be&ase I ha+ a &rsh on her" 2irst of all, I &ol+n0t i#aine -hyanyone -ol+ thin' that trnin off so#eone0s phone -ol+ be a oo+ -ay to +e#onstrateaffe&tion" I ne%er n+erstoo+ ho- the story ot starte+ bt the e=perien&e ha+ been seare+ into #y#e#ory" I0+ ha+ to en+re the h#iliation of stan+in in line at the ro&ery store an+ seein #y

photo plastere+ on the &o%er of the Nationa !0aminer alonsi+e flori+ hea+lines sayin I -as a&ra<e+ stal'er obsesse+ -ith $risty M&Ni&hol The feelin in the pit of #y sto#a&h as I lan&e+aron+ #e, hopin that none of the other shoppers ha+ re&oni<e+ #e on that &o%er, is one I-ol+n0t -ish on #y -orst ene#y"

Wee's later, #y #o#, -ho then -or'e+ at >erry0s 2a#os Deli in 8t+io City, sa-M&Ni&hol ha%in ln&h at one of the tables" Mo# intro+&e+ herself an+ sai+, 3$e%in Mitni&' is#y son"4

M&Ni&hol i##e+iately sai+, 3Yeah, -hat0s all this abot his trnin off #y phonesH4 8hesai+ that nothin li'e that ha+ e%er happene+ to her, an+ she herself -on+ere+, 1st as I ha+, ho- ther#or ha+ otten starte+" Later a pri%ate in%estiator -ol+ &onfir# that none of it ha+ ta'en pla&e"

When people as' #e -hy I ran, years later, instea+ of fa&in the 2e+eral &hares aainst #e,I thin' ba&' on #o#ents li'e this" What oo+ -ol+ it +o for #e to &o#e &lean if #y a&&sers -ereoin to play +irtyH When there0s no pres#ption of fair treat#ent, an+ the o%ern#ent is -illin to

base its &hares on sperstition an+ n%erifie+ r#ors, the ony smart res#onse is to r*n5

When it -as his trn to present #y &ase, #y &ort:appointe+ attorney tol+ the #aistrate

that I ha+ in+ee+ one to Israel in late *, bt that I ha+n0t been abs&on+in, 1st %isitin" I -asstnne+" We ha+ +is&sse+ this point ten #intes before #y hearin, an+ I0+ e=plaine+ that I ha+n0t been otsi+e the &ontry in years an+ ha+ in fa&t ne%er been o%erseas" Mo#, 7ra#, an+ Bonnie allloo'e+ sho&'e+ be&ase they 'ne- that -hat he -as sayin 1st -asn0t tre" /o- &ol+ an attorney

be so in&o#petentHIn a last:+it&h effort to frihten the #aistrate, Leon Wei+#an #a+e one of the #ost

otraeos state#ents that ha%e probably e%er been ttere+ by a 2e+eral prose&tor in &ort6 he tol+Maistrate Tassoplos that I &ol+ start a n&lear holo&ast" 3/e &an -histle into a telephone an+lan&h a n&lear #issile fro# NORAD,4 he sai+" Where &ol+ he ha%e possibly &o#e p -ith thatri+i&los notionH NORAD &o#pters aren0t e%en &onne&te+ to the otsi+e -orl+" An+ theyob%iosly +on0t se the pbli& telephone lines for issin lan&h &o##an+s"

/is other &lai#s, e%ery sinle one of -hi&h -as false, -ere tall tales, li'ely pi&'e+ p fro# bos #e+ia reports an+ -ho 'no-s -hat other sor&es" Bt I ha+ ne%er hear+ this NORAD one before, not e%en in a s&ien&e:fi&tion story" I &an only thin' he pi&'e+ p the notion fro# the



/olly-oo+ hit #o%ie &ar3ames" Later it -ol+ be&o#e -i+ely a&&epte+ that &ar3ames -as partly base+ on #y e=ploits; it -asn0t"

Prose&tor Wei+#an -as paintin a portrait of #e as the Le= Lthor of the &o#pter -orl+-hi&h I ess #a+e hi# 8per#an" The -histlin:into:the:phone thin -as so farfet&he+ that Ia&tally lahe+ ot lo+ -hen he sai+ it, &ertain that /er /onor -ol+ tell the #an he -as beinabsr+"

Instea+, she or+ere+ #e hel+ -ithot bail be&ase -hen 3ar#e+ -ith a 'eyboar+44armed65, I pose+ a +aner to the &o##nity"

An+ she a++e+ that I -as to be hel+ -here I -ol+ not ha%e any a&&ess to a telephone" Theli%in areas assine+ to a prison0s 3eneral poplation4 ha%e phones that in#ates &an se to #a'e&olle&t &alls" There is only one area -ith no phone a&&ess at all6 solitary &onfine#ent, 'no-n as 3thehole"4

In 'ime #aa<ine0s isse of >anary , *, an ite# n+er the hea+in of 3Te&hnoloy4note+6 3E%en the #ost +aneros &ri#inal sspe&ts are sally allo-e+ a&&ess to a telephone, btnot $e%in Mitni&'!or at least not -ithot bein n+er a ar+0s eye" An+ then he is per#itte+ to&all only his -ife, #other an+ la-yer" The reason is that pttin a phone in Mitni&'0s han+s is li'ei%in a n to a hit #an" The t-enty:fi%e:year:ol+ so#eti#e &ollee st+ent is a&&se+ by 2e+eral

offi&ials of sin the phone syste# to be&o#e one of the #ost for#i+able &o#pter brea':in artistsof all ti#e"4

3Li'e i%in a n to a hit #an4!sai+ of a y -hose only -eapons -ere &o#pter &o+ean+ so&ial enineerin I -ol+ ha%e another &han&e to plea+ #y &ase" The hearin before a #aistrate &on&ernsonly the initial +e&ision abot +etention" In the 2e+eral syste#, yo then 3o to the -heel,4 an+ a2e+eral 1+e is assine+ to yor &ase at ran+o# ths 3the -heel4" I -as tol+ I -as l&'y to et>+e Mariana Pfael<er" Not @ite"

The ne- attorney -ho ha+ been assine+ to #e, Alan Rbin, trie+ to are that I shol+n0t be hose+ in solitary &onfine#ent, -hi&h -as inten+e+ for in#ates -ho &o##itte+ %iolent a&ts in prison or -ere a threat to the prison itself" >+e Pfael<er sai+, 3That0s e=a&tly -here he belons"4

No- I -as ta'en to the bran+:ne-, 1st:opene+ 2e+eral Metropolitan Detention Center in+o-nto-n Los Aneles, -here I -as es&orte+ p to the eihth floor, .nit North, an+ intro+&e+ to#y ne- ho#e, a spa&e abot eiht feet by ten, +i#ly lit, -ith one narro- %erti&al slit of a -in+o-throh -hi&h I &ol+ see &ars, the train station, people -al'in aron+ free, an+ the Metro Pla<ahotel, in -hi&h, see+y thoh it probably -as, I lone+ to be" I &ol+n0t e%en see the ar+s or other

prisoners, sin&e I -as &lose+ in not by bars bt by a steel +oor -ith a slot that #y foo+ trays -eresli+ throh"

The loneliness -as #in+:n#bin" Prisoners -ho ha%e to stay in the hole for e=ten+e+ perio+s often lose &onta&t -ith reality" 8o#e ne%er re&o%er, li%in the rest of their li%es in a +i#ne%er:ne%er:lan+, nable to fn&tion in so&iety, nable to hol+ a 1ob" To et an i+ea of -hat it0s li'e,

pi&tre bein trappe+ for t-enty:three hors a +ay in a &loset lit by only a sinle forty:-att blb"Whene%er I left #y &ell, e%en to -al' 1st ten feet to the sho-er, I ha+ to be sha&'le+ in leirons an+ han+&ffs, treate+ the sa#e -ay as a prisoner -ho ha+ %iolently assalte+ a ar+" 2or3e=er&ise,4 I -ol+ be shffle+ on&e a +ay to a 'in+ of ot+oor &ae, not #&h #ore than t-i&e thesi<e of #y &ell, -here for an hor I &ol+ breathe fresh air an+ +o a fe- psh:ps"

/o- +i+ I sr%i%eH 5isits fro# #y #o#, +a+, ran+#other, an+ -ife -ere all I ha+ to loo'for-ar+ to" $eepin #y #in+ a&ti%e -as #y sal%ation" 8in&e I -asn0t in the hole for %iolatin

prison rles, the stri&t i+elines for prisoners in solitary -ere rela=e+ a little for #e" I &ol+ rea+ boo's an+ #aa<ines, -rite letters, listen to #y Wal'#an ra+io fa%orites6 $N *)K) Ne-s ra+ioan+ &lassi& ro&'" Bt -ritin -as +iffi&lt be&ase I -as allo-e+ only a short pen&il, too stbby tose for #ore than a fe- #intes at a ti#e"

Bt e%en in solitary, in spite of the &ort0s best efforts, I #anae+ to +o a bit of phone phrea'in" I -as allo-e+ phone &alls to #y attorney, #y #o#, #y +a+, an+ Ant Chi&'ie, as -ellas to Bonnie, bt only -hen she -as at ho#e at her apart#ent, not at -or'" 8o#eti#es I0+ lon to



tal' to her +rin the +ay" In or+er to #a'e a &all, I ha+ to be sha&'le+ an+ -al'e+ to a hall-ay thatha+ a ban' of three pay phones" The ar+ -ol+ ta'e the restraints off on&e -e rea&he+ the phonearea, an+ -ol+ sit in a &hair fi%e feet a-ay, fa&in the -all of phones"

Callin anyone not liste+ in the &ort or+er -ol+ see# i#possible, short of tryin to bribethe ar+!an+ I 'ne- that -ol+ be a short&t to ettin the fe- pri%ilees I +i+ ha%e re%o'e+"

Bt -asn0t there so#e -ay I &ol+ &all Bonnie at -or'H I &on&o&te+ a plan" It -ol+ ta'e

balls, bt -hat +i+ I ha%e to loseH I -as alrea+y in solitary &onfine#ent, a sppose+ threat tonational se&rity" I -as alrea+y at the botto# of the barrel"

I tol+ the ar+, 3I -ant to &all #y #other,4 an+ he loo'e+ p the n#ber in the loboo'"/e -al'e+ the fe- steps, +iale+ the phone, an+ han+e+ it to #e" The operator &a#e on an+ as'e+#y na#e, then -ent off the line ntil #y #o# ans-ere+ an+ aree+ to a&&ept a &olle&t &all fro#$e%in, an+ -e -ere finally &onne&te+"

As I -as tal'in -ith Mo#, I -ol+ fre@ently rb #y ba&' aainst the pay phone as if Iha+ an it&h" At the en+ of or &on%ersation, I -ol+ then pt one han+ behin+ #y ba&', a&tin li'e I-as s&rat&hin #y ba&'" With #y han+ still behin+ #e, -hile &ontinin to tal' as if &arryin on a&on%ersation, I -ol+ hol+ +o-n the s-it&h hoo' for a fe- se&on+s to +is&onne&t the &all" Then I-ol+ brin #y han+ ba&' aron+ in front of #y bo+y"

I 'ne- I ha+ only eihteen se&on+s to +ial a ne- n#ber before the phone -ol+ starte#ittin a lo+, fast bsy sinal that the ar+ -ol+ srely be able to hear"

8o I0+ rea&h behin+ #y ba&' aain an+ preten+ to s&rat&h, -hile I %ery @i&'ly +iale+-hate%er n#ber I -ante+ to &all!beinnin -ith ) to #a'e it a &olle&t &all" I -ol+ pa&e ba&'an+ forth -hile s&rat&hin #y ba&', so the ar+ -ol+ et se+ to this a&tion an+ not thin' it -assspi&ios"

Of &orse, I &ol+n0t see the +ial pa+, so I ha+ to be sre to et the n#bers riht -ithotha%in to loo'" An+ I ha+ to hol+ the phone tihtly aainst #y ear to #as' the son+ of the to&htones as I re+iale+"

All the -hile, I ha+ to a&t as if I -ere still tal'in to #y #other" 8o I -ol+ no+ an+ appearto be hol+in a &on%ersation -ith her, as the ar+ -at&he+"

After I pn&he+ in the ne- n#ber, I ha+ to ti#e #y fa'e &on%ersation 1st riht, so that-hen the operator &a#e on an+ sai+, 3Colle&t &all" Who shall I say is the &allerH4 the ne=t -or+ Isai+ -ol+ be 3$e%in4!in a senten&e that -ol+ son+ nor#al to the ar+" As the operator as'e+#y na#e, I0+ be sayin so#ethin li'e, 3Well, tell .n&le >ohn that?4 The operator -ol+ stoptal'in an+ -ait for #e to i%e #y na#e, 1st as I -as sayin 3? $E5IN? sen+s #y best"4

When I hear+ Bonnie0s %oi&e, #y heart soare+" It too' -illpo-er to &ontrol #yself, for&in#yself to tal' -ith no #ore ani#ation than -hen I really -as tal'in to #y #other"

It ha+ -or'e+" I -as as e=&ite+ as if I0+ 1st s&&ee+e+ -ith so#e epi& ha&'" The first ti#e is the har+est" I 'ept p that rotine +ay after +ay" It0s a -on+er the ar++i+n0t by #e so#e lotion for it&hy s'in"

One niht a &ople of -ee's after I bean +oin this tri&', -hen I -as sleepin, #y &ell+oor sli+ open" 8tan+in there -ere a bn&h of sits6 a &ople of asso&iate -ar+ens an+ the &aptainof the +etention &enter" I -as han+&ffe+, sha&'le+, an+ hstle+ off to a &onferen&e roo# thirty feeta-ay" I sat +o-n, an+ one of the asso&iate -ar+ens as'e+, 3Mitni&', ho- are yo +oin itH /o- areyo re+ialin the phoneH4 I playe+ +#b, thin'in it -ol+ be stpi+ to a+#it anythin" Let the#

pro%e it"The &aptain &hi#e+ in, 3We0%e been #onitorin yor &alls" /o- are yo +ialin the phoneH

The CO Corre&tional Offi&erS is -at&hin yo at all ti#es"4 I s#ile+ an+ sai+, 3I0# not Da%i+Copperfiel+!ho- &ol+ I possibly re+ial the phoneH The offi&er ne%er ta'es his eyes off #e"4

T-o +ays later, I hear+ noises otsi+e #y roo#" It -as a Pa&ifi& Bell te&hni&ian" What thehellH /e -as installin a phone 1a&' in the hall-ay a&ross fro# #y &ell an+ the ne=t ti#e I as'e+ to

#a'e a phone &all, I fon+ ot -hy6 the ar+ broht a phone -ith a t-enty:foot han+set &or+ an+ ple+ it into the 1a&', +iale+ the athori<e+ n#ber I re@este+, an+ then passe+ the han+setthroh the slot in the hea%y #etal +oor to #y &ell" The phone itself -as far beyon+ #y rea&h"



Bastar+sBesi+es ta'in #y phone &alls, Bonnie -as also %ery spporti%e in person" Three ti#es a

-ee' after -or', she0+ #a'e the lon +ri%e to the prison an+ -ait in line for a very lon ti#e for hertrn to see #e in the %isitin roo#, -ith ar+s -at&hin s the -hole ti#e" We -ere allo-e+ a

brief h an+ @i&' 'iss" O%er an+ o%er, I -ol+ earnestly reassre her that this -as the last ti#e I-ol+ e%er +o anythin li'e this" As in the past, I really belie%e+ it"

I &ontine+ to sit in solitary -hile attorney Alan Rbin neotiate+ -ith the prose&tor abotthe ter#s of a plea barain that -ol+ let #e et ot of prison -ithot a trial" I -as bein &hare+-ith brea'in into DEC an+ possessin MCI a&&ess &o+es, &asin DEC a loss of #illion!anabsr+ &lai#" Diital0s a&tal losses -ere relate+ to the in%estiation of the in&i+ent; the #illionfire -as an arbitrary n#ber &hosen for the prpose of senten&in #e to a lenthy prison ter#n+er the 2e+eral 8enten&in 7i+elines" My pnish#ent shol+ really ha%e been base+ on the &ostof the li&ensin fees I ha+n0t pai+ for the sor&e &o+e I0+ &opie+, -hi&h -ol+ ha%e been #&h,#&h less"

8till, I -ante+ to settle the &ase an+ et ot of #y &offinli'e &ell as @i&'ly as possible" I+i+n0t -ant to stan+ trial be&ase I 'ne- the 2e+s ha+ easily enoh e%i+en&e to &on%i&t #e6 theyha+ #y notes an+ +is's, they ha+ Lenny0s eaerness to testify aainst #e, they ha+ the tape fro# a

bo+y -ire Lenny ha+ -orn +rin or last ha&'in session"At last #y attorney -or'e+ ot a +eal -ith the 2e+eral prose&tors that -ol+ reslt in #y

ser%in a one:year prison ter#" They also -ante+ #e to testify aainst Lenny" That &a#e as a sho&',sin&e I0+ al-ays hear+ that the y -ho s@eale+ first -ol+ et off easy, #aybe -ithot e%en+oin any ti#e at all" Bt the 2e+s no- -ante+ to nail their o-n snit&h, an+ #y for#er frien+" 8re,I sai+" Lenny ha+ i%en e%i+en&e aainst #e, so -hy shol+n0t I pay hi# ba&' in 'in+H

Bt -hen -e ot into &ort, >+e Pfael<er apparently -as inflen&e+ by the #any r#orsan+ false alleations that ha+ pile+ p aainst #e o%er ti#e" 8he re1e&te+ the plea aree#ent,+ee#in it too lenient" 8till, she allo-e+ a re%ise+ %ersion that a%e #e one year in 1ail, follo-e+ bysi= #onths in a half-ay hose" I -as also re@ire+ to sit +o-n -ith DEC0s An+y 7ol+stein to tellhi# ho- -e0+ ha&'e+ into DEC an+ &opie+ its #ost &o%ete+ sor&e &o+e"

As soon as I sai+ I -ol+ a&&ept a plea aree#ent, I #ai&ally lost #y 3national se&ritythreat4 stats" I -as transferre+ fro# solitary into the eneral poplation" At first it felt al#ost asoo+ as bein release+, bt then reality @i&'ly re#in+e+ #e that I -as still in 1ail"

While I -as in the eneral poplation at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a fello- prisoner, a Colo#bian +r lor+, offere+ to pay #e J #illion &ash if I &ol+ ha&' into 8entry, the2e+eral Brea of Prisons0 &o#pter syste#, an+ et hi# release+" I playe+ alon to 'eep onfrien+ly ter#s -ith hi#, bt I ha+ absoltely no intention of oin +o-n that roa+"

8oon I -as transferre+ to the 2e+eral prison &a#p at Lo#po&" What a +ifferen&e6 there -as+or#itory hosin instea+ of &ells, an+ not e%en a fen&e aron+ the pla&e" I -as sharin #y ne-+is -ith the -ho0s -ho of -hite:&ollar &ri#e" My fello- in#ates e%en in&l+e+ a for#er 2e+eral

1+e -ho ha+ been &on%i&te+ of ta= e%asion"My -eiht ha+ spi'e+ ba&' p to () -hile I -as in solitary, sin&e I ha+ been li%in #ostlyon &o#fort foo+ fro# the &o##issary!oo+ies li'e /ershey bars +ippe+ in peant btter" /ey,-hen yo0re in solitary, anythin that #a'es yo feel a little better is a oo+ thin, rihtH

Bt no-, at Lo#po&, another in#ate, a &ool y na#e+ Roer Wilson, tal'e+ #e into +oinlots of -al'in an+ e=er&isin as -ell as eatin healthier foo+s s&h as ri&e an+ %eies an+ theli'e" It -as har+ for #e to et starte+, bt -ith his en&orae#ent, I s&&ee+e+" It -as the beinninof a &hane in #y lifestyle that -ol+ re#a'e #e, at least in ter#s of #y bo+y i#ae"

On&e -hen I -as sittin on a -oo+en ben&h, -aitin in line to se the phone, I%an Boes'ysat +o-n ne=t to #e -ith a &offee in han+" E%erybo+y 'ne- -ho he -as6 a oneti#e billionairefinan&ial enis -ho ha+ been &on%i&te+ of insi+er tra+in" An+ it trne+ ot he 'ne- -ho - -as,

too6 3/ey, Mitni&',4 he sai+, 3ho- #&h #oney +i+ yo #a'e ha&'in those &o#ptersH43I +i+n0t +o it for the #oney; I +i+ it for the entertain#ent,4 I replie+"

/e sai+ so#ethin li'e, 3Yo0re in prison, an+ yo +i+n0t #a'e any #oney" Isn0t that



stpi+H4 Li'e he -as loo'in +o-n his nose at #e" At that e=a&t #o#ent, I happene+ to spot aroa&h floatin in his &offee" 8#ilin, I pointe+ at it an+ sai+, 3This pla&e isn0t li'e the /el#sley, isitH4

Boes'y ne%er ans-ere+" /e 1st ot p an+ -al'e+ a-ay" After al#ost for #onths at Lo#po&, I -as &o#in p for release to the half-ay hose, a

pla&e &alle+ 3Beit T08h%ah"4 I -as tol+ the na#e -as /ebre- for 3/ose of Retrn"4 Beit

T08h%ah se+ the *(:step prora#, +esine+ for people -ith +r, al&ohol, an+ other a++i&tions"My i##inent #o%e to a half-ay hose -as the oo+ ne-s" The ba+ ne-s -as that a

Probation Offi&er ha+ &alle+ Bonnie to #a'e an appoint#ent to 3inspe&t4 the apart#ent she -asthen li%in in, e=plainin that he ha+ to appro%e #y ftre li%in arrane#ents before I -asrelease+" 2or Bonnie, that -as the last stra-" 8he felt she ha+ been throh enoh an+ &ol+n0t+an&e this +an&e any#ore" 3Yo +on0t nee+ to inspe&t #y apart#ent,4 she tol+ the y" 3Myhsban+ -on0t be li%in here"4 On her ne=t %isit, she a%e #e the ba+ ne-s6 she -as filin for+i%or&e"

8he no- says, 3It -as a %ery painfl ti#e for #e" I thoht I ha+ faile+" It -as s&ary" I -astoo afrai+ to lea%e $e%in, bt too afrai+ to stay" The fear of stayin 1st be&a#e too bi"4

I -as stnne+" We ha+ been plannin to spen+ the rest of or li%es toether, an+ no- she ha+

&hane+ her #in+ 1st as I -as nearin release" I felt as if a ton of bri&'s ha+ been +roppe+ on #e" I-as really hrt, an+ totally sho&'e+"

Bonnie aree+ to &o#e to the half-ay hose for a &ople of #arriae:&onselin sessions-ith #e" They +i+n0t help" I -as +eeply +isappointe+ abot her +e&ision to en+ or #arriae" What &ol+ a&&ont forher s++en &hane of heartH There #st be another y, I thoht!so#ebo+y else -as in the

pi&tre" I fire+ that by &he&'in ot the #essaes on her ans-erin #a&hine, I &ol+ fin+ ot -hoit -as" I felt ba+ abot +oin it, bt I nee+e+ to 'no- the trth"

I 'ne- Bonnie0s ans-erin #a&hine -as a Ra+io8ha&' pro+&t be&ase I re&oni<e+ the 1inle it playe+ to pro#pt the &aller to lea%e a #essae" I also 'ne- that -ith this parti&lar#a&hine, yo &ol+ retrie%e #essaes re#otely, bt only if yo ha+ the han+hel+ +e%i&e that &a#e-ith it, -hi&h e#itte+ a spe&ial set of tones to trn on the playba&'" /o- &ol+ I et aron+ thatan+ listen to her #essaes -ithot the re#ote beeperH

I &alle+ a Ra+io8ha&' store an+ +es&ribe+ the type of ans-erin #a&hine she ha+, thena++e+ that I ha+ lost #y beeper an+ nee+e+ to by another" The sales#an sai+ there -ere for

possible beepers for the %arios #o+els of that parti&lar ans-erin #a&hine!A, B, C, an+ D! ea&h of -hi&h playe+ a +ifferent se@en&e of tones" I sai+, 3I0# a #si&ian, so I0%e ot a oo+ ear"4/e -ante+ #e to &o#e +o-n to the store, bt I &ol+n0t lea%e the half-ay hose be&ase ne-arri%als -eren0t per#itte+ to lea%e the pre#ises for the first thirty +ays they -ere there" I plea+e+-ith hi# to open one of ea&h type, pt batteries in the re#otes, an+ then play ea&h re#ote so I &ol+hear it"

My persisten&e pai+ off6 the y -ent to the troble of settin p the for re#otes an+ playin ea&h of their tones for #e" I ha+ a #i&ro&assette:tape re&or+er rnnin the -hole ti#e, presse+ to the telephone re&ei%er"

After-ar+, I &alle+ Bonnie0s phone an+ playe+ ba&' the tones throh the re&ei%er" The thir+one +i+ the tri&'" I hear+ Bonnie lea%e a #essae on her o-n phone, pres#ably fro# -or'" Afterthe &all ha+ one to the #a&hine, so#e y in her apart#ent pi&'e+ p, an+ the tape re&or+e+ bothsi+es of their &on%ersation as she tol+ hi# abot 3ho- reat it -as to spen+ ti#e -ith yo"4

Ea%es+roppin on her #essaes -as a stpi+ thin for #e to +o be&ase it 1st #a+e the pain I -as alrea+y feelin that #&h -orse" Bt it &onfir#e+ #y sspi&ions" I -as pretty pset thatshe ha+ been lyin to #e" I -as +esperate enoh to a&tally &onsi+er snea'in ot of the half-ayhose to see her" L&'ily I stoppe+ #yself, 'no-in -hat a he #ista'e that -ol+ be"

After that first #onth, I -as allo-e+ to lea%e the half-ay hose for so#e sele&te+appoint#ents an+ %isits" I often -ent to see Bonnie, tryin to -in her ba&'" On one of those %isits, Inoti&e+ that she0+ &arelessly left her latest phone bill sittin on the table" It sho-e+ that she0+ been



The Ke*in Mi#nick Di%co!n# P&an

(se td es# e#c0 +1c d1+ehc# m$cy#o 1y es#

nsta ese Y1ge#w d#ye 0#

I#aine a tra+e:sho- floor -ith ( #illion s@are feet of spa&e, pa&'e+ -ith ()),))) people

&ra##e+ -all to -all, son+in li'e they0re all tal'in at on&e, #ostly in >apanese, Tai-anese, an+Man+arin" That0s -hat the Las 5eas Con%ention Center -as li'e in ** +rin CE8, the annalCons#er Ele&troni&s 8ho-!a &an+y store, +ra-in one of the biest &ro-+s in the -orl+"

I ha+ tra%ele+ a&ross to-n to be there one +ay +rin the sho-, bt not 1st to %isit the booths or see the ne- ele&troni& a+ets that -ol+ +a<<le byers the ne=t Christ#as" I -as there

for the ba&'ron+ noise" It -as essential for an air of belie%ability on the phone &all I -as abot to pla&e"

This -as the &hallene6 I ha+ a No%atel PTR:(J &ell phone, -hi&h ba&' then -as one ofthe hottest phones on the #ar'et" I -ante+ to feel safe tal'in to #y frien+s on it, an+ not ha%e to-on+er if so#ebo+y fro# the 2BI or lo&al la- enfor&e#ent -as listenin in" I 'ne- a -ay that#iht be possible" No- I -as tryin to fin+ ot if -hat I ha+ in #in+ &ol+ really -or'"

My plan -as base+ on a tri&' in%ol%in the phone0s ele&troni& serial n#ber, or 3E8N"4 Ase%ery phone ha&'er 'no-s, ea&h &ell phone has a ni@e E8N, -hi&h ets trans#itte+ alon -iththe #obile phone n#ber, or MIN, to the nearest &ell to-er" It0s part of ho- the &ell phone &o#pany%ali+ates that a &aller is a leiti#ate sbs&riber, an+ part of hoit 'no-s -ho# to &hare &alls to"

If I &ol+ 'eep &hanin #y phone so it -ol+ trans#it the MINs an+ E8Ns of leiti#ate

sbs&ribers, then #y &alls -ol+ be &o#pletely safe6 e%ery atte#pt to tra&e a &all -ol+ lea+ toso#e straner, the person -ho o-ne+ the real phone asso&iate+ -ith the E8N that I -as sin at the#o#ent" O'ay, the &sto#er -ol+ also ha%e to e=plain to the phone &o#pany that he ha+n0t #a+ethe e=tra &alls he -as bein &hare+ for, bt he -ol+n0t be responsible for payin the &hares forthose nathori<e+ &alls"

2ro# a Con%ention Center pay phone, I +iale+ a n#ber in Calary, Alberta, Cana+a"3No%atel,4 a la+y0s %oi&e &a#e +o-n the line"

3/i,4 I sai+" 3I nee+ to tal' to so#eone in Enineerin"4 3Where are yo &allin fro#H4 she -ante+ to 'no-" As al-ays, I ha+ +one #y resear&h" 3I0# -ith Enineerin in 2ort Worth"4 3Yo shol+ be spea'in to the enineerin #anaer, 2re+ Wal'er, bt he0s not in to+ay"Can I ta'e yor n#ber an+ ha%e Mr" Wal'er &all yo to#orro-H4

3It0s rent,4 I sai+" 3Let #e spea' to -hoe%er0s a%ailable in his +epart#ent"4 Mo#ents later, a #an -ith a >apanese a&&ent &a#e on the line an+ a%e his na#e as$#a#oto" 3$#a#oto:san, this is Mi'e Bishop, fro# 2ort Worth,4 I sai+, sin a na#e I ha+ rea+ offa Cons#er Ele&troni&s 8ho- ele&troni& #essae boar+ only #o#ents earlier" 3I sally tal' to2re+ Wal'er, bt he0s not in" I0# at CE8 in 5eas"4 I -as &ontin on the a&tal ba&'ron+ noiseto len+ &re+en&e to the &lai#" 3We0re +oin so#e testin for a +e#onstration" Is there a -ay to&hane the E8N fro# the phone0s 'eypa+H4

3Absoltely not" It0s aainst 2CC relations"4

That -as a b##er" My reat i+ea ha+ 1st otten shot +o-n" No, -ait" $#a#oto:san -as still tal'in" 3We +o ha%e a spe&ial %ersion of the fir#-are, %ersion *")J" It lets yo &hane the E8N



fro# the phone 'eypa+ if yo 'no- the se&ret prora##in steps"48++enly I -as ba&' in the a#e" A phone0s 3fir#-are4 is its operatin syste#, e#be++e+

on a spe&ial 'in+ of &o#pter &hip &alle+ an EPROM"The tri&' at a #o#ent li'e this is not to let yor e=&ite#ent &o#e throh in yor %oi&e" I

as'e+ a @estion that -ol+ son+ li'e a &hallene6 3Why +oes it allo- &hanin the E8NH43The 2CC re@ires it for testin,4 he sai+"

3/o- &an I et a &opyH4 I thoht #aybe he0+ say he -ol+ sen+ #e a phone -ith that%ersion of the fir#-are" 3I &an sen+ a &hip,4 he sai+" 3Yo &an repla&e it in the phone"4 2antasti&" This #iht be e%en better than ettin a -hole ne- phone, if I &ol+ 1st psh they a little frther" 3Can yo brn for or fi%e of the EPROMs for #eH4 3Yes"4 E=&ellent, bt no- I ha+ hit a sna6 ho- -as I oin to ha%e the# sent to #e -ithot i%in#y real na#e an+ a +eli%ery a++ress that &ol+ be tra&'e+H

3Brn the# for #e,4 I tol+ hi#" 3I0ll &all yo ba&'"4 I -as pretty sre those &hips -ol+ #a'e #e the only person otsi+e No%atel -ho &ol+

&hane the n#ber of his No%atel &ell phone 1st by pressin the bttons on his 'eypa+" Not only-ol+ it let #e tal' for free, bt it -ol+ i%e #e a &loa' of in%isibility, aranteein #y&on%ersations -ol+ be pri%ate" An+ it -ol+ also i%e #e a safe &allba&' n#ber anyti#e I -ante+to so&ial:enineer a taret &o#pany"

Bt ho- -as I oin to et that pa&'ae sent to #e -ithot bein &ahtH If yo -ere in #y shoes at this point, ho- -ol+ yo arrane to et hol+ of those &hipsHThin' abot it for a #inte" The ans-er -asn0t all that har+" It -as in t-o parts, an+ it &a#e to #e in an instant" I &alle+

No%atel aain an+ as'e+ for the se&retary to $#a#oto:san0s #anaer, 2re+ Wal'er" I tol+ her,3$#a#oto:san fro# Enineerin is oin to +rop off so#ethin for #e" I0# -or'in -ith or

people at the booth at CE8, bt I0# here in Calary for the +ay" I0ll &o#e by an+ pi&' it p thisafternoon"4

$#a#oto:san -as alrea+y bsy brnin the &hips for #e -hen I ot hi# ba&' on the phone an+ as'e+ hi# to pa&' the# p -hen they -ere rea+y an+ +rop the# off -ith Wal'er0sse&retary" After spen+in a &ople of hors -an+erin the &on%ention floor, soa'in p -hat -asne- in the -orl+ of ele&troni&s an+ &ell phones, I -as rea+y for #y ne=t step"

Abot t-enty #intes before @ittin ti#e Calary is an hor ahea+ of Las 5eas, I otthe se&retary on the phone aain" 3I0# at the airport on the -ay ba&' to Las 5eas ne=pe&te+ly! they -ere ha%in proble#s at the booth" That pa&'ae $#a#oto:san left for #e, &an yo 2e+E= itto #y hotel thereH I0# stayin at Cir&s Cir&s"4 I ha+ alrea+y #a+e a reser%ation for the ne=t +ayat Cir&s Cir&s n+er the na#e 3Mi'e Bishop4; the &ler' ha+n0t e%en as'e+ for a &re+it &ar+" I

a%e the se&retary the a++ress of the hotel an+ spelle+ the Mi'e Bishop na#e 1st to be sre she ha+it riht"One #ore phone &all, aain to Cir&s Cir&s" I e=plaine+ I -ol+ be arri%in late an+ nee+e+

to #a'e sre the front +es' -ol+ hol+ a 2e+E= that -ol+ be +eli%ere+ before I &he&'e+ in"3Certainly, Mr" Bishop" If it0s a lare ite#, the bell &aptain -ill ha%e it in the storae roo#" If it0ss#all, -e0ll be hol+in it here at the reistration +es'"4 No proble#"

2or the ne=t &all, I fon+ #y -ay to a @iet area an+ pn&he+ in the n#ber for #y fa%oriteCir&it City store" When I rea&he+ a &ler' in the &ell phone +epart#ent, I sai+, 3This is 8te%e Walsh,LA Celllar" We0%e been ha%in &o#pter failres in or a&ti%ation syste#" /a%e yo a&ti%ate+ any

phones on LA Celllar in the last t-o horsH4Yes, the store ha+ sol+ for" 3Well, loo',4 I sai+" 3I nee+ yo to rea+ #e the #obile phone

n#ber an+ the E8N of ea&h of those phones, so I &an rea&ti%ate their n#bers in the syste#" Thelast thin -e nee+ is nhappy &sto#ers, rihtH4 I a%e hi# a sar&asti& &h&'le, an+ he rea+ off then#bers"



8o no- I ha+ for E8Ns an+ the phone n#bers that -ent -ith the#" 2or the rest of theafternoon, the -ait -as absoltely ner%e:ra&'in" I ha+ no i+ea -hether or not I -ol+ be able to

pll this off" Wol+ the No%atel people sense that so#ethin fishy -as p, an+ ne%er sen+ the&hipsH Wol+ there be 2BI aents sta'e+ ot in the hotel lobby, -aitin to pi&' #e pH Or -ol+ I,

by the ne=t afternoon, ha%e the &apability of &hanin the n#ber of #y &ell phone as often as I-ante+H

The ne=t +ay, #y lonti#e frien+ Ale= $aspera%i&is arri%e+" An intellient, frien+ly y,e=pert in IT an+ telephone syste#s, Ale= li'e+ the a+%entre of bein in&l+e+ in so#e of #ye=ploits, bt he -asn0t really a ha&'in partner" I &ol+ +oe+ly sti&' to an effort for #onths an+#onths ntil I finally s&&ee+e+" Ale= -asn0t li'e that; he ha+ other +istra&tions" /e 'ept bsy-or'in as a &a#p &onselor in 7riffith Par', playin &lassi&al #si& on his 2ren&h horn, an+loo'in for ne- irlfrien+s"

I fille+ hi# in on the sitation" What a 'i&' I ot ot of -at&hin his rea&tion At first not belie%in it -ol+ be possible to et the #anfa&trer to sen+ s the &hips, then i#ainin ho-reat it -ol+ be if -e &ol+ really #a'e &alls #as'in or i+entities"

$#a#oto:san ha+ pro%i+e+ #e -ith the prora##in instr&tions for i%in the phone ane- E8N, sin the spe&ial %ersion of the fir#-are" To+ay, al#ost t-enty years later, I &an still

re#e#ber the e=a&t &o+e" It -as62n&tion:'ey

2n&tion:'ey Q Q Last eiht +iits of the ne- E8N Q 2n&tion:'ey 2or the te&hni&ally &rios, the E8N is a&tally ele%en +e&i#al +iits lon, the first three of-hi&h +esinate the phone0s #anfa&trer" With the &hip an+ the &o+e, I -ol+ only be able toreprora# any No%atel E8N into #y phone, bt not one fro# another &ell phone #anfa&trer! thoh later on, -hen I ot No%atel0s sor&e &o+e, I -ol+ ain that &apability as -ell"

By 6)) p"#", -e -ere pretty sre 2e+eral E=press -ol+ ha%e +eli%ere+ to Cir&s Cir&salrea+y, an+ -e &ol+n0t 'eep or i#patien&e n+er &ontrol any loner" Ale= %olnteere+ to +o the

pi&'p, n+erstan+in -ithot &on%ersation that if I -ent in an+ there -ere &ops -aitin, I0+ be on#y -ay ba&' to prison" I tol+ hi# to i%e the na#e Mi'e Bishop, say he ha+ to et the pa&'ae+ire&tly o%er to the Con%ention Center an+ -ol+ be ba&' later to reister" I staye+ ot front"

In a sitation li'e this, there -as al-ays a &han&e that so#eone &ol+0%e seen throh therse an+ alerte+ the 2e+s" We both 'ne- that Ale= &ol+ be hea+in into a trap" 2ro# the #o#enthe -al'e+ in, he0+ ha%e to be s&opin ot the pla&e for people -ho &ol+ be plain&lothes &ops" Bt

he &ol+n0t be loo'in p an+ +o-n e%ery #an an+ e%ery -o#an -ho see#e+ to be 1st passin theti#e; that -ol+ be too sspi&ios" /e ha+ to s&an"I 'ne- Ale= -as too &ool to loo' o%er his shol+er or sho- any sin that he -as ner%os" If

there -as anythin that loo'e+ -ron, he0+ -al' riht ot!not in an ob%ios hrry, bt not+a-+lin, either"

With e%ery #inte that ti&'e+ by, I ot #ore an=ios" /o- lon &ol+ it ta'e to pi&' p as#all pa&'aeH ;kay, I thoht, cam down, there are #roay a ot o$ #eo#e in ine at the

registration desk, and he has to wait his t*rn"More #intes ti&'e+ by" I -as beinnin to thin' I0+ ha%e to -al' in #yself an+ see if there

-as a &ro-+ of &ops, or #aybe as' a &asino est if there ha+ been so#e 'in+ of poli&e a&tion a fe-#intes before"

Bt there he -as, &o#in ot the +oor, santerin &asally o%er to #e -ith a he rin onhis fa&e" 2ille+ -ith anti&ipation, heart p#pin, -e stoo+ riht there on the street an+ opene+ the



pa&'ae" Insi+e, a &lear -hite &ase &ontaine+, as pro#ise+, fi%e &ell phone (KCJ*( EPROMs" I ha+ been so&ial:enineerin for years, bt this -as probably #y biest pri<e e%er p to that ti#e" If,that is, the &hips really -or'e+" We &rosse+ Las 5eas Bole%ar+ to the Pepper#ill, a%oi+in thetorist:fille+ &o&'tail lone -ith its se=y -aitresses in fa%or of a booth in the restarant area,-here -e -ol+ be less &onspi&os"

Le-is De Payne 1oine+ s" Yes, the y -ho -as no- #y e=:-ife0s lo%er"

I0# not sre I &an e=plain -hy I 'ept in &onta&t -ith Le-is after he stole #y -ife"Ob%iosly I ne%er trste+ or respe&te+ hi# aain" Bt fran'ly, there -ere so fe- people I +are+ tostay in to&h -ith at all that I nee+e+ so#eone -ho n+erstoo+ #y pre+i&a#ent" An+ -ho &ol+n+erstan+ it better than Le-isH /e ha+ been #y ha&'in b++y fro# the start" We0+ been throha lot toether"

It -ol+0%e been easy to thin' of hi# -ith bitterness, as #y ar&h:ene#y" /e &ertainly@alifie+" Bt at the sa#e ti#e, he -as also eninely one of #y best frien+s" An+ Bonnie -asanother" E%entally, I ha+ #o%e+ past the pain an+ ben seein the# aain" We ra+ally be&a#efrien+s, li'e those +i%or&e+ &oples -ith 'i+s -ho en+ p ha%in pi&ni&s toether -ith their ne-sposes on fa#ily holi+ays"

We0re often a+%ise+ to 3fori%e an+ foret"4 In this &ase, 3fori%eness4 #ay be too stron a

-or+" I ha+ to let o of the resent#ent for #y o-n sa'e, bt I &ol+n0t affor+ to foret" AlthohLe-is -as a oo+ ha&'in partner an+ I %ale+ his s'ill set, I ha&'e+ -ith hi# only -hen I ha+ afailsafe!-hen -e both stoo+ to lose if he trie+ to trn #e in"

.n+er these ne- &on+itions, Le-is an+ I ha+ res#e+ or ha&'in toether an+ &reate+ ane- %ersion of or ol+ frien+ship that ha+ &hane+ fore%er"

No-, in or booth in the Pepper#ill, I thoht Le-is0s eyes -ere oin to pop ot of hishea+ -hen he sa- those &hips" /e sat +o-n -ithot fanfare an+ starte+ +isasse#blin #y phone,&areflly arranin its parts on the table an+ 1ottin the +etails on a notepa+ so he0+ 'no- -hereea&h belone+ -hen he -as rea+y to pt the# all ba&' toether"

In less than fi%e #intes, Le-is ha+ the phone ta'en apart, +o-n to the &ir&it boar+,re%ealin the &hip hel+ in pla&e by a [I2 3<ero insertion for&e4 so&'et" I han+e+ hi# one of thene- &hips" /e slippe+ it into pla&e an+ bean his &arefl reasse#bly" I +i+n0t -ant to say anythinthat -ol+ thro- hi# off, bt I -as ro-in antsy, -ishin he0+ -or' 1st a little faster so I &ol+fin+ ot if -e ha+ hit a ol+#ine or not"

As soon as it -as &o#pletely toether, I snat&he+ the phone fro# hi# an+ pn&he+ in thefn&tion &o+e that $#a#oto:san ha+ i%en #e" 2or this test, I prora##e+ the E8N an+ &hane+the phone n#ber to #at&h the ones for Le-is0s phone"

The phone trne+ itself off an+ reboote+" I &ol+ feel #y e%ery heartbeat at the front of #ys&alp" All three of or hea+s -ere bent o%er the table, fo&se+ on the phone0s little s&reen"

The +isplay lit -ith the start:p s&reen" I pn&he+ in the fn&tion to +isplay the phone0sE8N" The n#bers that appeare+ -ere the ones for the E8N I ha+ entere+"

The three of s sent p a &heer, not &arin that other &sto#ers -ere trnin to stare" It -or'e+ It really -or'e+ Ba&' then, so#e phone &o#panies ha+ a n#ber yo &ol+ &all to et the a&&rate ti#e" I

pn&he+ in (* J:*(*( an+ pt the phone +o-n on the table" All three of s hear+ it toether, thatre&or+e+ la+y0s %oi&e sayin, 3At the tone the ti#e -ill be?4 My phone -as no- s&&essflly#a'in otoin &alls as a &lone of Le-is0s!an+ the &ell phone &o#pany -ol+ re&or+ these &allsas ha%in been #a+e not by #e bt by Le-is fro# his o-n phone"

I ha+ so&ial:enineere+ No%atel an+ aine+ he po-er" I &ol+ #a'e phone &alls that&ol+n0t be tra&e+ ba&' to #e"

Bt ha+ I 1st fallen off the -aon for this one ha&'? or -as I ba&' into ha&'in all o%eraainH At that #o#ent, I &ol+ not ha%e sai+ for sre"

What I +i+ 'no-, thoh, -as that I ha+ a&hie%e+ in%isibility"



M,%#e, Hacke

B#r$ c*# esan+ne* 0mm gtknv amme = iiwy kr0he* -w+t 'aied

(o loo' a#a<in"48he ans-ere+, 3Yo loo' a#a<in, too"4

What a boost to #y eo No one ha+ e%er sai+ anythin li'e that to #e before, not e%enBonnie" An+ &ertainly not an e=tre#ely hot &hi&' li'e this one, -ith a bo+y, fa&e, an+ hair that #a+e#e pi&tre her on stae in a &asino so#e-here, strttin in hih heels an+ a s'i#py &ost#e" Orhalf a &ost#e"

8he -as p#pin on a 8tairMaster 9))), har+ enoh to -or' p a s-eat" I &li#be+ onto

the one a+1a&ent an+ str&' p a &on%ersation" 8he -as frien+ly enoh to i%e #e hope" It +i+n0tlast" 8he sai+ she -as a +an&er -ith 8iefrie+ an+ Roy!that pair of fa#os #ai&ians -ho -ere+oin lare:s&ale illsions an+ -or'in -ith li%e tiers in their a&t"

Wol+n0t I lo%e to 'no- ho- they +i+ so#e of their tri&'s Any #ai&ian -ol+" I starte+as'in @estions" 8he a%e #e this &ol+ 3f&' yo4 loo' an+ sai+, 3I ha+ to sin a &onfi+entialityaree#ent" I &an0t tell yo anythin"4 8he -as ni&e abot it, bt fir#" The 37o a-ay4 #essae -asall too &lear"

Da#n" My &ell phone ran, pro%i+in a han+y es&ape fro# the e#barrass#ent" 3/ey, $e%in,4 the%oi&e sai+" 3/i, A+a#"4 My half:brother!the person in the -orl+ I -as &losest to -ho -asn0t a ha&'er"

In fa&t, he +i+n0t e%en se a &o#pter" After -e ha+ &hatte+ for a bit, he sai+, 3An e=:irlfrien+ of #ine 'no-s this bi sperha&'erna#e+ Eri& /ein<" 8he says he 'no-s so#e phone &o#pany stff yo #iht not 'no- abot, an+he tol+ her he really nee+s to tal' to yo"4

An+ then he sai+, 3Be &arefl, $e%in" I +on0t thin' this irl is trst-orthy"4 My first rea&tion to A+a#0s &all -as to blo- off the -hole thin!1st not follo- p" I0+ ha+enoh proble#s e%en ha&'in -ith ys I ha+ 'no-n for years an+ felt I &ol+ trst"

Bt resistin te#ptation ha+ ne%er been one of #y %irtes" I &alle+ the n#ber A+a# ha+i%en #e" The phone -as ans-ere+ not by Eri& bt by a y -ho sai+ his na#e -as /enry 8pieel,-hi&h he pronon&e+ 38hpeeel"4 8pieel -as one of the #ost &olorfl &hara&ters I0%e e%er rna&ross, an+ #y list in&l+es, besi+es I%an Boes'y, people li'e fa#e+ pali#ony attorney Mar%inMit&helson, &on%i&te+ of ta= e%asion, an+ [[[[ Best s&a##er Barry Min'o-" 8pieel -as a &aseall his o-n, a y -ho ha+ a reptation for bein on the periphery of e%erythin fro# ban' robberyto porno to o-nership of a hot ne- /olly-oo+ niht&lb, one of those -ritten:abot pla&es -hereyon a&tors an+ -annabes line p otsi+e e%ery niht"

When I as'e+ 8pieel to pt Eri& on the phone, he sai+, 3I0ll et hi# for yo" I0ll ha%e to pae hi# an+ then &onferen&e yo in" /e0s really &atios"4

3Catios4H - -as &atios; this y son+e+ -ay beyon+ that, #ore li'e sperparanoi+"I -aite+" What -as I +oin, any-ayH If this y -as really into ha&'in, e%en tal'in to hi#

on the phone -as a ba+ i+ea for #e" The ter#s of #y release sai+ I &ol+n0t ha%e any &onta&t -ith

ha&'ers, an+ asso&iatin -ith De Payne -as ris'y enoh" One -or+ fro# this Eri& /ein< y&ol+ be enoh to sen+ #e ba&' to a prison &ell for p to another t-o years" E=&ept for the No%atel&ell phone ha&', I ha+ been #ostly playin by the rles for the t-o years I ha+ been ba&' on the



street" I ha+ only another year of sper%ise+ release left" 8o -hy ha+ I #a+e this &allH/ere I -as, ettin in to&h -ith Eri& -hile tellin #yself I -as +oin it ot of &ortesy to

#y half:brother" /o- &ol+ I ha%e 'no-n that this one inno&ent &all -ol+ be the beinnin of an insanea+%entre that -ol+ &hane #y life fore%erH

When Eri& &a#e on the phone that first ti#e, he bsie+ hi#self by +roppin enoh hints to

#a'e sre I n+erstoo+ he 'ne- a lot abot phone phrea'in an+ &o#pter ha&'in"/e sai+ so#ethin li'e, 3I0%e been -or'in -ith $e%in" Yo 'no-!the other one, $e%in

Polsen"4 /e -as tryin to bil+ &re+ -ith #e on the shol+ers of a ha&'er -ho ha+ 1st been bste+ for riin ra+io &ontests an+ sppose+ly stealin national se&rity se&rets"

/e tol+ #e, 3I0%e been on brea':ins to tel&o offi&es -ith hi#"4 If it -as tre that he ha+ been insi+e telephone &o#pany offi&es, that -as really interestin" It #eant Eri& ha+ insi+einfor#ation fro# a&tally sin an+ &ontrollin the e@ip#ent in &entral offi&es an+ other tel&ofa&ilities" 8o he +efinitely ha+ #y attention" Eri&0s &lai# of 'no-in a bn&h of Polsen0s ta&ti&s-as oo+ bait"

To set the hoo', he sprin'le+ his ab -ith +etails abot phone &o#pany s-it&hes li'e the*AE88, JE, an+ DM8:*)), an+ tal'e+ abot syste#s li'e CO8MO8, Mi<ar, LMO8, an+ the

BANC8 net-or', -hi&h he sai+ he an+ Polsen ha+ a&&esse+ re#otely" I &ol+ tell he -asn0t 1st blffin his -ay throh6 he 'ne- #ore than a little abot ho- the syste#s -or'e+" An+ he #a+e itson+ li'e he ha+ been part of the s#all tea# that ha+ -or'e+ -ith Polsen to ri those ra+io&ontests, -hi&h ne-spaper arti&les sai+ Polsen ha+ -on a &ople of Pors&hes fro#"

We tal'e+ for abot ten #intes" O%er the ne=t -ee' or so, I &alle+ 8pieel a fe- #oreti#es for &on%ersations -ith Eri&" A &ople of thins nae+ at #y t" Eri& +i+n0t tal' li'e other ha&'ers; he son+e+ #oreli'e >oe 2ri+ay, li'e a &op" /e as'e+ @estions li'e, 3What pro1e&ts ha%e yo been p to latelyH Whoare yo tal'in -ith these +aysH4

As'in a ha&'er that 'in+ of stff -as a little li'e oin into a bar -here ban' robbers hnot an+ sayin to one of the#, 3Ernie sent #e" Who0+ yo pll yor last 1ob -ithH4

I tol+ hi#, 3I0# not ha&'in any#ore"4 3Neither a# I,4 he sai+" This -as pretty #&h the stan+ar+ &o%er:yor:ass line -ith so#ebo+y yo +i+n0t 'no-" Of&orse he -as lyin, an+ he #eant for #e to 'no- it" /e #st ha%e fire+ I -as lyin, too" In #y&ase, the state#ent -as pretty #&h tre" Bt, than's to this y, it -ol+n0t be for lon"

I tol+ hi#, 3There0s a frien+ of #ine I thin' yo0+ li'e to tal' to" /is na#e is Bob" Whatn#ber shol+ I ha%e hi# &all yo atH4

3Tell hi# to &all /enry the sa#e -ay yo 1st +i+,4 he sai+" 3/e0ll &onferen&e #e in aain"4 3Bob4 -as #y on:the:spr:of:the:#o#ent alias for Le-is De Payne" It -ol+ ha%e been har+ to fin+ another ha&'er -ith Eri&0s insi+e infor#ation" Yes, I -as

+ra-in Le-is e%en +eeper into #y ha&'in, bt -ith hi# a&tin as #y front y, I &ol+ fin+ ot-hat infor#ation Eri& ha+ that Le-is an+ I +i+n0t, -hile still prote&tin #yself"Why -as I -illin to be te#pte+ into e=&hanin infor#ation -ith Eri&, -hen for #e to

e%en tal' -ith hi# %iolate+ #y ter#s of releaseH Thin' of it li'e this6 I -as li%in in Las 5eas, a&ity I +i+n0t 'no- -ell an+ +i+n0t #&h li'e" I 'ept +ri%in past the a+y hotels an+ &asinos, alltarte+ p to +ra- the torists an+ a#blers" 2or #e this -as no fn:to-n" There -as no snshine in#y life, none of the thrill an+ intelle&tal &hallene I0+ e=perien&e+ -hen ha&'in into the phone&o#panies" None of that a+renaline flo- fro# fin+in soft-are fla-s that -ol+ let #eele&troni&ally #ar&h riht into a &o#pany0s net-or'!the rsh I0+ felt ba&' in the +ays -hen I -as'no-n in the online n+er-orl+ as 3Con+or,4 #y ha&'er han+le" I ha+ oriinally &hosen that na#eot of a+#iration for a &hara&ter -ho -as a parti&lar hero of #ine, the one:step:ahea+:of:

e%erybo+y y playe+ by Robert Re+for+ in the #o%ie 'hree Days o$ the %ondor "An+ no- the Probation Depart#ent ha+ assine+ #e a ne- Probation Offi&er, so#ebo+y

-ho see#e+ to thin' I ha+ otten too #any brea's an+ nee+e+ to be taht so#e lessons" /e ha+



&alle+ p a &o#pany that -as in the pro&ess of hirin #e an+ as'e+ @estions li'e 3Will $e%in ha%ea&&ess to &o#pany fn+sH4 e%en thoh I ha+ ne%er #a+e a penny fro# ha&'in, +espite ho- easyit -ol+ ha%e been" That pisse+ #e off"

I ot the 1ob any-ay" Bt e%ery +ay, before I left, they sear&he+ #e for e=ternal #e+ia li'efloppy +is's an+ #a tapes" >st #e, nobo+y else" I hate+ that"

After fi%e #onths, I &o#plete+ a he prora##in assin#ent an+ -as lai+ off" I -asn0t

sorry to lea%e"Bt fin+in a ne- 1ob pro%e+ a &hallene, sin&e the sa#e Probation Offi&er 'ept &allin

e%ery prospe&ti%e e#ployer an+ as'in those alar#in @estions of his6 3Will he ha%e a&&ess to anyfinan&ial infor#ationH4 an+ so on"

That left #e +epresse+ as -ell as ne#ploye+" The t-o or three hors a +ay that I spent at the y# stret&he+ #y #s&les bt not #y #in+"I sine+ p for a &o#pter prora##in &lass an+ a ntrition &lass be&ase I -as tryin to learn#ore abot li%in a healthy lifestyle at the .ni%ersity of Ne%a+a, Las 5eas" In #y first -ee'there, I po-ere+ the -or'station off an+ on -hile &onstantly typin 3Control:C,4 -hi&h bro'e the&o#pter ot of its boot:p s&ript an+ a%e #e a+#inistrati%e pri%ilees, or 3root"4 Mintes later ana+#inistrator &a#e r*nning into the roo#, shotin, 4&hat are yo* doing56

I s#ile+ at hi#" 3I fon+ a b" An+ loo', I ot root"4 /e or+ere+ #e ot an+ tol+ #y Probation Offi&er I ha+ been on the Internet, -hi&h -asn0ttre bt a%e the# enoh of an e=&se to for&e #e to pa&' p an+ +rop ot of all prora##in&lasses"

Years later I -ol+ learn that a syste# a+#in at the ni%ersity ha+ sent a #essae to a y by the na#e of Tsto# 8hi#o#ra n+er the sb1e&t line 3Abot or frien+,4 +es&ribin thisin&i+ent" 8hi#o#ra fires hea%ily in the final &hapters of this story, bt I -as stnne+ -hen I+is&o%ere+ that he ha+ been snoopin into -hat I -as p to as early as this, at a ti#e -hen -e ha+ha+ no &onta&t an+ I +i+n0t e%en 'no- he e=iste+"

Thoh boote+ fro# the prora##in &orse at .NL5, I a&e+ the ntrition &lass, thens-it&he+ to Clar' Conty Co##nity Collee, -here tition -as &heaper for resi+ents" This ti#e Itoo' &orses in a+%an&e+ ele&troni&s, as -ell as a -ritin &orse"

Classes #iht ha%e been #ore of an attra&tion if the irl st+ents ha+ been pretty enoh orli%ely enoh to et #y 1i&es flo-in a little faster, bt this -as &o##nity &ollee niht s&hool"If I -ante+ to #eet #ore sho-irls, it -asn0t oin to be in a &lassroo# at niht"

When +epresse+, I trn to thins that i%e #e pleasre" Doesn0t e%eryoneH With Eri&, so#ethin interestin ha+ +roppe+ into #y lap" 8o#ethin that #iht offer a#&h reater test of #y abilities" 8o#ethin that #iht et #y a+renaline p#pin aain"

The har+ trth is that there -ol+n0t be any story to -rite if I ha+n0t o%er&o#e #ynhappiness abot Le-is an+ fille+ hi# in on #y &on%ersation -ith Eri&" /e -as all for it, eaer toson+ ot this y an+ see if he see#e+ to be on the le%el"

Le-is phone+ #e ba&' the ne=t +ay to say that he ha+ &onta&te+ 8pieel an+ tal'e+ to Eri&"/e see#e+ srprise+ to a+#it he ha+ li'e+ the y"E%en #ore, he aree+ -ith #e that Eri&, as he pt it, 3see#s to 'no- a lot of stff abot

Pa&ifi& Bell0s internal pro&esses an+ s-it&hes" /e &ol+ be a %alable resor&e"4 Le-is thoht -eoht to et toether -ith hi#"

I -as abot to play the first #o%e of -hat -ol+ trn into an elaborate &at:an+:#ose a#e !one that -ol+ pt #e at hih ris' an+ +e#an+ e%ery on&e of #y inenity"



PART TWO



Eic



ELEVEN



Fo!& P&a,

Lw#i idc s0s n *#iwtg a0kt 0c wtc > dkts 0c 0iw w0

Early in >anary *(, #y father &alle+ fro# Los Aneles to say he -as -orrie+ abot #y

half:brother, A+a#, his only other &hil+" I ha+ al-ays been en%ios of A+a#0s relationship -ith orfather, sin&e I ha+ seen #y +a+ only inter#ittently in the first years of #y ro-in p"

A+a# ha+ been li%in -ith or +a+ in Calabasas, near Los Aneles, -hile he too' a prela- prora# at Pier&e Collee" /e ha+n0t &o#e ho#e the niht before, -hi&h #y father sai+ -asn0t li'ehi#" I trie+ to offer reassran&e, bt -hat &ol+ I say -hen I really +i+n0t 'no- anythin abot thesitationH

Da+0s &on&ern trne+ ot to be appropriate" 2or se%eral #iserable +ays, he -as besi+ehi#self at hearin no -or+ fro# A+a#" I trie+ to &onsole an+ reassre hi# -hile I #a+e an=ios&alls to .n&le Mit&hell an+ A+a#0s frien+ $ent an+ pae+ A+a# hi#self o%er an+ o%er an+ o%er"

A fe- +ays later #y +a+ &alle+, sobbin an+ +istraht" /e ha+ 1st otten a phone &all fro#the poli&e" They ha+ fon+ A+a#, in the passener seat of his &ar, par'e+ at a #a1or +riehanot, E&ho Par'" /e -as +ea+ of a +r o%er+ose"

Thoh A+a# an+ I ha+ ro-n p separately, in +ifferent &ities e=&ept for a short perio+-hen -e both li%e+ -ith or father in Atlanta, in the last &ople of years -e ha+ ro-n %ery &lose,half:brothers -ho ha+ be&o#e &loser than #any bloo+ brothers" When I ha+ first starte+ ettin to'no- hi# in Los Aneles, I &ol+n0t stan+ any of the #si& he &are+ abot!rap an+ hip:hop,anythin by ( Li%e Cre-, Dr" Dre, or N"W"A" Bt the #ore of it I hear+ -hen -e -ere toether, the

#ore it re- on #e, an+ #si& be&a#e part of the bon+ that +re- s to ea&h other"An+ no- he -as one"

My father an+ I ha+ ha+ an p:an+:+o-n relationship, bt I felt he nee+e+ #e no-" I ot into&h -ith #y Probation Offi&er an+ aine+ per#ission to retrn to LA for a ti#e to help #y +a+&ope -ith A+a#0s +eath an+ -or' his -ay ot of the +epression he see#e+ to be in, e%en thoh I'ne- that this -ol+ heihten #y o-n sa+ness" A +ay later I -as in #y &ar, hea+in -est on I:*Jot of the +esert for the fi%e:hor pll to Los Aneles"

The +ri%e a%e #e ti#e to thin'" A+a#0s +eath 1st +i+n0t see# to #a'e sense" Li'e a lot of'i+s, he ha+ one throh a rebellios perio+" At one point he ha+ +resse+ to e#late his fa%orite37oth4 ban+s an+ -as really e#barrassin to e%en be seen -ith in pbli&" /e -asn0t ettin alon-ith or +a+ at all then, an+ ha+ #o%e+ in -ith #y #o# an+ #e for a -hile" Bt #ore re&ently, in&ollee, he see#e+ to ha%e fon+ hi#self" E%en if he se+ +rs re&reationally, it 1st +i+n0t #a'esense to #e that he -ol+ ha%e o%er+ose+" I ha+ seen hi# re&ently, an+ there ha+n0t been anythinin his beha%ior that e%en hinte+ at his bein an a++i&t" An+ #y +a+ ha+ tol+ #e that the &ops ha+n0tfon+ any nee+le #ar's -hen they +is&o%ere+ A+a#0s bo+y"

Dri%in into the niht to 1oin #y father, I bean to thin' abot -hether I #iht be able tose #y ha&'in s'ills to fin+ ot -ho A+a# ha+ been -ith that niht an+ -here he ha+ been"

Late in the e%enin after the +ll +ri%e fro# Las 5eas, I plle+ p at #y +a+0s apart#ent onLas 5irenes Roa+ in the to-n of Calabasas, abot forty:fi%e #intes p the &oast fro# 8antaMoni&a an+ a +o<en #iles inlan+ fro# the o&ean" I fon+ hi# absoltely +e%astate+ abot A+a#,harborin a sspi&ion of fol play" The nor#al rotine of Da+0s life!rnnin his eneral

&ontra&tin bsiness, -at&hin the T5 ne-s, rea+in the ne-spaper o%er brea'fast, ta'in trips tothe Channel Islan+s to o boatin, oin to o&&asional synaoe ser%i&es!-as torn apart" I 'ne-#y #o%in in -ith hi# -ol+ pose &hallenes!he -as ne%er an easy #an to +eal -ith!bt I



been relaye+ throh, -hi&h #iht sho- -hether he ha+ been near E&ho Par', -here A+a#0s bo+yha+ been aban+one+" Bt I &ol+n0t fin+ anyone -ho 'ne- ho- to a&&ess the re&or+s I -ante+"Either Pa&Tel -asn0t storin that +ata, or I 1st -asn0t #anain to fin+ the people -ho 'ne- -hi&hsyste# ha+ a&&ess to the +atabase it -as in an+ ho- to retrie%e it"

All in a oo+ bt lti#ately -orthless &ase, I ha+ slippe+ ba&' into #y fll:blo-n ha&'er-ay of life"

My roa+ ha+ &o#e to a +ea+ en+" I ha+ trie+ e%ery ta&ti& I 'ne- an+ otten no-here6 I+i+n0t ha%e #&h #ore insiht into A+a#0s +eath than I0+ ha+ -hen #y father first &alle+ #e abotit" I -as anry an+ frstrate+, #iserable at not bein able to i%e #y father an+ #yself thesatisfa&tion of ha%in +is&o%ere+ at least so#e #orsels of sefl infor#ation"

Closre to this sa+ episo+e -ol+ &o#e only #any years later" My +a+ stoppe+ tal'in to Mit&hell, &on%in&e+ he -as responsible for A+a#0s +eath" Thet-o brothers -ol+ not spea' to ea&h other aain ntil the %ery en+ of #y father0s life, -hen he -assfferin the ra%aes of ln &an&er"

As I -rite this, .n&le Mit&hell has 1st +ie+" At the fa#ily atherin, one of his e=:-i%estoo' #e asi+e" In e#barrass#ent, she sai+, 3I0%e been -antin to tell yo this for a lon ti#e"Mit&hell -asn0t a ni&e #an" The niht that A+a# +ie+, Mit&hell &alle+ #e" /e -as so pset I &ol+

har+ly n+erstan+ hi#" /e sai+ he an+ A+a# ha+ been shootin p toether an+ A+a# ha+ ottentoo bi a +ose an+ 'eele+ o%er" Mit&hell pani&'e+" /e shoo' A+a#, he pt hi# in the sho-er, btnothin helpe+"

3/e &alle+ #e to as' for help" I refse+ to be in%ol%e+" 8o he &alle+ a +r +ealer he 'ne-,-ho helpe+ et A+a#0s shoes on an+ &arry the bo+y into A+a#0s &ar" They +ro%e in t-o &ars toE&ho Par', left A+a# +ea+ in his &ar, an+ +ro%e a-ay"4

8o #y father ha+ been riht all alon" Instea+ of &allin **, Mit&hell ha+ sa&rifi&e+ anephe- he lo%e+ to sa%e his o-n ne&'" I &an feel #yself ettin anry aain as I -rite this" I ha+ belie%e+ all alon that Mit&hell -as so#eho- in%ol%e+, yet no-, hearin the trth, Ifelt si&' to #y sto#a&h that he ha+ been &apable of s&h a thin, an+ that he ha+ +ie+ -ithot e%era+#ittin it" This #an -ho# I ha+ lo%e+ an+ respe&te+ an+ loo'e+ p to ha+ not been able, e%en onhis +eathbe+, to tell #e the trth"



TWELVE



(o! 'an Ne*e Hide

Yht 0ak t1g iyt$r$ad "anB$d s+*t#m *hst *+*wd ce msw$ t1 w)rwtsr a

wioe hsv !cid mwnkoyee mt o+*wdo/t edn m# acomt

I ha+ be&o#e so -rappe+ p in in%estiatin A+a#0s +eath that I nee+e+ a brea'!

so#ethin else to fo&s #y attention on that -asn0t so e#otional" 2or #e, the +i%ersion I nee+e+-asn0t har+ to fin+6 I -ol+ o ba&' an+ ta&'le Neill Clift, the Brit -ho ha+ been fin+in all these&rity holes in DEC0s 5M8 operatin syste#" /o- &ol+ I tri&' hi# into i%in #e all these&rity bs he ha+ fon+H

2ro# #essaes I ha+ been rea+in, I 'ne- that Clift ha+ lon &ra%e+ a 1ob at DEC; #aybe

that &ol+ be #y openin" I +pe+ British Tele&o# into i%in #e his nliste+ ho#e telephonen#ber an+ &alle+ hi#, intro+&in #yself as Derrell Piper, the na#e of an a&tal Diital soft-areenineer in 5M8 De%elop#ent" I tol+ hi#, 3We0%e ot a hirin free<e riht no-, bt +espite that -e#ay be hirin so#e se&rity enineers" Yor na#e &a#e p be&ase yo0%e been so helpfl infin+in se&rity %lnerabilities an+ sharin the# -ith s"4 An+ I -ent on to tal' to hi# abot so#eDEC #anals I 'ne- he -ante+"

At the en+ of the &all, I sai+, 3Well, ni&e tal'in to yo, it0s been a lon ti#e"4 Oops!bi #ista'e" The t-o #en ha+ ne%er spo'en before" Later I -ol+ learn that Neill &alle+ -ell:'no-n se&rity &onsltant Ray $aplan, -ho he'ne- ha+ inter%ie-e+ #e on his 3Meet the Ene#y4 &onferen&e series" Ray playe+ a portion of thetape"

Neill ha+ to listen for only a fe- #o#ents before &onfir#in, 3Yes!the y -ho &alle+ #e-as $e%in Mitni&'"4 The ne=t ti#e -e spo'e, Ray tol+ #e, 3I ess yo0re still +oin so#e so&ialenineerin"4

Confse+, I as'e+, 3What +o yo #eanH4 3Neill &alle+ #e" I playe+ a pie&e of the inter%ie- I +i+ -ith yo" /e re&oni<e+ yor %oi&ean+ sai+ yo0%e been &allin hi#"4

Of &orse, all this ti#e I -as also still in &onta&t -ith Eri& /ein<, -ho 'ept brinin p$e%in Polsen0s na#e" I ha+ ne%er #et Polsen bt ha+ rea+ enoh an+ hear+ enoh to a+#irehis ha&'in a&hie%e#ents" It -as strane that -e ha+ ne%er #et, ne%er ha&'e+ toether, be&ase -e-ere &lose to the sa#e ae an+ ha+ ro-n p 1st a fe- #iles apart" /e -ol+ later e=plain that hestarte+ learnin abot phone phrea'in so#e ti#e after I +i+!I -as alrea+y fa#os in the ha&'er&o##nity -hen he -as still a neophyte"

Le-is an+ I -ere both eaer to fin+ ot #ore fro# Eri& abot -hat he an+ Polsen ha+ been+oin toether" In one phone &on%ersation, Eri& aain rattle+ off the na#es of Pa&ifi& Bell syste#she an+ Polsen ha+ aine+ &ontrol o%er" The list -as fa#iliar, all e=&ept one that I ha+ ne%er hear+of6 38A8"4

3What0s 8A8H4 I as'e+" 3It0s an internal testin syste# that &an be se+ to #onitor a line"4 In phone &o#pany lino, 3#onitor4 is a ta&tfl -or+ for -iretap" I tol+ Eri&, 3With s-it&h a&&ess, yo &an #onitor a line anyti#e"4 I fire+ he0+ n+erstan+6the phone &o#pany0s *A E88 s-it&hes ha+ a 3tal' U #onitor4 featre that let yo pop in on a line

an+ listen to the &on%ersation"Eri& sai+, 38A8 is better"4 /e &lai#e+ that he an+ Polsen ha+ #a+e a nihtti#e %isit to the 8nset &entral offi&e in



West /olly-oo+" Bt their %isit ha+ trne+ p so#e thins they ha+n0t seen before" They fon+ the pla&e strane6 nli'e other COs, it -as e@ippe+ -ith nsal &o#pter ter#inals an+ tape +ri%es,3loo'in li'e so#ethin fro# an alien planet"4 One refrierator:si<e+ bo= ha+ %arios types ofe@ip#ent h##in insi+e it" They &a#e a&ross a #anal i+entifyin the +e%i&e as a 8-it&he+A&&ess 8er%i&es nit!8A8 for short" When Polsen starte+ leafin throh the #anal, he reali<e+that 8A8 -as #eant for line testin, -hi&h son+e+ li'e it #eant yo &ol+ &onne&t onto any phone

line"Bt -as it 1st for &he&'in that the line -as -or'inH Or &ol+ yo pi&' p &on%ersationsHPolsen starte+ fi++lin -ith the 8A8 &ontrol ter#inal" Pn&hin in the n#ber of a pay

phone he so#eti#es se+, he &onfir#e+ that, yes, yo &ol+ +rop in on a line an+ hear the&on%ersation"

/e -ent ba&' into the CO on another niht -ith a tape re&or+er so he &ol+ &aptre the +ata bein sent ot fro# the 8A8 e@ip#ent" /e -ante+ to try to re%erse:enineer the proto&ol at ho#ean+ i%e hi#self the sa#e &apabilities"

I ha+ to ha%e a&&ess to this syste#" Bt -hen I as'e+ for +etails, Eri& &la##e+ p an+@i&'ly &hane+ the sb1e&t" I starte+ resear&hin it the %ery ne=t +ay"

The #ysterios 8A8 -as 1st -hat I ha+ been la&'in in #y life6 a p<<le to be sol%e+, ana+%entre -ith ha<ar+s" It -as nbelie%able that in #y years of phone phrea'in, I ha+ ne%er hear+abot it" Intriin" I felt, &ow, - gotta $ig*re this o*t "

2ro# #y earlier no&trnal %isits to phone &o#pany offi&es, as -ell as rea+in e%erytelephone &o#pany #anal I &ol+ et #y han+s on an+ so&ial:enineerin phone &o#panye#ployees sin&e I -as in hih s&hool, I ha+ a -ell:+e%elope+ 'no-le+e of the +ifferent+epart#ents, pro&esses, pro&e+res, an+ phone n#bers -ithin Pa&ifi& Bell" There probably -eren0ta lot of people insi+e the &o#pany -ho 'ne- the str&tre of the -or'in orani<ation better than I+i+"

I bean &allin %arios internal +epart#ents" My line -as, 3I0# -ith Enineerin" Doesyor rop se 8A8H4 After half a +o<en &alls, I fon+ a y in an offi&e in Pasa+ena -ho 'ne--hat I -as tal'in abot"

2or #ost people, I ess, the tohest part of a rse li'e this -ol+ be firin ot a -ay toet hol+ of the +esire+ 'no-le+e" I -ante+ to 'no- ho- to ain a&&ess to 8A8, as -ell as the&o##an+s that -ol+ let #e ta'e &ontrol of it" Bt I -ante+ to o abot it in a safer -ay than Eri&an+ $e%in Polsen ha+ +one; I -ante+ to +o it -ithot ha%in to physi&ally enter a Pa&ifi& Bellfa&ility"

I as'e+ the y in Pasa+ena -ho 'ne- abot 8A8 to pll a &opy of the #anal off the shelffor #e" When he &a#e ba&' on the line -ith it, I as'e+ hi# to open it p an+ rea+ #e the &opyrihtnoti&e"

The co#yright noti&eH

8re!that a%e #e the na#e of the &o#pany that ha+ +e%elope+ the pro+&t" Bt fro#there, I hit a sna" The &o#pany ha+ one ot of bsiness"The Le=isNe=is +atabase #aintains #assi%e online files of ol+ ne-spaper an+ #aa<ine

arti&les, leal re&or+s, an+ &orporate #aterial" As yo #iht ess, the fa&t that a &o#pany has oneot of bsiness +oesn0t #ean that Le=isNe=is has +elete+ the files abot it" I fon+ the na#es ofso#e in+i%i+als -ho ha+ -or'e+ for the &o#pany that ha+ +e%elope+ 8A8, in&l+in one of itsoffi&ers" The &o#pany ha+ been base+ in Northern California" I +i+ a telephone +ire&tory sear&h inthat area an+ &a#e p -ith the offi&er0s phone n#ber"

/e -as ho#e -hen I &alle+" I tol+ hi# I -as -ith Pa&ifi& Bell Enineerin, that -e -ante+to #a'e so#e &sto#i<e+ i#pro%e#ents to or 38A8 infrastr&tre,4 an+ that I nee+e+ to tal' toso#eone -ho 'ne- the te&hnoloy" /e -asn0t the least bit sspi&ios" /e sai+ it -ol+ ta'e hi# a

&ople of #intes, then &a#e ba&' on the phone an+ a%e #e the na#e an+ phone n#ber of they -ho ha+ been the lea+ enineer in &hare of the pro+&t +e%elop#ent tea#"

One #ore thin to +o before pla&in the &r&ial phone &all" At that ti#e, Pa&ifi& Bell internal



phone n#bers bean -ith the prefi= **; anybo+y -ho ha+ +one bsiness -ith the &o#pany #iht'no- that" I ha&'e+ into a Pa&ifi& Bell s-it&h an+ set p an nse+ ** n#ber, then a++e+ &allfor-ar+in an+ for-ar+e+ it to the &lone+ &ell phone n#ber I -as sin that +ay"

The na#e I a%e -hen I &alle+ the +e%eloper -as one I still re#e#ber6 Marni= %anA##ers, the na#e of a real Pa&ifi& Bell s-it&hin enineer" I a%e hi# the sa#e story abotnee+in to +o so#e interation -ith or 8A8 nits" 3I0%e ot the ser0s #anal,4 I tol+ hi#, 3bt it

+oesn0t help for -hat -e0re tryin to +o" We nee+ the a&tal proto&ols that are se+ bet-een the8A8 e@ip#ent in or testin &enters an+ the &entral offi&es"4

I ha+ +roppe+ the na#e of an e=e&ti%e at his ol+ &o#pany an+ -as sin the na#e of a realPa&ifi& Bell enineer" An+ I +i+n0t son+ ner%os; I -asn0t st#blin o%er #y -or+s" Nothinabot #y &all set off alar# bells" /e sai+, 3I #iht still ha%e the files on #y &o#pter" /an on"4

After a &ople of #intes, he &a#e ba&' on the line" 3O'ay, I fon+ the#" Where +o yo-ant #e to sen+ the#H4

I -as too i#patient for that" 3I0# n+er the n here,4 I sai+" 3Can yo fa= the#H4 /e sai+there -as too #&h #aterial for hi# to fa= the -hole thin, bt he &ol+ sen+ a fa= -ith the paeshe thoht -ol+ be #ost sefl, an+ then #ail or 2e+E= #e a floppy -ith the &o#plete files" 2orthe fa=, I a%e hi# a phone n#ber I 'ne- by heart" It -asn0t to a fa= #a&hine at Pa&ifi& Bell, of

&orse, bt it -as in the sa#e area &o+e" It -as the fa= n#ber for a &on%enient $in'o0s" This -asal-ays a little ris'y be&ase #any #a&hines, -hen they0re sen+in a fa=, +isplay the na#e of the#a&hine they0re &onne&tin to" I al-ays -orrie+ so#eone -ol+ noti&e the ta sayin 3$in'o0sstore Q(9K4 or -hate%er6 +ea+ i%ea-ay" Bt as far as I &an re&all, no one e%er +i+"

The 2e+E= -as al#ost as easy" I a%e the enineer the a++ress of those pla&es -here yo&ol+ rent a #ailbo= an+ ha%e pa&'aes hel+ for yo, an+ I spelle+ ot the na#e of the Pa&ifi& Belle#ployee I -as &lai#in to be, Marni= %an A##ers" I than'e+ hi#, an+ -e &hatte+ for a bit"Chattin is the 'in+ of e=tra little frien+ly to&h that lea%es people -ith a oo+ feelin an+ #a'esafter:the:fa&t sspi&ions that #&h less li'ely"

E%en thoh I ha+ been pra&ti&in the art of so&ial enineerin for years, I &ol+n0t help bt be a#a<e+ an+ a little +a<<le+ by ho- easy this ha+ been" One of those #o#ents -hen yo feel thatrnner0s hih, or as if yo0+ -on a 1a&'pot in 5eas!the en+orphins are rshin throh yor

bo+y"That sa#e afternoon, I +ro%e to the #ailbo= rental store to set p a bo= in 5an A##ers0s

na#e" They al-ays re@ire ID for this" No proble#" I e=plaine+, 3I0%e 1st #o%e+ here fro# .tah,an+ #y -allet -as stolen" I nee+ an a++ress -here they &an #ail #e a &opy of #y birth &ertifi&ateso I &an et a +ri%er0s li&ense" I0ll sho- yo the ID as soon as I et it"4 Yes, they -ere %iolatin

postal relations by rentin #e a bo= -ithot seein #y ID, bt these pla&es are al-ays eaer forne- bsiness; they +on0t really -ant to trn anybo+y a-ay" A +e&ent e=planation is often all itta'es"

By that e%enin, I ha+ the fa= in #y han+s!the basi& infor#ation that I hope+ -ol+ allo-

#e to -iretap any Pa&ifi& Bell phone in all of 8othern California" Bt -e still ha+ to fire otho- to se the 8A8 proto&ols"Le-is an+ I atta&'e+ the p<<le of tryin to fire ot ho- 8A8 -or'e+ fro# a n#ber of

+ifferent anles" The syste# a%e a te&hni&ian the ability to &onne&t to any phone line, so he &ol+rn tests to fin+ ot -hy a &sto#er -as hearin noise on his line or -hate%er the proble# -as" Thete&h -ol+ instr&t 8A8 to +ial in to the parti&lar CO that han+le+ the telephone line to be teste+"It -ol+ initiate a &all to a part of the 8A8 infrastr&tre at the CO 'no-n as a 3re#ote a&&ess test

point,4 or RATP"That -as the first step" In or+er to hear a+io on the line!%oi&es, noise, stati&, or -hate%er

!the te&h -ol+ then ha%e to establish an a+io &onne&tion to the 8A8 nit in the CO" These nits-ere +esine+ -ith a &le%er se&rity pro%ision6 they ha+ a list of phone n#bers preprora##e+

into their #e#ories" The te&hni&ian -ol+ ha%e to sen+ a &o##an+ to the 8A8 nit to +ial ba&' toone of the preprora##e+ n#bers!the phone n#ber at the lo&ation -here he -as -or'in"

/o- &ol+ -e possibly bypass s&h a &le%er, apparently infallible se&rity #easreH



Well, it trne+ ot not to be all that har+" Yo0+ ha%e to be a phone &o#pany te&hni&ian or a phone phrea'er to n+erstan+ -hy this -or'e+, bt here0s -hat I +i+" I +iale+ fro# #y telephoneinto the phone line I 'ne- 8A8 -ol+ se to #a'e its otoin &all, then i##e+iately triere+8A8 to &all ba&' an athori<e+ n#ber prora##e+ into its #e#ory"

When 8A8 pi&'e+ p the line to #a'e an otoin &all, it a&tally ans-ere+ the in&o#in&all fro# #y phone" Bt it -as -aitin for a +ial tone an+ &ol+n0t et one be&ase I ha+ the line

tie+ p"I -ent mmmmmmmmmmmmmm"I &ol+n0t ha%e h##e+ e=a&tly the riht son+, be&ase a +ial tone in the .nite+ 8tates is

a&tally #a+e p of t-o fre@en&ies" Bt it +i+n0t #atter be&ase the e@ip#ent -asn0t +esine+ to#easre the e=a&t fre@en&ies; it nee+e+ only to hear so#e 'in+ of a h#" My Ca#pbell0s 8opmmmmmmm -as oo+ enoh"

At this point, 8A8 atte#pte+ to +ial the otoin &all? -hi&h +i+n0t o throh be&ase I-as alrea+y &onne&te+ on the line it -as tryin to se"

2inal step6 fro# #y &o#pter, I type+ in &rypti& &o##an+s that instr&te+ 8A8 to +rop inon the phone n#ber of the sbs&riber line I -ante+ to #onitor"

On or first atte#pt, I -as so e=&ite+ I &ol+ barely breathe"

It -or'e+ Le-is sai+ after-ar+, 3$e%in, yo -ere besi+e yorself, +an&in aron+ in &ir&les" It -asli'e -e ha+ fon+ the /oly 7rail"4 We &ol+ re#otely -iretap any phone n#ber -ithin all of Pa&ifi& Bell

Mean-hile, thoh, I -as really ro-in antsy to fin+ ot the trth abot Eri&" Too #anythins abot hi# see#e+ sspi&ios" /e +i+n0t appear to ha%e a 1ob" 8o ho- &ol+ he affor+ to han ot at the &lbs he tal'e+abotH /ot pla&es li'e Whis'ey \ 7o:7o, -here a&ts li'e Ali&e Cooper an+ the Doors, as -ell asro&' o+s fro# ba&' in the +ay li'e >i#i /en+ri= ha+ so#eti#es +roppe+ in to 1a#"

An+ that bsiness abot not i%in #e a phone n#berH Eri& -ol+n0t e%en i%e #e his #ager n#ber" 5ery sspi&ios"

Le-is an+ I tal'e+ abot the sitation an+ +e&i+e+ -e nee+e+ to fin+ ot -hat -as oin on"2irst step6 penetrate the s&reen of 3I -on0t i%e yo #y phone n#ber"4 Then, on&e -e ha+ his

phone n#ber, se it to fin+ his a++ress"Caller ID -asn0t bein offere+ then to &sto#ers in California be&ase the state0s Pbli&

.tilities Co##ission -as frettin o%er pri%a&y isses an+ ha+n0t yet athori<e+ its se" Bt li'e#ost phone &o#panies, Pa&ifi& Bell se+ &entral offi&e s-it&hes +e%elope+ by Bell Labs an+#anfa&tre+ by ATUT, an+ it -as &o##on 'no-le+e in the phrea'er &o##nity that theses-it&hes alrea+y ha+ the &aller ID featre bilt into their soft-are"

In the bil+in -here #y frien+ Da%e /arrison ha+ his offi&es, a ter#inal on the first floorha+ hn+re+s of phone lines rnnin to it" I -ent +o-n to the ter#inal in stealth #o+e be&ase there

-as a se&rity ar+ statione+ %ery nearby, thoh than'flly not in +ire&t siht" .sin a line#an0shan+set that Da%e ha+ sittin aron+ in his offi&e, I &onne&te+ to se%eral &able pairs, loo'in for onethat ha+ a +ial tone" When I fon+ one, I +iale+ the spe&ial &o+e to obtain the phone n#ber" That-as the bait n#ber I -ol+ set Eri& p to &all"

Ne=t Da%e 3pn&he+ the pair +o-n4 in the ter#inal, &onne&tin that line to an nse+ phoneline rnnin p to his offi&e" Ba&' pstairs, -e hoo'e+ a phone to the hi1a&'e+ line an+ &onne&te+ a&aller ID +isplay bo="

2ro# #y ol+ 5T*)) ter#inal, I +iale+ in to the Webster 8treet &entral offi&e s-it&h an+a++e+ the &aller ID featre to the bait phone line"

Later that niht I retrne+ to #y +a+0s apart#ent in Calabasas, set #y alar# &lo&' to o offat 6) a"#", an+ trne+ in" When the alar# -ent off, -ith #y &ell phone as sal &lone+ to

so#eone else0s n#ber, I pae+ Eri&, -ho by then ha+ loosene+ p enoh to i%e #e his paern#ber" I left the bait phone n#ber for hi# to retrn the &all" When Eri& +iale+ the n#ber, the&aller ID +ata -ol+ be sent bet-een the first an+ se&on+ rins, &aptrin the n#ber of his phone"



7ot&ha/er#it:li'e, Da%e se&retly li%e+ an+ slept in his offi&e" As soon as I thoht Eri& -ol+

ha%e retrne+ the pae, I phone+ Da%e" It -as 6) in the #ornin" I ha+ to 'eep &allin ntil hefinally ans-ere+, really anry" 4&hat is it56 he shote+ into the re&ei%er"

3Di+ yo et the &aller IDH4 4Yes56

3Da%e, it0s really i#portant" What is itH4 4%a me in the morning56 he yelle+ before sla##in the phone +o-n"

I -ent ba&' to sleep an+ +i+n0t rea&h hi# aain ntil the ne=t afternoon, -hen he obliinlyrea+ #e the phone n#ber off the &aller ID6 *) K:J*("

O'ay, so I ha+ Eri&0s phone n#ber" Ne=t to et his a++ress" Posin as a te&hni&ian in the fiel+, I &alle+ Pa&ifi& Bell0s Me&hani<e+ Loop Assin#entCenter, or MLAC, also 'no-n si#ply as the Line Assin#ent Offi&e" A la+y ans-ere+ an+ I sai+,3/i" This is Terry ot in the fiel+" I nee+ the 2* an+ the 2( on *) K:J*("4 The 2* -as then+erron+ &able fro# the &entral offi&e, an+ the 2( -as the se&on+ary fee+er &able that &onne&tsa ho#e or an offi&e bil+in to the ser%in area interfa&e, -hi&h e%entally &onne&ts to the 2*, allthe -ay ba&' to the &entral offi&e"

3Terry, -hat0s yor te&h &o+eH4 she as'e+" I 'ne- she -asn0t oin to loo' it p!they ne%er +i+" Any three:+iit n#ber -ol+satisfy, so lon as I son+e+ &onfi+ent an+ +i+n0t hesitate"

38i= three se%en,4 I sai+, pi&'in a n#ber at ran+o#" 32* is &able ( by *9, bin+in post *9,4 she tol+ #e" 32( is &able *)() by 9, bin+in

post 9"4 3Where0s the ter#inalH4 3The oh:+ot:one is at 99 8oth 8epl%e+a"4 That -as the lo&ation of the ter#inal bo=,-here the fiel+ te&hni&ian bri+e+ the &onne&tion to the &sto#er0s ho#e or offi&e"

I +i+n0t &are abot anythin I ha+ as'e+ so far" It -as 1st to #a'e #e son+ leiti#ate" It-as the ne=t pie&e of infor#ation that I really -ante+"

3What0s the sb0s a++ressH4 I as'e+" 38b4 bein phone &o#pany lino for the sbs&riber,or &sto#er" 3Also 99 8oth 8epl%e+a,4 she tol+ #e" 3.nit *)KB"4 I as'e+, 3Do yo ha%e any other -or'ers at *)KBH4!3-or'ers4 bein lino for 3-or'intelephone n#bers"4 8he sai+, 3Yes, -e ha%e one other,4 an+ a%e #e the se&on+ n#ber, alon -ith its 2* an+2(" As easy as that" It ha+ ta'en #e not #&h #ore than a fe- #intes to +is&o%er Eri&0s a++ressan+ both of his phone n#bers"

When yo se so&ial enineerin, or 3prete=tin,4 yo be&o#e an a&tor playin a role" I ha+hear+ other people try to prete=t an+ 'ne- it &ol+ be painflly fnny" Not e%erybo+y &ol+ o on

stae an+ &on%in&e an a+ien&e; not e%erybo+y &ol+ prete=t an+ et a-ay -ith it"2or anyone -ho ha+ #astere+ prete=tin the -ay I ha+, thoh, it be&a#e as s#ooth as a&ha#pion bo-ler0s sen+in a ball +o-n the lane" Li'e the bo-ler, I +i+n0t e=pe&t to s&ore a stri'ee%ery ti#e" .nli'e the bo-ler, if I #isse+, I sally ot another try at it -ith no loss of s&ore"

When yo 'no- the lino an+ ter#inoloy, it establishes &re+ibility!yo0re leit, a&o-or'er sloin in the tren&hes 1st li'e yor tarets, an+ they al#ost ne%er @estion yorathority" At least, they +i+n0t ba&' then"

Why -as the la+y in Line Assin#ent so -illin to ans-er all #y @estionsH 8i#ply be&ase I a%e her one riht ans-er an+ as'e+ the riht @estions, sin the riht lino" 8o +on0t othin'in that the Pa&ifi& Bell &ler' -ho a%e #e Eri&0s a++ress -as foolish or slo-:-itte+" Peoplein offi&es or+inarily i%e others the benefit of the +obt -hen the re@est appears to be athenti&"

People, as I ha+ learne+ at a %ery yon ae, are 1st too trstin" Maybe #y %entre ba&' into ha&'in -as e=&sable, or at least n+erstan+able, 1stifie+ by#y nee+ to sol%e the ri++le of #y half:brother0s +eath" Yet I s++enly reali<e+ I ha+ been beyon+



stpi+6 I ha+ been sin one of the three phone lines in #y +a+0s apart#ent to #a'e all 'in+s ofso&ial:enineerin &alls to Pa&ifi& Bell, to follo- lea+s in #y A+a# in%estiation, an+ to tal' -ithLe-is"

These -ere all &lear %iolations of #y &on+itions of #y sper%ise+ release" What if the 2e+s-ere #onitorin #y +a+0s phone lines an+ ha+ hear+ those &on%ersationsH

I nee+e+ to fin+ ot -hat they 'ne-"



THIRTEEN



The Wie#a))e

7kdw v wkh +d#h ri wkh SL i*# wkdw 1dv 1*hwdsshg e Sd$i$ !hoo

E%en paranoi+s so#eti#es ha%e real ene#ies" One +ay I ha+ a t feelin that so#eone -as

-at&hin #e!or rather, listenin to #y phone &on%ersations"The i+ea ha+ #e really frettin" I -as pani&'e+ abot ettin a &all fro# #y Probation

Offi&er, tellin #e to &o#e in for one of those %isits that -ol+ #ean I -as abot to be ta'en into&sto+y aain an+ shippe+ ba&' to 2e+eral +etention, #aybe e%en pt ba&' in solitary &onfine#ent"8&ary as hell"

Or ho#e phone ser%i&e -as ser%e+ ot of a Pa&Bell &entral offi&e in Calabasas, -hi&h

&o%ere+ a s#all territory, so if there -ere any inter&epts, I fire+ I0+ li'ely be the taret" I &alle+the CO an+ ot a te&h on the line" 3/i,4 I sai+" 3This is Terry At&hley, in 8e&rity" I thin' -e ha%eso#e of or e@ip#ent o%er there" We0re short on #onitorin e@ip#ent, an+ -e nee+ so#e of or

bo=es ba&' for another &ase" Col+ yo -al' aron+ the fra#e an+ see if yo ha%e any of the#H4The fra#e te&h as'e+ #e -hat they loo'e+ li'e" /##!I +i+n0t 'no-" I st#ble+ a bit an+ sai+, 3It+epen+s on the #o+el that0s bein se+ o%er there" It0s probably a s#all bo= -ith a #iniatre printeratta&he+ that0s re&or+in the +iits +iale+"4

/e -ent to loo'" I -as ner%os as hell, pa&in as I -aite+ for hi# to &o#e ba&' to the phone" I -as prayin he -ol+n0t fin+ anythin"

2inally he &a#e ba&' on the line" 3Yeah,4 he sai+" My heart starte+ beatin faster, a+renaline p#pin throh #y %eins"

3I fon+ three of yor bo=es" They0re s#all ray bo=es, bt as far as I &ol+ see, they +on0tha%e printers,4 the te&h sai+"

Three bo=es!probably one for ea&h of the phone lines at the apart#ent I -as sharin -ith#y +a+" 2&' This -as not oo+" 3O'ay,4 I tol+ hi#" 3If -e +on0t still nee+ the# there, so#ebo+y0ll &o#e by an+ pi&' the#p to#orro-" I nee+ yo to tra&e ot the &onne&tions"4

3On -hi&h oneH4 3Let0s try the first one"4 The te&h as'e+ #e -hi&h si+e to tra&e" Another h:oh!aain I +i+n0t 'no- ho- to ans-er"/e tol+ #e the bo= ha+ t-o &onne&tions" 3Let0s tra&e ot both an+ see -here they o,4 I sai+"

After se%eral an=ios #intes of -aitin, I hear+ hi# &o#e ba&' on the line" 3I ha+ to tra&ethis thin a&ross the fra#e,4 he sai+" I re&oni<e+ that for -hat it -as6 an annoye+ &o#plaint that Iha+ #a+e hi# &hase -ires a &onsi+erable +istan&e throh a &o#pli&ate+ #a<e rnnin alon the#ain +istribtion fra#e" /e also tol+ #e, 3On one si+e, I 1st hear a thosan+:&y&le tone"4 That -as-eir+" 3On the other, I et a +ial tone"4

Bt I -ol+n0t be able to n+erstan+ ho- these bo=es -or'e+ ntil I 'ne- -hat they -ere&onne&te+ to" I as'e+ hi# to +is&onne&t the &ables fro# the fra#e an+ +o an L5!a line %erifi&ation

!to fin+ ot -hat phone n#bers -ere &onne&te+ to ea&h si+e of the bo=" 3O'ay, i%e #e a fe-#intes,4 he sai+"

Doin line %erifi&ations -as a rotine tas'" The te&h -ol+ si#ply lift ea&h &able pair one ata ti#e, &lip his line#an0s han+set to the pair, an+ +ial the &o+e to +eter#ine ea&h phone n#ber"

The thosan+:&y&le tone +i+n0t #a'e sense" Intriin" I ha+ no i+ea -hat it #eant bt+i+n0t ha%e ti#e to +-ell on the @estion" My heart -as ra&in, I -as s-eatin -ith fear, 'no-inhe -as oin to rea+ #e one of #y +a+0s phone n#bers"



/e finally &a#e ba&' on the line an+ a%e #e the t-o phone n#bers &onne&te+ to one ofthe bo=es" Neither of the# belonin to Da+"

I let ot a silent sih" I &ol+ finally breathe aain" It -as as if a ton of bri&'s ha+ been lifte+off #y &hest" Bt -hat abot the other t-o bo=esH The te&h son+e+ 1st a bit annoye+ -hen I tol+ hi# Inee+e+ the other t-o tra&e+, as -ell" 8till, he -asn0t oin to #a'e troble for hi#self by

&o#plainin ot lo+" Thoh the -ait this ti#e -as #&h loner, he finally &a#e ba&' an+ a%e#e the n#bers that -ere &onne&te+ to the other t-o bo=es" Aain, none -ere for any of #y +a+0slines"

No one -as &he&'in p on #e" I &ol+ har+ly -ait for the ne=t step6 &allin both n#bers assine+ to ea&h bo=" 2irst I trie+ one of the thosan+:&y&le n#bers" It ran three ti#es an+ then ans-ere+ -ith aee#:ee#:ee#" I trie+ aain" An+ aain" No #atter -hat ti#e I &alle+, al-ays the sa#e thin"What &ol+ this beH Maybe it -as -aitin for so#e type of &o+e" Whate%er the e=planation, it -asob%ios to #e that it -asn0t the line bein -iretappe+"

I -as oin to en1oy e=plorin an+ fin+in ot this n#ber0s se&ret" The other n#ber &onne&te+ to the first bo= -as ans-ere+ -ith 1st a 3/ello4!-hi&h ha+

to be the person bein inter&epte+" >st ot of &riosity, I &alle+ the Me&hani<e+ Loop Assin#entCenter to learn -ho the nfortnate %i&ti# of the inter&ept -as"

It -asn0t a Mr" or Mrs" 8o#ebo+y; it -as a &o#pany &alle+ Telte& In%estiations" I trie+ thelines on the se&on+ bo=, an+ then the thir+" All three -ere for the sa#e &o#pany, Telte&In%estiations"

That e%enin o%er +inner I #entione+ to #y +a+ that I ha+ &he&'e+ to see if or phone lines-ere bein -iretappe+" /e rolle+ his eyes" I &ol+ i#aine -hat he -as thin'in6 My son m*st e

iving in a ?ames Bond $antasy word to think anyody wo*d other wireta##ing him. 'hat/s the

kind o$ st*$$ that ony ha##ens in s#y movies"I trie+ to &on%in&e hi# it -as a serios possibility thoh there -as no nee+ to -orry" There

really -ere -iretaps in the neihborhoo+, bt they -ere on so#e &o#pany &alle+ Telte&In%estiations, not on s"

I s#ile+ to let hi# 'no- there -as nothin to be &on&erne+ abot" /e loo'e+ at #e insrprise" 3Telte&H4 I no++e+" In another of those s#all:-orl+ &oin&i+en&es, #y +a+ 'ne- abot Telte&, -hi&h, hee=plaine+, -as a PI fir#!a &o#pany e#ployin pri%ate in%estiators an+ s'ip tra&ers -ho tra&'e++o-n the assets of bsiness partners -ho0+ s@irrele+ a-ay #ore than their share of the profits,#en -ho -ere ettin +i%or&e+ an+ ha+ tons of &ash in hi++en ban' a&&onts, an+ so on" An+, 3I'no- Mar' $as+en, the #anaer there,4 #y father tol+ #e" Then he a++e+, 3/o- abot if I i%ehi# a &allH I bet he0ll -ant to 'no- -hat yo fon+ ot"4

I sai+, 3Why notH4 I thoht the y -ol+ appre&iate the infor#ation" T-enty #intes later, there -as a 'no&' at the apart#ent +oor" $as+en ha+n0t -aste+ anyti#e &o#in o%er" Da+ let hi# in an+ intro+&e+ s" The y -as short an+ sto&'y bt #s&le+,-ith a bit of a ponytail that loo'e+ li'e it -as #aybe #eant to +istra&t yo fro# noti&in that he-as bal+in on top" /e +i+n0t loo' anythin li'e #y i+ea of a 8a# 8pa+e or Anthony Pelli&ano,thoh I0+ fin+ ot later that he -as one of those a%i+ /arley o-ners -ho tal'e+ abot their bi'es-ith reat affe&tion" An+ he -as al-ays on the hnt for &hi&'s, fo&se+ on his ne=t &on@est"

I loo'e+ at this y an+ -on+ere+ -hy his fir# -as bein in%estiate+, thoh I -as prettysre he -asn0t oin to share anythin in&ri#inatin -ith #e" I e=plaine+ I ha+ &he&'e+ to see if#y +a+0s phone lines -ere bein tappe+"

3They aren0t,4 I tol+ hi#, 3bt three lines at Telte& are bein #onitore+"4

/is rea&tion -as pretty #&h li'e #y father0s" /e loo'e+ li'e he -as thin'in, 'his kid is $* o$ it. No way he/d e ae to $ind o*t i$ a #hone ine was eing wireta##ed " I -as e=&ite+ toshare #y &apabilities" It -as &ool be&ase or+inarily this -as stff yo ha+ to 'eep to yorself



nless yo -ante+ to en+ p in a +or#itory at a prison &a#p"3Yo +on0t thin' I &ol+ fin+ -iretapsH >st sin #y &o#pter an+ any telephone, I &an

#onitor anyone I -ant"4 The loo' on his fa&e sai+, &hy am - wasting time with this owhard

I as'e+ if he -ante+ a +e#onstration" /e replie+ -ith a s'epti&al, &o&'y, 38re" Let0s see ifyo &an listen to #y irlfrien+0s line"4 8he li%e+ in Aora /ills, he tol+ #e"

In #y noteboo' I ha+ han+-ritten notes of the +ial:p n#bers for the 8A8 re#ote a&&esstest points RATPs in se%eral COs in the 8an 2ernan+o 5alley" I loo'e+ p the n#ber for theRATP in the Aora CO that ser%e+ her area" There -ere for n#bers liste+"

8in&e I 'ne- #y +a+0s lines +i+n0t ha%e any inter&epts on the#, I &ol+ se one of the# to+ial in to 8A86 be&ase it -as a lo&al &all, no billin re&or+ -ol+ be enerate+, #eanin noe%i+en&e &ol+ be fon+ later sho-in that anybo+y ha+ e%er +iale+ 8A8 fro# this line" I sat +o-nat a +es'top &o#pter!-hi&h -as a&tally #y frien+0s, thoh #y +a+ ha+ aree+ to say it -as hisif a Probation Offi&er e%er +roppe+ by, sin&e I -asn0t sppose+ to se &o#pters e=&ept -ith priorappro%al" I se+ the &o#pter #o+e# to +ial in to the 8A8 nit in the Aora CO"

On the se&on+ one of #y +a+0s lines, I &alle+ another n#ber an+ pt the phone inspea'erphone #o+e" They hear+ the ring, ring, ring "

Then I type+ so#e &o##an+s on the &o#pter" All of a s++en, the rinin stoppe+ -ith ao*d &li&', as if so#eone ha+ pi&'e+ p the phone" They -at&he+, intrie+, as I h##e+ lo+lyinto the spea'erphone6 mmmmmmmmm" I##e+iately, -e hear+ a series of to&h tones as ifso#eone pi&'e+ p the line an+ starte+ to initiate a &all"

I as'e+ Mar' for his irlfrien+0s phone n#ber as I entere+ a series of &o##an+s on the&o#pter" We -ere no- listenin on the irlfrien+0s phone line"

B##er" 8he -asn0t on the phone" The line -as silent" 3Mar', yor irlfrien+0s not on the line,4 I tol+ hi#" 3Try &allin her fro# yor &ell phone"4As he too' ot his &ell phone an+ spee+:+iale+ the n#ber, #y +a+ -as i%in #e a loo' of+isbelief, as if he -ere -at&hin so#e /arry /o+ini -annabe tryin to perfor# a #ai& tri&' he+i+n0t really 'no- ho- to +o"

2ro# the spea'erphone on #y +a+0s phone line, -e hear+ the rrrrr:rrrr that #eant then#ber -as rinin" After for rins, -e hear+ an ans-erin #a&hine pi&' p, then the irlfrien+0sotoin #essae" 3Lea%e a #essae,4 I tol+ hi# -ith a bi rin" As he tal'e+ into his &ell phone,-e &ol+ hear his -or+s &o#in ot o%er #y +a+0s spea'erphone"

Mar'0s 1a- +roppe+" /is eyes -i+ene+ an+ lo&'e+ on #ine -ith a loo' of a-e an+a+#iration" 3That0s f&'in in&re+ible,4 he sai+" 3/o- +i+ yo +o thatH4

I replie+ -ith -hat has sin&e be&o#e a tire+ &li&hV6 3I &ol+ tell yo, bt then I0+ ha%e to'ill yo"4 On his -ay ot, he sai+, 3I thin' yo0ll be hearin fro# #e"4 The i+ea of -or'in for a PIfir# son+e+ fantasti&" Maybe I &ol+ learn so#e reat ne- in%estiati%e te&hni@es" I -at&he+ hi#

-al' ot the +oor an+ hope+ I really -ol+ hear fro# hi# aain"



FOURTEEN



(o! Ta) Me- I Ta) (o!

2#ki ytw eai rtc aas#0 M ogw +) we$ ms rh 0+

A &ople of +ays after #eetin #y father0s frien+ Mar' $as+en, fro# the PI fir#, I set ot

on the lon +ri%e ba&' to 5eas to pi&' p #y &lothes an+ personal belonins" The ProbationDepart#ent ha+ appro%e+ #y re@est that I be allo-e+ to #o%e in lon:ter# -ith #y +a+"

I left #y +a+0s at an early hor that +i+n0t #&h sit #y no&trnal lifestyle bt -ol+ let #ees&ape LA before the #ornin rsh hor" Drin the +ri%e, I planne+ to +o a little so&ial enineerinto in%estiate the #onitorin bo=es I ha+ +is&o%ere+, the ones I ha+ at first feare+ -ere on #y +a+0s

phone lines"

I trne+ onto the *)* 2ree-ay eastbon+ to-ar+ the I:*), -hi&h -ol+ ta'e #e east throhthe +esert" My &ell phone -as at han+, as sal &lone+ to so#eone else0s phone n#ber"

A fnny thin abot the free-ay" A fe- -ee's earlier, I ha+ been &t off by a y +ri%in aBMW" Bsy tal'in on his &ell phone, he ha+ s++enly s-it&he+ lanes, s-er%in -ithin in&hes of#y &ar, s&arin the &rap ot of #e, an+ only barely #issin -ipin ot both of s"

I0+ rabbe+ #y &ell phone an+ #a+e one of #y prete=tin &alls to the DM5, rnnin theBMW0s li&ense plate an+ ettin the o-ner0s na#e an+ a++ress" Then I &alle+ an internal+epart#ent at Pa&Tel Celllar only t-o &ell phone &o#panies ser%i&e+ 8othern California at theti#e, so I ha+ a fifty:fifty &han&e of ettin it riht the first ti#e, a%e the y0s na#e an+ a++ress,an+ fon+ that yes, Pa&Tel Celllar ha+ his a&&ont" The la+y a%e #e his &ell phone n#ber, an+har+ly #ore than fi%e #intes after the 1er' ha+ &t #e off, I &alle+ an+ ot hi# on the phone" I -as

still sha'in -ith aner" I shote+, 4(ey, yo* $*cking dick, -/m the g*y yo* $*cking c*t o$$ $ivemin*tes ago and amost kied *s oth. -/m $rom the DMV, and i$ yo* #* one more st*nt ike that,

we/re going to cance yo*r driver/s icense56

/e #st -on+er to this +ay ho- so#e other +ri%er on the free-ay -as able to et his &ell phone n#ber" I0+ li'e to thin' that &all s&are+ the shit ot of hi#"

Trth be tol+, thoh, that lesson in the +aners of sin a &ell phone -hile +ri%in +i+n0tha%e #&h lastin i#pa&t on #e, either" On&e I ha+ left behin+ the traffi& noises an+ hon'in hornsof the rsh:hor free-ays an+ settle+ in for #y +ri%e to 5eas, I -as on the phone" My first &all -asto a n#ber et&he+ in #y #e#ory6 the one for the Pa&ifi& Bell s-it&hin &enter that spporte+ allthe s-it&hes in the -est 8an 2ernan+o 5alley area"

3Canoa Par' 8CC, this is Br&e,4 a te&h ans-ere+" 3/i, Br&e,4 I sai+" 3This is To# Bo+ett, -ith Enineerin in Pasa+ena"4 The na#e I0+ i%en -as too fa#iliar at the ti#e6 Bo+ett -as an athor an+ a&tor -ho0+ been+oin a series of ra+io a+s for Motel 9, sinin off -ith, 3This is To# Bo+ett, an+ I0ll lea%e the lihton for yo"4 I ha+ 1st tosse+ off the first na#e that &a#e into #y hea+" Bt Br&e +i+n0t see# toha%e noti&e+, so I 'ept riht on" 3/o-0s it oinH4 I as'e+"

32ine, To#, -hat +o yo nee+H4 3I0# -or'in on an nsal &ase of troble ot of Calabasas" We0re ettin a hih:pit&he+tone!son+s li'e a thosan+ &y&les" We0re tryin to fin+ -here the &all -as oriinatin fro#"Col+ yo ta'e a loo'H4

38re" What0s yor &allba&' n#berH4

Thoh Br&e ha+n0t re&oni<e+ #y %oi&e, I sre +i+ 'no- -ho he -as" /e0+ been thetaret of so&ial:enineerin s&a#s by #e an+ other phone phrea's for years, an+ ha+ been stnenoh ti#es that he ha+ ro-n sspi&ios an+ prote&ti%e" 8o anyti#e he ot a &all fro# so#ebo+y



he +i+n0t 'no- -ho &lai#e+ to be a &o#pany e#ployee, he0+ as' for a &allba&' n#ber!an+ itha+ better be a n#ber he re&oni<e+ as bein internal to Pa&ifi& Bell" /e0+ rin off an+ +ial yo

ba&'"Most phone phrea's either +on0t bother to set p a &allba&' n#ber or +on0t 'no- ho-"

They try to et a-ay -ith so#e la#ebraine+ e=&se li'e 3I0# 1st oin into a #eetin"4 Bt Br&e-as hip to all of that, an+ he -asn0t oin to et &onne+ aain" 8o before #y &all, I ha+ &on%in&e+ a

Pa&ifi& Bell e#ployee that I -as a &o#pany enineer -ho0+ been sent to LA to ta&'le a te&hni&al proble# an+ nee+e+ a te#porary lo&al phone n#ber" On&e that -as set p, I pt it on &allfor-ar+in to #y &lone+ &ell phone n#ber of the +ay" When Br&e &alle+ ba&' to the leiti#ateinternal phone n#ber I ha+ i%en hi#, it ran throh to #y &ell phone"

3Enineerin, this is To#,4 I ans-ere+" 3To#, this is Br&e &allin yo ba&'"4 3/ey, than's, Br&e" Col+ yo ta'e a loo' at this n#ber!):)9J!in the Calabasass-it&hH An+ let #e ha%e the oriination infor#ation"4 In lay#an0s ter#s, I -as as'in hi# to tra&ethe &all"

3Yeah, one se&,4 he sai+" I -as ner%os as hell" If Br&e hear+ a &ar horn hon'in or so#e other nonoffi&e:li'e

ba&'ron+ noise, I0+ be &aht ot" This -as -ay too i#portant!-ay too interestin!to s&re-p" I &ol+ hear Br&e typin, an+ I 'ne- e=a&tly -hat he -as +oin6 @eryin the s-it&h to tra&ethe &all"

3To#, o'ay, the &all is &o#in fro# the LAK) tan+e#4!#eanin it -as a lon:+istan&e&all, &o#in fro# otsi+e the LA area" Br&e then a%e #e the +etaile+ trn'in infor#ation I nee+e+ to &ontine the tra&e" I alsoas'e+ hi# for the n#ber of the s-it&hin &enter that #anae+ the LAK) tan+e#" My n&annyability to re#e#ber telephone n#bers &a#e in han+y on&e aain6 I +i+n0t ha%e to s&ribble then#ber +o-n -ith one han+ -hile steerin -ith the other" In fa&t, #ost of the phone n#bers an+

people0s na#es in this boo' are the real thin, still i#printe+ in #y #e#ory fro# as #&h ast-enty years ao"

At the en+ of the &all, I tol+ hi#, 3Don0t foret #e, Br&e" I0ll li'ely nee+ yor help aain"4I -as hopin he0+ re#e#ber #e the ne=t ti#e an+ not feel he nee+e+ to +o that -hole &allba&'rotine aain"

When I &alle+ the s-it&hin &enter, the phone -as ans-ere+, 3LAK), this is Mary"4I sai+, 3/ey, Mary, this is Carl Ran+olph fro# Enineerin in 8an Ra#on" I ha%e a &ir&it

I0# tra&in, an+ it appears to oriinate fro# yor offi&e"4 Apparently I -as on soli+ ron+ allaron+, sin&e Mary +i+n0t hesitate, as'in #e for the trn'in infor#ation" I a%e it to her, an+ she

pt #e on hol+ -hile she &he&'e+" 8in&e phone phrea's rarely tarete+ toll s-it&hes, she +i+n0te%en bother to %erify #y i+entity"

Mary &a#e ba&' on the line" 3Carl, I0%e tra&e+ the trn' infor#ation yo a%e #e" The &all

oriinate+ fro# the 8an 2ran&is&o E"4 8he a%e #e the trn'in an+ net-or' infor#ation she ha+fon+ fro# her tra&e" I also as'e+ her for the n#ber for that E offi&e, -hi&h she -as 'in+ enohto loo' p for #e"

I -as no- approa&hin Interstate *J" My rote -ol+ ta'e #e throh the Ca1on Pass,rnnin bet-een the 8an Bernar+ino Montains an+ the 8an 7abriel Montains, #a'in it li'elythat any &all -ol+ be +roppe+" I -ol+ -ait ntil I rea&he+ 5i&tor%ille, on the far si+e of the pass"

In the #eanti#e, I s-it&he+ on the &ar ra+io an+ -as treate+ to so#e fa%orite ol+ies fro# thefifties" 3$:Earth:*)*,4 the +is' 1o&'ey sai+" 3We0re i%in a-ay a thosan+ +ollars an hor to l&'y&aller n#ber se%en after yo hear the $:Earth 1inle!the best ol+ies on the ra+io"0 4

Wo- Wol+n0t it be &ool to -in a ran+ Bt -hy e%en bother tryinH I ha+ ne%er -on any&ontest I ha+ e%er entere+" 8till, the i+ea plante+ itself in #y #in+ an+ -ol+ e%entally trn fro# a

fantasy into a te#ptation"As I approa&he+ 5i&tor%ille, I +iale+ the n#ber Mary ha+ i%en #e, rea&hin a y -ho

sai+ his na#e -as O#ar" 3/ey, O#ar, this is Tony /o-ar+ -ith E8AC in 8othern California,4 I



sai+" 3We ha%e a -eir+ sitation here" We -ere tra&in a &ir&it, an+ it has a thosan+:&y&le tone onit"4 I a%e hi# the trn'in infor#ation fro# the LA tan+e#, an+ he -ent off to &he&'"

Lea%in 5i&tor%ille, I -as no- hea+in ba&' into an e#pty stret&h of +esert an+ aain&on&erne+ that the &ell &all #iht +rop" I slo-e+ +o-n fro# #y open:roa+ spee+ of eihty #iles anhor so I -ol+n0t lea%e 5i&tor%ille behin+ @ite so @i&'ly"

It -as so#e ti#e before O#ar &a#e ba&' on the line" 3I hear+ that hih:pit&he+ tone,4 he

sai+, an+ -ent 4eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee6 in i#itation of the son+, -hi&h #a+e #e &h&'le to#yself!I ha+ hear+ the tone an+ +i+n0t really nee+ to hear his atte#pt to +pli&ate it"

/e tol+ #e the &all -as oriinatin fro# Oa'lan+" 3Cool,4 I sai+" 3Than' yo, that0s a help"7i%e #e the trn'in infor#ation fro# yor s-it&h so -e &an tra&e it"4

/e @erie+ the s-it&h an+ a%e #e the info" My ne=t &all -as to the Oa'lan+ 8-it&hin Control Center" 3We0re tryin to tra&e a &allfro# the 8an 2ran&is&o E,4 I sai+, an+ pro%i+e+ the trn'in an+ net-or' infor#ation" The te&h

pt #e on hol+, then &a#e ba&' an+ a%e #e a J*) (): n#ber"I ha+ no- tra&e+ the &all all the -ay to its oriin" This -as the phone n#ber +ialin ot to

one of the bo=es in the Calabasas CO that -as -iretappin Telte&"I still -ante+ to 'no- if that thosan+:&y&le tone -ol+ e%er &hane" If it +i+, -hat -ol+

happenH Wol+ I hear a +ata sinalH Wol+ I hear a phone &on%ersationHI &alle+ O#ar ba&'" 3/ey, has anythin &hane+ -ith that toneH4/e ans-ere+ that he ha+ listene+ to it for abot fifteen #intes an+ ne%er hear+ any &hane"

I as'e+, 3Is it possible to pt the han+set near the spea'er so I &an hear the toneH I -ant torn so#e tests"4 /e sai+ he0+ pt the phone +o-n ne=t to the spea'er an+ I &ol+ 1st han p -henI -as +one"

This -as a-eso#e!-ith that tone &o#in throh to #y &ell phone, it -as al#ost li'e theti#e I0+ ea%es+roppe+ on the ea%es+roppers at the N8A" I -as -iretappin the -iretap!ho- ironi&-as thatH

By no- I -as feelin ner%os an+ e=&ite+ at the sa#e ti#e" Bt hol+in the phone to #y earthrohot this hors:lon so&ial:enineerin session ha+ i%en #e an eara&he, an+ #y ar# -asettin pretty sore as -ell"

As I -as enterin the stret&h of +esert lea+in into Barsto-, the half-ay point to Las 5eas,-here the &ell &o%erae -as &rappy, the &all +roppe+" Da#n

I &alle+ O#ar ba&', an+ he set p the &onne&tion aain so I &ol+ 'eep listenin to thatthosan+:&y&le tone o%er his lo+spea'ers" I -as hopin the tone -ol+ en+ at so#e point an+ I-ol+ hear so#ethin that -ol+ i%e #e so#e &le to -hat -as oin on, -hat the tone sinifie+"

Co#in into %ie- -as a &o#ple= that ser%e+ all the oo+:b++y tr&'ers -ho +ro%eeihteen:-heelers all +ay an+ all niht" I plle+ in to fill the as tan' of the &ar an+ then +e&i+e+ to&he&' p on #y +a+, -ho -as still sfferin o%er A+a#0s +eath"

With #y &ell phone tie+ p -ith the inter&ept, I fon+ a pay phone to #a'e the &all to #y

+a+" I +iale+ his n#ber an+ hel+ on -hile the phone ran" The hih:pit&he+ tone fro# the &ell phone s++enly stoppe+"&hat the he5

I rab the &ell phone an+ hol+ it to #y other ear" My +a+0s %oi&e &o#es o%er the pay phone re&ei%er as he ans-ers6 3/ello"4 I hear hi# o%er the pay phone and at the same time o%er the &ell phone

F*ck5

I &an0t belie%e this" This inter&ept isn0t on Telte& any#ore? it0s on #y +a+0s phone" The tap has been #o%e+" They0re inter&eptin *s5

Oh, shit "I try to son+ &al# bt asserti%e, insistent" 3Da+, I nee+ yo to o o%er to the pay phone at

the 5illae Mar'et a&ross the street" I ha%e so#e i#portant ne-s abot A+a#,4 I tell hi#"



My -or+in has to be inno&os, so#ethin that -on0t tip off the inter&ept listener" 3$e%in, -hat0s oin onH4 Da+ says, anry at #e" 3I0# tire+ of these stpi+ >a#es Bon+a#es"4 I insist an+ finally #anae to &on%in&e hi#" I0# s-eatin" /o- lon ha%e they been inter&eptin #y &alls -ithot #y 'no-inH Athosan+ @estions are rnnin throh #y #in+" Was Telte& really a taret or -as it an elaborate

s&he#e &on&o&te+ by Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity to tri&' #e!a -ay of so&ial:enineerin the ha&'erHMy heart is ra&in as I try to re&all e%erythin I sai+ an+ +i+ on the phone fro# #y +a+0s hose"What +i+ they hearH /o- #&h +o they 'no-H

After fi%e #intes, I &all the pay phone at the #ar'et" 3Da+,4 I tell hi#, 3et the f&'in&o#pter ot of the hose" Yo nee+ to +o it no- Don0t -ait Those -iretaps, they0re not on Telte&any#ore, those ys are listenin to *s5 Yo otta et the &o#pter ot riht a-ay! #ease54

/e arees bt son+s really pisse+" My ne=t &all is to Le-is, -ith the sa#e #essae6 3We otta o into &leanp #o+e"4 Wearee -e0ll ea&h stash or notes an+ floppy +is's in pla&es -here no one -ill be able to fin+ the#"

Let the o%ern#ent try to prose&te6 no e%i+en&e, no &ase" I arri%e+ at #y #o#0s pla&e in Las 5eas -ith #y ner%es shot" I 'ept obsessi%ely playin

o%er an+ o%er in #y #in+ all the &on%ersations they #iht ha%e inter&epte+"What if they0+ hear+ #e +is&ssin 8A8 -ith Le-isH What if they ha+ hear+ #e so&ial:

enineerin internal Pa&ifi& Bell +epart#entsH >st i#ainin either of those possibilities -asi%in #e heartbrn" I -as half e=pe&tin the ."8" Marshals an+ #y Probation Offi&er to sho- pat #y +oor an+ arrest #e"

I nee+e+ to 'no- -hen that inter&ept ha+ been installe+ on #y +a+0s line" Maybe if I 'ne- -ho ha+ or+ere+ the taps, I &ol+ fin+ a -ay to +is&o%er -hether they ha+

pi&'e+ p anythin I shol+ -orry abot"The phone &o#panies ha+ been ettin so #any phone phrea's an+ PIs &allin in lately that

they ha+ starte+ re@irin %erifi&ation" 8o I &alle+ Dispat&h, the offi&e at Pa&ifi& Bell that han+e+ot assin#ents to the te&hs in the fiel+, an+ sai+, 3I0%e ot an arson sitation here, I nee+ to paeso#e other te&hs" Who0s on &all tonihtH4

The operator a%e #e for na#es an+ paer n#bers" I pae+ ea&h of the# to &all theinternal Pa&ifi& Bell n#ber I ha+ set p, then on&e aain reprora##e+ the &all for-ar+in to oto the n#ber that #y &ell phone -as &rrently &lone+ to" When ea&h te&h respon+e+ to #y pae, Ilan&he+ into #y 3settin p a +atabase4 rotine"

WhyH Be&ase I -as as'in the# for %ery sensiti%e infor#ation, an+ they -eren0t oin toi%e that ot to 1st anybo+y" 8o #y prete=t -as, 3I0# settin p a +atabase of people on &all tohan+le #ission:&riti&al proble#s"4 One by one, I0+ first as' a series of inno&os @estions!3MayI et yor na#e, pleaseH4 3Yo -or' ot of -hi&h Dispat&h CenterH4 3Who0s yor #anaerH4 On&ethey0+ establishe+ a pattern of ans-erin #y @estions, I0+ as' for -hat I really -ante+6 3What0s

yor ..IDH An+ yor te&h &o+eH4I ot -hat I nee+e+ e%ery ti#e, as ea&h te&h rattle+ off his t-o pie&es of %erifi&ation ..ID,or 3ni%ersally ni@e i+entifier,4 an+ te&h &o+e, his #anaer0s na#e, an+ his &allba&' n#ber" A-al' in the par'"

With these &re+entials, I &ol+ no- et ba&' into the Line Assin#ent Offi&e, the+epart#ent I ne=t nee+e+ infor#ation fro#" On&e #y &re+entials ha+ been %erifie+, #y re@est -ent li'e this6 3I ha%e an internaln#ber here ot of Calabasas!it0s one of ors" Can yo fin+ ot the CBR n#ber of the person-ho pla&e+ the or+erH4

3CBR4 is tel&o:spea' for 3&an be rea&he+"4 In effe&t, I -as as'in for the phone n#ber-here I &ol+ rea&h the person -ho0+ isse+ the or+er to set p the line!in this &ase, the line for

the thosan+:&y&le tone on the bo= tappin one of #y +a+0s phones"The la+y -ent off to +o her resear&h, then &a#e ba&' an+ tol+ #e, 3The or+er -as pla&e+ by

Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity; the &onta&t na#e is Lilly Cree's"4 8he a%e #e a phone n#ber that bean



-ith the 8an 2ran&is&o area &o+e"I -as oin to en1oy this part6 so&ial:enineerin the phone &o#pany0s 8e&rity Depart#ent"

Trnin on the T5, I fon+ a sho- -ith ba&'ron+ &on%ersation that I set at lo- %ol#e, toson+ li'e the o&&asional %oi&es of typi&al offi&e ba&'ron+ noise" I nee+e+ to inflen&e #ytaret0s per&eption that I -as in a bil+in -ith other people"

Then I +iale+ the n#ber"

3Lilly Cree's,4 she ans-ere+" 3/i, Lilly,4 I sai+" 3This is To# fro# the Calabasas fra#e" We ha%e a fe- of yor bo=eso%er here, an+ -e nee+ to +is&onne&t the#" We0re #o%in in so#e hea%y e@ip#ent, an+ they0re inthe -ay"4

3Yo &an0t +is&onne&t or bo=es,4 she ans-ere+ in a %oi&e %erin on a s&ree&h" 3Listen, there0s no -ay aron+ it, bt I &an hoo' the# ba&' p to#orro- afternoon"4

3No,4 she insiste+" 3We really nee+ to 'eep those bo=es &onne&te+"4 I a%e an a+ible sih that I hope+ son+e+ e=asperate+ an+ annoye+" 3We ha%e a lot ofe@ip#ent bein s-appe+ ot to+ay" I hope this is really i#portant,4 I sai+" 3Bt let #e see -hat I&an +o"4

I #te+ #y &ell phone an+ -aite+" After listenin to her breathe into the han+set for

so#ethin li'e fi%e #intes, I ot ba&' on the phone -ith her" 3/o- abot thisH Yo stay on theline, I0ll +is&onne&t yor bo=es, -e0ll #o%e the e@ip#ent into pla&e, an+ then I0ll re&onne&t the#for yo" It0s the best I &an +o!o'ayH4

8he rel&tantly aree+" I tol+ her it -ol+ ta'e a fe- #intes" I #te+ the &all aain" .sin another &ell phone, I &alle+ the Calabasas fra#e, e=plaine+ tothe y -ho ans-ere+ that I -as -ith Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity, an+ a%e all three n#bers an+ theirasso&iate+ offi&e e@ip#ent" /e still ha+ to loo' p the n#ber in CO8MO8 to fin+ ot the fra#elo&ation, base+ on the 3OE"4 On&e he fon+ ea&h n#ber on the fra#e, he -as able to lift the

1#per off for ea&h line, -hi&h +roppe+ the &onne&tion"Ms" Cree's, sittin at her +es', -ol+ be able to tell -hen ea&h &onne&tion -as +roppe+"

While -aitin for the fra#e te&h to &o#e ba&' on the line an+ &onfir# that the 1#pers ha+ been plle+, I -ent to #y fri+e an+ ot a 8napple to en1oy -hile pi&trin Lilly an=iosly sittinin her offi&e -ith her telephone to her ear"

Then &a#e the part that the -hole operation p to no- ha+ been 1st a lea+:in for" Ba&' onthe line -ith Lilly, I sai+, 3I0# +one here" Do yo -ant yor bo=es re&onne&te+H4

8he son+e+ annoye+" 3Of &orse"4 3I0ll nee+ the &onne&tion infor#ation for ea&h line oin into the three bo=es"4 8he probablythoht I #st be a little slo-:-itte+ if I +i+n0t e%en 'no- -here the 1#pers belone+ that I ha+

plle+ 1st a fe- #intes earlier, bt the re@est see#e+ &re+ible be&ase she ha+ seen the&onne&tions +rop6 &learly she really -as tal'in to the fra#e te&h at the CO"

8he a%e #e the infor#ation" I sai+, 3O'ay, I0ll be riht ba&'"4

I pt the phone on #te aain, then &alle+ ba&' the te&h in the Calabasas CO an+ as'e+ hi#to re&onne&t the &ables to 3or se&rity bo=es"4When he -as finishe+, I than'e+ hi# an+ ot ba&' on the other phone" 3/ey, Lilly,4 I sai+,

3I0%e hoo'e+ e%erythin ba&' p" Are they all three -or'inH48he son+e+ relie%e+" 3E%erythin is &o#in ba&' p no-" It all see#s to be -or'in"4

32ine" >st to +oble:&he&', -hat phone n#bers shol+ be &onne&te+ to these bo=esH I0ll+o a line %erifi&ation to #a'e sre e%erythin is &onne&te+ properly"4

8he a%e #e the n#bers" 8hit They -eren0t -iretappin 1st one of #y +a+0s lines, they -ere -iretappin a three5 I-ol+n0t be ha%in any #ore &on%ersations o%er #y +a+0s phones, that -as for sre"

I still nee+e+ to 'no- -hen the taps ha+ been installe+, so I &ol+ ae -hi&h of #y

&on%ersations ha+ been inter&epte+" Later, Le-is an+ I, for 'i&'s, -ante+ to listen in on so#e of the other phones that Pa&ifi&Bell -as tappin"



There -as a hit&h6 for a++e+ se&rity, the bo=es -ol+n0t start #onitorin a line ntil a %ali+PIN, or 3personal i+entifi&ation n#ber,4 -as entere+" I ha+ an i+ea6 it -as a lon shot, -ith al#ostno &han&e of -or'in, bt I trie+ it any-ay"

2irst I ha+ to be able to &all in to the #onitor bo= at the CO" 8o I0+ &all the CO an+ tell thefra#e te&h -ho ans-ere+ the phone, 3I nee+ yo to +rop that line be&ase -e0re testin"4 /e0+ +oit, an+ Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity0s &onne&tion -ol+ then be +roppe+ fro# the inter&ept"

I +iale+ in to the bo= an+ bean essin the pass-or+s that #iht ha%e been set p by the#anfa&trer6 3* ( 4? nothin" 3* ( J4? nothin" All the -ay p to the last one I fire+-as -orth tryin6 3* ( J 9 K "4

Bino In&re+ibly, the people at Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity ha+ ne%er &hane+ the #anfa&trer0s+efalt PIN on these bo=es" With that pass-or+, I no- ha+ a &o#plete te&hni@e that -ol+ let #e listen in on any ofPa&ifi& Bell0s inter&epts any-here in California" If I fon+ ot the 8e&rity Depart#ent ha+ one ofits bo=es at the $ester CO, say, or the Webster CO, I0+ et a fra#e te&h to +rop the line Pa&ifi& Bell-as sin to &all the #onitor bo=, an+ then I0+ &all in to the bo= #yself an+ enter the +efalt PIN,-hi&h -as the sa#e on e%ery bo=" Then Le-is an+ I -ol+ listen in an+ try to fire ot -ho -as

bein inter&epte+"

We0+ +o this 1st for fn, 1st be&ase -e &ol+, so#eti#es t-i&e or three ti#es in a -ee'"After -e i+entifie+ the taret0s phone n#ber, -e0+ &all Pa&ifi& Bell0s Csto#er Na#e an+Lo&ation CNL Brea, i%e the phone n#ber, an+ et the na#e of the person bein #onitore+"On&e -e -ere tol+ the phone -as liste+ to the /onorable 8o#ebo+y:or:Other" A little resear&h a%e#e the rest of it6 the inter&ept -as on the phone of a 2e+eral 1+e"

2or Le-is an+ #e, listenin to -iretaps -as a a#e, a lar'" 2or Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rityin%estiators, it -as part of the 1ob" Bt one of the in%estiators, Darrell 8antos, -as in for asrprise" /e &a#e in to -or' one #ornin, -ent to ha%e a listen to -hat ha+ transpire+ on theinter&epts he ha+ pla&e+ on #y +a+0s lines, an+ +is&o%ere+ that all of the Pa&ifi& Bell0s ele&troni&sr%eillan&e ha+ stoppe+ in its tra&'s" There -ere no a+io inter&epts; e%erythin -as +ea+" 8antos&alle+ the Calabasas fra#e an+ as'e+, 3Are or bo=es still -or'in thereH4

3Oh, no,4 he -as tol+" 38e&rity fro# Los Aneles &alle+ an+ tol+ s to +is&onne&t the#"4 8antos tol+ the te&hni&ian, 3We +on0t +o any ele&troni& sr%eillan&e ot of 8othernCalifornia6 -e +o it all ot of Northern California" 8o there0s no s&h thin as Los Aneles8e&rity"4

That niht 8antos fle- fro# his ho#e base in 8an 2ran&is&o to Los Aneles an+ reatta&he+all the sr%eillan&e bo=es hi#self" To #a'e sre nobo+y &ol+ be &onne+ into +is&onne&tin the#aain, he hi+ the bo=es in the rafters abo%e the ra&'s of s-it&hin e@ip#ent"

M&h later, in an inter%ie- for this boo', 8antos -ol+ re&all, 3This -as a real bi +eal fors be&ase no- it hit ho#e, it -as personal" $e%in -as listenin to o*r &alls, -hen -e -ere in the

bsiness of tryin to listen to his &alls" Then he has or inter&epts ta'en +o-n" 8o it #a+e s really

&hane ho- -e spo'e on the phone an+ the #essaes -e left" An+ -e ha+ to &reate so#e ne- -aysto &o%er or tra&'s be&ase -e also ha+ to prote&t the interity of -hat la- enfor&e#ent -as +oin-ith s, all of their &ort:or+ere+ stff"4

Maybe it -as 1st as -ell that I +i+n0t 'no- at the ti#e -hat hea+a&hes I -as &asin the# !other-ise I #iht not ha%e been able to s@ee<e #y bi hea+ throh a +oor-ay"

An+ #aybe I -ol+ ha%e been flattere+ to 'no-, ba&' then, that -hene%er anythin li'e thishappene+ at Pa&ifi& Bell, I i##e+iately be&a#e the pri#e sspe&t" A&&or+in to 8antos, $e%inPolsen ha+ been n#ber one on their internal #ost -ante+ list" On&e Polsen -as behin+ bars, there%ise+ list ha+ a ne- na#e at the top6 #ine" The file they ha+ on #e oin all the -ay ba&' to #y

1%enile +ays -as as thi&' as a bi:&ity phone +ire&tory"8antos sai+, 3There -ere other ha&'ers ot there +oin a lot of other thins, bt #y opinion

-as that $e%in -as the one -ho e%eryone -as tryin to e#late" I thoht $e%in -as the #osean+ I -as the &at, bt so#eti#es it -as the other -ay aron+"4

/e a++e+, 3There -ere #any lea+s -e0+ et fro# &orporate se&rity ys in other



&o#panies sayin, /ey, -e0%e ot this &ase, this y0s ettin s, +o yo thin' it &ol+ be $e%inH0E%ery ti#e so#ethin -ol+ pop p, it -as al-ays $e%in they0+ sspe&t"4

As I say, I #iht0%e been pro+ to hear so#e of that ba&' in the +ay, bt 1st then I -asfeelin pretty frstrate+" 8o far #y talents ha+n0t helpe+ #e n&o%er any of Eri& /ein<0s ba&'story"Le-is an+ I ha+ been oin aron+ an+ aron+ -ith ea&h other o%er or +obts &on&ernin hi#"8re, he 'ne- lots of stff abot phone &o#pany syste#s an+ pro&e+res, e%en so#e stff Le-is

an+ I ha+n0t been a-are of" Bt A, he -asn0t -illin to share #&h of anythin" An+ B, he -asfore%er as'in those 'in+s of @estions, the 'in+s ha&'ers 1st +on0t as' one another6 3Who are yo-or'in -ithH4 an+ 3What pro1e&ts ha%e yo been +oin latelyH4 an+ so on"

It -as ti#e for s to #eet the y fa&e:to:fa&e an+ see if ettin to 'no- hi# a little better-ol+ pt or sspi&ions to rest" An+ if he -as for real, #aybe he &ol+ e%en help #e learn -henthose taps ha+ been pla&e+ on #y +a+0s lines"



FIFTEEN



.Ho/ #he F!ck Did (o! Ge# Tha#01

-t*ot oaym1k ymw+e $t+ #+h*o+ $tm$ >+i*e ge+# $a

*ow g m1k dm#*a e*s1m0e 1+md @d*o

"rprisinly enoh, Eri& -as #ore than -illin to #eet s for +inner" We settle+ on a fe-

+ays later at a /a#brer /a#let near West Los Aneles" Le-is an+ I -ere both antsy enohabot the #eetin that he sai+ he -ol+ brin alon so#e spe&ial e@ip#ent +esine+ to ease or

paranoia"We #et in the par'in lot abot half an hor early" When I 1oine+ hi# in his &ar, he -as

intently listenin to a ra+io s&anner" I +i+n0t ha%e to as' -hat he -as listenin to6 the s&anner -as

prora##e+ to pi&' p all of the fre@en&ies se+ by the 2BI, 8e&ret 8er%i&e, an+ ."8" Marshals"An+ #ore besi+es, be&ase -hen the 2e+s -ere +ealin -ith so#ebo+y they thoht #iht be -iseabot te&hnoloy, they often ot tri&'y an+ +e&i+e+ to se the fre@en&y of so#e other aen&y, li'ethe Brea of Prisons, or the Dr Enfor&e#ent Aen&y, or e%en the Postal Inspe&tion 8er%i&e,a#on others" 8o Le-is ha+ those fre@en&ies prora##e+ as -ell"

The s&anner -ol+n0t pi&' p +istant sinals, only those stron enoh to be &o#in fro#so#epla&e &lose" In that era, al#ost all 2e+eral la- enfor&e#ent aen&ies -ere alrea+ysophisti&ate+ enoh to en&rypt their traffi&" Bt -e -ol+n0t nee+ to 'no- -hat they -ere sayin,

1st -hether they -ere sayin it nearby" If the la- enfor&e#ent fre@en&ies starte+ b<<in, -e0+et the hell ot of there in a hrry"

2or no-, all -as @iet, bt 1st in &ase, Le-is slippe+ a &ople of interestin ele&troni&

+e%i&es into his po&'et as -e ot ot of the &ar"We ha+ aree+ on this restarant be&ase the lo&ation -as &on%enient" The /a#brer

/a#let trne+ ot to ha%e a passV +e&or of #irrors, brass, an+ tile, -hi&h ha+ the si+e effe&t oftrnin &on%ersations in the sper&ro-+e+ pla&e into a noisy b<<" Perfe&t, sin&e -e -ante+ to besre -e -ol+n0t be o%erhear+ by anyone at a neihborin table"

Eri& ha+ tol+ s to loo' for a y -ith shol+er:lenth blon+ hair an+ a laptop" E%en a#onall the /olly-oo+ types &ho#pin into thi&' brers, -e ha+ no troble spottin hi#" Thin,-earin a sil' shirt left open to sho- his &hest, he loo'e+ li'e a ro&' #si&ian!or #aybe #ore li'ea y +e&'e+ ot to et the stan+ar+ rea&tion of 3I 'no- that fa&e, bt I &an0t re#e#ber -hi&h ban+he0s -ith"4

We sai+ hello, intro+&e+ orsel%es, sat +o-n, an+ let hi# 'no- &learly, riht p front, that-e ha+ no reason to thin' -e &ol+ trst hi#" Le-is an+ I ha+ ea&h broht alon a Ra+io8ha&'Pro: han+hel+ s&anner, an+ -e pt the# on the table in plain siht" Le-is ha+ also broht anOptoele&troni&s R2 Dete&tor!a +e%i&e +esine+ to +ete&t sinals trans#itte+ fro# a bo+y #i'e! -hi&h he openly -a%e+ aron+ o%er Eri&0s bo+y" It pi&'e+ p nothin"

The -hole ti#e -e -ere there, Eri& see#e+ to be intensely preo&&pie+ -ith s&otin thehori<on for fe#ale &o#panionship, -hile he tol+ nonstop stories abot the fllness of his +atin&alen+ar an+ the +etails of his se=al es&apa+es" Le-is see#e+ in&line+ to pt p -ith an+ e%enen&orae this braart litany, bt I ne%er ha%e trste+ ys -ho feel the nee+ to paint the#sel%esto other #en as lti#ate Ro#eos" It #a+e #e -on+er if any of the infor#ation Eri& #iht i%e sabot the phone &o#panies!or #ission0s sole prpose!&ol+ be belie%e+, e%en if -e co*d +ra-

it ot of hi#"8till, at one point!at last!he +roppe+ a ti+bit into the &on%ersation that trly ot #yattention" /e &lai#e+ he ha+ a #aster 'ey that a%e hi# a&&ess to e%ery phone &o#pany &entral



offi&e, left o%er fro# the +ays -hen he an+ $e%in Polsen -ere #a'in nihtti#e %isits to COs allo%er Los Aneles"

I -as #ostly 1st listenin" Be&ase I -asn0t sppose+ to ha%e any intera&tion -ith otherha&'ers, I ha+ tol+ Le-is to +o #ost of the tal'in for s" Eri& brae+ abot ha%in been a son+enineer on the roa+, bt he +i+n0t na#e any of the ban+s he0+ -or'e+ for, -hi&h I esse+ #eantthey -ere ones nobo+y ha+ e%er hear+ of" Then he trie+ to i#press s -ith thins he ha+ that he

-as sre -e +i+n0t6 besi+es the #aster 'eys or +oor &o+es for all the &entral offi&es, he &lai#e+ healso ha+ a #aster 'ey for all the 3B:bo=es4!the phone &o#pany bo=es s&attere+ alon the streetsof e%ery &ity, -hi&h fiel+ te&hs o to -hen they nee+ to -ire p phone lines to hoses an+

bsinesses" It son+e+ as if he -as hopin to te#pt s, tryin to et s to plea+ -ith hi#, 3Col+-e &o#e alon on one of yor brea':insH4

Then he starte+ tal'in abot those nihtti#e brea':ins into phone &o#pany offi&es -ith$e%in Polsen an+ another ha&'er, Ron Astin, to &olle&t infor#ation an+ ain a&&ess to internalPa&ifi& Bell syste#s" An+ abot ho- he ha+ ta'en part in that ra+io:&ontest phone ha&', -henPolsen s&ore+ his 1a&'pot -in of the t-o Pors&hes" An+, Eri& sai+, t-o /a-aii %a&ations"

Eri& sai+ he ha+ otten a Pors&he fro# that ha&' as -ell" One thin +i+ see# to ha%e the rin of trth6 he tol+ s ho- the 2e+s ha+ &aht Polsen"

They fon+ ot he +i+ his ro&ery shoppin at a parti&lar /hes Mar'et, so they 'ept +roppin byan+ sho-in his photo to the staff" When Polsen &a#e in one +ay, Eri& sai+, a &ople of the shelfsta&'ers re&oni<e+ hi#" They ta&'le+ hi# an+ hel+ hi# ntil the &ops arri%e+"

Le-is, -ho ha+ a nee+ to sho- ho- s#art he -as, plle+ ot his No%atel PTR:(J &ell phone an+ +i+ a bi spiel abot ho- he0+ 3&hane+ the E8N on this phone"4 8o Eri& boaste+ abotha%in +one the sa#e -ith his O'i )), -hi&h -asn0t really s&h a bi +eal be&ase by that ti#ethere -as alrea+y soft-are a%ailable online for that" Then he tal'e+ abot a ha# ra+io repeater onfre@en&y *K"J, the one I thoht of as the 3ani#al hose"4 .h:oh, I -ol+n0t ha%e thoht he0+'no- abot that, an+ fro# no- on I0+ ha%e to be &arefl not to say anythin o%er the repeater that I-ol+n0t -ant Eri& to hear fro# #e"

An+ then -e ot on to the #a1or sb1e&t of interest6 ha&'in into Pa&ifi& Bell" Eri& -asob%iosly tryin to establish that -e shol+ trst hi# be&ase he ha+ a&&ess to e%ery Pa&ifi& Bellsyste#"

O'ay, I ha+ thoht there -ere %ery fe- phrea'ers!har+ly any!-ho 'ne- as #&h abotPa&ifi& Bell syste#s as Le-is an+ I +i+" Yet Eri& see#e+ to ha%e a 'no-le+e that -as at or le%el"5ery i#pressi%e"

This one floore+ #e6 he &lai#e+ Polsen ha+ bro'en into the offi&e of Terry At&hley, ofPa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity, an+ liht:finere+ the file on hi#self? an+ the one on #e" An+ he sai+Polsen ha+ #a+e a &opy of #y entire file that he ha+ i%en to hi# as a ift"

3Yo ha%e a &opy of #y fileH4 3Yeah"4

E%en thoh the file -as sppose+ly lifte+ fro# Terry At&hley0s offi&e se%eral years ao, Isai+, 3/ey, #an, I really -anna see a &opy of it"43I0# not sre -here it is" I0ll ha%e to loo' for it"4

3Well, at least i%e #e so#e i+ea of -hat0s in it" /o- #&h +o they 'no- abot -hat I -as+oin ba&' thenH4 /e s++enly be&a#e non&o##ittal, tal'in aron+ #y @estion instea+ of ans-erin it"Either he ha+ ne%er ha+ the file or he -as hol+in ot on #e for so#e reason" I -as annoye+ that he-ol+n0t tell #e anythin abot -hat -as in it" Yet I +i+n0t -ant to psh too har+, espe&ially at orfirst #eetin"

The &on%ersation -ent on, bt Eri& al-ays &a#e ba&' to as'in s -hat -e ha+ oin! #eanin -hat ha&'in -e -ere +oin" .n&ool" Le-is an+ I both a%e hi# +ifferent %ariations of

3Yo tell s so#e of -hat yo 'no-, -e0ll tell yo so#e of -hat we 'no-"4 No- it -as ti#e for Le-is an+ #e to sho&' or ne- -annabe &o#panion riht ot of his

so&'s" Le-is -as playin his role to the fllest" 8on+in arroant as hell, he sai+, 3Eri&, -e ha%e a



present for yo"4 /e too' ot a floppy +is', rea&he+ a&ross the table, an+ in a typi&al De Payne in:yor:fa&e estre, sho%e+ it into the +ri%e of Eri&0s laptop"

After a fe- #o#ents of -hirrin, a +isplay poppe+ p on the s&reen6 a listin of all the proto&ols for 8A8, ite#s li'e a &o##an+ s&h as 3;i1be4 that -ol+ tell the 8A8 nit to perfor#so#e fn&tion li'e 3Report &rrent stats"4 These -ere hi++en &o##an+s, brie+ -ithin the 8A8&ontroller, ne%er 'no-n to the phone &o#pany test te&hni&ians or nee+e+ by the#, bt rantin far

#ore &ontrol o%er 8A8 than e%en those te&hs ha+"Eri& n+erstoo+ enoh abot 8A8 to re&oni<e that this list -as athenti& an+ so#ethin

he hi#self ha+ ne%er ha+ a&&ess to" /e loo'e+ both sho&'e+ an+ anry that Le-is an+ I ha+ been able to et hol+ of so#ethinhe +i+n0t ha%e" In a lo-ere+ %oi&e, he ro-le+, 3/o- the $*ck +i+ yo et thisH4 I thoht that -aso++!-hy shol+ he be anryH Maybe it -as really en%y that he -as feelin, annoyan&e that he ha+only rea+ the sers0 #anal -hile -e ha+ +e%eloper0s +o&#ents that re%eale+ #any #ore se&retsan+ po-ers"

Eri& starte+ pain throh the +o&#ent on:s&reen an+ &ol+ see that it also ha+ all thefn&tional spe&ifi&ations an+ re@ire#ents" /e sa- it -as a ri&h sor&e of infor#ation that -ol+rant any phone phrea'er po-ers he &ol+ only +rea# of"

This -as so#ethin li'e a #onth after he ha+ first #entione+ 8A8 to #e in a phone&on%ersation" E%en #ore perple=in, -hat -e -ere sho-in hi# -asn0t a photo&opy bt anele&troni& file" I &ol+ see the -heels trnin6 he &ol+ not ha%e ha+ any i+ea of ho- to +o -hat Iha+ +one!ettin hol+ of the +e%eloper0s +esin notes, an+, no less, an ele&troni& %ersion of the#,-hi&h probably +i+n0t e=ist any-here -ithin Pa&Bell"

/e +e#an+e+ aain, 3/o-? the? $*ck ? +i+ yo et thisH4I tol+ hi# -hat -e ha+ alrea+y sai+ se%eral ti#es6 3When yo start sharin stff -ith s,

-e0ll start sharin stff -ith yo"4 As I sai+ that, Le-is rea&he+ o%er, e1e&te+ the +is' fro# the&o#pter, an+ po&'ete+ it"

Eri& -arne+ s, 3The 2BI 'no-s abot 8A8 be&ase they 'no- Polsen -as sin it"They0re -at&hin it real &losely" They probably ha%e traps on all the n#bers"4

In a tone that -as al#ost hostile, he sai+, 38tay a-ay fro# it" Yo0ll et &aht if yo seit"4 If that -as 1st a frien+ly -arnin, -hy so #&h e#otionH

At this point, Eri& sai+ he ha+ to ta'e a lea', ot p, an+ hea+e+ for the #en0s roo#" It -asstan+ar+ operatin pro&e+re for any ha&'er -orthy of the na#e to possess all 'in+s of files an+

pass-or+s on his &o#pter that &ol+ et hi# thro-n into 1ail" If he -ent ot so#e-here &arryinhis laptop, he -ol+ ne%er let it ot of his siht, not e%en -hen lea%in the table for a #inte or t-oto hit the #en0s" Yet here -as Eri&, &asally -al'in a-ay an+ lea%in his laptop not only sittin onthe table bt trne+ on, li'e an in%itation to &he&' ot -hat -e &ol+ fin+ -hile he -as one" Le-is-hippe+ ot his fre@en&y &onter an+ -a%e+ it slo-ly ba&' an+ forth, sear&hin for trans#issions"

Nothin" The &o#pter -as not ra+ioin or &on%ersation to any tea# of flatfoots or 2e+s lr'in

nearby, rea+y to pon&e on s"I leane+ o%er the laptop an+ annon&e+ to Le-is, 3Man, that y really 'no-s his shit4What a lah!I only sai+ it be&ase I -as sre there -as so#e 'in+ of tiny re&or+er plante+ in it,re&or+in e%ery -or+" Other-ise he -ol+ never ha%e left it on the table" /ere -as a y so

paranoi+ that for -ee's he -ol+n0t i%e s his paer n#ber, an+ no- all of a s++en he -astrstin s -ith his laptopH No -ay"

I fire+ he probably ha+ so#e &onfe+erate at another table, -at&hin s to #a'e sre -e+i+n0t 1st snat&h the thin an+ rn" Other-ise he -ol+n0t ha%e +are+ lea%in a &o#pter -ith aton of infor#ation on it that &ol+ in&ri#inate hi# n+er the &ontrol of a pair of ys he -as only

1st #eetin for the first ti#e"When -e -ere finishe+ -ith +inner an+ startin to lea%e, Eri& as'e+, 3If yo0%e ot a &ar,

&an yo +rop #e offH It0s not %ery far"4 8re, I sai+, -hy notH/e starte+ ot frien+ly, tellin #e abot the ti#e not lon before -hen he -as toolin alon

8nset Bole%ar+ on his #otor&y&le an+ a &ar trne+ left +ire&tly a&ross his path" The i#pa&t sent



hi# flyin o%er the &ar; he hit the ron+ so har+ that his le bro'e half-ay bet-een 'nee an+an'le, -ith the lo-er part bent ba&'-ar+ at a ninety:+eree anle" The +o&tors an+ therapists-or'e+ on restorin his le for fi%e #onths, ntil finally Eri& tol+ the# to o ahea+ an+ a#ptate it"Bt the prosthesis -as so oo+ that after physi&al therapy in rehab, he -as able to -al' -ithot anoti&eable li#p"

The story -as probably #eant to pt #e in a sy#patheti& #oo+" No- he shifte+ ears an+

sai+, 3I0# anry abot yor ettin into 8A8" After for -ee's, yo0%e ot #ore infor#ation than I+o abot it"4

I se+ this to nee+le hi#6 3We 'no- a lot #ore than yo thin', Eri&"4 Bt I -as still bein &atios, so I tol+ hi#, 3Le-is an+ I aren0t a&ti%ely ha&'in; -e 1st-ant to tra+e infor#ation"4 As he left the &ar to o into a 1a<< &lb on 8nset Bole%ar+, I thoht to #yself that thisy see#e+ to possess a 'een intelle&t an+ a @i&' -it" Despite #y sspi&ions, I still belie%e+ Le-isan+ I #iht be able to tra+e infor#ation -ith hi# at so#e point +o-n the roa+"



"I2TEEN



'a%hing Eic3% Pi*a#e Pa#,

Kwth +1rva r+ c+ r0w Svtg v0c1 1m v1s $ieer

nsem rmh dg ac oe$/ cwam*

E%er sin&e the +inner Le-is an+ I ha+ -ith Eri&, I0+ been thin'in abot that 'ey he &lai#e+

to ha%e that -ol+ let hi# into any Pa&ifi& Bell &entral offi&e" I +e&i+e+ to as' hi# if I &ol+ borro-the 'ey" I -asn0t oin to tell hi# -hat I -ante+ it for, bt #y plan -as to et into the Calabasas&entral offi&e, ain a&&ess to the CO8MO8 &o#pter, an+ try to fin+ ot -hen the -iretaps ha+

been installe+ on #y father0s lines" An+ -hether there -as a notation in CO8MO8 not to i%e otany infor#ation, or to &all 8e&rity, if anyone in@ire+ abot the lines"

On&e -e -ere insi+e the CO, I0+ be able to see -hat bo=es -ere &onne&te+ to #y +a+0s linesan+ %erify the n#bers the -iretappers -ere sin to +ial in to the#" When I ha+ those n#bers, I&ol+ loo' the# p in CO8MO8 an+ fin+ the +ate the n#bers -ere a&ti%ate+, -hi&h -ol+ tell #e-hen the -iretaps -ent in"

Abot *)6)) one niht in 2ebrary, Le-is an+ I +ro%e o%er to Eri&0s apart#ent bil+in atthe a++ress I ha+ otten fro# Pa&ifi& Bell after I obtaine+ Eri&0s n#ber sin the &aller ID ploy"The bil+in -as i#pressi%e, a pretty ps&ale an+ bttone+:+o-n apart#ent &o#ple= for a y li'ehi#!a sprea+:ot, t-o:story st&&o bil+in -ith a lo&'e+ entran&e an+ a re#ote:&ontrolle+arae ate" We -aite+ ntil so#eone +ro%e ot of the arae, an+ -al'e+ in" I &ol+ ha%e+es&ribe+ the pla&e before seein it" Carpete+ lobby, tennis &orts, s-i##in pool -ith >a&<<i,

pal# trees, re&reation roo# -ith a lare T5"

What -as this ha&'er fro# the niht&lb &ro-+ +oin at a &o#ple= inten+e+ for &orporatestiffs, people bein pt p at &o#pany e=pense -hile in LA on short:ter# assin#entsH

Apart#ent *)KB -as part-ay +o-n a lon hall" Le-is an+ I too' trns pressin or ears tothe +oor hopin %oi&es fro# insi+e #iht i%e s so#e &les abot -ho -as in there" Bt -e&ol+n0t hear anythin"

We fon+ or -ay to the re&reational &enter an+ ran Eri&0s apart#ent fro# the pay phone" Is#ile+ as Le-is +iale+ his n#ber, a#se+ be&ase any oo+ ha&'er -ol+ 'no- the pay phonen#bers in his o-n apart#ent &o#ple=" If he -as as oo+ as he &lai#e+, Eri& -ol+ ha%e a++e+&aller ID on his line an+ -ol+ re&oni<e that Le-is an+ I -ere &allin fro# his bil+in"

Poor y" /e -as anry that I ha+ fon+ ot his phone n#ber an+ -ay anrier that -e-ere &allin fro# only a fe- yar+s a-ay" We tol+ hi# -e -ante+ to tal'" /e sai+, 3I ne%er ha%eha&'ers p"4 /e finally tol+ s to i%e hi# fi%e #intes an+ then he -ol+ &o#e +o-n an+ #eet sin the re& roo#"

I -as str&' on&e #ore by ho- #&h he loo'e+ li'e a ro&' #si&ian, -ith his lan'y bil+an+ blon+ shol+er:lenth hair, his boots an+ 1eans, his +ress shirt" /e stare+ at s in +isbelief" 3Yonee+ to respe&t #y pri%a&y,4 he hisse+" 3/o- +i+ yo fin+ #eH4 /e son+e+ ner%os, as if hethoht -e #iht ha%e &o#e -ith ns"

My ans-er -as a tant" 3I0# %ery oo+ at -hat I +o"4 I sai+ it -ith a bi in:yor:fa&e rin" /e 'ept retrnin to his the#e of the +ay abot or not respe&tin his pri%a&y" I sai+, 3We +i+n0t &o#e to %iolate yor pri%a&y, -e &a#e to et yor help" We thin' afrien+0s lines are bein -iretappe+ by Pa&ifi& Bell" Yo sai+ yo ha+ 'eys to the &entral offi&es" I0+

li'e yor help fin+in ot"4The 3frien+,4 of &orse, -as #e, an+ there -asn0t any 3thin'4 abot it" 3Whi&h COH4 he as'e+"



I +i+n0t -ant to i%e hi# +etails" 3It0s a satellite E88 offi&e,4 I sai+, i+entifyin it by the typeof s-it&h" 3.n#anne+ at niht"4

3The 'ey isn0t here no-,4 he sai+" 3I +on0t -ant to et bste+ -ith it"4 3Can yo let #e borro- itH4 No, he +i+n0t feel &o#fortable -ith that"

At that point, I &onfi+e+ in hi#" 3/ey, it0s not really a frien+" I0%e fon+ ot they ha%e

inter&epts on all #y +a+0s lines, an+ I0# s&are+ be&ase I +on0t 'no- ho- #&h they 'no-" I +on0t'no- -ho it is or -hen it starte+"4

/e as'e+ ho- I 'ne-, an+ I tol+ hi# ho- I0+ so&ial:enineere+ the Calabasas fra#e te&hinto tellin #e" I trie+ to tell hi# he &ol+ trst #e" I -as plea+in -ith hi# an+ tryin to &on%ey asense of ren&y be&ase I nee+e+ to +o it no-" I really -ante+ to et hi# to o et the 'ey for #e-hile I -aite+"

3Eri&,4 I sai+, 3if I fin+ ot they ha%e enoh e%i+en&e to sen+ #e ba&' to 1ail, I0# oin to+isappear"4 The three of s tal'e+ for a -hile abot -hat &ontries ha+ no e=tra+ition treaties -iththe .nite+ 8tates"

I presse+ hi# aain abot the brea':in, bt Eri& -ol+n0t &o##it hi#self, sayin he0+ let#e 'no-" We spent a lon ti#e +is&ssin ho- the phone &o#pany -iretappe+ people" /e e%en

tol+ #e that he -ent into the &entral offi&e hi#self e%ery -ee' to #a'e sre there -as no +ialn#ber re&or+er DNR atta&he+ to his o-n line"

/e still -asn0t -illin to i%e #e the 'ey, bt he sai+ he -ol+ be happy to ta'e #e to the&entral offi&e an+ o in -ith #e" 8in&e I +i+n0t &o#pletely trst hi#, I a%e hi# only one of thethree #onitor n#bers I ha+ an+ +i+n0t let hi# 'no- I ha+ the other ones" It -as a 'in+ of a test, tosee if he -as trst-orthy or not"

2inally Le-is an+ I sai+ oo+ niht an+ -al'e+ a-ay" Whoe%er ha+ pt Pa&ifi& Bell p to installin those inter&epts &ol+ by no- ha%e ha+enoh e%i+en&e to sen+ #e ba&' to prison, so not 'no-in -hat the -iretappers ha+ o%erhear+, I-as really frea'in ot, #y t &ontinally nain at #e" 8o#eti#es, afrai+ to sleep at ho#e, I0+&he&' into a b+et #otel to relie%e #y an=iety"

We -ere oin to o in toether, bt o%er the ne=t se%eral +ays, Eri& 'ept i%in #e e=&sesabot -hy he &ol+n0t o toniht, -hy he &ol+n0t to#orro-, ho- he ha+ to -or' o%er the-ee'en+" Mean-hile I re- #ore &atios" /is beha%ior see#e+ sspi&ios; I -as ro-inan=ios abot the ris'" I tol+ hi#, 3I -on0t o insi+e, bt I0ll a&t as a loo'ot"4 2inally -e pi&'e+ a+ate; it -as all settle+ that -e -ol+ o in the follo-in niht"

Bt the ne=t #ornin, he &alle+, sayin, 3I -ent in last niht,4 an+ a%e #e the #onitorn#bers!an+ I &ol+ tell he -as i%in #e the &orre&t ones" /e tol+ #e he0+ loo'e+ p then#bers in CO8MO8" The n#bers ha+ been establishe+ on >anary (K, so the bo=es ha+ beenhoo'e+ p so#eti#e after that"

I as'e+ hi# ho- he0+ otten past the pa+lo&' on the otsi+e ate" /e sai+ there -asn0t any

-hen he ot there" Bt e%ery +ay, as I +ro%e fro# #y +a+0s apart#ent, I passe+ that CO, an+ e%ery+ay I sa- that pa+lo&'" This -as a he re+ fla" No- I -as really ner%os" Why -ol+ he bllshit#e abot a thin li'e this, so#ethin he 'ne- -as so i#portant to #eH

I0+ ha%e to be e%en #ore on #y ar+ -ith this y" I 1st &ol+n0t trst hi#" Bt the se&ret of -here he li%e+ -asn0t a se&ret any#ore, an+ he -as sha'en" The -holeepiso+e ha+ only a++e+ to the #ystery? bt I -as on the %ere of nra%elin the p<<le"



"EVENTEEN



P!&&ing Back #he '!#ain

!#i +a #m vi*m wn #m i0i1*mv kw*0tm$

e#m1m @ 1iksm wev M1+k 2m+vh

No- that -e ha+ a&&ess to 8A8, Le-is an+ I -ante+ to et the +ial:p n#bers for all the

&entral offi&es, so -e -ol+ ha%e the ability to #onitor any phone in Pa&ifi& Bell0s &o%erae area"Rather than ha%in to so&ial:enineer a Pa&ifi& Bell e#ployee to i%e s the +ial:p n#ber e%eryti#e -e -ante+ a&&ess, -e -ol+ ha%e the# all"

I ha+ learne+ fro# the e#ployee in Pasa+ena, the y -ho rea+ the &opyriht line for #e,ho- they se+ 8A8" The tester ha+ to #anally enter the +ial:p n#ber for the RATP for the

&entral offi&e of the line to be teste+" The testers ha+ a list of +ial:p n#bers for the RATPs in allthe &entral offi&es they #anae+"

8#all proble#6 /o- &ol+ I et a &opy of the 8A8 +ial:p n#bers for all the &entraloffi&es -hen I +i+n0t 'no- -hat the +a#ne+ list -as &alle+H Then I reali<e+ there #iht be a -ay"Maybe the infor#ation -as alrea+y a%ailable in a +atabase" I &alle+ the rop in Pasa+ena that se+8A8 to rn tests on a line -hen a sbs&riber -as ha%in phone proble#s" I &alle+ that rop,i+entifie+ #yself as bein 3fro# Enineerin,4 an+ as'e+ if I &ol+ loo' p the 8A8 +ial:pn#bers in a +atabase" 3No,4 -as the ans-er, 3there0s no +atabase" It0s only in har+ &opy"4

B##er" I as'e+, 3Who +o yo &all -hen yo0re ha%in a te&hni&al proble# -ith an 8A8nitH4 Another e=a#ple of ho- -illin people are to help ot so#ebo+y they ha%e reason to

belie%e is a fello- e#ployee6 the y a%e #e the phone n#ber of a Pa&ifi& Bell offi&e in the 8an2ernan+o 5alley" Most people are sooo -illin to be helpfl"

I &alle+ there, ot a #anaer on the line, an+ tol+ hi#, 3I0# fro# Enineerin in 8anRa#on,4 the lo&ation of the #a1or Pa&ifi& Bell enineerin fa&ility in Northern California" 3We0re

pttin the 8A8 +ial:p n#bers into a +atabase, so -e nee+ to borro- a &o#plete listin of all then#bers" Who has a &opy of thatH4

3I +o,4 he sai+, s-allo-in #y story -ithot hesitation, be&ase he -as a y brie+ +eep-ithin the Pa&ifi& Bell internal orani<ation -ho -ol+n0t thin' an otsi+er -ol+ ha%e any -ay offin+in hi#"

3Is it too lon to fa=H4 3Abot a hn+re+ paes"4 3Well, I0+ li'e to pi&' p a &opy for a fe- +ays" I0ll either &o#e by for it #yself or ha%eso#ebo+y pi&' it p for #e" That o'ayH4

/e tol+ #e -here to fin+ his offi&e" Aain Ale= -as e=&ite+ abot bein a front for #e" Dresse+ in a bsiness sit, he +ro%e o%erto the Pa&ifi& Bell fa&ility in the 8an 2ernan+o 5alley" Bt the #an +i+n0t 1st han+ hi# the

pa&'ae, as -e e=pe&te+" Instea+ he presse+ Ale= abot -hy he nee+e+ the infor#ation"It -as an a-'-ar+ #o#ent" This -as in the sprin, in 8othern California" It -as -ar#

otsi+e" An+ Ale= -as -earin goves"When the y sa- Ale=0s lo%e+ han+s, he loo'e+ at hi# an+ sai+, 3Can I see yor IDH4

Another n&o#fortable #o#ent"

2e- thins in life are #ore %alable than bein able to thin' on yor feet in a sitation that-ol+ be flop:s-eat ti#e for #ost people"Ale= non&halantly sai+, 3I0# not -ith Pa&ifi& Bell" I0# a sales asso&iate on the -ay to a



to o &he&' it ot,4 he ans-ere+" 3With all the stff that0s happenin, I0# oin into se&re #o+e"$eep #e poste+"4 An+ he hn p"

8o #any lies abot little thins that +i+n0t #atter" Eri& -as be&o#in a #ystery to sol%e, e@al to the #ystery of the inter&ept bo=es" 8o far, allI ha+ on that -as three n#bers oriinatin fro# so#e-here in Oa'lan+ that -ere &onne&te+ to the

bo=es"

Where, physi&ally, -ere the #onitor &alls oriinatin fro#H Not %ery +iffi&lt to fin+ ot" Isi#ply &alle+ MLAC, the Me&hani<e+ Loop Assin#ent Center, pro%i+e+ one of the phonen#bers, an+ -as i%en the physi&al a++ress -here the telephone line -as lo&ate+6 (*J) Webster8treet, Oa'lan+, the offi&es of Pa&ifi& Bell0s 8e&rity Depart#ent" They ha+ pre%iosly been lo&ate+in 8an 2ran&is&o bt ha+ sin&e #o%e+ a&ross the bay"

7reat" Bt that -as 1st one of the n#bers" I -ante+ to 'no- a of the n#bers Pa&ifi&Bell 8e&rity -as sin to &onne&t to its se&ret #onitorin bo=es" I as'e+ the MLAC la+y to loo'p the oriinal ser%i&e or+er that ha+ establishe+ the one phone n#ber I ha+ alrea+y +is&o%ere+"As I e=pe&te+, the or+er sho-e+ that #ltiple other phone n#bers!abot thirty of the#!ha+

been set p at the sa#e ti#e" An+ they -ere oriinatin fro# -hat I thoht of as the 3-iretappinroo#,4 -here they -ere re&or+in the inter&epts" A&tally, I -ol+ fin+ ot #&h later that there

-as no +e+i&ate+ -iretappin roo#; -hen a &all starte+ on any of the lines bein #onitore+, it-ol+ be &aptre+ on a %oi&e:a&ti%ate+ re&or+er on the +es' of -hi&he%er se&rity in%estiator -ashan+lin that &ase, to be listene+ to -hene%er he or she ha+ the opportnity"

No- that I ha+ the #onitor n#bers, I nee+e+ to fire ot -here ea&h one -as &allin otto" 2irst I &alle+ ea&h of the n#bers, 'no-in that any of the# that +i+n0t i%e #e a bsy sinal#st not be a&ti%ely in se for -iretappin; those, I inore+"

2or all the others, the ones that -ere &rrently in se for inter&epts, I &alle+ the Oa'lan+8CC an+ so&ial:enineere+ a s-it&h te&h into perfor#in a @ery &all #e#ory FCM &o##an+ onthe DM8:*)) s-it&h ser%in that n#ber a FCM i%es the last phone n#ber &alle+ fro# that

phone" With this ne- infor#ation, I no- ha+ a list of +ial:p #onitor n#bers for ea&h a&ti%ePa&ifi& Bell -iretap in the state of California"

The area &o+e an+ prefi= of the #onitor n#ber i+entifie+ -hi&h &entral offi&e the -iretap-as in" If Le-is or I 'ne- anyone -ho ha+ a phone n#ber ser%e+ ot of a CO -here a -iretap-as a&ti%e, I -ol+ &all the &entral offi&e, say I -as fro# Pa&Bell 8e&rity, an+ e=plain, 3We ha%eone of or bo=es there" I nee+ yo to tra&e ot the &onne&tion"4 After a &ople of steps I -ol+ ha%ethe taret phone n#ber that the inter&ept -as pla&e+ on" If it +i+n0t belon to anybo+y I 'ne-, I0+o on to e=plore the ne=t one"

I 'ept &he&'in on inter&epts as a pre&ation, -at&hin #y ba&' -hile fo&se+ on the &r&ialtas' of tryin to fire ot -hat Eri& -as really p to" One approa&h &a#e to #in+ that ha+n0to&&rre+ to #e before" I &alle+ the 8-it&hin Control Center that #anae+ the s-it&h pro%i+inEri&0s telephone ser%i&e an+ &on%in&e+ the te&h to perfor# a line:history blo&', or L/B, a -ay of

ettin a report on the last phone n#ber +iale+ fro# a phone line ser%e+ by a *A E88 s-it&h"After that I starte+ &allin for L/Bs on hi# p to se%eral ti#es a +ay, to fin+ ot -hatn#bers he -as &allin"

One of the n#bers #a+e #e brea' ot in a &ol+ s-eat" Eri& ha+ &alle+ *) KK:9J9J" I+i+n0t nee+ to +o any resear&h" It -as seare+ into #y #e#ory6

The Los Aneles hea+@arters of the 2BI F***ck "

I &alle+ Le-is at -or' fro# #y &lone+ &ell phone an+ sai+, 3Trn on yor ha# ra+io"4 /e'ne- that #eant so#ethin entirely +ifferent6 it #eant, 3Trn on yor &lone+ &ell phone"4 /e -asthe 'in+ of person -ho li'e+ to fo&s on one thin at a ti#e; -hen he -as a++ressin the tas' athan+, he0+ trn off his &ell phone an+ paer so they -ol+n0t interrpt his train of thoht"

When I ot hi# on the safe &ell phone, I tol+ hi#, 3D+e, -e0re in troble" I +i+ an L/B onEri&0s line" /e0s f&'in &allin the 2BI"4

/e +i+n0t see# &on&erne+" Entirely -ithot e#otion" &haaaat5



Well, #aybe there -as so#eone else in the offi&e, an+ he &ol+n0t rea&t" Or #aybe it -asthat arroan&e of his, that attit+e of speriority, the notion that he -as in%lnerable"

I sai+, 3Yo nee+ to et yor floppy +is's an+ notes ot of yor apart#ent an+ offi&e"Anythin to +o -ith 8A8, yo nee+ to stash so#e-here safe" I0# onna be +oin the sa#e"4

/e +i+n0t see# to thin' one phone &all to the 2BI -as s&h a bi +eal" 4?*st do it56 I tol+ hi#, tryin not to shot"

Co##on sense +i&tate+ #y ne=t &all, to Pa&ifi& Bell0s Csto#er Na#e an+ Lo&ationBrea" The effort -as rotine bt pro+&e+ an ne=pe&te+ reslt" A &heerfl yon la+y too' #y&all an+ as'e+ for #y PIN; I se+ one that I ha+ nabbe+ a fe- #onths earlier by ha&'in into theCNL +atabase, then a%e her the t-o phone n#bers in Eri&0s apart#ent"

3The first one, *) K:J*(, is liste+ to a >oseph Wernle, in Los Aneles,4 she tol+ #e"3An+ it0s non:pb4!short for 3non:pblishe+,4 #eanin a n#ber that the infor#ation operator-on0t i%e ot" 3The se&on+, *) K:9(), is also liste+ to >oseph Wernle, an+ it0s also non:pb"4 Iha+ her spell the na#e for #e"

8o the 3Eri& /ein<4 na#e -as a phony, an+ his real na#e -as >oseph Wernle" Or Eri& ha+ aroo##ate? -hi&h +i+n0t a&tally see# too li'ely for a y -ho &lai#e+ to ha%e a +ifferentsleepo%er e%ery niht" Or #aybe he ha+ 1st reistere+ the phone n+er a fa'e na#e"

Most li'ely Eri& /ein< -as a phony na#e an+ >oseph Wernle his real na#e" I nee+e+ to fin+ot -ho this y reay -as, an+ I nee+e+ to +o it $ast "

Where to startH The rental appli&ation he0+ fille+ ot at his apart#ent &o#ple= #iht ha%e so#e ba&'ron+infor#ation!referen&es or -hate%er" The Oa'-oo+ Apart#ents, -here Le-is an+ I ha+ pai+ hi# that srprise %isit, trne+ ot to

be 1st one in a national strin of rental properties o-ne+ by a real estate &onlo#erate" The pla&es-ere rente+ to &o#panies pttin e#ployees p on a te#porary assin#ent, or people re&entlytransferre+ to a ne- &ity an+ nee+in a pla&e to li%e -hile loo'in for ne- +is" To+ay the &o#pany+es&ribes itself as 3the -orl+0s larest rental hosin soltion &o#pany"4

To set thins p, I fon+ the fa= n#ber for Oa'-oo+0s -orl+-i+e hea+@arters, thenha&'e+ into a phone &o#pany s-it&h an+ te#porarily for-ar+e+ the phone line so any in&o#in fa=&alls -ol+ be transferre+ to the fa= #a&hine at a $in'o0s in 8anta Moni&a"

On a &all to Oa'-oo+0s &orporate hea+@arters, I as'e+ for the na#e of a #anaer, then+iale+ the rental offi&e at Eri&0s bil+in" The &all -as ans-ere+ by a yon la+y -ith a pleasant%oi&e an+ a helpfl #anner" I+entifyin #yself as the #anaer -hose na#e I ha+ otten, I sai+,3We0%e ha+ a leal isse &o#e p abot one of the tenants there" I nee+ yo to fa= #e the rentalappli&ation for >oseph Wernle"4 8he sai+ she0+ ta'e &are of it riht a-ay" I #a+e sre the fa=n#ber she ha+ for &orporate -as the sa#e one I ha+ 1st +i%erte+ to $in'o0s"

I -aite+ ntil I thoht the fa= ha+ been sent, then &alle+ the $in'o0s it -as bein for-ar+e+to" I tol+ the #anaer there that I -as a sper%isor at another $in'o0s lo&ation an+ e=plaine+, 3I

ha%e a &sto#er here -ho0s -aitin for a fa=" /e 1st reali<e+ it -as sent to the -ron $in'o0s"4 Ias'e+ hi# to lo&ate the fa= an+ resen+ it to 3#y4 $in'o0s" This se&on+ step -ol+ #a'e it har+erfor any 2e+s to nra%el #y -or'" I &all it 3lan+erin a fa="4

/alf an hor later, I stoppe+ by the lo&al $in'o0s an+ pi&'e+ p the fa=, payin &ash" Bt after all that effort, the appli&ation +i+n0t &lear p anythin" It only a++e+ to the #ystery"The o-ners of &orporate rental bil+ins sally re@ire ba&'ron+ infor#ation to #a'e sre theirne- tenants +on0t pose any finan&ial ris'" Bt in this &ase Oa'-oo+ ha+ rente+ to a y -ho ha+

pro%i+e+ har+ly any infor#ation at all" No referen&es" No ban' a&&onts" No pre%ios a++resses"An+ #ost sinifi&antly, no #ention of Eri&0s na#e" The apart#ent ha+ been rente+ in the

sa#e na#e the telephone ser%i&e -as n+er, >oseph Wernle" The only other pie&e of infor#ation onthe entire appli&ation -as a -or' phone n#ber, (* J)K:KK(" An+ e%en that -as &rios6 it -as

not an offi&e n#ber bt, as I easily +eter#ine+, a &ell phone -ith ser%i&e pro%i+e+ by Pa&TelCelllar"

Yet at least it a%e #e a lea+ to follo-"



A &all to Pa&Tel Celllar a%e #e the na#e of the store that ha+ sol+ the &ell phone liste+ onEri&0s rental appli&ation6 One City Celllar, in the West-oo+ neihborhoo+ of Los Aneles, the areathat in&l+es the &a#ps of .CLA" I #a+e a prete=t &all to the store an+ sai+ I -ante+ so#einfor#ation abot 3#y4 a&&ont"

3What0s yor na#e, sirH4 the la+y on the other en+ as'e+" I tol+ her, 3It shol+ be n+er ."8" 7o%ern#ent0 4!hopin she -ol+ &orre&t #y error?

hopin it was an error" An+ at the sa#e ti#e hopin she -ol+ be helpfl enoh to i%e the na#eon the a&&ont"

8he +i+" 3Are yo Mi'e Martine<H4 she as'e+" &hat the he5

3Yes, I0# Mi'e" By the -ay, -hat0s #y a&&ont n#ber aainH4 That -as ta'in a &han&e, bt she -as a retail &ler' at a &ell phone store, not a'no-le+eable &sto#er ser%i&e rep at the &ell phone &o#pany" 8he -asn0t the least bit sspi&iosan+ 1st rea+ off the a&&ont n#ber for #e"

/ein<? Wernle? Martine<" What the f&' -as oin onH I &alle+ the &ell phone store ba&'" The sa#e yon la+y ans-ere+" I hn p, -aite+ a bit,an+ trie+ aain" This ti#e I ot a y" I a%e hi# 3#y4 na#e, phone n#ber, an+ a&&ont n#ber"

3I lost #y last three in%oi&es,4 I sai+, an+ as'e+ hi# to fa= the# to #e riht a-ay" 3I a&&i+entallyerase+ #y a++ress boo' off #y &ell phone an+ I nee+ #y bills to re&onstr&t it,4 I sai+"

Within #intes, he -as fa=in the in%oi&es" Dri%in a little too fast bt not, I hope+, fastenoh to et #yself plle+ o%er, I spe+ to $in'o0s" I -ante+ to 'no- as soon as possible -hat -asin those bills"

The fa= trne+ ot to be far #ore e=pensi%e than I e=pe&te+" When I loo'e+ at Martine<0s bills, #y 1a- +roppe+" Ea&h of the three #onthly bills -as nearly t-enty paes lon, listin -ello%er a hn+re+ &alls" Many of the# -ere to area &o+e ()(!Washinton, DC!an+ there also -ereots of &alls to *) KK:9J9J, the Los Aneles hea+@arters of the 2BI"

Oh, shit One #ore &onfir#ation Eri& #st be an 2BI aent" The sitation -as ettin #orean+ #ore -orriso#e e%ery ti#e I trne+ o%er a ne- ro&'" E%ery lea+ I follo-e+ too' #e to-ar+ the

people I #ost -ante+ to stay a-ay fro#"/ol+ on no-" That -asn0t the only possibility" My ne- 3frien+4 Eri& /ein< #iht in+ee+ be

an aent hi#self, bt on se&on+ thoht, that -as har+ to belie%e!I0+ fon+ ot by then that he-asn0t 1st hanin ot at ro&':an+:roll &lbs" The &ro-+ he 'ept &o#pany -ith in&l+e+ or initialinter#e+iary, /enry 8pieel, -ho ha+ tol+ #e he on&e e#ploye+ 8san /ea+ley, a'a 8sanThn+er, that ha&'in hoo'er -ho ha+ pointe+ a finer at #e for brea'in into the CO8MO8 &enteran+ on&e physi&ally &t all the phone lines oin to #y #o#0s &on+o#ini# &o#ple= as an a&t of%enean&e" An+ there -ere Eri&0s o-n stories of ha%in se= -ith a +ifferent stripper e%ery niht"

No, he sre +i+n0t son+ li'e a 'in+ of y -ho -ol+ pass the 2BI0s %ettin pro&ess for-ol+:be aents" 8o I fire+ that he probably -asn0t an aent at all" Maybe he -as 1st a y the

2e+s ha+ so#ethin on, -ho# they ha+ pt to -or' as a &onfi+ential infor#ant!a snit&h" Bt-hyHOnly one e=planation #a+e sense6 the 2BI -as tryin to ron+ p so#e ha&'ers"

The 2e+s ha+ tarete+ #e before, an+ #a+e sre the arrest ot bi #e+ia &o%erae" An+no-, if #y sspi&ions -ere &orre&t, the Brea -as +anlin a &arrot in front of #e" By intro+&inEri& into #y life, the aents -ere +oin the e@i%alent of sti&'in a bottle of 8&ot&h n+er the noseof a 3refor#e+4 al&oholi& to see if they &ol+ b#p hi# off the -aon"

2or years earlier, in *, =SA 'oday ha+ e%en speri#pose+ #y fa&e o%er a he pi&treof Darth 5a+er on the front pae of its Money se&tion, tarrin #e as 3the Darth 5a+er of the ha&'in-orl+4 an+ +iin p the ol+ label of 3the Dar'si+e /a&'er"4

8o #aybe it shol+n0t see# srprisin that the 2BI #iht ha%e +e&i+e+ to #a'e #e into a

priority" An+ it -ol+n0t be har+" After all, -hen I -as still 1st a yon #an, prose&tors ha+ felt

1stifie+ in #aniplatin a 1+e -ith that absr+ story abot #y bein able to lan&h a n&lear



#issile by &allin NORAD an+ -histlin into the phone" I felt +a#ne+ &ertain they -ol+n0thesitate to +o it aain no- if they ha+ the &han&e"

The a++ress on Mi'e Martine<0s &ell phone bill trne+ ot to be so#e attorney0s offi&e inBe%erly /ills" I &alle+ the offi&e &lai#in to be fro# One City Celllar, Martine<0s &ell pro%i+er" 3Yor billis past +e,4 I tol+ the irl -ho ans-ere+" 3Oh, -e +on0t pay those bills,4 she sai+" 3We 1st for-ar+

the# to a post offi&e bo= in Los Aneles,4 an+ she a%e #e the bo= n#ber an+ the a++ress!the2e+eral Bil+in at **))) Wilshire Bole%ar+" Not oo+"

My ne=t &all -as to the ."8" Postal Inspe&tion 8er%i&e, in Pasa+ena" 3I nee+ to sen+ a&o#plaint,4 I sai+" 3Who is the inspe&tor for the West-oo+ area of Los AnelesH4

.sin the inspe&tor0s na#e, I &alle+ the post offi&e in the 2e+eral Bil+in, as'e+ for the post#aster, an+ sai+, 3I nee+ yo to loo' p the appli&ation for this P"O" bo= an+ i%e #e the na#ean+ a++ress of the appli&ant"4

3That post offi&e bo= is reistere+ to the 2BI here at **))) Wilshire"4 The ne-s +i+n0t &o#e as a srprise" 8o -ho -as the person -ho -as passin hi#self off as Mi'e Martine<H What -as hisrelationship -ith the 2BIH

E%en thoh I -as +esperate to 'no- ho- #&h the o%ern#ent ha+ on #e, probin frther 1st +i+n0t #a'e any sense" It -ol+ #ean ettin +eeper an+ +eeper into the sitation, #a'in it allthe #ore li'ely that I -ol+ e%entally be ron+e+ p an+ sent ba&' to prison" I &ol+n0t fa&e that"Bt &ol+ I really resist the reH



EIGHTEEN



Taffic Ana&,%i%

Khk# wg wve ky$c+mm y hvh 'BS oeidr trwh Yh

Mm%iw*s wko ogvwg0ar hr

Ha%e yo e%er -al'e+ +o-n a +ar' street or throh a shoppin &enter par'in lot late at

niht -hen nobo+y else is aron+ an+ ha+ the feelin so#ebo+y -as follo-in yo or -at&hinyoH

I bet it sent &hills p yor spine" That -as ho- I felt abot the #ystery of the Wernle an+ Martine< na#es" Real people, oraliases of Eri& /ein<0sH

I 'ne- I ha+ to i%e p the sear&h an+ not &han&e ettin &aht ha&'in aain? bt #aybeI &ol+ et 1st one #ore pie&e of the p<<le before I +i+" The Martine< phone bill ha+ sho-n #ethe n#bers of the people he -as &allin" Maybe I &ol+ et so#e &les by fin+in ot -ho -as&allin him"

I nee+e+ to +o -hat I &all a 3traffi& analysis"4 The pro&ess beins -ith loo'in at the &all+etail re&or+s CDRs of one person -hose phone n#ber yo0%e i+entifie+ an+ pllin infor#ationfro# those re&or+s" Who# +oes he &all fre@entlyH Who &alls hi#H Does he so#eti#es #a'e orre&ei%e a series of &alls in &lose s&&ession to or fro# &ertain peopleH Are there so#e people he#ostly &alls in the #orninH In the e%eninH Are &alls to &ertain phone n#bers espe&ially lonHEspe&ially shortH An+ so on"

An+ then yo +o the sa#e analysis of the people this person &alls #ost often"

Ne=t yo as', -ho# +o those people &allHYo0re beinnin to et the pi&tre6 this effort -as h#onos, a pro&ess that -as oin to

ta'e p #&h of #y spare ti#e, hors a +ay" Bt I nee+e+ to 'no-" There -as no -ay aron+ it6 thiseffort -as essential, rear+less of the ris'"

I felt #y ftre +epen+e+ on it" I alrea+y ha+ the last three #onths of Martine<0s &ell phone re&or+s" 2or openers, I0+ ha%e toha&' into Pa&Tel Celllar an+ fin+ ot -here all their real:ti#e &all +etail re&or+s -ere lo&ate+-ithin the net-or', so I &ol+ sear&h for any Pa&Tel &sto#er -ho ha+ been &allin Eri&0s paer,%oi&e#ail, an+ ho#e phone"

Wait, e%en better6 if I -as oin to ha&' into Pa&Tel any-ay, I &ol+ also et the &sto#erser%i&e re&or+s for e%ery phone n#ber Martine< &alle+ -ithin their net-or', an+ I0+ be able to+is&o%er -ho o-ne+ the phone bein &alle+"

I +i+n0t 'no- #&h abot the &o#pany0s na#in &on%entions for internal syste#s, so Istarte+ -ith a &all to the pbli& &sto#er ser%i&e phone n#ber se+ by people -ho -ante+ to sinp for a &allin plan" Clai#in to be fro# Pa&Tel0s internal help +es', I as'e+, 3Are yo sinCBI8H4 the abbre%iation se+ in so#e tel&os for 3Csto#er Billin Infor#ation 8yste#4"

3No,4 the &sto#er ser%i&e la+y sai+" 3I0# sin CMB"4 3Oh, o'ay, than's any-ay"4 I hn p, no- possessin a 'ey pie&e of infor#ation that-ol+ ain #e &re+ibility" I then &alle+ the internal Tele&o##ni&ations Depart#ent, a%e thena#e I ha+ obtaine+ of a #anaer in A&&ontin, an+ sai+ -e ha+ a &ontra&tor &o#in to -or' on:site -ho -ol+ nee+ a n#ber assine+ to hi# so he &ol+ re&ei%e %oi&e#ail" The la+y I -as

tal'in to set p a %oi&e#ail a&&ont" I +iale+ it an+ set 3(J4 as a pass-or+" Then I left anotoin %oi&e#ail #essae6 3This is Ralph Miller" I0# a-ay fro# #y +es', please lea%e a#essae"4



My ne=t &all -as to the IT Depart#ent to fin+ ot -ho #anae+ CMB; it -as a y na#e+Da%e 2let&hall" When I rea&he+ hi#, his first @estion -as, 3What0s yor &allba&'H4 I a%e hi# theinternal e=tension n#ber for #y 1st:a&ti%ate+ %oi&e#ail"

When I trie+ the 3I0ll be off:site an+ nee+ re#ote a&&ess4 approa&h, he sai+, 3I &an i%e yothe +ial:in, bt for se&rity reasons, -e0re not allo-e+ to i%e pass-or+s o%er the telephone"Where0s yor +es'H4

I sai+, 3I0# oin to be ot of the offi&e to+ay" Can yo 1st seal it in an en%elope an+ lea%eit -ith Mi#iH4!+roppin the na#e of a se&retary in the sa#e +epart#ent, -hi&h I ha+ n&o%ere+as part of #y infor#ation re&onnaissan&e"

/e +i+n0t see any proble# -ith that" 3Can yo +o #e a fa%orH4 I sai+" 3I0# on #y -ay into a #eetin, -ol+ yo &all #y phonean+ lea%e the +ial:p n#berH4 /e +i+n0t see a proble# -ith that, either" Later that afternoon I &alle+ Mi#i, sai+ I -as st&' in Dallas, an+ as'e+ her to open theen%elope Da%e 2let&hall ha+ left an+ rea+ the infor#ation to #e, -hi&h she +i+" I tol+ her to toss thenote in the trash sin&e I no loner nee+e+ it"

My en+orphins -ere rnnin an+ #y finers -ere flyin" This -as e=&itin stff"

Bt it -as al-ays in the ba&' of #y #in+ that the people I -as so&ial:enineerin #iht&at&h on part-ay throh an+ fee+ #e bos infor#ation, hopin to &at&h #e"

This ti#e, no -orries" As sal, it -or'e+" Oh, -ell!not entirely" I ot to the CMB syste#, -hi&h han+ily trne+ ot to be a 5Arnnin #y fa%orite operatin syste#, 5M8" Bt I -asn0t really a Pa&Tel Celllar e#ployee, so I+i+n0t ha%e a leiti#ate a&&ont on the #a&hine"

In a &all to the A&&ontin Depart#ent, I pose+ as an IT staffer an+ as'e+ to spea' toso#eone -ho -as &rrently loe+ in to CMB"

Melanie &a#e on the line" I tol+ her I -or'e+ -ith Da%e 2let&hall in IT an+ sai+ -e -eretrobleshootin a proble# -ith CMB!+i+ she ha%e a fe- #intes to -or' -ith #eH

8re" I as'e+ her, 3/a%e yo &hane+ yor pass-or+ latelyH Be&ase -e0%e 1st +one an pra+eto the soft-are for &hanin pass-or+s, an+ -e -ant to #a'e sre it0s -or'in"4

No, she ha+n0t &hane+ her pass-or+ lately" 3Melanie, -hat0s yor e#ail a++ressH4 At Pa&Tel Celllar, an e#ployee0s e#ail a++ress -asalso his or her serna#e, an+ I -as oin to nee+ her serna#e to lo in to the syste#"

I as'e+ her to &lose all her open appli&ations, lo ot of the syste#, an+ then lo ba&' in, soI &ol+ +eter#ine -hether she &ol+ a&&ess the operatin syste# &o##an+ line interfa&e" On&e I&onfir#e+ she &ol+, I as'e+ her, 3Please type set pass-or+"0 4

8he -ol+ then be loo'in at a pro#pt rea+in 3Ol+ pass-or+"4 3Type yor ol+ pass-or+, bt +on0t tell #e -hat it is,4 an+ I a%e her a entle le&tre abot

ne%er tellin anyone her pass-or+" At that point she -ol+ be loo'in at the 3Ne- pass-or+4 pro#pt" By no- I -as +iale+ in an+ stan+in by" 3No- enter pa&tel*(,0 an+ -hen yo et the ne=t pro#pt, enter that pass-or+ aain" An+hit Enter"4 The instant I hear+ her finish typin, I loe+ in -ith her serna#e an+ the 3pa&tel*(4

pass-or+" No- for #ltitas'in in split:brain #o+e" I -as fe%erishly typin a-ay, enterin a fifteen:line prora# that -ol+ e=ploit an npat&he+ 5M8 %lnerability, then &o#pile an+ rn it, settin#yself p -ith a ne- a&&ont, an+ pro%i+in the a&&ont -ith fll syste# pri%ilees"

Mean-hile, throh all of this, I -as si#ltaneosly fee+in instr&tions to Melanie" 3No-

please lo off yor a&&ont?" No- lo in aain -ith the ne- pass-or+?" Yo ot in o'ayH 7reat" No- open all the appli&ations yo -ere sin before an+ &he&' to #a'e sre they0re -or'in the-ay they shol+?" They areH 2ine"4 An+ I -al'e+ her throh the 3set pass-or+4 pro&ess aain,



on&e #ore &ationin her not to tell #e or anyone else the ne- pass-or+ she -as settin p"I ha+ no- aine+ fll a&&ess to Pa&Tel0s 5M8 &lster, -hi&h #eant I &ol+ a&&ess &sto#er

a&&ont infor#ation, billin re&or+s, ele&troni& serial n#bers, an+ #&h #ore" This -as a #a1or&op" I tol+ her ho- #&h I appre&iate+ her help"

It -asn0t as if I -as ho#e free no-" I spent the ne=t &ople of +ays fin+in ot -here theCDRs -ere store+ an+ #ane%erin for a&&ess to the &sto#er ser%i&e appli&ations, so I0+ be able

to probe at leisre to fin+ the na#e, the a++ress, an+ all sorts of other infor#ation on e%ery phonea&&ont"

The CDRs -ere on a h*ge +is', storin near real:ti#e +ata on e%ery &all to an+ fro#&sto#ers in the LA #ar'et for the pre%ios thirty +ays or so!a bn&h of %ery lare files" I &ol+sear&h riht on the syste#, thoh e%ery sear&h too' #e so#ethin li'e ten to fifteen #intes"

8in&e I alrea+y ha+ Eri&0s paer n#ber, that -as #y entry point" /a+ anyone on Pa&Tel&alle+ Eri&0s paer, (* K)*:9J(H Of the half +o<en or so &alls I fon+, t-o 1#pe+ ot at #e"/ere are the listins, e=a&tly as they appeare+ on the Pa&Tel re&or+s6

(*J)KKK( ) ())J ))( *J (*K)*9J( LO8 AN7ELE CA (*J))9* ) ()) *J * (*K)*9J( LO8 AN7ELE CA The 3(*4 n#bers at the beinnin of ea&h line are the &allin n#bers" The n#ber

rops startin -ith 3(4 in+i&ate the year, +ate, an+ ti#e!so the first &all -as #a+e on Mar&h J,*(, at t-enty:eiht #intes past #i+niht"

The first &allin n#ber -as one I re&oni<e+6 it -as the phone n#ber on Eri&0s rentalappli&ation, -hi&h I alrea+y 'ne- -as liste+ in the na#e of one Mi'e Martine<" On&e aain, this-as a he re+ fla" I ha+ thoht 3Martine<4 -as 1st a phony na#e for Eri&, or 3Eri&4 -as a

phony na#e for Martine<, bt no- that +i+n0t #a'e sense, be&ase Martine< -ol+n0t be &allin hiso-n paer n#ber"

8o -ho# else ha+ Martine< &alle+, an+ -ho ha+ &alle+ hi#H I ran a sear&h on Pa&Tel0s CDRs to fin+ ot" It -asn0t any re%elation that he -as &allin the2BI, sin&e I ha+ st#ble+ on that infor#ation after I ot his phone n#ber fro# Eri&0s rentalappli&ation" Fite a fe- of his &alls -ere to an+ fro# other &ell phones pro%isione+ by Pa&Tel; on#y notepa+, I 1otte+ +o-n the n#bers" Then I starte+ e=a#inin the phone re&or+s for ea&h ofthose a&&onts"

All of the n#bers on #y list belone+ to people -ho -ere in fre@ent &onta&t -ith oneanother, as -ell as -ith the 2BI0s Los Aneles offi&e an+ other la- enfor&e#ent aen&ies"

Oh, shit" I 'ne- too #any of these phone n#bers" The offi&e n#ber an+ &ell phone ofPa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity0s Terry At&hley" A #anaer of Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity base+ in NorthernCalifornia, >ohn 5enn" Also Eri&0s paer, %oi&e#ail, an+ ho#e phone n#bers" An+ the n#bers of%arios 2BI aents their +ire&t phone n#bers all bean -ith the sa#e area &o+e, e=&hane, an+first e=tension +iit6 *) 9:" This last rop #a+e it pretty &ertain that Martine< -as anaent hi#self, an+ helpe+ #e pt toether a list of the other aents probably on the sa#e tea#"

The other &all to Eri&0s paer that 1#pe+ ot at #e ha+ &o#e fro# (* J)):9*" Mysear&h of that phone n#ber pro%e+ to be a ol+#ine" There -ere @ite a fe- short &alls in thee%enins to a sinle, internal 2BI phone n#ber" Li'ely e=planationH The y -as &he&'in his%oi&e#ail"

I +iale+ the n#ber" 3This is $en M&7ire, please lea%e a #essae"4 &ho the he is Ken Mc3*ire, and why the he is he a$ter me

I hit the 3)4 btton, e=pe&tin it -ol+ ta'e #e to a re&eptionist" Instea+ a la+y &a#e on the line an+ ans-ere+, 3White Collar Cri#e, 8@a+ Three"4 A &opleof inno&ent:son+in @estions an+ I ha+ another pie&e of the p<<le6 Aent $en M&7ire -as onthe Los Aneles 2BI s@a+ referre+ to as WCC" /e -as probably Eri&0s han+ler"

This ha+ be&o#e a fas&inatin a+%entre" By the en+ of #y lenthy traffi& analysis, I ha+ pt toether a list of people at the Brea -ho -ere in relar &lose &onta&t -ith the aents an+spport people I no- fire+ -ere tryin to ta'e #e +o-n"



8hit Who else -ol+0%e ha+ the balls to in%estiate the 2BI at the sa#e ti#e the 2BI -asin%estiatin hi#H It -as all &o#in toether, an+ it -as loo'in li'e stor#y -eather ahea+" I felt I -as pastthe point of no retrn, bt I -asn0t oin to i%e p -ithot a strle"



NINETEEN



Re*e&a#ion%

"cvo dn ivh1 )a oc1 omvinv0od)i o) adiy v k1mn)i/n n)0dvg n10#mdot

i#hw1m #ndi oc1dm ivh1 viy yvo1 )a wdmoc

We0re tol+ that or #e+i&al re&or+s are &onfi+ential, share+ only -hen -e i%e spe&ifi&

per#ission" Bt the trth is that any fe+eral aent, &op, or prose&tor -ho &an &on%in&e a 1+e hehas leiti#ate reason &an -al' into yor phar#a&y an+ ha%e the# print ot all of yor pres&riptionsan+ the +ate of e%ery refill" Scary"

We0re also tol+ that the re&or+s 'ept on s by o%ern#ent aen&ies!Internal Re%ene8er%i&e, 8o&ial 8e&rity A+#inistration, the DM5 of any parti&lar state, an+ so on!are safe fro#

pryin eyes" Maybe they0re a little safer no- than they se+ to be!thoh I +obt it!bt in #y+ay, ettin any infor#ation I -ante+ -as a psho%er"

I &o#pro#ise+ the 8o&ial 8e&rity A+#inistration, for e=a#ple, throh an elaborate so&ial:enineerin atta&'" It bean -ith #y sal resear&h!the %arios +epart#ents of the aen&y, -herethey -ere lo&ate+, -ho the sper%isors an+ #anaers -ere for ea&h, stan+ar+ internal lino, an+ soon" Clai#s -ere pro&esse+ by spe&ial rops &alle+ 3Mo+s,4 -hi&h I thin' stoo+ for 3#o+les,4ea&h one perhaps &o%erin a series of 8o&ial 8e&rity n#bers" I so&ial:enineere+ the phonen#ber for a Mo+ an+ e%entally rea&he+ a staff #e#ber -ho tol+ #e her na#e -as Ann" I tol+ herI -as To# /ar#on, in the aen&y0s Offi&e of the Inspe&tor 7eneral"

I sai+, 3We0re oin to be nee+in assistan&e on a &ontinin basis,4 e=plainin that -hileor offi&e -as -or'in on a n#ber of fra+ in%estiations, -e +i+n0t ha%e a&&ess to MC8!short

for 3Mo+erni<e+ Clai#s 8yste#,4 the a#sinly &l#sy na#e for their &entrali<e+ &o#ptersyste#"

2ro# the ti#e of that initial &on%ersation, -e be&a#e telephone b++ies" I -as able to &allAnn an+ ha%e her loo' p -hate%er I -ante+!8o&ial 8e&rity n#bers, +ates an+ pla&es of birth,#other0s #ai+en na#es, +isability benefits, -aes, an+ so on" Whene%er I phone+, she -ol+ +rop-hate%er she -as +oin to loo' p anythin I as'e+ for"

Ann see#e+ to lo%e #y &alls" 8he &learly en1oye+ playin +epty to a #an fro# theInspe&tor 7eneral0s Offi&e -ho -as +oin these i#portant in%estiations of people &o##ittinfra+" I sppose it bro'e the rotine of a #n+ane, plo++in -or'+ay" 8he -ol+ e%en sestthins to sear&h6 3Wol+ 'no-in the parents0 na#es helpH4 An+ then she0+ o throh a series ofsteps to +i p the infor#ation"

On one o&&asion, I slippe+, as'in, 3What0s the -eather li'e there to+ayH4 Bt I sppose+ly -or'e+ in the sa#e &ity she +i+" 8he sai+, 3Yo +on0t 'no- -hat the-eather isH4 I &o%ere+ @i&'ly" 3I0# in LA to+ay on a &ase"4 8he #st ha%e fire+, ;h, o$ co*rse<he

has to trave $or his work "We -ere phone b++ies for abot three years, both en1oyin the banter an+ the sense of

a&&o#plish#ent" If -e ha+ e%er #et in person, I -ol+ ha%e i%en her a 'iss to than' her for all the-on+erfl help she a%e #e" Ann, if yo rea+ this, yor 'iss is -aitin"

I ess real +ete&ti%es #st ha%e a lot of +ifferent lea+s to follo- p -hen they0re -or'in a

&ase, an+ so#e of the lea+s it 1st ta'es ti#e to et to" I ha+n0t forotten that Eri&0s apart#ent rental&ontra&t -as in the na#e of a >oseph Wernle; I 1st ha+n0t prse+ that lea+ yet" This -as one of these%eral ti#es -hile playin +ete&ti%e that I -ol+ trn to #y 8o&ial 8e&rity &h#, Ann"



8he -ent on the MC8 an+ plle+ p an 3Alpha+ent4 file, se+ to fin+ a person0s 8o&ial8e&rity n#ber fro# his or her na#e an+ +ate of birth"

I then as'e+ for a 3N#i+ent,4 to et #y sb1e&t0s pla&e an+ +ate of birth, father0s na#e,an+ #other0s #ai+en na#e" >oseph Wernle ha+ been born in Phila+elphia, to >oseph Wernle 8r" an+ his -ife, MaryEberle"

Ann then ran a DEFY pronon&e+ 3DEC$:-ee4 for #e!a 3+etaile+ earnins @ery,4i%in a person0s -or' history an+ earnins re&or+"

/hH? &hat the he5

>oseph Wernle >r" -as forty years ol+" A&&or+in to his 8o&ial 8e&rity re&or+s, he ha+ ne%erearne+ a penny" /e ha+ ne%er e%en hel+ a 1ob" What -ol+ yo ha%e thoht at this pointH The #an e=iste+, be&ase 8o&ial 8e&rity ha+ a file on hi#" Bt he ha+ ne%er ha+ a 1ob an+ne%er earne+ an in&o#e" The #ore I + into his ba&'ron+, the #ore intriin the -hole thin see#e+ to et" It+i+n0t #a'e sense, -hi&h 1st #a+e #e all the #ore +eter#ine+ to fin+ ot -hat the e=planation

&ol+ be"Bt at least I no- ha+ his parents0 na#es"

This -as li'e playin 8herlo&' /ol#es" >oseph Wernle >r"!the son!ha+ been born in Phila+elphia" Maybe his parents still li%e+there, or at least so#e-here nearby" A &all to +ire&tory assistan&e for the (*J area &o+e, -hi&h&o%ere+ Phila+elphia as -ell as, ba&' then, srron+in areas of Pennsyl%ania, trne+ p three #enna#e+ >oseph Wernle"

I starte+ &allin the n#bers the +ire&tory assistan&e operator a%e #e" On #y se&on+ try, a#an ans-ere+" I as'e+ if he -as Mr" Wernle, an+ he sai+ yes"

3This is Peter Bro-ley, -ith the 8o&ial 8e&rity A+#inistration,4 I bean" 3I -as -on+erinif I &ol+ ta'e a fe- #intes of yor ti#e"4

3What0s this abotH4 3Well, -e0%e been payin 8o&ial 8e&rity benefits to a >oseph Wernle, an+ so#eho- there&or+s appear to ha%e otten #i=e+ p in or syste#" It see#s -e #ay ha%e been payin the

benefits to the -ron person"4I pase+ to let that sin' in an+ let hi# s@ir# a little, so I -ol+ ha%e hi# at a bit of a

+isa+%antae" /e -aite+ -ithot sayin anythin" I -ent on, 3Is yor -ife0s na#e Mary EberleH43No,4 he sai+" 3That0s #y sister"4

3Well, +o yo ha%e a son na#e+ >osephH4 3No"4 After a #o#ent, he a++e+, 3Mary has a son na#e+ >oseph Ways" Bt it &ol+n0t behi#" /e li%es in California"4

This -as &o#in toether; no- -e -ere ettin so#e-here" Bt there -as #ore6 the #anon the other en+ of the phone line -as still tal'in"3/e0s an 2BI aent"4

Son o$ a itch5

There -as no s&h person as >oseph Wernle >r" An 2BI aent na#e+ >oseph Ways ha+a+opte+ a false i+entity sin real fa#ily na#es that he &ol+ easily re#e#ber" An+ that aent -as

passin hi#self off as a ha&'er na#e+ Eri& /ein<"Or at least, that -as the #ost li'ely +e+&tion, base+ on -hat I no- 'ne-"

The ne=t ti#e I trie+ to &all Eri& on his lan+line telephone, the n#ber -as +is&onne&te+" Earlier in #y ha&'in &areer, there ha+ been a point -hen I ha+ +e&i+e+ it #iht &o#e inhan+y so#eti#e to ha%e a&&ess to another of the Los Aneles area0s tility &o#panies, the

Depart#ent of Water an+ Po-er, or DWP" E%erybo+y nee+s -ater an+ ele&tri&ity, so the tility&o#pany see#e+ li'e an e=tre#ely %alable sor&e for fin+in ot so#eone0s a++ress"

The DWP #aintaine+ a nit 'no-n as 38pe&ial Des'4 to han+le &alls fro# la- enfor&e#ent,



staffe+ by people traine+ to %erify that e%ery &aller -as on the list of people athori<e+ to re&ei%e&sto#er infor#ation"

I &alle+ the DWP &orporate offi&es &lai#in to be a &op an+ e=plaine+ that or sereant -hoha+ the phone n#ber for 8pe&ial Des' -as on assin#ent, an+ -e nee+e+ to et it aain" I -asi%en it -ithot a proble#"

Ne=t I &alle+ LAPD0s elite 8I8 +i%ision" It see#e+ only fair to in&l+e these ys in the fn

sin&e they -ere the ones -ho ha+ taile+ Lenny an+ #e at Pier&e Collee se%eral years earlier" Ias'e+ to spea' to a sereant, an+ I" C" Da%i+son &a#e on the line" I re#e#ber his na#e -ell, sin&eI &ontine+ to se it for a lon ti#e, -hene%er I nee+e+ infor#ation fro# the DWP"

Tellin hi#, 38ereant, I0# -ith DWP 8pe&ial Des',4 I sai+, 3We0re settin p a +atabase ofathori<e+ people for la- enfor&e#ent re@ests, an+ I0# &allin to fin+ ot if any offi&ers in yor+i%ision still nee+ a&&ess to 8pe&ial Des'"4

/e sai+, 3Absoltely"4 I starte+ ot, as sal, by as'in if he -as on the list an+ ettin his na#e" 3O'ay, ho- #any offi&ers +o yo ha%e -ho nee+ to be on the listH4

/e a%e #e a n#ber" 3O'ay, o ahea+ an+ i%e #e their na#es, an+ I0ll #a'e sre they0re all athori<e+ for

another year"4 It -as i#portant for his people to ha%e a&&ess to the infor#ation fro# the DWP, sohe too' the ti#e to patiently rea+ off an+ spell ot the na#es for #e"

8o#e #onths later, 8pe&ial Des' a++e+ a pass-or+ to its %erifi&ation pro&ess" No proble#6 I&alle+ p LAPD0s Orani<e+ Cri#e .nit an+ ot a lietenant on the phone"

Intro+&in #yself as 3>erry 8pen&er -ith 8pe&ial Des',4 I &hose as #y openin a#bit aslihtly +ifferent %ersion of the earlier one6 3By the -ay, are yo athori<e+ for 8pe&ial Des'H4

/e sai+ he -as" 32ine" What0s yor na#e, sirH4 3Billinsley" Da%i+ Billinsley"4 3/ol+ on -hile I loo' yo p on the list"4 I pase+ a bit an+ rstle+ so#e papers" Then I sai+, 3Oh, yes" Yor pass-or+ is )*("0 4 3No, no, no" My pass-or+ is 9E(/"0 4 3Ohhh" I0# sorry, that0s a +ifferent Da%i+ Billinsley"4 I &ol+ har+ly 'eep fro# lahin" Ithen ha+ hi# loo' p the list of offi&ers athori<e+ for 8pe&ial Des' in the Orani<e+ Cri#e .nitan+ tell #e their na#es an+ pass-or+s" At that point I -as ol+en fore%er" I -ol+n0t be srprise+ ifso#e of those pass-or+s still -or'e+ to+ay"

With this a&&ess to DWP 8pe&ial Des', it too' #e only abot fi%e #intes to +is&o%er Eri&0sne- a++ress6 he ha+ #o%e+ to a +ifferent apart#ent in the sa#e bil+in" Le-is an+ I ha+ sho-n pat his a++ress, an+ three -ee's later he0s not li%in in the sa#e apart#ent any#ore an+ has a ne-

phone n#ber!bt he0s in the sa#e bil+inHAn+ the ne- phone line is liste+ in the sa#e na#e as before, >oseph Wernle" If Eri& ha+

really one into 3se&re #o+e,4 as he0+ tol+ s he -as oin to +o, -hy the hell -ol+ he still besin the sa#e na#eH This -as the y -ho -as sppose+ to be s&h a oo+ ha&'erH /e +i+n0tsee# to ha%e any i+ea of -hat I0+ be able to fin+ ot abot hi#" I -as still a lon -ay fro#nra%elin all the ri++les, bt I 'ne- I ha+ to &ontine no- that I -as ettin &loser an+ &loser tothe trth"



TWENT(



Re*e%e "#ing

&s#a wdw gae y#te r) gae dian ns# oe*i V tndrhh gae

awvnh 4(7;, h1 )a+ M *0a nv*6

The California Depart#ent of Motor 5ehi&les -ol+ trn ot to be one of #y reatest

sor&es of infor#ation an+ also, later on, the sor&e of one of #y narro-est es&apes" /o- I ota&&ess to the DM5 is a story in itself"

2irst step6 fin+ ot -hat phone n#ber the &ops se+ for offi&ial &alls to the DM5" I phone+the Orane Conty sheriff0s station, as'e+ for the Teletype .nit, an+ tol+ the +epty -ho ans-ere+,3I nee+ the DM5 n#ber to fin+ ot abot a 8on+e= I re@este+ a &ople of +ays ao"4 In DM5

ter#inoloy, &riosly, -hen yo -ant a &opy of so#eone0s +ri%er0s li&ense photo, -hat yo as' foris a 8on+e="

3Who are yoH4 he as'e+" 3This is Lietenant Moore,4 I sai+" 3I -as &allin *9 9JK:(, bt that n#ber +oesn0tsee# to -or' any#ore"4 Three thins -ere pllin in #y fa%or here" 2irst, I ha+ rea&he+ the +eptyon an internal n#ber that he -ol+ pres#e -asn0t a%ailable to anybo+y otsi+e the 8heriff0sDepart#ent" 8e&on+, ta'in a s#all bt reasonable a#ble, I ha+ i%en hi# a -ron phone n#ber-ith -hat I -as al#ost &ertain -as the &orre&t area &o+e an+ prefi=, be&ase at the ti#e as I note+earlier the DM5 -as assine+ the entire 9JK prefi=, #a'in it hihly li'ely that the n#ber se+

by la- enfor&e#ent -ol+ also be a *9 9JK: n#ber" The +epty -ol+ noti&e that I ha+e%erythin riht e=&ept the last for +iits" An+ thir+, I ha+ ele%ate+ #yself to the ran' of

lietenant" People in a poli&e +epart#ent or a sheriff0s otfit thin' li'e people in the #ilitary6nobo+y -ants to say no to so#ebo+y -ith bars on his shol+ers"

/e a%e #e the &orre&t phone n#ber" Ne=t I nee+e+ to 'no- ho- #any phone lines there -ere in the offi&e that han+le+ la-enfor&e#ent &alls, an+ the phone n#ber for ea&h line" I ha+ fon+ ot that the 8tate of Californiase+ a telephone s-it&h fro# Northern Tele&o#, the DM8:*))" I &alle+ the 8tate of CaliforniaTele&o##ni&ations Depart#ent an+ sai+ I nee+e+ to tal' to a te&hni&ian -ho -or'e+ -ith theDM8:*)) s-it&h" The te&hni&ian I -as transferre+ to a&&epte+ #y &lai# that I -as -ith NorthernTele&o#0s Te&hni&al Assistan&e 8pport Center, in Dallas, so I lan&he+ into #y spiel6 3In the&rrent release of the soft-are, -e ha%e an inter#ittent isse -here &alls et rote+ to the -ronn#ber" We0%e &o#e p -ith a pat&h!it0s a s#all fi=, an+ yo -on0t ha%e any proble#s -ith it"Bt in or &sto#er spport +atabase, I &an0t fin+ the +ial:p n#ber to yor s-it&h"4

No- I -as +o-n to the tri&'y part" I li'e+ to et this pie&e of it +one by sin -or+in thatleft the other person no opportnity to ob1e&t" I sai+, 38o -hat0s the +ial:in n#ber, an+ -hen0s aoo+ ti#e to apply the pat&hH4

The te&h -as la+ to i%e #e the +ial:in n#ber to the s-it&h so he -ol+n0t ha%e to +o thep+ate hi#self" E%en in those +ays, so#e telephone s-it&hes, li'e &orporate &o#pter syste#s, -ere

pass-or+:prote&te+" The +efalt a&&ont na#e -as all too easy to fire ot6 3NTA8,4 theabbre%iation for 3Northern Tele&o# Assistan&e 8pport"4 I +iale+ the n#ber the te&hni&ian ha+i%en #e, entere+ the a&&ont na#e, an+ starte+ tryin pass-or+s"

3ntas4H Nope" 3p+ate4H Nothin +oin" /o- abot 3pat&h4H No l&'"



8o I trie+ one that I ha+ fon+ bein se+ on Northern Tele&o# s-it&hes for other ReionalBell Operatin Co#panies6 3helper"4 >a&'pot Be&ase Northern Tele&o# ha+ -ante+ to #a'e thins easy for its o-n spport te&hni&ians,e%ery s-it&h -as a&&essible sin the same spport pass-or+" /o- stpi+ is thatH Bt reat for#e"

With the a&&ont na#e an+ pass-or+, I no- ha+ fll a&&ess to the s-it&h, an+ I ha+ aine+&ontrol of all the phone n#bers belonin to the DM5 in 8a&ra#ento"

2ro# #y &o#pter, I @erie+ the phone n#ber I ha+ been i%en for la- enfor&e#enta&&ess an+ fon+ that the nit in fa&t ha+ t-enty lines in a 3hnt rop4!#eanin that -hen then#ber i%en ot to &ops -as in se, the ne=t &all -ol+ ato#ati&ally roll o%er to the ne=ta%ailable n#ber in the rop of t-enty" The s-it&h -ol+ si#ply 3hnt4 for the ne=t line that-asn0t bsy"

I +e&i+e+ to set #yself p -ith the eihteenth n#ber on the list be&ase -ith a hihn#ber I -ol+ et &alls only -hen they -ere %ery bsy, -hile -ith a lo- n#ber I0+ li'ely be

bothere+ -ith &alls al#ost nonstop" I entere+ &o##an+s on the s-it&h to a++ the &all for-ar+infeatre an+ then to a&ti%ely for-ar+ &alls that &a#e in on that line so they -ol+ instea+ be rote+

to #y &lone+ &ell phone"I ess not e%erybo+y -ol+ ha%e the ts I ha+ in those +ays" Calls starte+ &o#in in fro#

the 8e&ret 8er%i&e, the Brea of Lan+ Manae#ent, the DEA, an+ the Brea of Al&ohol, Toba&&o,an+ 2irear#s"

An+ et this6 I e%en fiel+e+ &alls fro# FB- agents< ys -ho ha+ the athority to pt #e inhan+&ffs an+ sen+ #e ba&' to 1ail"

Ea&h ti#e one of these fol's &alle+, thin'in he -as tal'in to so#ebo+y at the DM5, I-ol+ as' for the list of re@ire+ &re+entials!na#e, aen&y, Re@ester Co+e, +ri%er0s li&ensen#ber, +ate of birth, an+ so on" Bt I -asn0t really ris'in anythin, sin&e none of the# ha+ any&le that the y on the other en+ of the line -asn0t really -ith the DM5"

I0ll a+#it -hen one of these &alls -ol+ &o#e in, espe&ially fro# so#eone in la-enfor&e#ent, I0+ sally ans-er it sppressin a rin"

On&e I ot one of these &alls -hen I -as ha%in ln&h -ith three others at Bob Brns, a&lassy stea'hose in Woo+lan+ /ills" I shshe+ e%eryone at the table -hen #y &ell phone ran, an+they all loo'e+ at #e li'e, 3What0s yor proble#H4 Then they hear+ #e ans-er, 3DM5, ho- &an Ihelp yoH4 No- they -ere s-appin 3What0s Mitni&' p to no-H4 loo's" Mean-hile I -aslistenin an+ +r##in on the table -ith the finers of #y left han+ to #a'e it son+ li'e I -astypin on a 'eyboar+"

The other people at the table -ere slo-ly &at&hin on, their 1a-s +roppin open" On&e I0+ otten enoh sets of &re+entials, I +iale+ ba&' into the s-it&h, te#porarily+ea&ti%atin the &all for-ar+in ntil the ne=t ti#e I nee+e+ #ore &re+entials"

2inally &ra&'in the DM5 pt a bi s#ile on #y fa&e" It -as a sper%alable tool that -asto &o#e in %ery han+y later on" Bt I -as still +esperate to fire ot ho- #&h the 2e+s 'ne-, -hat e%i+en&e they ha+,ho- #&h troble I -as in, an+ if there -as any -ay for #e to et ot of it" Col+ I still sa%e #yassH

I 'ne- it -ol+ be stpi+ to 'eep p #y in%estiation of Eri&" Yet as so often in the past, I-as intrie+ by the se+&tion of a+%entre an+ intelle&tal &hallene"

It -as a p<<le I nee+e+ to sol%e" An+ I -asn0t oin to stop" Mar' $as+en of Telte& &alle+ an+ in%ite+ #e to ha%e ln&h -ith hi# an+ Mi&hael 7rant, theson part of the father:son tea# that o-ne+ the &o#pany"

I 1oine+ Mar' an+ Mi&hael at a Co&o0s restarant near their offi&es" Mi&hael -as a p+y

#an -ho see#e+ %ery please+ -ith hi#self, to the point of bein a bit &o&'y" The t-o fon+ itentertainin to +ra- #e into tellin stories abot #y e=perien&es" I #a+e it &lear ho- s&&essfl Iha+ been at so&ial enineerin, -hi&h they also se+, thoh they &alle+ it 3ain"4 They -ere



i#presse+ that I 'ne- as #&h as I +i+ abot &o#pters an+ espe&ially abot the phone &o#pany"They -ere e%en #ore i#presse+ by #y %ast e=perien&e in tra&'in +o-n people0s a++resses, phonen#bers, an+ so on" 2in+in people see#e+ to be an i#portant part of their bsiness, a pro&ess theyreferre+ to as a 3lo&ate"4

After ln&h they too' #e to their offi&es, on the se&on+ floor of a bil+in in a strip #all"There -as an entry area &o#plete -ith a re&eptionist, then a set of in+i%i+al offi&es for ea&h of the

three PI0s an+ three bosses"A +ay or t-o later, Mar' +roppe+ by #y +a+0s to tell #e, 3We -ant yo to &o#e -or' for

s"4 The salary -asn0t anythin to bra abot, bt it -as plenty enoh to li%e on"They a%e #e the title of 3Resear&her4 so as not to raise any sspi&ions -ith #y Probation

Offi&er" I -as i%en #y o-n s#all offi&e, abot as sparse as it &ol+ be6 +es', &hair, &o#pter, an+

phone" No boo's, no +e&orations, &o#pletely bare -alls"I fon+ Mi&hael to be intellient, so#eone I &ol+ easily tal' to" Or &on%ersations often

booste+ #y self:estee# be&ase -hen I sho-e+ hi# thins I &ol+ +o that his other e#ployees&ol+n0t, he -ol+ re-ar+ #e by e=pressin his a+#iration at a 3-o- fa&tor4 le%el"

What Mar' an+ Mi&hael -ante+ #e to fo&s on first -as a sitation they tol+ #e they +i+n0t

n+erstan+" Those phone taps I ha+ n&o%ere+ on Telte&0s lines!-hy in the -orl+ -ol+ la-enfor&e#ent be sspi&ios of anythin they -ere +oinH

They ha+ the na#es of t-o people they thoht #iht be -or'in the &ase fro# the othersi+e6 Dete&ti%e Da%i+ 8i#on, -ith the Los Aneles Conty 8heriff0s Depart#ent, an+ Darrell8antos, of Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity" 3Do yo 'no- ho- to tap the +ete&ti%e0s phoneH4 one of #y bossesas'e+"

I sai+, 38re, bt that0s too ris'y"4 3Well, see -hat yo &an fin+ ot abot this in%estiation,4 I -as tol+" I -ol+ +is&o%er, in ti#e, -hat the Telte& hon&hos -ere hi+in fro# #e6 the +ete&ti%e ha+le+ a tea# that ha+ rai+e+ the PI fir# a fe- #onths earlier for sin nathori<e+ pass-or+s toa&&ess TRW &re+it reports"

7oo+ thin I -asn0t -illin to in%estiate a &op!bt ta'in on Pa&Bell 8e&rity -as a+ifferent story" It son+e+ li'e a fn test of #y inenity, a &hallene I #iht thorohly en1oy"



TWENT(4ONE



'a# and Mo!%e

A 9 C! C9 8 CA C! CC 8 C CE C 8 C 9C 98 9E C C! 9A 9 8 9

9C CG 9 C 8 C9 C 8 9 9 C C C% 8 C! C 9 C% HF

"in&e Le-is ha+ &t -ay ba&' on his ha&'in ti#e to 'eep Bonnie happy, I fell into ha&'in

-ith a b++y of his" Terry /ar+y -as +efinitely not yor e%ery+ay sort of y" Tall an+ -ith a hihforehea+, he tal'e+ in a #onotone, li'e a robot" We ni&'na#e+ hi# 3$linon,4 after the ra&e ofaliens in Star 'rek , be&ase -e thoht he share+ so#e of their physi&al &hara&teristi&s" A %ariety ofsa%ant, he &ol+ &arry on a &on%ersation loo'in yo in the eye -hile at the sa#e ti#e typineihty:fi%e -or+s a #inte on the &o#pter" It -as in&re+ible to -at&h, an+ +istin&tly nner%in"

One +ay -hen Terry, Le-is, an+ I -ere -ith Da%e /arrison at Da%e0s offi&e, I sai+, 3/ey,let0s see if -e &an et Darrell 8antos0s %oi&e#ail pass-or+"4 This &ol+ be a -ay of pro%in #yselfto the people at Telte&" If I &ol+ a&tally pll it off"

I &alle+ the fra#e that ser%e+ the telephone n#bers at the offi&es of Pa&Bell 8e&rity, an+ha+ the te&h loo' p the &able:an+:pair for a phone n#ber I a%e hi#6 the n#ber for Pa&Bell8e&rity In%estiator Darrell 8antos"

My oal -as to et an 8A8 &onne&tion pt p on 8antos0s line, bt I -ante+ it +one in aspe&ial -ay" 2ro# #y resear&h into 8A8, I ha+ learne+ abot so#ethin &alle+ an 38A8 shoe,4 a

physi&al &onne&tion that ha+ the a+%antae of lettin yo +rop in on a line an+ stay on, listenin toany &alls the sbs&riber #a+e or re&ei%e+" An+ -ith this #etho+, there -as no a+ible cick on theline -hen the 8A8 &onne&tion -as establishe+"

What -ol+ the te&h ha%e thoht if he0+ 'no-n that the phone tap he -as settin p -ason a line belonin to Pa&Bell 8e&rityH My ti#in &ol+n0t ha%e been better" As soon as I poppe+ onto the line, I hear+ a re&or+e+fe#ale %oi&e sayin, 3Please enter yor pass-or+"4 Terry /ar+y happene+ to be ne=t to #e at theti#e" Another of his nsal abilities -as that he ha+ perfe&t pit&h, or at least so#e %ariety of thatrare aptit+e6 he &ol+ listen to the to&h tones of a phone n#ber bein 'eye+ in an+ tell yo -hatn#ber ha+ 1st been &alle+"

I shote+ a&ross the roo# for Le-is an+ Da%e to be @iet, then sai+, 3Terry, isten, isten54/e ot &loser to the spea'erphone 1st in ti#e to hear the to&h tones as 8antos entere+ his%oi&e#ail pass-or+"

Terry 1st stoo+ there, as if lost in thoht" 2or #aybe t-enty se&on+s" I +i+n0t +areinterrpt" Then6 3I thin' it0s **,0 4 he sai+" 2or the ne=t t-o or three #intes, -e all stoo+ there fro<en -hile 8antos!an+ the for of s

!listene+ to his %oi&e#ail #essaes" After he hn p, I &alle+ his %oi&e#ail a&&ess n#ber an+entere+ 3**4 as his pass-or+"

It -or'e+" We -ere sto'e+ Da%e, Le-is, Terry, an+ I all 1#pe+ aron+ hih:fi%in one another" Terry an+ I -ent throh the sa#e pro&ess an+ e%entally ot Lilly Cree'0s %oi&e#ail

pass-or+ as -ell" I bean #a'in it a +aily rotine to &he&' both their %oi&e#ails, al-ays after hors, -hen I

&ol+ be fairly &ertain they -ol+n0t be tryin to &all in at the sa#e ti#e the#sel%es6 ettin a#essae that their %oi&e#ail bo= -as in se -ol+ be a he re+ fla"O%er the ne=t se%eral -ee's, I listene+ to a series of #essaes left by Dete&ti%e 8i#on,



p+atin 8antos on his in%estiation of Telte&" It -as reassrin for #y bosses to 'no- that the+ete&ti%e -asn0t &o#in p -ith anythin ne-" In another of those i#probable s#all:-orl+&oin&i+en&es, Dete&ti%e 8i#on!still -ith the LA 8heriff0s Depart#ent, no- as a Reser%e Chief! is the t-in brother of #y &oathor, Bill 8i#on"

In the #i++le of all this, e%ery no- an+ then I0+ re&all that tantali<in pie&e of infor#ationI0+ been i%en abot one of the &hares aainst $e%in Polsen, for a ha&' that Eri& sai+ he ha+

ta'en part in6 the ra+io &ontest that ha+ sppose+ly -on Eri& a Pors&he, an+ Polsen hi#self t-o#ore" At other o++ #o#ents, I0+ re#e#ber the &ontest I0+ hear+ on the ra+io -hile +ri%in to5eas that +reary +ay not lon after #y half:brother0s +eath" 2inally those t-o ite#s &olli+e+ in #y

brain"Eri& ha+ tol+ Le-is an+ #e that Polsen0s ra+io &ontest a#bit -as base+ on ha&'in into

the phone &o#pany s-it&h at the &entral offi&e that han+le+ the ra+io station0s lines" I thoht there#iht be a -ay to +o the sa#e 'in+ of thin -ithot e%en ha%in to #ess -ith the s-it&h" $RT/

broa+&ast fro# offi&es not too far fro# Da%e0s, an+ both -ere ser%e+ by the sa#e &entral offi&e"To start, I0+ nee+ a phone n#ber other than the )) n#ber the +is' 1o&'ey a%e ot on the

air" Callin an internal +epart#ent at Pa&Bell, I as'e+ for the 3POT8 n#ber4 for the )) n#ber"3POT84 stan+s for!are yo rea+y for thisH!3plain ol+ telephone ser%i&e4; it0s a stan+ar+,

e%ery+ay ter# se+ aron+ the phone &o#pany" I nee+e+ the POT8 n#ber be&ase the ))n#ber se+ for the ra+io &ontest ha+ a 3&ho'e4 pla&e+ on it, li#itin the flo- of &alls that &ol+&o#e in fro# ea&h part of the station0s broa+&ast area, an+ #y plan -ol+n0t -or' if any of #y&alls -ere bein &ho'e+" The la+y I -as tal'in to +i+n0t e%en as' -hat #y na#e -as or -hether I-or'e+ for Pa&ifi& Bell; she 1st a%e #e the n#ber"

At Da%e /arrison0s, I prora##e+ the spee+ &allin featre on for of his phone lines, sothat all I ha+ to +o to +ial +ire&tly in to the POT8 n#ber at the ra+io station -as press 3Q"4 I -as&ontin on the fa&t that &alls rote+ throh the )) n#ber -ol+ ta'e 1st a bit loner to&onne&t" Then, too, the n#bers for Da%e0s offi&e -ere s-it&he+ throh the sa#e &entral offi&e asthe station0s POT8 n#ber, #eanin that or &alls -ol+ be &o#plete+ instantaneosly" Bt -ol+those #ins&le a+%antaes, pls sin #ltiple telephone lines, be enoh to #a'e a +ifferen&eH

On&e this -as all set p, Le-is, Terry /ar+y, Da%e, an+ I ea&h sat at a phone, rea+y to &all"We &ol+ har+ly -ait for the &ontest to be annon&e+" Caller n#ber se%en -as al-ays the -inner"We 1st ha+ to 'eep &allin in ntil one of s -as the se%enth &aller"

As soon as -e hear+ the &e to start &allin!the 1inle 3the best ol+ies on ra+io4!-e@i&'ly pn&he+ in 3Q"4 E%ery ti#e -e ot throh an+ hear+ the D> say, 3Yo0re &aller n#ber

ZZZZ,4 an+ i%e a n#ber less than se%en, -e0+ +is&onne&t an+ @i&'ly +ial 3Q4 aain" O%er an+o%er"

The thir+ ti#e I spee+:+iale+, I hear+, 3Yo0re &aller n#ber se%en4 I shote+ into the phone, 4- won5 No way, - won Are yo* kidding me - can/t eieve it5 -

never win anything 4 We all stoo+ p an+ hih:fi%e+" The pri<e -as *,))), an+ -e0+ aree+ to

share it" Whene%er any of s -on, -e0+ pt or -innins in the pot"After or first for -ins, -e 'ne- the syste# -as -or'in, bt -e fa&e+ a ne- &hallene6the ra+io station rles sai+ that no one person &ol+ -in the &ontest #ore than on&e a year" Westarte+ offerin a +eal to fa#ily, frien+s, an+ anyone else -e 'ne- -ell enoh to thin' -e &ol+trst6 3When the &he&' arri%es, yo 'eep )) for yorself an+ pass the other 9)) alon to s"4

O%er the ne=t three or for #onths, -e -on that &ontest abot fifty ti#es" In the en+, -estoppe+ only be&ase -e ran ot of frien+s It0s a sha#e 2a&eboo' +i+n0t e=ist yet!-e -ol+ ha%eha+ a lot #ore frien+s to -or' -ith"

The real beaty of it -as that it -asn0t e%en illeal" I &onfir#e+ -ith an attorney that as lonas -e -eren0t illeally a&&essin phone &o#pany e@ip#ent or sin a frien+0s i+entity -ithot

per#ission, it -asn0t fra+" E%en -hen I first ot the POT8 n#ber, I +i+n0t #isrepresent #yself as

a phone &o#pany e#ployee; I 1st as'e+ for the n#ber, an+ the la+y a%e it to #e"Te&hni&ally, -e -ere obeyin the rles of the a#e, as -ell" The ra+io station ha+ a rle that

a person &ol+ -in only on&e per year" We abi+e+ by that" We -ere si#ply e=ploitin a loophole"



We ne%er bro'e any of the rles"On&e I srprise+ #yself by ta'in a lon shot" The station pro%i+e+ a phone n#ber yo

&ol+ &all to listen to its sho-s o%er the telephone" I &alle+ in fro# #y #o#0s li%in roo# in Las5eas, an+ -hen the &ontest &a#e on, I &alle+ in, not really i#ainin I &ol+ rea&h the station 1stin ti#e to be &aller n#ber se%en" Bt then I hear+ the #ai& -or+s, the &onratlations? follo-e+

by the annon&er0s as'in, 3What0s yor na#eH4 I he##e+ an+ ha-e+ ntil I thoht of a frien+

-e ha+n0t se+ yet" I a%e his na#e an+ &o%ere+ the a-'-ar+ pase by blrtin ot, 3I0# soe=&ite+, I &ol+ har+ly say #y o-n na#e4

The for of s ea&h &leare+ nearly K,))) fro# the -hole thin" At one point, -hen I #etLe-is in a restarant an+ a%e hi# his share, it -as s&h a lot of &ash that I felt li'e I -as #a'in a

payoff in a +r +eal or so#ethin"I se+ a bi &hn' of #y share to by #y first state:of:the:art laptop, a Toshiba T))8

featrin a 9 pro&essor that ran at -hat -as then an i#pressi%e spee+, a snappy (J #eahert<" I pai+ 9,)))" An+ that -as the -holesale pri&e

It -as a sa+ +ay -hen -e ran ot of people -e &ol+ trst to &ooperate" One niht not lon after -e ot into the ra+io &ontest bsiness, I -as +ri%in ba&' to #y+a+0s apart#ent -hen an i+ea poppe+ into #y hea+, a s&he#e that #iht i%e #e so#e breathin

roo# -hile I trie+ to et to the botto# of the Eri& /ein< Mi'e Martine< >oseph Wernle >osephWays #ystery"

My i+ea -as that Le-is -ol+ &asally, in passin, let slip a pie&e of infor#ation abot #eto Eri&" /e0+ say so#ethin li'e, 3$e%in is thin'in abot -or'in -ith so#e ha&'ers in Erope"/e0s sre this is onna #a'e hi# %ery ri&h"4

What I fire+ -as this6 -hate%er the 2e+s alrea+y ha+ on #e -ol+ see# li'e s#all beansne=t to the prospe&t of &at&hin #e re+:han+e+ in the #i++le of a bi ha&', stealin a loa+ of +ollarsor 8-iss fran&s or +ets&he #ar's fro# so#e finan&ial instittion or &orporation" They -ol+ -antto 'eep &lose tabs on #e bt -ol+ be -illin to -ait patiently ntil I ha+ plle+ off this bi one,anti&ipatin ho- they0+ s-oop in, re&o%er the #oney, an+ para+e #e in han+&ffs before the hnry#e+ia people an+ the hnry:for:s&an+al pbli&6 the 2BI sa%in A#eri&a fro# another %illain"

An+ -hile they -ere -aitin for #e to arrane the ha&', I hope+, #y sper%ise+ release-ol+ &o#e to an en+" It see#e+ li'e a reat +elayin a&tion to by #yself so#e e=tra ti#e"

Le-is0s attorney, Da%i+ Roberts, &ol+n0t see anythin -ron -ith this plan" Le-is an+ I#et an+ +is&sse+ the +etails -ith hi# on se%eral o&&asions" It -ol+n0t be a %iolation of any la-for Le-is to tell this lie, be&ase he -ol+n0t be tellin it +ire&tly to a 2e+eral aent"

My sper%ise+ release -as +e to en+ in another se%eral #onths" By the ti#e the 2e+sfinally lost patien&e -ith -aitin for #y Eropean ha&' to happen, those #onths -ol+ ha%e

passe+, an+ it -ol+ be too late for the# to si#ply pi&' #e p an+ ship #e ba&' to prison for%iolation of the ter#s of #y release"

Wol+ they really -ait that lonH I &ol+ only hope so" Le-is reporte+ a &ople of +ays later

that he ha+ #entione+ #y bi Eropean ha&' to Eri&, -ho ha+ presse+ hi# for +etails" Le-is tol+hi# that I ha+ sai+ it -as so bi, I +i+n0t -ant to tell hi# any #ore abot it"8prin ha+ trne+ into s##er, an+ I -as beinnin to feel settle+ in as a Los Anelino

on&e aain" Bt #y li%in arrane#ents nee+e+ so#e attention" At first, #o%in in -ith #y +a+ ha+felt li'e a -ay to bein #a'in p for all those years -hen he -as li%in t-o thosan+ #iles a-ayan+ bil+in a life -ith a ne- fa#ily" I ha+ ta'en o%er A+a#0s roo#, partly ot of a sense of-antin to help #y +a+ an+ be -ith hi# in that +iffi&lt ti#e after A+a#0s +eath, an+ be&ase I -ashopin -e -ol+ be&o#e &loser"

Bt it ha+n0t -or'e+ ot as I ha+ hope+, not by a #ile" We ha+ so#e oo+ ti#es toether bt -e also ha+ lon stret&hes that felt #ore li'e #y early years, -hen or relationship -as a battlefiel+ &o%ere+ -ith lan+ #ines"

We all #a'e &on&essions -hen -e li%e -ith others" An+ thoh it0s a &li&hV, it0s also trethat -e +on0t et to pi&' or relati%es" Bt so#e-here there0s a line in the san+ bet-een -hat -e&hoose to inore an+ pt p -ith, an+ -hat #a'es the +ays see# 1st too annoyin" As %arios



-o#en in #y life ha%e #a+e perfe&tly &lear, I0# not so easy to li%e -ith #yself, so I0# sre thefalt here -asn0t all on one si+e"

It finally ot to the point -here I &ol+n0t ta'e it any#ore, ir'e+ by #y +a+0s fre@ent&o#plaints that I spent too #&h ti#e on the phone, bt e%en #ore ir'e+ by his fetish for pre&ision"I li'e to li%e in a &lean an+ straihtene+:p pla&e, bt for hi# it -as an obsession" If yo re#e#ber2eli=, the &hara&ter in 'he ;dd %o*#e, playe+ by >a&' Le##on in the #o%ie an+ Tony Ran+all on

tele%ision, yo0ll re&all that he -as a neat frea' -ith an obsessi%e a%ersion to the least +isarray"2eli= -as a pssy&at &o#pare+ -ith #y +a+"

One e=a#ple -ill pro%e #y point6 #y father a&tally se+ a tape #easre to #a'e sre thatthe haners in his &loset -ere e%enly spa&e+ at e=a&tly one in&h apart"

No- #ltiply that fssiness an+ apply it to e%ery +etail in a three:be+roo# apart#ent, an+yo0ll bein to n+erstan+ the sort of niht#are I -as li%in"

In the sprin of *(, I a%e p an+ +e&i+e+ to #o%e ot" I -as happy to stay in the sa#e&o#ple=, &lose enoh to see #y +a+ relarly bt not so &lose that I -as still li%in n+er histh#b" I +i+n0t -ant Da+ to thin' I -as trnin #y ba&' on hi#"

I -as stnne+ -hen the la+y in the rental offi&e tol+ #e there -as a -aitin list an+ it #iht be a &ople of #onths before a nit be&a#e a%ailable for #e" Than'flly, I -asn0t st&' at #y

+a+0s6 Telte&0s Mar' $as+en aree+ to let #e #o%e into his est be+roo# ntil #y na#e &a#e tothe top of the -aitin list for a nit of #y o-n"

After I settle+ into #y ne- +is, I e#bar'e+ on another &onter:sr%eillan&e pro1e&t" 2ro#Da%e /arrison0s offi&e, sin #y ne- laptop, I +e&i+e+ to see -hat I &ol+ pi&' p by sin 8A8 tolisten in on the phone &on%ersations of Pa&ifi& Bell0s #anaer of 8e&rity, >ohn 5enn" I poppe+ onto5enn0s line e%ery no- an+ then" .sally -hen I st#ble+ a&ross a &all in proress, it -as abotnothin of #&h interest, an+ I0+ only half listen -hile +oin so#ethin else"

Bt one +ay that s##er I poppe+ in on his line -hen he -as in the #i++le of a &onferen&e&all -ith se%eral &olleaes" If this -ere a s&ene in a #o%ie, yo0+ probably roan be&ase the&han&e of its really happenin -ol+ see# so re#ote" It really did happen, thoh6 #y ears pri&'e+p -hen one of the #en #entione+ 3Mitni&'"4 The &on%ersation -as fas&inatin, re%ealin? an+en&orain" It trne+ ot these ys ha+ no i+ea ho- I -as +efeatin all their syste#s an+ traps,an+ that really irritate+ the#"

They tal'e+ abot nee+in i+eas abot ho- they #iht be able to set a trap for #e,so#ethin that -ol+ i%e the# har+ e%i+en&e aainst #e that they &ol+ then trn o%er to the 2BI"They -ere -on+erin -hat I #iht try ne=t, so they &ol+ ha%e so#ethin in pla&e to &at&h #e re+:han+e+"

8o#ebo+y seste+ a plot for trappin #e that -as -ay stpi+" I -as +yin to bst intotheir &on%ersation an+ say, 3I +on0t thin' that -ol+ -or'" This Mitni&' y is pretty &le%er" Yone%er 'no-!he &ol+ be listenin to s riht no-4

Yes, I ha+ +one other thins e%ery bit as tsy an+ re&'less as that, bt this ti#e I #anae+

to resist the te#ptation"On the other han+, I -as less resistant to +oin so#ethin tsy -hen as'e+ by so#eone innee+" One Thrs+ay at the beinnin of >ne, on a +ay -hen I ha+n0t one in to -or' be&ase I ha+so#e erran+s I nee+e+ to +o, I ot a franti& phone &all fro# Mar' $as+en6 Ar#an+ 7rant, the hea+of Telte&, ha+ 1st been arreste+" /is son Mi&hael an+ $as+en -ere tryin to raise bail, bt they0+

been tol+ it #iht ta'e as #&h as a +ay an+ a half after they poste+ bail before he -ol+ berelease+"

I sai+, 3No proble#" Let #e 'no- -hen that0s +one, 0&ase on&e he ets bail, I0ll et hi#-al'e+ ot of there in abot fifteen #intes"4

$as+en sai+, 3That0s i#possible"4 Bt 'no-in ho- la- enfor&e#ent people respe&te+ ran', I 1st &alle+ another 1ail in

northern Los Aneles!Waysi+e!an+ as'e+, 3Who0s the lietenant on +ty there this afternoonH4They a%e #e his na#e" Then I &alle+ the Men0s Central >ail, -here 7rant -as bein hel+" I alrea+y'ne- the +ire&t:+ial internal n#ber for the Warrants Di%ision" When a la+y ans-ere+, I as'e+ for



the e=tension at Re&ei%in an+ Dis&hare" 2or so#ebo+y li'e #e, in a sitation li'e this, there -erea+%antaes in #y a&tally ha%in been throh the 1ail syste#" I tol+ her I -as Lietenant 8o:an+:so sin the na#e I ha+ 1st been i%en at Waysi+e" 3Yo ha%e an in#ate -hose bail is sppose+to be poste+" /e0s -or'in as an infor#ant on a &ase for s, an+ I nee+ to et hi# ot i##e+iately4an+ a%e her 7rant0s na#e"

The son+ of &o#pter 'eys &a#e o%er the telephone" 3We 1st ot the or+er, bt -e ha%en0t

entere+ it yet"4 I sai+ I -ante+ to tal' to her sereant" When he &a#e on the line, I a%e hi# the sa#e pit&han+ sai+, 38ereant, &an yo +o #e a personal fa%orH4

3Yes, sir,4 he sai+" 3What +o yo nee+H4 3On&e the #an0s bon+ is poste+, &an yo personally -al' hi# throh the -hole pro&essan+ et hi# ot as soon as possibleH4 /e ans-ere+, 3No proble#, sir"4 I ot a &all fro# Mi&hael 7rant t-enty #intes later to say that his father -as ot"



TWENT(4TWO



De#ec#i*e Wok

3sig co$ dsm $k+eoe vnss )o $ar) t e#r %syvd

Nn0* m1r *t gr# ne

If I &ol+ help 7rant -ith so little effort, ho- &o#e I still +i+n0t ha%e the lo-+o-n on

WernleH 2ortnately, I -as abot to nlo&' that se&ret"Eri& 'ept tal'in abot ha%in to o to -or', bt he -ol+ al-ays &hane the sb1e&t

-hene%er I as'e+ -hat he +i+" 8o -ho -as sinin his pay&he&'sH Maybe ha&'in into his ban' a&&ont -ol+ i%e #ethe ans-er" 8in&e Eri&0s na#e -asn0t on his rental appli&ation or any of his tility bills, I0+ loo' for

an a&&ont in the Wernle na#e"What ban' -as he sinH Ban's, of &orse, ar+ their &sto#er infor#ation &areflly" Bt

they also nee+ to ensre that athori<e+ e#ployees are able to obtain infor#ation fro# +ifferent bran&hes"

In those +ays, #ost ban's se+ a syste# that allo-e+ an e#ployee to i+entify hi#self to afello- e#ployee at another bran&h by pro%i+in a &o+e that &hane+ e%ery +ay" 2or e=a#ple, Ban'of A#eri&a se+ fi%e +aily &o+es, labele+ 3A,4 3B,4 3C,4 3D,4 an+ 3E,4 ea&h of -hi&h -as assine+a +ifferent for:+iit n#ber" An e#ployee &allin another bran&h for infor#ation -ol+ be&hallene+ to i%e the &orre&t n#ber for &o+e A or &o+e B or -hate%er" This -as the ban'inin+stry0s i+ea of foolproof se&rity"

With re%erse so&ial enineerin, I easily ot aron+ it"

My plan ha+ se%eral layers" 2irst thin in the #ornin, I0+ &all the taret bran&h, as' forso#eone in the Ne- A&&onts Depart#ent, an+ preten+ to be a potential &sto#er -ith a sbstantials# of #oney -ho ha+ @estions abot the best -ay to earn #a=i## interest" After +e%elopin arapport, I0+ say I ha+ to o to a #eetin bt &ol+ &all ba&' later" I0+ as' the a&&ont rep0s na#e an+say, 3When are yo oin to ln&hH4

3I0# 7inette,4 she #iht say" 3I0ll be here ntil t-el%e:thirty"4 I0+ -ait till after *(6), then &all ba&' aain an+ as' for 7inette" When I -as tol+ she -asot, I0+ intro+&e #yself an+ say I -as fro# another of the ban'0s bran&hes" 37inette &alle+ #eearlier,4 I0+ e=plain, 3an+ sai+ she nee+e+ this &sto#er infor#ation fa=e+ to her" Bt I0%e ot to oto a +o&tor0s appoint#ent shortly" Can I 1st fa= this o%er to yo instea+H4

The &olleae -ol+ say that -as no proble# an+ i%e #e the fa= n#ber" 37reat,4 I0+ say" 3I0ll sen+ it riht o%er" Oh, bt first? &an yo i%e #e the &o+e of the+ayH4 3Bt yo* &alle+ me54 the ban'er -ol+ e=&lai#"

3Well, yeah, I 'no-, bt 7inette &alle+ #e first" An+ yo 'no- or poli&y re@irin the &o+efor the +ay before sen+in &sto#er infor#ation?,4 I0+ blff" If the person ob1e&te+, I0+ say I&ol+n0t sen+ the infor#ation" An+ I0+ &ontine -ith so#ethin li'e, 3In fa&t, please let 7inette'no- I &ol+n0t sen+ her -hat she nee+e+ be&ase yo -ol+n0t %erify the &o+e" Also, please lether 'no- that I0ll be ot of the offi&e ntil ne=t -ee' an+ -e &an +is&ss it -hen I et ba&'"4 That-as sally enoh to psh the hol+ot o%er the e+e, be&ase no one -ol+ -ant to n+er#ine a&o-or'er0s re@est"

8o then I0+ say, 3O'ay, -hat0s &o+e EH4 /e0+ i%e #e &o+e E, -hi&h I -ol+ file in #y #e#ory" 3Nope, that0s not it4 I0+ tell hi#"



3WhatH4 3Yo sai+ 9(*0H That0s not riht,4 I0+ insist" 3Yes, that0s &o+e E4 the ban'er -ol+ say" 3No, I +i+n0t say E,0 I sai+ B04 An+ then he0+ i%e #e &o+e B" I no- ha+ a ) per&ent &han&e of ettin the infor#ation I -ante+ anyti#e I &alle+ any

bran&h of that ban' for the rest of the +ay, sin&e I 'ne- t-o of the fi%e &o+es" If I tal'e+ to so#eone-ho see#e+ to be a real psho%er, I0+ o for another one an+ see if he or she -ol+ o alon" A fe-ti#es I e%en #anae+ to et three of the &o+es in a sinle &all" It helpe+, too, that the letters B, D,an+ ! all son+ sort of ali'e"

If I &alle+ a ban' an+ -as as'e+ for &o+e A -hen I only ha+ B an+ E, I0+ 1st say, 3Oh,listen, I0# not at #y +es' riht no-" Wol+ yo settle for B or EH4

These &on%ersations -ere al-ays so frien+ly that the ban' e#ployees -ol+ ha%e no reasonto +obt #e, an+ be&ase they +i+n0t -ant to see# nreasonable, they0+ sally 1st aree" If not,I0+ si#ply say I -as oin ba&' to #y +es' to et &o+e A" I0+ &all ba&' later in the +ay, to tal' to a+ifferent e#ployee"

2or Wernle, I trie+ this first on Ban' of A#eri&a" The rse -or'e+, bt there -as no

&sto#er -ith >oseph Wernle0s 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber" 8o ho- abot Wells 2aroH A little easier6 I+i+n0t nee+ a &o+e sin&e Danny Yelin, one of the in%estiators at Telte&, ha+ a frien+ na#e+ 7re-ho -or'e+ there" Be&ase the phone lines -ere #onitore+, Danny an+ 7re ha+ set p their o-n

personal &o+e, -hi&h they no- share+ -ith #e"I0+ &all 7re an+ &hat -ith hi# abot oin to the ball a#e that -ee'en+ or -hate%er, then

say so#ethin li'e, 3If yo -ant to 1oin s, 1st &all $at, an+ she0ll et a ti&'et for yo"43$at4 -as the fla" It #eant I -ante+ the &o+e of the +ay" /e0+ ans-er, 37reat" Is she still at

*) K(J:*99H4 3No,4 I0+ say, an+ i%e hi# a +ifferent n#ber, 1st for the &onfsion fa&tor" The last for +iits of the fa'e phone n#ber he ha+ i%en #e -as the &o+e for the +ay" On&e I ha+ the &o+e, I0+ phone a bran&h an+ say I -as &allin fro# bran&h n#ber so:an+:so6 3We0re ha%in so#e &o#pter isses, it0s so slo- I &an0t et anythin +one" Can yo loo'so#ethin p for #eH4

3What0s the &o+e of the +ayH4 2or #y Wernle sear&h, I a%e the &o+e an+ sai+ so#ethin li'e, 3I nee+ yo to brin p a&sto#er a&&ont"4 3What0s the a&&ont n#berH4 38ear&h on the &sto#er0s 8o&ial,4 an+ I pro%i+e+ Wernle0s 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber" After a #o#ent, she sai+, 3O'ay, I0%e ot t-o"4 I ha+ her i%e #e the n#bers of both a&&onts, an+ the balan&es" The first part of thea&&ont n#ber in+i&ate+ the bran&h -here the a&&ont -as lo&ate+; Wernle0s -ere both at the

Tar<ana bran&h in the 8an 2ernan+o 5alley"A &all to that bran&h -ith a re@est to pll Wernle0s 3si &ar+4 sinatre &ar+ pt #e in position to as' a 'ey @estion I ha+ been lonin to ha%e ans-ere+6 3Who0s the e#ployerH4

3Alta 8er%i&es, *99 5entra Bole%ar+"4 When I &alle+ Alta 8er%i&es an+ as'e+ for >oseph Wernle, I ot a &hilly6 3/e0s not in to+ay"4It son+e+ sspi&iosly as if the ne=t senten&e #iht ha%e been 3An+ -e0re not e=pe&tin hi#"4

The rest -as #a+e to or+er in this era of 3yor ban'in infor#ation at yor finertips"4 WithWernle0s a&&ont n#ber an+ the last for +iits of his 8o&ial in han+, I si#ply pla&e+ a phone &allto the ban'0s ato#ate+ syste# an+ ha+ it fee+ #e ba&' all the +etails I &ol+ -ant abot his

ban'in transa&tions"What I learne+ only +eepene+ the #ystery6 >oseph Wernle often ha+ fn+s flo-in into an+

ot of his a&&onts totalin thosan+s of +ollars every week "Wo-!-hat &ol+ this #eanH I &ol+n0t i#aine"

If he -as rnnin all this #oney throh his ban' a&&ont, I fire+ #aybe his ta= retrn



-ol+ i%e #e so#e sefl &les abot -hat -as really oin on"I ha+ learne+ that I &ol+ et ta=payer infor#ation fro# the Internal Re%ene 8er%i&e easily

enoh, 1st by so&ial:enineerin e#ployees -ho ha+ &o#pter a&&ess" The IR8 &o#ple= in2resno, California, ha+ hn+re+s of phone lines; I0+ &all one at ran+o#" Ar#e+ -ith fore'no-le+e

base+ on #y sal bran+ of resear&h, I0+ say so#ethin li'e, 3I0# ha%in proble#s ettin intoIDR8!is yors -or'inH4 3IDR84 stan+s for 3Interate+ Data Retrie%al 8yste#"4

Of &orse her or his ter#inal -as -or'in, an+ al#ost al-ays the person -as ra&ios abotta'in ti#e ot to help a fello- e#ployee"

This ti#e, -hen I a%e the 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber for Wernle, the aent tol+ #e his ta=retrns for the #ost re&ent t-o years a%ailable on their syste# sho-e+ no reportable in&o#e"

Well, that fire+!in one sense, at least" I alrea+y 'ne- his 8o&ial 8e&rity re&or+s sho-e+no earne+ in&o#e" No- the IR8 -as offerin &onfir#ation"

An 2BI aent -ho pai+ no 8o&ial 8e&rity an+ no in&o#e ta=es? yet rotinely ha+thosan+s of +ollars passin throh his ban' a&&onts" What -as that abotH

/o- +oes that ol+ line o, so#ethin li'e, 3The only thins &ertain in life are +eath an+ta=es4H It -as beinnin to son+ as if, for an 2BI aent, the part abot ta=es +i+n0t apply"

I trie+ to &all Eri& an+ fon+ that his ne- line -asn0t -or'in any loner" I trie+ his se&on+

line; sa#e story" A so&ial:enineerin &all to the rental offi&e in his bil+in pro+&e+ the infor#ation that heha+ #o%e+ ot" No, he ha+n0t #o%e+ to a +ifferent apart#ent in the sa#e &o#ple=, li'e the

pre%ios ti#e!he ha+ #o%e+ ot &o#pletely" The rental la+y loo'e+ p his infor#ation for #e, btas I sspe&te+, he ha+ not left a for-ar+in a++ress"

Ba&' to DWP 8pe&ial Des' on&e aain" This -as a lon shot, bt a pla&e to bein" I as'e+the &ler' to loo' p any ne- ser%i&e for last na#e Wernle" It too' her only a #o#ent" 3Yes,4 shesai+" 3I ha%e a ne- a&&ont for >oseph Wernle,4 an+ she a%e #e an a++ress on M&Ca++en Pla&e, in/olly-oo+"

I &ol+n0t belie%e the 2e+s -ere la#ebraine+ enoh to 'eep sin the sa#e na#e on the pbli& tilities a&&onts for a y they -ere tryin to hi+e"

I ha+ Eri&0s paer n#ber" That n#ber still -or'e+, an+ it tol+ #e -hi&h paer &o#pany-as pro%i+in hi# -ith ser%i&e" I &alle+ an+ tri&'e+ an a&&ont rep into re%ealin the spe&ifi&n#ber that #a+e Eri&0s paer +istin&t fro# e%ery other6 its CAP 3Channel A&&ess Proto&ol4&o+e" Then I -ent ot an+ boht a paer fro# the sa#e &o#pany, tellin the &ler' that I0+ +roppe+#y pre%ios one in the toilet -hile I -as peein" /e lahe+ sy#patheti&ally!he0+ ob%ioslyhear+ the story before fro# people it ha+ really happene+ to!an+ ha+ no proble# prora##in thene- one -ith the CAP &o+e I a%e hi#"

2ro# then on, -hene%er so#eone fro# the 2BI or anyone else pae+ Eri& or sent hi# a paer te=t, I -ol+ see the #essae on #y &lone+ paer, e=a&tly as it appeare+ on his"

What -ere the o++s of #y inter&eptin t-o telephone &on%ersations in &lose s&&ession an+

hearin abot #yself oth times Not lon after listenin to the &re- fro# Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity-orryin o%er ho- to booby:trap #e, I ot another earfl"I ha+n0t trie+ -iretappin Eri& be&ase he 'ne- -e ha+ a&&ess to 8A8, an+ I -as -orrie+

that the fra#e te&hs #iht ha%e been instr&te+ to &all Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity or the 2BI if anyonetrie+ to atta&h e@ip#ent to his line" Eri& thoht he ha+ a safear+ aainst #y listenin to his

phone &alls" /e ha+ playe+ -ith 8A8 enoh to 'no- that yo hear a %ery +istin&t cick -henso#ebo+y se+ it to +rop in on yor line" Bt he +i+n0t 'no- abot #a'in a &onne&tion -ith a8A8 shoe, -hi&h, as I0%e e=plaine+, -as a +ire&t &onne&tion, sin a &able that the fra#e te&hni&ian

pla&e+ +ire&tly on the &sto#er0s &able:an+:pair, an+ so pro+&e+ no a+ible cick on the line"By &han&e I -ent p on Eri&0s line one +ay sin a 8A8 shoe, an+ hear+ hi# in &on%ersation

-ith so#eone he -as &allin 3$en"4

I +i+n0t ha%e to -on+er -ho $en -as6 2BI 8pe&ial Aent $en M&7ire" They -ere tal'in abot -hat e%i+en&e $en nee+e+ for ettin a sear&h -arrant on Mitni&'" The &all thre- #e into an intense pani&" I bean to -on+er if they -ere follo-in #e or



e%en preparin to arrest #e" Eri& +i+n0t son+ li'e an n+er&o%er infor#ant; instea+, his &allinM&7ire 3$en4 son+e+ li'e one aent tal'in to another, -ith M&7ire, the ol+er, #oree=perien&e+ aent, lea+in the #ore 1nior aent to a better n+erstan+in of -hat they nee+e+ toet a sear&h -arrant"

8ear&h -arrant E%i+en&e aainst Mitni&' (oy shit , I thoht" Again I -ol+ ha%e to et ri+ of e%ery s&rap of e%i+en&e that &ol+ be

se+ aainst #e"As soon as they hn p, I i##e+iately reprora##e+ #y phone, &lonin it to a +ifferent

phone n#ber, one I ha+ ne%er se+ before"Then I &alle+ Le-is at -or'" 4!mergency56 I tol+ hi#" 3Yo0%e ot to o to the pay phone

otsi+e yor offi&e bil+in right now4!1st in &ase the 2e+s -ere #onitorin &ell phonetrans#issions near his -or'pla&e"

I ot in #y &ar an+ +ro%e to a pla&e that I 'ne- -ol+ be &o%ere+ by a +ifferent &ell phoneto-er!aain, in &ase aents -ere #onitorin the one ser%in the Telte& area"

As soon as Le-is ans-ere+ the pay phone, I tol+ hi#, 3The o%ern#ent has been bil+in a&ase aainst s, an+ Eri& is part of it It0s one:hn+re+:per&ent &onfir#ation that -e are the tarets"Chane yor n#ber riht no-"4

3Oh, shit"4 That -as his only response" 3We nee+ to o into &leanp #o+e,4 I sai+" /e son+e+ +e1e&te+ an+ s&are+" 3Yeah, riht,4 he sai+" 3I 'no- -hat to +o"4 All the ti#e I ha+ been laborin o%er #y resear&h on Eri&, I0+ e=pe&te+ to fin+ ot he -as an2BI snit&h, if not an aent" Bt no- that it -as &ertain, I 'ne- this -as no a#e any#ore" This -asfor real" I &ol+ al#ost feel the &ol+ steel of the prison bars, I &ol+ al#ost taste the blan+, barelye+ible prison foo+"

I -as -aitin at $as+en0s +oor -hen he ot ho#e fro# -or', -ith bo=es of +is's that Ias'e+ hi# to store for #e" That sa#e e%enin I +ro%e o%er to the ho#e of another frien+ of #y+a+0s -ho ha+ aree+ to let #e par' #y &o#pter an+ all #y notes -ith hi#"

De Payne0s &leanp -asn0t so easy" 8o#ethin of a pa&' rat, he ha+ s-ar#s of #ess all o%erhis apart#ent" Diin throh the piles to fin+ the ite#s that &ol+ help the o%ern#ent bil+ a&ase aainst hi# ha+ to be a he &hallene" An+ it -asn0t so#ethin anybo+y &ol+ help hi# -ith6he -as the only one -ho 'ne- -hi&h har+ +ri%es an+ floppy +is's -ere safe an+ -hi&h &ol+ lan+hi# in prison" The tas' too' hi# a &ople of fll +ays, the -hole ti#e n+er pressre of -hat -ol+happen if fe+eral aents sho-e+ p before he -as finishe+"

I shol+ ha%e been sin e%ery resor&e I ha+ to fin+ ot abot Eri& before this, I 'ne-" Bt better late than ne%er" I &alle+ Ann, #y &onta&t at the 88A" 8he loo'e+ p Eri& /ein< an+ a%e #ehis 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber, birthpla&e, an+ +ate of birth" 8he also tol+ #e he -as liste+ as re&ei%in+isability pay#ents for a #issin li#b"

If his story abot his #otor&y&le &rash -as tre an+ he really -as -al'in aron+ on an

artifi&ial le, the +o&tors #st ha%e +one so#e reat 1ob, be&ase I ha+ ne%er seen e%en the hint of ali#p" Or #aybe he -asn0t really #issin a le at all bt ha+ 1st fon+ a +o&tor to #a'e a phonyreport so he &ol+ &olle&t benefits; that #iht e=plain ho- &o#e he ne%er see#e+ to o off to a 1ob"

I tol+ Ann, 3This is a fra+ &ase" Let0s see if -e &an fin+ his parents0 na#es"4 Eri&0s +ri%er0sli&ense sai+ that he -as a 1nior, -hi&h #a+e this step a -hole lot easier" 8he loo'e+ p all of the

people liste+ as Eri& /ein< 8r" -ith a birth year in the rane that I ha+ &al&late+ #iht bereasonable for Eri&0s father" 8he fon+ one -ith a birth +ate of >ne (), *J"

That e%enin, Telte& &o-or'er Danny Yelin an+ I #et for +inner at 8olley0s +eli&atessen in8her#an Oa's" After -e or+ere+, I -ent to the pay phone an+ &alle+ the n#ber I ha+ tra&'e+ +o-nfor Eri& /ein< 8r"

What happene+ ne=t #aybe shol+n0t ha%e srprise+ #e, bt it +i+" It &aht #e off ar+"

3I0# tryin to et hol+ of Eri&,4 I sai+" 3I0# a frien+ of his fro# hih s&hool"4 4&ho is this6 the #an as'e+ in a sspi&ios tone" 3What0s yor na#e aainH4

3Maybe I ha%e the -ron Eri& /ein<" Is there an Eri& >niorH4



3My son passe+ a-ay,4 he sai+" /e son+e+ annoye+, bor+erin on &ontrolle+ aner" /e sai+ he -ante+ #y phone n#ber,that he -ol+ &all #e ba&'!ob%iosly plannin to report #e to the athorities an+ ha%e #ein%estiate+" No proble#6 I a%e hi# the n#ber for the pay phone in the +eli an+ hn p"

/e &alle+ ba&' i##e+iately" We bean or +an&e aain, -ith #e tryin to pll hi# &loser,hi# 'eepin #e at ar#0s lenth"

I as'e+, 3When +i+ he +ieH4 Then it &a#e ot6 3My son +ie+ as an infant"4 I felt the heat of a bi a+renaline rsh" The e=planation -as ob%ios6 3Eri& /ein<4 -as astolen i+entity" 8o#eho- I #anae+ to pll #yself toether enoh to babble so#ethin abot bein sorryfor his loss" 8o -ho -as he really, this one:lee+ bllshit artist -ho -as -or'in -ith the 2BI an+sin a phony na#eH Mean-hile I felt the nee+ to satisfy #yself that -hat Eri& /ein< 8r" ha+ tol+ #e abot hisson0s +yin in infan&y -as really tre" Aain -ith the help of #y pal Ann at the 8o&ial 8e&rityA+#inistration, I tra&'e+ +o-n Eri& 8r"0s brother, -ho &onfir#e+ the story6 Eri& >r" ha+ +ie+ in a &ar

a&&i+ent in *9(, at the ae of t-o, on his -ay to the 8eattle Worl+0s 2air -ith his #other, -ho -asalso 'ille+ in the &rash"

No -on+er Eri& 8r" ha+ trne+ so &ol+ -hen I &lai#e+ his son an+ I ha+ one to hih s&hooltoether" There is a parti&lar 'in+ of satisfa&tion in follo-in a threa+ all the -ay to its en+" In this&ase, that #eant ettin a &opy of Eri& /ein<0s +eath re&or+ fro# the $in Conty Brea of 5ital8tatisti&s, in 8eattle" I sent a re@est, en&losin the no#inal fee re@ire+, an+ as'e+ that it be #aile+to #e at Telte&"

The father an+ the n&le ha+ been tellin #e the trth" The 3Eri& /ein<4 - 'ne- -as playina fa#iliar a#e of infant:i+entity theft"

&ow5 - had $inay cracked o#en the tr*th ao*t him"The na#e 3Eri& /ein<4 -as a &o#plete phony"

8o then -ho the f&' was this y, -ho -as +ea+ bt tryin to set #e pH7oin ba&' o%er #y traffi& analysis of 2BI &ell phone &alls, I noti&e+ that M&7ire -as

#a'in a lot of &alls to (* :)9" I alrea+y 'ne- that (* -as the area &o+e an+ e=&hanefor the phones at the ."8" Attorney0s Offi&e in Los Aneles" I &alle+ the n#ber an+ fon+ it -asthe phone for one Da%i+ 8&hin+ler, the Assistant ."8" Attorney -ho ha+ been the prose&tor on thePolsen &ase" /e0+ be 1st the y, I thoht, -ho -ol+ et assine+ to ta'e on the ne=t bi LosAneles ha&'er &ase"

8o the o%ern#ent apparently alrea+y ha+ a prose&tor assine+ to #e" Not good5

2ro# the ti#e I first aine+ a&&ess to Pa&Tel Celllar0s &all +etail re&or+s, sho-in an

al#ost:p:to:the:#inte lo of &alls both to an+ fro# e%ery one of the &o#pany0s sbs&ribers, I0+ been &he&'in the# often!taretin the people on the -hite &ollar &ri#e nit -ho -ere fre@entlyin to&h -ith Eri&, fo&sin in parti&lar on 8pe&ial Aent M&7ire"

That -as ho- I happene+ to spot an attention:ettin series of &alls6 o%er a span of a fe-#intes, M&7ire ha+ &alle+ Eri&0s paer se%eral ti#es" An+ M&7ire0s %ery ne=t &all after his lastatte#pt -as to a lan+line n#ber I ha+n0t seen before"

I &alle+ the n#ber" Well, hello!I 'ne- that %oi&e -ell" The person -ho ans-ere+ the phone -as Eri&" At a ne- lan+line n#ber, in a +ifferent part of Los Aneles" /e ha+ #o%e+ again"

/anin p, I ha+ a s#ile on #y fa&e" Eri& -ol+ 'no- a han:p ha+ to be #e" Probably before he ha+ finishe+ npa&'in, I ha+ alrea+y fon+ ot he ha+ #o%e+"

Pa&Bell0s line:assin#ent &enter -ol+ be the pla&e to et Eri&0s ne- a++ress"

It -as ((K) Larel Canyon Bole%ar+, -hi&h trne+ ot to be in a pri&ey neihborhoo+abot a #ile north of /olly-oo+ Bole%ar+, in the /olly-oo+ /ills, half-ay p to-ar+Mlhollan+ Dri%e"



/is forth a++ress in the se%eral #onths I ha+ 'no-n hi#" The reason -asn0t har+ to fire6the Brea -as tryin to prote&t hi#" Ea&h ti#e I fon+ his ne- a++ress, the 2e+s -ol+ #o%e hi#"I ha+ no- fon+ his a++ress three ti#es, an+ they ha+ #o%e+ hi# ea&h ti#e"

Yo -ol+ thin' they #iht ha%e fire+ ot by then that his lo&ation -as a se&ret they -erenot oin to be able to 'eep fro# #e"

In front of a &o#pter in a safe lo&ation ha&'in by niht, in front of a &o#pter

3in%estiatin4 for Telte& by +ay" The Telte& -or' #ostly in%ol%e+ pro1e&ts li'e firin ot -herethe hsban+ in a +i%or&e &ase -as hi+in his assets, helpin an attorney +e&i+e -hether or not to filea la-sit by fin+in ot -hether the potential +efen+ant ha+ enoh of a ban'roll to #a'e it-orth-hile, an+ tra&'in +o-n +ea+beats" A fe- &ases -ere ratifyin, li'e lo&atin a parent -hoha+ ab+&te+ his or her o-n &hil+ an+ fle+ to Cana+a, Erope, or -here%er; the satisfa&tion I otfro# s&&ee+in in those &ases -as enor#os an+ left #e feelin I -as +oin a s#all bit of oo+ inthe -orl+"

Bt +oin oo+ +ee+s for so&iety -asn0t oin to earn #e any Bro-nie points -ith la-enfor&e#ent" I fire+ ot ho- to set p an early:-arnin syste# to son+ an alar# if the 2e+s-ere hanin aron+ -aitin to follo- #e -hen I left -or'" I boht a Ra+io8ha&' s&anner thatha+ the &elllar ban+ nblo&'e+ the 2CC ha+ starte+ &ra&'in +o-n on s&anner #anfa&trers to

pre%ent the inter&eption of &ell phone traffi&" I also boht a +e%i&e &alle+ a 3+iital:+atainterpreter,4 or DDI!a spe&ial bo= that &ol+ +e&o+e the sinalin infor#ation on the &elllarnet-or'" The s&anner sinals fe+ into the DDI, -hi&h -as &onne&te+ to #y &o#pter"

A &ell phone reisters -ith the nearest &ell to-er an+ establishes &o##ni&ations -ith it, sothat -hen a &all &o#es in for yo, the syste# 'no-s -hi&h &ell to-er to relay the &all to on its -ayto yor han+set" Withot this arrane#ent, the &ell phone &o#pany -ol+ ha%e no -ay of ettin a&all rote+ to yo" I prora##e+ the s&anner to #onitor the fre@en&y of the &ell to-er nearest toTelte&, so it -ol+ pi&' p infor#ation fro# the to-er i+entifyin the phone n#ber of e%ery &ell

phone in or e%en 1st passin throh the area"My s&anner fe+ this &onstant flo- of +ata to the DDI, -hi&h &on%erte+ the infor#ation into

separate pie&es, li'e this6 9*:*))) (* Reistration 9*):()( K* Pain )):*K( * Pain K)*:*(( *) Reistration Ea&h line sho-s the stats of a &ell phone &rrently in the area ser%e+ by this &ell site; thefirst set of +iits on the line is the phone n#ber of one &ell phone" 3Pain4 sinifies that the site isre&ei%in a &all for that &ell phone an+ is sinalin the phone to establish a &onne&tion"3Reistration4 in+i&ates that the phone is in the area of this &ell to-er an+ rea+y to #a'e or re&ei%e&alls"

I &onfire+ the DDI soft-are pa&'ae on #y &o#pter to play an alar# tone if the DDI

+ete&te+ any phone n#ber that I prora##e+ into the soft-are6 the &ell phone n#bers of all the2BI aents I ha+ i+entifie+ as bein in &o##ni&ation -ith Eri&" The soft-are &ontinally s&anne+the phone n#bers bein fe+ to it in the &hain of &ell site, to s&anner, to DDI, to &o#pter" If any ofthe aents0 &ell phones sho-e+ p in the Telte& area, #y setp -ol+ son+ the alert"

I ha+ &reate+ a trap for the 2BI, pttin #e one step ahea+" If the 2e+s &a#e loo'in for #e,I0+ be fore-arne+"



TWENT(4THREE



Raided

F+)c n*nca0wr mnern mrm c+n ;K" rwcnwcr0w)**h

kan)t $+nw c+nh n)a+nm vh )y)acvnwc rw L)*)k))

On a Mon+ay in late 8epte#ber *(, I arri%e+ at -or' early, before anyone else -as in" As

I -al'e+ +o-n the hall, I starte+ hearin a faint ee#, ee#, ee#" I thoht I #st ha%e in&orre&tlyentere+ the alar# &o+e for ettin into the Telte& offi&es" Bt the farther I -ent +o-n the hall, thelo+er the beepin be&a#e"

Bee#:ee#, ee#:ee#, ee#:ee#I

The son+ -as &o#in fro# #y offi&e"

Maybe so#ebo+y ha+ stashe+ an ele&troni& alar# of so#e sort at #y +es'H No" It -as so#ethin else" My early:-arnin syste#" The beepin ha+ been triere+ by the soft-are pa&'ae #onitorin #y s&anner" The s&anner -as pi&'in p an 2BI &ell phone in the area" Shit shit shit shit shit "

The &o#pter sho-e+ #e the phone n#ber of the &ell phone that ha+ triere+ the alar#6(* J)):9*" Ken Mc3*ire/s ce #hone"

The DDI soft-are on #y &o#pter sho-e+ that the alar# ha+ been triere+ at 969 a"#", a&ople of hors earlier"

M&7ire ha+ been in the area, so#e-here near Telte&" My &o#pter -as also sho-in the +iits M&7ire ha+ +iale+6 * ):" Ba&' inthose +ays, in Los Aneles, the 34 in that position of the phone n#ber sally #eant a pay phone"M&7ire -as &allin a pay phone in #y neihborhoo+"

Mo#ents later it hit #e, an+ it &onfir#e+ #y -orst fear6 M&7ire ha+ &alle+ the pay phonenear the 5illae Mar'et, the &on%enien&e store +ire&tly a&ross the street fro# #y apart#ent"

That -as only a &ople of #iles a-ay fro# Telte&, barely #ore than a fi%e:#inte +ri%e" A thosan+ thins -ere rnnin throh #y #in+" Why -ere they hereH They -ere settinp to follo- #e" Or they follo-e+ #e here to arrest #e" 8hol+ I rnH /i+eH 8it an+ -ait for the#to &o#e brstin throh the +oorH

I -as startle+" 8&are+" Terrifie+" Wait a #inte" If they ha+ &o#e to arrest #e, they -ol+ ha%e 'no&'e+ on #y +oor -hile I-as still in the apart#ent" Why -ol+ M&7ire &all the 5illae Mar'etH 8++enly the ans-er &a#e &lear6 to et asear&h -arrant, they -ol+ nee+ a +es&ription of #y apart#ent &o#ple= an+ the e=a&t lo&ation of#y nit" Maybe M&7ire -asn0t rea+y to arrest #e yet!he -as 1st ettin the lo&ation +etails thathe nee+e+ to pt into the sear&h -arrant before presentin it to a 1+e"

Mi&hael an+ Mar' both arri%e+ at -or'" I p+ate+ the#6 3$en M&7ire0s been to #yapart#ent this #ornin, -hile I -as still asleep"4 Their e=pressions -ere pri&eless6 3/o- the hell+oes he al-ays fin+ ot these thinsH4 All alon, they ha+ been fas&inate+ by #y stories abot ho-I -as penetratin the entire 2BI operation aainst #e" They ha+ been eatin it p, an+ this -as the

&apper" I athere+ p all #y personal belonins an+ hea+e+ +o-n the stairs to #y &ar, frea'e+ otan+ n&o#fortable, afrai+ at any #o#ent I0+ hear so#eone shot6 4Mitnick, F"!!7!56 In the



par'in area, I peere+ intently into e%ery &ar to see if there -ere any ys in sits 'eepin -at&h for#e"

As I &atiosly plle+ ot of the arae, #y eyes -ere all bt le+ to the rear%ie- #irror" I-as &on&entratin #ore on -hat #iht be behin+ #e than -hat -as in front"

I 1#pe+ onto the *)* 2ree-ay an+ nne+ it to Aora /ills, one &ity o%er, far enoha-ay that I -ol+ be &o#fortable sin #y &ell phone"

Rollin off the free-ay, I plle+ into a M&Donal+0s par'in lot" My first &all -as, natrally, to Le-is" 3The 2e+s are &o#in,4 I tol+ hi#"

Most e%erythin -ashe+ off Le-is" The shell of arroan&e -as sally i#penetrable" Not this ti#e" I &ol+ hear the ne-s ha+ #a+e hi# n&o#fortable, ner%os" If the 2e+s -eretaretin #e, they ha+ to 'no- he0+ been in%ol%e+ in #y ha&'in" It -as al#ost a +ea+ &ertaintythat they -ol+n0t -ant 1st Mitni&'"

I -ent ba&' to #y apart#ent an+ -ent throh it thorohly, in&h by in&h, ron+in pe%erythin I ha+ a&&#late+ sin&e the last &leanp that #iht help #a'e a &ase aainst #e" Papers,+is's, s&raps of anythin -ith -ritin on it" An+ the sa#e -ith #y &ar"

That e%enin I 'no&'e+ on Mar' $as+en0s +oor an+ as'e+ if I &ol+ store the stff in his&loset alon -ith the earlier stash I ha+ left -ith hi#"

I retrne+ to #y apart#ent an+ #o%e+ #y &o#pter ba&' on&e #ore to #y father0s frien+0s pla&e, -here I ha+ hi++en it on&e before"

When I -as finishe+, I -as satisfie+ I -as thorohly &lean" I boo'e+ into a s#all #otel 1st +o-n the street, afrai+ to stay in #y o-n apart#ent" I +i+n0tsleep %ery -ell an+ -as a-a'e early, tossin an+ trnin"

Tes+ay #ornin I +ro%e to -or' feelin li'e a &hara&ter in a ba+ spy #o%ie6 Anyheli&optersH Cro-n 5i&toriasH 8spi&ios:loo'in ys in sits an+ short hair&tsH

Nothin" I felt the other shoe &ol+ +rop at any #o#ent" Bt the +ay -ent by pea&eflly" I a&tally #anae+ to et so#e -or' +one" Dri%in ho#e, I stoppe+ by a +ohnt shop an+ boht a +o<en assorte+" On the +oor ofthe fri+e, I 8&ot&h:tape+ a note6 32BI +ohnts"4

On the bo=, in lare letters, I -rote6 FBI DOUGHNUT"

I hope+ they0+ be reay pset that I0+ 'no-n not only that I -as oin to be rai+e+, bt

e=a&tly when"The ne=t #ornin, 8epte#ber ), *(, no- ba&' in #y o-n apart#ent, I -as sleepin

fitflly, feelin ner%os an+ 1#py, ne%er @ite entirely asleep"Aron+ 96)) a"#", I -o'e p, alar#e+" 8o#eone -as 1ilin a 'ey in #y apart#ent +oor" I

-as e=pe&tin the 2e+s, bt they +on0t se a 'ey, they pon+" Was this so#ebo+y tryin to brea' inH

I shote+, 4&ho/s there6 hopin to s&are the intr+er a-ay"32BI!open p4 I thoht, 'his is it. -/m going ack to )ai "

E%en thoh I ha+ 'no-n they -ere &o#in, I -asn0t e#otionally prepare+" /o- &ol+ I beH I -as petrifie+ of ettin arreste+" I ans-ere+ the +oor, not e%en reali<in I -as star' na'e+" At the front of the pa&' -as a la+yaent, -ho &ol+n0t 'eep herself fro# lan&in +o-n"

Then a -hole tea# steppe+ into %ie- an+ pshe+ their -ay into the roo#" They shoo' +o-nthe pla&e -hile I ot +resse+, e%en thorohly inspe&tin the &ontents of the fri+e" No one&o##ente+ or &ra&'e+ a s#ile at #y 32BI +ohnts4 sin, an+ the entire +o<en -ent nto&he+"

Bt I ha+ +one a oo+ &leanp 1ob" They +i+n0t fin+ anythin in&ri#inatin in the fri+e,

an+ they +i+n0t fin+ anythin any-here else that -ol+ help their &ase"Of &orse they +i+n0t li'e that, an+ they +i+n0t li'e #y nai%e, playin:+#b attit+e"

One aent sat +o-n at the 'it&hen table an+ sai+, 3Co#e o%er here, let0s tal'"4 2BI aents



are enerally %ery polite, an+ this y an+ I 'ne- ea&h other" /e -as 8pe&ial Aent Ri&har+Beasley, an aent -ho ha+ been in%ol%e+ in #y DEC &ase" /e sai+ in a frien+ly tone an+ -ith -hatson+e+ li'e a Te=as +ra-l, 3$e%in, this is yor se&on+ ti#e aron+" We0re sear&hin De Payneriht no-" /e0s &ooperatin" .nless yo &ooperate, yo0re oin to be sittin on the ba&' of the

bs"4I ha+ ne%er hear+ the e=pression before, bt the #eanin -as &lear6 the first y to roll o%er

on the other one ets a #&h better +eal" Le-is an+ I ha+ tal'e+ abot this #any ti#es" 3What-ol+ yo +o if the poli&e @estione+ yoH4 one of s -ol+ as' the other"

The ans-er al-ays -as, 3Tell the# to tal' to #y la-yer"4 I -asn0t oin to rat on hi#, an+ I 'ne- he0+ be a stan+:p y for #e, as -ell" Beasley plle+ ot a tape &assette" /e as'e+ #e, 3Do yo ha%e a &assette playerH4

4No56

I &ol+n0t fire this" The aen&y that li'es to thin' it0s the best la- enfor&e#ent aen&y inthe .nite+ 8tates, if not the -orl+, &o#es -ith a &assette tape they -ant #e to listen to bt nobo+ythin's to brin alon a playerH

One of the other aents spotte+ #y lare boo# bo= an+ broht it o%er" Beasley pt in the&assette an+ pn&he+ Play"

I hear+ a &all bein +iale+ an+ Mar' $as+en tal'in in the ba&'ron+" Then #y %oi&e" Itson+e+ li'e Mar' an+ I -ere tal'in in the sa#e roo#" I &ol+ hear the rinin son+ after the+iits -ere +iale+"

The ne=t %oi&e to spill ot of the boo# bo= sai+ so#ethin li'e, 3Wel&o#e to Pa&ifi& Bell%oi&e#ail" Please enter yor #ailbo= n#ber"4

More +iits bein +iale+" 3Please enter yor pass-or+"4 3Yo ha%e three ne- #essaes"4 An+ then, 3/i, Darrell, this is Da%i+ 8i#on" Please &all #e at * K:("4 Then another &all" My %oi&e aain, sayin, 3/ey, Dete&ti%e 8i#on 1st &alle+ 8antos"4 Beasley sht off the tape player" 3What +o yo ha%e to sayH4 he &hallene+" I0# afrai+ I sneere+ at hi#" 3It0s a#a<in -hat the 2BI &an +o -ith te&hnoloy"4 I sai+ it arroantly, loo'in hi# straiht in the eye" Another aent -ho0+ been stan+in ne=t to s throhot this e=&hane rea&he+ o%er,rabbe+ the boo# bo=, an+ yan'e+ the &assette +oor riht off" Li'e a for:year:ol+ ha%in a te#pertantr#"

The aents fanne+ ot to sear&h" I sat at the table -at&hin" Another aent arri%e+" /e han+e+ #e his &ar+, -hi&h sai+ 38per%isory 8pe&ial Aent"4 /eopene+ a lare loose:leaf noteboo' he ha+ broht an+ starte+ 1ottin notes" After a fe- #o#ents,he loo'e+ p an+ as'e+, 3Where0s his &o#pterH4

3We +i+n0t fin+ one,4 he -as tol+" /e loo'e+ annoye+" They 'ept sear&hin"

2inally I as'e+ the aent in &hare, 3A# I n+er arrestH4 3No,4 he sai+" &haaaat55 Not n+er arrestH I &ol+n0t belie%e it" That #a+e no sense" Bt he -asn0ttoyin -ith #e" None of the other aents e%en flin&he+" It #st be tre" Let0s test this6

3If I0# not n+er arrest, I0# lea%in,4 I sai+" 3Where toH4 the sper%isory aent as'e+" 3To #y +a+0s, to as' hi# if I shol+ &ooperate"4 %oo#erate< yeah, sre" Bt -hate%er Inee+e+ to say so I &ol+ et ot of there, to so#epla&e I &ol+ feel &o#fortable"

The aent thoht abot it for a #o#ent" If I -asn0t bein arreste+, -hat -as the point of#a'in #e stay there -at&hin the# ransa&' #y apart#entH

3O'ay,4 he sai+"



They fris'e+ #e, fon+ #y -allet, an+ sear&he+ it" They fon+ nothin interestin insi+e"An+ they let #e -al' ot" Three aents follo-e+ #e to #y &ar" After I nlo&'e+ it, they starte+ to sear&h" 8hit!theyfon+ a bo= of floppies I ha+ o%erloo'e+ in the lo%e bo=" I -as +is#aye+ an+ -orrie+" They -ere+elihte+"

When they ha+ finishe+ sear&hin #y &ar, they opene+ the +oors an+ ot in, sittin there li'e

-e -ere best frien+s oin on an otin toether" I -as sho&'e+"I sai+, 3What are yo ys +oin in #y &arH4

3We0re oin -ith yo to yor +a+0s"4 3No, yo0re not" 7et ot of #y &ar4 An+ -ha++aya 'no-H They +i+" They ot into t-o 2BI &ars an+ follo-e+ #e for the +ri%e to -here #y father -as thenli%in, -ith a ne- irlfrien+ I +i+n0t #&h li'e"

When -e ot to #y +a+0s hose, they sai+ they -ante+ to o in -ith #e" I tol+ the# they&ol+n0t, that I -ante+ to ha%e a +is&ssion -ith hi# alone"

They +i+n0t lea%e, 1st ot ba&' into their &ars an+ sat -hile I -ent insi+e" I ha+n0t finishe+ #y &leanp at Telte& an+ nee+e+ to et ba&' there -ithot an 2BI

sr%eillan&e tea#" When I loo'e+ ot, they -ere still sittin there" I -ent ot an+ tol+ the# #y +a+an+ I ha+ +e&i+e+ I -as oin to &onslt an attorney before spea'in -ith the#" I -as tryin to i%ethe# a li##er of hope that I #iht &ooperate, e%en thoh I ha+ no intention of +oin so"

They finally left" As soon as they -ere ot of siht, I hstle+ to #y &ar an+ spe+ to Telte&" An+ -hy +i+n0t I et to #eet Aent $en M&7ire or Pa&ifi& Bell0s Terry At&hley on thatfatefl +ayH They ha+ one to De Payne0s, hopin to et hi# to flip on #e, rat #e ot"

Le-is offere+ to +o e=a&tly that" I0%e rea+ the 2BI report of the &on%ersation6 Le-is 'eepsofferin to tal', bt 'eeps as'in for assran&es" An+ he 'eeps sayin that I0# +aneros an+ he0safrai+ of #e"

8o I ha+n0t been arreste+, an+ I 'ne- the aents -ol+n0t fin+ anythin in&ri#inatin in #yapart#ent" My ess -as that they -ere loo'in for so#ethin #ore serios than &a%ortin -ithLe-is to &hare #e -ith"

At the ti#e I still +i+n0t 'no- that Telte& ha+ been rai+e+ #onths earlier, so I ha+ no reasonto thin' the 2e+s #iht be sha'in +o-n $as+en0s apart#ent at the sa#e ti#e they -ere sear&hin#ine" Bt that -as e=a&tly -hat they -ere +oin, apparently ha%in fire+ that #y ha&'in #iht

be tie+ in so#eho- -ith Telte&0s illeal a&ti%ities!a&&essin TRW -ith stolen #er&hant&re+entials, an+ so on" 8o #&h for #y briht i+ea that I &ol+ safely stash #y +is's an+ notes atMar'0s"

Bt ti#e #iht be on #y si+e" My sper%ise+ release fro# #y &on%i&tion for ha&'in intoDEC -ith Lenny DiCi&&o -as +e to e=pire in less than three #onths" If the 2e+s ha+n0t sho-n p

-ith an arrest -arrant by then, I -ol+ be s&ot:free"The &o#pter I -as sin at Telte& +i+n0t ha%e any en&ryption tools on it, an+ I ha+ to #a'esre the aents +i+n0t et anythin #ore on #e"

I plle+ p at Telte& an+ +ashe+ p the stairs" 2antasti&!no tea# of 2e+eral aents at -or'".nbelie%able I sat +o-n at the &o#pter in #y offi&e an+ a%e the &o##an+s for erasin all +ata" In &aseyo +on0t alrea+y 'no- this it0s been in the ne-s fro# ti#e to ti#e, perhaps #ost notably -henWhite /ose staffer Marine Lietenant Colonel Oli%er North0s &o%er:p atte#pt o%er the Iran:Contra affair ot trippe+ p, si#ply i%in 3Delete4 &o##an+s +oesn0t trly erase +ata fro# a&o#pter0s har+ +ri%e" Instea+, it 1st &hanes the na#e of ea&h file to si#ply #ar' it as ha%in

been +elete+; those ite#s no loner sho- p in sear&hes, bt they0re still store+ on the +ri%e, an+

they &an be re&o%ere+"8o instea+ of 1st i%in Delete &o##an+s, I se+ a prora# &alle+ 3WipeInfo,4 part of the

Norton .tilities site" WipeInfo is +esine+ not 1st to #ar' files as +elete+ bt to -rite o%er the#



se%eral ti#es so they &an no loner be re&o%ere+" When the prora# -as +one, there -as no -ay asinle file of #ine &ol+ ha%e been re&o%ere+ fro# that +ri%e"

I &alle+ #y Telte& boss Mi&hael 7rant an+ tol+ hi# abot the rai+" /e -ante+ to 'no-,3Where are yo no-H4 3I0# at the offi&e"4 3What are yo +oinH4

3I0# -ipin #y &o#pter &lean"4 /e -as frios an+ trie+ to or+er #e to stop" In&re+ible" I ha+ thoht -e -ere a tea#; I ha+thoht he an+ his father -ol+ be on #y si+e" Instea+ he -as tryin to tal' #e into lea%in thee%i+en&e on #y &o#pter" It son+e+ li'e the Telte& bosses #iht be hopin to sli#e their -ay otof the troble they -ere in by helpin the 2e+s bil+ a &ase aainst #e"

In fa&t, one of #y fello- e#ployees at Telte&!another in%estiator -ho ha+ be&o#e a b++y of #ine!later &onfir#e+ that this -as e=a&tly -hat Mi&hael 7rant trie+ to +o shortly afterthat6 #a'e a +eal -ith the 2e+s to o easy on hi# an+ his +a+ in e=&hane for their testifyinaainst #e"

I -as sa+ an+ +isappointe+ -hen #y sspi&ions -ere &onfir#e+" I ha+ thoht Mi&hael7rant -as #y frien+" I ne%er a%e e%i+en&e aainst anyone, e%en thoh I &ol+ ha%e #a+e +eals

that -ol+ ha%e reatly benefite+ #e"I ess -hen yor frien+s are people -ho are brea'in the la-, yo0re nai%e if yo e=pe&t

loyalty" A &ople of +ays later, Mi&hael 7rant tol+ #e I -as throh at Telte&" I ess I shol+n0tha%e been srprise+"



TWENT(4FOUR



Vani%hing Ac#

>vo$ )g +is mns g hv+ thss kt$$ ? ci$sok !A? *o)thwshsg

By No%e#ber I -as still 1obless bt -as #a'in a little #oney +oin stff for Telte&0s

for#er e#ployee Danny Yelin, -ho ha+ so#e otsi+e assin#ents he -as fee+in to #e" Thinsli'e fin+in people for &ar repossessions6 I -ol+ tra&' the# throh the pbli& tilities an+ theWelfare Depart#ent"

Mean-hile I -as sittin on a ti#e bo#b6 the 2e+s -ol+ be porin o%er all the stff of #inethey ha+ pi&'e+ p fro# Mar'0s apart#ent, pls -hate%er they ha+ rabbe+ fro# Le-is0s, an+#iht fin+ ron+s for sen+in #e ba&' to 1ail"

What shol+ I +oH Well, for the #o#ent, I thoht it -ol+ be &o#fortin to be -ith #y #o# an+ 7ra# forThan'si%in, so I &alle+ #y Probation Offi&er, 2ran' 7lla, an+ as'e+ for per#ission, halfe=pe&tin to be trne+ +o-n" 8rprisinly, he rante+ the per#ission, so lon as I retrne+ byDe&e#ber "

I -ol+ later learn that ba&' on No%e#ber 9, the Probation Depart#ent ha+ -ritten to the&ort as'in for a ben&h -arrant for #y arrest, &itin #y a&&essin of a Pa&ifi& Bell se&rity aent0s%oi&e#ail an+ #y asso&iatin -ith Le-is De Payne" The ben&h -arrant -as isse+ the ne=t +ay,settin bail at (J,)))"

8o -hy +i+ 7lla i%e #e per#ission to lea%e to-n, instea+ of tellin #e I nee+e+ to &o#ein an+ see hi#H I ha%en0t fire+ that ot to this +ay"

When yo0re on 2e+eral parole, probation, or sper%ise+ release, yo nee+ to &he&' in -iththe lo&al Probation Depart#ent -hene%er yo tra%el to a +ifferent 2e+eral +istri&t" The #orninafter I arri%e+ in Las 5eas, I hea+e+ +o-nto-n to the Bonne%ille A%ene offi&e to &he&' in"

Natral instin&t tol+ #e I shol+ #a'e sre there -asn0t anythin oin on that I -ol+-ant to 'no- abot before I ot there" I 1st ha+ a t feelin that so#ethin #iht be p"

In the &ar, I ha+ a ha# ra+io that I0+ #o+ifie+ so I &ol+ trans#it an+ re&ei%e otsi+e thefre@en&y ban+s athori<e+ for a#ater ra+io operators" I tne+ to one of the Las 5easMetropolitan Poli&e Depart#ent0s ta&ti&al fre@en&ies"

I listene+ for half an hor or so to pi&' p the proto&ol a &op -ol+ se -hen he -ante+ toas' if there -as an otstan+in -arrant on the y +ri%in a &ar he ha+ stoppe+" /e0+ say, 3I nee+ a*):( on li&ense plate ZZZZ"4

At the sa#e ti#e, I -as ta'in #ental note of the i+entifiers the &ops se+ -hen &allinDispat&h!for e=a#ple, 3* 7eore (*"4 The Dispat&h operator -ol+ respon+, 37o ahea+, *7eore (*"4

What +i+ they say -hen they -ere ta'in ti#e for ln&h or -hate%erH A &all -ol+ &o#eo%er the air that in&l+e+ phrases li'e, 3Co+e K, Denny0s, Ran&ho Dri%e"4

I -aite+ ten #intes, then presse+ the Trans#it 'ey on #y ra+io, se+ the sa#e &all sin asso#e &ops -ho -ere at that #o#ent en1oyin ln&h at Denny0s, an+ sai+, 3I nee+ a *):( onCalifornia li&ense plate?,4 an+ a%e #y o-n plate n#ber"

After a #o#ent, the &ontrol operator sai+, 3Are yo &lear )H4 My heart bean ra&in" What +i+ 3)4 #eanH I ha+ no i+ea"

I ra+ioe+ ba&', 38tan+ by"4 .sin #y &lone+ &ell phone, I &alle+ the poli&e in the nearby to-n of /en+erson an+ sai+,3This is 8pe&ial Aent >i# Casey, DEA" I0# in Las 5eas -ith the Mlti:Aen&y Nar&oti&s Tas'



2or&e" I nee+ to 'no- -hat )0 #eans in Las 5eas"43That0s a -ante+ person"4

Oh, shit5 8o 3Are yo &lear )H4 #eant 3Are yo stan+in a-ay fro# the -ante+ person,so I &an tell yo -hat he0s -ante+ forH4 The Las 5eas poli&e -ere hol+in a -arrant for #e that&ite+ #y &ar0s li&ense tas"

If I -al'e+ into the Probation Offi&e, it -as e=tre#ely li'ely I0+ be pt in han+&ffs an+ sent

ba&' to prison I felt reat relief that I0+ +o+e+ that bllet, bt I -as -ashe+ -ith fear"I -as 1st &o#in p on the entry to the 8ahara /otel" I s-n into their par'in lot, par'e+,

an+ -al'e+ a-ay fro# the &ar" The 8ahara" It &ol+n0t ha%e been any #ore &on%enient" My #o# happene+ to be -or'inas a -aitress in the &offee shop" I santere+ throh the lit< an+ litter of the &asino, past the eaer,@ietly ro-+y players thro-in +i&e at the &raps tables an+ the hor+es of sil%er:haire+, +ea+:eye+-o#en fee+in the slot #a&hines"

I sat at a table ntil #y #o#0s shift en+e+ an+ she &ol+ +ri%e #e to her hose" When I tol+her an+ #y ran+#other that I -as %ery li'ely on #y -ay ba&' to prison, the fa#ily -as thro-ninto tr#oil" Than'si%in is sppose+ to be a happy, festi%e o&&asion, bt there -as no happinessfor s that year, no i%in of than's"

O%er the ne=t fe- +ays, instea+ of oin into the Probation Offi&e, I #a+e t-o after:hors phone &alls there, lea%in #essaes on the ans-erin #a&hine that I -as reportin in by phone be&ase #y #o# -as si&' an+ I &ol+n0t lea%e her"

Was #y Probation Offi&er &allin the# abot ta'in #e into &sto+yH I ha+ re&oni<e+ thesynthesi<e+ %oi&e on the otoin #essae on the Probation Offi&e ans-erin #a&hine, -hi&h&le+ #e in abot -hat type of ans-erin #a&hine they ha+" That #anfa&trer se+ 3)))4 as the+efalt &o+e for retrie%in #essaes" I trie+ an+, yes, on&e aain nobo+y ha+ bothere+ to &hane the+efalt &o+e" I &alle+ e%ery &ople of hors, listenin to all the #essaes" /appily, there -ere nonefro# #y Probation Offi&er"

My ran+#other, #y #other, an+ her boyfrien+, 8te%e $nittle, +ro%e #e ba&' to LosAneles" I &ertainly -asn0t oin to be +ri%in #y o-n &ar" We arri%e+ late on De&e#ber , the +ay#y tra%el per#it e=pire+" I -al'e+ into #y apart#ent -ith no -ay of 'no-in that ."8" MarshalBrian 8alt ha+ &o#e by to arrest #e early that #ornin" I staye+ for the ne=t three +ays, s&are+ an+an=ios, e=pe&tin the 2BI to sho- p at any #inte, lea%in %ery early e%ery #ornin, an+ ointo a #o%ie e%ery niht to +istra&t #yself" Maybe another y -ol+ ha%e been ot +rin'in an+

partyin all niht, bt #y ner%es -ere shot" I fire+ these #iht be #y last +ays of free+o# for a-hile"

Bt I -asn0t oin to lea%e LA aain ntil #y sper%ise+ release en+e+" I ha+ +e&i+e+ ifthey &a#e for #e, so be it!they &ol+ ta'e #e" Bt if they +i+n0t &o#e by the ti#e #y sper%ise+release e=pire+, I ha+ +e&i+e+ on #y ftre6 I -ol+ be&o#e so#eone else an+ +isappear" I -ol+o to li%e in so#e other &ity, far a-ay fro# California" $e%in Mitni&' -ol+ be no #ore"

I trie+ to thin' throh #y plans for oin on the rn" Where -ol+ I li%e -hile I set p a phony i+entityH What &ity shol+ I pi&' as #y ne- ho#eH /o- -ol+ I earn a li%inHThe i+ea of bein far a-ay fro# #y #other an+ ran+#other -as +e%astatin to #e be&ase

I lo%e+ the# so #&h" I hate+ the i+ea of pttin the# throh any #ore pain"At the stro'e of #i+niht on De&e#ber K, *(, #y sper%ise+ release offi&ially e=pire+"

No &all fro# #y Probation Offi&er, no early:#ornin rai+" What a relief" I -as a free #an" Or so I thoht" My #other, ran+#other, an+ 8te%e ha+ been stayin at #y &osin Tr+y0s" We no-s-it&he+ pla&es, #y #other an+ 8te%e #o%in into #y pla&e to pa&' p all #y thins -hile I#o%e+ in -ith #y ran+#other at Tr+y0s" No point hanin aron+ the apart#ent no- that #ysper%ise+ release -as p"

People -ho -ear or &arry ba+es so#eti#es -or' in #ysterios -ays" Early on the #orninof De&e#ber *), three +ays after #y sper%ise+ release en+e+, #y #other an+ 8te%e -ere at #yapart#ent in the last stae of pa&'in p #y thins an+ #a'in arrane#ents for #o%in the



frnitre" A 'no&' at the +oor" The #inions of la- enfor&e#ent ha+ finally sho-n p, a trio of the#this ti#e6 ."8" Marshal Brian 8alt, an 2BI aent -hose na#e #y #o# +i+n0t &at&h, an+ #yne#esis, Aent $en M&7ire, -ho# I ha+ still ne%er seen or #et in person" My #other bra<enlytol+ the# that she an+ I ha+ ha+ an ar#ent a fe- +ays earlier" I ha+ left, she sai+, an+ she ha+n0thear+ fro# #e sin&e an+ +i+n0t 'no- -here I -as" 8he a++e+, 3$e%in0s probation is p"4

When 8alt sai+ he ha+ a -arrant for #y arrest an+ ha+ left a noti&e on #y +oor for #e to

&onta&t hi#, she tol+ hi# the trth6 3/e ne%er sa- any noti&e" /e -ol+0%e tol+ #e if he ha+"48he then ha+ a shotin #at&h -ith the aents o%er -hether or not #y probation -as p"

Later she tol+ #e she -asn0t the least bit inti#i+ate+ by the#" In her opinion, they -erea&tin li'e i+iots!espe&ially the one -ho opene+ the refrierator an+ peere+ insi+e, as if he thohtI #iht be hi+in in there" 8he ha+ 1st loo'e+ at the aent an+ lahe+ at hi#" Of &orse, he #ihtha%e been &he&'in to see if I ha+ left any +ohnts aain"

They finally -ent a-ay, e#pty:han+e+ an+ -ith no infor#ation" As far as I -as &on&erne+, I -as a free #an!free to lea%e Los Aneles before any ne-&hares -ere file+ aainst #e" Bt I 'ne- I &ol+n0t ri+e ba&' to Las 5eas -ith #y #other" That -ol+ be too +aneros;they #iht be -at&hin her" 8o 7ra# offere+ to +ri%e #e ba&' to 5eas after I finishe+ p so#e

bsiness in LA"One nfinishe+ pie&e of bsiness -as still hantin #e" I ha+ &onne+ the DM5 into sen+in

#e a &opy of Eri& /ein<0s +ri%er0s li&ense, bt I0+ se+ #y safety pre&ation of ha%in the first$in'o0s for-ar+ it to a se&on+ one!1st in &ase la- enfor&e#ent ha+ &aht on an+ -as sta'inot the pla&e, -aitin for #e" 8in&e -hat I pi&'e+ p ha+ been fa=e+ t-i&e, the i#ae -as so rainythat it ha+n0t been #&h help" I still -ante+ to et the +ri%er0s li&ense photoraphs of Wernle, Ways,an+ /ein< to see if any of the# -ere the sa#e person"

On De&e#ber (, Christ#as E%e, 1st before startin to loa+ #y thins into 7ra#0s &ar, I&alle+ the DM5 posin as Larry Crrie, the na#e of a real in%estiator -ith the Los AnelesConty Welfare 2ra+ .nit" 7i%in that nit0s Re@ester Co+e, alon -ith Crrie0s PIN, birth +ate,an+ +ri%er0s li&ense n#ber, I re@este+ 8on+e=es on Eri& /ein<, >oseph Wernle, an+ >osephWays"

The te&hni&ian -ho too' #y re@est ha+ been alerte+" 8he notifie+ DM5 8enior 8pe&ialIn%estiator E+ Lo%eless, -ho, a&&or+in to an offi&ial report file+ after-ar+, +i+ a little &he&'inan+ fon+ that the fa= n#ber I0+ pro%i+e+ belone+ to a $in'o0s in 8t+io City"

Lo%eless tol+ the te&hni&ian to #a'e p a phony 8on+e=, an+ she prepare+ one -ith a pi&tre of 3Annie Dri%er,4 a fi&tional &hara&ter the aen&y se+ for instr&tional prposes" ThenLo%eless &onta&te+ an in%estiator at the DM5 offi&e in 5an Nys an+ as'e+ her to sta'e ot the$in'o0s lo&ation to i+entify an+ arrest the person -ho &a#e in to pi&' p the fa=" The in%estiatorre&rite+ so#e &olleaes to a&&o#pany her, an+ the 2BI -as notifie+ an+ aree+ to sen+ an aentof its o-n" All of this -as oin on -hen the only thin e%erybo+y really -ante+ -as to be at

ho#e, ettin rea+y for Christ#as E%e"A fe- hors after &allin to re@est those 8on+e=es fro# the DM5, -ith #y thins no- pa&'e+ into #y ran+#other0s &ar, -e ate ln&h -ith Tr+y" I sai+ #y oo+:byes an+ tol+ her ho-#&h I ha+ appre&iate+ bein able to stay -ith her" 8he an+ I ha+n0t been in &lose &onta&t, so thefa%or she0+ +one #e see#e+ all the #ore spe&ial"

As 7ra# an+ I set ot, I tol+ her I ha+ a s#all erran+ to +o that -ol+ ta'e #e only a#inte" We hea+e+ for $in'o0s" By no- the for DM5 inspe&tors, +resse+ as sal in their &i%ilian &lothes, -ere ettini#patient" They ha+ been -aitin for #ore than t-o hors alrea+y" The 2BI aent +etaile+ to 1ointhe# ha+ sho-n p, hn aron+ for a -hile, an+ then ta'en off aain"

I +ire&te+ #y ran+#other to the $in'o0s, in a strip #all at Larel Canyon an+ 5entra, in

8t+io City so:&alle+ be&ase of the nearby Disney, Warner0s, an+ .ni%ersal lots" I pointe+ ot-here I -ante+ her to par', in a han+i&appe+ spa&e otsi+e a sper#ar'et, a &ople of hn+re+ feetor so fro# the $in'o0s" 8he hn her han+i&appe+ pla&ar+ on the rear%ie- #irror as I ot ot of the



&ar"Yo #iht e=pe&t that $in'o0s -ol+ be e#pty on Christ#as E%e" Instea+ it -as as fll of

people as it -ol+0%e been in the #i++le of a -or'+ay" I -aite+ in line at the fa= &onter forso#ethin li'e t-enty #intes, ro-in in&reasinly i#patient" My poor ran+#other -as -aitinfor #e, an+ I -ante+ nothin #ore than to pi&' p the 8on+e=es an+ et ot of to-n"

2inally I 1st -al'e+ behin+ the &onter #yself, flippe+ throh the en%elopes of in&o#in

fa=es, an+ plle+ ot the one labele+ -ith #y alias, 3Larry Crry -hi&h the DM5 ha+ #isspelle+ !it -as a&tally 3Crrie4S, Los Aneles Conty Welfare 2ra+"4 When I plle+ the sheets ot ofthe #anila en%elope, I -as pisse+ off6 not -hat I0+ as'e+ for, 1st a pi&tre of a non+es&ript la+y"&hat the $*ck I 'ne- DM5 e#ployees &ol+ be la<y an+ in&o#petent, bt this too' the &a'e"&hat idiots5 I thoht"

I -ante+ to &all the DM5 an+ tal' to the stpi+ te&hni&ian, bt I ha+ left #y &ell phone inthe &ar" I starte+ pa&in ba&' an+ forth throh $in'o0s, tryin to +e&i+e -hether it -ol+ be tooris'y to as' a &ler' to se one of the store0s phones, or if I shol+ se the pay phone otsi+e"

I -as to learn #&h later ho- %ery &rios a s&ene this #st ha%e been for anyone there-ho noti&e+6 as I pa&e+ ba&' an+ forth starin at the fa= an+ tryin to +e&i+e -hat to +o, the DM5in%estiators -ere follo-in in #y footsteps, 'eepin &lose behin+ #e" E%ery ti#e I trne+ in the

opposite +ire&tion, they -ol+ s-in riht ba&' into position behin+ #e, as if -e -ere all part ofso#e &lo-n a&t at the &ir&s"

At last I steppe+ otsi+e the ba&' entran&e, an+ -al'e+ o%er to the pay phone" As I pi&'e+p the re&ei%er an+ starte+ +ialin, I noti&e+ for sits -al'in ot in #y +ire&tion"

(*h, I thoht" I ha+n0t pai+ for the fa= yet, an+ no- there -as oin to be troble o%er the&ople of b&'s I o-e+" All for -ere loo'in +ire&tly at #e"

I sai+, 3What +o yo -antH4 starin +o-n the -o#an, -ho -as &losest to #e" 3DM5 in%estiators!-e -ant to tal' to yo4 Droppin the pay phone han+set, I &alle+ ot, 3Yo 'no- -hatH - +on0t -ant to tal' to yo*54-hile tossin the fa= into the air, &al&latin that one or #ore of the# -ol+ o for it"

I -as alrea+y rnnin throh the par'in lot" My heart -as ra&in, #y a+renaline p#pin"I fo&se+ all #y enery on otrnnin #y prsers"

Those #any hors I0+ spent in the y#, +ay after +ay, #onth after #onth, pai+ off" Thehn+re+ pon+s I ha+ she+ #a+e all the +ifferen&e" I ran north throh the par'in lot, +ashe+ o%era narro- -oo+en footbri+e lea+in into a resi+ential area +otte+ -ith pal# trees, an+ 'ept rnninas har+ as I &ol+, ne%er loo'in ba&'" I -as e=pe&tin to hear a heli&opter at any #inte" I nee+e+to &hane #y appearan&e, an+ @i&', so if an air nit -as +ispat&he+ to sear&h for #e, I &ol+ slo-to a -al' an+ blen+ in -ith the nor#al street traffi&"

When I -as far enoh ahea+ to be ot of #y prsers0 siht, -ithot slo-in I bean toshe+ &lothes" 8till a y# rat, I -as -earin shorts an+ a y# shirt n+er #y street &lothin" I ot off#y oter shirt an+ thre- it o%er a he+e as I ran" I +&'e+ +o-n an alley, steppe+ ot of #y trosers

an+ +#pe+ the# in the bshes in so#eone0s yar+, then starte+ rnnin aain"I 'ept p the pa&e for forty:fi%e #intes, ntil I -as sre the DM5 aents ha+ i%en p"8i&' to #y sto#a&h an+ feelin as if I #iht %o#it fro# the e=ertion, I +&'e+ into a neihborhoo+

bar to rest an+ &at&h #y breath"I -as happy abot #y narro- es&ape bt +istresse+ all the sa#e" I fon+ a pay phone in the

ba&' of the bar an+ +iale+ #y o-n &ell phone, still in 7ra#0s &ar" I &alle+ o%er an+ o%er an+ o%er" No ans-er"

An+ aain" An+ still no ans-er" 8hit Why -asn0t she pi&'in pH I -as afrai+ she #iht0%eone into $in'o0s loo'in for #e, #aybe e%en as'e+ the &ler's or other &sto#ers if they0+ seen#e" Da#n I ha+ to et hol+ of her"

Ti#e for a Plan B" I &alle+ the sper#ar'et an+ tol+ the person -ho ans-ere+ that #y

el+erly ran+#other -as par'e+ in the han+i&appe+ spot riht otsi+e the #ar'et" 3I -as sppose+to #eet her,4 I e=plaine+, 3bt I0# st&' in traffi&" Col+ so#eone please o ot an+ brin her tothe phoneH I0# -orrie+ abot her health"4



I pa&e+ ba&' an+ forth, -aitin an+ -aitin" 2inally the #an I0+ spo'en to ot ba&' on the phone an+ sai+ he ha+n0t been able to fin+ her" Oh, $*ck5 /a+ she %entre+ insi+e $in'o0sH I -asoin ot of #y #in+ -on+erin -hat &ol+ be happenin"

At last I #anae+ to tra&' +o-n #y &osin Tr+y an+ tell her -hat -as oin on" Afteryellin at #e, she +ro%e to the par'in lot an+ sear&he+ p an+ +o-n the ro-s ntil she fon+7ra#0s &ar!not in front of the sper#ar'et bt otsi+e $in'o0s" My si=ty:si=:year:ol+ ray:haire+

ran+#other -as still sittin in the +ri%er0s seat -aitin for #e"The t-o of the# 1oine+ #e at a nearby Dpar0s restarant, -hi&h I ha+ #a+e #y -ay to on

foot, feelin si&' o%er 7ra#0s ha%in ha+ to sit in her &ar for -hat by no- -as abot three hors"When they -al'e+ in the +oor, I -as hely relie%e+ to see that she -as o'ay"

3I 'ept &allin yo!-hy +i+n0t yo ans-er the phoneH4 I as'e+" 3I hear+ it rinin, bt I +on0t 'no- ho- to se a &ell phone,4 she ans-ere+" In&re+ible It ha+ ne%er &rosse+ #y #in+ that a &ell phone #iht be a #ystery to her"

After abot an hor of -aitin, she sai+, she ha+ one into the $in'o0s" It -as ob%ios thatso#ethin -as oin on, so#ethin that loo'e+ to her li'e poli&e a&ti%ity" One la+y -as hol+in a

plasti& ba -ith a %i+eotape in it" When I as'e+ -hat she loo'e+ li'e, 7ra# +es&ribe+ the la+yDM5 aent -ho ha+ &hase+ #e"

In the nor#al &orse of #y ha&'in, I ne%er felt ilty abot ettin infor#ation I -asn0tsppose+ to ha%e or tal'in &o#pany e#ployees into i%in #e hihly sensiti%e, proprietaryinfor#ation" Bt -hen I thoht abot #y ran+#other, -ho ha+ +one so #&h for #e an+ &are+ so#&h for #e all #y life, sittin there in her &ar for so lon, -aitin an+ an=ios, I -as fille+ -ithre#orse"

An+ the %i+eotape she #entione+H Yo #ay ne%er ha%e noti&e+ this, bt e%ery $in'o0s hasse&rity &a#eras that re&or+ a &onstant %i+eo strea# onto a %i+eotape loop that &an hol+ so#ethinli'e t-enty:for hors0 -orth of +ata" That %i+eo no +obt &ontaine+ #ore than a fe- &lear i#aesof #e"

Those by the#sel%es -ol+n0t help the DM5 aents atta&h a na#e to the person they -ereno- loo'in for, bt so#ethin else -ol+" The fa= sheets I ha+ thro-n into the air -ere trne+o%er to a &ri#e lab, -hi&h s&&ee+e+ in liftin prints fro# the papers" 8oon enoh they ha+ ana#e6 $e%in Mitni&'"

When aents at the 2BI pt toether a 3si=:pa&'4!a set of si= photos, one of #e an+ fi%e ofother ran+o# ys!DM5 Inspe&tor 8hirley Lessia', #y prser, ha+ no troble pi&'in #e ot asthe person she ha+ &hase+"

I ha+ otrn Lessia' an+ her &olleaes, bt in another sense I -ol+ &ontine rnnin" I-as no- 3on the rn4!startin #y ne- life as a fiti%e"



PART THREE



On #he R!n



TWENT(4FIVE



Ha, Ho!dini

%ng1 1*ct ngy 1nk grsg sg1k0 *0 1nk 0kgr K0oi %koyy

"o I -as no- on the rn, a fiti%e" 7i%en -hat Depty Marshal 8alt ha+ tol+ #y #other!

that he ha+ a -arrant for #y arrest!it see#e+ li'e the only &hoi&e I ha+"Yet Da%i+ 8&hin+ler, the Assistant ."8" Attorney assine+ to #y &ase, -ol+ &onfi+e to #e

years later that he -as srprise+ to learn I ha+ ta'en off" What &ol+ he ha%e been thin'inH Eri&ha+ tol+ the 2BI that I -as asso&iatin -ith Le-is, ths %iolatin the ter#s of #y sper%ise+release, an+ I -as sre he #st also ha%e reporte+ that I ha+ obtaine+ fll a&&ess to 8A8 an+ ha+

probably been sin it to -iretap people" Pa&Bell 8e&rity ha+ fon+ ot I -as inter&eptin the

%oi&e#ail of at least one of its aents6 that -as another ne- &hare that &ol+ be file+ aainst #e"An+ Le-is ha+ been blabbin an+ brain to Eri& abot other ha&'in the t-o of s ha+ been+oin"

7ra# +i+ the +ri%in on the fi%e:hor hal to 5eas; I ha+n0t +ri%en at all sin&e fin+in otthat the 2e+s ha+ a -arrant ot for #y arrest" It -asn0t e=a&tly a 1oyfl trip" /o- &ol+ it beH

Rea&hin to-n after +ar', she +roppe+ #e off at the B+et /arbor 8ites, -here a frien+ ofors ha+ 'in+ly boo'e+ #e a roo# in his o-n na#e"

My first tas' -ol+ be to bil+ a ne- i+entity for #yself an+ then +isappear!e%en thoh it#eant lea%in behin+ frien+s an+ fa#ily an+ the life I ha+ been en1oyin" My oal -as to erase the

past an+ #a'e a fresh start to-ar+ a +ifferent 'in+ of ftre"8o ho- +i+ I 'no- ho- to o abot &reatin a ne- i+entityH If yo re#e#ber #y fa%orite

rea+in #aterial at the 8r%i%al Boo'store, -here I spent so #any +ays hanin ot as a 'i+, yoalrea+y 'no- the ans-er" That boo' 'he 2a#er 'ri# I ha+ soa'e+ p years before ha+ e=plaine+ thee=a&t steps for obtainin a ne- i+entity" I se+ the sa#e prin&iples bt approa&he+ the tas'+ifferently6 I nee+e+ a -or'able, te#porary ne- persona i##e+iately; on&e I ha+ relo&ate+, I &ol+ta'e #y ti#e in &reatin a se&on+, per#anent i+entity that I -ol+ li%e n+er for the rest of #y life"

On a prete=t &all to the Oreon DM5, &lai#in to be a Postal Inspe&tor, I as'e+ the &ler' torn a sear&h for anyone na#e+ Eri& Weiss -ho ha+ been born bet-een *J an+ *9!a ten:year

perio+ bra&'etin #y real birth year, *9" I -as loo'in for so#eone rohly #y sa#e ae, bt theyoner, the better" I -ol+ be applyin for a ne- +ri%er0s li&ense an+ 8o&ial 8e&rity &ar+, an+ theol+er #y ne- birth &ertifi&ate sai+ I -as, the #ore eyebro-s #y appli&ation -ol+ be li'ely toraise6 /o- &ol+ a person in his thirties, say, ne%er ha%e nee+e+ a 8o&ial 8e&rity n#berH

The DM5 la+y fon+ a fe- #at&hes, bt only one fit #y &riteria" The Eri& Weiss I &hose-as born in *9, #a'in hi# abot fi%e years yoner than I -as"

Why 3Eri& Weiss4H That -as the real na#e thoh a n#ber of sor&es also spell it 3Eri&hWeiss4 or 3Eri' Weis<4 of the #an the -orl+ 'no-s better as /arry /o+ini" Pi&'in it -as a bit ofhero -orship on #y part, a hol+o%er fro# #y early fas&ination -ith #ai&" As lon as I -as&hanin #y na#e, -hy not pay ho#ae to #y &hil+hoo+ i+olH

I &alle+ +ire&tory assistan&e an+ fon+ that 3#y4 Eri& Weiss ha+ a liste+ n#ber" I &alle+, heans-ere+, an+ I as'e+, 3Are yo the sa#e Eri& Weiss -ho -ent to P8.H4

/e sai+, 3No, I ra+ate+ fro# Ellensbr"4 The Eri& Weiss -hose i+entity I -ol+ se ha+ a +eree in Bsiness A+#inistration fro#

Central Washinton .ni%ersity, in the to-n of Ellensbr" 8o that -as -hat I -ol+ list on #yrVs#V"My letter to the Oreon Brea of 5ital 8tatisti&s -as entirely rotine" It prporte+ to &o#e



fro# the real Eri& Weiss, liste+ his real pla&e an+ +ate of birth, father0s na#e an+ #other0s #ai+enna#e helpflly pro%i+e+, as sal, by Ann at the 8o&ial 8e&rity A+#inistration, an+ re@este+ 3a&opy of #y birth &ertifi&ate"4 I pai+ e=tra to ha%e it e=pe+ite+" 2or #y retrn a++ress, I se+ anotherof those #ailbo= rental otlets"

2or the se&on+ pie&e of i+entifi&ation I -ol+ nee+ -hen applyin for a +ri%er0s li&ense, I planne+ to +##y p a W:( for#, -hi&h -ol+ re@ire #e to spply the E#ployer I+entifi&ation

N#ber EIN of the W:( isser" It0s a si#ple #atter to fin+ that n#ber for al#ost any &o#panyyo pi&' at ran+o#" I &alle+ A&&onts Re&ei%able at Mi&rosoft an+ as'e+ for its EIN 3so -e &ansb#it or pay#ent"4 The la+y on the other en+ of the line a%e it to #e -ithot e%en as'in -hat&o#pany I -as &allin fro#"

E%ery stationery store &arries blan' ta= for#s; yo 1st +o&tor p a phony W:(, an+ yo0reall set" My i##e+iate ai# -as ettin that all:i#portant +ri%er0s li&ense, bt I &ol+n0t #o%e ahea+-ith that ntil 3#y4 ne- birth &ertifi&ate arri%e+" It -as tense for #e +rin that ti#e6 -ithot a+ri%er0s li&ense or an ID &ar+, e%en bein stoppe+ for 1ay-al'in #iht ha%e been +isastros"

One hit&h6 I -ol+ nee+ a &ar to ta'e #y test in" A &ar I borro-e+ fro# #y #other or 7ra#H/ar+ly" If yo0re settin p a ne- i+entity, yo sre +on0t -ant to lea%e a trail of easy:to:follo-

&les that -ill #a'e life si#ple for so#e snoopy &op or 2e+ later on" /a%e a frien+ or fa#ily#e#ber rent a &ar for yo to se lon enoh to ta'e the +ri%in testH No -ay!too easy for anin%estiator to fin+ ot -hat &ar yo se+ for the test, an+ start as'in the person -ho +i+ yo thatfa%or so#e +iffi&lt @estions"

/ere0s the soltion I &a#e p -ith" 2irst yo o to the DM5 an+ apply for a learner0s per#it; yo +on0t a&tally nee+ one, bt for so#e reason the DM5 people fin+ it less sspi&ios foran a+lt to ha%e one before ettin his or her first li&ense" I0%e ne%er been sre -hy" Bt sefl for#e6 #ost people tryin to obtain fra+lent i+entities +on0t o for a learner0s per#it first, so it0s lesssspi&ios"

Then yo &all p a +ri%in s&hool an+ say yo0re 1st ba&' fro# Astralia, or 8oth Afri&a,or Enlan+" Yo se+ to ha%e a ."8" +ri%er0s li&ense, yo e=plain, bt no- that yo0%e been +ri%inon the other si+e of the roa+ for a -hile, yo nee+ a refresher to #a'e sre yo0re &o#fortable ba&'on the riht si+e before yo ta'e yor +ri%er0s test" After a &ople of 3lessons,4 the instr&tor -illtell yo yo0re rea+y, an+ the s&hool -ill end yo* a car to take yo*r test in"

This -as -hat - +i+, any-ay, #ore than on&e, an+ it al-ays -or'e+" With #y ne- li&ense inhan+, I too' #yself o%er to the 8o&ial 8e&rity offi&e in +o-nto-n Las 5eas to et a3repla&e#ent4 8o&ial 8e&rity &ar+, sin #y Eri& Weiss birth &ertifi&ate an+ #y +ri%er0s li&ense as#y t-o for#s of ID" It -as a little -orriso#e6 there -ere sins all o%er the pla&e abot hoit -as a&ri#e to obtain a 8o&ial 8e&rity &ar+ sin a false i+entity" One poster e%en sho-e+ a #an inhan+&ffs" 3reat "

I presente+ #y &re+entials an+ a fille+:ot appli&ation for#" It -ol+ ta'e abot three -ee's

for the &ar+ to arri%e, I -as tol+!#&h loner than I felt &o#fortable stayin in 5eas, bt I 'ne- I&ol+n0t et a 1ob any-here -ithot that &ar+"Mean-hile I trotte+ aron+ to the nearest bran&h library, -here a librarian -as happy to

han+ #e a library &ar+ as soon as she finishe+ typin p the info fro# #y appli&ation"Thoh #y pri#ary fo&s -as on pllin toether #y ne- i+entity an+ +e&i+in -here I

-as oin to li%e an+ -or', Danny Yelin, for#erly of Telte& bt no- freelan&in, -as still fee+in#e so#e -or'" One 1ob -as to ser%e a sbpoena on a y -ho li%e+ in 5eas bt -as in hi+in"Dan pro%i+e+ #e -ith his last 'no-n phone n#ber"

I &alle+ the n#ber, an el+erly la+y ans-ere+, an+ I as'e+ if the #an -as there" 8he sai+ he-asn0t" I tol+ her, 3I o-e hi# so#e #oney" I &an pay half no- an+ half ne=t -ee'" Bt I0# lea%in

to-n, so I nee+ yo to &all hi# an+ fin+ ot -here he -ants to #eet #e so I &an pay hi# the firsthalf"4 An+ I sai+ I0+ &all ba&' in half an hor"

After abot ten #intes, I &alle+ the 8-it&hin Control Center at Centel, the lo&al phone



&o#pany" Posin as an internal e#ployee, I ha+ a DM8:*)) s-it&h te&h +o a FCM Fery CallMe#ory &o##an+ on the la+y0s n#ber"

8he ha+ #a+e her #ost re&ent &all abot fi%e #intes earlier, to a Motel 9 near the airport" I&alle+ an+ -hen I -as &onne&te+ to his roo#, I sai+ I -as fro# the front +es', an+ +i+ he still nee+the roll:a-ay be+ he ha+ as'e+ abot" Of &orse he sai+ he ha+n0t as'e+ abot a roll:a-ay" I sai+,3Is this roo# *)9H4

8on+in annoye+, he sai+, 3No, it0s (*("4 I apoloi<e+" My ran+#other -as 'in+ enoh to +ri%e #e o%er there" My 'no&' -as ans-ere+ by 3Yeah"4 3/ose'eepin, yo ha%e a #inteH4 /e opene+ the +oor" I sai+, 3Are yo Mr" ZZZZZZH4 3Yeah"4 I han+e+ hi# the +o&#ents an+ sai+, 3Yo are ser%e+" /a%e a ni&e +ay"4 An easy ))" As I sine+ the proof of ser%i&e, I s#ile+ to #yself an+ -on+ere+, &hat

wo*d that g*y think i$ he knew he/d )*st een served a s*#oena y a Federa $*gitive

On&e in a -hile I0+ -al' to the 8ahara to ha%e a #eal in the restarant -here #y #o#-or'e+, so -e &ol+ see ea&h other" Other ti#es I0+ #eet 7ra#, #y #o#, an+ #y #o#0s

boyfrien+, 8te%e, at one of the other &asinos, -here I hope+ -e &ol+ et lost in the &ro-+s"O&&asionally, bt not too often, I0+ sho- p at a s#all &asino &alle+ the Ere'a, -here Mo# li'e+to play %i+eo po'er after she finishe+ her -or' shift"

Money -as an isse" I ha+ so#e bt not enoh" In&re+ibly, at ae t-enty:eiht, I still ha+#ost of #y bar #it<%ah #oney in ."8" Treasry bon+s, -hi&h I no- &ashe+ in" Bet-een the#, #y#o# an+ 7ra# &a#e p -ith so#e #ore to ti+e #e o%er ntil I &ol+ et settle+ an+ fin+ a 1ob"Altoether, #y ban'roll totale+ abot **,)))!enoh to li%e on ntil I &ol+ establish #y ne-life"

An+ 3ban'roll4 -as the riht -or+ for it6 I ha+ the entire a#ont in &ash, stashe+ in a -alletinsi+e a #an0s &arry:on ba that I tote+ e%ery-here -ith #e"

8in&e I +i+n0t yet ha%e #y Eri& Weiss 3repla&e#ent4 8o&ial 8e&rity &ar+, I &ol+n0t openan a&&ont at a &re+it nion or a ban'" The hotel I ha+ &hosen +i+n0t ha%e a roo# safe li'e thefan&ier pla&es" Rent a safety +eposit bo= at a ban'H Col+n0t +o that either, for the sa#e reason I&ol+n0t open an a&&ont6 I0+ ha%e to sho- so#e o%ern#ent:isse+ ID"

Of &orse, stashin the #oney in #y hotel roo# -as ot of the @estion" Bt ho- abotlea%in the -a+ -ith 7ra#H No, be&ase then -e0+ ha%e to 'eep #eetin e%ery ti#e I ran ot of&ash" Not a %ery oo+ plan if the 2e+s starte+ -at&hin her"

8till, if I ha+ it to +o o%er, that0s 1st -hat I -ol+ ha%e +one6 left it -ith #y ran+#other,'eepin no #ore than I nee+e+ to et by, bt enoh that I -ol+n0t ha%e to o ba&' to the -ell%ery often"

Riht behin+ the 8tar+st Casino an+ /otel, near -here I -as li%in, there -as an

e=e&ti%e:type y# &alle+ the 8portin /ose" It really was a y#, thoh in Ne%a+a, its na#e#iht easily et it #ista'en for so#ethin else" In fa&t, the na#e trne+ ot to be a prophe&y6 the pla&e is no- a strip &lb, thoh n+er a +ifferent na#e" The +ahter of Las 5eas hotel ty&oon8te%e Wynn -or'e+ ot there, so I fire+ it #st be a &ool pla&e"

I sine+ p for -ee'ly passes, +eter#ine+ to &ontine #y rei#en of -or'in ot for t-o orthree hors e%ery +ay" Besi+es 'eepin #e in shape, the -or'ots offere+ reat opportnities forirl:-at&hin as I 1a##e+ to tnes on #y Wal'#an ra+io"

One +ay I finishe+ #y session, -ent ba&' to the lo&'er roo#, an+ +is&o%ere+ that I ha+forotten -hi&h lo&'er I0+ pt #y stff in" I -al'e+ all aron+, &he&'in e%ery lo&'er"

My personal pa+lo&' -asn0t on any of the#" I -al'e+ aron+ aain" Nothin"

I starte+ openin e%ery lo&'er that +i+n0t ha%e a lo&' hanin fro# its #etal +oor" 2inally Ifon+ the one that ha+ #y &lothes insi+e"

My &lothes" Bt not #y ba6 it -asn0t there" I felt #y heart sin' to #y sto#a&h" All #y



#oney, all #y ne- i+entity +o&#ents!one" 8tolen" I ha+ boht an e=tra:str+y pa+lo&' to seat the y#" Thoh a 'no-le+eable perp -ol+ ha%e 'no-n a better -ay, this y ha+ probablysnea'e+ in -ith a #assi%e pair of bolt &tters to et past it" Maybe #y +oble:hea%y:+ty pa+lo&'itself ha+ been the i%ea-ay that there -as so#ethin insi+e the lo&'er -orth prote&tin" >ess"

I frea'e+ ot" My entire **,))) stash ha+ been ta'en" I -as penniless, -ith no in&o#e,fa&in the &hallene of tra%elin to a ne- &ity, rentin an apart#ent, an+ payin #y -ay ntil I

&ol+ lan+ a 1ob an+ start ban'in a pay&he&'" I felt li'e a total i+iot for ha%in -al'e+ aron+&arryin all #y #oney in a ba, pra&ti&ally asking to be robbe+"

When I tol+ the on:+ty y# #anaer, I ot s&ant sy#pathy" 8he #a+e so#e la#e atte#ptto #a'e #e feel better by tellin #e that there ha+ been a rash of si#ilar brea':ins at the y#re&ently" Now she -as tellin #e Then she a++e+ inslt to in1ry by offerin #e for&o#pli#entary +ay passes to the y#" Not for #onths, not e%en one #onth!for days5

Natrally, I &ol+n0t ris' reportin the loss to the poli&e" The -orst part -as tellin #y #o# an+ 7ra# abot #y nhappy pre+i&a#ent" I &ol+n0tstan+ the thoht of &asin the# any #ore an=iety or pain" They ha+ al-ays been there for #e,rea+y to help #e ot in any &ir&#stan&es be&ase they lo%e+ #e so #&h" That0s not to say they+i+n0t let #e 'no- often enoh -hen they -ere pset -ith #e, bt they -ere both able to sho-

aner -ithot -ith+ra-in lo%e" An+ no- they &a#e throh for #e aain, offerin to s&rapetoether another J,))) bet-een the# -hene%er I -as rea+y for it" I0+ say this -as +efinitely a iftI +i+n0t +eser%e"

2or +i%ersion, I -as oin to the #o%ies an+ so#eti#es playin bla&'1a&' at one of the&asinos" I ha+ rea+ $enny .ston0s boo' on &ar+ &ontin, an+ fon+ I -as pretty oo+ at 'eepintra&' of the hih &ar+s!thoh I so#eho- rarely #anae+ to -al' a-ay fro# the table -ith #&h#ore than I ha+ lai+ ot -hen I first sat +o-n"

While I -as -aitin for #y ne- 8o&ial 8e&rity &ar+ to arri%e, I -ent ba&' to the DM5 toreport #y lost +ri%er0s li&ense an+ ot an i##e+iate repla&e#ent"

In the three -ee's -hile I -aite+ for #y repla&e#ent 8o&ial 8e&rity &ar+, I a&@ire+ as#any other for#s of i+entifi&ation as I &ol+" By the ti#e I -as rea+y to lea%e 5eas, in a++ition to#y library &ar+, I also ha+ &ar+s for the Las 5eas Athleti& Clb, Blo&'bster 5i+eo, as -ell as a

ban' ATM &ar+, an+ a Ne%a+a /ealth Car+ that foo+ ser%ers an+ other &asino e#ployees ha+ toha%e"

The lo&al Clar' Conty library be&a#e a fa#iliar hanot for #e, porin o%er bsiness an+tra%el #aa<ines in sear&h of the +estination I -ol+ hea+ for as soon as #y ne- i+entity -as&o#plete" My short list in&l+e+ Astin an+ Ta#pa an+ a fe- other to-ns, bt the final +e&ision-as easy"

Not lon before, Money #aa<ine ha+ rate+ Den%er as one of the best pla&es in the &ontryto li%e" That son+e+ oo+" It -asn0t too far a-ay, it see#e+ to ha%e a oo+ 1ob #ar'et for&o#pter -or', it -as -ell rate+ for @ality of life, an+ settlin +o-n there -ol+ i%e #e #y first

&han&e to e=perien&e real seasons< so#ethin that #y life in 8othern California ha+ al-ays+enie+ #e" Maybe I0+ e%en try a little s'iin"I boht paers for #y #other an+ #e!sin a phony na#e for the pr&hases, of &orse,

an+ payin &ash" I ot a thir+ one for Le-is" Yes, Le-is6 he -ol+ be a oo+ sor&e of infor#ationfor #e" I -ol+ be settin p a &hannel for se&ret &o##ni&ations, an+ I trste+ hi# enoh!both

be&ase of an+ +espite all or history!to feel sre that if he ot -in+ the 2e+s -ere p toso#ethin, he0+ son+ the alar#"

We establishe+ a &o+e an+ a rotine to be se+ in &ase of e#eren&ies" If #y #o# nee+e+ toet in to&h, she -ol+ sen+ #e a paer #essae i+entifyin one of the bi 5eas hotels" Or &o+efor the Mirae, for e=a#ple, -as 3K*K***4!the Mirae phone n#ber less the area &o+e" Of&orse, the area &o+e is the sa#e for all the 5eas hotels, an+ lea%in it off #iht #a'e the lo&ation

a tiny bit #ore +iffi&lt to ess for anyone -ho #iht be inter&eptin or paer &o##ni&ations"Another part of the &o+e in+i&ate+ ren&y6 3*4 #eant 3At yor &on%enien&e, please &all #e4; 3(4-as 3Call #e as soon as possible4; an+ 34 sinale+ 3Call #e i##e+iately, it0s an e#eren&y"4



When - -as the one tryin to rea&h her , I0+ 1st pae her -ith a ran+o# n#ber an+ priority &o+e,an+ then she0+ sen+ ba&' the n#ber for the hotel she -as at"

Whoe%er initiate+ the e=&hane, the rotine -as the sa#e" After re&ei%in the n#ber forthe &asino she -as at, I0+ &all an+ as' the operator to pae so#eone for #e an+ -ol+ i%e thena#e of a frien+ fro# Mo#0s past" It -as ne%er the sa#e one t-i&e in a ro-; I al-ays rotate+ the#"3Mary 8&hlt<4 is one I re#e#ber"

When she hear+ a pae -ith a na#e she re&oni<e+, she0+ pi&' p a hose phone an+ theoperator -ol+ pt #y &all throh" If the 2e+s -ante+ so#eone ba+ly enoh, I 'ne-, they &ol+ fin+ a -ay to -iretap the pay

phones that a &lose relati%e or asso&iate relarly se+" 8o -hy ta'e the &han&eH A &asino hotelrotinely han+le+ +o<ens of phone &alls at a ti#e, #aybe hn+re+s" E%en if M&7ire an+ &o#pany-ere +eter#ine+ enoh to 'eep an eye on #y #other in hopes I -ol+ &all her an+ re%eal #ylo&ation, they &ol+ not easily tra&' a &all passin throh the bsy s-it&hboar+ of a pla&e li'eCaesars Pala&e"

8in&e I0+ ne%er been a fiti%e before e=&ept for the fe- #onths in Oro%ille as a 1%enile, Iha+ no -ay of 'no-in ho- I0+ rea&t" 8teppin so far off the ri+ -as s&ary, bt I &ol+ alrea+y tellI -as oin to en1oy it" It felt li'e the start of an e=&itin a+%entre"



TWENT(4"I2



Pi*a#e In*e%#iga#o

As0 )st nyk r0i 0 ns wg11cmgw =2 )nsh hr)$ nyk ''

se+ s co)or#dw #ss0 g0myeie ao 1y gc

It -ol+ be the first ti#e I0+ e%er been &o#pletely on #y o-n" 7oin to li%e in Den%er

-ithot #y #o# an+ 7ra# see#e+ strane bt also e=hilaratin" When #y plane too' off fro#5eas, I -ol+ literally +isappear into the ether; on&e in #y ne- ho#eto-n, I0+ start hi+in in plainsiht"

Can yo i#aine the free+o# of startin yor life o%er aain, ta'in on a ne- na#e an+i+entityH Of &orse, yo0+ #iss yor fa#ily an+ frien+s, the &o#fort of fa#iliar pla&es, bt if yo

&ol+ pt that part asi+e for a #o#ent, -ol+n0t it feel li'e a reat a+%entreHDrin the fliht to the 3Mile /ih City,4 I felt a ro-in sense of anti&ipation" When the

.nite+ Airlines plane lan+e+, it -as a bit anti&li#a&ti&6 Den%er -as o%er&ast an+ loo#y thatafternoon" I ot into a &ab an+ as'e+ the +ri%er to ta'e #e to a hotel in a oo+ neihborhoo+ -here I&ol+ rent a roo# by the -ee'" The pla&e he pi&'e+ ot -as in -hat he referre+ to as 3hotel ro-"4

I -ol+ rate the hotel at abot t-o:an+:a:half stars, or so#ethin on the or+er of a Motel 9"It trne+ ot not to offer a -ee'ly rate after all, bt -ith a little persasion I #anae+ to neotiateone I &ol+ li%e -ith"

Be&ase of the -ay the #o%ies portray it, people ass#e that li%in as a fiti%e #eansal-ays loo'in o%er yor shol+er, in &onstant fear of +is&o%ery" In the years that follo-e+, I -ol+ha%e that e=perien&e only rarely" 2or the #ost part, on&e I0+ establishe+ #y ne- i+entity an+

soli+ifie+ it -ith %erifiable, o%ern#ent:isse+ ID, I felt se&re" >st to be on the safe si+e, I al-aysset p early:-arnin syste#s so I0+ be tippe+ off if so#eone &a#e loo'in for #e" An+ if I noti&e+anyone ettin &lose, I -ol+ ta'e i##e+iate a&tion" Bt fro# the %ery start, I -ol+ be en1oyin#yself the %ast #a1ority of the ti#e"

My first or+er of bsiness in any ne- &ity -as to &o#pro#ise the lo&al phone &o#pany so I&ol+ pre%ent anyone fro# easily tra&'in #e" 2or starters, I0+ nee+ one of the +ial:p phonen#bers that fiel+ te&hs se+ to &all into the phone &o#pany s-it&h" I -ol+ et the n#ber for theCentral Offi&e that han+le+ the telephone e=&hanes I -ante+ to ain &ontrol of" I0+ &all an+ sayso#ethin li'e, 3/i" This is >i##y o%er in Enineerin" /o- yo +oin0 to+ayH4

Then I0+ follo- p -ith, 3What0s the +ial:p for the 5D.H4!sin the shorthan+ ter# forthe 5isal Display .nit, -hi&h i%es a te&h fll a&&ess to the s-it&h fro# a re#ote lo&ation" Theneat part -as that if the s-it&h -as a *AE88, yo +i+n0t e%en nee+ a pass-or+ to a&&ess it"Whoe%er #a+e that +e&ision #st ha%e fire+ that anyone -ho 'ne- the phone n#ber -asathori<e+"

.sally the y I ot on the line -ol+ i%e #e the phone n#ber for +ialin into thes-it&h of his Central Offi&e" Bt if a te&h &hallene+ #e, I 'ne- enoh abot the syste# to #a'ep a plasible e=&se on the fly" It #iht be so#ethin li'e, 3We0re settin p a ne- +ial:ot syste#here an+ prora##in all the +ial:p n#bers into or otoin +ialer soft-are" 8o if any s-it&henineers ha%e to +ial in, they &an 1st instr&t the #o+e# to +ial a parti&lar offi&e"4

On&e I ha+ the phone n#ber for +ialin into the s-it&h, I &ol+ +o pretty #&h anythin Ili'e+" If I -ante+ to ha%e a series of &on%ersations -ith so#eone in, say, >apan, I0+ fin+ an

nassine+ phone n#ber, ta'e it o%er, a++ &all for-ar+in, an+ then a&ti%ate it to for-ar+ anyin&o#in &alls any-here I -ante+" Then, fro# #y &ell phone, I &ol+ #a'e a lo&al &all to the pre%iosly nassine+ phone n#ber an+ ha%e a &lear, +ire&t &onne&tion fro# the s-it&h straiht to



the y in >apan, instea+ of ha%in to +eal -ith an nreliable international &ell phone &onne&tion"An+ I -ol+ also rotinely se the te&hni@e &alle+ 3#as'in4!settin p a &hain of &all:

for-ar+in n#bers in s-it&hes of se%eral &ities in +ifferent parts of the &ontry" Then, &allin thefirst n#ber in the &hain, #y &all -ol+ be passe+ alon the &hain fro# &ity to &ity, lti#ately tothe n#ber I -ante+!#a'in it e=tre#ely ti#e:&ons#in for anyone to tra&e the &alls ba&' to#e"

My &alls -eren0t 1st free, they -ere %irtally ntra&eable" My first #ornin in Den%er, I sat +o-n -ith a lo&al ne-spaper an+ bean &ir&lin 1ob a+sfor &o#pter -or'" I -as loo'in for any &o#pany that se+ #y fa%orite operatin syste#, 5M8"

I &reate+ a separate rVs#V for ea&h li'ely:son+in a+, tailore+ to the parti&lar@alifi&ations liste+" As a rle, I0+ rea+ the @alifi&ations they -ere loo'in for an+ tailor a rVs#Vthat sho-e+ I ha+ aron+ ) per&ent of the s'ills on the &o#pany0s -ish list" If I &lai#e+ e%erysoht:after s'ill, I fire+ the /R people or the hea+ of IT #iht -on+er, -$ he/s that good, why is

he a##ying $or s*ch a ow:eve )o

My rVs#V -ol+ list only a sinle pre%ios 1ob so I -ol+n0t ha%e to &reate #ore than one past:1ob referen&e" The tri&' here -as to 'eep &opies of all the #aterial I sent ot so I0+ 'no- -hatI ha+ -ritten -hen so#eone &alle+ #e in for an inter%ie-" Alon -ith the rVs#V, I0+ in&l+e a

-ell:polishe+ &o%er letter to intro+&e #yself"My s'ill at -ritin these phony rVs#Vs an+ letters pai+ off -ithin a &ople of -ee's" I -as

in%ite+ for an inter%ie- at, of all pla&es, the lo&al offi&e of a pro#inent international la- fir#,/ol#e, Roberts an+ O-en, -hi&h ha+ offi&es in Den%er, 8alt La'e City, Bol+er, Lon+on, an+Mos&o-"

Dresse+ in a sit an+ tie an+ loo'in, I thoht, perfe&tly sitable for a 1ob in an ps&ale la-fir#, I -as sho-n into a &onferen&e roo# to #eet -ith the IT #anaer, a %ery frien+ly la+y na#e+Lori 8herry"

I0# oo+ at inter%ie-s, bt this one -as a little #ore e=&itin than #ost as I strle+ not to be +istra&te+6 Lori -as really attra&ti%e" Bt!b##er!she -as -earin a -e++in ban+"

8he starte+ off -ith -hat #st be a stan+ar+ openin6 3Tell #e a little abot yorself"4 I trie+ for &har#in an+ &haris#ati&, the style that the re#a'e of ;cean/s !even -ol+&aptre a fe- years later" 3I bro'e p -ith #y irlfrien+ an+ -ante+ to et a-ay" The &o#pany I-as -or'in for offere+ #e #ore #oney to stay, bt I 'ne- it -ol+ be better to start fresh in a+ifferent &ity"4

3Why Den%erH4 3Oh, I0%e al-ays lo%e+ the Ro&'y Montains"4

8o, a plasible reason for lea%in #y last 1ob" Che&' that one off the list" 2or half an hor -e -ent throh all the stan+ar+ thins abot #y short: an+ lon:ter#oals an+ other typi&al inter%ie- topi&s" 8he too' #e on a tor of the &o#pter roo#, an+ then I-as i%en a for: or fi%e:pae -ritten test on #y syste# a+#inistrator s'ills, #ostly on the .ni=

an+ 5M8 operatin syste#s" I a%e a &ople of -ron ans-ers, aain so I -ol+n0t loo'o%er@alifie+"I thoht the inter%ie- ha+ one -ell" 2or 1ob referen&es, I ha+ set p a phony &o#pany in

Las 5eas, 7reen 5alley 8yste#s, an+ then rente+ a #ailbo= an+ sine+ p -ith an ans-erinser%i&e that se+ li%e operators, -ho ha+ instr&tions to tell &allers, 3No one is a%ailable to ta'eyor &all riht no-,4 an+ then as' the# to lea%e a #essae" After the inter%ie-, I starte+ &allin theser%i&e e%ery hor" The ne=t +ay, there -as a #essae for #e6 Lori -ante+ to spea' -ith 7reen5alley0s IT +ire&tor" E=&ellent

I ha+ alrea+y s&ote+ a hotel -ith a lare lobby that offere+ a&osti&s li'e an offi&e area, an+&he&'e+ that there -as a pay phone ot of the strea# of traffi&" I &ol+n0t &han&e &allin her on #y&lone+ &ell phone be&ase the &all -ol+ sho- p on the real &ell &sto#er0s bill" Lo-erin #y

%oi&e an o&ta%e or so an+ a+optin a bit of a po#pos tone, I pro%i+e+ Eri& Weiss -ith a %eryfa%orable re&o##en+ation"

I ot a 1ob offer a fe- +ays later at a salary of (,)))!nothin to bra abot, bt enoh



to #eet #y nee+s" I -as sppose+ to start -or' t-o -ee's later" 7reat6 that -ol+ i%e #e ti#e to fin+ anapart#ent, fill it -ith a loa+ of rental frnitre, an+ then +i%e into an i#portant pro1e&t that ha+ beenon #y #in+" My Eri& Weiss i+entity -as safe an+ %erifiable" 8till, there -as alrea+y a real Eri&Weiss -al'in aron+ in Portlan+ -ith the sa#e 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber, birth +ate, an+ al#a #ater"That -as o'ay for the ti#e bein, sin&e the other Eri& li%e+ far enoh a-ay that or paths -eren0t

li'ely to &ross" Bt I -ante+ an i+entity I &ol+ safely se for the rest of #y life" Nineteen states, in&l+in California an+ 8oth Da'ota, at the ti#e ha+ 3open4 +eath

re&or+s!#eanin the +o&#ents -ere a #atter of pbli& re&or+, a%ailable to anyone" Those statesha+n0t yet &aht on to ho- easy they -ere #a'in thins for so#eone li'e #e" There -ere otherstates that -ol+ ha%e been #ore &on%enient for #e to et to, bt 8oth Da'ota see#e+ so re#otethat I fire+ there -as #&h less &han&e so#e other y in #y sitation #iht sear&h its re&or+san+ &o#e p -ith one or #ore of the i+entities I ha+ fon+"

Before settin ot, a bit of preparation" My first stop -as $in 8oopers sper#ar'et, -herethere -as a #a&hine on -hi&h yo &ol+ enter yor o-n te=t an+ instantly print ot t-enty bsiness&ar+s for fi%e b&'s" My ne- &ar+s rea+6

ERI' WEI""

Pi*a#e In*e%#iga#o

Belo- those lines -ere a fa'e Ne%a+a PI li&ense n#ber, a phony 5eas a++ress, an+ anoffi&e n#ber that -ent to another li%e ans-erin ser%i&e, in &ase so#eone +e&i+e+ to &he&' p on#e" The #onthly thirty:+ollar fee -as a &heap -ay to &reate belie%ability" Whi&h I -as oin tonee+"

With the &ar+s in #y -allet, I thre- a &ople of sits an+ so#e other &lothes an+ #y toilet'it into a ba, boar+e+ a plane for 8io= 2alls, an+, on&e there, rente+ a &ar to +ri%e to the &apital&ity of Pierre or 3Peer,4 as they pronon&e it there" The for:hor +ri%e -as #ostly on atopilot+e -est into the late:afternoon sn, alon flat Interstate ), -ith s#all to-ns I0+ ne%er hear+ ofs&attere+ alon the -ay" M&h too rral for this &ity boy6 I -as la+ I -as 1st passin throh"

/ere &o#es the 3ballsy4 part" The ne=t #ornin, +resse+ in the sit I ha+ -orn for #y la-:fir# inter%ie-, I fon+ #y -ay to the offi&es of the 8tate Reistrar for 5ital 8tatisti&s, -here Ias'e+ to spea' -ith so#eone in &hare" Within #intes the Reistrar herself -al'e+ p to the&onter!so#ethin I &ol+n0t @ite pi&tre happenin in a state li'e Ne- Yor' or Te=as or 2lori+a,-here the top offi&ial -ol+ no +obt be too bsy or feel too self:i#portant to #eet -ith anyonela&'in i#portant &onne&tions"

I intro+&e+ #yself an+ han+e+ her #y bsiness &ar+, e=plainin that I -as a pri%atein%estiator fro# Las 5eas -or'in on a &ase" My #in+ flashe+ ba&' to one of #y fa%oritetele%ision sho-s, 'he "ock$ord Fies" I s#ile+ as she loo'e+ at #y &ar+ be&ase the @ality -asabot the sa#e as the ones Ro&'for+ &reate+ sin that bsiness:&ar+ printer he 'ept in his &ar"

In fa&t, the Reistrar -asn0t 1st -illin to see #e, she -as happy to assist a pri%atein%estiator in &arryin ot his resear&h tas', -hi&h I tol+ her -as a &onfi+ential in%estiation into+eaths"

3Whi&h personH4 she as'e+, -antin to be helpfl" 3We0ll loo' it p for yo"4 .##" Not at all -hat I -ante+" 3We0re loo'in for people -ho +ie+ fro# &ertain &ases of +eath,4 I %entre+" 38o I nee+ toloo' throh all the re&or+s for the years of interest"4

Thoh I -as afrai+ the re@est son+e+ a bit strane, 8oth Da'ota -as a be:frien+ly:to:yor:neihbor 'in+ of pla&e" 8he +i+n0t ha%e any reason to be sspi&ios, an+ I -as rea+y to a&&eptall the help she -as -illin to i%e"

The %ery frien+ly Reistrar as'e+ #e to &o#e aron+ the &onter, an+ I follo-e+ her to a

separate, -in+o-less roo# that hel+ the ol+ &ertifi&ates on #i&rofi&he" I e#phasi<e+ that I ha+ asinifi&ant a#ont of resear&h to +o an+ that it #iht ta'e #e se%eral +ays" 8he 1st s#ile+ an+ sai+I #iht be interrpte+ if a staff #e#ber nee+e+ to se the fi&he, bt other-ise it shol+n0t be a



proble#" 8he ha+ one of her assistants sho- #e ho- to se the #i&rofi&he an+ -here to fin+ thefil#s for parti&lar ranes of years" I -ol+ be -or'in in the #i&rofi&he roo#, nsper%ise+, -itha&&ess to all the birth an+ +eath re&or+s oin as far ba&' as the state ha+ been 'eepin the#" I -asloo'in for infants -ho ha+ passe+ a-ay bet-een *9J an+ *KJ, at an ae bet-een one an+ three"Why -ol+ I -ant a birth year that -ol+ #a'e #e so #&h yoner than #y a&tal aeH Be&aseI &ol+ pass for that #&h yoner, an+ if the 2e+s e%er se+ ae &riteria -hen sear&hin re&ently

isse+ +ri%er0s li&enses in a state -here they thoht I #iht be li%in, they -ol+!I hope+!s'ipriht o%er #e"

I -as also loo'in for a -hite baby boy -ith an easily pronon&e+, Anlo:son+insrna#e" Tryin to pass for In+ian, Latino, or bla&' -ol+ ob%iosly not -or' nless I inten+e+ toha%e a oo+ #a'ep artist follo- #e aron+ e%ery-here I -ent"

8o#e states -ere startin to &ross:referen&e birth an+ +eath re&or+s, probably in an effort to pre%ent illeal aliens an+ others fro# sin a birth &ertifi&ate of a +e&ease+ person" When theyre&ei%e+ a re@est for a birth &ertifi&ate, they -ol+ first &he&' to #a'e &ertain no +eath &ertifi&ate-as on file for that person; if there -as, they -ol+ sta#p +e&ease+, in bi bol+ letters, on the &opyof the &ertifie+ birth &ertifi&ate that they sent ot"

8o I nee+e+ to fin+ +e&ease+ infants that #et all #y other &riteria and ha+ been born in a

di$$erent state" In a++ition, bein sper:&atios abot this, I ha+ #y eye on the ftre, anti&ipatinthat srron+in states #iht at so#e point start reportin +eaths to ea&h other if the +e&ease+ -as

born in a neihborin state" This &ol+ be a #a1or proble#!if, for e=a#ple, I applie+ for a passportin the ftre n+er #y ne- i+entity" When %erifyin a passport appli&ation, the Depart#ent of 8tate&he&'s the %ali+ity of the appli&ant0s birth &ertifi&ate, an+ &ol+ n&o%er the fra+ if a &ross:referen&in prora# -ere +e%elope+ in the ftre" Be&ase I ha+ to a%oi+ s&h ris's, I -ol+ onlyse i+entities of infants -ho -ere born se%eral states a-ay"

I spent an entire -ee' sear&hin -ith the #i&rofi&he" When I fon+ a potential &an+i+ate, I-ol+ hit the Copy btton, an+ a printer -ol+ &o#e to life an+ &hrn ot a &opy of the +eath&ertifi&ate" Why +i+ I bother ettin as #any as I &ol+ fin+H >st for ba&'p, in &ase I e%er fon+#yself nee+in to &hane #y i+entity aain"

E%eryone else in the offi&e -as 1st as -ar# an+ frien+ly as the Reistrar" One +ay, a &ler'&a#e p to #e an+ sai+, 3I ha%e a relati%e in Las 5eas I0%e lost tra&' of" Yo0re a pri%atein%estiator, so I -on+ere+ if #aybe yo &ol+ help #e fin+ hi#"4

8he a%e #e as #any +etails as she ha+" That niht, in #y hotel roo#, I ran a people sear&hsin an infor#ation:bro'er +atabase ser%i&e to fin+ her relati%e0s a++ress, an+ then &alle+ lineassin#ent at the lo&al phone &o#pany to obtain the nliste+ phone n#ber" No bi +eal" I feltoo+ abot helpin this la+y be&ase e%erybo+y ha+ been so 'in+ an+ helpfl to #e" I felt I -as 1strepayin the# for the fa%or"

When I han+e+ her the infor#ation the follo-in #ornin, she -as so e&stati& that shere-ar+e+ #e -ith a bi h, #a'in far #ore of a fss o%er #e than I felt I +eser%e+ for so little

effort" 2ro# that #o#ent on, her fello- &ler's be&a#e e%en frien+lier, in%itin #e to share their+ohnts an+ tellin #e ane&+otes abot their li%es"Ea&h +ay as I -or'e+, the nearby printers -ol+ be +r##in a-ay, printin ot &ertifi&ates

that people ha+ re@este+" The +in -as annoyin" On #y thir+ +ay, ettin p to stret&h #y lesafter se%eral hors of sittin, I -al'e+ by the printers to ta'e a &loser loo', an+ I noti&e+ a pile of

bo=es sittin by the#" When I sa- -hat -as in the bo=es, #y 1a- +roppe+6 hn+re+s of blan' birth&ertifi&ates" I felt as if I ha+ 1st st#ble+ on a pirate0s treasre &hest as I -at&he+ the &ertifi&atesroll ot of the printer"

An+ yet another treasre6 the +e%i&e for e#bossin the &ertifi&ates -ith the offi&ial state sealof 8oth Da'ota -as 'ept otsi+e the #i&rofi&he roo#, sittin on a lon -oo+en table" Ea&h &ler'-ol+ 1st -al' p to the table an+ e#boss a &ertifi&ate before sen+in it ot"

The ne=t #ornin the -eather trne+ bitter, -ith sno- flrries an+ free<in te#peratres"L&'ily I ha+ thoht to brin alon a hea%y 1a&'et that I pt on before oin to the 8tate Reistrar"I -or'e+ throh the #ornin, -aitin for the ln&h hor" When #ost of the staff -as either ot of



the offi&e or bsy eatin an+ &hattin, I +rape+ the 1a&'et o%er #y ar# an+ strolle+ to the restroo#,non&halantly s&opin ot -here all of the re#ainin e#ployees -ere an+ ho- +istra&te+ or attenti%ethey see#e+ to be" On #y -ay ba&' to the #i&rofi&he roo#, I -al'e+ by the table -here thee#bosser -as 'ept" In a sinle s#ooth estre, -ithot slo-in +o-n, I rabbe+ it, hol+in it so it-as hi++en n+er #y 1a&'et, an+ &ontine+ ba&' to the fi&he roo#" On&e insi+e, I lan&e+ ot the+oor6 no one -as payin any attention"

With the e#bosser no- restin on a table ne=t to a sta&' of blan' birth &ertifi&ates, I beanto e#boss the state seal onto the#, tryin to -or' @i&'ly bt @ietly" I -as strlin to hol+ #yfear in &he&'" If anyone -ere to -al' in an+ see -hat I -as +oin, I 'ne- I -ol+ probably bearreste+ an+ &arte+ a-ay"

Within abot fi%e #intes, I ha+ a sta&' of so#e fifty e#bosse+ blan' &ertifi&ates" I hea+e+ ba&' to the restroo#, on the -ay retrnin the e#bosser to the e=a&t position it ha+ been in before I3borro-e+4 it" Mission a&&o#plishe+" I ha+ otten a-ay -ith a +aneros tas'"

At the en+ of the +ay, I st&' the e#bosse+ &ertifi&ates into #y noteboo' an+ -al'e+ ot the+oor" By the &lose of the -or'-ee', I ha+ the infor#ation I nee+e+ for n#eros i+entities" Later,I -ol+ only nee+ to -rite the Brea of 5ital 8tatisti&s in the state -here the &hil+ -as born an+

re@est a &ertifie+ &opy of the +e&ease+0s birth &ertifi&ate" With it, I -ol+ be&o#e the ne- #e" Ialso ha+ fifty blan' birth &ertifi&ates, ea&h neatly e#bosse+ -ith the 8oth Da'ota state seal"8e%eral years later, -hen the 2e+s -ere retrnin property that ha+ been sei<e+ fro# #e, theya&&i+entally a%e ba&' the e#bosse+ 8oth Da'ota birth &ertifi&ates as -ell" Ale= $aspera%i&is,-ho -as pi&'in the stff p for #e, thohtflly pointe+ ot that they probably +i+n0t really -antto +o that"

The 8tate Reistrar e#ployees -ere sorry to see #e o6 I ha+ #a+e s&h a oo+ i#pressionthat a &ople of the la+ies e%en he+ #e as I sai+ oo+:bye"

That -ee'en+ I +ro%e ba&' to 8io= 2alls an+ treate+ #yself to #y %ery first s'iin lesson"It -as lorios" I &an still hear the instr&tor shotin at #e, 38no-plo- 8no-plo-4 I en1oye+the sport so #&h that I soon too' it p as one of #y relar -ee'en+ a&ti%ities" There aren0t #any

bi &ities in the .nite+ 8tates li'e Den%er, -ith s'i slopes -ithin s&h easy +ri%in +istan&e" Not #any parents et 8o&ial 8e&rity &ar+s for their infants" Bt it0s sspi&ios for a y in

his t-enties to -al' into a 8o&ial 8e&rity offi&e, as' to be isse+ a &ar+, an+ say that he has ne%erha+ one before" 8o I ha+ #y finers &rosse+ that so#e of the na#es I ha+ + ot of the 8othDa'ota files -ere for +e&ease+ ty'es -hose parents ha+ obtaine+ 8o&ial 8e&rity n#bers for the#"As soon as I -as ba&' in #y ne- apart#ent in Den%er, I &alle+ #y b++y Ann at the 8o&ial8e&rity A+#inistration an+ ha+ her &he&' a fe- of the na#es -ith their asso&iate+ +ates of birth tosee if a 8o&ial ha+ alrea+y been isse+" The thir+ na#e, Brian Merrill, -as a hit6 baby Brian ha+ ha+a 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber" 2antasti&" I ha+ fon+ #y per#anent i+entity

There -as one #ore thin I nee+e+ to +o" I ha+ n&o%ere+ a lot of infor#ation abot the

2BI0s operation, yet the 'ey to nlo&'in the &entral p<<le ha+ el+e+ #e6 -ho was the y I 'ne-as 3Eri& /ein<4H What -as his real na#eHI0# not e%en %aely in his &ateory, bt 1st as 8herlo&' /ol#es0s -or' -as abot sol%in

p<<les as #&h as it -as abot &at&hin &ri#inals an+ #is&reants, #y ha&'in, too, -as al-ays&on&erne+ in so#e -ay -ith nra%elin #ysteries an+ #eetin &hallenes"

2inally I thoht of an a%ene I ha+ ne%er e=plore+" Eri& ha+ en&y&lope+i& 'no-le+e abotthe Polsen &ase" /e &lai#e+ to ha%e a&&o#panie+ $e%in Polsen on se%eral Pa&Bell brea':ins an+

boaste+ that the t-o of the# ha+ fon+ 8A8 toether"/ors an+ hors online, s&orin +atabases li'e Westla- an+ Le=isNe=is for ne-spaper an+

#aa<ine arti&les that #a+e any #ention of Eri&, ha+ yiel+e+ nothin" If he ha+ really +one thethins -ith Polsen that he sai+ he ha+, #aybe I &ol+ -or' ba&'-ar+ by sear&hin for the na#es

of Polsen0s other 'no-n &ohorts"Ere'a In no ti#e at all, I fon+ an arti&le on Le=isNe=is that na#e+ t-o Polsen

&o+efen+ants, Robert 7illian an+ Mar' Lottor" Maybe one of these ys -as the phony Eri& /ein<"



I ot on the phone i##e+iately, hi+in #y e=&ite#ent as I &alle+ the la- enfor&e#ent telephonen#ber at the California DM5 an+ ran both &o+efen+ants0 +ri%er0s li&enses"

Dea+ en+" One y -as too short to be Eri&, the other too hea%y" I 'ept at it" An+ then one +ay, on Westla-, I fon+ an arti&le that ha+ 1st been pblishe+" As#all ne-spaper, the Daiy News of Los Aneles, ha+ &arrie+ a story abot Polsen0s &ase &o#inp for trial" The pie&e a%e the na#es of t-o others &hare+ as Polsen &o&onspirators, Ronal+

Mar' Astin an+ >stin Tanner Petersen"I -as fa#iliar -ith Astin an+ 'ne- -hat he loo'e+ li'e; he +efinitely -asn0t Eri&" Bt

PetersenH /ol+in #y hopes in &he&' an+ rea+y to be +isappointe+ aain, I &alle+ the DM5 an+ ha+the &ler' rea+ #e Petersen0s physi&al +es&ription"

8he sai+ he ha+ bro-n hair an+ bro-n eyes, -as si= feet tall, an+ -eihe+ *J pon+s" I ha+al-ays thoht of Eri&0s hair &olor as bein blon+, bt other-ise the +es&ription fit hi# to a T"

I ha+ finally &ra&'e+ his &o%er" I no- 'ne- the real na#e of the #an -ho &alle+ hi#selfEri& /ein<" An+ he -asn0t a 2e+; he -as 1st a snit&h, tryin to trap #e an+ probably as #any otherha&'ers as he &ol+ to sa%e his o-n ass"

After all of that -or'!all of #y thin'in an+ -orryin abot -ho an+ -hat Eri& -as!I-as s#ilin fro# ear to ear" I -as elate+" The 2BI -as so pro+ of its lobal reptation, bt ha+n0t

been able to prote&t a snit&h fro# bein n#as'e+ by one lone ha&'er"With #y 8oth Da'ota resear&h an+ #y -ee'en+ of s'iin behin+ #e, it -as ti#e for #y

first +ay of -or' at the la- fir#" I -as sho-n to a +es' in an offi&e insi+e the &o#pter roo#,a+1a&ent to the +es's of t-o other #e#bers of the +epart#ent0s staff, Li< an+ Darren" Both #a+e#e feel -el&o#e, -hi&h I -as &o#in to fin+ -as typi&al of Den%er, -here the people see#e+ lai+:

ba&', open, an+ frien+ly" 7iner, althoh a &o-or'er, ha+ an offi&e on the other si+e of the&o#pter roo#; she, too, -as %ery frien+ly"

I -as startin to et &o#fortable -ith #y ne- life, -hile at the sa#e ti#e ne%er forettinthat at any #o#ent I #iht be for&e+ to rn to a%oi+ bein lo&'e+ p aain in the tiny &offin of a&ell in solitary" 8till, -or'in at a la- fir# &a#e -ith so#e ne=pe&te+ benefits" The fir# o&&pie+fi%e floors near the top in the posh fifty:story s'ys&raper 'no-n as the Cash Reister bil+in

be&ase the top of the bil+in -as &r%e+ li'e a &ash reister" After hors, I0+ lo on to theWestla- a&&ont an+ rea+ la- boo's in the la- library, resear&hin ho- to et ot of the s&rape Iha+ otten #yself into"



TWENT(4"EVEN



Hee 'o5e% #he "!n

E 8 H 8H H H 8 GG H 8E 89 GG H 8G 88 H

8 GG H 8G 8G 8 H 8G GG H 9 H 88 GG

GG 8E GG GE H 8H 8E H CC GG 8E C GG CH

My #ain +ties in the Infor#ation Te&hnoloy Depart#ent at the la- fir# fell into the

3&o#pter operations4 &ateory6 sol%in proble#s -ith printers an+ &o#pter files, &on%ertin filesfro# Wor+Perfe&t to Wor+ an+ se%eral other for#ats, -ritin s&ripts to ato#ate pro&e+res, an++oin syste# an+ net-or' a+#inistration tas's" I -as also i%en a &ople of #a1or pro1e&ts6&onne&tin the fir# to the Internet this -as 1st -hen the Internet -as beinnin to be #&h #ore

-i+ely se+ an+ installin an+ #anain a pro+&t &alle+ 8e&rID, -hi&h pro%i+es 3t-o:for#:fa&tor4 athenti&ation" Athori<e+ sers ha%e to pro%i+e the si=:+iit &o+e +isplaye+ on the 8e&rID+e%i&e in &on1n&tion -ith a se&ret PIN for re#ote a&&ess to the fir#0s &o#pter syste#s"

One of #y &ollateral +ties!an+ I &ol+n0t ha%e +esine+ this better if I ha+ been han+inot 1ob assin#ents #yself!-as a share+ responsibility for spportin the fir#0s telephone billin#anae#ent syste#" That #eant st+yin the telephone a&&ontin appli&ation, on &o#pany ti#e,no less" This -as ho- I learne+ e=a&tly -here to a++ so#e prora##in instr&tions that -ol+trn the appli&ation into an early:-arnin syste# for #e"

I -rote a s&ript that -ol+ &he&' e%ery otoin phone &all fro# the la- fir# aainst a hitlist of area &o+es an+ telephone prefi=es" An+ #y list of n#bers in&l+e+, ess -hatH Riht6 the2BI an+ ."8" Attorney0s offi&es in Los Aneles an+ Den%er" If a &all -as #a+e to any n#ber

-ithin those aen&ies, the s&ript I -rote -ol+ sen+ a #essae to #y paer -ith the &o+e 39J9J4! easy for #e to re#e#ber be&ase it -as the last for +iits of the #ain n#ber assine+ to the LosAneles 2BI offi&e"

While I -as at the fir#, I a&tally ot that &o+e t-i&e, an+ it s&are+ the &rap ot of #e bothti#es" On ea&h o&&asion, I -aite+ a fe- #intes -ith a 'not in #y sto#a&h, then loo'e+ p then#ber that ha+ been &alle+ an+ +iale+ it #yself"

Both ti#es the &all ha+ been pla&e+ to the ."8" Attorney0s Offi&e in Los Aneles? bt tothe Ci%il Di%ision, not the Cri#inal Di%ision" Whe-

In #y spare ti#e, I -as still -or'in ot at the YMCA e%ery +ay, of &orse, an+ still'eepin bsy -ith #y ha&'in pro1e&ts, of &orse" Bt I -as also fin+in ti#e to en1oy the %arietyof a&ti%ities that Den%er ha+ to offer" The planetari#, besi+es rea-a'enin a &hil+hoo+ interest inastrono#y, also offere+ laser liht sho-s a&&o#panie+ by ro&' #si&, often fro# fa%orite ban+s of#ine li'e Pin' 2loy+, >orney, an+ the Doors!a really en1oyable e=perien&e"

I -as startin to settle into #y ne- &o%er i+entity, be&o#in #ore so&iable" 8o#eti#es I0+o to one of the lo&al +an&e &lbs, 1st to fin+ people to tal' to" I #et a irl I +ate+ a fe- ti#es, bt I+i+n0t thin' it -ol+ be fair to her for s to et #ore in%ol%e+6 if I ot pi&'e+ p by the 2e+s,anyone I -as &lose to &ol+ be pt in a %ery n&o#fortable sitation, either bein leane+ on to i%ee%i+en&e aainst #e or #aybe e%en be&o#in a sspe&t herself" An+, too, there -as al-ays a&han&e that I0+ say so#ethin to i%e #yself a-ay, or she #iht spot so#e +o&#ents i+entifyin#e by so#e other na#e, or o%erhear a phone &all" Pillo- tal' &an ha%e its +aners" 2ro# &o##ents

by fello- prisoners -hile I -as in &sto+y, I ha+ learne+ that #ost ha+ been ratte+ ot by their

sinifi&ant others" I -asn0t oin to #a'e the sa#e #ista'e"There -as a boo'store in the Cherry Cree' area of Den%er &alle+ the Tattere+ Co%er, -hereI0+ +rin' #y fill of &offee an+ rea+ &o#pter boo's one after another" I trie+ a fe- of the ro&' &lbs,



bt they +re- a hea%y:#etal &ro-+ of bra-ny ys -ith tats, so I felt #ore than a little ot of pla&e"8o#eti#es I0+ 1st o bi'e ri+in an+ en1oy the s&enery, the lorios Den%er s&enery -ith

all those #ontains, so beatiflly sno-&appe+ in -inter" Or %isit a &asino on one of the nearbyIn+ian reser%ations to play a little bla&'1a&'"

I al-ays loo'e+ for-ar+ to #y ne=t &on%ersation -ith #y #o#, sin those prearrane+sinals -here she0+ &all fro# one of the &asinos" 8o#eti#es 7ra# -ol+ be -ith her" Those &alls

-ere so i#portant to #e, #a'in #e feel happy insi+e an+ i%in #e strenth, thoh they -ere areat in&on%enien&e to #y fa#ily an+ a he ris' for #e, shol+ the 2e+s +e&i+e to step p theirsr%eillan&e" It -as har+ not bein &loser to #y #o# an+ ran+#other, -ho ha+ sho-ere+ #e -ithso #&h lo%e, &arin, an+ spport"

Mean-hile, to &hane #y appearan&e an+ #aybe also as a natral part of approa&hin theae of thirty, I let #y hair ro- lon, so it e%entally rea&he+ shol+er lenth"

I li'e+ a lot of thins abot #y ne- life" After se%eral #onths in Den%er, I -as rea+y for a trip to see #y fa#ily, tra%elin this ti#e

by A#tra'" Mo# an+ 7ra# &a#e to the train station to pi&' #e p" No- that #y hair -as lon an+#y #sta&he ha+ sprote+, #y o-n #other al#ost +i+n0t re&oni<e #e" It -as a really &oolrenion, an+ I entertaine+ the# -ith stories abot #y 1ob an+ #y &o-or'ers at the la- fir#"

I -as able to feel #ore rela=e+ in 5eas no-, than's to #y &re+entials as Eri& Weiss, bt I-as still &atios" My #o# an+ I -ol+ #eet in nli'ely lo&ations" I0+ et into her &ar in a par'inarae an+ lie +o-n in the ba&'seat ntil she ha+ +ri%en into her o-n arae at ho#e an+ &lose+ the+oor" 8he fsse+ o%er #e an+ #a+e foo+s I li'e+, pressin se&on+s on #e e%en as she tol+ #e ho-

please+ she -as that I still loo'e+ tri# an+ fit"I &ol+ see ho- #&h strain this -hole thin ha+ pt on 7ra#, bt e%en #ore so on #y

#o#" Thoh she -as happy an+ &o#forte+ to see #e, ha%in #e there in person see#e+ to #a'eher that #&h #ore a-are of ho- #&h she #isse+ #e an+ ho- -orrie+ she -as abot #y safety inDen%er" An+ I &onstantly felt her &onfli&t bet-een &herishin #y %isit an+ fearin that #y bein inher &o#pany pt #e in #&h ra%er +aner"

In the -ee' I -as there, -e probably ot toether a +o<en ti#es" Ba&' in Den%er, the at#osphere at -or' soon sli+ +o-nhill after #y boss, the easyoinLori, left the fir# to 1oin her hsban+ in rnnin their o-n bsiness, Ro&'y Montain 8no-boar+s"/er repla&e#ent, a thin brnette na#e+ Elaine /ill, -as not as frien+ly" Thoh @ite s#art, shestr&' #e as &al&latin an+ -as a s&hooltea&her type, not a 3people person4 li'e Lori"

My &o-or'ers in IT -ere so +ifferent fro# one another that they see#e+ al#ost li'e the&hara&ters in a play" 7iner, -ho ha+ bi teeth an+ -as a bit on the p+y si+e, -as thirty:one an+#arrie+" 8he too' so#ethin of a li'in to #e, an+ -e en1oye+ a little playfl banter at ti#es" 8till,I +on0t thin' I +i+ anythin to sest I ha+ any sort of se=al interest in her!an+ &ertainly nothinto 1stify a &ople of re#ar's she #a+e to #e aron+ the offi&e" 8he &o##ente+ late one e%enin-hen -e -ere both in the &o#pter roo#6 3I -on+er -hat -ol+ happen if yo ha+ #e lai+ ot on

this table an+ so#ebo+y -al'e+ inH4 (*h Or #aybe those &o#e:ons of hers -ere a&tally inten+e+ to +isar# #e, so I -ol+n0t be&o#e sspi&ios of her" Ba&' in LA before I -ent on the rn, one of the people in #y so&ial &ir&le -ith Le-is ha+

been a y na#e+ >oe M&7&'in, a +ohy y -ith a ron+ fa&e an+ a si<able belly, bespe&ta&le+,&lose:sha%en bt still loo'in li'e he ha+ a +ay0s ro-th, his bro-n hair hanin part-ay +o-n hisforehea+ in irly bans" The three of s se+ to han ot toether, so often eatin at 8i<<ler an+ thenoin to a #o%ie after-ar+ that Le-is an+ I ni&'na#e+ hi# 38i<<ler an+ a Mo%ie"4

In a &on%ersation -e ha+ -hile I -as li%in in Den%er, Le-is tol+ #e that >oe ha+ i%en hi#an a&&ont on a 8n -or'station he ha+ at ho#e" Le-is passe+ the &re+entials alon to #e, -ith are@est" /e -as hopin I &ol+ et root on >oe0s -or'station an+ then tell hi# ho- I ot in, so he

&ol+ nee+le >oe abot it" That son+e+ to #e li'e an interestin opportnity6 sin&e >oe -as a&ontra&tor for 8n Mi&rosyste#s, he %ery li'ely ha+ the ability to re#otely a&&ess the &o#pany0snet-or', -hi&h #iht be a -ay for #e to ha&' into 8n"



Whene%er -e ha+ +is&sse+ ha&'in ba&' in those +ays in LA, >oe ha+ al-ays insiste+ thathis -or'station -as as se&re as 2ort $no=" I thoht, ;h, -/m going to have $*n messing with him"Or lo%e of pllin pran's -as a &o##on trait that ha+ +ra-n Le-is an+ #e toether e%er sin&e or

pran's -ith the +ri%e:p -in+o-s at M&Donal+0s" I &alle+ >oe0s ho#e phone n#ber first to #a'esre he -asn0t there, then +iale+ the #o+e# line at his hose" On&e I ha+ loe+ in sin Le-is0sa&&ont, it too' #e only a fe- #intes to +is&o%er that >oe ha+n0t 'ept his se&rity pat&hes p to

+ate" 8o #&h for 2ort $no=" By e=ploitin a fla- in a prora# &alle+ 3r+ist,4 I poppe+ root on hissyste#" Let the games egin" When I liste+ the pro&esses he -as rnnin, I -as srprise+ to see3&ra&',4 the poplar prora# for &ra&'in pass-or+s, -ritten by a y na#e+ Ale& Mffett" Why-ol+ >oe be rnnin thatH

It +i+n0t ta'e lon to fin+ the pass-or+ file that &ra&' -as -or'in on" I stare+ at the s&reen,stnne+ by -hat I -as seein" >oe M&7&'in, 8n Mi&rosyste#s &ontra&tor, -as &ra&'in the pass-or+s of the &o#pany0sEnineerin 7rop" I &ol+n0t f&'in belie%e this" It -as as if I ha+ 1st ta'en a -al' in the par' an+ fon+ a

ba of hn+re+:+ollar bills" After I &opie+ off the &ra&'e+ pass-or+s, #y ne=t hnt -as throh >oe0s e#ails, sear&hin

on the 'ey-or+s modem an+ dia:*#" Bino I fon+ an internal 8n e#ail &ontainin theinfor#ation I -as hopin for" It rea+, in part6

2ro#6 'essler]spar'y To# $essler To6 ppp:annon&e]&o## 8b1e&t6 Ne- PPP ser%er Or ne- ppp ser%er #er&ry is no- p an+ rnnin, a%ailable for yo to test yor&onne&tion" The phone n#ber for #er&ry is *J 9*:**"

I also &opie+ the oriinal 8n pass-or+ files -hi&h &ontaine+ the en&rypte+ pass-or+hashes that >oe -as in the pro&ess of &ra&'in, in &ase I lost a&&ess to his #a&hine" In&l+e+ in the&ra&'e+:pass-or+ list -as >oe0s o-n 8n pass-or+, -hi&h as I re&all -as so#ethin li'e 3partyJ"4Cra&' ha+ bro'en that one, too" A -al' in the par'"

That niht, I perio+i&ally loe+ in to see if >oe -as online an+ a&ti%e" E%en if he noti&e+that there ha+ been an in&o#in &all on his #o+e#, it #iht not arose his sspi&ion I hope+

be&ase he -ol+ re#e#ber i%in Le-is a&&ess" 8o#eti#e after #i+niht, >oe0s &o#pter -ent@iet; I fire+ he ha+ no++e+ off for the niht" .sin the 3Point:to:Point4 proto&ol, I loe+ into8n0s 3#er&ry4 host posin as >oe0s -or'station, na#e+ 3oilean"4 5oil\ My &o#pter -as no- anoffi&ial host on 8n0s -orl+-i+e net-or'

Within a &ople of #intes, -ith the help of r+ist, I ha+ #anae+ to et root, sin&e 8n, li'e>oe, ha+ been la= abot p+atin the se&rity pat&hes" I set p a 3shell4 a&&ont an+ installe+ asi#ple ba&'+oor i%in #e ftre root a&&ess"

2ro# there, I tarete+ the Enineerin 7rop" This -as totally fa#iliar stff, bt at the sa#e

ti#e totally e=hilaratin" I -as able to lo in to #ost of the 8n #a&hines in Enineerin, than's to>oe0s efforts in &ra&'in that rop0s pass-or+s"8o >oe ha+, -ithot e%en 'no-in it, set #e p to rab yet another treasre6 the latest an+

reatest %ersion of the 8nO8, a fla%or of the .ni= operatin syste# +e%elope+ by 8nMi&rosyste#s for its ser%er an+ -or'station syste#s" It -asn0t har+ to fin+ the #aster #a&hinestorin the 8nO8 sor&e &o+e" E%en -hen &o#presse+, thoh, this -as one h#onos pa&'aeof +ata!not as #assi%e as DEC0s 5M8 operatin syste#, bt still #assi%e enoh to be +antin"

An+ then I ha+ an i+ea that #iht #a'e the transfer easier" Taretin the 8n offi&e in El8en+o, 1st soth of the Los Aneles International Airport, I bean by +oin @eries on se%eral-or'stations to learn -hat +e%i&es -ere atta&he+ to the#" I -as loo'in for a ser -ho ha+ a tape+ri%e &onne&te+ to his &o#pter" When I fon+ one, I &alle+ hi# on the phone an+ sai+ I -as -ith

the 8n Enineerin 7rop in Montain 5ie-" 3I n+erstan+ yo ha%e a tape +ri%e &onne&te+ toyor -or'station,4 I sai+" 3One of #y enineers is at a &lient site in LA, an+ I nee+ to transfer so#efiles to hi#, bt they0re pretty lare to transfer o%er a #o+e#" Do yo ha%e a blan' tape yo &ol+



sti&' in yor +ri%e, so I &ol+ -rite the +ata to that instea+H4/e left #e hanin on the phone -hile he hnte+ +o-n a blan' tape" After a fe- #intes, he

&a#e ba&' on the line an+ tol+ #e he -as sho%in it in the +ri%e" I ha+ en&rypte+ the &o#presse+sor&e &o+e into an nintelliible blob of +ata, 1st in &ase he ot &rios an+ too' a loo'" Itransferre+ a &opy to his -or'station, then a%e a se&on+ &o##an+ to -rite it to the tape"

When the transfer to tape -as finally &o#plete, I &alle+ hi# ba&'" I as'e+ hi# if he -ante+

#e to sen+ hi# a repla&e#ent tape, bt as I e=pe&te+, he sai+ it -as o'ay, I +i+n0t nee+ to +o that" Isai+, 3Can yo pt it in an en%elope for #e, an+ #ar' it -ith the na#e To# Warren0H Are yooin to be in the offi&e for the ne=t &ople of +aysH4

/e starte+ tellin #e abot -hen he -ol+ an+ -ol+n0t be a%ailable" I interrpte+ hi#63/ey, there0s an easier -ay" Can yo 1st lea%e it -ith the re&eptionist, an+ I0ll tell To# to as' herfor itH4 8re, he0+ be la+ to +o that"

I &alle+ #y b++y Ale= an+ as'e+ hi# if he0+ s-in by the 8n offi&e an+ pi&' p anen%elope the re&eptionist -as hol+in for 3To# Warren"4 /e -as a little rel&tant, 'no-in there-as al-ays a ris'" Bt he o%er&a#e that a #o#ent later an+ aree+ -ith -hat son+e+ li'e a s#ileon his fa&e!I sppose as he re#e#bere+ the 'i&' he al-ays ot fro# parti&ipatin in #y ha&'ina+%entres"

I felt tri#phant" Bt here0s the o++ part6 -hen I ot the tape, I +i+n0t e%en spen+ #&h ti#eloo'in at the &o+e" I ha+ s&&ee+e+ in #y &hallene, bt the &o+e itself -as of less interest to #ethan the a&hie%e#ent"

I &ontine+ a&@irin pass-or+s an+ soft-are treasres fro# 8n, bt &onstantly ha%in to+ial p to the #o+e#s in Montain 5ie- -as &han&y" I -ante+ another a&&ess point into 8n0snet-or'"

Ti#e for a so&ial:enineerin atta&'" .sin #y &lone+ &ell phone, I prora##e+ in an#ber -ith the ) area &o+e for Montain 5ie-, -hi&h I -ol+ nee+ if the syste# a+#inistratorin 8n0s Den%er sales offi&e -ante+ to &all #e ba&' to %erify that I -as -ho I &lai#e+ to be" .sina tool a%ailable to all 8n staffers, I plle+ p a list of e#ployees, &hose Neil /ansen at ran+o#,an+ -rote +o-n his na#e, phone n#ber, bil+in n#ber, an+ e#ployee n#ber" Then I &alle+ the#ain n#ber at 8n0s Den%er sales offi&e an+ as'e+ for the &o#pter spport person"

3/i, this is Neil /ansen -ith 8n in Montain 5ie-" Who0s thisH4 I as'e+" 38&ott Lyons" I0# the spport person in the Den%er offi&e"4 3Cool" Later to+ay I0# flyin to Den%er for so#e #eetins" I -as -on+erin if yo ysha+ a lo&al +ial:p n#ber so I &an a&&ess #y e#ail -ithot ha%in to #a'e lon:+istan&e &alls

ba&' to Montain 5ie-"438re, -e ha%e a +ial:p, bt I ha%e to prora# it to +ial yo ba&'" The syste# +oes that for

se&rity reasons,4 he tol+ #e" 3No proble#,4 I sai+" 3The Bro-n Pala&e /otel has +ire&t:+ial n#bers for the est roo#s"When I et into Den%er later this e%enin, I &an i%e yo the n#ber"4

3What0s yor na#e aainH4 he as'e+, son+in a little sspi&ios" 3Neil /ansen"4 3What0s yor e#ployee n#berH4 he +e#an+e+" 3*)(("4 /e pt #e on hol+ for a #o#ent, pres#ably to &he&' #e ot" I 'ne- he -as sin thesa#e tool I0+ se+ to loo' p /ansen0s infor#ation"

38orry, Neil, I 1st ha+ to %erify yo in the e#ployee +atabase" 7i%e #e a &all -hen yo etin, an+ I0ll set that p for yo"4

I -aite+ ntil 1st before @ittin ti#e, &alle+ 8&ott ba&', an+ a%e hi# a lo&al ) Den%ern#ber that I ha+ &lone+ to #y &ell phone" When I starte+ a &onne&tion, a &allba&' -ol+ &o#e tothe &ell phone, I0+ #anally ans-er it, an+ then #y #o+e# -ol+ #a'e a &onne&tion" 2or se%eral

+ays, I se+ this a&&ess point to et into 8n0s internal net-or'"Bt then, abrptly, the &allba&'s stoppe+ -or'in" Da#n What ha+ happene+H

I +iale+ ba&' into Montain 5ie- an+ a&&esse+ the syste# in Den%er" Oh, shit 8&ott ha+



fire+ off an rent e#ail to Bra+ Po-ell -ith 8n0s 8e&rity Depart#ent" /e ha+ trne+ on theloin featre on the +ial:p I -as sin an+ &aptre+ all #y session traffi&" /e @i&'ly reali<e+that I -as not &he&'in #y #ail at all bt po'in aron+ in pla&es I shol+n0t be" I +elete+ the lofiles so there -ol+n0t be any e%i+en&e of #y %isits an+ i##e+iately stoppe+ sin the &ell phonen#ber I ha+ i%en hi#"

Di+ this +is&orae #e fro# ha&'in into 8nH Of &orse not" I 1st -ent ba&' to sin

8n0s Montain 5ie- +ial:p to fin+ #ore &onne&tions into 8WAN 8n0s Wi+e:Area Net-or' in&ase I ot lo&'e+ ot of the syste#" I -ante+ to establish #ltiple a&&ess points so I0+ al-ays ha%e a%ariety of -ays of ettin in" I tarete+ all of 8n0s sales offi&es in the .nite+ 8tates an+ Cana+a,ea&h of -hi&h ha+ its o-n lo&al +ial:p so its staff &ol+ a&&ess 8WAN -ithot nee+in to #a'elon:+istan&e &alls to the &o#pany0s Montain 5ie- hea+@arters" Co#pro#isin these offi&es -asa pie&e of &a'e"

While e=plorin 8n0s net-or', I st#ble+ a&ross a ser%er -ith the hostna#e 3el#er,4-hi&h store+ the entire +atabase of bs for all of 8n0s operatin syste#s" Ea&h entry in&l+e+e%erythin fro# the initial report or +ete&tion of a b, to the na#e of the enineer assine+ tota&'le the isse, to the spe&ifi& ne- &o+e i#ple#ente+ to fi= the proble#"

A typi&al b report rea+6

8ynopsis6 syslo &an be se+ to o%er-rite any syste# file $ey-or+s6 se&rity, pass-or+, syslo, o%er-rite, syste# 8e%erity6 * Priority6 * Responsible Manaer6 '-+ Des&ription6 syslo an+ syslo+ featre of LO7Z.8ER &an be se+ to o%er-rite any syste# file" Theob%ios se&rity %iolation is sin syslo to o%er-rite et&pass-+" This &an be +one to re#otesyste#s if LO7/O8T is not set to lo&alhost"

bpo-ell6 brea'in &o+e re#o%e+ for se&rity reason If yo nee+ a &opy of the brea'in &o+e see 8ta&i Way &ontra&tor sta&i-]&astello"&orp" Wor' aron+6 NONE e=&ept trnin off syslo -hi&h is na&&eptable Interest list6 bra+"po-ell]&orp, +an"far#er]&orp, #ar'"raff]Corp Co##ents6 this one is pretty serios" It has alrea+y been se+ on sn:barr to brea' root, an+is one of the fe- se&rity bs that -or' for "*" as -ell as (" e"" ANY 8n release+ O8"

To se one of #y fa%orite e=pressions, this aain -as li'e fin+in the /oly 7rail" I no- ha+a&&ess to e%ery b +is&o%ere+ internally at 8n as -ell as e%ery one reporte+ by any other sor&e"It -as li'e pttin a @arter into a slot #a&hine an+ -innin the proressi%e 1a&'pot -ith the first

pll of the han+le" The infor#ation fro# this +atabase -as oin into #y ba of tri&'s" I starte+thin'in of the tne to the ol+ Fei0 the %at the#e son, 3Whene%er he ets in a fi=, he rea&hes intohis ba of tri&'s"4

After the 8n syste# a+#inistrator in Den%er reporte+ the se&rity in&i+ent, the &o#panyot -ise that it ha+ a re#lin +eeply brro-e+ into its syste#s" Dan 2ar#er an+ Bra+ Po-ell, 8n0stop t-o se&rity people, sent e#ails aron+ the entire &o#pany -arnin staff to -at&h ot forha&'er atta&'s that also se+ so&ial enineerin" Then they bean re#o%in the b reports fro# the+atabase in hopes of hi+in the# fro# #e" Bt I -as still rea+in their internal e#ails" Many of the

b reports &ontaine+ state#ents li'e the one in the #essae abo%e!+i+ yo noti&e itHIf yo nee+ a &opy of the brea'in &o+e see 8ta&i Way &ontra&tor sta&i-]&astello"&orp"

Yo probably alrea+y 'no- -hat I0+ +o -hen I sa- a #essae li'e this" Riht6 I0+ e#ail 8ta&i fro# an internal 8n a&&ont an+ so&ial:enineer her into sen+in #ethe b" It ne%er faile+, not on&e"

Despite #y s&&ess in ha&'in into the &o#pany, the follo-in year Po-ell -ol+ re&ei%e a

3#erit a-ar+4 fro# 8n0s &hief infor#ation offi&er 3for his role in se&rin 8n an+ th-artin theatta&'s on 8WAN by $e%in Mitni&'"4 Po-ell -as so pro+ of the a-ar+ that he liste+ it on hisrVs#V, -hi&h I +is&o%ere+ on the Internet"



After abot si= #onths of #ornin an+ e%enin bs &o##tes, it see#e+ li'e a oo+ i+ea to#o%e nearer to -or'" The i+eal lo&ation -ol+ be so#e pla&e I &ol+ -al' to -or' fro# e%ery#ornin!pls the riht pla&e -ol+ pt #e -ithin -al'in +istan&e of the *9th 8treet Mall in+o-nto-n Den%er, #y fa%orite area to han ot on -ee'en+s" An ol+:style apart#ent bil+in, the7ros%enor Ar#s, on East *9th 8treet, ha+ a nit a%ailable on the fifth floor that I -as e=&ite+ to fin+

!a %ery &ool pla&e, spa&ios, -ith -in+o-s all aron+, an+ e%en ol+:style bo=es -here the

#il'#an se+ to lea%e bottles of #il' e%ery #ornin" This ti#e I -ol+ ha%e to n+ero a &re+it&he&', bt no s-eat6 by ha&'in into the &re+it reportin aen&y TRW, I -as able to i+entify se%eralEri& Weisses -ith reasonably oo+ &re+it" I se+ the 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber of one of the# on #yrental appli&ation +ifferent fro# the one I -as sin for e#ploy#ent" My paper-or' saile+throh -ithot a proble#"

Only abot fi%e blo&'s fro# #y ne- apart#ent, Den%er0s torist +istri&t offere+ tons ofterrifi& bars an+ restarants" One in parti&lar -as a fa%orite, a Me=i&an restarant at *9th an+Lari#er 8treets that -as a hanot for lots of reat:loo'in irls" I -as still a%oi+in seriosrelationships, bt &hattin p attra&ti%e yon la+ies at the bar +i+n0t &ross any of #y barriers of&ation, an+ it helpe+ #e feel h#an" On o&&asion a al -ol+ sit +o-n ne=t to #e an+ let #e byher a +rin' or t-o? or so#eti#es e%en by the# for #e" 7reat for the eo"

/a%in so #any restarants nearby hel+ parti&lar appeal6 I ate ot al#ost e%ery #eal,rarely fi=in e%en oat#eal or ba&on an+ es for #yself"

8ettlin into the ne- apart#ent #a+e #e feel e%en #ore &o#fortable abot bein in Den%er,yet I 'ne- I &ol+ ne%er let #y ar+ +o-n" With fll a&&ess into Pa&Tel Celllar, I -as still'eepin tra&' of the &ell phone &alls that the 2BI aents -ere #a'in to >stin Petersen, a'a Eri&/ein<, an+ also -at&hin to see if they -ere #a'in any &alls to Den%er phone n#bers" A &he&' of>stin0s lan+line at the safe hose sho-e+ that his lon:+istan&e ser%i&e, MCI, -as still in the na#eof >oseph Wernle!-hi&h #eant it -as probably still bein pai+ for by the Brea" >stin0ssnit&hin ha+n0t helpe+ the 2e+s &at&h #e, bt they ob%iosly still ha+ hi# in harness" I -on+ere+-hat ha&'ers he -as taretin an+ tryin to pt into prison no- that I -as ot of his rea&h"

One +ay -hile -or'in in the &o#pter roo# -ith Darren an+ Li<, I noti&e+ that Darren ha+trne+ his &o#pter at an anle that -ol+ #a'e it +iffi&lt for anyone else to see -hat he -as+oin, -hi&h natrally #a+e #e sspi&ios" I fire+ p a prora# &alle+ 3Wat&h4; aptly na#e+, it let#e -at&h e%erythin on his s&reen"

I &ol+n0t belie%e #y eyes" /e -as in the la- fir#0s /#an Resor&es +ire&tory an+ ha+ plle+ p the payroll file, +isplayin the pay an+ bonses of all the la-yers, assistants, spport staff,re&eptionists, an+ IT -or'ers, as -ell as e%ery other e#ployee of the fir#, fro# the hihest:earnin

partner to the lo-est:pai+ &ler'"/e s&rolle+ +o-n to a listin that rea+6

WEI88, ERIC Co#p Oper MI8 (,)))")) )( The ner%e of this y, loo'in p #y salary Bt I &ol+ har+ly &o#plain6 I 'ne- he -as

spyin on #e only be&ase - -as spyin on him5



TWENT(4EIGHT



To)h, H!n#e

2htm 1vvvkci sw mh0 Fmtvr V;> Ycmrt !mki

v+imgv vow0 h1h L cg$ !cst ysi

I0+ fallen into a &o#fortable rotine as a ne- &iti<en of Den%er" Drin the +ay, I0+ o into

-or' at the la- fir# on a relar shift fro# abot 6)) to 96))" After-ar+, I0+ o to the y# for afe- hors, rab +inner at a lo&al restarant, then hea+ ho#e or ba&' to the la- fir# an+ spen+ ntil

be+ti#e +oin yo 'no- -hat"/a&'in -as #y entertain#ent" Yo &ol+ al#ost say it -as a -ay of es&apin to an

alternate reality!li'e playin a %i+eo a#e" Bt to play #y a#e of &hoi&e, yo ha+ to stay alert at

all ti#es" One lapse in attention or sloppy #ista'e, an+ the 2e+s &ol+ sho- p at yor +oor" Notthe si#late+ 7:#en, not the bla&' -i<ar+s of Dneons an+ Draons, bt the real, honest:to:7o+,lo&':yo:p:an+:thro-:a-ay:the:'ey 2e+s"

At the ti#e, I -as bsy fin+in syste#s to e=plore an+ -ays to #at&h -its -ith the se&ritye=perts, net-or' an+ syste# a+#inistrators, an+ &le%er prora##ers I en&ontere+ in #y alternatereality" I -as +oin it prely for the thrill"

8in&e I &ol+n0t really share #y e=ploits -ith anyone, I set #y sihts on obtainin thesor&e &o+e for thins that intereste+ #e, s&h as operatin syste#s an+ &elllar phones" If I &ol+et the &o+e, it -ol+ be #y trophy" I -as be&o#in so oo+ at it that so#eti#es it see#e+ tooeasy"

No- that I ha+ pt e%erythin on the line by &ttin ties -ith #y for#er life, I ha+ nothin

to lose" I -as pri#e+ an+ rea+y" /o- &ol+ I raise the sta'esH What &ol+ I +o that -ol+ #a'ee%ery ha&' that &a#e before it see# li'e &hil+0s playH

The -orl+0s lea+in te&h &o#panies sppose+ly ha+ the best se&rity in the -orl+" If I really-ante+ trophies that #eant so#ethin, I -as oin to ha%e to try to ha&' into the# an+ et their&o+e"

I ha+ alrea+y ha+ oo+ s&&ess -ith 8n" No- I tarete+ No%ell, -hi&h, I +is&o%ere+, se+ aser%er rnnin the 8nO8 operatin syste# as its fire-all ate-ay" I e=ploite+ a b in a prora#&alle+ 3sen+#ail,4 -hi&h -as se+, a#on other thins, to re&ei%e e#ail fro# the otsi+e -orl+"My oal -as to et the sor&e &o+e for one of the lea+in net-or' operatin syste#s in the -orl+,

No%ell0s NetWare"I -as able to &reate any file -ith any &ontent I -ante+ by e=ploitin an npat&he+ se&rity

fla- in the sen+#ail prora#" I -ol+ &onne&t o%er the net-or' to the sen+#ail prora# an+ typein a fe- &o##an+s li'e these6

#ail fro#6 bin r&pt to6 bin"rhosts te0t omitted S

" #ail fro#6 bin r&pt to6 bin"rhosts +ata ^ ^

" @it These &o##an+s &ase+ the sen+#ail prora# to &reate a 3"rhosts4 file pronon&e+ 3+ot:



R:hosts4, -hi&h #a'es it possible to lo in -ithot a pass-or+"2or the te&hni&al rea+er, I -as able to &reate a "rhosts file in the bin a&&ont &onfire+ to

allo- #e to lo in -ithot ha%in to pro%i+e a pass-or+" A "rhosts file is a &onfiration file se+-ith &ertain lea&y syste# prora#s 'no-n as the 3R:ser%i&es,4 -hi&h are se+ for loin in ore=e&tin &o##an+s on a re#ote &o#pter" 2or e=a#ple, a "rhosts file &an be &onfire+ to allo-the ser 3'e%in4 fro# the hostna#e 3&on+or4 to lo in -ithot pro%i+in a pass-or+" In the

e=a#ple abo%e, t-o pls sins separate+ by a spa&e pro%i+es a -il+&ar+ for both the ser an+ thehostna#e of the &o#pter!#eanin that any ser &an lo in to the a&&ont or e=e&te &o##an+s"Be&ase the bin a&&ont ha+ -rite a&&ess to the 3et&4 +ire&tory, I -as able to repla&e the pass-or+file -ith #y o-n #o+ifie+ %ersion that allo-e+ #e to ain root a&&ess"

Ne=t I installe+ a ha&'e+ %ersion of 3telnet+4 that -ol+ &aptre an+ store the pass-or+ ofanyone -ho loe+ in to the No%ell ate-ay #a&hine" As I -as ettin #yself establishe+ on

No%ell0s net-or', I sa- that t-o other sers -ere loe+ in an+ a&ti%e" If they happene+ to noti&ethat so#ebo+y else -as loe+ in fro# a re#ote lo&ation, they -ol+ i##e+iately 'no- that the&o#pany -as bein ha&'e+" 8o I too' steps that #a+e #e in%isible6 if any syste# a+#inistrator&alle+ p a list of e%eryone -ho -as on the syste# at that ti#e, I -ol+n0t sho- p"

I &ontine+ -at&hin ntil one of the a+#inistrators loe+ in to the ate-ay; I -as then

able to &aptre his pass-or+ for the root a&&ont" The pass-or+ -as 3'i+s"4 Cte"It +i+n0t ta'e #e lon to et into another syste# &alle+ 3itha&a,4 -hi&h -as one of the

Enineerin 7rop0s syste#s in 8an+y, .tah" On&e I &o#pro#ise+ that syste#, I -as able toretrie%e the en&rypte+ pass-or+ file for the entire Enineerin 7rop an+ re&o%er the pass-or+s ofa lare n#ber of sers"

I sear&he+ the syste# a+#inistrators0 e#ail for the 'ey-or+s 3#o+e#,4 3+ial:p,4 an+ 3+ial:in4 in %arios for#s!sinlar, plral, -ith an+ -ithot a hyphen follo-in 3+ial,4 an+ so on! -hi&h le+ #e to #essaes ans-erin e#ployee @estions s&h as 3What n#ber +o I se to +ialinH4 5ery han+y"

On&e I fon+ a +ial:p, I starte+ sin that as #y a&&ess point rather than oin in throh No%ell0s Internet ate-ay" 2or starters, I -ante+ to fin+ the syste# that &ontaine+ the sor&e &o+e for the NetWareoperatin syste#" I starte+ sear&hin throh the e#ail ar&hi%es of the +e%elopers, loo'in for&ertain -or+s that #iht lea+ #e to the pro&ess se+ to &o##it p+ates to the sor&e &o+erepository" I e%entally fon+ the hostna#e of the sor&e &o+e repository6 3ATM"4 It -asn0t a &ash#a&hine, bt to #e it -as -orth #&h #ore than #oney" I then -ent sear&hin ba&' throh e#ailsloo'in for 3ATM4 an+ fon+ the na#es of a fe- e#ployees -ho spporte+ the syste#"

I spent hors tryin to lo in to ATM sin the .ni=:base+ &re+entials I ha+ inter&epte+, bt-ithot s&&ess" 2inally I -as able to fin+ a %ali+ a&&ont, bt it +i+n0t ha%e rihts to a&&ess thesor&e &o+e repositories" Ti#e for #y stan+ar+ fallba&'6 so&ial enineerin" I &alle+ the n#ber fora la+y -ho -or'e+ in spport on ATM" .sin the na#e of an enineer -hose pass-or+ I ha+

&ra&'e+, I tol+ her I -as -or'in on a pro1e&t an+ nee+e+ a&&ess to the Net-are "*( &lient sor&e&o+e" My t tol+ #e so#ethin 1st -asn0t riht, bt the la+y +i+n0t son+ at all hesitant"When she &a#e ba&' on the line an+ tol+ #e she ha+ i%en #e the rihts I0+ re@este+, I felt

a fa#iliar sre of a+renaline" Bt after only fifteen #intes, #y session -as +is&onne&te+, an+ I&ol+n0t re&onne&t!I -as lo&'e+ ot" Mo#ents later the enineer &hane+ his pass-or+" .h:oh"That +i+n0t ta'e lon to fire ot" Later I learne+ that the la+y ha+ ha+ pre%ios &on%ersations -iththe enineer -hose na#e I se+, an+ reali<e+ #y %oi&e +i+n0t son+ li'e his" 8he 'ne- I -as ani#poster" Da#n Well, -in so#e, lose so#e"

I &alle+ another a+#inistrator -ho also spporte+ ATM an+ &on%in&e+ hi# to a++ a&&essrihts to one of the other a&&onts I ha+ &o#pro#ise+, only to be lo&'e+ ot aain" I also pla&e+

ba&'+oors in n#eros syste#s to &aptre &re+entials as sers loe+ in"

By no- I ha+ been -or'in on this pro1e&t for se%eral +ays" 8ear&hin e#ails -as a @i&'#eans of +is&o%erin -here I &ol+ fin+ the tasty +ata!the infor#ation that -ol+ lea+ toa++itional -ays into the net-or', or to soft-are bs, or to sor&e &o+e that intereste+ #e"



No- that I 'ne- they -ol+ be -at&hin &losely an+ -eren0t li'ely to fall for the sa#e tri&'aain, I &hane+ #y ta&ti&s" What if I tarete+ a +e%eloper -ho ha+ fll a&&ess an+ tri&'e+ hi# into&opyin e%erythin for #eH I -ol+n0t e%en nee+ to fin+ a -ay into ATM to et -hat I -ante+"

After e=plorin No%ell0s internal net-or' for se%eral +ays, I fon+ a &ool tool a&&essible toany No%ell e#ployee" The prora#, &alle+ 3**,4 liste+ the na#e, phone n#ber, lo:in na#e, an++epart#ent of ea&h staffer" My l&' -as startin to &hane" I +#pe+ ot the entire e#ployee list to

a file for analysis" As I loo'e+ throh the list, it be&a#e &lear that all the +e%elopers -or'e+ in arop &alle+ 3EN7 82T"4 I fire+ that NetWare +e%elop#ent -as li'ely han+le+ ot of Pro%o,.tah, the &o#pany hea+@arters"

Loo'in throh the +ire&tory sin these t-o &riteria, I ran+o#ly &hose a listin6 Ne%are<, Art6)* (:*K(6ane%are<6EN7 82T

No- that I ha+ #y #ar', I nee+e+ to pose as a leiti#ate No%ell e#ployee" I -ante+ to&hoose a &ontra&tor or so#eone else -ho -as nli'ely to be 'no-n by #y taret" The phone+ire&tory also &ontaine+ a +epart#ent na#e+ .ni%el that ha+ probably been for#e+ -hen No%ellan+ ATUT0s .ni= 8yste# Laboratories starte+ p a 1oint %entre in **" I nee+e+ to fin+ ane#ployee -ho -asn0t oin to be in the offi&e" My first &hoi&e -as6

Nalt, 7abe6)* J9:K(96abe6.NI5EL

I &alle+ an+ ot his %oi&e#ail reetin, -hi&h %ery &on%eniently annon&e+ that he -ol+ be ot of the offi&e for the ne=t fe- +ays, -ithot a&&ess to e#ail or %oi&e#ail" 2ro# the e#ployee+ire&tory file, I pi&'e+ ot a la+y -ho -or'e+ in the Tele&o##ni&ations Depart#ent an+ +iale+her n#ber"

3/i, $aren,4 I sai+" 3This is 7abe Nalt &allin fro# Mi+%ale" Last niht I &hane+ #y%oi&e#ail pass-or+, bt it +oesn0t -or'" Can yo please reset itH4

38re, 7abe" What0s yor n#berH4 I a%e her 7abe0s n#ber" 3O'ay, yor ne- pass-or+ is the last fi%e +iits of yor telephone n#ber"4 I than'e+ her politely, i##e+iately +iale+ 7abe0s phone, 'eye+ in the +iits for the ne-

pass-or+, an+ re&or+e+ the otoin reetin in #y o-n %oi&e, a++in, 3I ha%e se%eral #eetinsto+ay, so it0s best to lea%e a %oi&e#ail" Than' yo"4 No- I -as a leiti#ate No%ell e#ployee -ithan internal phone n#ber"

I phone+ Art Ne%are<, tol+ hi# I -as 7abe Nalt in Enineerin, an+ as'e+, 3Do yo -or'-ith NetWareH I0# in the .ni%el 7rop"4 3Yes,4 he sai+" 37reat" Can yo +o #e a bi fa%orH I0# -or'in on the NetWare for .ni= pro1e&t, an+ Inee+ to #o%e a &opy of the NetWare "*( &lient sor&e &o+e to one of or bo=es here in 8an+y" I0llset p an a&&ont for yo on the en&hila+a0 ser%er so yo &an #ap a +ri%e an+ transfer the &o+e"4

38re" What0s yor n#berH I0ll &all yo after it0s +one,4 he sai+" After -e hn p, I -as elate+" No nee+ to ain a&&ess to ATM!1st le%erae so#eone -ho

alrea+y has it"I -ent to the y# to -or' ot, &he&'in 7abe0s %oi&e#ail +rin a brea' to fin+ a #essaefro# Art sayin that he ha+ finishe+" A-eso#e No- I ha+ trst an+ &re+ibility" Why not o a littlefrther an+ as' for another sma fa%orH Riht fro# the y#, I &alle+ Ne%are< ba&' an+ sai+,3Than's, Art" /ey, sorry, bt I 1st reali<e+ I also nee+ ") &lient tilities too"4

/e son+e+ a little annoye+" 3There are a lot of files on that ser%er, an+ there0s not enohspa&e left"4 3I0ll tell yo -hat, I0ll ta'e the# off en&hila+a0 to #a'e roo#" I0ll &all yo -hen I0# +one"4 After I finishe+ -or'in ot, I -ent ho#e, loe+ on, an+ transferre+ the files to an a&&ontI ha+ &reate+ for #yself at Colora+o 8pernet, the larest Internet ser%i&e pro%i+er in Den%er" Thene=t +ay, Ne%are< transferre+ the rest of the files for #e, an operation that too' hi# a lon ti#e

be&ase there -as so #&h &o+e"Later -hen I as'e+ hi# to transfer the ser%er sor&e &o+e, he ot sspi&ios an+ bal'e+" As

soon as his sspi&ions -ere raise+, I +iale+ into 7abe0s %oi&e#ail an+ reset it to se the stan+ar+



otoin reetin so #y %oi&e -ol+ be erase+" I &ertainly +i+n0t -ant a re&or+in of #y %oi&e to be E=hibit A in so#e ftre &ort &ase"

.n+is&orae+, I thoht to #yself, 'here/s aways something that/s more chaenging and

$*n to hack "By this ti#e, &ell phones ha+ shrn' a reat +eal fro# their earliest brief&ase si<e" Bt they

-ere still abot as bi as a #an0s shoe an+ se%eral ti#es hea%ier" Then Motorola too' a leap ahea+

of the rest of the in+stry -ith the first s#all, liht-eiht, -ell:+esine+ #obile phone, theMi&roTAC .ltra Lite" It loo'e+ li'e the 8tar Tre' Co##ni&ator, the +e%i&e Captain $ir' se+ fori%in the &o##an+, 3Bea# #e p, 8&otty"4 If the physi&al loo' of the phone -as so +ifferent, thesoft-are that ran it srely #st ha%e a reat #any inno%ations as -ell"

I -as still sin the No%atel PTR:(J phone, the one I ha+ &onne+ No%atel into sen+in #ethe spe&ial &hips for so that I &ol+ &hane the E8N fro# the 'eypa+" It -asn0t any-here near asse=y as the Mi&roTAC .ltra Lite" Maybe it -as ti#e for #e to s-it&h phones! i$ I &ol+ fire ota -ay to et the sa#e &apabilities I ha+ -ith the No%atel" I -ol+ so#eho- ha%e to et the sor&e&o+e for the phone fro# Motorola" /o- har+ -ol+ that beH It presente+ a %ery interestin&hallene"

I -as so eaer to +i%e in that I as'e+ Elaine, #y boss at the la- fir#, if I &ol+ ta'e off early

to atten+ to a personal #atter, an+ she sai+ o'ay" I left at aron+ three" On the lon ele%ator ri+e+o-n forty:fi%e floors, a &ople of the fir#0s asso&iates -ere 1o'in abot a bi &ase they -ere-or'in on6 the fir# -as representin Mi&hael >a&'son" I s#ile+ to #yself, thin'in ba&' to -hen Ise+ to -or' at 2ro#in0s Deli&atessen" The >a&'son fa#ily ha+ a bi hose riht +o-n the street, on/ay%enhrst, an+ stoppe+ in e%ery on&e in a -hile for a +eli ln&h or +inner" No- here I -as, on anele%ator a thosan+ #iles a-ay, rnnin fro# the 2BI an+ the ."8" Marshals, e#ploye+ by a

prestiios la- fir# that -as representin one of the #ost fa#os #si&ians in the -orl+"As I starte+ to -al' to #y apart#ent throh a beinnin sno-fall, I &alle+ toll:free

+ire&tory assistan&e an+ as'e+ for Motorola, then &alle+ that n#ber an+ tol+ the frien+lyre&eptionist -ho ans-ere+ that I -as loo'in for the pro1e&t #anaer for the Mi&roTAC .ltra Lite

pro1e&t"3Oh, or Celllar 8bs&riber 7rop is base+ in 8&ha#br, Illinois" Wol+ yo li'e the

n#berH4 she as'e+" Of &orse I -ol+" I &alle+ 8&ha#br an+ sai+, 3/i, this is Ri&' -ith Motorola in Arlinton /eihts" I0#tryin to rea&h the pro1e&t #anaer for the Mi&roTAC .ltra Lite"4 After bein transferre+ aron+ tose%eral +ifferent people, I en+e+ p spea'in -ith a %i&e presi+ent in Resear&h an+ De%elop#ent" Ia%e hi# the sa#e line abot bein fro# Arlinton /eihts an+ nee+in to rea&h the Mi&roTAC

pro1e&t #anaer"I -as -orrie+ that the e=e&ti%e #iht et sspi&ios abot the traffi& noises an+ o&&asional

horns bein blo-n by +ri%ers eaer to et ho#e before the sno- starte+ pilin p, bt no" /e 1stsai+, 3That0s Pa#, she -or's for #e,4 an+ a%e #e her telephone e=tension" Pa#0s %oi&e#ail

#essae annon&e+ that she -as a-ay on a t-o:-ee' %a&ation, then a+%ise+, 3If yo nee+ any help-hatsoe%er, please &all Alisa,4 an+ a%e her e=tension"I &alle+ the n#ber an+ sai+, 3/i, Alisa" It0s Ri&' -ith Resear&h an+ De%elop#ent in

Arlinton /eihts" When I spo'e to Pa# last -ee', she tal'e+ abot oin on %a&ation" Di+ shelea%e yetH4

Of &orse Alisa ans-ere+, 3Yes"43Well,4 I sai+, 3she -as sppose+ to sen+ #e the sor&e &o+e for the Mi&roTAC .ltra Lite"

Bt she sai+ if she +i+n0t ha%e ti#e before she left, I shol+ &all yo an+ yo0+ help #e ot"4/er response -as, 3What %ersion +o yo -antH4

I s#ile+" 7reat!no &hallenes abot #y i+entity, an+ she0s -illin to help" Bt of &orse, I ha+ no

i+ea -hat the &rrent %ersion -as, or e%en -hat n#berin syste# -as bein se+" 8o I 1st sai+,flippantly, 3/o- abot the latest an+ reatestH4

3O'ay, let #e &he&',4 she sai+"



I tr+e+ alon" The sno- -as beinnin to sti&' an+ pile p n+erfoot" I ha+ a s'i &ap plle+ +o-n o%er one ear an+ -as hol+in #y bl'y &ell phone to the other, tryin ns&&essfllyto 'eep the ear -ar# by pressin the phone har+ aainst it" As Alisa &la&'e+ a-ay on her 'eyboar+,I loo'e+ for a bil+in to +&' into so the traffi& noise -ol+n0t set off alar# bells, bt there -asno-here to o" Mintes passe+"

2inally she sai+" 3I fon+ a s&ript in Pa#0s +ire&tory that -ill let #e e=tra&t any soft-are

%ersion for the .ltra Lite" Do yo -ant +o&0 or +o&(0H43 +o&(,0 4 I ans-ere+, firin it -ol+ be the later %ersion"

3>st a se&" I0# e=tra&tin it to a te#porary +ire&tory,4 she sai+" An+ then, 3Ri&', there0s a proble#"4 ?*st my *ck " 3I ha%e lots of files in n#eros +ire&tories" What +o yo -ant #e to +oH4

It son+e+ li'e it -as ti#e for so#e ar&hi%in an+ &o#pression" 3Do yo 'no- ho- to setar0 an+ <ip0H4 No, she +i+n0t" 8o I as'e+, 3Wol+ yo li'e to learnH4

8he ans-ere+ that she lo%e+ learnin ne- thins, so I be&a#e her ttor for the #o#ent,-al'in her step:by:step throh the pro&ess of ar&hi%in an+ &o#pressin the sor&e &o+e filesinto a sinle file"

Cars -ere sli+in aron+ no- on the slippery streets, e%en #ore horns -ere hon'in" I 'eptthin'in, Any min*te she/ notice the horns and start asking +*estions" Bt if she hear+ any of it,

she #st ha%e thoht it -as 1st traffi& son+s otsi+e #y offi&e -in+o-; she +i+n0t say a -or+abot it" At the en+ of the lesson, -e ha+ a three:#eabyte file that &ontaine+ not only the latestsor&e &o+e bt also a &opy of the ser%er0s 3et&4 +ire&tory, -hi&h in&l+e+, a#on other thins, a&opy of the pass-or+ file -ith e%ery ser0s pass-or+ hash" I as'e+ Alisa if she 'ne- ho- to se32TP"4

32ile transfer prora#H 8re,4 she ans-ere+" 8he alrea+y n+erstoo+ that 2TP -ol+ allo- her to transfer files a#on &o#pter syste#s" At this point I -as 'i&'in #yself in the btt for not bein better prepare+" I ha+ ne%ere=pe&te+ to et this far in s&h a short ti#e" No- that Alisa ha+ fon+ the latest release of thesor&e &o+e an+ &o#presse+ it into a sinle file, I nee+e+ to -al' her throh the steps re@ire+ tosen+ #e the file" Bt I &ol+n0t i%e her one of the hostna#es I -as sin, an+ ob%iosly I +i+n0tha%e a hostna#e that en+e+ in Motorola0s 3#ot"&o#"4 I thoht of a -or':aron+6 than's to #y'na&' for re#e#berin n#bers, I 'ne- the IP a++ress of one of Colora+o 8pernet0s ser%ers,na#e+ 3teal"4 Ea&h rea&hable &o#pter an+ +e%i&e on a TCPIP net-or' has its o-n +istin&ti%ea++ress, s&h as 3*("*"(*"(*"4

I as'e+ her to type in 32TP,4 follo-e+ by the IP a++ress" That shol+ ha%e establishe+ a&onne&tion to Colora+o 8pernet, bt it 'ept ti#in ot on ea&h atte#pt"

8he sai+, 3I thin' this is a se&rity isse" Let #e &he&' -ith #y se&rity #anaer abot -hatyo0re as'in #e to +o"4 3No, -ait, -ait, -ait,4 I sai+, #ore than a little +esperate" Too late6 I -as on hol+" After a fe- #intes, I starte+ feelin pretty ner%os" What if they hoo'e+ p a tape re&or+er

an+ bean re&or+in #eH By the ti#e Alisa &a#e ba&' on the line so#e #intes later, #y ar# -asettin sore fro# hol+in the &ell phone"3Ri&', I 1st spo'e to #y se&rity #anaer" The IP a++ress yo a%e #e is otsi+e of

Motorola0s &a#ps,4 she sai+" I +i+n0t -ant to say any #ore than -as absoltely ne&essary, 1st in &ase" 3.h:hh,4 I ans-ere+" 3Instea+ #y se&rity #anaer tol+ #e I ha%e to se a spe&ial pro=y ser%er to sen+ yo thefile, for se&rity reasons"4 I starte+ to feel a reat sense of +isappoint#ent, thin'in, 'hat/s the end o$ this itte hack "

Bt she -as oin on6 3The oo+ ne-s is, he a%e #e his serna#e an+ pass-or+ for the pro=y ser%er so I &an sen+ yo the file"4 In&re+ible I &ol+n0t belie%e it" I than'e+ her %ery #&h

an+ sai+ I #iht &all ba&' if I nee+e+ frther help"By the ti#e I rea&he+ #y apart#ent, the &o#plete sor&e &o+e for Motorola0s hottest ne-

pro+&t -as -aitin for #e" In the ti#e it ha+ ta'en #e to -al' ho#e throh the sno-, I ha+



tal'e+ Alisa into i%in #e one of her e#ployer0s #ost &losely ar+e+ tra+e se&rets"I &alle+ her ba&' a n#ber of ti#es o%er the ne=t fe- +ays to et +ifferent %ersions of the

Mi&roTAC .ltra Lite sor&e &o+e" It -as li'e the CIA ha%in a #ole in the Iranian e#bassy -ho+i+n0t e%en reali<e he -as passin on infor#ation to an ene#y of the state"

If ettin the sor&e &o+e for one &ell phone ha+ been that easy, I starte+ thin'in, #aybe I&ol+ so#eho- et into Motorola0s +e%elop#ent ser%ers so I &ol+ &opy all the sor&e &o+e I

-ante+ -ithot nee+in help fro# Alisa or any other &ooperati%e e#ployee" Alisa ha+ #entione+the hostna#e of the file ser%er -here all the sor&e &o+e -as store+6 3l&*9"4

On a lon shot, I &he&'e+ the &rrent -eather in 8&ha#br, Illinois, -here Motorola0sCelllar 8bs&riber 7rop -as lo&ate+" An+ there it -as6 3The sno-stor# that bean yester+ay -illlast throh toniht an+ into to#orro-, -in+s stin to thirty #iles per hor"4

Perfe&t" I ot the phone n#ber for their Net-or' Operations Center NOC" 2ro# #y resear&h, I'ne- that Motorola0s se&rity poli&y for e#ployees +ialin in fro# a re#ote lo&ation re@ire+ #orethan 1st a serna#e an+ pass-or+"

They re@ire+ t-o:for#:fa&tor athenti&ation!in this &ase, that in&l+e+ sin the 8e&rID+es&ribe+ earlier, a pro+&t fro# a &o#pany &alle+ 8e&rity Dyna#i&s" E%ery e#ployee -ho nee+s

to &onne&t re#otely is isse+ a se&ret PIN an+ is i%en a +e%i&e the si<e of a &re+it &ar+ to &arry-ith hi# or her that +isplays a si=:+iit pass&o+e in its +isplay -in+o-" That &o+e &hanes every

si0ty seconds, see#inly #a'in it i#possible for an intr+er to ess it" Anyti#e a re#ote sernee+s to +ial in to Motorola0s &a#ps, he or she has to enter a PIN follo-e+ by the pass&o+e+isplaye+ on their 8e&rID +e%i&e"

I &alle+ the Net-or' Operations Center an+ rea&he+ a y I0ll &all E+ Walsh" 3/i,4 I sai+"3This is Earl Roberts, -ith the Celllar 8bs&riber 7rop4!i%in the na#e an+ rop of a reale#ployee"

E+ as'e+ ho- thins -ere oin, an+ I sai+, 3Well, not so reat" I &an0t et into the offi&e be&ase of the sno-stor#" An+ the proble# is, I nee+ to a&&ess #y -or'station fro# ho#e, bt Ileft #y 8e&rID in #y +es'" Can yo o rab it for #eH Or &an so#ebo+yH An+ then rea+ off #y&o+e -hen I nee+ to et inH Be&ase #y tea# has a &riti&al +ea+line, an+ I &an0t et #y -or' +one"An+ there0s no -ay I &an et to the offi&e, the roa+s are #&h too +aneros"4

/e sai+, 3I &an0t lea%e the NOC"4 I 1#pe+ riht in6 3Do yo ha%e a 8e&rID for the Operations 7ropH4 3There0s one here in the NOC,4 he sai+" 3We 'eep one for the operators in &ase of ane#eren&y"4 3Listen,4 I sai+, 3&an yo +o #e a bi fa%orH When I nee+ to +ial into the net-or', &an yorea+ #e the &o+e fro# yor 8e&rIDH >st ntil it0s safe for #e to +ri%e in"4

3Who are yo aainH4 he as'e+" 3Earl Roberts"4

3Who +o yo -or' forH4 32or Pa# Dillar+"4 3Oh, yeah, I 'no- her"4 When he0s liable to be fa&e+ -ith toh sle++in, a oo+ so&ial enineer +oes #ore than thesal a#ont of resear&h" 3I0# on the se&on+ floor,4 I -ent on" 3Ne=t to 8te%e Litti"4

/e 'ne- that na#e as -ell" No- I -ent ba&' to -or' on hi#" 3It0+ be #&h easier 1st to oto #y +es' an+ rab #y 8e&rID for #e"4

Walsh +i+n0t -ant to say no to a y -ho nee+e+ so#e help, bt he +i+n0t -ant to say yes,either" 8o he si+esteppe+ the +e&ision6 3I0ll ha%e to as' #y boss" /an on"4 /e pt the phone +o-n,an+ I &ol+ hear hi# pi&' p another phone, pt in the &all, an+ e=plain the re@est" Walsh then +i+so#ethin ine=pli&able6 he tol+ his boss, 3I 'no- hi#" /e -or's for Pa# Dillar+" Can -e let hi#

te#porarily se or 8e&rIDH We0+ tell hi# the &o+e o%er the phone"4/e -as a&tally %o&hin for #e!a#a<in

After another &ople of #o#ents, Walsh &a#e ba&' on the line an+ sai+, 3My #anaer



-ants to tal' to yo hi#self,4 an+ a%e #e the y0s na#e an+ &ell phone n#ber"I &alle+ E+0s #anaer an+ -ent throh the -hole story one #ore ti#e, a++in a fe- +etails

abot the pro1e&t I -as -or'in on an+ e#phasi<in that #y pro+&t tea# ha+ to #eet a #ission:&riti&al +ea+line" 3It0+ be a -hole lot easier if so#eone 1st -ent an+ ot #y 8e&r:ID,4 I sai+" 3My+es' isn0t lo&'e+, an+ it shol+ be there in #y pper left:han+ +ra-er"4

3Well,4 sai+ the #anaer, 31st for the -ee'en+, I thin' -e &an let yo se the one in the

NOC" I0ll tell the ys on +ty that -hen yo &all, it0s o'ay to rea+ off the pass &o+e,4 an+ he a%e#e the PIN to se -ith it"

2or the -hole -ee'en+, e%ery ti#e I -ante+ to +ial in to Motorola0s internal net-or', all Iha+ to +o -as &all the Net-or' Operations Center an+ as' -hoe%er ans-ere+ to rea+ off the si=+iits +isplaye+ on the 8e&rID"

Bt I -asn0t ho#e free yet" When I +iale+ in to Motorola0s +ial:p ter#inal ser%er, thesyste#s I -as tryin to rea&h, in the Celllar 8bs&riber 7rop, -eren0t a%ailable" I0+ ha%e to fin+so#e other -ay in"

The ne=t step too' &ht<pah6 I &alle+ ba&' Walsh in the Net-or' Operations Center" I&o#plaine+, 3None of or syste#s are rea&hable fro# the +ial:p ter#inal ser%er, so I &an0t&onne&t" Col+ yo set #e p -ith an a&&ont on one of the &o#pters in the NOC so I &an &onne&t

to #y -or'stationH4E+0s #anaer ha+ alrea+y sai+ it -as o'ay to i%e #e the pass&o+e +isplaye+ on the

8e&rID, so this ne- re@est +i+n0t see# nreasonable" Walsh te#porarily &hane+ the pass-or+ onhis o-n a&&ont on one of the NOC0s &o#pters an+ a%e #e the infor#ation to lo in, then sai+,3Call #e -hen yo +on0t nee+ it any#ore so I &an &hane #y pass-or+ ba&'"4

I trie+ to &onne&t to any one of the syste#s in the Celllar 8bs&riber 7rop, bt I 'ept bein blo&'e+; apparently they -ere all fire-alle+" By probin aron+ Motorola0s net-or', I finallyfon+ one syste# -ith the 3est4 a&&ont enable+!#eanin that the ates ha+ been left open, an+I &ol+ lo in" I ot a srprise -hen I i+entifie+ this syste# as a NeT -or'station, pro+&e+ bythe short:li%e+ &o#pany 8te%e >obs fon+e+ before he retrne+ to Apple" I +o-nloa+e+ the

pass-or+ file an+ &ra&'e+ the pass-or+ of so#ebo+y -ho ha+ a&&ess to that #a&hine, a y na#e+8te%e .rbans'i" It +i+n0t ta'e #y pass-or+ &ra&'er lon6 the serna#e he se+ to a&&ess the NeT&o#pter -as 3ste%e,4 an+ he ha+ &hosen 3#ary4 as his pass-or+"

I i##e+iately trie+ to lo in to the 3l&*94 host in the Celllar 8bs&riber 7rop fro# the NeT -or'station, bt the pass-or+ +i+n0t -or'" /e b##er

2ine" The infor#ation abot .rbans'i0s &re+entials -ol+ &o#e in han+y later" What Inee+e+, thoh, -as not his NeT a&&ont bt the pass-or+ for his a&&ont on the Celllar8bs&riber 7rop0s ser%ers, -hi&h hel+ the sor&e &o+e I -ante+"

I tra&'e+ +o-n .rbans'i0s ho#e phone n#ber an+ &alle+ hi#" Clai#in to be fro# 3the NOC,4 I annon&e+, 3We0%e sffere+ a #a1or har+ +is' failre" Do yo ha%e any files yo nee+ tore&o%erH4

Dh /e +i+ 3Well, -e &an +o that on Thrs+ay,4 I tol+ hi#" Thrs+ay #eant he -ol+ be -ithot his-or' files for three +ays" I hel+ the phone a-ay fro# #y ear as I ot the e=pe&te+ e=plosion"

3Yeah, I &an n+erstan+,4 I sai+ sy#patheti&ally" 3I ess I &an #a'e an e=&eption an+ ptyo ahea+ of e%erybo+y else if yo0ll 'eep it to yorself" We0re settin p the ser%er on a bran+:ne-#a&hine, an+ I0ll nee+ to re:&reate yor ser a&&ont on the ne- syste#" Yor serna#e is ste%e,0rihtH4

3Yes,4 he sai+" 3O'ay, 8te%e, &hoose a ne- pass-or+ yo0+ li'e"4 Then, as if I0+ 1st ha+ a better i+ea, I-ent on, 3Oh, ne%er #in+, 1st tell #e -hat yor &rrent pass-or+ is, an+ I0ll set it to that"4

That natrally #a+e hi# sspi&ios" 3Who are yo aainH4 he -ante+ to 'no-" 3Who +i+

yo say yo -or'e+ forH4 I repeate+ -hat I ha+ tol+ hi#, &al#ly, ta'in it as an e%ery+ay thin" I as'e+ if he ha+ a 8e&rID" >st as I e=pe&te+, the ans-er -as yes, so I sai+, 3Let #e pll



yor 8e&rID appli&ation"4 This -as a a#ble" I 'ne- he ha+ probably fille+ ot the for# aes before an+ probably -ol+n0t re#e#ber -hether it ha+ as'e+ for a pass-or+" An+ sin&e I alrea+y'ne- that one of the pass-or+s he se+ -as 3#ary,4 I fire+ that -ol+ son+ fa#iliar to hi#, an+he #iht thin' he ha+ se+ it on the 8e&rID for#"

I -al'e+ a-ay, opene+ a +ra-er, sho%e+ it &lose+ aain, &a#e ba&' to the phone, an+ starte+shfflin papers"

3O'ay, here it is? yo se+ the pass-or+ #ary"0 43Yeah, riht,4 he sai+, satisfie+" After a sliht hesitation, he blrte+ ot, 3O'ay, #y

pass-or+ is bebop*"0 4 /oo', line, an+ sin'er" I i##e+iately &onne&te+ to the ser%er that Alisa ha+ tol+ #e abot, l&*9, an+ loe+ on -ith3ste%e4 an+ 3bebop*"4 I -as in

It +i+n0t ta'e #&h hntin to fin+ se%eral %ersions of the Mi&roTAC .ltra Lite sor&e &o+e;I ar&hi%e+ an+ &o#presse+ the# -ith tar an+ <ip, an+ transferre+ the# to Colora+o 8pernet" ThenI too' the ti#e to +elete Alisa0s history file, -hi&h sho-e+ the trail of -hat I ha+ as'e+ her to +o"Al-ays a oo+ i+ea to &o%er p yor tra&'s"

I spent the rest of the -ee'en+ po'in aron+" On Mon+ay #ornin I stoppe+ &allin the

NOC for the 8e&rID pass&o+e" It ha+ been a reat rn, an+ there -as no sense te#ptin fate"I thin' I ha+ a s#ile on #y fa&e the -hole ti#e" On&e aain I &ol+n0t belie%e ho- easy it

-as, -ith no roa+blo&'s bein thro-n p in front of #e" I felt a reat sense of a&&o#plish#ent an+the 'in+ of satisfa&tion I ha+ 'no-n as a 'i+ in Little Leae -hen I hit a ho#e rn"

Bt later that +ay, I reali<e+, Da#n I ha+ ne%er thoht to rab the &o#piler!the prora#that translates the sor&e &o+e -ritten by a prora##er into 3#a&hine:rea+able4 &o+e, the ones an+<eros that a &o#pter, or the pro&essor in a &ell phone, &an n+erstan+"

8o that be&a#e #y ne=t &hallene" Di+ Motorola +e%elop their o-n &o#piler for the9/C** pro&essor se+ in the Mi&roTa&, or +i+ they pr&hase it fro# another soft-are %en+orH An+ho- -as I oin to et itH

In late O&tober, #y relar s&annin of Westla- an+ Le=isNe=is yiel+e+ an arti&le abot>stin Petersen0s #ost re&ent a+%entre" 8o#eti#es the 2BI -ill loo' the other -ay -hen a&onfi+ential infor#ant +oesn0t li%e by the boo', bt there are li#its" It trne+ ot that $e%inPolsen0s asso&iate Ron Astin, -ho0+ been set p by >stin Petersen, -as on a personal &rsa+e toet e%en -ith the snit&h an+ et his ass thro-n ba&' in 1ail" Astin fon+ ot -here >stin -asli%in!at the sa#e Larel Canyon Bole%ar+ a++ress that M&7ire0s &ell phone re&or+s ha+ le+#e to" >stin -as &areless6 he +i+n0t shre+ his notes before thro-in the# in the trash" Astin -entD#pster:+i%in at the hose an+ n&o%ere+ e%i+en&e that >stin -as still &o##ittin &re+it &ar+fra+" /e infor#e+ the 2BI of his +is&o%ery"

On&e he ha+ enoh e%i+en&e in han+, Assistant ."8" Attorney Da%i+ 8&hin+ler s##one+>stin an+ his la-yer to a #eetin at the 2e+eral Corthose in Los Aneles" When &onfronte+ by

his 2BI han+lers an+ the prose&tor, >stin 'ne- his +ays -ere n#bere+"At one point +rin the #eetin, >stin sai+ he -ante+ to ha%e a pri%ate &on%ersation -ithhis attorney" The t-o of the# steppe+ ot of the roo#" A fe- #intes later, the attorney &a#e ba&'in an+ sheepishly annon&e+ that his &lient ha+ +isappeare+" The 1+e isse+ a no:bail -arrant for>stin0s arrest"

8o the snit&h -ho trie+ to help sen+ #e to prison -as no- in the sa#e boat I -as" /e -asno- -al'in in #y shoes" Or rather, rnnin"

I ha+ a bi s#ile on #y fa&e" The o%ern#ent0s &hief ha&'in infor#ant ha+ %anishe+" An+e%en if they fon+ hi# aain, his &re+ibility -ol+ be -orthless" The o%ern#ent -ol+ ne%er beable to se hi# to testify aainst #e"

Later on I -ol+ rea+ of >stin0s atte#pt to rip off a ban' -hile he -as a fiti%e" /e ha+

ha&'e+ into the &o#pters of /eller 2inan&ial an+ obtaine+ the &o+es ne&essary to e=e&te a -iretransfer fro# that ban' to another ban' a&&ont" /e then telephone+ in a bo#b threat to /eller2inan&ial" While the bil+in -as bein e%a&ate+, Petersen e=e&te+ a *J),))) -ire transfer fro#



/eller 2inan&ial to .nion Ban', rote+ throh Mellon Ban'" 2ortnately for /eller 2inan&ial, thetransfer -as +is&o%ere+ before Petersen &ol+ -ith+ra- the #oney fro# .nion"

I -as a#se+ to hear abot his ettin &aht, an+ at the sa#e ti#e srprise+ that he -ol+ha%e trie+ a -ire:transfer s&a#" It sho-e+ that he -as a real ba+ y, an e%en bier &roo' than Iha+ i#aine+"



TWENT(4NINE



De)a#!e

C 9 9 CH 88 CC 9 C 88 98 88 9 9 C C CC

C C H 88 C C 88 CH 9 88 C C H H

88 CH C 8 9 H 88 C C C C 88

8 88 9 88 C C 899

The la- fir# thre- its annal Christ#as bash in #i+:De&e#ber" I -ent only be&ase I

+i+n0t -ant people to -on+er -hy I -asn0t there" I nibble+ at the la%ish foo+ bt steere+ &lear of theflo-in li@or, afrai+ it #iht loosen #y tone" I -asn0t really a +rin'er any-ay; <eros an+ ones-ere #y bran+ of boo<e"

Any oo+ snoop -at&hes his ba&', +oin &ontersr%eillan&e to be sre his opponents aren0t&at&hin on to his efforts" The entire ti#e I ha+ been sin Colora+o 8pernet!for eiht #onths,e%er sin&e #y arri%al in Den%er!I ha+ been ele&troni&ally loo'in o%er the syste# a+#inistrators0shol+ers to #a'e sre they ha+n0t &aht on to the -ay I -as sin their ser%ers as a #assi%e freestorae lo&'er, as -ell as a lan&hpa+ into other syste#s" That in%ol%e+ obser%in the# at -or';so#eti#es I0+ si#ply lo on to the ter#inal ser%er they se+ an+ #onitor their online sessions o%erthe span of a &ople of hors or so" An+ I -as also &he&'in that they -eren0t -at&hin any of theother a&&onts I -as sin"

One niht, I +e&i+e+ to taret the lea+ a+#in0s personal -or'station to see if any of #ya&ti%ity ha+ been noti&e+" I sear&he+ his e#ail for 'ey-or+s that -ol+ in+i&ate if he -as a-are ofany onoin se&rity isses"

I st#ble+ a&ross a #essae that ot #y attention" The a+#in -as sen+in so#eone lo:inre&or+s abot #y No%ell brea':in" A fe- -ee's earlier, I ha+ been sin an a&&ont na#e+ 3ro+4 tostash the NetWare sor&e &o+e on a ser%er at Colora+o 8pernet" Apparently it ha+n0t onennoti&e+"

the loin re&or+s for 3ro+4 +rin the ti#es that the fol's at No%ell reporte+ brea':ins, an+&onne&tions 2ROM No%ell +rin that ti#e" Note that a &ople of these +o oriinate %ia Colora+o8prins +ial:p K* JKJ:)())"

I starte+ franti&ally oin throh the a+#in0s e#ails" An+ there it -as, +oble:#as'e+6 an e#ail fro# the a+#in sin an a&&ont fro# his

personal +o#ain!3=or"&o#4!rather than his Colora+o 8pernet a&&ont" It ha+ been sent toso#eone -hose e#ail a++ress -as not at a o%ern#ent +o#ain bt -ho -as nonetheless bein sentlos of #y a&ti%ity, -hi&h in&l+e+ loin in to Colora+o 8pernet fro# No%ell0s net-or' an+transferrin files ba&' an+ forth"

I &alle+ the 2BI offi&e in Den%er, a%e the na#e the e#ail ha+ been a++resse+ to, an+ -astol+ there -as no 2BI aent by that na#e in the Den%er offi&e" I #iht -ant to try the Colora+o8prins offi&e, the operator seste+" 8o I &alle+ there an+ learne+ that, yes, +a##it, the y -asin+ee+ an 2BI aent"

Oh, shiiiiit "I0+ better &o%er #y ass" An+ @i&'ly" Bt ho-H

Well, I ha%e to a+#it that the plan I &a#e p -ith #ay not a&tally ha%e been all that lo-:'ey or &o%er:yor:ass, thoh I 'ne- I ha+ to be %ery, %ery &arefl"

I sent a bos lo file fro# the a+#inistrator0s a&&ont to the 2BI aent, tellin hi# 3-e4ha+ #ore los +etailin the ha&'er0s a&ti%ities" I hope+ he -ol+ in%estiate an+ en+ p &hasin are+ herrin as I &ontine+ -or'in on #y ha&'in pro1e&ts"



We &all this ta&ti& 3+isinfor#ation"4 Bt 'no-in that the 2BI -as on the hnt for the No%ell ha&'er -asn0t enoh to #a'e #esht +o-n #y efforts" 8in&e Art Ne%are< ha+ be&o#e sspi&ios, I ass#e+ that the No%ell 8e&rity tea# -ol+

be for#in a posse, tryin to fire ot -hat ha+ happene+ an+ ho- #&h sor&e &o+e ha+ beene=pose+" 8hiftin #y taret, I no- fo&se+ on the No%ell offi&es in 8an >ose, loo'in for the +ial:p

n#bers in California" 8o&ial:enineerin &alls le+ #e to a y na#e+ 8ha-n Nnley"3/i, 8ha-n, this is 7abe Nalt in Enineerin in 8an+y" I0# hea+in o%er to 8an >ose

to#orro- an+ nee+ a lo&al +ial:p n#ber to a&&ess the net-or',4 I sai+"After so#e ba&' an+ forth, 8ha-n as'e+, 3O'ay, -hat0s yor serna#eH4

3 GnGaGGlGt,0 4 I sai+, spellin it ot slo-ly" 8ha-n a%e #e the +ial:p n#ber to the Co# ter#inal ser%er, )):K:TCP:IP" 37abe,4he sai+, 3+o #e a fa%or" Call #y %oi&e#ail n#ber at #y offi&e an+ lea%e #e a #essae -ith the

pass-or+ yo -ant"4 /e a%e #e the n#ber, an+ I left the #essae as he0+ instr&te+6 3/i, 8ha-n,this is 7abe Nalt" Please set #y pass-or+ to sno-bir+"0 Than's aain,4 I sai+"

There -as no -ay I -as oin to &all the toll:free )):n#ber 8ha-n ha+ i%en #e6 -henyo &all a toll:free n#ber, the n#ber yo0re &allin fro# is ato#ati&ally &aptre+" Instea+, the

ne=t afternoon I &alle+ Pa&ifi& Bell an+ so&ial:enineere+ the POT8 n#ber asso&iate+ -ith then#ber 8ha-n ha+ i%en #e; it -as ) JJ:J*J" I +iale+ in to the Co# ter#inal ser%er an+trie+ to lo in to the 3nalt4 a&&ont" It -or'e+" Perfe&t"

I starte+ sin the Co# ter#inal ser%er as #y a&&ess point into the net-or'" When Ire#e#bere+ that No%ell ha+ a&@ire+ .ni= 8yste#s Laboratories fro# ATUT, I -ent after thesor&e &o+e for .ni=Ware, -hi&h I years earlier fon+ on ser%ers in Ne- >ersey" Earlier I ha+&o#pro#ise+ ATUT to et a&&ess to the 8CC8 8-it&hin Control Center 8yste# sor&e &o+e an+

briefly ot into ATUT0s .ni= De%elop#ent 7rop in Cherry /ill, Ne- >ersey" No- I felt li'e it -as+V1\ % be&ase the hostna#es of the +e%elop#ent syste#s -ere still the same" I ar&hi%e+ an+&o#presse+ the latest sor&e &o+e an+ #o%e+ it to a syste# in Pro%o, .tah, then o%er the -ee'en+transferre+ the he ar&hi%e to #y ele&troni& storae lo&'er at Colora+o 8pernet" I &ol+n0t belie%eho- #&h +is' spa&e I -as sin, an+ often nee+e+ to sear&h for a++itional +or#ant a&&onts tohi+e all #y stff"

On one o&&asion, I ha+ a strane feelin after I +iale+ in to the Co# ter#inal ser%er, as ifso#eone -ere stan+in behin+ #e an+ -at&hin e%erythin I type+" 8o#e si=th sense, so#einstin&t, tol+ #e the No%ell syste# a+#inistrators -ere loo'in o%er #y shol+er"

I type+6 /ey, I 'no- yo are -at&hin #e, bt yo0ll ne%er &at&h #e I tal'e+ -ith No%ell0s 8ha-n Nnley a -hile ba&'" /e tol+ #e they a&tally were -at&hinat that #o#ent, an+ they starte+ lahin, -on+erin, 4(ow co*d he #ossiy know6

Nonetheless, I &ontine+ #y ha&'in into n#eros internal syste#s at No%ell, -here I

plante+ tools to steal lo:in &re+entials, an+ inter&epte+ net-or' traffi& so I &ol+ e=pan+ #y a&&essinto yet #ore No%ell syste#s"A fe- +ays later I still felt a bit neasy" I &alle+ the RCMAC Re&ent Chane Me#ory

Athori<ation Center at Pa&ifi& Bell an+ spo'e to the &ler' -ho pro&esse+ or+ers for the 8an >oses-it&h" I as'e+ her to @ery the +ial:p n#ber in the s-it&h an+ tell #e e=a&tly -hat the s-it&hotpt #essae sai+" When she +i+, I +is&o%ere+ it ha+ a trap:an+:tra&e on it" 8on of a bit&h /o-lon ha+ it been pH I &alle+ the 8-it&hin Control Center for that area, posin as Pa&ifi& Bell8e&rity, an+ -as transferre+ to a y -ho &ol+ loo' p the trap:an+:tra&e infor#ation"

3It -ent p on >anary t-enty:se&on+,4 he sai+" Only three +ays earlier" Whoa!too &losefor &o#fort L&'ily, I ha+ not been &allin #&h +rin that ti#e; Pa&ifi& Bell -ol+ ha%e beenable to tra&e #y &alls only as far as the lon:+istan&e &arrier, bt &ol+ not tra&' the &alls all the

-ay ba&' to #e"I breathe+ a sih of relief an+ +e&i+e+ to lea%e No%ell alone" Thins -ere ettin -ay too

hot there"



Years later, that %oi&e#ail I0+ left for 8ha-n Nnley -ol+ &o#e ba&' to bite #e in the ass"8ha-n for so#e reason sa%e+ #y #essae, an+ -hen so#ebo+y fro# No%ell 8e&rity ot in to&h,he playe+ it for hi#, an+ then that y in trn a%e it to the 8an >ose /ih:Te&h Cri#e .nit" The&ops -eren0t able to tie the %oi&e to any parti&lar sspe&t" Bt #onths later, they sent the tape tothe 2BI in Los Aneles to see if the 2e+s &ol+ #a'e anythin ot of it" The tape e%entally fon+its -ay to the +es' of 8pe&ial Aent $athleen Carson" 8he inserte+ it into the player on her +es', hit

Play, an+ listene+" 8he 'ne- riht a-ay6 'hat/s Kevin Mitnick, the hacker we/re ooking $or5 $athleen &alle+ No%ell 8e&rity an+ sai+, 3I ha%e so#e oo+ ne-s an+ so#e ba+ ne-s" Theoo+ ne-s is that -e 'no- the i+entity of yor ha&'er!it0s $e%in Mitni&'" The ba+ ne-s is, -eha%e no i+ea ho- to fin+ hi#"4

Lon after-ar+, I #et 8ha-n Nnley, an+ -e be&a#e oo+ frien+s" I0# happy that to+ay -e&an lah abot the -hole episo+e" With the No%ell ha&' behin+ #e, I +e&i+e+ to taret one of the biest &ell phone#anfa&trers, No'ia" I &alle+ No'ia Mobile Phones in 8alo, 2inlan+, posin as an enineer fro# No'ia .8A in8an Dieo" E%entally I -as transferre+ to a entle#an na#e+ Tapio" /e son+e+ li'e a %ery ni&ey, an+ I felt 'in+ of ba+ abot so&ial:enineerin hi#" Bt then I pt those feelins asi+e an+ tol+

hi# I nee+e+ the &rrent sor&e &o+e release for the No'ia *(* &ell phone" /e e=tra&te+ the latest%ersion to a te#porary +ire&tory in his ser a&&ont, -hi&h I then ha+ hi# transfer %ia 2TP toColora+o 8pernet" At the en+ of the &all, he -asn0t sspi&ios in the least an+ e%en in%ite+ #e to&all hi# ba&' if I nee+e+ anythin else"

That all -ent so s#oothly that I thoht I0+ see if I &ol+ ain +ire&t a&&ess to No'ia0snet-or' in 8alo" A &all to an IT y there pro%e+ a-'-ar+ -hen his Enlish trne+ ot not to be allthat oo+" Maybe a No'ia fa&ility in an Enlish:spea'in &ontry -ol+ be #ore pro+&ti%e" Itra&'e+ +o-n a No'ia Mobile Phones offi&e in the to-n of Ca#berley, Enlan+, an+ rea&he+ a la+yin IT na#e+ 8arah, -ho ha+ a +eli&iosly thi&' British a&&ent bt se+ so #&h nfa#iliar slanthat I ha+ to stay fo&se+ an+ pay &lose attention"

I &ite+ #y stan+ar+ e=&se of 3proble#s -ith the net-or' &onne&tion bet-een 2inlan+ an+the ."8", an+ a &riti&al file to transfer"4 The &o#pany +i+n0t ha%e +ire&t +ial:ps, she sai+, bt she&ol+ i%e #e the +ial:p n#ber an+ pass-or+ for 3Dial Pls,4 -hi&h -ol+ let #e &onne&t to the5M8 syste# in Ca#berley o%er an (J pa&'et s-it&he+ net-or'" 8he pro%i+e+ the (J sbs&ribera++ress!(((())*J!an+ tol+ #e I -ol+ nee+ an a&&ont on the 5A, -hi&h she -ol+ setp for #e"

At this point I -as on e+e, in a state of hih e=&ite#ent, be&ase I -as pretty sre I0+ beable to et into #y taret, 3Mobira,4 one of the 5M8 syste#s se+ by No'ia0s Celllar Enineerin7rop" I loe+ in to the a&&ont an+ @i&'ly e=ploite+ a %lnerability that a%e #e fll syste#

pri%ilees, then a%e a 3sho- sers4 &o##an+ to list all the sers &rrently loe+ in, -hi&h in partloo'e+ li'e this6

U%ena5e Poce%% Na5e PID Te5ina& CONBOY CONBOY ))))C(9* NTY6&onboy"'"tele"no'ia"fi EB8WORT/ EB8WORT/ ))))A* NTY96 ebs-orth"'"tele"no'ia"fi2IELDIN7 >O/N 2IELDIN7 ))))C*( NTY6 +ylan"'"tele"no'ia"fi LO5E PETER LO5E))))CKD NTY(6 **"(("*"()S O7IL5IE DA5ID O7IL5IE ))))C(( N5A*)6P88"(()))(9J)) PEL$ONEN /EI$$I PEL$ONEN ))))C*9) NTY*6s&ooby"'"tele"no'ia"fi T.WORT/ T.WORT/ ))))BJ(E NTY*(6 **"(("*"JS

8arah -asn0t loe+ in" 7reat6 that #eant she -asn0t payin #&h attention to -hat I -as+oin on the syste#" Ne=t I installe+ #y #o+ifie+ Chaos Co#pter Clb pat&h to the 5M8 Loinot prora#,-hi&h allo-e+ #e to lo in to anyone0s a&&ont -ith a spe&ial pass-or+, first &he&'in 8arah0sa&&ont to see if she #iht ha%e a&&ess to the Mobira in 8alo" I ran a si#ple test an+ reali<e+ that I

ha+ a&&ess to her a&&ont o%er a net-or'in proto&ol &alle+ DECNET an+ +i+n0t e%en nee+ her pass-or+6 Mobira -as &onfire+ to trst the 5M8 syste# in the .$" I &ol+ si#ply ploa+ as&ript to rn #y &o##an+s n+er 8arah0s a&&ont"



I -as oin to et in I -as e&stati&" I se+ a se&rity b to et fll syste# pri%ilees an+ then &reate+ #y o-n flly pri%ilee+a&&ont!all in abot fi%e #intes" Within abot an hor, I -as able to fin+ a s&ript that allo-e+ #eto e=tra&t the sor&e &o+e for any No'ia han+set &rrently n+er +e%elop#ent" I transferre+ sor&e&o+e for se%eral +ifferent fir#-are releases for the No'ia *)* an+ No'ia *(* phones to Colora+o8pernet" After-ar+, I +e&i+e+ to see hose&rity a-are the a+#inistrators -ere" It trne+ ot they

ha+ se&rity a+itin enable+ for e%ents s&h as &reatin a&&onts an+ a++in pri%ilees to e=istina&&onts" It -as 1st another spee+ b#p on #y -ay to ettin the &o+e"

I ploa+e+ a s#all 5A Ma&ro prora# that foole+ the operatin syste# an+ allo-e+ #e to+isable all the se&rity alar#s, -ithot +ete&tion, 1st lon enoh to &hane pass-or+s an+ a++

pri%ilees on a fe- +or#ant a&&onts!probably belonin to ter#inate+ e#ployees!in &ase Inee+e+ to et ba&' in"

Apparently, thoh, one of the syste# a+#ins noti&e+ alerts that -ere triere+ -hen Iinitially &reate+ an a&&ont for #yself, before I ha+ +isable+ the alar#s" 8o the ne=t ti#e I trie+ toet into the Ca#berley 5M8 syste#, I fon+ #yself lo&'e+ ot" I &alle+ 8arah to see if I &ol+ learnanythin abot this" 8he tol+ #e, 3/ann +isable+ re#ote a&&ess 0&ase there0s so#e ha&'erinoin on"4

3/a&'erin4!-as that -hat the Brits &alle+ itH 8hiftin ears, I +e&i+e+ to taret ettin a &opy of the sor&e &o+e for a pro+&t referre+ tointernally as 3/DK9)46 the first No'ia +iital phone that -as &rrently n+er +e%elop#ent"Rea&hin the lea+ +e%eloper, Mar'', in Ol, 2inlan+, I &on%in&e+ hi# to e=tra&t an+ &o#pressthe latest sor&e &o+e %ersion for #e"

I -ante+ hi# to transfer it %ia an 2TP &onne&tion to a ser%er in the .nite+ 8tates, bt No'iaha+ 1st blo&'e+ otbon+ file transfers be&ase of the Mobira se&rity brea&h"

/o- abot loa+in it onto a tapeH Mar'' +i+n0t ha%e a tape +ri%e" I starte+ &allin aron+to other people in Ol, loo'in for a +ri%e" E%entally I lo&ate+ a y in IT -ho -as %ery frien+ly,ha+ a oo+ sense of h#or, an+ e%en #ore i#portant, ha+ a tape +ri%e" I ha+ Mar'' sen+ hi# anar&hi%e+ file &ontainin the &o+e I -ante+, an+ then tal'e+ to hi# abot shippin the tape, on&e the&o+e ha+ been &opie+ onto it, to the No'ia .8A offi&e in Laro, 2lori+a" This too' a oo+ +eal ofarranin, bt I finally ot it pt toether"

Aron+ the ti#e I 'ne- the pa&'ae shol+ be arri%in, I bean &allin the #ail roo# atLaro to see if it ha+ otten there yet" Drin the last of #y se%eral &alls, I -as pt on hol+ for alon ti#e" When the la+y &a#e ba&' on the line, she apoloi<e+ an+ sai+ that be&ase the+epart#ent -as #o%in offi&es, she -ol+ ha%e to 3loo' har+er4 for #y pa&'ae" Yeah, riht6 #yt instin&t -as that they -ere onto #e"

A fe- +ays later, I enliste+ the help of Le-is De Payne, -ho -as also e=&ite+ abot the i+eaof ettin the sor&e &o+e for this hot ne- phone" /e +i+ a little resear&h an+ learne+ that the

presi+ent of No'ia .8A -as a y na#e+ $ari:Pe''a 3$:P4 Wils'a" 2or so#e la#ebraine+

reason, Le-is +e&i+e+ to pose as Wils'a, a 2innish national, an+ &alle+ the Laro offi&e in thatise to re@est that the pa&'ae be reshippe+"We -ol+ fin+ ot #&h later that 2BI aents ha+ been alerte+ an+ ha+ one to the Laro

offi&es, -here they -ere set p to re&or+ the ne=t &all either one of s #a+e"Le-is &alle+, aain as Wils'a" /e &onfir#e+ that the pa&'ae ha+ arri%e+ an+ as'e+ that it

be shippe+ to a Ra#a+a Inn near his offi&e" I &alle+ the hotel to #a'e a reser%ation for Wils'a,'no-in that the front +es' -ol+ hol+ a pa&'ae a++resse+ to a est -ho -as boo'e+ to arri%e"

The ne=t afternoon, I &alle+ the hotel to #a'e sre the pa&'ae -as rea+y for pi&'p" Thela+y I spo'e to son+e+ n&o#fortable an+ pt #e on hol+ bt then &a#e ba&' on the line to saythat yes, the pa&'ae -as there" I as'e+ her to tell #e ho- bi it -as" 8he sai+, 3They ha%e it at the

bell +es', I0ll o fin+ ot"4

8he pt #e on hol+ aain an+ -as one for a ong ti#e" I be&a#e antsy, then a little pani&'y"This -as a he re+ fla"

2inally she &a#e ba&' on the line an+ +es&ribe+ the si<e of the pa&'ae, -hi&h +i+ son+



abot riht for a &o#pter tape" Bt by no- I -as feelin really neasy" Di+ the bell +es' really ha%e it, or -as this a setp,a trapH I as'e+, 3Was it +eli%ere+ by 2e+E= or .P8H4 8he sai+ she0+ fin+ ot an+ aain pt #e onhol+" Three #intes" 2i%e" 8o#ethin li'e eiht #intes passe+ before I hear+ her %oi&e aain,tellin #e, 32e+E="4

32ine,4 I sai+" 3Do yo ha%e the pa&'ae in front of yoH4

3Yes"4 3O'ay, please rea+ #e the tra&'in n#ber"4 Instea+, she pt #e on hol+ yet aain" I +i+n0t nee+ to be a ro&'et s&ientist to fire ot that so#ethin -as seriosly -ron" I frette+ for half an hor, -on+erin -hat to +o" The only sensible option, of &orse, -ol+

be to 1st -al' a-ay an+ foret the -hole thin" Bt I ha+ one to so #&h troble to et thatsor&e &o+e, I reay -ante+ it" 38ensible4 +i+n0t see# to enter into the e@ation"

After half an hor, I &alle+ the hotel aain an+ as'e+ to spea' to the #anaer on +ty" When he &a#e on the line, I sai+, 3This is 8pe&ial Aent Wilson -ith the 2BI" Are yofa#iliar -ith the sitation on yor pre#isesH4 I -as half e=pe&tin hi# to reply that he +i+n0t 'no--hat I -as tal'in abot"

Instea+ he ans-ere+, 3Of &orse I a# The poli&e ha%e the -hole pla&e n+er sr%eillan&e4 /is -or+s hit #e li'e a ton of bri&'s" /e tol+ #e that one of the offi&ers ha+ 1st &o#e into his offi&e, an+ I shol+ spea' -ithhi#" The offi&er &a#e on the line" In an athoritati%e %oi&e, I as'e+ for his na#e" /e tol+ #e" I sai+ I -as 8pe&ial Aent >i# Wilson -ith the White Collar Cri#e 8@a+" 3What0shappenin +o-n thereH4 I as'e+" The &op sai+, 3Or y hasn0t sho-n p yet"4 I sai+, 3O'ay, than's for the p+ate,4 an+ hn p" Way too &lose for &o#fort" I &alle+ Le-is" /e -as 1st -al'in ot the +oor to o an+ pi&' p the pa&'ae" I pra&ti&allyyelle+ into the phone, 3&ait5 It0s a trap"4

Bt I &ol+n0t lea%e it there" I &alle+ a +ifferent hotel an+ #a+e a reser%ation for $:P Wils'a,then phone+ ba&' the la+y at the Ra#a+a Inn an+ tol+ her, 3I nee+ to ha%e yo reship the pa&'ae toanother hotel" My plans ha%e &hane+, an+ I0# stayin there toniht so I &an #a'e an early:#ornin #eetin to#orro-"4 I a%e her the na#e an+ a++ress of the ne- hotel"

I fire+ I #iht as -ell let the 2e+s &hase another re+ herrin for a -hile" When I sa- an a+ for NEC0s ne-est &ell phone, I +i+n0t &are too #&h abot the phoneitself; I 1st 'ne- I ha+ to ha%e the sor&e &o+e" It +i+n0t #atter that I ha+ alrea+y rabbe+ sor&e&o+e for se%eral other hot &ell phones6 this -as oin to be #y ne=t trophy"

I 'ne- that NEC, a sbsi+iary of NEC Ele&troni&s, ha+ an a&&ont on the Internet ser%i&e

pro%i+er &alle+ Net&o#" This I8P ha+ be&o#e one of #y prin&ipal rotes for a&&essin the Internet,in part be&ase it &on%eniently offere+ +ial:p n#bers in nearly e%ery #a1or &ity"A &all to NEC0s ."8" hea+@arters in Ir%in, Te=as, pro%i+e+ the infor#ation that the

&o#pany +e%elope+ all its &elllar phone soft-are in 2'o'a, >apan" A &ople of &alls to NEC2'o'a le+ #e to their Mobile Ra+io Di%ision, -here a telephone re&eptionist fon+ so#eone -hospo'e Enlish to translate for #e" That0s al-ays an a+%antae, be&ase the translator len+sathenti&ity6 she0s riht there in the sa#e bil+in, spea'in the sa#e lanae as yor taret" The

person at the en+ of the &hain ten+s to ass#e yo0%e alrea+y been %ette+" An+ in this &ase, it alsohelpe+ that the le%el of trst is so hih in the >apanese &ltre"

The translator fon+ a y to help #e -ho she sai+ -as one of the rop0s lea+ soft-areenineers" I tol+ her to tell hi#, 3This is the Mobile Ra+io Di%ision in Ir%in, Te=as" We ha%e a

&risis here" We0%e ha+ a &atastrophi& +is' failre an+ lost or #ost re&ent %ersions of sor&e &o+efor se%eral #obile han+sets"4

/is ans-er &a#e ba&', 3Why &an0t yo et it on #r+boltH4



/###" What -as thatH I trie+, 3We &an0t et onto that ser%er be&ase of the &rash"4 It passe+ the test!3#r+bolt4-as ob%iosly the na#e of the ser%er se+ by this soft-are rop"

I as'e+ the enineer to 2TP it to the NEC Ele&troni&s a&&ont on Net&o#" Bt I ot psh ba&' be&ase that -ol+ #ean sen+in this sensiti%e +ata to a syste# otsi+e the &o#pany"

No- -hatH To by so#e ti#e, I tol+ the translator that I ha+ to ta'e another in&o#in &all

an+ -ol+ phone ba&' in a fe- #intes" My brain &on1re+ p a -or':aron+ that see#e+ as if it #iht +o the tri&'6 I -ol+ se asan inter#e+iary NEC0s Trans#ission Di%ision, in the ato#oti%e se&tor of the &o#pany, -here thestaff probably +i+n0t +eal -ith #&h in the -ay of sensiti%e, &o#pany:&onfi+ential infor#ation an+so -ol+ be less se&rity:&ons&ios" An+ besi+es, I -ol+n0t e%en be as'in for any infor#ation"

Tellin the y I rea&he+ in the Ato#oti%e 7rop, 3We0re ha%in net-or'in +iffi&lties bet-een NEC >apan an+ the net-or' in Te=as,4 I as'e+ if he -ol+ set p a te#porary a&&ont so I&ol+ 2TP a file to hi#" /e +i+n0t see any proble# -ith +oin that" While I -aite+ on the phone, heset p the a&&ont an+ a%e #e the hostna#e for the NEC ser%er, as -ell as the lo:in &re+entials"

I &alle+ >apan ba&' an+ a%e the infor#ation to the translator to pass alon" No- they -ol+ be transferrin the sor&e &o+e to another NEC fa&ility, -hi&h ot the# ot of their +is&o#fort

<one" It too' abot fi%e #intes for the# to &o#plete the transfer" When I &alle+ ba&' the y in theTrans#ission Di%ision, he &onfir#e+ that the file ha+ arri%e+" Be&ase of the -ay I ha+ set this p,he natrally ass#e+ that - ha+ sent it" I a%e hi# instr&tions for 2TPin the file to the NECEle&troni&s a&&ont at Net&o#"

Then I -ent p on Net&o# an+ transferre+ the sor&e &o+e to one of the ser%ers at .8C thatI -as sin as a storae lo&'er" This ha&' -as a bi +eal, bt for #e, it ha+ been too easy" Where -as the satisfa&tionH 8o ne=t I set #yself an e%en bier &hallene6 to brea' into NEC0s net-or' an+ +o-nloa+the sor&e &o+e for all the NEC &ell phones se+ in the .nite+ 8tates" An+ -hile I -as at it, I #ihtas -ell et set p for Enlan+ an+ Astralia too, in &ase one +ay I +e&i+e+ to try li%in in either ofthose &ontries, rihtH

Matt Ranney, at NEC in Dallas, -as -illin to &reate a +ial:in a&&ont for #e, base+ on #ystory that I -as %isitin te#porarily fro# the NEC fa&ility in 8an >ose, California, an+ nee+e+ lo&al&onne&ti%ity!thoh first I ha+ to &on%in&e his boss as -ell" On&e I -as loe+ in, it -as easy toet root sin one of the e=ploits I ha+ fon+ in #y earlier ha&' into 8n" A++in a ba&'+oor to thelo:in prora#, I a%e #yself a se&ret pass-or+!3"ha&'#an"4!that allo-e+ #e to lo in toanyone0s a&&ont, in&l+in root" With another tool fro# #y ha&'er0s ba of tri&'s, I 3t-ea'e+ the&he&'s#,4 so the ba&'+oore+ %ersion of lo:in -ol+ be less li'ely to be +ete&te+"

Ba&' in those +ays, a syste# a+#inistrator -ol+ +o a &he&'s# on a syste# prora#, s&has 3lo:in,4 to see if it ha+ been #o+ifie+" After I &o#pile+ a ne- %ersion of lo:in, I #o+ifie+ the&he&'s# ba&' to its oriinal %ale, so that e%en thoh the prora# ha+ been ba&'+oore+, any

&he&' -ol+ &o#e ba&' as &lean"The .ni= 3finer4 &o##an+ a%e #e the na#es of sers -ho -ere &rrently loe+ in to#r+bolt" One -as >eff Lan'for+; the listin a%e his offi&e phone n#ber an+ sho-e+ that he ha+

been typin on his 'eyboar+ ntil 1st t-o #intes earlier"I &alle+ >eff, posin as 3Rob in the IT Depart#ent,4 an+ as'e+, 3Is Bill P'nat inH4 i%in

the na#e of another enineer in the Mobile Ra+io Di%ision" No, Bill -asn0t in"3Oh, +a#n" /e &alle+ s -ith a troble ti&'et, sayin he &ol+n0t &reate files that bean -ith

a perio+" /a%e yo ha+ any proble# li'e thatH4 No"

3Do yo ha%e a "rhosts fileH4 3What0s thatH4

Ahhh6 #si& to #y ears" It -as li'e a &arni%al -or'er0s slippin a &hal' #ar' onto the ba&'of so#eone0s 1a&'et to let other &arneys 'no- the y -as a patsy, or a 3#ar'4 the oriin of that#eanin of the -or+"



3Well, o'ay,4 I sai+" 3Do yo ha%e a fe- #o#ents to rn a test -ith #e so I &an &lose thistroble ti&'etH4 38re"4 I tol+ hi# to type6 e&ho 3^ ^4 X_ "rhosts Yes, a %ariation of the "rhosts ha&'" I pro%i+e+ hi# -ith a reasonable:son+in e=planation

for ea&h step, %ery non&halantly, so he thoht he n+erstoo+ -hat -as happenin" Ne=t I as'e+ hi# to type 3ls: al4 to et a +ire&tory listin of his files"

As his +ire&tory listin -as bein +isplaye+ on his -or'station, I type+ rloin lan'for1]#r+bolt -hi&h loe+ #e into his a&&ont, 3lan'for1,4 on the #r+bolt ser%er" An+ I -as into his a&&ont -ithot nee+in his pass-or+" I as'e+ >eff if he sa- the "rhosts file that -e ha+ 1st &reate+, an+ he &onfir#e+ that he +i+"37reat,4 I sai+" 3No- I &an &lose the troble ti&'et" Than's for ta'in the ti#e to test it"4

An+ then I ha+ hi# +elete the file to #a'e it appear that e%erythin -as ba&' to its oriinalstate"

I -as so e=&ite+" As soon as -e hn p, I @i&'ly obtaine+ root a&&ess an+ set p the lo:in

ba&'+oor on the #r+bolt ser%er" I starte+ typin at hyperspee+, so &hare+ I &ol+n0t slo- #yfiners +o-n"

My ess ha+ been &orre&t6 #r+bolt -as the #other lo+e, the lin' se+ to share +e%elop#ent-or' a#on the Mobile Ra+io Di%ision, NEC .8A, an+ NEC >apan" I fon+ se%eral %ersions ofsor&e &o+e for se%eral +ifferent NEC han+hel+s" Bt the sor&e &o+e I really -ante+, for the NECPK, -asn0t online" Da#n All that effort, an+ I -asn0t hittin pay +irt"

8in&e I -as alrea+y into the internal net-or', #aybe I &ol+ et the &o+e fro# NEC >apan"O%er the ne=t se%eral -ee's, I -ol+ be able -ithot #&h +iffi&lty to et a&&ess to all the ser%ersse+ by the Mobile Ra+io Di%ision in Yo'oha#a"

I &ontine+ #y sear&h for the &ell phone sor&e &o+e bt fon+ that there -as a #assi%ee=&ess of infor#ation6 the &o#pany -as +e%elopin phones for a n#ber of +ifferent #ar'ets,in&l+in the .nite+ $in+o#, other Eropean &ontries, an+ Astralia" Enoh, alrea+y; it -asti#e for an easier approa&h"

I &he&'e+ the #r+bolt ser%er to see -ho -as loe+ in" >eff Lan'for+ appeare+ to be a-or'aholi&6 -ell after the en+ of the nor#al -or'in +ay, he -as still online"

2or -hat I ha+ in #in+, I nee+e+ pri%a&y" Darren an+ Li< ha+ alrea+y left for the +ay;7iner ha+ the s-in shift, so she -as still aron+, bt her offi&e -as on the opposite si+e of the&o#pter roo#" I partly &lose+ the +oor to the spa&e I share+ -ith #y &o-or'ers, lea%in it 1st farenoh a1ar that I &ol+ see if anyone approa&he+"

What I -as abot to +o -as tsy" I -as no Ri&h Little -hen it &a#e to +oin a&&ents, bt I-as oin to try to pass #yself off as Ta'a+a:san, fro# NEC >apan0s Mobile Ra+io Di%ision"

I &alle+ Lan'for+ at his +es'" When he pi&'e+ p the phone, I lan&he+ into #y a&t6 3Misterrrrr, ahhh, Lahnfor, I Ta'a+a:san? fro# >apan"4 /e 'ne- the na#e an+ as'e+ ho-he &ol+ help" 3Misterrrrr Lahn? for!-e no fin+, ahhhh, %ers0n three ohh fi%e for hot+o hh

pro1e&t4!sin the &o+ena#e I0+ pi&'e+ p for the NEC PK sor&e &o+e" 3Can yo, ahhh, pt on#r+boltH4

/e assre+ #e that he ha+ 5ersion ")J on floppy an+ &ol+ ploa+ it" 3Ahhh, than'? ahhh, than' yo, Mr" >eff?" I &he&' #r+bolt soon" Bye"4 >st as I -as rinin off in #y apparently not:too:patheti& a&&ent, the +oor s-n all the-ay open, an+ 7iner -as stan+in there"

3Eri&? -hat are yo doing4 she as'e+"

Ba+ ti#in" 3Oh, 1st playin a 1o'e on a b++y of #ine,4 I tol+ her" 8he a%e #e a -eir+ loo', then trne+ an+ -al'e+ a-ay"



Whoa Close &all I loe+ into #r+bolt an+ -aite+ for >eff to finish ploa+in the &o+e, -hi&h I theni##e+iately transferre+ to a syste# at .8C for safe'eepin"

Drin this perio+, I -as &onstantly sear&hin throh all the a+#inistrator e#ails at NECfor &ertain 'ey-or+s, in&l+in FB-, trace, hacker, gregg the na#e I -as sin, tra#, an+ sec*rity"

One +ay I &a#e a&ross a #essae that ro&'e+ #e on #y heels6

2BI &alle+ be&ase sor&e &o+e sho-e+ p at a site that they #onitor in LA" May *)th thefiles -ere 2TP0e+ fro# net&o#K to site in LA" J files, &ontainin abot * total #e of stff" *(*):("l<h pK("l<h %9(J+r"l<h %9(Jss"l<h %(s"s&r" $athleen &alle+ Bill P'nat"

P'nat!-hose na#e I ha+ +roppe+ in #y first phone &on%ersation -ith >eff Lan'for+! -as the lea+ soft-are enineer for the Mobile Ra+io Di%ision in the 8tates" 3$athleen4 #st be$athleen Carson, fro# the 2BI in Los Aneles" An+ 3a site that they #onitor in LA4 ha+ to #eanthe 2e+s -ere -at&hin the syste#s -here I -as storin the NEC files6 .8C" They ha+ been-at&hin #ost or all of #y transfers to .8C"

Shit5

I nee+e+ to fin+ ot ho- I -as bein -at&he+, an+ ho- lon it ha+ been oin on" E=a#inin the syste#s I ha+ been sin at .8C, I fon+ that a #onitorin prora# ha+

been installe+ to spy on #y a&ti%ities, an+ I -as e%en able to i+entify the .8C syste# a+#inistrator-ho ha+ set it p, a y na#e+ Asbe+ Be+rossian" Reasonin that one oo+ spy +eser%e+ another, Ilo&ate+ the host -here he an+ other .8C syste# a+#inistrators re&ei%e+ their e#ail!sol"s&"e+! ot root a&&ess, an+ sear&he+ Asbe+0s #ail, in parti&lar for the ter# FB- " I &a#e pon this6

/ea+s p We ha%e a se&rity in&i+ent" We ha%e t-o a&&onts that are bein #onitore+ bythe 2BI an+ by sysa+#in A8BED" The a&&onts ha%e been &o#pro#ise+" If yo re&ei%e a &all fro#A8BED, please &o:operate -ith &aptre an+ &opy files, et&" Than's"

It -as ba+ enoh that these ys ha+ fon+ one a&&ont I -as sin; no- I 'ne- they ha+fon+ the se&on+ one as -ell" I -as -orrie+ bt at the sa#e ti#e pisse+ that I ha+n0t &aht on tothe #onitorin sooner"

I fire+ Asbe+ #st ha%e noti&e+ that a he a#ont of file spa&e -as bein se+ that&ol+n0t be a&&onte+ for" When he too' a pee', he -ol+ ha%e reali<e+ i##e+iately that so#eha&'er -as storin prloine+ soft-are on the syste#" 8in&e I ha+ se+ se%eral .8C syste#s to storesor&e &o+e +rin #y DEC ha&' in *, I ass#e+ I -as at the top of the sspe&t list"

I learne+ later that the 2e+s ha+ starte+ loo'in throh the files an+ &allin &o#panies toalert the# that proprietary sor&e &o+e ha+ been lifte+ fro# their syste#s an+ -as no- resi+in ona ser%er at .8C"

>onathan Litt#an -rote in his boo' 'he F*gitive 3ame abot a #eetin that too' pla&e inearly *, &on%ene+, he says, by prose&tor Da%i+ 8&hin+ler an+ hel+ at the 2BI0s Los Anelesoffi&e" Atten+in -ere 3e#barrasse+ an+ alar#e+4 representati%es fro# the #a1or &ell phone#anfa&trers I ha+ ha&'e+ into" Not a sinle person -ante+ it 'no-n that their &o#pany ha+ been

the %i&ti# of a ha&'!not e%en in this roo#fl of other %i&ti#s" Litt#an says 8&hin+ler tol+ hi#, 3Iha+ to +ole ot aliases" This y -as fro# &o#pany A, this y -as fro# &o#pany B" They-ol+n0t +o it any other -ay"4

3E%eryone sspe&te+ Mitni&',4 Litt#an -rote, a++in that 8&hin+ler -on+ere+ alo+,3What0s the prpose of atherin all this &o+eH Is so#ebo+y sponsorin hi#H Is he sellin itH 2ro#a threat assess#ent, -hat &an he +o -ith itH4

Apparently it ne%er o&&rre+ to any of the# that I #iht be +oin it 1st for the &hallene"8&hin+ler an+ the others -ere st&' in -hat yo #iht &all 3I%an Boes'y thin'in46 for the#,ha&'in #a+e no sense if there -asn0t #oney bein #a+e fro# it"



THIRT(



B&ind%ided

;*o# +eg gs 1kds *v V deds 1+ *s DS *r+stsn/t wwia#s

By the late sprin of *, I -as still sin #y Eri& Weiss i+entity an+ still -or'in at the

la- fir# in Den%er" It -asn0t nsal for #e to spen+ #y entire ln&h hor on #y &ell phone" This-as lon before the lan+s&ape be&a#e littere+ -ith people en1oyin the free+o# of abbin-irelessly6 these -ere the +ays -hen airti#e still &ost a +ollar per #inte" Loo'in ba&', I0# sre it#st ha%e see#e+ e=tre#ely sspi&ios that I spent so #&h ti#e on the &ell phone, espe&iallysin&e I -as #a'in only (,))) a year"

One +ay all of s fro# the IT Depart#ent ha+ a ln&heon -ith Elaine an+ her boss, /o-ar+

>en'ins" Drin or i+le &hit&hat, >en'ins sai+ to #e, 3Eri&, yo -ent to &ollee in Washinton"/o- far -ere yo fro# 8eattleH4

I thoht I ha+ +one enoh ba&'ron+ resear&h to &o%er #yself, ha%in #e#ori<e+ thena#es of professors -ho -ere tea&hin at Ellensbr +rin the appropriate years to #at&h #yrVs#V an+ so forth" Bt I &ol+n0t e%en &o#e &lose to ans-erin this @estion" I fa'e+ a &ohinfit, -a%e+ an apoloy, an+, &ohin all the -ay, hrrie+ to the #en0s roo#"

2ro# a stall, I &alle+ Central Washinton .ni%ersity on #y &ell phone an+ tol+ the la+y inthe reistrar0s offi&e that I -as thin'in of applyin bt -on+ere+ ho- lon a +ri%e it -as fro#8eattle" 3T-o hors or so,4 she sai+, 3if it0s not rsh hor"4

I hstle+ ba&' to the ln&h #eetin, apoloi<in for rnnin ot, sayin so#e foo+ ha+ one+o-n the -ron pipe" When /o-ar+ loo'e+ at #e, I sai+, 3I0# sorry, -hat +i+ yo as' #e beforeH4

/e repeate+ his earlier @estion" 3Ah, abot t-o hors -ithot a lot of traffi&,4 I ans-ere+" I s#ile+ an+ as'e+ if he ha+ e%er

been to 8eattle" 2or the rest of the ln&h #eetin, no other pointe+ @estions -ere +ire&te+ to-ar+#e"

Other than #y &on&erns abot #y &o%er, the 1ob ha+ been oin relati%ely s#oothly for#ore than a year" An+ then I ot blin+si+e+" While loo'in for so#e paper-or' on Elaine0s +es'one e%enin, I ran a&ross an open fol+er &ontainin the layot for a /elp Wante+ a+ for an IT

professional" The +es&ription of +ties -as a perfe&t #at&h for Darren0s 1ob" Or #ine"That -as a real -a'ep &all" Elaine ha+ ne%er #entione+ that the fir# -as loo'in to a++

another person, -hi&h &ol+ #ean only one thin6 she an+ her bosses -ere ettin rea+y to fire oneof s" Bt -hi&h of s -as hea+e+ for the illotineH

I i##e+iately starte+ +iin for the ans-er" The #ore I n&o%ere+, the #ore &o#ple= the ba&'stabbin be&a#e" I alrea+y 'ne- that Elaine ha+ a he isse -ith Darren, ha%in to +o -ithhis bein o%erhear+ &onsltin -ith an otsi+e &lient on &o#pany ti#e" An+ then I +is&o%ere+another s#o'in n in a 7iner:to:Elaine e#ail that rea+ in part, 3Eri& is here all the ti#e,-or'in intently on so#ethin bt I +on0t 'no- -hat"4

I nee+e+ #ore info" After bsiness hors, I -ent +o-n to the /R #anaer0s offi&e on the*st floor" I ha+ s&ope+ it ot +ays earlier" The 1anitors -ere in the habit of startin their ron+s byopenin p all the +oors6 perfe&t" I -alt<e+ in, hopin I &ol+ still &ont on #y lo&':pi&'in s'ills"

The -afer lo&' on the #anaer0s file &abinet sprn open on #y se&on+ try!reat" I plle+#y personnel file an+ fon+ ot that the +e&ision ha+ alrea+y been #a+e6 -hen e%eryone retrne+

to -or' after the Me#orial Day -ee'en+, I -as to be tol+ I -as bein fire+"The reasonH Elaine0s belief that I -as +oin freelan&e &onsltin -ith &lients on &o#panyti#e" What -as ironi& here -as that this -as possibly the only @estionable a&ti%ity I wasn/t



enain in at the ti#e" 8he #st ha%e been basin her &on&lsions on #y &ell phone se +rinln&h or offi&e brea's, an+ she -as totally -ron"

While I -as at it, I plle+ ot Darren0s file, as -ell, an+ +is&o%ere+ he -as also oin to befire+" E=&ept that in his &ase they ha+ har+ e%i+en&e that he really ha+ been +oin &onsltin -or'for other &lients" Worse, he ha+ been +oin it on la- fir# ti#e" It see#e+ li'e I ha+ been painte+-ith the sa#e brsh" They knew he ha+ been brea'in the rles, an+ apparently ass#e+, e%en

-ithot any har+ e%i+en&e, that I probably ha+ been, too"The ne=t +ay, fishin for infor#ation, I hit 7iner -ith, 3I hear they0re loo'in for a ne- IT

person" 8o -ho0s ettin fire+H4 Within #intes she ha+ lai+ #y @estion on Elaine, an+ it -asn0t#ore than an hor before I -as tol+ that /o-ar+ >en'ins -ante+ to see #e in the offi&e of the /Rla+y, Maie Lane, riht a-ay" 'hat was st*#id , I thoht" ;#ening my ig mo*th"

If I ha+ 'no-n it -as &o#in, I -ol+ ha%e spent the entire -ee'en+ &o%erin p #y trail,-ipin e%erythin fro# #y &o#pter an+ there -ere a ot of files on it that &ol+ possiblyin&ri#inate #e" No- it -as Crn&h Ti#e" I tosse+ tapes, floppy +is's, an+ anythin else I &ol+thin' of into a bla&' plasti& arbae ba, -hi&h I le+ +o-n an+ thre- in the D#pster in the

par'in area a&ross the street"When I &a#e ba&' in, Elaine -as frios" 3They0re -aitin for yo4 she sai+" I tol+ her that

I ha+ otten si&' to #y sto#a&h an+ -ol+ be on #y -ay A8AP"My atte#pts at playin +#b -hen I -as &hare+ -ith &onsltin on &o#pany ti#e +i+n0t

&t it" I trie+ an 3I0# not &onsltin, -hat e%i+en&e is thereH4 approa&h, bt they -eren0t byin" I-as s##arily fire+"

An+ 1st li'e that, I -as &t off -ithot any in&o#e" E%en -orse, I -as -orrie+ that the la-fir# #iht ha%e in%estiate+ #y ba&'ron+, or #aybe the IR8 ha+ +is&o%ere+ that the 8o&ial8e&rity n#ber I -as sin belone+ to the real Eri& Weiss"

Afrai+ to stay in #y apart#ent o%erniht, I fon+ a #otel near Cherry Cree', #y fa%orite part of Den%er" The ne=t #ornin I rente+ a forteen:foot .:/al tr&', pa&'e+ all #y stff into it,an+ on the -ay ba&' to the #otel stoppe+ by the frnitre rental pla&e, -here I a%e the story abota fa#ily e#eren&y, han+e+ o%er #y apart#ent 'ey, settle+ #y bill, an+ left the frnitre people to

pi&' p their be+, table, +resser, T5, an+ so on"As I plle+ p at the #otel, I +i+n0t noti&e that the .:/al -as too tall for the &arport, an+ I

hit it" Worrie+ that the &ops -ere oin to be s##one+ to ta'e an a&&i+ent report, I offere+ to payfor the +a#ae on the spot" The y sai+ fi%e hn+re+ b&'s, -hi&h #aybe -as a fair pri&e or#aybe not, bt I pai+ it any-ay, e%en thoh it -as a terrible ti#e to be han+in ot #oney I -ol+nee+ for li%in e=penses!the &ost of &arelessness, bt also the &ost of not -antin to rn the ris' oftal'in to a poli&e offi&er"

Of &orse, #y ne=t tas' -as to fin+ a -ay to -ipe s@ea'y:&lean the &o#pter I ha+ beensin at the la- fir#" Bt ho-, -hen I no loner -or'e+ thereH

A &ople of -ee's later, Elaine sai+ she0+ allo- #e to &o#e in an+ transfer #y 3personal4

files to floppies, -hi&h of &orse #eant all #y sor&e &o+e ri&hes fro# the re&ent ha&'s" 8he sat-ith #e -hile I +i+ it, an+ loo'e+ &on&erne+ -hen she sa- that I -as +eletin ea&h file after sa%init to a floppy" To thro- her off the s&ent, I &reate+ an 3Eri&4 fol+er on the &o#pter an+ #o%e+ ea&hfile there instea+ of +eletin it" Later I0+ so#eho- ha%e to either &onne&t to the &o#pter re#otelyor slip into the bil+in to -ipe all the files in that +ire&tory"

Not lon after, I rerope+ an+ +e&i+e+ to &all 7iner, on the prete=t of 31st stayin into&h4 bt really in the hope of atherin so#e sefl infor#ation" Drin the &all, she #entione+that she -as ha%in proble#s -ith the 3B8DI4 syste# that &onne&te+ the la- fir# to the Internet,-hi&h I ha+ installe+ an+ #anae+"

I tol+ her I &ol+ help her ot o%er the phone" As I -al'e+ her throh fi=in the proble#, Iha+ her type6

n&GlGp JGebinsh U 8he +i+n0t re&oni<e the &o##an+, -hi&h a%e #e fll root a&&ess to the fir#0s ate-ayhost" When she type+ that &o##an+, it ran a prora# &alle+ 3net&at,4 -hi&h set p a root shell on



port J, so I &ol+ &onne&t to the port an+ be rante+ -ith an instant root shell, re@irin no pass-or+" All na-are, 7iner ha+ effe&ti%ely set p a si#ple ba&'+oor for #e -ith root a&&ess"

On&e I -as in, I &onne&te+ to the la- fir#0s A5iiON Data 7eneral &o#pter syste#,rnnin the fir#0s telephone a&&ontin appli&ation, -here I ha+ pre%iosly set p #y early:-arnin syste#" The reason I &onne&te+ to the A5iiON first -as as a safety #easre6 if after firin#e #y bosses ha+ +e&i+e+ to &hane the pass-or+s on the 5M8 Clster!the fir#0s pri#ary

&o#pter syste#s!then any atte#pt I #iht ha%e #a+e to lo in +ire&tly to the 5M8 Clster -ithan in&orre&t pass-or+ -ol+ ha%e triere+ a lo:in:failre se&rity alar# fro# the syste# thata&te+ as the fir#0s Internet ate-ay" By a&&essin the 5M8 Clster throh the A5iiON instea+, Iensre+ that an in&orre&t pass-or+ -ol+ appear to be an atte#pt #a+e fro# insi+e the fir#" 8o anyse&rity alar# -ol+ not appear to be &o#in fro# the Internet ate-ay syste#, -hi&h -ol+li'ely point to #e sin&e I -as the only person -ho ha+ pre%iosly ha+ a&&ess to it"

8&&essflly loe+ in to the 5M8 syste#, I re#otely #onte+ #y ol+ -or'station0s har++ri%e; that -ay I &ol+ ain a&&ess to #y files an+ se&rely -ipe all the potential e%i+en&e"

8ear&hin Elaine0s e#ail for #entions of #y na#e, I learne+ that the fir# -as tryin to pttoether a +efense in &ase I se+ for -ronfl ter#ination!-hi&h I ha+ ron+s for +oin btob%iosly &ol+n0t ris'" Li< ha+ been as'e+ to -rite p any obser%ations that #iht spport the

&lai# of #y +oin otsi+e &onsltin -hile at -or'; her reply rea+6With respe&t to Eri&0s otsi+e &onsltin I +on0t 'no- anythin spe&ifi&?" /e -as al-ays

%ery bsy bt I ha%e no i+ea -hat he -as +oin" /e -as on his &ell phone a lot an+ -or'e+ on his p"&" a lot"

An+ that -as as #&h as #anae#ent -ol+ be able to et fro# anybo+y as 1stifi&ation forfirin #e" Bt it -as a fantasti& fin+, be&ase it #eant #y for#er bosses ha+n0t &aht on to thetrth abot #e"

I -ol+ &ontine to &he&' the fir#0s e#ails o%er the follo-in #onths to #a'e sre nothinelse trne+ p -ith #y na#e on it" Nothin i#portant e%er +i+"

Bt 'eepin p #y stats as an e=:offi&e:b++y, I staye+ in to&h -ith 7iner by &allin herno- an+ then to hear the latest fro# the &o#pany rape%ine" After I let her 'no- that I #iht filefor ne#ploy#ent, she a+#itte+ that the fir# -as -orrie+ I #iht se for -ronfl ter#ination"

8o apparently, after I -as fire+, they fire+ they shol+ +o so#e &he&'in to see if they&ol+ +r# p a leiti#ate reason for ha%in fire+ #e" I ha+n0t ha+ any reason to 'eep payin theans-erin ser%i&e in Las 5eas for the phony 7reen 5alley 8yste#s, so -hen they trie+ to re%erify#y e#ploy#ent, they +is&o%ere+ there -as no s&h &o#pany" They starte+ prsin so#e other@eries"

The ne=t ti#e I &alle+ her, 7iner thoht she -as +roppin the lti#ate bo#b on #e6 3Thefir# has +one so#e &he&'in" An+, Eri&? yo +on0t e=ist4

Oh, -ell" 8o #&h for the se&on+ life of Eri& Weiss" With nothin to lose, I tol+ 7iner I -as a pri%ate in%estiator hire+ to &olle&t e%i+en&e

aainst the fir#" An+ 3I0# not allo-e+ to +is&ss it"4I -ent on, 3One thin I &an tell yo" E%erythin is be+!there are listenin +e%i&es inElaine0s offi&e an+ n+er the raise+ floor in the &o#pter roo#"4 I fire+ she -ol+ -al'!no, r*n

< to Elaine0s offi&e -ith the ne-s" I hope+ the +isinfor#ation ta&ti& -ol+ raise +obts abot thestories I ha+ tol+ 7iner in the past!so they -ol+n0t 'no- -hat to belie%e"

E%ery +ay, I -ol+ &he&' De Payne0s Net&o# a&&ont loo'in for any #essaes he ha+ leftfor #e to fin+" We -ere prote&tin or &o##ni&ations -ith an en&ryption prora# &alle+ 3P7P4short for 3Pretty 7oo+ Pri%a&y4"

One +ay I fon+ a #essae that, -hen +e&rypte+, rea+, 3LITTMAN WA8 5I8ITED BY (2BI A7ENT84 That s&are+ #e be&ase I ha+ spent so#e ti#e on the phone -ith >on Litt#an,-ho -as -ritin a 2ayoy arti&le abot #e aron+ that ti#e" A&tally, that -as 1st -hat he

oriinally tol+ #e; so#e-here alon the line, he &a+e+ a &ontra&t to +o an entire boo' on #y story,-ithot #entionin it to #e" I ha+n0t ha+ any proble# abot tal'in to hi# for an arti&le in

2ayoy" Bt Litt#an +i+n0t +is&lose to #e that he -as -ritin a boo' abot #y life ntil after I -as



arreste+ in Raleih" Earlier I ha+ trne+ +o-n >ohn Mar'off an+ his -ife, $atie /afner, abot&ooperatin on a boo', an+ I -ol+ ha%e ne%er aree+ to spea' to Litt#an if he ha+ tol+ #e he -as-ritin a boo' abot #y life"

I really lo%e+ Den%er" My ne- per#anent i+entity as Brian Merrill -as rea+y to be rolle+ot, an+ for a ti#e I toye+ -ith the i+ea of linin p a ne- e%erythin!1ob, apart#ent, frnitrerental pla&e, rental &ar, an+ the rest!an+ pttin +o-n roots as a Den%erite" I -ol+ ha%e lo%e+ to

stay" I thoht abot 1st #o%in to the other si+e of to-n an+ startin o%er -ith a bran+:ne-i+entity"

Bt then I pi&tre+ #yself in a restarant -ith so#e ne- &o-or'er, a +ate, or, e%entally, a-ife, an+ ha%in so#ebo+y -al' p to the table -ith a briht s#ile an+ a han+ e=ten+e+ for asha'e, sayin, 3/i, Eri&4 Maybe I &ol+ &lai# #ista'en i+entity the first ti#e, bt if it happene+#ore than on&e?

No, that -asn0t a &han&e I -as -illin to ta'e" A &ople of +ays later, -ith #y &lothes an+ other belonins still loa+e+ in the .:/al, I+ro%e ot of Den%er hea+e+ soth-est, for Las 5eas, to %isit #y #o# an+ ran+#other an+ to

plan #y ne=t steps"Che&'in ba&' into the B+et /arbor 8ites a%e #e an eerie feelin of +V1\ %" 8o +i+

sittin in a roo# there an+ +i%in ba&' into resear&h on the ne=t pla&e I -ol+ li%e"I -as &onstantly on #y ar+" I &ol+ ne%er foret ho- +aneros Las 5eas -as for #e"

When I -as in prison, it see#e+ li'e e%ery y in there -ho ha+n0t been ratte+ ot by a irlfrien+ or-ife ha+ instea+ been &aht -hen he pai+ a %isit to his -ife, his #other, or so#e other fa#ily#e#ber or &lose frien+" Bt I &ol+n0t be in to-n an+ not han ot -ith #y #other an+ 7ra#! they -ere #y -hole reason for &o#in to 5eas, +espite the &onstant +aner"

I -as pa&'in #y sal early:-arnin syste#, a ha# ra+io that -as easily #o+ifie+ so I&ol+ trans#it an+ re&ei%e on all the fre@en&ies bein se+ by the %arios 2e+eral aen&ies"

It annoye+ the hell ot of #e that traffi& of those aen&ies -as all en&rypte+" 8re, I0+ 'no--hene%er one of their aents -as so#e-here nearby, bt I ne%er ha+ any i+ea -hether thetrans#issions -ere abot #e or so#ebo+y else" I trie+ &allin the lo&al Motorola offi&e, preten+inI -as an 2BI aent, an+ fishin for so#e &le that -ol+ let #e obtain the en&ryption 'ey" No oo+6the Motorola y sai+ there -asn0t anythin he -as able to +o for #e o%er the phone, 3Bt if yo&o#e by -ith yor 'ey loa+er?4

Yeah, riht!I0# oin to -al' into the lo&al Motorola an+ say I0# 2BI an+? -hatH 3Iforot to brin #y &re+entials -ith #e"4 Not @ite"

Bt ho- -as I oin to &ra&' the 2BI &ryptoH After thin'in it o%er for a -hile, I &a#e p-ith a Plan B"

To enable its aents to &o##ni&ate o%er reater +istan&es, the o%ern#ent ha+ installe+3repeaters4 at hih ele%ations to relay the sinals" The aents0 ra+ios trans#itte+ on one fre@en&yan+ re&ei%e+ on another; the repeaters ha+ an inpt fre@en&y to re&ei%e the aents0 trans#issions,

an+ an otpt fre@en&y that the aents listene+ on" When I -ante+ to 'no- if an aent -as nearby,I si#ply #onitore+ the sinal strenth on the repeater0s inpt fre@en&y"That setp enable+ #e to play a little a#e" Whene%er I hear+ any hiss of &o##ni&ation,

I0+ hol+ +o-n #y Trans#it btton" That -ol+ sen+ ot a ra+io sinal on the sa#e e=a&t fre@en&y,-hi&h -ol+ 1a# the sinal"

Then the se&on+ aent -ol+n0t be able to hear the first aent0s trans#ission" After t-o orthree tries ba&' an+ forth, the aents -ol+ et frstrate+ -ith the ra+io" I &ol+ i#aine one ofthe# sayin so#ethin li'e, 38o#ethin0s -ron -ith the ra+io" Let0s o in the &lear"4

They0+ thro- a s-it&h on their ra+ios to ta'e the# ot of en&ryption #o+e, an+ I0+ be ableto hear both si+es of the &on%ersation E%en to+ay I0# a#se+ to re#e#ber ho- easy it -as to-or' aron+ that en&ryption -ithot e%en &ra&'in the &o+e"

If I ha+ e%er hear+ so#ebo+y sayin 3Mitni&'4 or any ra+io traffi& that seste+ I -as thetaret of onoin sr%eillan&e, I -ol+ ha%e %anishe+ in a hrry" Bt that ne%er happene+"

I se+ this little tri&' e%ery ti#e I -as in Las 5eas" Yo &an i#aine ho- #&h it in&rease+



#y &o#fort le%el" An+ the 2e+s ne%er &aht on" I &ol+ pi&tre the# ripin to ea&h other abotthat losy en&ryption featre on their ra+ios al-ays &rappin ot on the#" 8orry, Motorola!they-ere probably bla#in yo"

The -hole ti#e I -as in Las 5eas, I 'ept as'in #yself, &here to ne0t I -ante+ to oso#epla&e -here te&hnoloy 1obs -ere plentifl, bt 8ili&on 5alley -as ot of the @estion,

be&ase for #e, retrnin to California -ol+ be in%itin +isaster"

My resear&h in+i&ate+ that -hile it raine+ a lot in 8eattle, the rare snny +ays there -ere beatifl, espe&ially aron+ La'e Washinton" An+ to top it off, the &ity offere+ an abn+an&e ofThai restarants an+ &offee shops" That #iht see# li'e an o++ fa&tor to -eih in #a'in a +e&isionli'e this, bt I -as espe&ially fon+ of Thai foo+ an+ &offee then, an+ I still a# to+ay"

An+ of &orse, -ith the Mi&rosoft &a#ps in a+1a&ent Re+#on+, 8eattle ha+ lon been ahotbe+ of te&hnoloy" E%erythin &onsi+ere+, it see#e+ li'e the to-n that -ol+ best #eet #ynee+s" 8eattle it -ol+ be"

I boht a one:-ay A#tra' ti&'et, he+ #y #other an+ ran+#other oo+:bye, an+ boar+e+ a train, -hi&h plle+ into 8eattle0s $in 8treet 8tation t-o +ays later" My ne- i+entity 'itin&l+e+ a +ri%er0s li&ense, 8o&ial 8e&rity &ar+, an+ #y sal ite#s to establish &re+ibility!all#a+e ot in #y ne- Brian Merrill na#e" I fon+ a #otel an+ reistere+ n+er #y ne- i+entity"

I ha+ planne+ to brn the Eri& Weiss i+entity +o&#ents bt in the en+ +e&i+e+ to 'eep the#as a ba&'p, in &ase I e%er nee+e+ to @i&'ly aban+on the Brian Merrill persona for so#e reason" Istffe+ the# in a so&', -hi&h I sto-e+ at the botto# of #y sit&ase"

Den%er ha+ been oo+ to #e e=&ept for that ba+ last &hapter" The last &hapter in 8eattle-ol+ tr#p it in spa+es"



THIRT(4ONE



E,e% in #he "k,

Ae0 B ri0asvo hmh M ywi 0s gsrrig0 0s 0i (@7 +emr)ve+i

On #y %ery first +ay in 8eattle, #y paer oes off at 96)) a"#", s&arin the shit ot of #e6

nobo+y bt De Payne an+ #y #other ha%e #y paer n#ber, an+ Le-is 'no-s better than to -a'e#e this early" Whate%er it is, it &an0t be oo+ ne-s"

Bleary:eye+, I rea&h o%er to the be+si+e table, rab the paer, an+ loo' at the s&reen"3J*(:,4 it rea+s" The first strin of +iits I 'no- by heart6 the phone n#ber of the 8ho-boat/otel an+ Casino"

The final 34 #eans &o+e 6 EMERGENCY 6

7rabbin #y &ell phone, prora##e+ as al-ays to a ne- &lone+ n#ber that &an0t be tra&e+ ba&' to #e, I &all the hotel an+ as' the operator to pae 3Mary 8&hlt<"4 My #other #st bestan+in by the hotel phones -aitin for the pae, be&ase she &o#es on the line in less than a#inte"

3What0s -ronH4 I as'" 3$e%in, o et a &opy of the New York 'imes riht no-" Yo0%e ot to o right now"4

3What0s oin onH4 3Yo0re on the front pae4 38hit Is there a photoraphH4 3Yes, bt it0s an ol+ pi&tre!it +oesn0t loo' li'e yo at all"4 Not as ba+ as it #iht ha%e been, I +e&i+e"

I o ba&' to sleep, thin'in, 'his makes no sense. - haven/t stoen miions $rom a ankeectronicay, ike Staney "i$kin. - haven/t cri##ed the com#*ters o$ any com#any or government

agency. - haven/t stoen credit card data and r*n *# is on other #eo#e/s cards. -/m not on the

FB-/s 'en Most &anted ist. &hy wo*d the co*ntry/s most #restigio*s news#a#er e r*nning a

story ao*t me

At abot 6)) a"#", I -a'e p aain an+ o ot to fin+ so#epla&e that &arries the New York

'imes< not so easy in the part of 8eattle of #y by:the:-ee' #otel roo#"When I finally see the paper, I0# stnne+" The hea+line 1#ps off the pae at #e6

',7e%)ace3% Mo%# Wan#ed8 Hacke E&!de% F6B6I6 P!%!i#

I start rea+in the arti&le an+ &an0t belie%e #y eyes" Only the first phrase of the story is

pleasin to #e, &re+itin #e -ith 3te&hni&al -i<ar+ry"4 2ro# there, >ohn Mar'off, the 'imes

reporter -ho has -ritten the arti&le, oes on to say that 3la-:enfor&e#ent offi&ials &annot see# to&at&h p -ith hi#,4 -hi&h is sre to brn Aent $en M&7ire an+ &o#pany an+ e#barrass the hellot of the# -ith their speriors! and make them a the more $oc*sed on $inding me"

This false an+ +efa#atory arti&le then &lai#s that I -iretappe+ the 2BI!I +i+n0t" An+ that,foresha+o-in the * #o%ie &ar 3ames, I bro'e into a North A#eri&an Aerospa&e DefenseCo##an+ NORAD &o#pter!not only so#ethin I ne%er, e%er +i+ bt also a near i#possible

proposition for anyone, i%en that the aen&y0s #ission:&riti&al &o#pters are not &onne&te+ to theotsi+e -orl+, an+ ths i##ne fro# bein ha&'e+ by an otsi+er"

Mar'off has labele+ #e 3&yberspa&e0s #ost -ante+4 an+ 3one of the nation0s #ost -ante+

&o#pter &ri#inals"4 An+ all of this on In+epen+en&e Day, -hen re+:bloo+e+ A#eri&ans feel reater nationalfer%or than on any other +ay of the year" /o- people0s fear of &o#ptin an+ te&hnoloy #st ha%e



been broht to the boil as they ate their snny:si+e:ps or their oat#eal an+ rea+ abot this 'i+-ho -as a threat to the safety an+ se&rity of e%ery A#eri&an"

I -ol+ fin+ ot later that one sor&e of these an+ other blatant lies -as a hihly nreliable phone phrea'er, 8te%e Rhoa+es, -ho ha+ on&e been a frien+ of #ine"

I re#e#ber bein in a state of se#isho&' after rea+in the arti&le, tryin to ta'e in onestate#ent after another that si#ply -asn0t tre" With this one pie&e, Mar'off sinle:han+e+ly

&reate+ 3the Myth of $e%in Mitni&'4!a #yth that -ol+ e#barrass the 2BI into #a'in the sear&hfor #e a top priority an+ pro%i+e a fi&tional i#ae that -ol+ inflen&e prose&tors an+ 1+es intotreatin #e as a +aner to national se&rity" I &ol+n0t help re&allin that fi%e years earlier I ha+refse+ to parti&ipate in a boo' Mar'off an+ his:then -ife, $atie /afner, -ante+ to -rite abot #ean+ so#e other ha&'ers, be&ase they -ante+ to #a'e #oney fro# #y story -hile I #yself -ol+#a'e no #oney fro# it" It also broht ba&' #e#ories of >ohn Mar'off tellin #e in a phone &allthat if I +i+n0t aree to an inter%ie-, anythin anyone else sai+ abot #e -ol+ be &onsi+ere+trthfl sin&e I -asn0t there to +ispte it"

It -as s&ary as hell to +is&o%er I ha+ be&o#e s&h an i#portant taret for the 2e+s" At least the photoraph -as a ift" The 'imes ha+ se+ a &opy of #y # shot fro# *,the one ta'en after I ha+ been hel+ in Ter#inal Islan+ 2e+eral Prison for three +ays -ithot a

sho-er, a sha%e, or a &hane of &lothes!#y hair a #ess, #e loo'in rbby an+ n'e#pt an+ li'eso#e ho#eless street person" The y starin ba&' at #e fro# the front pae of the ne-spaper -as

pffy:fa&e+, -eihin #aybe ninety or a hn+re+ pon+s #ore than I +i+ on that >ly 2orth"E%en so, the arti&le rat&hete+ #y paranoia le%el p #ore than a fe- not&hes" I starte+ to

-ear snlasses reliiosly, e%en in+oors" If anyone as'e+, 3What0s -ith the sha+esH4 I 1st sai+that #y eyes ha+ be&o#e ltrasensiti%e to liht"

After a @i&' rn:throh of the Apart#ents for Rent listins in the lo&al paper, I +e&i+e+ toloo' for so#ethin in the 3. Distri&t,4 near the .ni%ersity of Washinton, e=pe&tin it #iht beli'e LA0s attra&ti%e, li%ely West-oo+ area, a+1a&ent to .CLA" I settle+ on a base#ent apart#ent,tellin #yself that e%en thoh it -as +#pier than the #otel I -as in, it #a+e sense for the ti#e

bein be&ase it -as &heap" The bil+in -as o-ne+ by a sinle proprietor na#e+ Eon Dre-s an+#anae+ by his son Da%i+" /appily, Eon -as a trstin sol -ho -asn0t oin to bother -ith a&re+it or ba&'ron+ &he&' that a #anae#ent &o#pany -ol+ ha%e re@ire+"

The neihborhoo+ trne+ ot not to be a %ery oo+ &hoi&e" This -as no pleasant, snnyWest-oo+ bt instea+ a +o-n:s&ale, see+y se&tion of to-n, fll of street bears" Maybe I &ol+ +o

better on&e I ha+ a stea+y 1ob" Bt at least there -as a YMCA nearby so I &ol+ 'eep p #y al#ost+aily -or'ots"

One of the fe- hihlihts of the . Distri&t for #e -as a &lean an+ ine=pensi%e Thairestarant that offere+ tasty foo+ an+ a &te Thai -aitress" 8he -as frien+ly, -ith a -ar# s#ile, an+-e +ate+ a fe- ti#es" Bt #y ol+ fear still linere+!the +aner that in a &lose relationship, or inthe lo- after a fe- #intes of passion, I #iht let slip so#ethin that -ol+ i%e #e a-ay" I

&ontine+ eatin at the restarant bt tol+ her I -as too bsy for a relationship" No #atter -hat else I -as +oin, I al-ays ha+ ha&'in to 'eep #y #in+ o&&pie+" That -asho- I +is&o%ere+ that Neill Clift, the fin+er of bs in DEC0s 5M8 operatin syste#, -as sin ane#ail a&&ont on a syste# &alle+ /i&o#, at Lohboroh .ni%ersity in Enlan+"

Interestin I ha+ al#ost i%en p on Clift be&ase I ha+ +is&o%ere+ that DEC ha+ i%en hi#a 5a=station ))) an+ -as payin hi# *,()) British pon+s annally that0s &heap to fin+ se&rity

bs -ith it" After that, I ha+n0t e=pe&te+ hi# to se any other syste#s e=&ept #aybe at -or' or atho#e for e#ail" Maybe this -as #y l&'y brea'"

After a little +iin aron+, I learne+ that /i&o# -as a pbli&:a&&ess syste# an+ thatanyone &ol+ apply for an a&&ont" On&e I -as set p -ith #y o-n a&&ont, I e=ploite+ a se&rityhole that Neill e%i+ently +i+n0t 'no- abot, ainin fll &ontrol of the syste#, -ith the sa#e rihts

an+ pri%ilees as a syste# a+#inistrator" I -as %ery e=&ite+ bt +i+n0t anti&ipate that I -ol+ fin+#&h, sin&e I +obte+ he -ol+ be &areless enoh to sen+ DEC his se&rity fin+ins fro# a pbli&syste#"



The %ery first thin I +i+ -as rab a &opy of Neill0s e#ail +ire&tory an+ loo' throh ea&han+ e%ery file" Da#n Nothin interestin!no bs I -as +isappointe+" 8o &lose an+ yet so far"An+ then I ha+ an i+ea6 #aybe he -as sen+in e#ails an+ then +eletin the #essaes i##e+iatelyafter-ar+" 8o I &he&'e+ the syste# #ail los"

My eyes lit p6 the #ail lo files sho-e+ that Neill -as sen+in #essaes to so#e yna#e+ Da%e /t&hins at DEC, so#eti#es t-o or three of the# in a sinle -ee'" 8hit I really

-ante+ to see the &ontents of those #essaes" At first I fire+ I -ol+ e=a#ine all the +elete+ filespa&e on the syste#0s +is' loo'in for the +elete+ e#ails to /t&hins, bt then I &a#e p -ith a

better plan"By re&onfirin the #ail e=&haner on /i&o#, I &ol+ ri it so that -hene%er Neill sent a

#essae to any e#ail a++ress at DEC, it -ol+ be re+ire&te+ to an a&&ont I ha+ ha&'e+ at .8C" It-as li'e a++in &all for-ar+in on all 3+e&"&o#4 e#ail a++resses to for-ar+ to #y a&&ont at .8C"8o I a&tally -ol+ be &at&hin all e#ails sent to any 3+e&"&o#4 a++ress fro# anyone on /i&o#"

My ne=t &hallene -as to fin+ an effe&ti%e #eans of 3spoofin4 e#ails to Clift so they-ol+ loo' as if they -ere &o#in fro# DEC" Rather than spoofin #essaes o%er the Internet!astep that &ol+ be spotte+ if Neill loo'e+ &losely at the e#ail hea+ers!I -rote a prora# thatfore+ the e#ail fro# the lo&al syste# so I &ol+ spoof all the hea+ers as -ell, #a'in the

+e&eption %irtally n+ete&table"E%ery ti#e Neill sent a report of a se&rity hole to Da%e /t&hins at DEC, the e#ail -ol+

be re+ire&te+ to #e an+ only #e" I -ol+ soa' p e%ery +etail an+ then sen+ ba&' a 3than':yo4#essae that -ol+ appear to ha%e been sent by /t&hins" The beaty of this parti&lar ha&'! 'no-n as a 3#an:in:the:#i++le4 atta&'!-as that the real /t&hins, an+ DEC, -ol+ ne%er re&ei%ethe infor#ation Neill sent the#" This -as so e=&itin be&ase it #eant, in trn, that DEC -ol+ not

be fi=in the holes anyti#e soon, sin&e the +e%elopers -ol+n0t 'no- abot the proble#s!at leastnot fro# Neill"

After spen+in se%eral -ee's -aitin for Neill to et bsy -ith his b hntin, I be&a#ei#patient" What abot all the se&rity bs I0+ alrea+y #isse+H I -ante+ e%ery one of the#"Atte#pts to brea' into his syste# o%er +ial:p -ere nli'ely to -or' be&ase there -asn0t #&h I&ol+ +o at a lo:in pro#pt bt ess pass-or+s, or #aybe try to fin+ a fla- in the lo:in prora#itself, an+ he srely ha+ se&rity alerts enable+ for lo:in failres"

A so&ial:enineerin atta&' %ia the telephone -as ot of the @estion be&ase I 'ne- Neill-ol+ re&oni<e #y %oi&e fro# a &ople of years earlier" Bt sen+in belie%able fa'e e#ails &ol+-in #e all the trst an+ &re+ibility I -ol+ nee+ to et hi# to share his bs -ith #e" There -as a+o-nsi+e, of &orse6 if he &aht on, I -ol+ lose a&&ess to all his ftre bs be&ase he -ol+&ertainly fire ot that I ha+ &o#pro#ise+ /i&o#"

Bt -hat the hellH I -as a ris' ta'er" I -ante+ to see if I &ol+ pll it off"I sent Neill a fa'e #essae fro# Da%e /t&hins, a+%isin that Derrell Piper fro# 5M8

Enineerin!the sa#e y I0+ preten+e+ to be -hen I &alle+ hi# the last ti#e!-ante+ to

&o##ni&ate -ith hi# %ia e#ail" 5M8 Enineerin -as ra#pin p its se&rity pro&esses, I -rote,an+ Derrell -ol+ be hea+in p the pro1e&t" Neill ha+ in fa&t &o##ni&ate+ -ith the rea Derrell Piper se%eral #onths earlier, so I 'ne-

the re@est -ol+ son+ plasible" Ne=t I sent another fa'e+ e#ail to Neill posin as Derrell, an+ spoofin his real e#ail

a++ress" After -e e=&hane+ se%eral #essaes ba&' an+ forth, I tol+ Neill that 3I4 -as pttintoether a +atabase to tra&' e%ery se&rity isse so DEC &ol+ strea#line the resoltion pro&ess"

To bil+ frther &re+ibility, I e%en seste+ to Neill that -e shol+ se P7P en&ryption be&ase -e +i+n0t -ant so#eone li'e Mitni&' rea+in or e#ails 8oon thereafter -e ha+e=&hane+ P7P 'eys to en&rypt or e#ail &o##ni&ations"

At first I as'e+ Neill to sen+ #e 1st a ist of all the se&rity holes he ha+ for-ar+e+ to DEC

o%er the past t-o years" I tol+ hi# I -as oin to o throh the list an+ #ar' the ones I -as#issin" I e=plaine+ that 5M8 Enineerin0s re&or+s -ere +isorani<e+!the bs ha+ been sent to+ifferent +e%elopers, an+ a lot of ol+ e#ails ha+ been +elete+!bt or ne- se&rity +atabase -ol+



orani<e or efforts to a++ress these proble#s" Neill sent #e the list of bs I re@este+, bt I as'e+ for only one or t-o of the +etaile+ b

reports at a ti#e to a%oi+ any sspi&ion on his part"In an effort to bil+ e%en #ore &re+ibility, I tol+ Neill I -ante+ to share so#e sensiti%e

%lnerability infor#ation -ith hi# sin&e he ha+ been so helpfl" I ha+ the +etails of a se&rity holethat another Brit ha+ fon+ an+ reporte+ to DEC a -hile ba&'" The b ha+ #a+e bi ne-s -hen it

hit the #e+ia, an+ DEC ha+ franti&ally sent ot pat&hes to its 5M8 &sto#ers" I ha+ fon+ the y-ho +is&o%ere+ it an+ persa+e+ hi# to sen+ #e the +etails"

No- I sent the +ata to Clift, re#in+in hi# to 'eep it &onfi+ential be&ase it -as DEC proprietary infor#ation" 2or oo+ #easre, I sent hi# t-o #ore bs that e=ploite+ other se&rityisses he +i+n0t 'no- abot"

A fe- +ays later, I as'e+ hi# to re&ipro&ate" I +i+n0t +ire&tly se that -or+, bt I -as&ontin on the effe&ti%eness of re&ipro&ity as a stron inflen&e te&hni@e" I e=plaine+ it -ol+#a'e #y life #&h easier if, in a++ition to the list, he &ol+ sen+ #e all the +etaile+ b reports heha+ sb#itte+ to DEC o%er the last t-o years" Then, I sai+, I &ol+ 1st a++ the# to the +atabase in&hronoloi&al or+er" My re@est -as %ery ris'y" I -as as'in Neill to sen+ #e e%erythin he ha+; ifthat +i+n0t raise his sspi&ions, nothin -ol+" I -aite+ a &ople of +ays on pins an+ nee+les, an+

then I sa- an e#ail fro# hi#, for-ar+e+ to #y .8C #ailbo=" I opene+ it p an=iosly, half:e=pe&tin it to say, 3 7oo+ try, $e%in"0 4 Bt it &ontaine+ e%erythin I ha+ 1st -on the 5M8 blottery

After ettin a &opy of his b +atabase, I as'e+ Neill to ta'e a &loser loo' at the 5M8 lo:in prora#, Loinot" Neill alrea+y 'ne- that Derrell ha+ +e%elope+ the Loinot prora# an+ I-as &rios to 'no- -hether he &ol+ fin+ any se&rity bs in it"

Neill e#aile+ #e ba&' so#e te&hni&al @estions abot Pr+y Polyno#ial, the alorith#se+ to en&rypt 5M8 pass-or+s" /e ha+ spent #onths, #aybe e%en years, tryin to +efeat theen&ryption alorith#!or rather, opti#i<in his &o+e to &ra&' 5M8 pass-or+s" One of his @eries-as a yesno @estion abot the #athe#ati&s behin+ the Pr+y alorith#" Rather than resear&h it, I

1st esse+ the ans-er!-hy notH I ha+ a fifty:fifty &han&e of ettin it riht" .nfortnately, Iesse+ -ron" My o-n la<iness reslte+ in re%ealin the &on"

Instea+ of tippin #e off, thoh, Neill sent #e an e#ail &lai#in that he ha+ fon+ theiggest se&rity b to +ate!in the %ery 5M8 lo:in prora# I ha+ as'e+ hi# to analy<e" /e&onfi+e+ that it -as so sensiti%e that he -as -illin to sen+ it to #e only in the #ost "

/o- stpi+ +i+ he thin' I -asH I 1st respon+e+ -ith Derrell0s real #ailin a++ress at DEC,'no-in the 1i -as p" The ne=t ti#e I loe+ in to /i&o# to &he&' the stats @o, a #essae poppe+ p on #y+isplay6 Rin #e p, Mate" Neill"

That #a+e #e s#ile" Bt -hat the hellH I fire+6 he alrea+y 'ne- he ha+ been hstle+, so Iha+ nothin to lose" I &alle+" 3/ey, Neill, -hat0s pH4

3/ey, #ate"4 No aner, no threats, no hostility" We -ere li'e t-o ol+ frien+s" We spent hors tal'in, an+ I share+ all the intri&ate +etails of ho- I0+ ha&'e+ hi# o%er theyears" I +e&i+e+ I #iht as -ell tell hi#, sin&e it -asn0t li'ely to -or' on hi# aain"

We be&a#e telephone b++ies, so#eti#es spen+in hors on the phone toether o%erse%eral +ays" After all, -e share+ si#ilar interests6 Neill lo%e+ fin+in se&rity bs, an+ I lo%e+sin the#" /e tol+ #e that the 2innish National Poli&e ha+ &onta&te+ hi# abot #y ha&'in into

No'ia" /e offere+ to tea&h #e so#e of his &le%er b:hntin te&hni@es, thoh not ntil I

a&@ire+ a better n+erstan+in of the 3internals4 of 5M8!that is, the inner -or'ins of theoperatin syste#, the +etails of -hat -as 3n+er the hoo+"4 /e sai+ I ha+ spent too #&h ti#eha&'in into stff instea+ of e+&atin #yself on the internals" A#a<inly, he e%en a%e #e so#e



e=er&ises to -or' on, to learn #ore abot this, an+ then he -ent o%er #y efforts an+ &riti@e+ the#"The 5M8 b hnter trainin the ha&'er!ho- ironi& -as thatH

Later, I -ol+ inter&ept an e#ail that I sspe&te+ Neill ha+ sent to the 2BI" It rea+6 $athleen, There -as only one #at&h in the #ail lo fro# ny=6 8ep * (6(J6 ny=sen+#ail*JKJS6 AA*JKJ6 #essae:

i+))B)2"J29A))"]hi&o#"lt"a&"'X 8ep * (6(J6J) ny=sen+#ail*JKJS6 AA*JKJ6 fro#'e%in]hi&o#"lt"a&"'X,si<e9KK), &lass)

8ep * (6(96*( ny=sen+#ail*9)9S6 AA*JKJ6 tosrsh]ny="&s"+"e+X,+elay))6)*6*J, stat8ent

/ope this helps This lo sho-e+ the +ates an+ ti#es -hen I -as sen+in e#ails fro# #y a&&ont on /i&o#to one of the a&&onts I ha+ on a pbli&:a&&ess syste# in Den%er &alle+ 3ny="4 An+ -ho -as the3$athleen4 the #essae -as a++resse+ toH I fire+ there -as a per&ent li'elihoo+ it -as, on&eaain, 8pe&ial Aent $athleen Carson"

The e#ail #essae -as &lear e%i+en&e that Neill ha+ been -or'in -ith the 2BI" I -asn0t

srprise+; after all, I ha+ +ra-n first bloo+ an+ one after hi#, so #aybe I +eser%e+ it" I ha+ en1oye+or &on%ersations an+ pi&'in his brain; it -as +isappointin to learn that he ha+ 1st been playinalon in the hope that he #iht be able to help the 2e+s nail #e" E%en thoh I ha+ al-ayse=er&ise+ pre&ations -hen &allin hi#, I +e&i+e+ it -ol+ be best to &t off all &onta&t, to a%oi+i%in the 2BI any #ore lea+s"

In a &ri#inal prose&tion, as yo probably 'no-, the o%ern#ent is re@ire+ to share itse%i+en&e -ith the +efen+ant" A#on the +o&#ents later trne+ o%er to #e -as one that re%eale+

both the e=tent of Neill0s &ooperation an+ its i#portan&e to the 2BI" When I first rea+ a &opy of thisletter, I -as srprise+"

."8" Depart#ent of >sti&e 2e+eral Brea of In%estiation **))) Wilshire Bole%ar+ Q*K)) Los Aneles, CA ))* 8epte#ber ((, * Mr" Neill Clift Lohboroh .ni%ersity Dear Neill6 It #st be @ite frstratin to sit o%er there an+ -on+er if the 2BI or British la-enfor&e#ent athorities are e%er oin to +o anythin an+ &at&h or 3frien+,4 $DM" I &an onlyassre yo that e%ery little pie&e of infor#ation &on&ernin $e%in -hi&h fin+s its -ay into #yhan+s is aressi%ely prse+"

In fa&t, I 1st %erifie+ the infor#ation yo pro%i+e+?" It &ertainly appears this &o#pter

syste# has been a&&esse+ an+ &o#pro#ise+ by $e%in" Or +ile##a, ho-e%er, is that the 3NY4syste# a+#inistrator is not as helpfl to la- enfor&e#ent as yo ha%e been; an+ -e are so#e-hatli#ite+ in or prsit of -at&hin the a&&ont by the A#eri&an leal pro&e+res"

I -ante+ to let yo 'no- in this letter ho- #&h yor &ooperation -ith the 2BI has beenappre&iate+" Any telephoni& &onta&t #a+e to yo by $e%in is %ery i#portant!at least to #e"

? I &an report that yo an+ only yo are the one &on&rete &onne&tion -e ha%e to $e%inotsi+e the -orl+ of &o#pters" - do not eieve we wi ever e ae to $ind him via his tee#hone

traces, tenet or F'2 connections, andJor other technoogica methods. -t is ony thro*gh #ersona

or, in yo*r case, tee#honic e0changes with Kevin that we gain more insight as to his activities

and #ans. Yo*r assistance is cr*cia to this investigation" E#phasis a++e+"S? I &an only assre yo, on&e aain, that yor efforts in the $e%in 3&hase4 are

appre&iate+?" If yo &hoose to &ontine yor &ooperation -ith the 2BI by pro%i+in #e -ithinfor#ation abot +is&ssions -ith $e%in, I pro#ise that, one +ay, all the little pie&es of +atafiltere+ to #e fro# aron+ the -orl+ -ill fall into pla&e an+ lea+ to a &o#pter ter#inal -here I



-ill fin+ $e%in an+ pro#ptly pla&e hi# in han+&ffs?"Than's aain, Neill"

8in&erely yors, $athleen Carson 8pe&ial Aent 2e+eral Brea of In%estiation

Rerea+in this no-, I0# str&' by ho- frstrate+ 8pe&ial Aent Carson son+s abot not bein able to &at&h #e!an+ ho- -illin she -as to a+#it that in -ritin"

In #y 1ob:hntin efforts in 8eattle, I fon+ a ne-spaper a+ for a /elp Des' analyst at the5irinia Mason Me+i&al Center" I -ent in for an inter%ie-, -hi&h laste+ for a &ople of hors an+le+, a fe- +ays later, to a 1ob offer" It +i+n0t son+ li'e so#ethin that -as oin to present thesa#e &hallenes that #y 1ob in the la- fir# in Den%er ha+" Bt #y apart#ent -as +epressin, an+ I+i+n0t -ant to &o##it to a better pla&e ntil I -as set -ith an in&o#e an+ 'ne- -hi&h part of to-nI0+ be -or'in in, so I too' the 1ob +espite the +ra-ba&'s"

When I pi&'e+ p the ne-:e#ployee pa&'ae fro# /#an Resor&es, I fon+ that theappli&ation for# as'e+ for a print of #y in+e= finer"

Ba+ ne-s" Di+ those prints et sent ot to be &he&'e+ aainst 2BI re&or+sH I #a+e another

of #y prete=t &alls, this one to the Washinton 8tate Patrol, &lai#in I -as -ith the Oreon 8tatePoli&e I+entifi&ation Di%ision"

3Or +epart#ent is settin p a prora# to ai+ &ity an+ &onty orani<ations by s&reenintheir 1ob appli&ants for &ri#inal re&or+s,4 I sai+" 38o I0# loo'in for so#e i+an&e" Do yo as' forfinerprintsH4

3Yes, -e +o"4 3Do yo 1st rn the prints aainst state files, or +o yo sen+ the# to the 2BIH4 3We +on0t sb#it to any otsi+e aen&ies,4 the y on the other en+ of the line tol+ #e" 3We&he&' state re&or+s only"4 E=&ellent I +i+n0t ha%e any &ri#inal re&or+ in Washinton 8tate, so I 'ne- it0+ be safe for#e to han+ in the appli&ation -ith #y finerprint on it"

I starte+ -or' a fe- +ays later, sharin an offi&e -ith a tall, %ery +etail:oriente+ y na#e+Charlie /+son an+ one other &o-or'er" The 1ob -asn0t e%en #o+erately interestin; #y -or'&onsiste+ #ostly of ans-erin /elp Des' @estions fro# +o&tors an+ other hospital staff #e#bers-ho broht to #in+ those 1o'es abot sers so n#s'lle+ abot te&hnoloy that they atte#pte+ to&opy floppy +is's on a ero= #a&hine"

Pra&ti&ally all the e#ployees in the pla&e, for e=a#ple, -ere sin their 8o&ial 8e&rityn#ber as the se&ret @estion for resettin their &o#pter pass-or+s" I trie+ to tal' to #y bossabot ho- nsafe that -as, bt he ble- #e off" I thoht for a #inte abot i%in hi# a little+e#onstration of ho- easy it -as to obtain anyone0s 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber, bt then reali<e+ that-ol+ be a %ery ba+ i+ea" When I starte+ -ritin s&ripts on the 5M8 syste# to sol%e so#e te&hni&al

spport proble#s, I -as tol+ that the pro1e&t -as beyon+ #y 1ob responsibilities, an+ I shol+ @it-or'in on it"My #ental attit+e -as in pretty oo+ shape" In all the ti#e I ha+ been on the rn, I ha+

ne%er ha+ any alar#in e%ents that #a+e #e fear for #y se&rity" Bt I &ol+ ne%er let #y ar++o-n &o#pletely" One +ay I -al'e+ ot of #y apart#ent bil+in an+ sa- a >eep Chero'ee par'e+a&ross the street" What &aht #y attention -as that there -ere al#ost no &ars par'e+ on the streetat that hor, yet this one -as stoppe+ at a pla&e that -asn0t &on%enient to any hose or apart#ent

bil+in entran&e" An+ there -as a #an sittin in it" As a 'in+ of &hallene, I stare+ straiht at hi#"We #a+e eye &onta&t briefly an+ then he lan&e+ a-ay, sho-in no interest" It #a+e sense to be&atios bt I +e&i+e+ I -as bein a little paranoi+, an+ &ontine+ on #y -ay"

Abot t-o #onths after I #o%e+ to 8eattle, Le-is pt #e in to&h -ith Ron Astin,

Polsen0s one:ti#e ha&'in b++y, a y I 'ne- abot bt ha+ ne%er tal'e+ to" My #ain topi& of&on%ersation -ith Ron -as >stin Petersen, -ho ha+ to&he+ all three of or li%es by snit&hin ons" Astin an+ I starte+ &o##ni&atin fre@ently" /e ha+ pro%i+e+ #e -ith a list of pay:phone



n#bers in the West Los Aneles area, an+ I -ol+ let hi# 'no- -hi&h phone n#ber I0+ be&allin hi# on an+ at -hat ti#e"

I -as rotin all #y &alls fro# 8eattle to s-it&hes in Den%er, Portlan+, 8io= 2alls, an+ 8altLa'e City, an+ a++in another layer of prote&tion by #aniplatin the s-it&h soft-are so it -ol+

be %ery ti#e:&ons#in for anyone to tra&e #y &alls" Althoh I +i+n0t trst Astin, I felt safetal'in to hi# be&ase -e se+ so #any pay phones, a +ifferent one ea&h ti#e"

There -as another reason I felt safe -ith hi#6 he share+ -ith #e a %ery po-erfl resear&htool he ha+ learne+ abot fro# >stin" In a bi<arre &oin&i+en&e, >stin!lon before I #et hi#!ha+sn&' into a bil+in I -as %ery fa#iliar -ith6 J*J) Wilshire Bole%ar+, -here Da%e /arrison ha+his offi&es" >stin -as intereste+ in stealin &re+it &ar+ +ata as it -as sent to the &ar+ pro&essor for%erifi&ation, an+ he -as taretin the sa#e 7TE Telenet net-or' that I ha+ one after, thoh -itha +ifferent intent"

When >stin starte+ playin ba&' the re&or+in of the #o+e# tones throh a setp thattranslate+ the# into te=t on the &o#pter s&reen, he reali<e+ that a#on all the other +ata -as thesin:on &re+entials of so#e aen&y that -as a&&essin California DM5 re&or+s!&re+entials he an+any other ha&'er &ol+ se to retrie%e any infor#ation fro# the DM5" In&re+ible I &ol+ 1st

pi&tre >stin0s 1a- +roppin" /e probably &ol+n0t belie%e his oo+ l&', an+ bean sin these

&re+entials hi#self to rn li&ense plates an+ +ri%er0s li&enses"Ron -asn0t 1st tellin #e a story abot >stin" /e -as a&tally sharin the +etails -ith #e6

3The 7TE Telenet a++ress is *9(9")J" As soon as the +isplay oes blan', yo type D78"0 The pass-or+ is L.9"0 An+ yo0re in4

I &ol+n0t et off the phone fast enoh to try it ot" It -or'e+ 2ro# then on, I -ol+ ne%er ha%e to so&ial:enineer the DM5 for infor#ation aain" I &ol+et e%erythin I -ante+, @i&'ly, &leanly, an+ safely"

Astin0s sharin of this ha&' pt #y #in+ to rest abot -hether he #iht really be a snit&htryin to et infor#ation to help the 2e+s fin+ #e" If he -ere an infor#ant, the 2e+s -ol+ ne%erha%e allo-e+ hi# to i%e #e a&&ess to prote&te+ DM5 re&or+s" I -as &on%in&e+ that he -as safe to+eal -ith"

Drin #y in%estiation of Eri&, I ha+ spent &ontless hors online an+ on the phone -ith a-ell:'no-n Dt&h ha&'er -ho -ent by the ha&'er na#e 3R7B,4 -or'in to fire ot bs an+ha&' into +ifferent syste#s" /e ha+ been bste+ in May *(, arreste+ at his ho#e in .tre&ht, the

Netherlan+s, by o%ern#ent aents posin as sales#en for a &o#pter &o#pany!a &o#bine+ for&e#a+e p of lo&al poli&e an+ the PILOT tea#, a la- enfor&e#ent rop for#e+ to battle ha&'in:relate+ offenses" R7B tol+ #e the poli&e ha+ hn+re+s of paes of trans&ripts of his &on%ersations-ith #e"

When he -as release+ fro# +etention, -e -ent ba&' to ha&'in toether aain" R7B starte+ probin syste#s at Carneie Mellon .ni%ersity an+ #onitorin their net-or' traffi& sin a prora# &alle+ 3t&p+#p"4 After -ee's of #onitorin, he finally inter&epte+ a CERT staff

#e#ber0s pass-or+" As soon as he &onfir#e+ that the pass-or+ -or'e+, he &onta&te+ #e, fll of pre e=&ite#ent, an+ as'e+ for #y help in fin+in anythin of interest, #ost parti&larly anyreporte+ se&rity %lnerabilities that -e &ol+ le%erae in or ha&'in"

The Co#pter E#eren&y Response Tea#, CERT, base+ at Carneie Mellon .ni%ersity, inPittsbrh, -as a fe+erally fn+e+ resear&h an+ +e%elop#ent &enter establishe+ in No%e#ber *,after the Morris Wor# broht +o-n *) per&ent of the Internet" CERT -as inten+e+ to pre%ent#a1or se&rity in&i+ents by settin p a Net-or' Operations Center to &o##ni&ate -ith se&ritye=perts" The Center &reate+ a %lnerability +is&losre prora# -ith the #ission of pblishina+%isories abot se&rity %lnerabilities, sally after the soft-are #anfa&trer ha+ +e%elope+ a

pat&h or &reate+ a -or':aron+ to #itiate the ris' of the se&rity fla-" 8e&rity professionals relie+on CERT to prote&t their &lients0 syste#s an+ net-or's fro# intrsions" CERT0s fn&tions -ol+

be ta'en o%er by the Depart#ent of /o#elan+ 8e&rity in ())" No- thin' abot this for a #o#ent6 if so#eone +is&o%ere+ an+ reporte+ a se&rity hole,

CERT -ol+ isse an a+%isory" Most CERT se&rity a+%isories fo&se+ on 3e=pose+ net-or'



ser%i&es4!operatin syste# ele#ents that &ol+ be a&&esse+ re#otely!bt they also reporte+se&rity holes that &ol+ be e=ploite+ by 3lo&al sers,4 people -ho alrea+y ha+ a&&onts on thesyste#" The %lnerabilities -ere sally asso&iate+ -ith the .ni=:base+ operatin syste#sG in&l+in 8nO8, 8olaris, Iri=, .ltri=, an+ others!that #a+e p #ost of the Internet ba&' then"

Ne- se&rity b reports -ere often sent to CERT, so#eti#es in nen&rypte+ e#ails" These-ere -hat R7B an+ I -ere after, ne- bs that -e &ol+ le%erae to et into syste#s, al#ost as if

-e ha+ a #aster 'ey to the ser%er" Or oal -as to le%erae the 3-in+o- of e=posre,4 the ti#elapse ntil the #anfa&trer &a#e p -ith a pat&h an+ &o#panies &ol+ et it installe+" 8&hse&rity holes ha+ a li#ite+ shelf life6 -e -ol+ ha%e to #a'e se of the# before they -ere fi=e+ orother-ise blo&'e+"

I ha+ 'no-n abot R7B0s plan bt +obte+ he -ol+ be able to &aptre the &re+entials to aCERT staff #e#ber0s a&&ont" Yet he ha+ plle+ it off in a short ti#e" I -as sho&'e+ bt happy toshare the spoils -ith hi#" As a tea#, -e ha&'e+ into the -or'stations of se%eral other CERT staff#e#bers an+ rabbe+ e%eryone0s e#ail spools, #eanin all their e#ail #essaes" An+ -e hit the#other lo+e, be&ase #any of those e#ails &ontaine+ nen&rypte+ #essaes +is&losin so:&alle+<ero:+ay %lnerabilities!#eanin that they ha+ 1st been +is&o%ere+, an+ the soft-are#anfa&trers ha+ not yet +e%elope+ or +istribte+ pat&hes to fi= the proble#s"

When R7B an+ I fon+ that #ost bs -ere sent 3in the &lear4!nen&rypte+!-e &ol+har+ly &ontain orsel%es" As I sai+, that ha+ all happene+ a &ople of years earlier" Bt no-, so#eti#e aron+8epte#ber *, an ne=pe&te+ #essae poppe+ p fro# R7B, +ra-in #y attention ba&' toCERT6

/i, /ere0s so#e info for yo6 there is a %a=%#s syste# on *J"""K loin na#e6 op&no&o## there #iht be ="(J a&&ess on here bt i0# not sre, on the net-or' there is ahost &alle+ htsr, this host +oes ha%e a&&ess to ="(J for sre"

yo #iht -on+er -hy this has to be so se&ret, bt i0# startin to ha&' aain an+ I +ont-ant the poli&e to 'no- anythin abot it" in or+er to start aain, i nee+ yo to +o #e a fa%or" &ol+yo et #e so#e n#bers of ter#inal ser%ers all o%er the "s", i -ill se so#e ot+ials i ot to et tothe#, an+ -ill o fro# these ter#inal ser%ers on to the internet"

This ti#e aron+ i0# really onna setp all the thins riht, so nothin -ill be noti&e+" The preparation for the -hole thin -ill ta'e abot * #onth or so, after that i -ill be fon+ relarly onthe internet, i -ill then i%e yo so#e #ore info on -hat pro1e&ts i0# -or'in" i0# all rea+y bsytryin to et a&&ess to &ert aain, i ha%e otten +ifferent pass-or+s for &# syste#s, -hi&h i -illse in a later stae"

Than=s, P"s" In&l+e+ is #y pp 'ey

/e -ante+ to et ba&' into CERT aain One +ay in early O&tober *, not lon after R7B0s e#ail, I -ent ot to ln&h &arryin as#all pa&'ae &ontainin a +efe&ti%e O$I )) &ell phone that I -as plannin to #ail ba&' to thestore that +ay" As -as al#ost al-ays the &ase -hen I -as ot on foot, I -as tal'in on #y &ell

phone" I -al'e+ +o-n Broo'lyn A%ene to-ar+ the heart of the . Distri&t" When I &rosse+ J(n+8treet, abot t-o blo&'s fro# #y apart#ent, I hear+ the faint son+ of a heli&opter"

The son+ ra+ally relo+er, then -as s++enly very lo+ an+ riht o%erhea+, %ery lo-,as the heli&opter e%i+ently hea+e+ for a lan+in at a nearby s&hoolyar+"

Bt it +i+n0t lan+" As I -al'e+, it staye+ riht o%er #y hea+ an+ appeare+ to be +es&en+in" &hat the $*ck is

going on My thohts starte+ &hrnin" &hat i$<what i$ the cho##er is ooking $or #eH I felt #y

pal#s start to s-eat an+ #y heart bein to pon+" An=iety -as rnnin throh #y %eins"I ran into the &ortyar+ of an apart#ent &o#ple=, -here I hope+ so#e tall trees -ol+ blo&'

#e fro# %ie- of the &hopper" I tosse+ #y pa&'ae in the bshes an+ starte+ rnnin fll bore,



en+in #y &ell phone &all as I pon+e+ alon" On&e aain #y +aily -or'ots on the 8tairMaster-ere payin off"

As I ran, I &al&late+ an es&ape rote6 et to the alley, trn left, then rn li'e hell for t-o blo&'s, a&ross J)th 8treet an+ into the bsiness +istri&t"

I fire+ they ha+ ron+ spport on the -ay, an+ at any #o#ent I0+ bein to hear theyo-lin -ail of poli&e &ar sirens"

I trne+ into the alley" I ran on the left si+e of the alley, ne=t to the apart#ent &o#ple=es that-ol+ pro%i+e oo+ &o%er" 2iftieth 8treet 1st ahea+" /ea%y traffi&" I -as oin on pre a+renaline" I ran into the street, +o+in bet-een &ars to et a&ross" Da#n Al#ost hit!&lose &all" I ran into a Walreen0s phar#a&y, no- feelin -a%es of nasea" My heart -as pon+in,s-eat -as rnnin +o-n #y fa&e" Then ot of the +rstore aain an+ into another alley" No heli&opter!-hat a relief Bt I'ept oin" >oin to-ar+ .ni%ersity A%ene"

2eelin safer at last, I +&'e+ into a store, an+ pla&e+ another &ell phone &all"

It -asn0t fi%e #intes before I hear+ the son+ of the heli&opter ettin lo+er an+ lo+eran+ lo+er" It fle- ntil it -as riht o%er the store, then ho%ere+ there" I felt li'e Dr" Ri&har+ $i#ble in'he F*gitive" My sto#a&h -as &hrnin aain, #y an=iety rapi+ly retrnin" I nee+e+ to es&ape"

Ot the store throh the ba&' entran&e" Rn a &ople blo&'s, +&' into another store" E%ery ti#e I trne+ on #y &ell phone an+ pla&e+ a &all, the +a#ne+ heli&opter -ol+reappear" 8on of a bit&h I trne+ off the phone an+ ran" With the phone off, the heli&opter -asn0t follo-in #e any#ore" I 'ne- then" No @estion"They -ere tra&'in #e by #y &ell phone trans#issions"

I stoppe+ n+er a tree an+ leane+ aainst its soli+ trn' to &at&h #y breath aain" People-al'in past loo'e+ at #e -ith sspi&ion -ritten all o%er their fa&es"

After a fe- #intes -ith still no heli&opter, I bean to &al# +o-n" I fon+ a pay phone an+ &alle+ #y +a+" 37o to the pay phone at Ralph0s,4 I tol+ hi#,na#in the sper#ar'et near his apart#ent" Aain #y &rios, n&anny #e#ory for phonen#bers &a#e in han+y"

When I rea&he+ hi#, I tol+ hi# the story abot the heli&opter &hase" I lone+ for hissy#pathy an+ spport, his n+erstan+in" What I ot -as so#ethin else6 3$e%in, if yo thin' so#ebo+y -as &hasin yo in a heli&opter, yo really nee+ help"4



THIRT(4TWO



"&ee)&e%% in "ea##&e

%aem aw Ymek >#t+/d tnwchvw 01 rv kk10v

If the 2e+s ha+ a proble# -ith #y ha&'in, -ol+ they also ha%e a proble# if I -as

ha&'in another ha&'erHA y na#e+ Mar' Lottor, -ho -as n+er in+i&t#ent an+ a-aitin trial as one of $e%in

Polsen0s &o&onspirators, ha+ a &o#pany &alle+ Net-or' Wi<ar+s, #ar'etin -hat he &alle+ a3Celllar Telephone E=peri#enter0s $it"4 It ha+ been +esine+ for enablin ha&'ers, phone phrea's,an+ fra+sters to &ontrol the O$I )) an+ O$I **J) &ell phones fro# their personal &o#pters"8o#e people -ere &on%in&e+ that Lottor ha+ the sor&e &o+e for the O$I )); others thoht he

#iht ha%e re%erse:enineere+ the fir#-are to +e%elop his 'it" I -ante+ to et a &opy of -hate%erhe ha+!sor&e &o+e or re%erse:enineerin +etails"

Throh #y resear&h, I fon+ the na#e of Mar'0s irlfrien+6 Lile Ela#" An+ -ha++a ya'no-H 8he -or'e+ at 8n Perfe&t, &ol+n0t be better" I still ha+ a&&ess to 8n0s internal net-or'throh so#e of the syste#s I ha+ ha&'e+ into in Cana+a, an+ by that rote it +i+n0t ta'e #e lon toha&' into Lile0s -or'station at 8n" 8ettin p a 3sniffer4!a prora# that -ol+ &aptre all hernet-or' traffi&!I -aite+ patiently for her to &onne&t to either Mar'0s syste# or her o-n ho#esyste#" 2inally I hit pay +irt6

PAT/6 8n"COM(9)) X art"nettelnet8TAT6 Th O&t 9 *(6)6J, *() p'ts, bytes IDLE TIMEO.TS

DATA6

lile#))n]earth

The last t-o lines are her lo:in na#e, follo-e+ by her pass-or+, allo-in #e to lo in toher a&&ont on her ser%er at ho#e an+, sin an npat&he+ lo&al e=ploit, ain root pri%ilees"

I set p another sniffer on her ho#e syste#, 3art"net,4 an+ after a fe- #ore +ays, she loe+in to Mar'0s syste#, i%in #e her lo:in an+ pass-or+ for ettin into his ser%er" I -aite+ ntil the%ery early hors of the #ornin, loe+ in, an+ ot root by e=ploitin the sa#e se&rity fla- I ha+se+ to et into her -or'station"

I i##e+iately sear&he+ Mar'0s file syste# for 3o'i4; an asteris' is a -il+ &ar+ that in this&ase #eans 3loo' for any filena#es that ha%e the &hara&ter strin o'i0 in the#4" An e=a#inationof the files trne+ p by this sear&h re%eale+ that Mar' +i+n0t ha%e the sor&e &o+e for the O$I ))

bt -as in+ee+ re%erse:enineerin it!an+ that he -as ettin help fro# another ha&'er"An+ -ho -as helpin Lottor -ith this pro1e&tH 8rprise6 of all people, it -as Tsto#

8hi#o#ra, that &o#pter se&rity e=pert -ith a bi reptation an+ a bier eo, -ho -or'e+ atthe 8an Dieo 8per&o#pter Center" O++6 at the ti#e, Lottor -as n+er 2e+eral in+i&t#ent in the$e%in Polsen &ase, an+ yet here he -as, ettin help fro# a &o#pter se&rity e=pert -ho +i+&ontra&t -or' for the government " What -as that abotH

I ha+ en&ontere+ 8hi#o#ra on&e before, so#ethin he ne%er fon+ ot" The pre%iosyear, in 8epte#ber *, after ettin into 8n0s net-or', I ha+ +is&o%ere+ that he ha+ been fin+inan+ reportin se&rity bs he n&o%ere+ in 8nO8, one of 8n0s flaship operatin syste#s" I-ante+ the infor#ation, so I tarete+ his ser%er" By ha&'in into a host &alle+ 3eler4 at the

.ni%ersity of California, 8an Dieo .C8D, I -as able to et root an+ install a net-or' sniffer"The stars #st ha%e been line+ p in #y fa%or" Within se%eral hors, I inter&epte+ a ser,3+a%i+,4 loin into 3ariel,4 one of 8hi#o#ra0s ser%ers" By &aptrin +a%i+0s pass-or+ sin #y



net-or' -iretap, I a&&esse+ 8hi#o#ra0s syste# an+ -as into it for se%eral +ays before I -asnoti&e+ an+ boote+ off" 8hi#o#ra e%entally reali<e+ that +a%i+ ha+ been ha&'e+, an+ trie+tra&'in #e bt hit a +ea+ en+" In hin+siht, he -as probably #onitorin his o-n net-or' traffi&an+ sa- -hat -as oin on"

Before ettin boote+, I -as able to rab a lot of files" Most of the interestin stff ha+el+e+ #e, bt I 'ne- I -ol+ retrn at so#e point" No- #y interest in +oin that ha+ been stirre+

p, than's to Lottor"As I -as probin Lottor0s syste#, I +is&o%ere+ a file that liste+ the instr&tions for &hanin

an E8N fro# the 'eypa+ of an O$I phone"to set the esn, enter +eb #o+e"

the &o##an+ is Q NN 88888888 8NDX NN is )* or )( 88888888 is ne- E8NQ in he= set se&rity &o+e to )))))) for easier a&&ess It appeare+ that Lottor an+ 8hi#o#ra ha+ re%erse:enineere+ an+ bilt a spe&ial %ersion ofthe fir#-are that allo-e+ the phone ser to easily &hane the E8N fro# the 'eypa+" There &ol+ beonly one prpose for +oin this6 to &lone to another &ell phone n#ber" I ha+ to s#ile an+ sha'e #y

hea+" /ere -as an e%en bier p<<le6 Why -ol+ the fe+erally in+i&te+ ha&'er an+ the se&ritye=pert -ant to &lone &ell phonesH It -as so#ethin I ne%er +i+ fire ot"

In any &ase, I ha+ &o#e p e#pty:han+e+ on #y real ob1e&ti%e6 fin+in sor&e &o+e fro#the #anfa&trer, O$I" In loo'in throh Lottor0s files, I +is&o%ere+ that 8hi#o#ra ha+ -rittenan )J* 3+isasse#bler4 prora# that Lottor -as sin for re%erse:enineerin the fir#-are" I alsorea+ n#eros e#ails bet-een Lottor an+ 8hi#o#ra +is&ssin their O$I re%erse:enineerin

pro1e&t" In one interestin e#ail, Lottor sent 8hi#o#ra a &onsole appli&ation na#e+3#o+esn"e=e"4

O$I E8N Mo+ifier" Copyriht C * Net-or' Wi<ar+s" The na#e sai+ it all6 the prora# -as +esine+ to #o+ify the E8N on the O$I &ell phone"5ery interestin" Aain, I &ol+ thin' of only one potential prpose6 fra+"

I ar&hi%e+ an+ &o#presse+ all the files relate+ to &ell phones, in&l+in his e#ail&o##ni&ations -ith 8hi#o#ra" Bt the pro&ess too' too lon" Drin the file transfer, #y&onne&tion -as s++enly +roppe+" Lottor #st ha%e &o#e ho#e an+ noti&e+ that so#ethin -asoin on" Apparently he ha+ plle+ the net-or' &able, stoppin the transfer" Da#n An+ then hetoo' his #a&hine off the Internet"

/is ser%er -as ba&' online the ne=t +ay, after he ha+ &hane+ all the ser%er pass-or+s".n+is&orae+, I loo'e+ for another -ay in an+ fon+ he -as spportin so#e ser%ers at3paesat"&o#,4 a hih:spee+ ne-s ser%i&e" It too' less than a +ay to et root an+ install a sniffer"

I 'ept -at&hin the sniffer" Within hors, Mar' loe+ in to paesat, an+ fro# there&onne&te+ to his o-n ser%er an+ loe+ in" My sniffer rabbe+ his lo:in &re+entials"

I -as sto'e+" Waitin an=iosly ntil 96)) a"#", -hen I fire+ he -as li'ely to be fastasleep, I &onne&te+ to his ser%er an+ ot in on&e aain" In&re+ible6 the file I ha+ atte#pte+ totransfer the +ay before -as sti there" Thirty #intes later, I ha+ &opie+ the file to one of #y ha&'e+a&&onts at Net&o#"

2ro# the e#ail an+ file e=&hanes bet-een the#, it appeare+ that Lottor -as the pro1e&tlea+, -hile 8hi#o#ra -as -or'in on it at his leisre" It -as ob%ios that Tsto# -ol+ alsoha%e the O$I &o+e on his #a&hine, an+ #aybe e%en #ore infor#ation than I0+ been able to rabfro# Lottor" I -as +eter#ine+ to fin+ ot" At so#e point, I nee+e+ to et ba&' into 8hi#o#ra0s&o#pters"

I ess I so#eti#es +on0t +o a %ery oo+ 1ob of hi+in #y feelins" After I0+ been -or'inon the /elp Des' at the 5irinia Mason Me+i&al Center for three #onths, #y boss sai+ to #e one

+ay, 3We 'no- yo0re bore+ here"43Yeah, yo0re riht,4 I sai+" 3I0ll o fin+ so#ethin else"4

E%en thoh this left #e 1obless an+ -ith no in&o#e, I -as la+ not to fa&e that bore+o#



ea&h +ay" Life, as they say, is too short"8o it -as ba&' to $in'o0s, to #a'e p so#e ne- phony rVs#Vs" I ha+ broht alon #y

han+hel+ Ra+io8ha&' Pro: s&anner, -hi&h I ha+ loa+e+ -ith the ra+io fre@en&ies se+ by the2BI, DEA, Brea of Prisons, an+ ."8" Marshals 8er%i&e, as -ell as the 8e&ret 8er%i&e be&ase, asI0%e sai+ before, the 2e+s so#eti#es 3borro-4 other aen&ies0 fre@en&ies if they sspe&t theirtaret #iht be listenin" The s&anner0s s@el&h -as set to pi&' p only nearby &on%ersations"

The ne- rVs#Vs -ere ta'in shape -hen I hear+ #y ra+io &ra&'le -ith %oi&es" I opene+the s@el&h a bit an+ -aite+" Mo#ents later, ra+io traffi& bean on one of the 8e&ret 8er%i&efre@en&ies"

3Any a&ti%ityH4 3Nothin here"4 5ery interestin" 8o#e 2e+eral aen&y -as apparently &on+&tin a sr%eillan&e operation" Iin&rease+ the %ol#e an+ proppe+ the s&anner on top of the &o#pter to et better re&eption"

8oon the s&anner bean b<<in -ith %oi&es6 it son+e+ li'e the bil+p to the &li#a= of atele%ision &op sho-" Ob%iosly a rai+ -as bein set p"

3No a&ti%ity here,4 one %oi&e sai+" 3We0re in the alley &o%erin the ba&',4 another ans-ere+"

A irl -or'in at the ne=t PC as'e+ -hat I -as listenin to" I s#ile+ an+ sai+ it -as the8e&ret 8er%i&e, then lahe+ as I a++e+, 38on+s li'e so#ebo+y0s oin to ha%e a ba+ niht"4 8helahe+, too" We both listene+ intently to see -hat -ol+ happen ne=t"

3Col+ he be at the &o#pter storeH4 &a#e blrtin ot fro# the ra+io" No-, that -as weird " 3Co#pter store4!+i+ their taret -or' in a &o#pter store, or &ol+it be a &sto#erH

No response" I starte+ to et a bit an=ios an+ -orrie+!&ol+ it be me they -ere -aitin forH I stoppe+-or'in on the &o#pter an+ pai+ &loser attention to the ra+io"

Bt then I hear+, 3What 'in+ of &ar +oes or y +ri%eH4 8o it &ol+n0t be #e they -ere after6 I -as sin pbli& transportation" Bt I -as still-on+erin abot the &o#pter store thin"

T-enty #intes, an+ then, 3We0re oin in no-"4 An+ then ra+io silen&e" I &ontine+ -or'in har+, +raftin abot fifteen rVs#Vs for as #any +ifferent bsinesses inthe 8eattle area, as sal tailorin the# to #eet ) per&ent of the a+%ertise+ re@ire#ents, #y bestshot at lan+in an inter%ie-"

8till nothin on the ra+io" The irl ne=t to #e ot p, s#ile+, an+ -ishe+ #e a oo+ niht"We both loo'e+ at the s&anner an+ lahe+, -on+erin -hat ha+ happene+ to the y they -ere-aitin for"

A little after #i+niht, I finishe+ -ritin p all #y rVs#Vs an+ &o%er letters" I -aite+ in a

lon line of #ostly st+ents to ha%e the rVs#Vs printe+ on i%ory linen sto&'" Then, -hen it -asfinally #y trn, I -as tol+ that #y print 1ob -ol+n0t be &o#plete+ ntil #ornin" Da#n I -ante+to et the# ot in the #ail straihta-ay" The &ler' tol+ #e to try another $in'o0s, a fe- blo&'sa-ay" I -al'e+ o%er to the other store bt ot the sa#e story there6 3We -on0t ha%e yor print 1obrea+y ntil the #ornin"4 2ine" I sai+ I0+ pi&' it p in the #ornin, thoh I 'ne- I0+ li'ely beonline all niht, -ol+ sleep throh the #ornin, an+ not et ba&' to $in'o0s ntil so#eti#e in theafternoon"

It +i+n0t trn ot li'e that" On the -ay ho#e I stoppe+ at the t-enty:for:hor 8afe-ay near #y apart#ent an+ bohtso#e ro&eries pls a tr'ey san+-i&h an+ so#e potato &hips for a late:niht +inner"

It -as a little after *6)) a"#" -hen I ot ba&' to #y apart#ent bil+in" The 8e&ret 8er%i&e

operation I0+ hear+ o%er #y s&anner ha+ left #e feelin a bit 1ittery" Li'e a &hara&ter in a spy no%el,I too' the pre&ation of -al'in +o-n the opposite si+e of the street so I &ol+ loo' for anysspi&ios &ars, an+ to #a'e sre #y apart#ent lihts -ere still on"



Bt they -eren0t" The apart#ent -as +ar'" Not oo+!I al-ays left so#e lihts on" /a+ Iforotten this ti#e, or -as it so#ethin elseH There -as a re+ tr&' par'e+ on the street, an+ I &ol+see t-o fires in the front seat6 a #an an+ a -o#an, 'issin" That &on1re+ p a fnny notion6&ol+ it be t-o 2e+eral aents, #a'in ot as a &o%erH Not li'ely, bt the thoht relie%e+ #ytension a little"

I -al'e+ straiht p to the tr&' an+ as'e+ the passener, 3/ey, sorry to interrpt, bt I -as

sppose+ to #eet #y b++y here" Di+ yo see anyone hanin ot aron+ here -aitinH43No, bt people -ere &arryin bo=es ot of that apart#ent4!as she pointe+ to the -in+o-s

of my apart#ent" What the f&'H I than'e+ her an+ sai+ that -asn0t -here #y frien+ li%e+"I bolte+ p the stairs to the apart#ent of the bil+in #anaer, Da%i+, an+ ran his +oorbell,

e%en thoh I 'ne- I0+ be -a'in hi# p" A +ro-sy %oi&e shote+ ot, 4&ho is it6 When I +i+n0tans-er, he opene+ the +oor a &ra&'" 3Oh, hi, Brian,4 he sai+ in a sleepy, irritate+ %oi&e"

I trie+ #y best to hi+e #y an=iety" 3Di+ yo let anyone into #y apart#entH4 /is ans-er -as a stnner, so#ethin I &ol+ ne%er ha%e e=pe&te+6

3No, bt the &ops an+ the 8e&ret 8er%i&e bste+ +o-n yor +oor" The 8eattle Poli&e left asear&h -arrant an+ a bsiness &ar+ sayin yo shol+ &all the# riht a-ay"4

8tartin to -a'e p enoh to be trly annoye+ no-, he a++e+, 3An+ yo0re oin to pay

for the +oor! right43Yeah, sre"4

I tol+ hi# I -as oin to &all the# riht a-ay" 8-eatin, -ith a sor taste of pani& in #y #oth an+ a sin'in feelin in #y sto#a&h, I

bolte+ ba&' +o-n the stairs an+ throh the alley, loo'in for so#e sin of troble!an n#ar'e+&ar, #o%e#ent on the roof, anythin"

Nothin" Nobo+y" One s#all blessin6 if it -as the 8eattle Poli&e, not the 2BI, then they -ere loo'in for theBrian Merrill -ho ha+ been #a'in nathori<e+ &ell phone &alls, not for fiti%e ha&'er $e%inMitni&'"

Dre-s ha+ sai+ the 8eattle Poli&e an+ 8e&ret 8er%i&e sear&he+ #y pla&e an+ then 1st left"8rely they -ol+n0t be la#e enoh to toss #y pla&e -ithot stayin aron+ to #a'e the arrest"

I -al'e+ a-ay fast, 'no-in I +i+n0t +are rn, sre the #anaer #st alrea+y be on the phone &allin the &ops or 2e+s to report that I ha+ sho-n p an+ then split"

8till &arryin the brief&ase I ha+ than'flly left the hose -ith hors earlier!it &ontaine+ all#y paper-or' for ne- i+entities!I -as e=pe&tin to see a poli&e or n#ar'e+ &ar any se&on+" I+roppe+ #y ba of ro&eries into so#eone0s trash"

My heart -as startin to beat faster an+ faster" I -al'e+ as fast as I &ol+ -ithot brea'ininto a 1o, stayin a-ay fro# #a1or streets ntil I -as a &ople blo&'s a-ay fro# #y apart#ent" I'ept thin'in abot all the stff in #y brief&ase, in&l+in those blan' bt &ertifie+ birth &ertifi&atesfro# 8oth Da'ota"

Bt I &ol+n0t +it&h those +o&#ents" I -ol+ nee+ the# #ore than e%er no-" My ne-3per#anent4 i+entity ha+ 1st flo-n ot the -in+o-, fore%er seless" 8o I hn on to the brief&ase" I-as sre that a tea# of 2e+s -as lr'in nearby -aitin for #e" In one of the par'e+ &arsH Behin+so#e treesH In the +oor-ay of an apart#ent bil+in +o-n the blo&'H

My #oth starte+ to et %ery +ry, as if I ha+n0t +rn' any -ater in a fe- +ays" I -as soner%os I -as beinnin to feel +i<<y" 8-eat -as +rippin +o-n #y fa&e"

I rea&he+ a bar, hffin an+ pffin, -ay ot of pla&e a#on the noisy, lahin people partyin, +rin'in it p, ha%in a oo+ ti#e" I hi+ in a stall in the #en0s roo#" I -ante+ to &all #y#o# bt +i+n0t +are se the &ell phone, so I 1st sat there thin'in ot #y options" Call a &ab an+et the hell ot of the area as soon as possibleH The 8e&ret 8er%i&e &ol+ be +ri%in aron+ loo'infor #e" I 1st -ante+ to +isappear into the &ro-+"

When I ha+ reste+ lon enoh to et #y breath ba&', I too' to the si+e-al' aain, loo'infor a ta=i to ta'e #e ot of the area" A bs rolle+ past"

A bs A ti&'et ot of the neihborhoo+



I ran #y ass off to &at&h it at the stop in the ne=t blo&'" Where it -as oin +i+n0t #atter">st a-ay fro# here" I staye+ on for an hor, to the en+ of the line, then ot off an+ -al'e+ in the &ool air to &lear#y hea+" At a K:Ele%en, I &alle+ #y #o#0s paer fro# the pay phone, sen+in her a &o+e

!3E#eren&y"4 I -aite+, i%in her ti#e to et p, et +resse+, +ri%e to a &asino, an+ pae #e

ba&' to let #e 'no- -here she -as" After abot forty #intes, #y paer b<<e+, sho-in #e the phone n#ber for Caesar0s Pala&e" I &alle+ the hotel an+ ha+ her pae+, -aitin i#patiently ntilshe pi&'e+ p"

As yo #iht i#aine, it -asn0t easy to tell her abot #y &lose &all, an+ that I +i+n0t +are o ba&' to #y apart#ent" I -as +epresse+, bt it &ol+ ha%e been -orse, I pointe+ ot6 I &ol+ besittin in so#e 1ail &ell"

When -e hn p, I pi&'e+ a #otel fro# the Yello- Paes -ith an a++ress in +o-nto-n8eattle near Pi'e Pla&e Mar'et, -here the first 8tarb&'s opene+" I &alle+ a &ab an+ ha+ the +ri%erstop at an ATM, -here I -ith+re- the #a=i## a#ont, J))"

The na#e I pt on the reistration for# at the #otel -as Eri& Weiss, the ol+ i+entity that Istill ha+ +o&#ents for in #y brief&ase"

The ne=t #ornin I -ol+ be ot of there, one fro# 8eattle -ithot a tra&e!I hope+" I -ent to be+ feelin a he sense of loss" The only possessions I still ha+ -ere the &lotheson #y ba&', a &ople of thins at the +ry &leaners, an+ the brief&ase fll of i+entity +o&#ents"E%erythin else -as still in that apart#ent"

I -as an early riser the ne=t #ornin"The rai+ ha+ been at niht" I -as hopin that the 2e+s ha+ 'no&'e+ off after filin the

paper-or' an+ loin all the e%i+en&e!that they ha+n0t bothere+ to start loo'in throh #y&o#pter or papers, -here they -ol+ ha%e fon+ a re&eipt fro# the +ry &leaners an+ a &he&'boo'sho-in -here I 'ept #y stash of &ash"

2irst stop, be&ase it opene+ early, -as the +ry &leaners, to pi&' p the only &lothes I -ol+ha%e besi+es the 1eans, bla&' leather 1a&'et, an+ /ar+ Ro&' T:shirt I -as -earin"

The ban' opene+ at 6)) a"#", an+ ess -ho -as the first &sto#er throh the +oorH I&lose+ ot #y &he&'in a&&ont!it ha+ only abot for thosan+ +ollars in it, bt I -as oin tonee+ e%ery penny of that for #y ne=t +isappearin a&t"

The lo&al &ops ha+ rabbe+ #y laptop, floppy +is's, #y se&on+ ra+io s&anner, &o#pter peripherals, an+ nen&rypte+ ba&'p tapes" It &ol+ be only a #atter of +ays before they fire+ otthat Brian Merrill, the &ell phone &loner, -as really $e%in Mitni&', the 2e+s0 #ost -ante+ ha&'er"

Or +i+ they alrea+y 'no-H 2or any &le%er so&ial enineer, the ans-er to a @estion li'e that is ne%er har+ to &o#e by" Pla&in a &all to the offi&e of the 8eattle +istri&t attorney, I as'e+ -hi&h DA han+le+ele&troni& fra+ &ases"

3I%an Orton,4 I -as tol+" Callin Orton0s se&retary, I tol+ her, 3This is 8pe&ial Aent Robert Terran&e, 8e&ret 8er%i&e"Do yo ha%e a &opy of the sear&h -arrant an+ affi+a%it on the &ell phone &ase fro# last nihtH4

3No, yo0ll ha%e to &all Re&or+s,4 an+ she re&ite+ the n#ber" The la+y in Re&or+s as'e+ #e for the a++ress -here the sear&h ha+ ta'en pla&e" When I tol+her, she sai+, 3Oh, yes, I ha%e it riht here"4

37reat" I0# in the fiel+, &an yo please fa= #e a &opyH4 3I0# sorry,4 she sai+" 3We +on0t ha%e a fa= #a&hine in Re&or+s"4 That +i+n0t fa<e #e" 3No proble#,4 I sai+" 3I0ll &all yo ba&'"4 No fa= #a&hine in the Re&or+s Offi&eH In&re+ible" We0re tal'in * here; everyody ha+ afa=" Bt no!&alls to other offi&es in the bil+in re%eale+ that the City of 8eattle apparently +i+n0t

ha%e #&h of a b+et for fa= #a&hines"I finally +is&o%ere+ that the La- Library ha+ one" By the ti#e I0+ finishe+ #a'in

arrane#ents, the la+y fro# the La- Library -as on her -ay p to the Re&or+s Offi&e to fet&h a



&opy of the affi+a%it so she &ol+ et the fa= sent to 3the 8e&ret 8er%i&e aent4 -ho nee+e+ it" I ha+it fa=e+ to a $in'o0s in Belle%e, -aite+ ntil I thoht it -ol+0%e been re&ei%e+, se+ #ystan+ar+ rotine for lan+erin a fa=, an+ pi&'e+ it p #intes later fro# the se&on+ $in'o0slo&ation!all +one in s&h a short inter%al that there -as no &han&e the &ops or 8e&ret 8er%i&e &ol+ha%e sho-n p in ti#e"

I sat +o-n in a &offee shop an+ pore+ o%er the affi+a%it, absorbin e%ery -or+" I learne+ that

t-o &elllar phone fra+ in%estiators ha+ been tailin #e for se%eral -ee's" I flashe+ ba&' to a>eep that ha+ been par'e+ a&ross the street one +ay -ith a #an sittin in it" 8on of a bit&h My tha+ been riht!he -as one of the in%estiators" The state#ents in the sear&h -arrant sho-e+ thatthese ys ha+ been ea%es+roppin on #y &alls for -ee's" I thoht of the &alls I #a+e to #y #o#se%eral ti#es a -ee'; she -ol+ so#eti#es spea' #y na#e -hen she pi&'e+ p #y &all in the&asino" Yet e%i+ently they ha+ #isse+ that" They #st ha%e 'no-n or at least sense+ I -asn0t 1stso#e 'i+ sin a &lone+ &ell phone, yet they -ere &leless abot #y real i+entity" If they ha+sspe&te+ I -as the soht:after $e%in Mitni&', they -ol+ ha%e sta'e+ ot #y apart#ent an+-aite+ all niht for #e to &o#e ho#e"

I -as -orrie+ that they ha+ re&or+e+ #y &alls or perhaps e%en ta'en photoraphs of #e"$no-in that they ha+ hear+ #y %oi&e, I &alle+ Le-is so he &ol+ &he- o%er the sitation -ith #e

an+ help assess the +a#ae" I &a#e p -ith a plan" Le-is -ol+ &all one of the pri%ate in%estiatorsan+ see -hat infor#ation he &ol+ fin+ ot" I really nee+e+ to 'no- if they ha+ any tapes or photos"

I -as on the line, listenin in, #y &ell phone #te+" Le-is &alle+ a pri%ate in%estiatorna#e+ $e%in Pa<as'i, an+ preten+e+ to be prose&tor I%an Orton"

Pa<as'i sai+, 3We ha%e a #eetin to#orro- at yor offi&e"4 Le-is sei<e+ the opportnity an+ replie+, 3Yes, or #eetin is still on, bt I ha%e a fe-rent @estions"4 /e as'e+ if he ha+ any tape re&or+ins" Pa<as'i sai+ no!they ha+ #onitore+&on%ersations an+ #a+e notes, bt no tapes"

Whe- That -as a relief Ne=t, Le-is as'e+ if they ha+ any photos of the sspe&t" Aain,the ans-er -as no" Than' 7o+ Le-is then a++e+ the i&in to the &a'e6 3O'ay, $e%in, I0ll ha%e#ore @estions prepare+ for or #eetin to#orro-" 8ee yo then"4

Despite ho- stresse+:ot I -as, Le-is an+ I starte+ lahin after he hn p, 1sti#ainin those ys0 rea&tion at the bi #eetin the ne=t +ay -hen they reali<e+ they ha+ been&onne+" Bt by then it -ol+ be too late for the# to +o anythin abot it" I ha+ the infor#ation I-ante+"

It -as -orth the effort" 2ro# the +o&#ents, I &onfir#e+ that the rai+ ha+ been inten+e+ tonab so#ebo+y -ho ha+ been #a'in lots of nathori<e+ &ell phone &alls" Nothin abot $e%inMitni&'"

That -as -hy the aents ha+ 1st left a &ar+ sayin I shol+ pay the 8eattle Poli&e a &all"The &ops +i+n0t thin' it -as -orth hanin aron+ 1st to &at&h so#e &ollee st+ent -ho0+ fire+ot ho- to #a'e free &ell phone &alls"

.n+er +ifferent &ir&#stan&es, I #iht ha%e felt relie%e+" I left 8eattle on a 7reyhon+ bs hea+e+ for Ta&o#a, -here I -ol+ boar+ a train forPortlan+, an+ then fly the last le of the trip to Los Aneles"

En rote, I &alle+ Ron Astin an+ tol+ hi# I ha+ been rai+e+" Trne+ ot #y tal'in to Ron-asn0t s&h a reat i+ea6 li'e Petersen, he ha+ be&o#e a snit&h in the hope of ettin a re+&e+senten&e" /e0+ been re&or+in or &on%ersations an+ trnin the tapes o%er to the 2BI, playin bothsi+es all alon6 bein a frien+ to #e by i%in #e the California DM5 a&&ess? -hile at the sa#eti#e &ooperatin -ith the 2e+s" /e -as ot on bail, atherin infor#ation on Le-is an+ #e for 2BI8pe&ial Aent M&7ire an+ &o#pany" I0ll a+#it he +i+ a &le%er 1ob of ainin #y trst by i%in#e a&&ess to the DM5 +atabase"

No- he &alle+ his Brea han+ler to let hi# 'no- that the y the 8e&ret 8er%i&e ha+ 1st

rai+e+ for &ell phone &lonin -as really $e%in Mitni&'" I ha+n0t tol+ hi# -hat &ity I -as in, bt I0#sre it +i+n0t ta'e the 8e&ret 8er%i&e %ery lon to fire it ot"

In a &on%ersation -e ha+ -hile I -as -ritin this boo', Astin also re%eale+ an interestin



ti+bit6 the 2e+s &lone+ his paer an+ -aite+ for #y &alls to et the pay phone n#ber an+ the ti#e I-ol+ be &allin so they &ol+ atte#pt to tra&e #y ne=t &all" They +i+n0t reali<e that I ha+ flla&&ess to the tel&o s-it&hes that &ontrolle+ the n#bers I -as &allin!an+ that I al-ays &he&'e+for any traps an+ -at&he+ for any s-it&h #essaes in+i&atin that a tra&e -as bein +one in realti#e" I ha+ to be &atios, espe&ially -ith a s'ille+ ha&'er li'e Astin" My &onter#easres -ereob%iosly effe&ti%e6 the 2e+s ha+ ne%er sho-e+ p at #y +oor"

Arri%in in LA, I pi&'e+ a hotel &on%eniently near .nion 8tation" 7ettin p in the #i++leof the niht, I trne+ on the liht to fin+ +o<ens of &o&'roa&hes s'itterin aron+ the floor" !wwww5

I ha+ to pt on #y shoes 1st to -al' the fe- steps to the bathroo#, first &atiosly sha'in otea&h shoe to be sre it -asn0t o&&pie+ by any of the &ritters" The &hills +o-n #y spine -ereo%er-hel#in6 I &ol+n0t et ot of there fast enoh" I -as one fifteen #intes later, #o%in to a

pla&e &alle+ the Metro Pla<a /otel, -hi&h I &hose be&ase it ha+ a spe&ial #eanin for #e" When I-as hel+ in solitary &onfine#ent at LA0s 2e+eral Metropolitan Detention Center, #y roo# ha+loo'e+ ot o%er this hotel" /o- often I ha+ -ishe+ I &ol+ be there instea+ of in #y ten:by:eiht:foot roo# -ith its stoneli'e #attress

I ha+n0t seen #y +a+ in a lon ti#e" /e listene+ to the story of #y near arrest an+ the &opsnot e%en 'no-in they ha+ al#ost nabbe+ a y the Brea ha+ been hntin for t-o years" I ot an

absen&e of response fro# hi#, as if he +i+n0t 'no- ho- to help #e" It -as as if I -ere +es&ribin as&ene fro# a #o%ie or so#ethin plle+ fro# #y &reati%e i#aination"

I &alle+ Bonnie, sai+ I -as in LA, an+ -ante+ to et toether" Why &all herH There -eren0t#any people I &ol+ tal' to abot #y pre+i&a#ent" My ha&'in b++ies, one after another, ha+trne+ +isloyal" There -asn0t anybo+y else in Los Aneles I &ol+ trst"

8he ha+ her o-n reason for bein -illin to see #e" De Payne 'ne- that #y &o#pter,tapes, an+ +is's ha+ been sei<e+ in 8eattle, an+ he -ante+ to 'no- ho- #&h of or&orrespon+en&e the &ops #iht ha%e fon+!an+ ho- #&h of it -ol+ in&ri#inate hi#" Bonnie-as probably ser%in the interests of her lo%er, hopin to et so#e assran&es fro# #e that the8eattle Poli&e an+ the 8e&ret 8er%i&e -eren0t oin to trn p any infor#ation in #y ele&troni& filesthat &ol+ lan+ hi# in troble"

We #et, an+ I tol+ her I ha+ lost e%erythin an+ nee+e+ to start o%er" Thoh the files on #y&o#pter -ere en&rypte+, I ha+ ba&'e+ p #ost of the# onto &artri+e tapes, nen&rypte+, that I0+

been abot to stash in #y ban' safety +eposit bo=" Bt I0+ ne%er #a+e it to the ban' -ith the tapes,-hi&h #eant that either the 2e+s or the lo&al 8eattle &ops ha+ all that infor#ation, nen&rypte+"

8he &ol+ see I -as frea'in ot" 8he trie+ to &al# #e +o-n an+ offer a+%i&e, bt -e both'ne- that #y only options -ere to trn #yself in an+ sffer #onths, if not years, of solitary&onfine#ent, or to 'eep playin the a#e of 3&at&h #e if yo &an"4 I ha+ all alon opte+ for thelatter, an+ the sta'es -ere e%en hiher no- be&ase the &hare -ol+ no loner be a #ere %iolationof #y sper%ise+ release6 -ith the e%i+en&e fro# #y sei<e+ &o#pter in 8eattle, the 2e+s no- ha+

plenty of har+ e%i+en&e of #y ha&'in"

I felt Bonnie0s intition6 she -as sre it -ol+ be 1st a #atter of ti#e before I ot &aht,an+ she -as -orrie+ for #e" Bt I 1st ha+ to i%e it #y best shot an+ +eal -ith the &onse@en&eslater" It -as ni&e to see her aain for the first ti#e sin&e I0+ one on the rn, bt i%en that #y e=-as li%in -ith #y best ha&'in partner, a +istan&e bet-een s -as only natral"

By the ti#e I rea&he+ 5eas a -ee' later, #y #o# an+ 7ra# ha+ pretty #&h &al#e+ +o-nfro# their pani& at #y near arrest" When I sa- the#, I -as -ashe+ in the fll floo+ of their lo%e an+&on&ern"

Desperately in nee+ of a ne- i+entity, an+ 'no-in it -ol+ be +aneros to se any of thena#es fro# the 8oth Da'ota list sin&e all that infor#ation -as also on the nen&rypte+ ba&'ptapes that the &ops ha+ rabbe+ in the 8eattle rai+, I tarete+ the larest &ollee in Oreon0s larest&ity, Portlan+ 8tate .ni%ersity"

After &o#pro#isin the ser%er for the A+#issions Offi&e, I &alle+ the +atabasea+#inistrator" 3I0# ne- in the A+#issions Offi&e,4 I tol+ hi#" 3An+ I nee+ to loo' at?,4 an+ then I+es&ribe+ the para#eters of -hat I -as loo'in for6 people -ho ha+ re&ei%e+ n+erra+ate +erees



bet-een *J an+ *(" /e spent a oo+ forty:fi%e #intes on the phone -ith #e, e=plainin ho-the re&or+s -ere orani<e+ an+ the &o##an+s I nee+e+ to e=tra&t all the st+ent +ata for ra+atesin the years of interest" /e -as so helpfl that he a%e #e e%en #ore than I -as as'in for"

When -e -ere +one, I ha+ a&&ess to *,JJ st+ent re&or+s, ea&h one &o#plete -ith ast+ent0s fll na#e, +ate of birth, +eree, year of +eree, 8o&ial 8e&rity n#ber, an+ ho#e a++ress"

2or the ti#e bein, I nee+e+ only one of the thosan+s" I -ol+ be&o#e Mi&hael Da%i+

8tanfill" The heat -as on" The 2e+s ha+ probably fire+ ot by no- that I0+ slippe+ throh theirfiners aain" This ti#e #y 5eas trip -ol+ be short, 1st lon enoh to let #e set p a ne-i+entity!t-o to three -ee's" Then I nee+e+ to s&at @i&'ly in &ase the 2e+s ot +esperate enohto start follo-in #y #other, her boyfrien+, or #y ran+#other"

I ha+ to #a'e hea+-ay on bil+in #y ne- i+entity as Mi&hael 8tanfill" 2or the +ri%er0sli&ense, after the fa#iliar steps of ettin a &ertifie+ &opy of the birth &ertifi&ate an+ #a'in a phonyW:(, I applie+ for a learner0s per#it, offerin the la+y at the DM5 #y fa#iliar e=planation that Inee+e+ a fe- lessons be&ase I ha+ been li%in in Lon+on -here -e +ro%e on the other si+e of theroa+"

It ha+ only been a &ople of years sin&e I ha+ otten #y Eri& Weiss +ri%er0s li&ense at the

DM5 in Las 5eas, so I felt a bit neasy abot oin ba&'!espe&ially sin&e I 'ne- the 2e+s #ihtno- be on the alert for #y tryin to et a ne- i+entity" The &losest DM5 offi&e otsi+e of Las5eas -as in the +esert to-n of Pahr#p, -hi&h is fa#os for t-o thins6 the poplar ra+io

personality Art Bell li%es there, an+ it0s also the ho#e of the Chi&'en Ran&h, the infa#os leal brothel" .n+er Ne%a+a la-, prostittion is per#itte+ in that part of the state"

I &o#be+ the Yello- Paes loo'in for a +ri%in s&hool in Pahr#p" 2in+in none, I starte+&allin pla&es in 5eas thoh of &orse &areflly a%oi+in the one I ha+ se+ a &ople years ba&'as Eri& Weiss, as'in if I &ol+ se one of their &ars for #y +ri%e test in Pahr#p" After bein tol+se%eral ti#es, 38orry, -e +on0t sen+ or people ot to Pahr#p,4 I finally fon+ a s&hool that -ol+

pro%i+e a &ar, i%e a one:hor lesson to a y -ho -as 31st ba&' fro# Lon+on an+ in nee+ of arefresher for +ri%in on the riht si+e of the roa+,4 an+ -ait -hile I too' the test!all for ())" 2ine"T-o hn+re+ b&'s -as a &heap pri&e for a ne- i+entity"

7ra# +ro%e #e the hor to Pahr#p; I as'e+ her to -ait for #e +o-n the roa+ at arestarant be&ase it -ol+ be too ris'y for both of s if so#ethin -ent -ron the -ay it ha+ at$in'o0s on that Christ#as E%e of re&ent #e#ory"

We arri%e+ t-enty #intes early, an+ I sat insi+e the tiny DM5 offi&e on a &heap plasti&&hair, an=iosly -aitin for the s&hool0s &ar to +ri%e p" In less than t-o hors I shol+ be able to-al' ot -ith #y bran+:ne- i+entity in the na#e of Mi&hael Da%i+ 8tanfill"

As I loo'e+ p, the +ri%in instr&tor -al'e+ in the +oor" 8on of a bit&h It -as the same

g*y I0+ ha+ for #y Eri& Weiss i+entity t-o years earlier" /e #st ha%e &hane+ +ri%in s&hools">st #y l&'

It0s re#ar'able ho- the sb&ons&ios #in+ &an s-in into a&tion an+ +e%ise a plan in aninstant" I opene+ #y #oth, an+ -hat &a#e ot -as, 3/ey, I 'no- yo" Where +o yo shop forro&eriesH4

38#ith0s, on Marylan+ Par'-ay,4 he ans-ere+ as he strle+ to re#e#ber -here here&oni<e+ #e fro#" 3Yeah, riht,4 I sai+" 3That0s -here I0%e seen yo" I shop there all the ti#e"4 3Oh, I thoht I0+ seen yo before,4 he sai+, son+in satisfie+" No- I ha+ to &hane #y story be&ase I ha+ se+ 3Lon+on4 the last ti#e as -ell" Instea+, Itol+ hi# I ha+ been ser%in in the Pea&e Corps in .an+a an+ ha+n0t been behin+ the -heel of a &arin fi%e years"

Wor'e+ li'e a &har#" /e -as please+ -ith ho- @i&'ly I re&o%ere+ #y +ri%in ability"

I passe+ the test -ithot a hit&h an+ -al'e+ a-ay -ith #y Mi&hael 8tanfill +ri%er0s li&ense"



PART FOUR



An End and a Beginning



THIRT(4THREE



Hacking #he "a5!ai

;1g o)gw 1w hshw) g$ A( Khgg0a$y 1s BK" skcwv ew stgm

With #y ne- i+entity &re+entials in or+er, it -as ti#e to et &lear of Las 5eas before #y

l&' ran ot" The * Christ#asNe- Year0s holi+ay ti#e -as 1st ahea+, an+ I &ol+n0t resist thei+ea of a retrn %isit to Den%er, a &ity I ha+ ro-n so fon+ of" Pa&'in p, I too' alon an ol+ s'i

1a&'et of #ine, thin'in I #iht be able to et in a little #ore ti#e on the slopes o%er the holi+ays"Bt on&e I arri%e+ in Den%er an+ settle+ into an attra&ti%e, #e+i#:pri&e+ hotel, t-o people

I ha+ ne%er #et!that arroant >apanese:A#eri&an se&rity e=pert -hose ser%er I ha+ ha&'e+ into ayear earlier, the other an e=traor+inarily s'ille+ &o#pter ha&'er in Israel!-ol+ be&o#e a&tors in

a +ra#a that -ol+ &hane the entire rest of #y life"I ha+ &o#e a&ross an Israeli -ho -ent by his initials, 3>8[4; -e #et o%er Internet Relay

Chat, an online ser%i&e for fin+in an+ &hattin -ith straners -ho share+ si#ilar interests" In or&ase, the interest -as ha&'in"

E%entally he tol+ #e that he ha+ ha&'e+ #ost if not all of the #a1or soft-are #anfa&trersthat +e%elope+ operatin syste#s!8n, 8ili&on 7raphi&s, IBM, 8CO, an+ so on" /e ha+ &opie+sor&e &o+e fro# their internal +e%elop#ent syste#s an+ plante+ ba&'+oors to et ba&' in anyti#ehe -ante+" That -as @ite a feat!%ery i#pressi%e"

We starte+ sharin or ha&'in &on@ests -ith ea&h other an+ infor#ation on ne- e=ploits, ba&'+oorin syste#s, &ell phone &lonin, a&@irin sor&e &o+e, an+ &o#pro#isin the syste#s of%lnerability resear&hers"

Drin one &all he as'e+ if I ha+ rea+ 3the Morris paper on IP spoofin,4 -hi&h re%eale+ a#a1or %lnerability in the &ore proto&ol of the Internet"

Robert T" Morris, a &o#pter pro+iy, ha+ fon+ a &le%er se&rity fla- that &ol+ bee=ploite+ sin a te&hni@e &alle+ 3IP spoofin4 to bypass athenti&ation that relie+ on the re#oteser0s IP a++ress" Ten years after Morris pblishe+ his paper, a rop of ha&'ers, in&l+in >8[ inIsrael, ha+ &reate+ a tool for it" 8in&e it -as only theoreti&al p to that ti#e, nobo+y ha+ thoht to

prote&t aainst it"2or the te&hni&ally #in+e+, the IP spoofin atta&' in this &ase relie+ on an ol+er te&hnoloy

'no-n as the R:ser%i&es, -hi&h re@ire+ &onfirin ea&h &o#pter syste# so that it -ol+ a&&epttrste+ &onne&tions, #eanin that a ser &ol+ lo in to an a&&ont!+epen+in on the&onfiration!-ithot nee+in to pro%i+e the pass-or+" This #a+e it possible for a syste# a+#into &onfire a ser%er to trst other &o#pters for the prpose of athenti&ation" One e=a#ple is-here a syste# a+#in #anaes #ltiple #a&hines, so -hen he or she is loe+ in as root, no

pass-or+ -ol+ be re@ire+ to lo in to other syste#s that trst the ser%er"In the IP spoofin atta&', the atta&'er0s first step is to loo' for other syste#s that are li'ely

to be trste+ by the root a&&ont on the taret ser%er, #eanin a ser loe+ in to root on a trste+syste# &an lo in to the root a&&ont on the taret ser%er -ithot spplyin a pass-or+"

It -asn0t too +iffi&lt in this &ase" By sin the 3finer4 &o##an+, the atta&'er -as able toi+entify that or %i&ti# -as &onne&te+ to the taret syste# fro# another &o#pter lo&ate+ in thesa#e lo&al area net-or'" It -as %ery li'ely that these t-o syste#s trste+ ea&h other for root a&&ess"The ne=t step -as to establish a &onne&tion to the taret syste# by forin the trste+ &o#pter0s IP

a++ress"This is -here it ot a bit tri&'y" When t-o syste#s are establishin an initial &onne&tiono%er TCP, a series of pa&'ets are sent ba&' an+ forth to &reate a 3session4 bet-een the#" This is



&alle+ a 3three:-ay han+sha'e"4 Drin the han+sha'e, the taret syste# trans#its a pa&'et ba&' tothe #a&hine tryin to establish the &onne&tion" Be&ase the tarete+ ser%er belie%es it0s respon+into the rea syste#0s re@est to establish a &onne&tion, the han+sha'e pro&ess fails be&ase theatta&'er0s syste# ne%er re&ei%es the pa&'et to &o#plete the three:-ay han+sha'e"

Enter the TCP se@en&e n#ber6 the proto&ol ses se@en&e n#bers to a&'no-le+e there&eipt of +ata" If the atta&'er &ol+ pre+i&t the se@en&e n#ber of the pa&'et bein sent fro# the

taret syste# to the rea ser%er +rin the initial han+sha'e, he &ol+ &o#plete the pro&ess bysen+in an a&'no-le+#ent pa&'et -ith the &orre&t se@en&e n#ber, an+ establish a &onne&tionappearin to be fro# the trste+ #a&hine"

This effe&ti%ely establishe+ a session by essin the TCP se@en&e n#ber" Be&ase thetarete+ syste# -as foole+ into thin'in it ha+ establishe+ a &onne&tion -ith a trste+ #a&hine, itallo-e+ the atta&'er to e=ploit the trst relationship, an+ bypass the sal pass-or+ re@ire#ent! allo-in fll a&&ess to the #a&hine" At this point, the atta&'er &ol+ -rite o%er the &rrent "rhostsfile on the taret #a&hine, allo-in anyone a&&ess to the root a&&ont -ithot a pass-or+"

In s##ary, the atta&' relie+ on the atta&'er bein able to pre+i&t the TCP se@en&e n#berof the pa&'et sent by the taret &o#pter at the ti#e of the initial &onta&t" If an atta&'er &ol+s&&essflly pre+i&t the TCP se@en&e n#ber that the taret -ol+ se +rin the han+sha'in

pro&ess, the atta&'er &ol+ i#personate a trste+ &o#pter an+ bypass any se&rity #e&hanis#s thatrely on the ser0s IP a++ress"

I tol+ >8[ I ha+ rea+ the arti&le" 3Bt it0s theoreti&al" /asn0t been +one yet"4 3Well, #y frien+, #ethin's it has" We0%e alrea+y +e%elope+ the tool, an+ it -or's! a#a<inly -ell4 he sai+, referrin to a pie&e of soft-are that he an+ so#e asso&iates sprea+throhot Erope ha+ been -or'in on"

3No -ay Yo0re 'i++in #e4 3I0# not"4 I as'e+ hi# if I &ol+ ha%e a &opy" 3Maybe later,4 he sai+" 3Bt I0ll rn it for yo anyti#e yo -ant" >st i%e #e a taret"4

I share+ -ith >8[ the +etails of #y ha&' into Mar' Lottor0s ser%er an+ his interestin&onne&tion -ith Tsto# 8hi#o#ra, sin his ni&'na#e" I e=plaine+ ho- I0+ ha&'e+ into .C8Dan+ sniffe+ the net-or' ntil so#eone na#e+ 3ariel4 &onne&te+ to 8hi#o#ra0s ser%er, after -hi&hI -as finally able to et in" 38hi##y so#eho- reali<e+ that one of the people -ho ha+ a&&ess to his&o#pter ha+ been ha&'e+, an+ he boote+ #e off after se%eral +ays,4 I sai+"

I ha+ seen so#e of the se&rity bs 8hi##y ha+ reporte+ to 8n an+ DEC an+ beeni#presse+ -ith his b:fin+in s'ills" In ti#e I -ol+ learn that he ha+ shol+er:lenth straiht

bla&' hair, a preferen&e for sho-in p at -or' -earin san+als an+ 3rae+y:ass 1eans,4 an+ a passion for &ross:&ontry s'iin" /e son+e+ e%ery bit li'e the 'in+ of Californian &on1re+ by theter# 3++e4!as in, 3/ey, ++e, ho-< it hanin0H4

I tol+ >8[ that 8hi##y #iht ha%e the O$I sor&e &o+e or the +etails of his an+ Lottor0s

re%erse enineerin efforts, not to #ention any ne- se&rity bs he #iht ha%e +is&o%ere+"On Christ#as Day *, -al'in ot of a #o%ie at the Ti%oli Center in +o-nto-n Den%er, I po-ere+ p #y &lone+ &ell phone an+ &alle+ >8[ to 1o'inly -ish hi# a >e-ish Merry Christ#as"

37la+ yo &alle+,4 he sai+" In a &ool, &olle&te+ %oi&e, he tol+ #e, 3I ha%e a Christ#as present for yo" My frien+, I ot into ariel toniht"4 An+ he a%e #e the port n#ber -here he0+ setp the ba&'+oor" 3On&e yo &onne&t, there is no pro#pt" Yo 1st type "shi##y"0 an+ yo et a rootshell"4

3No f&'in -ay4 To #e it -as a reat Christ#as present" I ha+ been -antin to et ba&' into 8hi##y0s&o#pter to fin+ ot #ore abot -hat he an+ Mar' Lottor -ere p to -ith the O$I &ell phone

pro1e&t, an+ I -ante+ to 'no- if either of the# ha+ a&&ess to the sor&e &o+e" Either -ay I -as

oin to rab -hate%er infor#ation I &ol+ fin+ on his ser%er relate+ to the O$I )) an+ **J) &ell phones"

It -as 'no-n in the ha&'er &o##nity that 8hi##y ha+ a %ery arroant +e#eanor!he



thoht he -as s#arter than e%eryone else aron+ hi#" We +e&i+e+ to brin his eo +o-n a fe-not&hes to-ar+ reality!1st be&ase -e &ol+"

The +ri%e ba&' to the hotel in #y rental &ar felt li'e 1st abot the lonest t-enty #intes of#y life" Bt I +i+n0t +are +ri%e faster than the flo- of traffi&" If I ot plle+ o%er an+ the &op &a#ep -ith so#ethin sspi&ios abot #y +ri%er0s li&ense, it #iht be a hell of a lot loner thant-enty #intes before I &ol+ et online aain" Patien&e, patien&e"

As soon as I -al'e+ into #y hotel roo#, I po-ere+ p #y laptop an+ +iale+ p to Colora+o8pernet, #as'in the &all as sal by sin #y &ell phone &lone+ to so#e ran+o# Den%erite"

I fire+ p a net-or' tal' prora# that -ol+ #a'e a +ire&t &onne&tion to >8[0s &o#pter inIsrael so -e &ol+ &o##ni&ate in one -in+o- as -e ha&'e+ 8hi##y in another" I &onne&te+ to8hi##y0s &o#pter sin the ba&'+oor that >8[ ha+ set p" Bino!I -as in -ith root pri%ilees"

In&re+ible What a hih That #st be -hat a 'i+ feels on rea&hin the top le%el of a %i+eoa#e that he0s strle+ -ith for #onths" Or li'e rea&hin the s##it of Mont E%erest" Thrille+, I&onratlate+ >8[ on a 1ob -ell +one"

2or openers, >8[ an+ I probe+ 8hi##y0s syste# loo'in for the #ost %alable infor#ation !anythin to +o -ith se&rity bs, his e#ail, an+ any files that ha+ 3o'i4 in their na#e" /e ha+tons of files" As I -as ar&hi%in an+ &o#pressin e%erythin that #at&he+ #y &riteria, >8[ -as also

probin aron+ for anythin that -ol+ be sefl" Both of s -ere %ery &on&erne+ that 8hi##y#iht +e&i+e to lo in to &he&' his e#ail for Christ#as reetins an+ fin+ ot he -as bein ha&'e+"We -ante+ to et his stff before he fire+ it ot" I -as -orrie+ he #iht pll the net-or'&onne&tion, 1st as Lottor ha+ +one se%eral #onths earlier"

We -ere -or'in fast to et the infor#ation off 8hi##y0s #a&hine" My en+orphins -ere on#a1or o%erloa+" After sear&hin, ar&hi%in, an+ &o#pressin, I nee+e+ a pla&e to store the &o+e forsafe'eepin" No proble#6 I alrea+y ha+ root a&&ess to e%ery ser%er at the Whole Earth 0Le&troni&Lin', &o##only 'no-n as 3the Well"4 8tarte+ by 8te-art Bran+ an+ a partner, the Well ha+ as itssers a -ho0s -ho of the Internet, bt the &elebrity stats of the site +i+n0t #atter to #e at all" Myonly &on&ern -as -hether there -as enoh +is' spa&e an+ -hether I &ol+ hi+e the files -ellenoh that the syste# a+#ins -ol+n0t noti&e the#" In fa&t, I ha+ been spen+in lots of ti#e onthe site" A fe- +ays after >ohn Mar'off0s front:pae New York 'imes story appeare+, I +is&o%ere+ heha+ an a&&ont on the Well" An easy taret6 I ha+ been rea+in his e#ails e%er sin&e, sear&hin foranythin relate+ to #e"

After I finishe+ #o%in the tarete+ stff, -e +e&i+e+ to 1st rab everything in 8hi##y0sho#e +ire&tory" >8[ ar&hi%e+ an+ &o#presse+ his entire ho#e +ire&tory into a sinle file thata#onte+ to #ore than *) #eabytes"

We hel+ or breath ntil the file -as s&&essflly transferre+, then a%e ea&h otherele&troni& hih:fi%es o%er &hat" >8[ #o%e+ a &opy of the file to a syste# in Erope in &ase so#e Well syste# a+#in

happene+ to fin+ the he file an+ +elete it" I also &opie+ the file to a &ople of other lo&ations">8[ 'ept tellin #e that fin+in the si#ple ba&'+oor he ha+ set p for #y a&&ess -ol+ beeasy for 8hi##y" I aree+6 it -as too easy to fin+" I seste+ that -e &onsi+er pla&in a #oresophisti&ate+ ba&'+oor in the operatin syste# itself, -here it -ol+ be #&h har+er to +ete&t"

3/e0ll fin+ it,4 >8[ &ontere+" 3Yeah, -e &ol+ al-ays et ba&' in later the sa#e -ay,4 I sai+" I loe+ off the syste#, an+ >8[ &leane+ p, re#o%in the si#ple ba&'+oor an+ +eletin alllos of or a&ti%ity" It -as a %ery e=&itin #o#ent" We ha+ otten into the se&rity e=pert0s ser%er!in #y &ase,for the second ti#e in little o%er a year" >8[ an+ I +e&i+e+ -e -ol+ ea&h e=a#ine 8hi##y0s filesin+epen+ently an+ then report ba&' to the other on -hat -e fon+"

Bt no #atter ho- &arefl -e -ere to erase or tra&'s, I fire+ it -as al#ost &ertain that8hi##y -ol+ st#ble onto so#e telltale sin -e ha+ o%erloo'e+"

8iftin throh 8hi##y0s ol+ e#ails, I &a#e a&ross #essaes ba&' an+ forth bet-een hi#



an+ #y ne#esis, New York 'imes te&hnoloy s&ribe >ohn Mar'off" The t-o of the# ha+ beene=&hanin e#ails oin ba&' to early ** abot #e!tra+in bits of infor#ation on -hat I -asp to, as in an e=&hane in early 0( that sho-e+ 8hi##y ha+ one to the troble of resear&hinonline for #y ha# ra+io li&ense, &all sin N9N/7" /e also e#aile+ Mar'off as'in -hether the2CC ha+ a rle aainst issin ha# ra+io li&enses to a person &on%i&te+ of a felony"

Why the t-o of the# ha+ s&h an interest in #e -as still a #ystery" I ha+ ne%er #et

8hi##y, ne%er intera&te+ -ith hi# in any -ay e=&ept for the re&ent ha&'s into his syste#"8o -hy -ol+ the t-o of the# be so intereste+ in -hat I -as +oinH

I -as riht abot one thin6 8hi##y %ery @i&'ly learne+ of or brea':in" Be&ase >8[ an+I -ere both so fo&se+ on ettin a &opy of his files, -e +i+n0t noti&e that he -as rnnin3t&p+#p4!a net-or' #onitorin tool to &aptre all net-or' traffi&" We also +i+n0t noti&e that a

prora# &alle+ 3&ron4 -as perio+i&ally e#ailin his syste# los to An+re- 7ross, 8hi##y0sassistant" 7ross reali<e+ the los -ere ettin s#aller an+ tippe+ off 8hi##y that so#ethinsspi&ios -as oin on" As soon as 8hi##y loo'e+ throh the los, he reali<e+ he ha+ beenha&'e+"

It +i+n0t #atter #&h" We ha+ his files, an+ -e -ol+ spen+ the +ays an+ -ee's ahea+&areflly e=a#inin the#"

Why -ol+ 8hi##y be rnnin a net-or' #onitorin tool to &aptre e%erythin ointhroh his ser%erH ParanoiaH Or -as it a bait #a&hineH Be&ase he -as so hih:profile in the&o#pter se&rity -orl+, he 'ne- it -as 1st a #atter of ti#e before so#eone -ol+ nail his btt-ith a &le%er ne- atta&'" I thoht #aybe it -as a bait #a&hine, left a&&essible so he &ol+ #onitorall the in&o#in atta&'s an+ profile the #etho+s bein se+" Bt in that &ase, -hy -ol+ he lea%eall his files on this #a&hine, an+ e%en a net-or' -iretappin tool &alle+ 3bpf4!for Ber'eley Pa&'et2ilter!that he ha+ &reate+ for the .nite+ 8tates Air 2or&e, -hi&h &ol+ insert itself +ire&tly into anoperatin syste# -ithot re@irin a rebootH

Maybe he 1st n+eresti#ate+ his opponents an+ ass#e+ no one -ol+ e%er et in" It0s stilla #ystery" Many people &re+it #e -ith bein the y -ho +e%elope+ the prora# that -as se+ toha&' into 8hi##y0s ser%ers sin the IP spoofin atta&'" I0+ be pro+ if I really ha+ been the one-ho #anae+ that rather aston+in feat, an+ I0+ be la+ to ta'e &re+it for it" Bt the &re+it0s not#ine" Instea+, that honor belons to the -i&'e+ly &le%er >8[, the y -ho a&tally parti&ipate+ in+e%elopin the tool an+ se+ it for or Christ#as Day brea':in to 8hi##y0s ser%er"

I ha+ en1oye+ #y ti#e ba&' in Den%er for the holi+ays, espe&ially be&ase -e -ere able toet into 8hi##y0s syste#" Bt ti#e -as p6 I nee+e+ to pt that ran+ &ity behin+ #e an+ psh offfor #y ne=t +estination"

I -as still elate+ abot the s&&ess of the 8hi##y ha&'" Bt I -ol+ li%e to reret it" Thosefe- hors -ol+ e%entally lea+ to #y n+oin" I ha+ nleashe+ a ha&'er %iilante -ho -ol+ stopat nothin to et e%en -ith #e"



THIRT(4FOUR



Hiding in #he Bi7&e Be&#

Nv0 nte hyv +gs #) gaav )m)mwdi whd hyv =V'/g

3i*0doc 3ctcwd (vy+*v1 hycoi)

I#aine yorself in a strane &ity -here yo ha%e no &lose, trste+ frien+s" Yo a%oi+ the

other people in yor apart#ent bil+in be&ase yor photo has been pro#inently +isplaye+ insper#ar'et tabloi+s, an+ in -ee'ly ne-s#aa<ines" Yo0re bein hnte+ by the 2BI, the ."8"Marshals, an+ the 8e&ret 8er%i&e, so yo0re afrai+ of ettin too frien+ly -ith anyone" An+ yor

biest for# of entertain#ent is the %ery thin yo0re bein hnte+ for"Althoh I ha+n0t &onte+ on nee+in to lea%e 8eattle in a hrry, I ha+ been i%in so#e

thoht to -here I -ol+ o ne=t if I e%er ha+ to pll p sta'es" I ha+ &onsi+ere+ Astin be&ase it-as 'no-n for its te&hnoloy" An+ Manhattan be&ase it -as? -ell, Manhattan" Bt 1st as I ha++one -hen I &hose Den%er, I aain relie+ on Money #aa<ine0s annal assess#ent of the Ten BestCities in A#eri&a" That year, Raleih, North Carolina, -as liste+ as n#ber one" The +es&riptionson+e+ te#ptin6 the people -ere sppose+ to be pleasant an+ lai+:ba&', the srron+in arearral, -ith #ontains in the +istan&e"

2lyin ha+ al-ays stresse+ #e ot, so on&e aain I ha+ +e&i+e+ to ta'e the train" An+ it-ol+ be &ool to see -hat the rest of the &ontry loo'e+ li'e" After #y Christ#as stopo%er inDen%er an+ the rai+ on 8hi##y0s ser%ers I boar+e+ another A#tra' on Ne- Year0s E%e for thethree:+ay trip to Raleih, as Mi&hael 8tanfill" The sleeper &ar -as #ore e=pensi%e than flyin, bt-hat an eye:openin e=perien&e it trne+ ot to be, -at&hin the A#eri&an lan+s&ape roll past"

The people I #et on the train a%e #e a perfe&t opportnity to pra&ti&e #y &o%er story, pro%i+in +etails of #y life an+ ba&'ron+ as 8tanfill" By the ti#e I arri%e+ in North Carolina, Iha+ to ha%e #y i+entity +o-n pat"

The train plle+ into the Raleih station after +ar'" I ha+ hear+ so #&h abot the 8oth,ho- its &ltre an+ people -ere +ifferent, hoit #o%e+ at a slo-er pa&e" Maybe its reptation -asa re#nant of the 8oth of a lon ti#e ao" I -as &rios to fin+ ot for #yself"

That e%enin I -al'e+ aron+ the northern se&tion of Raleih, ettin a feelin for the &ity" Iha+ i#aine+ the 8oth -ol+ ha%e a -ar# an+ &o<y &li#ate; instea+ it felt as &ol+ as Den%er" The-inter te#peratres in Raleih, I -ol+ +is&o%er, -ere abot the sa#e as those in the Mile:/ihCity"

Bt as I -al'e+ aron+, ettin a sense of the pla&e, I spotte+ a restarant fa#iliar to #e,one of the Boston Mar'et &hain" Not e=a&tly 8othern, bt I -ent in for +inner any-ay"

My -aitress -as a &te t-entyso#ethin irl -ith lon, +ar' hair, a heart-ar#in s#ile,an+ one of those ls&ios 8othern +ra-ls I ha+n0t 'no-n really e=iste+ any#ore" 8he reete+ #e-ith a frien+ly, 3/i, ho-0re yoH4

Rea+in her na#e ta, I sai+, 3/ey, Cheryl, I0# +oin reat" I 1st arri%e+ in to-n!#y firstti#e in North Carolina"4 After she too' #y or+er, I sai+, 3I0# oin to be loo'in for an apart#ent"Maybe yo &an tell #e a oo+ part of to-n to settle in"4 8he s#ile+ an+ sai+ she0+ be riht ba&'"

When she ser%e+ #y foo+, she an+ a &ople of the other -aitresses sat +o-n to tal' -ith #e-hile I ate" I &ol+n0t i#aine that happenin in Los Aneles" Or 8eattle" Or e%en in otoinDen%er" The la+ies tol+ #e, 3We 1st -ant to 'eep yo &o#pany"4 I -as blo-n a-ay by #y first

taste of 8othern hospitality, frien+liness s-eeter than anythin I ha+ e%er en&ontere+" The irlstal'e+ p life in Raleih" They tol+ #e abot the +ifferent areas of to-n, -here to li%e, -hat to +o"It -as toba&&o:ro-in &ontry still, bt ha+ also one hih:te&h -ith the te&hnoloy &o#panies of



nearby Resear&h Trianle Par'" They -ere boosters for their &ity, an+ for so#e reason I interprete+that as a oo+ sin that this -as -here I nee+e+ to be"

Only a -ee' after #y arri%al, I fon+ a lo%ely apart#ent in north-estern Raleih, in anelaborate &o#ple= &alle+ 3The La'es,4 a sitable na#e sin&e its eihty:pls a&res in&l+e+shorelines on t-o separate la'es" The pla&e featre+ not 1st an Oly#pi&:si<e+ pool, tennis &orts,an+ ra&@etball &orts bt t-o %olleyball &orts6 the #anae#ent ha+ tr&'e+ in loa+s of san+ to

&reate a bea&hli'e settin" The La'es also featre+ parties e%ery -ee'en+ for all the resi+ents,+es&ribe+ to #e as li%ely, noisy affairs &ro-+e+ -ith lots of s#ilin 8othern beaties" Myapart#ent -as s#all, bt -ho &are+H I felt as if I -ere li%in a +rea#"

I stoppe+ by .:8a%e Ato Rental, a one:#an operation, the 'in+ of pla&e -here the o-nerta'es a har+ loo' at the people -ho &o#e in, as if he -ere thin'in that they #iht not be planninon brinin his &ar ba&'" /e &ast a +obtfl e=pression at #e, too, bt I respon+e+ -ith frien+ly,nhrrie+ &hat, an+ he -ar#e+ p"

3I0%e 1st been throh a hi+eos +i%or&e,4 I tol+ hi#" 3I &a#e to Raleih be&ase it0s a lon-ay fro# 5eas, yo 'no- -hat I #eanH4 This -as #y atte#pt to e=plain -hy I -ol+ be payinin &ash" As part of the a&t, I han+e+ hi# #y bsiness &ar+ for the &o#pany I ha+ sppose+ly -or'e+for in 5eas!the sa#e phony &o#pany I0+ &reate+ to et the la- fir# 1ob in Den%er"

By the ti#e I -as rea+y to &li#b into #y te#porary rattletrap, he let #e +ri%e a-ay -ithote%en &he&'in #y referen&es" I 'ept thin'in abot the last re#ainin step of the Motorola ha&'6 ettin hol+ of a&o#piler that -ol+ translate the sor&e &o+e into a for# the &ell:phone &hip &ol+ n+erstan+"/a%in the &o#piler -ol+ allo- #e to #a'e &hanes to the sor&e &o+e an+ &o#pile a ne-%ersion of the fir#-are that -ol+ shrin' #y %isibility!for e=a#ple, lettin #e tole on an+ offho- #y &ell phone &o##ni&ate+ -ith the #obile pro%i+er to +isable tra&'in, an+ a++infn&tions that -ol+ #a'e it easy to &hane the E8N fro# the &ell phone0s 'eypa+, so I &ol+ easily&lone #y phone to any other sbs&riber0s n#ber"

On&e I -as ba&' in the sa++le for this effort, a little resear&h sho-e+ #e that Motorola se+a &o#piler fro# a &o#pany &alle+ Inter#etri&s, -hi&h @i&'ly #a+e it to the top of #y list ofha&'in tarets" I i+entifie+ a &o#pter &alle+ 3bla&'hole"in#et"&o#4 that -as on Inter#etri&s0internal net-or', +ire&tly a&&essible fro# the Internet"

When I reali<e+ that the &o#pany0s syste#s -ere pat&he+ aainst all the latest se&rity%lnerabilities, I @i&'ly &hane+ ta&ti&s" Con%eniently, 3bla&'hole4 trne+ ot to be %lnerable tothe sa#e IP spoofin atta&' that >8[ an+ I ha+ se+ aainst 8hi##y"

When I ot into the syste#, I sa- that t-o syste# a+#inistrators -ere loe+ in an+apparently bsy at -or'" Rather than ris' bein +is&o%ere+ in &ase one of the# &he&'e+ the&rrently establishe+ net-or' &onne&tions, I loo'e+ for alternate -ays to a&&ess the &o#panyre#otely that -ol+ not be easily +ete&te+" Maybe I &ol+ fin+ a +ial:p n#ber an+ &onne&t o%er#y #o+e#"

In the files of one of the syste# a+#inistrators, Annie Oryell, I fon+ a file -ith a pro#isinna#e6 3#o+e#"4 Yes The file hel+ the te=t of an e#ail she ha+ sent to other e#ployees, infor#inthe# of the +ial:p n#bers" It rea+, in part6

We &rrently ha%e t-o +ial:in hnt rops" The 99*:*) rop &onsists of 9))bpsTelebit #o+e#s -hi&h &onne&t +ire&tly into the Anne= ter#inal ser%er" The 99*:9** hnt rophas ())bps [oo# #o+e#s -hi&h &rrently &onne&t to the ter#inal ser%er"

Bino6 399*:*)4 an+ 399*:9**4-ere the +ial:in n#bers I -as loo'in for" I &hane+the pass-or+ on -hat appeare+ to be a fe- +or#ant a&&onts on the Anne= ter#inal ser%er an++iale+ in to a%oi+ the ris' of bein +ete&te+ on any of the Internet:fa&in syste#s"

8yste# a+#inistrator Oryell appeare+ to se the host bla&'hole as her personal -or'station"I fire+ she -ol+ e%entally -ant root pri%ilees to perfor# an a+#inistrati%e tas' an+ -ol+ se

the .ni= s-it&h ser &o##an+, 3s,4 so I set p a -ay of &aptrin the root pass-or+ -hen she +i+"2or the te&hni&al rea+er6 sin the sor&e &o+e I ha+ obtaine+ fro# 8n Mi&rosyste#s, I a++e+so#e a++itional &o+e to the 3s4 prora# an+ re&o#pile+ it so -hen she s0e+ to root, it -ol+



se&retly lo her pass-or+ to a file hi++en on her -or'station"It -or'e+ 1st as I ha+ e=pe&te+" The root pass-or+ -as 3OM7na4 Oh #y 7o+!no

+i&tionary -or+s, an+ -ith the e=&la#ation #ar' thro-n in to #a'e essin it that #&h #ore+iffi&lt"

The sa#e root pass-or+ -or'e+ on e%ery other ser%er I trie+ it on" /a%in that pass-or+-as li'e ha%in the 'eys to the 'in+o#, at least for Inter#etri&s0 internal net-or'"

At this point, I loe+ in to 3in#et"&o#,4 -hi&h -as the &o#pany0s +o#ain se+ forre&ei%in e#ail fro# the otsi+e -orl+" I +o-nloa+e+ a &opy of the #aster pass-or+ file -hi&halso &ontaine+ the pass-or+ hashes so I &ol+ atte#pt to &ra&' all the pass-or+s offline"

No- I -as in position to sear&h e#ails loo'in for people -ho ha+ been in &onta&t -ithMotorola" My first lea+ -as an e#ail to an Inter#etri&s enineer na#e+ Marty 8tol<, -ho ha+re&ei%e+ a #essae fro# so#eone at Motorola e=plainin a proble# they -ere ha%in -ith the&o#piler" I ha&'e+ into 8tol<0s -or'station an+ e=a#ine+ his 3shell history,4 -hi&h sho-e+ a list of&o##an+s he ha+ pre%iosly type+" /e ha+ rn a parti&lar prora#, a 3shell s&ript4 &alle+3#a'epro+,4 -hi&h he ha+ se+ to bil+ &o#piler pro+&ts that the &o#pany +e%elope+" In this&ase, I -ante+ the 9/C** &o#piler so I &ol+ &o#pile the Motorola sor&e &o+e for theMi&roTAC .ltra Lite"

The enineer -ho -rote the s&ript ha+ also in&l+e+ +etaile+ &o##ents in his sor&e &o+ethat le+ #e to the lo&ation -here the soft-are +e%elopers 'ept the pro+&tion releases of theMotorola &hip &o#piler for %arios operatin syste# platfor#s"

Alon the -ay, I fon+ that Inter#etri&s -as pro+&in this &o#piler in %ersions for se%eral+ifferent O8 platfor#s, in&l+in Apollo, 8nO8, 5M8, an+ .ni=" Yet -hen I e=a#ine+ the ser%er-here all these &o#piler %ersions -ere sppose+ to be, not one of the# -as there" I spent horssear&hin other file ser%ers an+ +e%eloper -or'stations, bt the &o#pilers -eren0t there, either!notthe sor&e &o+e, nor the binaries" 8trane"

I &he&'e+ the 3aliases4 file, -hi&h liste+ -here in&o#in e#ails for parti&lar in+i%i+alsan+ -or'rops -ere to be for-ar+e+" By e=a#inin that file, I -as able to i+entify -hi&he#ployees -ere asso&iate+ -ith -hi&h +epart#ents, an+ fon+ the na#e of a &o#pany e#ployee inWashinton, Da%i+ Brton"

Ti#e for a little so&ial enineerin" I &alle+ Marty 8tol<, intro+&e+ #yself -ith Da%i+0sna#e, an+ sai+, 3I ha%e a #a1or &sto#er +e#o to#orro- #ornin, an+ I &an0t fin+ the &o#pilerfor the 9/C** on the ser%er that stores pro+&t releases" I0%e ot an ol+ %ersion, bt I nee+ thelatest %ersion"4

/e as'e+ #e a fe- @estions!-hat +epart#ent I -as in, #y lo&ation, the na#e of #y#anaer, an+ so on" Then he sai+, 3Listen, I0# oin to tell yo so#ethin, bt yo ha%e to 'eep ita se&ret"4

What &ol+ he be tal'in abotH 3I -on0t tell anybo+y,4

In a half -hisper, he sai+, 3The 2BI &alle+ s an+ tol+ s there0s a y -ho -ill probably betaretin s!a sperha&'er -ho bro'e into Motorola an+ stole their sor&e &o+e" They thin' thisy is onna -ant a &o#piler for the Motorola &o+e, an+ he0s onna taret s ne=t4

8o the 2e+s ha+ fire+ ot I0+ -ant the &o#piler, an+ they0+ &alle+ Inter#etri&s to hea+ #eoffH /ey, I ha+ to i%e the# so#e &re+it6 that -as oo+ thin'in"

3/e bro'e into the CIA an+ ot Le%el Three a&&ess,4 Marty -as tellin #e" 3Nobo+y &anstop this y /e0s al-ays one step ahea+ of the 2BI"4

3.nbelie%able!yo0re pttin #e on 8on+s li'e that 'i+ in &ar3ames"43Listen, the 2BI tol+ s -e better ta'e those &o#pilers offline, or he0ll et to the# for sre"4

I blin'e+" After I ot the Motorola &o+e, it ha+ ta'en #e a fe- +ays e%en to &o#e p -iththat i+ea" An+ the 2BI ha+ thoht of it before I +i+H That really was nbelie%able"

3>ee<, I nee+ to test #y +e#o toniht so I0ll be rea+y for #y &lient in the #ornin" What +oI +o no-H Is there any -ay I &ol+ et a &opy fro# yoH4

Marty thoht it o%er" 3Well? I0ll tell yo -hat,4 he sai+" 3I0ll pt the &o#piler on #y



-or'station 1st lon enoh for yo to et it"437reat" As soon as it0s p, I0ll transfer it to re#o%able #e+ia so it -on0t be on #y

-or'station either" Then I0ll &all yo ba&' to let yo 'no- I0# +one,4 I sai+" 3An+ MartyH43YeahH4

3I0ll 'eep it se&ret" I pro#ise"4 Marty a%e #e the hostna#e of his -or'station so I &ol+ se 2TP to transfer the file" To

#y srprise, he ha+ enable+ anony#os 2TP a&&ess so I +i+n0t e%en nee+ an a&&ont to et the files"Li'e ta'in &an+y fro# a baby"

As far as I 'no-, Marty ne%er 'ne- he -as +pe+ an+ -ill fin+ ot only if he rea+s it here" 8till hih fro# the s&&ess of ettin the &o#piler, I -o'e p to fin+ that #y phone -as+ea+" I0+ +one so#ethin really stpi+ that pt #y free+o# at ris'"

Not -illin to ris' #a'in bsiness &alls asso&iate+ -ith #y ne- i+entity fro# a &lone+ &ell phone, I ot +resse+ an+ -ent to the &losest pay phone an+ &alle+ the phone &o#pany, 8othernBell, to fin+ ot -hy #y phone -asn0t -or'in" After 'eepin #e -aitin for a lon ti#e, asper%isor &a#e on the line an+ bean as'in a lot of @estions" Then she tol+ #e, 3A Mi&hael8tanfill &alle+ s fro# Portlan+ an+ sai+ yo0re sin his i+entity"4

3That y #st be #ista'en,4 I tol+ her" 3I0ll fa= yo a &opy of #y +ri%er0s li&ense

to#orro- to pro%e #y i+entity"4 8++enly I reali<e+ -hat ha+ happene+" The Raleih po-er &o#pany, Carolina Po-er ULiht, re@ire+ a lare +eposit" If yo ha+ referen&es fro# yor for#er tility &o#pany, yo &ol+a%oi+ payin it, so I0+ &alle+ the po-er &o#pany that Mi&hael 8tanfill se+ in Oreon!Portlan+7eneral Ele&tri&!an+ as'e+ for a referen&e letter to be fa=e+" I tol+ the la+y on the other en+ of theline that I still -ante+ to 'eep #y a&&ont in Oreon bt -as byin property in Raleih" Whenthey sent the letter to #e, they ha+ apparently sent a &ortesy &opy to the rea 8tanfill, as -ell" I feltli'e a total i+iot6 by tryin to sa%e a )) +eposit, I0+ &o#pletely blo-n #y &o%er"

I ha+ to #o%e now"I ha+ to et a ne- i+entity now"I ha+ to et the hell ot of #y apart#ent now5

I0+ ne%er e%en ha+ a &han&e to atten+ one of those all:resi+ents0 parties or #anae+ to #eeta &te irl" 2in+in a 1ob ha+ of &orse been one of #y first priorities" I0+ #aile+ ot 1ob rVs#Vs an+&o%er letters as Mi&hael 8tanfill to #ore than t-enty pla&es!#ost of the potential e#ployers in thearea" No-, -ith #y phone +is&onne&te+, none of these prospe&ti%e e#ployers -ol+ be able torea&h #e Worse, it -ol+ be too ris'y to try the sa#e pla&es aain n+er a +ifferent na#e" This pt#e at an e=tre#e +isa+%antae"

I0+ sine+ a si=:#onth lease, so I tol+ the ron+:fa&e+ la+y in the rental offi&e, 3I really li'ethis pla&e, bt I0%e ha+ a fa#ily #e+i&al e#eren&y an+ ha%e to lea%e"4

8he sai+, 3If it0s an e#eren&y, the &o#pany -ill let yo ot of the lease" Bt they aren0t

oin to refn+ yo anythin on this #onth0s rent"4 I felt li'e sayin, 32oret the refn+, &onsi+er ita payoff, an+ if the 2e+s sho- p as'in @estions, I -as ne%er here"4The ne=t +ay, I too' a ne- pla&e a&ross to-n at the 2rien+ship Inn to li%e in -hile I sear&he+

for a ne- apart#ent" E%en -ith #y relati%ely fe- possessions, it too' #e se%eral frstratin, ner%e:ra&'in trips in #y &o#pa&t rental &ar to #o%e e%erythin to #y ne- te#porary +is" The pressreof ha%in to fin+ a ne- 1ob an+ bil+ a ne- i+entity -as -eihin on #e"

Little +i+ I 'no- that I ha+ bier thins to -orry abot" I &ol+n0t bein to i#aine ho-the net -as beinnin to &lose aron+ #e"

After settlin in at the 2rien+ship Inn, sin #y Portlan+ 8tate .ni%ersity file, I &hoseanother te#porary na#e6 7lenn Tho#as Case" 8in&e he, li'e 8tanfill, -as a li%in person an+ soris'ier to borro- an i+entity fro#, I +e&i+e+ to o by 37" Tho#as Case4 to &hane thins p a bit"

Three +ays later, the &ertifie+ birth &ertifi&ate I ha+ re@este+ arri%e+ in #y ne-ly rente+#ailbo=" I -ent to the DM5 an+ -al'e+ ot -ith #y ne- North Carolina learner0s per#it, bt Istill ha+ a lot of -or' ahea+ of #e to se&re the other for#s of ID I -ol+ nee+"



The +ay after ettin #y learner0s per#it, I fon+ a st+io apart#ent in a &o#ple= &alle+ thePlayers Clb, -hi&h -as sitable bt no-here near as appealin as #y pre%ios pla&e" It -as s#all

bt &o<y; I +i+n0t ha%e the l=ry of bein pi&'y" The rent -as J*) a #onth, #eanin I ha+ si=#onths before #y #oney -ol+ rn ot" Pro%i+e+ I +i+n0t ha%e too #&h troble fin+in a 1ob, it-as an a&&eptable ris'"

Aron+ the sa#e ti#e, the ne-spapers -ere &arryin ne- stories abot ha&'er $e%in

Polsen" /e ha+ been transferre+ fro# &sto+y in Northern California an+ -as bein hel+ in a pla&eall too fa#iliar to #e6 the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Aneles" /e -as bein &hare+-ith ha&'in offenses an+ atherin national +efense infor#ation, an espionae:relate+ offense"

I -as +eter#ine+ to tal' to hi#!an a#bition in 'eepin -ith #y lifelon pen&hant fors&he#in to a&&o#plish the i#possible" I li'e+ nothin better than to set #yself a &hallene that I+i+n0t thin' &ol+ be +one, then see if I &ol+ +o it"

5isitin Polsen -as ob%iosly ot of the @estion" 2or #e, the Metropolitan DetentionCenter -as li'e the /otel California in the ol+ Eales son6 I &ol+ &he&' ot anyti#e I -ante+, btI &ol+ ne%er lea%e"

My &on%ersations -ith hi# -ol+ ha%e to be by phone" Bt in#ates &ol+n0t re&ei%e &alls,an+ besi+es, all in#ate &alls are #onitore+ or re&or+e+" 7i%en the &hares Polsen -as fa&in, the

prison staff ha+ li'ely flae+ hi# as hih ris' an+ -ere 'eepin hi# &losely #onitore+"Sti , I tol+ #yself, there/s aways a way"Ea&h hosin nit at the MDC ha+ a 3Pbli& Defen+er0s phone,4 a telephone -ith -hat the

phone &o#panies &all 3+ire&t:&onne&t4 ser%i&e6 -hen an in#ate pi&'e+ p the han+set, he -ol+ be&onne&te+ +ire&tly to the 2e+eral Pbli& Defen+er0s Offi&e" I 'ne- these -ere the only phonesa%ailable to prisoners that -eren0t sb1e&t to #onitorin!be&ase of attorney:&lient pri%ilee" Btthey -ere also prora##e+ at the phone &o#pany s-it&h so that they &ol+n0t be se+ forin&o#in &alls 3+eny ter#inate,4 in tel&o lino, an+ &ol+n0t &onne&t to any n#bers other thanthe #ain telephone n#ber at the Pbli& Defen+er0s Offi&e" I0+ &ross that bri+e -hen I &a#e to it"

2irst I nee+e+ to et the n#bers" It too' #e only t-enty #intes to so&ial:enineer Pa&ifi&Bell an+ learn the ten +ire&t:&onne&t ser%i&e n#bers -or'in in the prison"

Ne=t I &alle+ the Re&ent Chane Me#ory Athori<ation Center 3RCMAC4" I sai+ I -as&allin fro# Pa&ifi& Bell0s bsiness offi&e an+ re@este+ that 3+eny ter#inate4 be i##e+iatelyre#o%e+ fro# those ten n#bers" The RCMAC &ler' la+ly &o#plie+"

Then, ta'in a +eep breath, I &alle+ the Re&ei%in an+ Dis&hare Offi&e at the prison itself" 3This is .nit Manaer Taylor at Ter#inal Islan+,4 I sai+, tryin to son+ li'e a bore+,frstrate+ prison +rone" .sin the na#e of the Brea of Prisons0 #ain &o#pter syste# alon -ithPolsen0s in#ate reistration n#ber, I -ent on" 38entry is +o-n here" Can yo loo' p re n#berJJ9:)*( for #eH4

When the y at the prison loo'e+ p Polsen0s n#ber, I as'e+ -hat hosin nit he -asin" 38i= 8oth,4 he sai+"

That narro-e+ it +o-n, bt I still +i+n0t 'no- -hi&h of the ten phone n#bers -as lo&ate+on 8i= 8oth" On #y #i&ro&assette player, I re&or+e+ a #inte or so of the rinin son+ that yo hear onthe phone -hen yo &all so#eone" This -ol+ only -or' if an in#ate pi&'e+ p the phone to &allhis pbli& +efen+er +rin those t-o or three #intes -hen I -as &allin into the phone" I -ol+ha%e to try #any, #any ti#es before so#eone pi&'e+ p" Another of those ti#es -hen it helpe+ to

be patient an+ +oe+ly +eter#ine+"When I hit it 1st riht an+ an in#ate pi&'e+ p the re&ei%er, I0+ let hi# hear a fe- rins on

#y #i&ro&assette player, then I0+ stop the rinin an+ say, 3Pbli& Defen+er0s Offi&e, #ay I helpyoH4

When the in#ate as'e+ for his la-yer, I0+ say, 3I0ll see if he0s a%ailable,4 then preten+ to o

off the line for a #inte" I0+ &o#e ba&' on, tell hi# his attorney -asn0t in at the #o#ent, an+ as'his na#e" Then, non&halantly, as if I -ere ta'in +o-n all the rele%ant infor#ation, I0+ as', 3An+-hat hosin nit are yo inH4



Then I0+ say, 3Try &allin ba&' in an hor or t-o,4 so no one -ol+ noti&e that a lot of pbli& +efen+ers ne%er see#e+ to et their #essaes" Ea&h ti#e an in#ate +i+ ans-er, I -as able toi+entify another hosin nit an+ ta'e that n#ber off #y list" >ottin +o-n the +etails on anotepa+, I -as slo-ly &onstr&tin a #ap of -hi&h phone n#bers &onne&te+ to -hi&h in#atehosin nits" At last, after se%eral +ays of +ialin phone n#bers, I rea&he+ an in#ate on 8i=8oth"

I re#e#bere+ the internal e=tension for 8i= 8oth fro# -hen I -as in solitary &onfine#entat MDC" A#on the thins I ha+ +one +rin that ti#e to 'eep #y #in+ a&ti%e an+ preser%e #ysanity -as to listen to annon&e#ents o%er the prison0s PA syste# an+ store in #y #e#ory e%ery

phone e=tension I hear+" If an annon&e#ent sai+, 3C"O" Dolas, &all .nit Manaer Chap#an on(K,4 I0+ #a'e a #ental note of the na#e an+ n#ber" As I0%e sai+, I see# to ha%e an n&anny#e#ory for phone n#bers" E%en to+ay, years later, I still 'no- @ite a fe- of the phone n#bersat that prison, as -ell as #any +o<ens, perhaps hn+re+s, of n#bers for frien+s, phone &o#panyoffi&es, an+ others that I0ll probably ne%er ha%e any se for aain bt that -ere seare+ into #y brainany-ay"

What I nee+e+ to +o ne=t see#e+ i#possible" I ha+ to fin+ a -ay to &all the prison itself an+#a'e arrane#ents for a phone &all -ith $e%in Polsen that -ol+ not be #onitore+"

/ere0s ho- I -ent abot it6 I &alle+ the #ain n#ber of the prison, i+entifie+ #yself as 3anit #anaer at TI4 Ter#inal Islan+ 2e+eral Prison, an+ as'e+ for e=tension 99, the n#ber tothe 8i= 8oth ar+" The operator pt #e throh"

A ar+ ans-ere+, 38i= 8oth, Aee"4 I 'ne- this y fro# -hen I ha+ been a prisoner there #yself" /e ha+ one ot of his -ayto #a'e #y life #iserable" Bt I ha+ to 'eep #y aner in &he&'" I sai+, 3This is Mar&s, in R an+D,4 #eanin Re&ei%in an+ Dis&hare" 3Do yo ha%e In#ate Polsen thereH4

3Yeah"4 3We ha%e so#e personal property of his that -e -anna et ot of here" I nee+ to fin+ ot-here he -ants it shippe+"4 3 2o*sen54 the ar+ s&rea#e+, #&h lo+er than ne&essary"

When $e%in &a#e on the line, I sai+, 3$e%in, a&t li'e yo0re tal'in to so#eone in R an+D"4 3Yeah,4 he sai+ in a &o#pletely flat tone" 3This is $e%in,4 I sai+" We ha+ ne%er #et, bt I 'ne- hi# by reptation an+ fire+ he0+'no- abot #e the sa#e -ay" An+ I fire+ he0+ 'no- there -asn0t any other $e%in -ho &ol+ be&allin hi# in prison

I tol+ hi#, 3Be at the Pbli& Defen+er0s phone at e=a&tly one o0&lo&'" Pi&' p the phone, bt'eep flashin the s-it&h hoo' e%ery fifteen se&on+s ntil I &onne&t"4 8in&e the riner -as trne+all the -ay +o-n, he -ol+n0t 'no- the e=a&t #o#ent -hen I -ol+ be &allin in" 3No-, i%e #eyor ho#e a++ress so Aee hears it" I tol+ hi# I -as shippin yor property there"4 After all the

troble Aee ha+ &ase+ #e, it -as s-eet to ha%e tri&'e+ hi# into ettin Polsen on the line"At e=a&tly one o0&lo&', I &alle+ the Pbli& Defen+er0s phone in 8i= 8oth" Be&ase Polsenha+n0t sai+ #&h in the first &all an+ I -asn0t fa#iliar -ith his %oi&e, I -ante+ to be sre I -asreally tal'in to hi# -hen I &alle+ ba&', so I teste+ hi#" 3In C, i%e #e a synta= for in&re#entin a%ariable"4

/e easily a%e the &orre&t ans-er, an+ -e &hatte+ at leisre, free fro# any &on&erns abot2e+eral aents listenin to or &on%ersation" I -as a#se+ to thin' that as I -as e%a+in the 2e+s, I-as also ha&'in into a prison to spea' to an in#ate &hare+ -ith espionae"

On >anary (K, a l&'y brea' pro%i+e+ 8hi##y an+ his tea# -ith the first stran+ of the netthey -ol+ -ea%e in the hope of &losin in on #e" The Well ha+ an ato#ate+ 3+is' ho4 prora#that -ol+ perio+i&ally sen+ e#ails to sers -ho -ere sin a lot of +is' spa&e" One of these

#essaes -ent to Br&e $oball, -ho ha+ a role in stain an annal pbli&:poli&y e%ent &alle+ theCo#pters, 2ree+o# an+ Pri%a&y Conferen&e C2P"

The e#ail #essae note+ that the &onferen&e0s a&&ont -as ta'in p #ore than *J)



#eabytes on the Well0s ser%ers" $oball &he&'e+ the a&&ont an+ +is&o%ere+ that none of the files belone+ to C2P" Loo'in at files that &ontaine+ e#ails, he sa- that all -ere a++resse+ totsto#]s+s&"&o#"

That niht $oball loo'e+ at his ne=t:+ay e+ition of the New York 'imes an+ sa- a pae:onestory in the Bsiness se&tion by >ohn Mar'off, n+er the hea+line 3Ta'in a Co#pter Cri#e to/eart"4 The story in&l+e+ this6

It -as as if the thie%es, to pro%e their pro-ess, ha+ brlari<e+ the lo&'s#ith" Whi&h -as-hy Tsto# 8hi#o#ra, the 'eeper of the 'eys in this &ase, -as ta'in the brea':in as a personalaffront!an+ -hy he &onsi+ers sol%in the &ri#e a #atter of honor"

Mr" 8hi#o#ra, one of the &ontry0s #ost s'ille+ &o#pter se&rity e=perts, -as the person-ho pro#pte+ a 7o%ern#ent &o#pter aen&y to isse a &hillin -arnin on Mon+ay" .n'no-nintr+ers, the aen&y -arne+, ha+ se+ a sophisti&ate+ brea':in te&hni@e to steal files fro# Mr"8hi#o#ra0s o-n -ell:ar+e+ &o#pter in his ho#e near 8an Dieo"

The ne=t +ay, $oball phone+ Mar'off, -ho pt hi# in to&h -ith 8hi##y" It +i+n0t ta'elon to &onfir# that #ost of the #ysterios files store+ in the C2P a&&ont -ere fro# the Christ#asDay atta&' on 8hi##y0s &o#pters" This -as his first bi brea'" No- he ha+ a lea+ to follo-"

Aron+ this sa#e ti#e, #y &osin Mar' Mitni&', -ho# I ha+ be&o#e &lose to, -as oin to

be %a&ationin at /ilton /ea+, 8oth Carolina, -ith his father" Mar' in%ite+ #e to 1oin the#"Mar' -as rnnin a &o#pany in 8a&ra#ento &alle+ A+ Wor's, an+ ha+ offere+ to help #e

et set p on the East Coast sin the sa#e bsiness #o+el" /e pro%i+e+ bsinesses li'e #a1orsper#ar'ets -ith free &ash:reister tape, -hi&h -as printe+ on the ba&' -ith a+s; Mar' earne+ his#oney by fin+in &o#panies that -ol+ pay to ha%e their a+s on the ba&' of the tape" I nee+e+ astea+y in&o#e, an+ the i+ea of ha%in #y &osin Mar' help #e et starte+ in #y o-n bsinessson+e+ %ery attra&ti%e, e%en thoh it -asn0t &o#pter:relate+"

We #et in Raleih an+ +ro%e throh se%eral &ities on or -ay to /ilton /ea+ so he &ol+#a'e a n#ber of sales &alls" /e in%ite+ #e alon to tea&h #e the bsiness" I li'e+ the i+ea ofal-ays bein on the #o%e be&ase it -ol+ #a'e #e har+er to fin+"

I -ol+ ha%e en1oye+ or trip #ore if it ha+n0t been for an ite# that trne+ p +rin one of#y rotine online &he&'s for any in+i&ation that the 2e+s -ere ettin &loser to #e" There -erestories all o%er the #e+ia abot a press release 1st isse+ by the ."8" Depart#ent of >sti&e" Thetitle of one story -as, 3."8" /nts Master Co#pter Cra&'er"4 In part, it rea+6

WA8/IN7TON, DC, ."8"A", *J >AN (9 NB!The ."8" Marshals 8er%i&e is on thetrail of a &o#pter ha&'er -ho +isappeare+ after bein &on%i&te+ of one ele&troni& &ri#e an+&hare+ -ith another" Athorities say they are tryin to lo&ate $e%in Da%i+ Mitni&', *, oriinallyfro# 8epl%e+a, California" Depty ."8" Marshal $athleen Cnninha# tol+ Ne-sbytes theMarshals 8er%i&e ha+ a probation %iolation -arrant for Mitni&' sin&e No%e#ber *(, an+ al#ost&aht p -ith hi# in 8eattle last O&tober" Cnninha# sai+ Mitni&' is a ha# ra+io enthsiast an+is belie%e+ to se a s&anner to 'eep tra&' of poli&e in the area -here he is hi+in" 3Lo&al poli&eS

+i+n0t se ra+io se&rity so as soon as his a++ress -as #entione+ he -as ot of there" /e 1st lefte%erythin"4 Mitni&' is &onsi+ere+ an e=pert at ainin &ontrol of &o#pters to #onitor or se&o##ni&ations syste#s an+ 'no-s ho- to #anfa&tre false i+entities sin &o#pters"

This hit #e li'e a ton of bri&'s" I -as srprise+, sho&'e+, an+ in near pani&" The 2e+s an+the #e+ia ha+ trne+ a sper%ise+ release %iolation into a lobal #anhnt" I &ol+n0t lea%e the&ontry e%en if I0+ -ante+ to!I sspe&te+ that the 2e+s #st ha%e alrea+y as'e+ Interpol to isse a3Re+ Noti&e4 lan&hin a lobal -at&h for #e" An+ #y only passport, -hi&h I ha+ stashe+ a-ay,nse+, -as in the Mitni&' na#e"

When Mar' an+ his +a+ retrne+ to the hotel fro# playin olf, I sho-e+ the# the ne-sstory" Both loo'e+ sho&'e+" I -as -orrie+ I ha+ +one the -ron thin in sho-in it to the#, afrai+they -ol+ tell #e I ha+ to lea%e be&ase #y presen&e &ol+ pt the# at ris'" 2ortnately, they

ne%er #entione+ the sb1e&t bt #y paranoia ha+ been +ri%en p a fe- not&hes" The heat -as beintrne+ p on fin+in #e" Di+ the 2e+s sspe&t I -as the one -ho ha+ ha&'e+ 8hi##yH

On >anary (, 8per Bo-l 8n+ay, the 8an 2ran&is&o ers -ere playin the 8an Dieo



Charers" Mar' an+ his +a+ -ere e=&ite+ abot -at&hin the a#e, bt I &ol+n0t ha%e &are+ less" Iha+ a lot on #y #in+ an+ 1st -ante+ to rela=" Rather than oin ba&' to the roo# for so#e #oreonline a&ti%ities, I +e&i+e+ to ta'e a -al' on the bea&h to et a breath of fresh air"

I +e&i+e+ to i%e >on Litt#an a &all" 3I0# -al'in on the bea&h here an+ rela=in,4 I tol+hi#" 3On the bea&hH Are yo really on the bea&hH4

3Yeah, I0ll let yo o" I0# sre yo0re ettin rea+y to -at&h the a#e"4 Litt#an tol+ #e the a#e ha+n0t starte+ yet" /e as'e+, 3What +o the -a%es loo' li'eH4 Why -ol+ he as' #e s&h a stpi+ @estionH I -asn0t oin to tell hi# the srf &on+itionsan+ i%e hi# a &le to #y &rrent lo&ation"

I sai+, 3I &an0t tell yo, bt yo &an listen to the#,4 an+ hel+ the &ell phone p in the air" I as'e+ if he0+ hear+ abot the ."8" Marshals0 .PI press release as'in for the pbli&0s helpin fin+in #e" I &o#plaine+ that there -as a lot of bllshit in the arti&le, in&l+in the sa#e ol+Mar'off #yth that I ha+ ha&'e+ NORAD"

Litt#an as'e+ if I0+ rea+ Mar'off0s story of the pre%ios +ay" When I sai+ I ha+n0t, he rea+it to #e o%er the phone, I sppose listenin to ae #y rea&tion" I pointe+ ot that the ."8"Marshals0 plea for help ha+ been pblishe+ the +ay after Mar'off bro'e the story abot 8hi##y0s

Christ#as Day atta&'" It +i+n0t feel li'e a &oin&i+en&e to #e" 3It felt li'e part of a planne+ strateyto le%erae the pbli&0s fears abot &yberspa&e aainst #e,4 I tol+ hi#"

3Mar'off has been as'in @estions abot yo,4 Litt#an sai+" 3An+ he thin's he 'no-s-here yo0re hi+in"4 I presse+ hi# to tell #e #ore, bt he -ol+n0t b+e" I &hane+ ta&ti&s an+as'e+ hi# to ta'e his o-n ess abot -here I #iht be"

3Are yo li%in so#e-here in the Mi+-estH4 /appily, he -as -ay off" Yet it appeare+ that Mar'off ha+ so#e infor#ation that -asi#portant to #e, an+ I nee+e+ to thin' abot fin+in ot ho- #&h he 'ne-"

A fe- +ays later, it o&&rre+ to #e that if the 2e+s -ere tryin that har+ to tra&' #e +o-n,they #iht ha%e tappe+ #y ran+#other0s phone in Las 5eas" That -as -hat I -ol+0%e +one"

Centel0s Line Assin#ent 7rop ha+ infor#ation abot e%ery phone line in Las 5eas" I'ne- the n#ber off the top of #y hea+" Posin as a te&hni&ian in the fiel+, I as'e+ one of the&ler's to pll p #y ran+#other0s telephone n#ber on her &o#pter" I as'e+ her to rea+ #e the3&ablin infor#ation,4 an+ as I0+ sspe&te+, there -as 3spe&ial e@ip#ent4 re&ently &onne&te+ toher line"

The &ler' sai+ the or+er ha+ been pla&e+ a fe- +ays earlier by a Centel se&rity aent na#e+8al L&a" I felt li'e trnin the tables on L&a by tappin his line, bt I 'ne- it -ol+n0t yiel+ any%alable infor#ation" My ne=t thoht -as to fee+ #y prsers +isinfor#ation by &allin #yran+#other -ith so#e &o&':an+:bll story that I -as in the 7reat White North" Bt I +i+n0t -antto pt her n+er any #ore stress than she -as alrea+y +ealin -ith"

While I -as thin'in o%er #y ne=t #o%e, I ha+ to &ontine bil+in #y ne- i+entity" On

2ebrary (, I ha+ an appoint#ent to ta'e the +ri%in test to pra+e #y learner0s per#it to a+ri%er0s li&ense n+er #y 7" Tho#as Case i+entity" To +o that, thoh, I -ol+ nee+ to fin+ a &arthat +i+n0t ha%e any &onne&tion to any of #y past na#es"

I haile+ a &ab" 3/ey, yo -anna #a'e an easy hn+re+ b&'sH4 I as'e+ the +ri%er" /erespon+e+ -ith a rin that re%eale+ his #issin teeth an+ ans-ere+ -ith so#ethin that son+e+li'e 3Tee', tee'h4 follo-e+ by 38re, o'ay"4 The forein -or+s trne+ ot to be /in+i for #ore orless the sa#e thin" Da#n, I shol+ ha%e offere+ hi# fifty instea+ We aree+ that he -ol+ pi&'#e p the ne=t +ay, an+ he a%e #e his paer n#ber"

At the DM5 the follo-in +ay, -hen the e=a#iner reali<e+ I -as oin to ta'e the test in a&ab, he tosse+ #e a sspi&ios loo'" We ot in an+ I pt +o-n the fla, tellin hi#, 3I0# oin toha%e to &hare yo for the ri+e"4 The e=pression on his fa&e -as pri&eless" When he sa- I -as

lahin, he lahe+, too, an+ -e ot off to a reat start"



THIRT(4FIVE



Ga5e O*e

B ' & > 7 HC HC 2 HC V H% & HA H HG HE 7 & HD HH H HE

V HC HD & " 7 H% 7 & H! H% V > 7 Y & H! HG & " H V

H! & V HA V H% H! H9 7 HE H! & > HG H9 HA HC 7 S "

By Tes+ay, 2ebrary K, a posse -as bein for#e+ to &at&h #e" Assistant ."8" Attorney

$ent Wal'er no- steppe+ into the &ase, #eetin -ith 8hi##y an+ his irlfrien+ >lia Menapa&e,8hi##y0s assistant An+re- 7ross, t-o 2BI aents, an+ the Well0s %i&e presi+ent an+ syste#a+#inistrator, as -ell as its attorney, >ohn Men+e<, -ho ha+ so#e spe&ial &lot in the roo# sin&e heha+ pre%iosly been -ith the ."8" Attorney0s Offi&e an+ ha+ been Wal'er0s boss"

Wal'er -as base+ in Northern California an+ ha+ no pre%ios &onne&tion to #y &ase, an+a&&or+in to the re&or+, -ol+ be ben+in rles an+ &rossin so#e lines to i%e 8hi##y ane=traor+inary role throh the follo-in +ays" It -as li'e so#e Wil+ West posse of ol+, -here the."8" Marshal +epti<e+ &i%ilians to assist hi# in tra&'in +o-n a -ante+ #an"

Apparently Wal'er #a+e a se&ret arrane#ent to pro%i+e 8hi##y -ith &onfi+ential trap:an+:tra&e infor#ation, as -ell as &onfi+ential infor#ation fro# the 2BI files on #e" 8hi##y &ol+inter&ept #y &o##ni&ations -ithot a -arrant, n+er the pretense that he -as not assistin theo%ern#ent bt rather -or'in only for the Internet ser%i&e pro%i+ers" The 2e+s -ol+ ne%er&hare #e -ith ha&'in 8hi#o#ra; I belie%e this -as be&ase they &ol+n0t affor+ to e=pose theirross #is&on+&t, -hi&h appeare+ to %iolate 2e+eral -iretappin stattes"

It see#s 8hi##y appeare+ to be pt in &hare of the in%estiation as a +e fa&to o%ern#ent

aent" This -as npre&e+ente+" Perhaps the 2e+s fire+ they -ol+ ne%er fin+ #e -ithot8hi##y0s %iilante persisten&e"

My &on%ersation -ith Litt#an 'ept nain at #e" After tal'in to Mar'off, Litt#anthoht he 'ne- -hat part of the &ontry I -as in" It -as ti#e for #e to et a&&ess to Mar'off0se#ail an+ fin+ ot -hat he 'ne-"

Tra&in the path -as si#ple6 all e#ails a++resse+ to his 3nyt"&o#4 a++ress -ere sent toInterne=, a s#all Internet ser%i&e pro%i+er in Northern California" After probin the Interne= 8olarisser%er for a fe- #intes, I sihe+ -ith relief" The i+iot a+#inistratin the syste# e=porte+e%eryone0s ho#e +ire&tory sin 8n0s Net-or' 2ile 8yste# to e%eryone on the Internet, #eaninI &ol+ re#otely #ont any ser0s ho#e +ire&tory!that is, #a'e the entire +ire&tory a&&essible to#y lo&al syste#" I ploa+e+ a "rhosts file to a ser0s +ire&tory!-hi&h I &onfire+ to trst any ser&onne&tin in fro# any host, #eanin I -as able to lo in to his or her a&&ont -ithot nee+in a

pass-or+" On&e loe+ in, I -as able to e=ploit another %lnerability to ain root a&&ess" It too' atotal of ten #intes" I al#ost -ante+ to sen+ the syste# a+#in a than':yo letter for lea%in thesyste# -i+e open"

>st that easily, I ha+ a&&ess to Mar'off0s e#ails" .nfortnately, he ha+ set p his e#ail&lient soft-are to +elete the #essaes after he retrie%e+ the#" 8e%eral #essaes ha+ been left on theser%er, bt they +i+n0t &ontain any infor#ation relate+ to #e"

I a++e+ a little &onfiration &hane so any ne- e#ail sent to Mar'off -ol+ also befor-ar+e+ to another e#ail a++ress n+er #y &ontrol" I -as hopin to n&o%er his sor&es!people-ho #iht ha%e tol+ hi# -here they thoht I -as" I -as also eaer to fin+ ot #ore abot the

e=tent of his in%ol%e#ent in #y &ase"While I -as +oin this, I later learne+, 8hi##y an+ his tea# -ere -at&hin" They ha+ been passi%ely #onitorin in&o#in net-or' traffi& at both the Well an+ Net&o#" It -as a %ery easy



thin to pll off be&ase the Internet ser%i&e pro%i+ers ha+ i%en his tea# fll a&&ess to theirnet-or's"

After settin p sr%eillan&e at Net&o# aron+ 2ebrary K, 8hi##y as'e+ one of thenet-or' a+#ins to sear&h the syste# a&&ontin re&or+s of Net&o#, loo'in for any sers -ho ha+

been loe+ in at ti#es -hen the Well0s a&&onts -ere bein illi&itly a&&esse+ by so#e ser at Net&o#" The a+#in sear&he+ throh the a&&ontin re&or+s by #at&hin the lo:ins an+ lo:ots

that ha+ o&&rre+ +rin the intrsions, an+ -as e%entally able to tra&' +o-n one of the a&&ontsa&&essin the Well fro# Net&o#0s net-or'" It -as the 3're#en4 a&&ont, an+ it -as #ostly beinse+ to +ial in to Net&o# throh the &o#pany0s #o+e#s in Den%er an+ Raleih"

The ne=t +ay, -hen I -as sear&hin Mar'off0s e#ail for anythin relate+ to #e, I ran asear&h for the strin 3itni4 sin&e sear&hin for the na#e 3Mitni&'4 -ol+ ha%e been a +ea+i%ea-ay" Bt 8hi##y an+ his tea# -ere -at&hin #e in real ti#e, an+ -hen they sa- thissear&h, it &onfir#e+ their sspi&ions that I -as their intr+er"

8hi##y &onta&te+ $ent Wal'er an+ let hi# 'no- that the intr+er -as &o#in in throh+ial:p #o+e#s in Den%er an+ Raleih" 8hi##y as'e+ Wal'er to pt a trap:an+:tra&e on the +ial:p n#ber to Net&o# in Den%er that I ha+ been sin" This -as, aain, a %ery nsal re@est fora &i%ilian to #a'e of an assistant ."8" attorney6 or+inarily, only la- enfor&e#ent aen&ies #a'e

s&h re@ests"Wal'er &onta&te+ the 2BI in Den%er, an+ Den%er &he&'e+ -ith the Los Aneles 2BI offi&e

for an o'ay" Bt the LA offi&e -ante+ Den%er to stay ot of it" Instea+, in -hat son+s li'e an intra:aen&y trf -ar, an aent at the LA offi&e tol+ the people in Den%er they -ere not to assist -ithsettin p a trap:an+:tra&e" They all -ante+ a pie&e of #e" If I0+ 'no-n abot the s@abblin at theti#e, I #iht ha%e been able to se it to #y a+%antae"

As soon as 3're#en4 loe+ on fro# Raleih, 8hi##y0s tea# as'e+ an 2BI aent to&onta&t 7eneral Telephone, the telephone &o#pany that pro%isione+ Net&o#0s +ial:p n#bers inResear&h Trianle Par', an+ re@est that the &all be tra&e+ in real ti#e" After a &ople of atte#pts,7eneral Telephone0s te&hni&ians &o#plete+ a s&&essfl tra&e" They passe+ on the n#ber to the2BI an+ a+%ise+ that it -as oriinatin fro# 8print0s &elllar net-or'"

Bt this -asn0t infor#ation that -ol+ lea+ #y prsers any-here" To pro%i+e an e=tralayer of prote&tion, I ha+ pre%iosly set p -hat I &all a 3&t:ot n#ber"4 The first part of thisin%ol%e+ ha&'in into a phone &o#pany s-it&h, fin+in an nse+ phone n#ber, an+ a++in &allfor-ar+in to the line" Then I set a +ifferent billin n#ber in the s-it&h so any &alls pla&e+ fro#that n#ber -ol+ appear to be oriinatin fro# the billin n#ber rather than the a&tal n#ber"WhyH I ha+ +is&o%ere+ a fla- in the s-it&h soft-are6 it -ol+ so#eti#es report not the a&tal

phone n#ber that a &all -as oriinatin fro#, bt the iing n#ber" 8o if phone &o#pany te&hstrie+ to tra&e so#e of #y &alls, they #iht not i##e+iately +is&o%er #y &t:ot n#ber!then#ber I -as rotin #y &alls throh!bt instea+ -ol+ &o#e p -ith a phone n#ber assine+to so#e ran+o# &sto#er I &hose" I 'ne- that so#e s-it&h te&hni&ians -ere not e%en a-are that a

tra&e #iht report the billin n#ber, -hi&h a%e #e an e=traor+inary e=tra le%el of prote&tion" Inany &ase, in #y e=perien&e, the phone &o#panies ne%er &aht on to #y sin a &t:ot n#ber to#a'e it har+er to tra&e -here #y &alls -ere oriinatin fro#, be&ase it ne%er o&&rre+ to the# thatso#eone #iht ha%e ha&'e+ into their s-it&h"

8e%eral -ee's earlier, >8[ ha+ set p an a&&ont for #e on 3es&ape"&o#4 -hi&h -as o-ne+ by his b++y Ra#on $a<an so the t-o of s &ol+ &o##ni&ate +ire&tly throh that syste#" Thisha+ be&o#e another of #any entry points I se+ to &onne&t to the Internet" 8in&e I ha+ root a&&ess, Ialso stashe+ n#eros ha&'in tools, e=ploits, an+ sor&e &o+e fro# %arios &o#panies I ha+re&ently been ha&'in into" My a&&ont on es&ape"&o# -as na#e+ 3#arty,4 after the &hara&ter inthe #o%ie Sneakers"

Whene%er I loe+ in to #y a&&ont on es&ape"&o#, there -as al-ays a notifi&ation

+isplayin the +ate an+ ti#e of #y pre%ios lo:in" The first thin I +i+ ea&h ti#e I loe+ in -astrn&ate the lo entries to eli#inate any tra&e of #y &o#ins an+ oins" Bt this ti#e -hen Iloe+ in, I i##e+iately noti&e+ that so#eone else ha+ loe+ in to #y a&&ont? fro# the Well"



8o#eone else ha+ been there" What the f&'HI i##e+iately -ent to the Well an+ starte+ po'in aron+, bt +i+n0t fin+ anythin that le+

#e to the #ystery spy" I +is&onne&te+ i##e+iately, feelin li'e I -as bein -at&he+" Mean-hile, a 8print enineer -as tryin to #a'e sense of the n#ber that 7TE ha+ tra&e+as oriinatin fro# the 8print net-or'" When he sear&he+ throh the &o#pany0s &sto#er re&or+s,

the n#ber +i+n0t &o#e p, -hi&h see#e+ strane" Bt then the enineer reali<e+ it -asn0t a 8printn#ber at all!in fa&t, it +i+n0t e%en ha%e a &elllar prefi=" 8hi##y as'e+ the 2BI to set p a&onferen&e &all so he &ol+ +is&ss this o++ity -ith the enineer at 8print" Then he +e&i+e+ to try&allin the n#ber hi#self, to see if anyone -ol+ ans-er" As soon as the &all &onne&te+, he beanto hear a kerch*nk:in noise that -ol+ et @ieter an+ @ieter ntil the &all -as +roppe+" This -asintriin to hi# an+ the enineers" It appeare+ that I ha+ set p a fail:safe to pre%ent the# fro#tra&in #e ba&', an+ they -on+ere+ if I &ol+ ha%e ta#pere+ -ith the s-it&h"

My sin 8print0s &elllar net-or' to +ial in to Net&o# throh #y &t:ot n#ber #a+e itloo' as if the &t:ot n#ber -as oriinatin fro# 8print0s net-or' -hen it really -asn0t" This -as

be&ase both the &t:ot n#ber an+ Net&o#0s +ial:p n#ber -ere in the sa#e s-it&h" The 8printenineer no- +e&i+e+ to &hane ta&ti&s an+ perfor# -hat0s 'no-n as a 3ter#inatin n#ber

sear&h"4 Rather than loo'in for &alls pla&e+ $rom the tra&e+ n#ber, he loo'e+ for any sbs&riber&alls to that n#ber"

It +i+n0t ta'e hi# lon to hit pay +irt" /is sear&h throh the &all +etail re&or+s in+i&ate+that the tra&e+ n#ber ha+ been &alle+ n#eros ti#es fro# a 8print &ell phone!or rather, fro#the &ell n#ber I -as sin to +ial in to Net&o#, a phone -ith a Raleih area &o+e"

The te&hni&ian noti&e+ that the &alls -ere sally bein rote+ throh the sa#e &elllar phone to-er" That #eant that the phone on the other en+ -as li'ely in a fi=e+ lo&ation" 8o they no-'ne- -here I -as6 Raleih"

As soon as the enineer tol+ 8hi##y -hat he ha+ fire+ ot, 8hi##y hoppe+ on a plane,+estination Raleih" I trie+ &allin an+ e#ailin >8[ in Israel se%eral ti#es to rle ot the nli'ely possibility thathe ha+ re&ently a&&esse+ #y 3es&ape"&o#4 a&&ont fro# the Well" On 8n+ay afternoon, -hile8hi##y -as -inin his -ay to Raleih, >8[ sent #e a #essae that left #e p in the air6

/i, This AM #y +a+ ha+ a serios heart atta&' an+ is hospitali<e+ here; I ha%e been at thehospital all the +ay, an+ probably -ill be there all +ay on to#orro- as -ell; Don0t e=pe&t #e to beon &o#pters +rin ne=t G +ays!I hope yo n+erstan+"

Rr+s, >onathan 7ro-in #ore an+ #ore ner%os, I i##e+iately loe+ on to the phone &o#pany s-it&hthat ser%i&e+ the +ial:p n#bers to Net&o# throh Resear&h Trianle Par'!one of the rotes I

ha+ been sin in Raleih for Internet a&&ess" It -as in fa&t #y preferre+ rote be&ase &ell phone&alls +ire&t to Net&o# in Den%er an+ else-here -ere not of oo+ @ality for lon +ial:p sessions"When I e=a#ine+ the Net&o# +ial:p n#ber in the s-it&h, it in+i&ate+ that the #o+e#

n#ber ha+ a trap:an+:tra&e a&ti%ate+ I starte+ ettin an an=ios feelin in the pit of #y sto#a&h" No- I -as really -orrie+"

My prsers -ere ettin too &lose" /o- #&h ha+ they fire+ otH I nee+e+ to 'no- -hether the trap ha+ been in pla&e lon enoh to &aptre any of #y &alls" 7eneral Telephone has a Net-or' Operations Center in Te=as that han+les s-it&hsr%eillan&e otsi+e of relar -or'in hors" I &all an+ preten+ to be fro# 7TE 8e&rity" I as' to

be transferre+ to the person han+lin the Drha# Par'-oo+ s-it&h in Raleih" A la+y &o#es on theline"

3Listen, I0# -or'in on a si&i+e &ase,4 I tell her" 3The phone n#ber is JJ:))" Whatti#e +i+ the trap o pH4 8he says she0ll fin+ ot" I -ait" An+ -ait" An+ -ait so#e #ore, #ean-hile ettin #ore



alar#e+" 2inally, after abot fi%e #intes, the &all is pi&'e+ p aain!not by the sa#e la+y, bt bya #an"

I as', 3Di+ -e et any infor#ation yetH4 /e starts as'in a series of @estions6 What0s #y &allba&' n#berH Who +o I -or' forH I0%e+one #y ho#e-or' an+ fee+ hi# appropriate ans-ers"

3/a%e yor #anaer &all #e,4 he says"

3/e -on0t be in till #ornin,4 I say" 3I0ll lea%e a #essae for hi# to &all yo"4 No- I0# e=tre#ely sspi&ios6 they0%e been -arne+ that so#ebo+y #iht &all" This has allthe ear#ar's of a national se&rity in%estiation" Is so#eone ettin &lose to pinpointin #ylo&ationH

As a pre&ation, I i##e+iately &lone #y &ell phone to a di$$erent &elllar phone pro%i+er! Celllar One!1st in &ase so#eone really has been tra&'in #e"

As soon as 8hi##y arri%e+ in Raleih, he -as pi&'e+ p by a 8print te&hni&ian, -ho +ro%ehi# to the &ell site" At the &ell site, the te&hs ha+ a Cells&ope ())) for ra+io +ire&tion fin+in, thesa#e type of nit that the in%estiators in 8eattle ha+ se+ to tra&' #y lo&ation" Te&hni&ians atCelllar One ha+ been alerte+ to -at&h for any strane a&ti%ity &o#in fro# their net-or'" When I

pla&e+ a &elllar &all to Net&o#, Celllar One i+entifie+ a +ata &all in proress an+ infor#e+ the

posse" They 1#pe+ into a %ehi&le an+ starte+ +ri%in aron+, follo-in &les fro# the Cells&ope())) to hnt +o-n the oriin of #y &elllar ra+io sinal" Within #intes, 8hi##y an+ other tea##e#bers -ere +ri%in aron+ the Players Clb loo'in for any apart#ents -ith their lihts still onat this early:#ornin hor"

A -hile later they ot a l&'y brea'" The 8print te&hni&ian rnnin the sr%eillan&ee@ip#ent pi&'e+ p a &on%ersation" >ohn Mar'off, -ho ha+ 1st arri%e+ in Raleih to 1oin the&hase, re&oni<e+ one of the %oi&es" It -as the -ell:'no-n fon+er of the #aa<ine C88 'he

(acker @*artery, Eri& Corley thoh he preferre+ oin by his &hosen han+le, E##anel7ol+stein, after a &hara&ter in the no%el GE" Mo#ents later, abo%e the hiss an+ stati& an+inter#ittent re&eption, they hear+ the %oi&e on the other en+ of the &on%ersation" Mar'offre&oni<e+ that one, too"

4-t/s him,6 Mar'off shote+" 4-t/s Mitnick56



THIRT(4"I2



An FBI Va&en#ine

Lsar ?SA cryoi ergi* + wi#1 tnrs d+ dcc$*na+i 1$ o)

*+#ctkie d#1#g# - )stcgo c* dy hg+

Febrary *, 5alentine0s Day" I -rote p so#e #ore rVs#Vs an+ &o%er letters, then, later in

the e%enin, starte+ po'in aron+ aain in the a&&onts of all the syste# a+#inistrators at the Well"I -as loo'in for any e%i+en&e that I -as bein -at&he+ or that #y stash of soft-are ha+ been+is&o%ere+" I +i+n0t fin+ anythin that set off alar# bells"

2eelin li'e ta'in a brea', at abot p"#", I hea+e+ for the y# an+ spent an hor on the8tairMaster an+ then another hor liftin -eihts" After a lon, rela=in sho-er, I -ent to rab

so#e +inner at a t-enty:for:hor restarant" I -as a %eetarian at the ti#e, so the #en -asn0t allthat appealin to #e, bt it -as the only pla&e open so late"

A little after #i+niht, I rolle+ into the par'in lot at the Players Clb" The lihts -ere off in#ost of the apart#ents" I -as obli%ios to the sr%eillan&e net the 2e+s ha+ set p -hile I -as ot"

I loe+ on to the Well to ta'e a loo' aron+" As I &hane+ the pass-or+s on se%eral ne-+or#ant a&&onts 1st for insran&e, aain I ha+ a &reepy feelin that so#eone ha+ been -at&hin#e" I +e&i+e+ to o into partial &leanp #o+e, bt first I -ante+ to #a'e sre I ha+ &reate+ &opies ofall the files I0+ #o%e+ to the Well" Be&ase I +i+n0t ha%e a safe storae lo&'er other than thesyste#s I ha+ been sin o%er the past se%eral -ee's, I +e&i+e+ to &opy the files to +ifferent+or#ant a&&onts on the Well" On&e those -ere se&re+, I -ol+ fin+ so#e other site to #o%e the#to"

Then I noti&e+ that se%eral of the ba&'+oors I0+ been sin to a&&ess %arios syste#s ha+#ysteriosly +isappeare+" The 2e+s -or'e+ %ery slo-ly" E%en if a &all of #ine ha+ been tra&e+, it -ol+ sally ta'ethe# +ays or -ee's to in%estiate" 8o#eone appeare+ to be hot on #y trail, bt I still ha+ plenty ofti#e" Or so I thoht"

As I -as -or'in on #o%in files aron+, I ha+ a %ery, %ery n&o#fortable sensation, asin'in feelin in #y sto#a&h that so#ethin ba+ -as abot to happen" Maybe I -as 1st bein

paranoi+" Who ha+ loe+ in to #y es&ape"&o# a&&ontH Why ha+ traps been pla&e+ on Net&o#0s+ial:psH /a+ Net&o# file+ a ha&'in &o#plaint -ith the 2e+sH 8e%eral +ifferent s&enarios -erernnin throh #y #in+"

An hor later, I -as still in a ste-" I thoht it -as a little &ra<y, bt #y t 'ept tellin #eso#ethin -asn0t riht" No one 'ne- -here I -as, bt I &ol+n0t o%er&o#e the feelin that +anerlr'e+ nearby"

I ha+ to &on%in&e #yself that there -as nothin to it, that I -as 1st lettin #yself etspoo'e+" My apart#ent +oor opene+ onto an otsi+e &orri+or that a%e a oo+ %ie- of the par'inlot" I -al'e+ to the +oor, opene+ it, an+ s&anne+ the lot" Nothin" >st #y i#aination" I &lose+ the+oor an+ -ent ba&' to #y &o#pter"

That pee' ot the +oor -ol+ pro%e to be #y n+oin" The 2e+s ha+ tra&'e+ #y &ell phonesinals to the Players Clb apart#ents earlier in the e%enin bt ha+ apparently &on&l+e+,in&orre&tly, that the sinals -ere &o#in fro# an apart#ent on the other si+e of the bil+in" WhenI retrne+ to the &o#ple= after +inner, I +ro%e into the Players Clb par'in lot an+ -al'e+ fro# #y

&ar riht throh the 2BI0s sr%eillan&e net" Bt -hen I po'e+ #y hea+ ot the +oor, a +epty ."8"Marshal &aht a li#pse of #e an+ thoht it -as sspi&ios that so late at niht so#eone -ol+loo' ot of an apart#ent, peer aron+, an+ then %anish insi+e aain"



Thirty #intes later, at aron+ *6), I hear a 'no&' on #y +oor" Withot reali<in ho- late itis, I ato#ati&ally yell, 3Who is itH4

32BI"4 I free<e" Another 'no&'" I &all ot, 3Who are yo loo'in forH4

3$e%in Mitni&'" Are yo $e%in Mitni&'H4 3No,4 I &all ba&', tryin to son+ annoye+" 37o &he&' the #ailbo=es"4

It ets @iet" I bein to -on+er if they really ha%e sent so#eone to &he&' the #ailbo=es" Dothey thin' I0+ ha%e a 3MITNIC$4 label on the little +oor of #y bo=H

Not oo+ Ob%iosly I0%e n+eresti#ate+ ho- lon it -ol+ ta'e the 2e+s to pinpoint #ylo&ation" I loo' for an es&ape rote" I o ot on #y bal&ony an+ +on0t see anyone otsi+e &o%erinthe ba&' of the bil+in" I loo' aron+ insi+e for so#ethin that &an ser%e as a #a'eshift rope" Be+sheetsH No, it0+ ta'e too lon to tie the# into a rope" An+ besi+es, -hat if one of the aents a&tallytrie+ to shoot #e as I -as &li#bin +o-nH

More 'no&'in" I phone #y #o# at ho#e" No ti#e for or 3o to a &asino4 arrane#ent" 3I0# in Raleih,

North Carolina,4 I tell her" 3The 2BI is otsi+e the +oor" I +on0t 'no- -here they0ll ta'e #e"4 Wetal' for a fe- #intes, ea&h of s tryin to reassre the other" 8he0s besi+e herself, really pset,

+istraht, 'no-in I0# hea+e+ ba&' to 1ail" I tell her I lo%e her an+ 7ra#, an+ to be stron, thate%entally one +ay this -hole thin -ill be behin+ s"

At the sa#e ti#e -e0re on the phone, I0# bstlin aron+ the s#all apart#ent tryin to etot of siht anythin that &ol+ be a proble#" I sht +o-n an+ npl #y &o#pter" No ti#e to-ipe the har+ +ri%e" An+ the laptop is still -ar# fro# bein se+" I hi+e one &ell phone n+er the

be+, the other in #y y# ba" Mo# tells #e to &all Ant Chi&'ie an+ fin+ ot -hat shere&o##en+s"

Chi&'ie i%es #e the ho#e phone n#ber of >ohn Y<r+iaa, the attorney I0%e been-or'in -ith sin&e the Calabasas sear&h" No- the 'no&'in starts aain, -ith +e#an+s that I open p" I yell, 3I0# sleepin!-hat +o yo -antH4 The %oi&e &alls ba&', 3We -ant to as' yo a fe- @estions"4 Tryin to son+ as in+inant as I &an #anae, I shot, 4%ome ack tomorrow when -/m

awake56

They0re not oin to o a-ay" Is there any &han&e I &an &on%in&e the# I0# not the ythey0re loo'in forH

8e%eral #intes later, I &all #y #o# ba&' an+ tell her, 3I0# oin to open the +oor" 8tay onthe phone -ith #e"4 I &ra&' the +oor open" The y -ho has been &allin to #e is #aybe in his late thirties,

bla&', -ith a rayin bear+" It0s the #i++le of the niht, an+ he0s -earin a sit!I fire he #st really be 2BI" In ti#e

I0ll learn he0s Le%or+ Brns, the y in &hare of this operation" The +oor is barely open, bt it0senoh for hi# to sti&' his foot ot an+ blo&' #e fro# sla##in it &lose+" 8e%eral others follo-, pshin their -ay into the roo#"

3Are yo $e%in Mitni&'H4 3I alrea+y tol+ yo I0# not"4 Another aent, Daniel 7laso-, starts in on #e" /e0s so#e-hat ol+er, bl'y, -ith rayinhair" 3/an p the phone,4 he says" I tell #y #o#, 3I otta o"4 8o#e of the ys ha%e starte+ sear&hin" I as', 3Do yo ha%e a sear&h -arrantH4 3If yo0re $e%in Mitni&', -e ha%e an arrest -arrant,4 Brns says"

I tell hi#, 3I -ant to &all #y attorney"4 The aents #a'e no #o%e to stop #e" I &all Y<r+iaa" 3/ey, >ohn, this is Tho#as Case, I0# in Raleih, North Carolina" The 2BI



has 1st sho-e+ p at #y +oor" They thin' I0# so#e y na#e+ Mitni&', an+ they0re oin throh#y apart#ent, bt they ha%en0t sho-n #e a sear&h -arrant" Can yo tal' to the#H4

I pass the phone to the aent stan+in in #y fa&e, 7laso-" /e ta'es the phone an+ starts+e#an+in to 'no- -ho0s on the other en+ of the line" I thin' Y<r+iaa +oesn0t -ant to i+entifyhi#self be&ase he 'no-s I0# sin a phony na#e, an+ that #iht raise so#e ethi&al isses forhi#"

7laso- passes the phone to Brns" No- I 'no- -ho0s in &hare" I &an hear Y<r+iaa tellin hi#, 3If yo sho- #y &lient a %ali+ -arrant, yo0re oo+ tosear&h"4 They finish the &all" E%erybo+y is sear&hin the apart#ent" Brns as's #e for ID" I pll ot #y -allet an+ sho- hi# #y 7" Tho#as Case +ri%er0sli&ense" One sear&her &o#es into the roo# an+ sho-s Brns the &ell phone he0s 1st fon+ n+er #y

be+"Brns, in the #eanti#e, is pa-in throh #y y# ba an+ finally &o#es p -ith the other

&ell phone" At this point, &ell phone ti#e still &osts abot a b&' a #inte, so the fa&t that I o-n two

phones &an0t help bt raise sspi&ions"

Brns as's #e for #y &ell phone n#ber" I say nothin" I0# hopin he0ll trn the phone on"It0s a trap I0%e set in &ase so#ethin li'e this e%er happene+6 nless yo enter a se&ret &o+e -ithinsi=ty se&on+s of po-erin p, all of the phone0s #e#ory, in&l+in the prora##e+ #obile n#beran+ E8N, -ill be erase+" Poof There oes the e%i+en&e"

Da#n /e 1st han+s it off to another aent -ithot po-erin it p" Aain I +e#an+, 3Where0s yor sear&h -arrantH4 Brns rea&hes into a fol+er an+ han+s #e a paper" I loo' at it an+ say, 3This isn0t a %ali+ -arrant" There0s no a++ress"4 2ro# #y rea+in of la-

boo's, I 'no- that the .nite+ 8tates Constittion forbi+s eneral sear&hes; a -arrant is %ali+ only ifit is spe&ifi& an+ pre&ise abot the a++ress to be sear&he+"

They o ba&' to sear&hin" Li'e an a&tor, I pt #yself in the #in+set of so#eone bein%iolate+" I et lo+6 3Yo +on0t ha%e any riht to be here" 7et otta #y apart#ent" Yo +on0t ha%e asear&h -arrant" 7et otta #y apart#ent N;&54

A fe- aents for# a &ir&le aron+ #e" One of the aents sho%es a sheet of paper at #e" /esays, 3Doesn0t this loo' li'e yoH4 I &an0t help s#ilin to #yself" The ."8" Marshals 8er%i&e has pt ot a -ante+ poster on #e".nbelie%able It says6

WANTED FOR VIOLATION OF "UPERVI"ED RELEA"E

Bt the pi&tre on it is the one ta'en #ore than si= years ao at the 2BI offi&es in Los

Aneles, the sa#e one the New York 'imes se+, fro# ba&' -hen I -as -ay hea%ier an+ rbby:loo'in fro# not ha%in sho-ere+ or sha%e+ for three +ays"I tell the aent, 3That +oesn0t loo' li'e #e at all"4Rnnin throh #y #in+ is the thoht, 'hey/re not s*re. Maye - reay &an get o*t o$

this"Brns lea%es the apart#ent"

T-o ys o ba&' to sear&hin" The other pair stan+ aron+ -at&hin; -hen I as', one ofthe# tells #e they0re lo&als fro# the Raleih:Drha# 2iti%e Tas' 2or&e" What, the 2e+s thohtthree of their o-n -eren0t enoh to ta'e +o-n one non%iolent ha&'erH

Aent 7laso- has lo##e+ onto #y brief&ase" It0s fille+ -ith papers +o&#entin all #y+ifferent i+entities, blan' birth &ertifi&ates, an+ the li'e!a one:-ay ti&'et to prison" /e pts it

+o-n on the little +inin table an+ opens it"I shot, 4(ey56 an+ the instant he loo's p, I sla# the &o%er sht, flip the lat&h +o-n an+

press, spinnin the &o#bination -heels an+ lo&'in the &ase"



/e shots at #e, 4Yo* etter o#en that56

I pay no attention" /e steps into the 'it&hen, plls open so#e +ra-ers, fin+s a bi &ar%in'nife, an+ &o#es ba&' in -ith it"

/is fa&e has trne+ a +ar' sha+e of re+" /e oes to stab the 'nife into the brief&ase, to &t it open" Another aent, Lathell Tho#as,rabs his ar#" E%eryone else in the roo# 'no-s that if 7laso- ha+ &t open the brief&ase in the

absen&e of a %ali+ sear&h -arrant, anythin fon+ insi+e #iht be rle+ ina+#issible"Aent Brns has been one for half an hor" No- he &o#es ba&' an+ han+s #e a +ifferent

-arrant, all type+ ot an+ sine+ by a 2e+eral 1+e bt -ith #y a++ress -ritten in by han+" Byno- the other t-o aents ha%e alrea+y been sear&hin!illeally!for #ore than t-o hors"

Aent Tho#as starts to sear&h #y &loset" I try to shot hi# a-ay, bt he inores #e an+opens the +oor" After a -hile, he trns aron+, hol+in p a -allet"

3Well, -ell, -ha++a -e ha%e hereH4 he says -ith a +istin&tly 8othern +ra-l" /e starts pllin ot +ri%er0s li&enses in all the earlier na#es I0%e se+" The others stop -hatthey0re +oin to loo'"

3Who0s Eri& WeissH4 he as's" 3Who0s Mi&hael 8tanfillH4 I -ant to rab e%erythin ot of his han+s, bt I0# afrai+ it #iht loo' as if I -ere atta&'in

hi#!not a oo+ i+ea in a roo#fl of ys -ith pistols" No- they 'no- I0# not 1st a &lean, har+-or'in &iti<en" Bt they0%e &o#e to arrest $e%in

Mitni&', an+ there0s nothin in the -allet that -ill help the# pin that on #e"E%i+ently I0%e been playin #y part so &on%in&inly!the pri%ate &iti<en irate at bein

nfairly harasse+!that they0re no- +is&ssin -hether they shol+ ta'e #e +o-nto-n an+finerprint #e to pro%e I really am Mitni&' an+ 1st tryin to pll a fast one on the#"

I say, 3That0s a oo+ i+ea" What ti#e +o yo -ant #e to be at yor offi&e in the #orninH4 They inore #e" No- all three of the 2e+s o ba&' to sear&hin" 8o far #y l&' is still hol+in ot" An+ then it happens6 Tho#as is oin throh all the &lothes in #y &loset" /e0s sear&hin#y ol+ s'i 1a&'et" 2ro# a <ippere+ inner po&'et, he plls ot a pie&e of paper" 3A pay stb,4 he annon&es" 3Ma+e ot to $e%in Mitni&'"4 Aent Tho#as shots, 4Yo*/re *nder arrest56

Not li'e on tele%ision6 no one bothers to rea+ #e #y Miran+a rihts" I0%e been so &arefl, an+ no- a pay stb fro# a &o#pany I -or'e+ at briefly after lea%inBeit T08h%ah, hi++en a-ay for years in an o%erloo'e+ inner po&'et of that s'i 1a&'et, has been #yn+oin"

I &an taste bile in #y throat an+ &an0t e%en et to a sin' to spit" I tell the aents I nee+ to ta'e#y astri& refl= #e+i&ine" They loo' at the label an+ see that it0s been pres&ribe+ by a +o&tor" Btthey refse to let #e ta'e one"

In&re+ibly, I0%e hel+ the# at bay for three an+ a half hors" An+ I0%e been hi+in in plainsiht for nearly three years, -ith the 2BI, ."8" Marshals 8er%i&e, an+ 8e&ret 8er%i&e all loo'in for#e"

Bt no- it0s o%er" Aent Tho#as lares at #e an+ says, 3Mitni&', the 1i is p4

Rather than han+&ffin #e behin+ #y ba&', the +epty ."8" Marshal pts #e in &ffs, a belly &hain, an+ le irons" They -al' #e ot the +oor" An+ I 'no- at that #o#ent that I0# notoin a-ay for 1st a short ti#e"



THIRT(4"EVEN



Winning #he "ca)egoa# "/ee)%#ake%

Vhhd%B3@kkgY&dn@gY>Nr7&@g=HV*-!#YH?vcH1d3VtcyB8

yB)3F#SB8a3V-30vcH@g;DAg&s3viBk0sY>?12w

My ne- ho#e -as the Wa'e Conty >ail in +o-nto-n Raleih, -hi&h offere+ a +e&i+e+ly

+ifferent for# of 8othern hospitality" As I -as bein boo'e+, the 2e+eral aents a%e stri&t or+ersaain an+ aain an+ aain that I -as not to be allo-e+ any-here near a phone"

I as'e+ e%ery nifor# oin past #y &ell to let #e &all #y fa#ily" They all #iht as -ellha%e been +eaf" Bt one 1ailer see#e+ to be a little #ore sy#patheti&" I a%e her a story abot ho- I nee+e+

to &all #y fa#ily to arrane bail" 8he too' pity on #e an+ after a short -hile #o%e+ #e to a &ell-ith a telephone"

My first &all -as to #y #o#; 7ra# ha+ +ri%en o%er so the t-o of the# &ol+ -orry abot#e toether" They -ere both in a hihly e#otional state, %ery pset an+ +istraht" /o- #anyti#es ha+ I +one this to the#, brinin s&h pain into their li%es be&ase their sonran+son -asoin ba&' to prison, perhaps for a %ery lon ti#e"

After that I &alle+ De Payne" 8in&e all &alls fro# 1ail &ells are #onitore+, I &ol+n0t say %ery#&h" 3Yes, helloH4 ##ble+ a sleepy Le-is De Payne" It -as aron+ *6)) a"#" California ti#e,the #ornin of 2ebrary *J, *J" 3This is a &olle&t &all,4 sai+ the operator" 3Caller, -hat0s yor na#eH4

3$e%in"4 3Will yo a&&ept the &haresH4 3Yeah,4 sai+ De Payne" 3I 1st -as arreste+ by the 2BI toniht" I0# in 1ail in Raleih, North Carolina" I 1st thohtyo oht to 'no-,4 I tol+ #y &o&onspirator"

/e +i+n0t nee+ #e to spell ot that he ha+ to o into i##e+iate &leanp #o+e on&e aain" The ne=t #ornin I0# ta'en to &ort for #y first appearan&e, still in the bla&' s-eats I -oreto o to the y# so#e t-el%e hors ao, on #y last niht of free+o#"

I0# stnne+ to see that the &ortroo# is b<<in an+ pa&'e+, -ith e%ery seat fille+" It see#sli'e half the people in there ha%e either a &a#era or a reporter0s pa+" It0s a #e+ia &ir&s" Yo0+ thin'the 2e+s ha+ &aht Manel Noriea"

My a<e settles on a #an stan+in near the front of the &ortroo#, a #an I ha%e ne%er #etin person bt i##e+iately re&oni<e6 Tsto# 8hi#o#ra" The 2BI #iht ne%er ha%e &aht #e ifhe ha+n0t be&o#e irate enoh abot the brea':in to his ser%ers to +rop e%erythin else an+ lea+ the

para+e to fin+ #e"/e lares at #e"

/e an+ his irlfrien+ are i%in #e the eale eye, espe&ially the la+y" >ohn Mar'off startss&ribblin" The hearin lasts only a fe- #intes, en+in -ith an or+er fro# the Maistrate that I behel+ -ithot bail" An+ on&e aain, that I be hel+ -ithot a&&ess to a telephone"

I &an0t stan+ the thoht6 I0# hea+e+ ba&' to solitary"

As I0# bein le+ ot in han+&ffs, I pass 8hi##y" /e0s -on" 2air an+ s@are" I no+ to hi#an+ firati%ely tip #y hat6 3I respe&t yor s'ills,4 I tell hi#"8hi##y retrns the no+"



Co#in ot of the &orthose in &hains, I hear shots of 4(ey, Kev56 I loo' p to the bal&ony, -here -hat see#s li'e a hn+re+ papara<<i are ai#in their &a#eras at #e an+ no-&li&'in a-ay, flashblbs oin" ;h, my 3od , I thin'" 'his is a ot igger than - tho*ght " I0# besi+e#yself" /o- +i+ I &o#e to be this #&h of a storyH

Of &orse I +i+n0t see it -hen it -as pblishe+, bt Mar'off0s arti&le in the ne=t +ay0s New

York 'imes< e%en loner than his In+epen+en&e Day pie&e of the year before, an+ on&e aain on the

front pae!see#e+ &ertain to &e#ent the i#ae of Osa#a bin Mitni&' in the pbli&0s #in+"Mar'off @ote+ $ent Wal'er, the Assistant ."8" Attorney fro# 8an 2ran&is&o, as sayin, 3Mitni&'S-as arably the #ost -ante+ &o#pter ha&'er in the -orl+" /e allee+ly ha+ a&&ess to tra+ese&rets -orth billions of +ollars" /e -as a %ery bi threat"4

At the ti#e of Mar'off0s oriinal >ly story, I -as -ante+ only for %iolation of #ysper%ise+ release, yet the story left rea+ers -ith the i#pression that I -as a sper%illain, a threat toe%ery A#eri&an" /is a&&ont of #y arrest no- inite+ a fire n+er the rest of the #e+ia" The ite#-as pi&'e+ p on Dateine, 3ood Morning America, an+ 7o+ only 'no-s ho- #any other #a1orsho-s" My &aptre -as all o%er the ne-s for three +ays straiht"

Typi&al of the tone of the &o%erae -as a pie&e pblishe+ in the 2ebrary (K, *J, isse of'ime" The sbhea+ bean6

AMERICA08 MO8T WANTED /AC$ER /A8 BEEN ARRE8TED The ne-s fro# #y &ort:appointe+ attorney in Raleih -asn0t oo+" I -as in+i&te+ ont-enty:three &onts of a&&ess +e%i&e fra+" Of these, t-enty:one -ere relate+ to &alls #a+e -hen#y phone -as &lone+ to so#eone else0s n#ber" The other t-o &onts -ere for possessininfor#ation, spe&ifi&ally the #obile phone n#ber an+ ele&troni& serial n#ber pairs that &ol+ bese+ for &lonin" The #a=i## senten&e -as t-enty years for ea&h free phone &all" 'wenty years

$or each ca5 I -as fa&in a -orst:&ase s&enario of 9) years"It +i+ loo' ba+ for #e!9) years -as no -al' in the par'" I +i+n0t relish the i+ea of bein

lo&'e+ a-ay in prison for the rest of #y life, nable to li%e a happy an+ pro+&ti%e life, an+espe&ially not bein able to spen+ @ality ti#e -ith #y #o# an+ ran+#other" They ha+ #e, han+s+o-n, for &lonin &ell phone n#bers the E8N0s -ere &onsi+ere+ nathori<e+ a&&ess +e%i&esn+er 2e+eral la-" It -as also tre that I0+ %iolate+ the ter#s of #y * sper%ise+ release byha&'in into the %oi&e#ail of Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rity In%estiator Darrell 8antos to ain infor#ationon the Telte& &ase, an+ also by asso&iatin -ith 3&o#pter ha&'ers"4 Bt 9) years for these 3e%il4&ri#esH Were there no -ar &ri#inals leftH

Of &orse, the 2e+s ha+ also fon+ Net&o#0s &sto#er +atabase that &ontaine+ #ore than(),))) &re+it &ar+ n#bers on #y &o#pter, bt I ha+ ne%er atte#pte+ to se any of the#; no

prose&tor -ol+ e%er be able to #a'e a &ase aainst #e on that s&ore" I ha%e to a+#it, I ha+ li'e+the i+ea that I co*d se a +ifferent &re+it &ar+ e%ery +ay for the rest of #y life -ithot e%er rnninot" Bt I0+ ne%er ha+ any intention of rnnin p &hares on the#, an+ ne%er +i+" That -ol+ be-ron" My trophy -as a &opy of Net&o#0s &sto#er +atabase" Why is that so har+ to n+erstan+H

/a&'ers an+ a#ers et it instin&ti%ely" Anyone -ho lo%es to play &hess 'no-s that it0s enoh to+efeat yor opponent" Yo +on0t ha%e to loot his 'in+o# or sei<e his assets to #a'e it -orth-hile"It al-ays see#e+ strane to #e that #y &aptors ha+ s&h troble raspin the +eep

satisfa&tion that &ol+ be +eri%e+ fro# a a#e of s'ill" 8o#eti#es I &ol+n0t help bt -on+er if#aybe #y #oti%es see#e+ in&o#prehensible to the# be&ase they the#sel%es -ol+ ha%e fon+the te#ptation of all those &re+it &ar+s i#possible to resist"

E%en Mar'off, in his New York 'imes arti&le, a+#itte+ that I -as &learly not intereste+ in the prospe&t of finan&ial ain" The s&ale of -hat I0+ passe+ p -as broht ho#e to rea+ers by $entWal'er0s assertion that I 3allee+ly ha+ a&&ess to &orporate tra+e se&rets -orth billions of +ollars"4Bt sin&e I -as ne%er oin to se or sell that infor#ation, -hat it -as -orth +i+n0t #atter to #e"8o -hat -as the natre of #y &ri#eH That I0+ 3allee+ly ha+ a&&ess4H

No- that I0+ finally been &aht, prose&tors in se%eral 2e+eral 1ris+i&tions -erefranti&ally &o#pilin lon -ish lists of &onts an+ a&&sations aainst #e, bt I still ha+ reason forhope" Despite the e%i+en&e, the o%ern#ent0s &ase -as not airtiht" There -ere leal &onfli&ts that



no preli#inary hearinno phone &alls, e=&ept to #y leal &onsel an+ a fe- fa#ily #e#bers"

8in the aree#ent, they sai+, an+ I &ol+ et ot of solitary" I sine+" My Los Aneles attorney >ohn Y<r+iaa an+ his partner Ri&har+ 8teinar+ helpe+ #e #a'ethe +eal" 8in&e I ha+ been arreste+ in Raleih, both attorneys ra&iosly +onate+ their ti#e to -or'on #y &ase" >ohn ha+ %olnteere+ to represent #e pro bono e%er sin&e the ti#e in late *( -hen

2BI aents sear&he+ #y Calabasas apart#ent"On&e I -as ba&' in the eneral poplation of the prison, I spo'e to >ohn Y<r+iaa an+

Ri&har+ 8teinar+ o%er the phone" There -as a tension in >ohn0s %oi&e I0+ ne%er hear+ before" To#y srprise, both #en starte+ rillin #e abot state se&rets" 3E=a&tly -hat 'in+ of &onfi+entialinfor#ation +i+ yo ha%e a&&ess toH /a%e yo ha&'e+ into any ."8" intellien&e aen&iesH4

When I n+erstoo+ -hat they -ere ettin at, I lahe+ ot lo+" 3Riht" Li'e I0# a spy,enae+ in so#e sort of se&ret espionae4 I sai+"

Neither one of the# lahe+" 3Don0t lie to s, $e%in,4 >ohn sai+, son+in alar#inly earnest" 3This is the ti#e to &o#e&lean"4 I blin'e+ in +isbelief" 3Co#e on, ys!yo0re 'i++in, rihtH4

Then Ri&har+ +roppe+ the bo#b6 3Assistant ."8" Attorney 8&hin+ler is +e#an+in that yoaree to a CIA +ebriefin"4 What the hell -as oin onH 8re, I0+ ha&'e+ the -orl+0s #ost poplar &elllar phone#anfa&trers, Bell operatin &o#panies, an+ operatin:syste# +e%elop#ent hoses throhot the.nite+ 8tates, bt I0+ ne%er e%en atte#pte+ to o after any o%ern#ent tarets" /o- &ol+ the 2e+sha%e #a+e that leapH The a&&sation -as &o#pletely nfon+e+"

3I +on0t ha%e anythin to hi+e,4 I sai+ -ith a sih" 3I0ll parti&ipate in the +ebriefin so lonas it0s n+erstoo+ that I -on0t infor# on anyone else"4 I +i+n0t ha%e any 'no-le+e of anyone -hoha+ ha&'e+ into o%ern#ent or #ilitary syste#s, bt e%en so, it -as aainst #y ethi&al an+ #oral

prin&iples to be&o#e a snit&h for the o%ern#ent"In the en+, nothin e%er &a#e of it" Maybe 8&hin+ler or the >sti&e Depart#ent -as 1st on a

fishin e=pe+ition" It #a+e #e thin' ba&' to the ti#e -hen Marty 8tol< at Inter#etri&s se&retly tol+#e that the sper:ha&'er the 2e+s -ere &hasin ha+ &o#pro#ise+ the CIA" I &hal'e+ it p to one#ore instan&e of the #yth ettin ot of han+"

In #e+ie%al ti#es, the #yths that bilt p aron+ #ai&ians se+ to &ase the# seriostroble" 8o#eti#es these #yths an+ sperstitions e%en ot the# 'ille+" A tra%elin perfor#er -ol+a#a<e the lo&al %illaers -ith tri&'s an+ sleihts of han+" Be&ase they ha+ no i+ea ho- he -as+oin those tri&'s, they &ol+n0t ess at the e=tent of his abilities" /e see#e+ to ha%e the po-er to#a'e thins appear an+ +isappear at -ill" That -as the point" Bt if anythin -ent -ron!so#e&o-s +ie+, the &rops faile+, little 8arah ot si&'!it -as all too easy to bla#e the #ai&ian"

If thins ha+ been +ifferent, I #iht se&retly ha%e en1oye+ bein &alle+ 3the Worl+0s Most

Wante+ /a&'er4 an+ lahe+ it off -hen people belie%e+ I -as a sper:enis -ho &ol+ ha&' intoanythin" Bt I ha+ a ba+ feelin that it -as oin to &ost #e!an+ I -as riht" The 3Myth of $e%inMitni&'4 -as abot to #a'e #y life a -hole lot har+er"

Be&ase I -as s&h a hih:profile in#ate, I soon nee+e+ >ohn Y<r+iaa to inter%ene aain"The hea+ 1ailer -as openin all #y #ail, in&l+in the letters fro# #y attorneys, -hi&h %iolate+ #yattorney:&lient pri%ilee" I tol+ hi# to stop" /e 'ept riht on +oin it" I -arne+ hi# that #y la-yer-ol+ et the &ort to or+er hi# to stop" /e inore+ #e"

>ohn ot the &ort or+er" The 1ailer ha+ to &o#ply, bt he -as frios abot it" 8o he &alle+the ."8" Marshals 8er%i&e an+ tol+ the# to #o%e #e to another 1ail, -hi&h they +i+" The 5an&eConty >ail #a+e >ohnston loo' li'e a /oli+ay Inn"

When I -as bein #o%e+, a +epty ."8" Marshal -ith a 8othern a&&ent so thi&' it son+e+

li'e he -as +oin a ba+ paro+y of a 7oo+ Ol0 Boy sheriff lahe+ an+ sai+, 3Yo0re the only prisoner -e e%er ha+ that ot boote+ ot of 1ail4

After I0+ been in 1ail for abot fi%e #onths, #y &ort:appointe+ pbli& +efen+er in Raleih,



>ohn Dsenbry, re&o##en+e+ that I aree to -hat is 'no-n as a 3Rle ()"4 This #eant that I-ol+ plea+ ilty to a sinle &ont of possessin the #obile phone n#ber an+ ele&troni& serialn#ber pairs that I se+ for &lonin #y &ell phone in e=&hane for a re&o##en+e+ senten&e ofeiht #onths, thoh I #iht still be fa&in p to t-enty years if the 1+e +e&i+e+ not to o alon-ith the prose&tor0s re&o##en+ation" >+e Terren&e Boyle appro%e+ the +eal, thoh" E%en

better6 #y &ase -as no- transferre+ to Los Aneles for senten&in an+ to resol%e the pen+in

%iolation of sper%ise+ release, -hi&h #eant I -ol+ be transferre+, as -ell"My #o%e to Los Aneles fro# Raleih -as srprisinly a-fl" 2e+eral prisons are

notorios for a for# of pnish#ent 'no-n as 3+iesel therapy"4 It0s so ba+ that prisoners often&onsi+er it a#on the &relest aspe&ts of bein in&ar&erate+" What oht to be a si#ple +ri%e is+eliberately an+ #ali&iosly e=ten+e+ for +ays or e%en -ee's" Alon the -ay, prisoners aresb1e&te+ to as #&h pre #isery as their sa+isti& ar+s &an heap on"

After bein -o'en p at 6) a"#", any prisoners -ho are +e to be transporte+ are pt in alare roo# an+ strip:sear&he+" A &hain aron+ ea&h prisoner0s -aist &onne&ts tihtly to hishan+&ffs at sto#a&h le%el, so he &an barely #o%e his ar#s" /is feet are sha&'le+ too, so he &an

barely -al' or #o%e" Then he an+ his fello- in#ates are loa+e+ onto a bs an+ +ri%en for eihthors ea&h +ay, -ith ran+o# stops in to-ns alon the rote -here e%eryone +ise#bar's, spen+s the

niht in another &ell, an+ is -o'en p aain the ne=t #ornin to o throh the -hole pro&essaain" E%entally, yo arri%e at yor +estination feelin &o#pletely e=haste+"

Drin #y +iesel therapy ba&' to Los Aneles, I -as +etaine+ in Atlanta for se%eral -ee's"The 2e+eral penitentiary there -as by far the s&ariest of any of the prisons I -as hel+ in the -holeti#e I -as in &sto+y" The hih -alls of the prison are line+ -ith &oile+:ra<or:-ire fen&es" There isno +obt that yo0re -al'in into a +neon" At e%ery entry, there are bi ele&troni& +oors an+ates" The +eeper yo o into the bo-els of the prison, the #ore yo reali<e there is no -ay ot"

When I -as finally #o%e+ aain, I -as flo-n to se%eral prisons in +ifferent states a&ross the&ontry" By the ti#e I arri%e+ in Los Aneles, I -as not in a tolerant #oo+" When I ot off the

plane, the +epty ."8" Marshal a%e #e a bi rin an+ sai+ s#ly, 3/ey, Mitni&' 8o the ."8"Marshals finally &aht yo It0s all abot oo+ poli&e -or'"4

3The ."8" Marshals ha+ nothin to +o -ith it,4 I tol+ hi#" 3It -as a s#arter &i%ilian,-or'in for the 2BI"4 The +epty0s fa&e fell, as all the other in#ates aron+ #e lahe+" Ba&' in Los Aneles, I -as &hare+ -ith %iolatin the &on+itions of #y sper%ise+ release

by ha&'in into a Pa&ifi& Bell se&rity aent0s %oi&e#ail, alon -ith lesser infra&tions li'easso&iatin -ith Le-is De Payne"

After ten #onths, #y t-o:#an pro bono leal tea# &a#e to #e -ith the plea aree#entoffere+ by 2e+eral prose&tor 8&hin+ler" I &ol+ har+ly belie%e -hat I -as hearin6 eiht years in

prison? an+ that -asn0t e%en the -orst of it" This -as -hat -as &alle+ a 3nonbin+in pleaaree#ent,4 #eanin that the 1+e -ol+n0t be bon+ by the prose&tor0s re&o##en+ation, bt

-ol+ instea+ be free to set a #&h stiffer senten&e" E%en -orse, I -ol+ be areein to paymiions o$ doars in restittion, a s# that #iht -ell be #ore than I -ol+ earn in the rest of #ylife" An+ I -ol+ ha%e to assin any profits fro# tellin #y story to #y ha&'in 3%i&ti#s4!8n,

No%ell, Motorola, an+ so on">ohn Y<r+iaa an+ Ri&har+ 8teinar+ are t-o +e+i&ate+ attorneys, an+ they ha+ pt in

#any, #any hors +efen+in #e pro bono" Ne%ertheless, I ha+ been offere+ an nbelie%ably ba++eal" Clearly I -ol+ either nee+ to be %iorosly +efen+e+ at trial or -or' ot a better +eal -ith theo%ern#ent"

The proble# -as, I -as in no finan&ial position to hire an attorney" Ironi&ally, if I really had

been tappin into those (),))) &re+it &ar+s before #y arrest, I -ol+0%e been able to affor+ anattorney -ho ha+ sinifi&ant resor&es to +efen+ the &ase at trial or &ol+ ha%e pn&he+ holes in the

prose&tion0s &ase to et #&h better settle#ent ter#s"While I -as pon+erin -hat to +o, Bonnie &a#e to %isit an+ to tell #e that Le-is De

Payne0s attorney, Ri&har+ 8her#an, -as -illin to represent #e for free" 8he &lai#e+ he -ante+ to



help be&ase he +i+n0t thin' the o%ern#ent -as prose&tin #y &ase fairly an+ he belie%e+ Inee+e+ an aressi%e la-yer"

It son+e+ oo+, bt I -as -ary" 8her#an -asn0t 1st Le-is0s la-yer bt also his frien+"8till, he &a#e to see #e hi#self an+ tal'e+ &on%in&inly abot -innin at trial" After -eihin theoption of a #ini#al eiht:year +eal an+ +is&ssin it -ith #y fa#ily, I +e&i+e+ to a&&ept 8her#an0soffer"

2or se%eral -ee's he +i+ absoltely nothin on #y &ase e=&ept to as' the &ort to allo- #ea++itional resear&h ti#e in the prison la- library, a re@est that -as s##arily +enie+" Thearessi%e +efense he0+ pro#ise+ #e ne%er #ateriali<e+" /e too' #y &ase an+ basi&ally sat on it"

8oon after he be&a#e #y attorney of re&or+, I +is&o%ere+ the e=tent of the +e&eption" WhenI &alle+ 8her#an one +ay to +is&ss #y &ase, Ron Astin ans-ere+ the phone" I re&oni<e+ his%oi&e" Astin -as the infor#ant -ho ha+ re&or+e+ #y &alls for 2BI Aent $en M&7ire"

8her#an @i&'ly assre+ #e that Ron +i+n0t ha%e a&&ess to #y &ase files, bt that -asn0t the point" These people -eren0t on #y si+e" When I reali<e+ that, I -as as li%i+ -ith 8her#an for#a'in an e#pty pro#ise to pt on a %ioros +efense as I -as -ith #yself for ha%in belie%e+hi#" 8her#an, nli'e any reasonable la-yer, instea+ of arin for #y release, a&tally

+e#an+e+ that the o%ern#ent in+i&t #e6 3If yo ha%e so#ethin aainst #y &lient, 1st in+i&t hi#,an+ let0s o to trial,4 he insiste+" 2or a +efense attorney to +o that see#e+ otraeos" Bt that0se=a&tly -hat the o%ern#ent +i+"

On 8epte#ber (9, *9, after bein hel+ for o%er a year an+ a half, I -as in+i&te+ by a ran+ 1ry in Los Aneles on t-enty:fi%e &hares, in&l+in &o#pter an+ -ire fra+ &opyin proprietarysor&e &o+e, possessin a&&ess +e%i&es &o#pter pass-or+s, +a#ain &o#pters insertin

ba&'+oors, an+ inter&eptin pass-or+s" These -ere, of &orse, added to the oriinal set of &ell phone &lonin &hares fro# Raleih"

2or an in+ient +efen+ant!-hi&h I -as!the 1+e &an either +ire&t that a 2e+eral Pbli&Defen+er be assine+ or trn to the ran's of -hat are &alle+ 3panel attorneys"4 These are la-yers in

pri%ate pra&ti&e -ho ta'e on in+ient &lients for a fra&tion of the rate that any -ell:establishe+attorney -ol+ &hare at the ti#e, the rate for panel attorneys -as si=ty +ollars an hor" A panelattorney, Donal+ Ran+olph, -as sele&te+ to han+le #y +efense, an+ the ne- &hares -ol+ be hear+

by >+e Willia# $eller!referre+ to aron+ the &orthose as 3$iller $eller4 be&ase, &orthoserelars sai+, a +efen+ant nfortnate enoh to sffer a &on%i&tion in his &ortroo#, or e%en one-ho ple+ ilty, &ol+ e=pe&t the #a=i## senten&e" $iller $eller -as the Central Distri&t ofCalifornia0s 3hanin 1+e"4 /e -as e%ery +efen+ant0s -orst niht#are"

Bt I ot a he brea'" My other &ases -ere bein hear+ by >+e Mariana Pfael<er, thesa#e 1+e -ho ha+ been responsible for #y bein hel+ in solitary for o%er eiht #onths, bt atleast she +i+n0t ha%e as s&ary a reptation as $iller $eller" I really +o+e+ a bllet there"

Attorney Ran+olph as'e+ >+e Pfael<er to ha%e the ne- &ase transferre+ to her n+er the

3lo-:n#ber rle4 -hi&h allo-s relate+ &ases to be &o#bine+ an+ hear+ by the 1+e han+lin the&ase -ith the lo-est +o&'et n#ber!that is, the one assine+ at the earliest +ate" 8in&e the &ases-ere relate+, she aree+" Nine #onths after I -as in+i&te+ on the t-enty:fi%e &onts, the s#allerones!the Raleih &hares an+ the sper%ise+:release &ase!-ere finally settle+" I -as senten&e+ tot-enty:t-o #onths" I ha+ alrea+y been in &sto+y for #onths loner than that" Attorney Ran+olph#a+e an i##e+iate re@est for a +etention hearin, sin&e I -as no- eliible for release on bail" The8pre#e Cort ha+ hel+ that e%ery +efen+ant ha+ a riht to a bail hearin"

When #y attorney tol+ >+e Pfael<er that he ha+ file+ an appli&ation for bail to be hear+the follo-in -ee', the prose&tor ob1e&te+, &allin #e a 3fliht ris' an+ a +aner to the&o##nity"4 /er /onor sai+, 3I0# not i%in hi# bail, so there is no nee+ for a hearin?" Ta'e ifoff &alen+ar"4

This -as -i+ely seen as a blatant +enial of #y &onstittional rihts" A&&or+in to #yattorney, no one in the history of the .nite+ 8tates ha+ e%er been refse+ a bail hearin" Not thenotorios i#postor an+ es&ape artist 2ran' Abanale >r" Not the serial 'iller an+ &annibal >effrey



Dah#er" Not e%en the &ra<e+ stal'er an+ -ol+:be presi+ential assassin >ohn /in&'ley >r"As if that -eren0t ba+ enoh, #y sitation @i&'ly ot #&h -orse" A +efen+ant has the

riht to see the e%i+en&e the prose&tion plans to se aainst hi# at trial" Bt the o%ern#entla-yers &ontinally a%e reasons in &ort for not trnin all the e%i+en&e o%er to #y attorney" Mostof the +is&o%ery -as in ele&troni& for#at!the files sei<e+ fro# #y &o#pters, floppy +is's, an+nen&rypte+ ba&'p tapes"

My la-yer then as'e+ the 1+e to allo- hi# to brin a laptop into the prison %isitin areaso he &ol+ re%ie- the ele&troni& e%i+en&e -ith #e" Aain >+e Pfael<er +enie+ the re@est,a++in, 3We0re ne%er in the -orl+ oin to +o that"4 8he apparently belie%e+ that 1st sittin infront of a &o#pter, e%en n+er #y attorney0s sper%ision, I &ol+ so#eho- &ase reat +a#ae"There -as no -ireless Internet in *, so it -ol+ ha%e been i#possible for #e to pll an Internet&onne&tion ot of thin air" Bt she si#ply +i+n0t 'no- enoh abot ho- &o#pters -or'e+ to ha%eany i+ea -hether I &ol+ &onne&t to the otsi+e -orl+" An+ besi+es, the prose&tors 'ept -arninher that I -ol+ ha%e a&&ess to the %i&ti#0s proprietary sor&e &o+e, or that I #iht -rite a&o#pter %irs that &ol+ so#eho- be release+ into the -il+" As a reslt, -e -eren0t per#itte+ toe=a#ine any of the ele&troni& e%i+en&e aainst #e that -as 'ey to the o%ern#ent0s &ase" When #yattorney as'e+ the 1+e to or+er the o%ern#ent to print ot the files, the prose&tor sai+ that there

-ere far too #any of the#, so #any that they -ol+ fill p the entire &ortroo#, an+ the 1+erefse+ to or+er the o%ern#ent to &o#ply"

As -or+ ot aron+ abot the nfairness of #y pre+i&a#ent, Eri& Corley rallie+ a rop ofspporters -ho -rote arti&les on -ebsites, sprea+ the -or+ in the online &o##nity, passe+ otfliers, an+ paste+ briht yello- an+ bla&' b#per sti&'ers that sai+ 32ree $e%in4 all o%er the pla&e"Eri& e%en sent so#e to #e in &sto+y"

On #y thirty:fifth birth+ay, -hile I -as bein +etaine+ at the Metropolitan Detention Centerin Los Aneles, #y spporters -ante+ to &o#e %isit #e, bt as a pretrial +etainee, I -as allo-e+%isits only fro# #y i##e+iate fa#ily an+ leal &onsel"

When I spo'e to Eri& on the phone, I tol+ hi# I -ol+ o to the la- library on the thir+ floorof the +etention &enter at e=a&tly *6) p"#" Eri& an+ #e#bers of the 32ree $e%in4 #o%e#entlo&ate+ the -in+o- an+ positione+ the#sel%es a&ross the street" Then, -hen the ar+s -eren0tloo'in, I presse+ a 32ree $e%in4 b#per sti&'er aainst the -in+o-" Eri& snappe+ a photo thaten+e+ p bein se+ on the bo= &o%er of his +o&#entary fil# abot #y &ase, Freedom Downtime"

8o#eti#e later, the &ro-+ starte+ a +e#onstration a&ross the street fro# the +etention &enteritself" I loo'e+ ot the -in+o- of another in#ate0s roo# to see a para+e on the street belo-6 a &hainof people hol+in p a bi yello- an+ bla&' 32ree $e%in4 banner an+ 32ree $e%in4 pi&'et sins"Apparently this #a+e the prison offi&ials ner%os" 8hortly after-ar+, the entire prison -as lo&'e++o-n for 3se&rity reasons"4

With the ro-in pbli& a-areness of #y &ase, nearly t-o years after #y attorney+e#an+e+ that the o%ern#ent trn o%er +is&o%ery #aterials, >+e Pfael<er finally relente+ an+

allo-e+ #e to se a laptop &o#pter to re%ie- the e%i+en&e -ith #y attorney" I ne%er 'ne- -hat#a+e her &hane her #in+" Maybe another 1+e ha+ pointe+ ot that she ris'e+ bein re%erse+ onappeal" Or perhaps so#eone ha+ e=plaine+ that -ithot &onne&tin the laptop to a #o+e# an+

phone line, there -as no -ay I &ol+ +a#ae anythin"Whene%er I -as at the &orthose for a hearin, I reali<e+ the +epty #arshals -ol+ trn

their ba+es aron+ any ti#e they ha+ to be near #e" My attorney an+ I both -on+ere+ -hat that-as abot" Later -hen he -as %isitin #e in the &orthose lo&'p, he noti&e+ so#e te=t blotte+ot on the %isitin for# he ha+ to sin" When he hel+ it p to the liht, he &ol+ rea+ the printthroh the paper" /e shoo' his hea+ an+ sai+ to #e, 3Yo0re not oin to belie%e this"4 Then herea+ #e the bla&'e+:ot te=t6

Please be a-are that if Mitni&' is ta'en into &sto+y, he possesses an a#a<in ability to

+isrpt one0s personal life throh his &o#pter 'no-le+e, i"e", TRW0s, phone ser%i&e, et&"E=er&ise e=tre#e &ation in lea%in anythin abot -hi&h -ol+ ha%e personal infor#ation abotyorself"



.nbelie%able I ess they really -ere -orrie+ I ha+ #ai&al po-ers" The Myth of $e%in Mitni&' -as abot to ta'e another really ly trn" Before #y &ase&ol+ e%en o to trial, Mar'off an+ 8hi##y -ere &ashin in on the story" They ha+ alrea+y -rittena boo' abot it toether in *9; no- they ha+ sol+ the #o%ie rihts to that boo', for a fil# to be&alle+ 'akedown"

L&'ily, one of the &ost#e +esiners -or'in on the fil# lea'e+ a &opy of the s&reenplay

for 'akedown to C88 #aa<ine" When I rea+ the s&ript, it literally trne+ #y sto#a&h" Thes&reen-riters ha+ &ast #e as an e%il %illain an+ portraye+ #e as +oin thins I ha+ never +one inreal life, s&h as ha&'in into hospitals an+ en+anerin patients0 li%es by alterin their #e+i&alre&or+s" I -as horrifie+"

One parti&larly preposteros s&ene e%en sho-e+ #e %iolently assaltin 8hi##y byrabbin a #etal trash:&an &o%er an+ sla##in hi# o%er the hea+ -ith it" 2ran'ly, I &ol+n0ti#aine either one of s enain in s&h a ri+i&los fiht"

When he sa- the s&ript, Eri& Corley -rote online that it -as 3far -orse than I ha+ e%eri#aine+"4 If it -ere #a+e into a fil#, he sai+, 3$e%in -ill be fore%er +e#oni<e+ in the eyes of the

pbli&"4In an arti&le for [DT5, $e%in Polsen -rote,

Nobo+y pre+i&te+ that the s&ript, sppose+ly base+ on the +ry, bt inoffensi%e boo' of thesa#e na#e, -ol+ be fille+ -ith so #&h blatant fabri&ation" No one e=pe&te+ that $e%in Mitni&'#iht be&o#e the #ost feare+ an+ hate+ s&reen %illain sin&e /annibal Le&ter"

Appalle+ by the false portrayal of #e in the #o%ie s&ript, #y spporters pi&'ete+ Mira#a=8t+ios in Ne- Yor' on >ly *9, *" Eri& Corley broht international #e+ia attention to the fa&tthat the s&ript -as fille+ -ith blatant lies" Eri& -as also responsible for ettin the -or+ ot abotthe &i%il liberties isses its release -ol+ raise for #y &ase" All of s -ere &on&erne+ that the #o%ie-ol+ pre1+i&e #y trial"

Drin a phone &all -e ha+ aron+ that ti#e, -hile I -as still in pretrial +etention, Ale=$aspera%i&is tol+ #e that Bra+ Weston, one of the pro+&ers of 'akedown, -as %ery eaer to tal'-ith #e" I aree+ to let Ale= three:-ay Weston onto or &all" Bra+ sai+ he -ante+ #y &ooperationon the fil#" /e also sai+ that 8'eet .lri&h, -ho ha+ been &ast to play #e, -ante+ to spea' -ith #e"

I tol+ Bra+ that I ha+ rea+ the s&ript an+ fon+ it to be #ostly false an+ +efa#atory" I sai+ I-as plannin to hire an attorney" Bra+ sai+ the pro+&tion &o#pany -ol+ la+ly pi&' p #yattorney0s fees; they -ol+ prefer to settle -ith #e as soon as possible, rather than rn the ris' thata &ort &ase #iht +elay the release of the fil#"

T-o -ell:'no-n Los Aneles libel attorneys, Barry Lanber an+ Debbie Droo<, sa- thatso#e, thoh not all, of the absr+ly false stff -as re#o%e+ fro# the s&ript" They also se&re+ a+e&ent settle#ent for #e, thoh I0# not allo-e+ to +is&lose the +etails"

Be&ase that settle#ent &a#e in before #y &ri#inal &ase -as resol%e+, there -as so#e&on&ern that the 1+e #iht sei<e the #oney as part of a restittion pay#ent" My attorney +e&lare+

the in&o#e in &a#era #eanin for the 1+e0s eyes only, an+ the 1+e allo-e+ #e to 'eep it pri%ate" 8o the prose&tors ne%er learne+ that I ha+ re&ei%e+ #oney fro# the pro+&ers of the fil#"In the en+, the #o%ie %ersion of 'akedown -as so -i+ely panne+ on its o-n #erits that it

-as ne%er +istribte+ theatri&ally in the .nite+ 8tates" As I n+erstan+ it, after a fe- falterinatte#pts in 2ren&h theaters, it -ent straiht to D5D"

Mean-hile, #y attorney ha+ appeale+ >+e Pfael<er0s 3no bail hearin4 rlin to the NinthCir&it Cort of Appeals, -hi&h rle+ in an npblishe+ opinion that I -as a fliht ris' an+ a +anerto the &o##nity, &o#pletely si+esteppin the @estion of -hether the o%ern#ent ha+ to pro%ethis in a hearin" We then too' it all the -ay to the ."8" 8pre#e Cort, -ith #y attorney sen+inthe brief to >sti&e >ohn Pal 8te%ens" /e too' an interest an+ re&o##en+e+ that #y &ase be hear+,

bt -hen he sent it to the fll Cort for a +e&ision abot pttin it on the &alen+ar, his &olleaes

+e&line+" Not lon after that, I -as alar#e+ to hear that the o%ern#ent prose&tors -ere allein I

ha+ &ase+ +a#aes in the #in+:bolin a#ont of o%er )) #illion" Of &orse, there -as



absoltely no fon+ation for this fire" My la-yer @i&'ly pointe+ ot that &orporations arere@ire+ by the 8e&rities an+ E=&hane Co##ission to report #aterial losses to their sto&'hol+ers,

bt not one of the &o#panies in any of its @arterly or annal reports ha+ e%er &lai#e+ the loss of asinle penny as a reslt of #y ha&'in"

>st a fe- -ee's after I -as arreste+, 2BI 8pe&ial Aent $athleen Carson ha+ been -or'into &o#e p -ith these reatly e=aerate+ loss n#bers" An internal 8n Mi&rosyste#s #e#o

sho-e+ she ha+ tol+ Lee Pat&h, %i&e presi+ent of 8n0s Leal Depart#ent, that the 8olaris sor&e&o+e I ha+ &opie+ &ol+ be %ale+ at ) #illion, -hi&h -ol+ ha%e &alle+ for the harshest senten&efor fra+ n+er the 2e+eral senten&in i+elines!so it +oesn0t ta'e a enis to fire ot ho- she&a#e p -ith that n#ber" When she as'e+ 8n to pt a +ollar %ale on the loss asso&iate+ -ith the

brea':in, she a+%ise+ that the fires shol+ be base+ on the %ale of the sor&e &o+e"This -as li'e nabbin so#eone for stealin a &an of Co'e an+ +e#an+in that he repay the

&ost of +e%elopin Co&a:Cola0s se&ret for#la8o#eone at the 2BI ha+ +e&i+e+ that the best -ay to inflate the &lai# for +a#aes -as for

the &o#panies to report ho- #&h it ha+ &ost the# to deveo# the soft-are I &opie+" Bt they stillha+ their soft-are" They -ere not +epri%e+ of it, so it +oesn0t 1stify &lai#in a loss e@al to the%ale of +e%elopin the sor&e &o+e" A reasonable fire -ol+ ha%e been the %ale of a sor&e

&o+e icense, -hi&h -as probably n+er ten thosan+ +ollars"/o-e%er #&h they -ante+ to pnish #e, -e all 'ne- that the &o#panies0 a&tal losses

-ere far, far less than allee+" If anythin, they a#onte+ to the #an:hors spent in%estiatin #yintrsions, reinstallin the operatin syste# an+ appli&ation soft-are in any syste# I ha+&o#pro#ise+, an+ -hate%er li&ensin fees they &hare+ &sto#ers to pr&hase a sor&e &o+eli&ense"

The )) #illion &lai# aainst #e for +a#aes -as so otraeos that it #oti%ate+ #yspporters to ra#p p the 32ree $e%in4 #o%e#ent" E%ery ti#e the o%ern#ent +i+ so#ethin thatree'e+ of nfairness, the n#bers of #y spporters only re-" 32ree $e%in4 -as no- a ro-inrassroots #o%e#ent that ha+ sprea+ a&ross the &ontry!an+ e%en rea&he+ as far a-ay as Rssia

When Eri& orani<e+ a protest, the tele%ision ne-s sho-e+ &ro-+s para+in -ith 32ree$e%in4 pi&'et sins otsi+e 2e+eral &orthoses in fifteen +ifferent &ities, fro# Portlan+, Maine, toLos Aneles, fro# 8po'ane to Atlanta, an+ in Mos&o-, near the $re#lin" Eri& re&appe+ thenfairness in C88 #aa<ine6

8in&e 2ebrary *J, *J, Mitni&' has been hel+ in a pretrial fa&ility -ith no bail hearin for possession of soft-are allee+ly -orth #illions of +ollars" Bt the &o#panies assertin this ha%ene%er pro%en these &lai#s nor ha%e they reporte+ these 3losses4 to their sto&'hol+ers, as is re@ire+

by la-" Co#pter an+ leal e=perts enerally aree that it0s %ery nli'ely there really -as any real+a#ae an+ that the hih n#bers ass#e e%ery file an+ its asso&iate+ resear&h -ere -ipe+ fro#e=isten&e" In a&tality, no s&h +a#ae -as e%er reporte+" Yet, Mitni&' re#ains i#prisone+ as ifthis -as -hat happene+"

My spporters -ante+ the o%ern#ent to respe&t #y &onstittional riht to the pres#ptionof inno&en&e an+ a fair trial -ithin a reasonable ti#e"As I n+erstoo+ it, the 32ree $e%in4 +e#onstrators in these &ities aron+ the -orl+ +i+n0t

ne&essarily thin' that all the &hares shol+ be +roppe+ an+ I shol+ be allo-e+ to -al' ot of prison s&ot:free" Bt they ob1e&te+ to the ob%ios nfairness in the &ase6 the +enial of a bail hearin;the illeal sear&h an+ sei<re; the +efense0s la&' of a&&ess to e%i+en&e; the &ort0s refsal to pay #y&ort:appointe+ attorney0s fees, -hi&h effe&ti%ely +enie+ #e representation for for #onths; an+ the&lai#s of hn+re+s of #illions of +ollars in +a#aes for &opyin sor&e &o+e"

When people reali<e+ -hat -as happenin, #o#ent# starte+ to ro-" The press -as-ritin abot the protests" People -ere pttin 32ree $e%in4 b#per sti&'ers on their &ars an+ inshop -in+o-s" There -ere e%en people -al'in aron+ in 32ree $e%in4 T:shirts an+ -earin 32ree

$e%in4 ba+es an+ pins"Drin the &ort protests, I loo'e+ ot the s#all -in+o- of #y prison &ell an+ a&tally sa-

an airplane +rain a 32ree $e%in4 banner" I ha+ to pin&h #yself" I &ol+n0t belie%e it -as really



happenin"O%er the pre%ios for years, I0+ ha+ to +eal -ith libelos reporters, n&o#prehen+in

1+es, sperstitios Marshals, #aniplati%e frien+s, an+ e=ploitati%e fil##a'ers fannin thefla#es of the Myth of $e%in Mitni&' for their o-n aen+as" The i+ea that there -ere people otthere -ho &ol+ finally see -hat I0+ been oin throh broht #e #&h &o#fort"

The spport -as so en&orain, in fa&t, that it #oti%ate+ #e to ear p for the fiht" I0+

fon+ a re&ent &ase in the prison0s la- library that ha+ &on%in&e+ #e I #iht be able to beat the#ost serios &hares"

When I tol+ #y la-yer Donal+ Ran+olph that I0+ fon+ a leal pre&e+ent that &ol+ &hanee%erythin, he sai+, 3Let #e -orry abot that, $e%in" I0# the la-yer"4 Bt -hen I sho-e+ hi# the&ase, his eyes -i+ene+"

In *(, an IR8 aent na#e+ Ri&har+ C<bins'i ha+ se+ his a&&ess to IR8 &o#pters tosnoop into the ta= retrns of %arios politi&al fires, &elebrities, an+ other o%ern#ent offi&ials" /e+i+ it ot of &riosity" /e -as &hare+, li'e #e, -ith &o#pter an+ -ire fra+, an+ &on%i&te+ inDe&e#ber *J" After bein senten&e+ to si= #onths in prison, he s&&essflly appeale+ his &ase"The 2e+eral appellate &ort hel+ that C<bins'i, li'e #e, ha+ ne%er inten+e+ to either se or+is&lose the infor#ation bt ha+ si#ply a&&esse+ it $or his own c*riosity" /e -on the appeal, his

&on%i&tions -ere re%erse+, an+ he ne%er -ent to prison"With s&h a &lear leal pre&e+ent, I belie%e+ -e ha+ a &han&e to beat the o%ern#ent0s &ase"

I eaerly tol+ #y attorney that I -ante+ to o to trial" The stratey I propose+ -as this6 I0+ a+#it toha&'in bt are that I -as not ilty of -ire or &o#pter fra+ be&ase, li'e C<bins'i, I ha++one it #erely to satisfy #y o-n &riosity"

Ran+olph aree+ that C<bins'i0s &ase set a perfe&t pre&e+ent for #y +efense" Bt there -asa bier proble#" Ran+olph hesitate+ slihtly before he tol+ #e -hat it -as; I &ol+ see he -astryin to be ta&tfl" It see#e+ to be ti#e for hi# to say so#ethin that, ntil no-, ha+ been leftnsai+"

One of the o%ern#ent prose&tors ha+ been rin #y attorney for -ee's to persa+e #eto ta'e a plea" O%er the last fe- +ays, he0+ e%en resorte+ to lti#at#s6 if I +i+n0t aree to plea+ilty an+ settle the &ase, he -arne+, the o%ern#ent -ol+ pt #e throh a re%ol%in +oor of&ri#inal trials" If they lost in one 1ris+i&tion, they0+ try #e in another; if they -on, they0+ press forthe #a=i## senten&e" It -ol+n0t #atter to the# -hether or not they ot &on%i&tions be&asethey0+ ha%e #e lo&'e+ p -ithot bail the -hole ti#e"

I -as rea+y to fiht" Bt no- #y o-n attorney, Ran+olph, -as tellin #e, as ta&tflly as he&ol+, 3I thin' yo shol+ ta'e the plea"4

An+ then he e=plaine+6 3If -e o to trial, yo0ll ha%e to testify" An+ that -ill lea%e yo opento &ross:e=a#ination abot other thins?4

Those 3other thins4 -ere all the -il+ stories that ha+ &ir&late+ for years abot #yha&'in, the r#ors that I ha+ otten into the CIA, the 2BI, an+ e%en NORAD" Not to #ention the

#any other thins I had +one in #y ha&'in &areer bt not been &hare+ -ith6 #aniplatin phone&o#pany s-it&hes all a&ross A#eri&a; ettin infor#ation fro# the California DM5; tappin intoan 2BI infor#ant0s phone &all; listenin to %oi&e#ail #essaes of Pa&ifi& Bell se&rity aents" An+so #&h #ore"

I &ol+ see -hat Ran+olph #eant" Drin the &ross:e=a#ination by the prose&tor, I &ol+open #yself p to other &hares be&ase the o%ern#ent &ol+ as' #e anythin relate+ to #yha&'in a&ti%ities if I too' the stan+" We +i+n0t really -ant to et into all of that"

8o I too' the plea, -ith ter#s m*ch better than those of the oriinal plea I ha+ been offere+nearly three years earlier"

As for #y &on+itions of sper%ise+ release, for three years I -ol+n0t be per#itte+ to to&hany ele&troni& +e%i&es, s&h as a &o#pter, &ell phone, fa= #a&hine, paer, -or+ pro&essor, an+ so

on, -ithot the prior -ritten per#ission of #y Probation Offi&er" E%en -orse, I -as forbi++en toa&&ess a &o#pter thro*gh a third #arty" The o%ern#ent +i+n0t e%en -ant #e to #a'e an airlinereser%ation -ithot as'in per#ission first" 8o ho-, I -on+ere+, -as I sppose+ to fin+ -or'H I



also -ol+n0t be able to a&t as a &onsltant in any &o#pter:relate+ a&ti%ity" The #any, #any&on+itions pla&e+ on #y release see#e+ nreasonably harsh, an+ a n#ber of the# -ere so broa+that I -orrie+ I #iht %iolate the# ina+%ertently"

The o%ern#ent set these broa+ &on+itions not only to pnish #e, bt also be&ase they-ere tryin to &o%er all the bases to pre%ent #e fro# fin+in loopholes, -ays aron+ therestri&tions"

In the en+, on Mar&h *9, *, I sine+ the +eal" The prose&tion this ti#e -as -illin to o-ith a 3bin+in4 plea aree#ent, -hi&h #eant that >+e Pfael<er -ol+ ha%e to senten&e #e to thearee+ ter#s, or I &ol+ -ith+ra- #y plea an+ o to trial" I ple+ ilty to se%en &onts han+pi&'e+

by o%ern#ent prose&tors in Northern an+ 8othern California other 1ris+i&tions also -ante+ a pie&e of #e, -hi&h in&l+e+ -ire fra+ so&ial:enineerin people o%er the phone into sen+in #esor&e &o+e, &o#pter fra+ &opyin sor&e &o+e, possession of a&&ess +e%i&es pass-or+s, an+inter&eption of +ata &o##ni&ations installin net-or' sniffers to rab pass-or+s"

Drin the settle#ent +is&ssions, the prose&tion as'e+ for *"J #illion in restittion pay#ents" 2ortnately, 2e+eral lare@ire+ the &ort to ta'e into a&&ont #y ability to pay, so e%enthoh >+e Pfael<er srely -ante+ to &o#e +o-n har+ on #e, she ha+ to ta'e #y potentialearnins into &onsi+eration" Be&ase of #y oneros &on+itions of release, the Probation Offi&e

&al&late+ that I -ol+ be able to et only a #ini##:-ae 1ob li'e flippin brers" 8o >+ePfael<er base+ the a#ont of #y restittion on the Probation Offi&e0s pro1e&tion of #y earnin#ini## -ae o%er a three:year perio+" Instea+ of the #illions propose+ earlier, I -as or+ere+ to

pay ,*(J"After #y release, I as'e+ #y +a+ to pt #y Lo#po& Prison ID &ar+ p for a&tion on eBay

for #e" When eBay a+#inistrators yan'e+ it +o-n be&ase it +i+n0t #eet the &o#pany0s3&o##nity stan+ar+s,4 they +i+ #e a he fa%or" That a&t enerate+ a #e+ia fee+in fren<y" Thestory -as @ir'y enoh that it be&a#e a top ne-s ite# on CNN" I then pt the &ar+ on A#a<on,-here it -as on&e aain yan'e+ for the same reason than' yo, A#a<on" A y in Erope finallysnappe+ it p for a -hoppin ,)))!-ay #ore than I0+ e%er e=pe&te+ to et"

With a bi s#ile on #y fa&e, I broht the pro&ee+s into the Probation Offi&e, alon -iththe e=tra *(J, an+ pai+ off the restittion or+er" I li'e to thin' that #a+e #y Lo#po& ID a sort of3et ot of 1ail free4 &ar+"

The o%ern#ent -as frios o%er that little stnt6 the Brea of Prisons pbli&ly state+ thatthe &ar+ -as 3or property,4 an+ trie+ to fire ot a -ay to sei<e the #oney" I ne%er hear+ another-or+ abot it"

On Ast , *, I -as offi&ially senten&e+ to an a++itional forty:si= #onths in &sto+y,&onse&ti%e to the t-enty:t-o #onths I re&ei%e+ for %iolatin #y sper%ise+ release an+ #a'infree &elllar phone &alls" 8in&e I0+ alrea+y spent for an+ a half years in 1ail -aitin, #y ti#e -asal#ost p"

8e%eral -ee's later I -as transferre+ to the 2e+eral Corre&tional Instittion in Lo#po&,

-here I -as #et by a trio of #en in sits" I0+ fin+ ot later that they -ere the nit #anaer, the&aptain the hea+ of se&rity for the prison, an+ an asso&iate -ar+en" I 'ne- this probably -asn0t-hat happene+ to e%ery arri%in prisoner"

It trne+ ot they -ere there to -arn #e to stay a-ay fro# &o#pters an+ telephones" If Istarte+ #essin aron+ -ith the e@ip#ent, they sai+, 3There -ill be hell to pay4

Then I -as tol+ I ha+ to fin+ a 1ob in the prison -ithin se%enty:t-o hors, or they -ol+fin+ one for #e!3an+ it -on0t be %ery pleasant"4

A &on%ersation -ith another prisoner trne+ p the interestin ne-s that there -as anopenin for an in#ate in the Tele&o# Depart#ent"

3Do yo ha%e any e=perien&e -ith phones, Mitni&'H4 the sper%isor as'e+" 3Not too #&h,4 I sai+" 3I 'no- ho- to pl it into a 1a&'" Bt +on0t -orry, I0# a @i&'

learner"4 /e offere+ to train #e" 2or t-o +ays, #y prison 1ob at Lo#po& -as installin an+ repairin the prison0s telephones"



On the thir+ +ay, the PA syste# blare+, 4Mitnick to the =nit Manager/s o$$ice. Mitnick to the

=nit Manager/s o$$ice.6

That +i+n0t son+ oo+" When I ot there, I -as aain &onfronte+ by the three sits of #y3-el&o#in &o##ittee,4 an+ they -ere li%i+" I trie+ to point ot that they ha+ or+ere+ #e to fin+ a

1ob, an+ the sper%isor of the Tele&o# Depart#ent ha+ ta'en #e on"They -ere pisse+"

2or the ne=t se%eral -ee's, #y ne- 1ob -as one of the -orst in the prison6 in the 'it&hen,-ashin pots an+ pans" On >anary (*, ())), in the early:#ornin hors, I -as ta'en to Re&ei%in an+ Dis&hare" Iha+ ser%e+ #y ti#e an+ -as p for release" Bt I -as stresse+"

A fe- #onths before, a California 8tate &ase aainst #e, for atte#ptin to tri&' the DM5into sen+in #e photoraphs of >oseph Wernle, >oseph Ways, an+ Eri& /ein< a'a >stin Petersen,ha+ been +is#isse+, bt it ha+ left #e feelin neasy" As I -aite+ to be set free, I -orrie+ that so#eother state or 2e+eral aen&y #iht be lyin in -ait otsi+e the ates to arrest #e" I0+ hear+ of

prisoners bein release+ only to be pi&'e+ p for so#ethin else the #o#ent they ot ot the +oor" I pa&e+ ner%osly ba&' an+ forth in the hol+in &ell, -aitin"

When I finally -al'e+ ot of Lo#po&, I &ol+ har+ly belie%e I -as free to o" My #o# an+

Ant Chi&'ie -ere there to pi&' #e p" My +a+ ha+ -ante+ to &o#e, bt he ha+ sffere+ a #il+heart atta&' an+ ha+ a re&ent triple bypass that en+e+ in a se%ere staph infe&tion, so he &ol+n0t#a'e it" A #ass of reporters an+ &a#era &re-s -ere there" Eri& Corley an+ a lare, e=&ite+ &ro-+ of32ree $e%in4 fans -ere there, as -ell" As -e stoo+ tal'in, the prison sent ot &haser %ehi&les tore s farther fro# the prison ron+s" Bt I +i+n0t &are" I felt li'e a ne- #an" Wol+ -hat layahea+ be a repetition of #y pastH Or so#ethin @ite +ifferentH

As it trne+ ot, -hat lay ahea+ -as a -hole ne- life I &ol+ ne%er ha%e i#aine+"



THIRT(4EIGHT



Af#e5a#h8 A Re*e%a& of Fo#!ne

88::8:8 8:888:: 88:888 8:8:8:888:8::8:

8:8:88:88::8 :8::88:88::8 :8:888 :88:

I t/s a chaenge to descrie my i$e since waking o*t o$ #rison, *t the story wo*d not e

com#ete witho*t this *#date"In Mar&h ())), t-o #onths after #y release, a letter arri%e+ fro# 8enator 2re+ Tho#pson,

as'in #e if I -ol+ fly to Washinton to testify before the 8enate Co##ittee on 7o%ern#entalAffairs" I -as srprise+, +elihte+, an+ flattere+ that they re&oni<e+ an+ respe&te+ #y &o#pters'ills enoh to -ant to hear #y i+eas abot ho- to prote&t the o%ern#ent0s &o#pter syste#s an+

net-or's" I ha+ to as' the Probation Offi&e for per#ission to tra%el to Washinton, DC; I i#aine I#st ha%e been one of the fe- people n+er the Offi&e 1ris+i&tion, if not the only one e%er, -hoa%e 3testifyin before a 8enate &o##ittee4 as a reason for re@estin tra%el per#ission"

The topi& -as to be 3Cyber Atta&'6 Is the 7o%ern#ent 8afeH4 My &lose frien+ an+ spporter>a&' Biello ha+ a oo+ -ay -ith -or+s an+ helpe+ #e &raft #y -ritten testi#ony"

We0%e all seen &o##ittee #eetins on C:8PAN, bt bein shere+ in an+ sittin there, infront of that raise+ platfor#, -ith the fa#iliar fa&es of nationally 'no-n politi&al lea+ers peerin+o-n at yo, rea+y to soa' p yor -or+s!-ell, the e=perien&e has a #ai&al @ality abot it"

The roo# -as pa&'e+" I -as the lea+ -itness in a hearin &haire+ by 8enator 2re+Tho#pson, -ith a panel that in&l+e+ 8enators >oseph Lieber#an an+ >ohn E+-ar+s" Thohner%os at first -hen rea+in #y testi#ony, I felt a floo+ of &onfi+en&e sre throh #e -hen the

FUA starte+" M&h to #y o-n srprise, I apparently +i+ an i#pressi%e 1ob, e%en offerin so#e 1o'es an+ bein re-ar+e+ -ith lahter" The te=t of #y re#ar's is a%ailable online athttp6hsa&"senate"o%))())Z#itni&'"ht#"

2ollo-in #y testi#ony, 8enator Lieber#an as'e+ a @estion abot #y history of ha&'in" Irespon+e+ by tal'in abot ho- #y #oti%e ha+ been to learn, not to profit or &ase har#, an+#entione+ the &ase of that IR8 aent, Ri&har+ C<bins'i, -hose &on%i&tion ha+ been o%ertrne+-hen the &ort a&&epte+ his ar#ent that he ha+ a&&esse+ infor#ation only ot of &riosity; hene%er inten+e+ to se or +is&lose the infor#ation"

Lieber#an, ob%iosly i#presse+ by #y testi#ony an+ by #y referen&e to a leal pre&e+ent Iha+ #yself n&o%ere+, seste+ that I shol+ be&o#e a la-yer"

3With #y felony &on%i&tion, it0s nli'ely I0+ be a+#itte+ to the Bar,4 I sai+" 3Bt #aybe one+ay yo0ll be in a position to par+on #e4

That +re- a bi lah" It -as as if a #ai& +oor ha+ opene+" People starte+ &allin #e for spea'in enae#ents"My &areer options see#e+ to be so se%erely li#ite+ by the &on+itions of #y release that I ha+ beennear +espair" An+ no-, after #y &onressional testi#ony, the possibility of a l&rati%e spea'in&areer -as s++enly ta'in shape"

The only troble -as, I ha+ terrible stae friht It too' #ore hors than I0+ li'e tore#e#ber, an+ #any thosan+s of +ollars pai+ to a spea'in &oa&h, to help #e o%er&o#e this fear"

As part of #y fearfl in+&tion into pbli& spea'in, I 1oine+ the lo&al Toast#asters rop"Ironi&ally, their #eetins -ere hel+ at 7eneral Telephone0s #ain offi&es in Thosan+ Oa's, -here

I0+ on&e -or'e+ e%er so briefly" My Toast#aster0s %isitor pass a%e #e nfettere+ a&&ess to theoffi&es insi+e the bil+in" I &ol+n0t help bt s#ile e%ery ti#e I -al'e+ in, thin'in abot ho-&o#pletely frea'e+ ot the fol's in 8e&rity -ol+ be if they only 'ne-" One of the inter%ie-



re@ests I re&ei%e+ aron+ this ti#e -as fro# the ."8" Co##ission on National 8e&rity in theT-enty:first Centry, a thin' tan' that presents se&rity re&o##en+ations to Conress an+ thePresi+ent" A pair of #en fro# the Depart#ent of Defense, representin the &o##ission, &a#e to #yapart#ent in Thosan+ Oa's an+ spent t-o +ays as'in #e ho- o%ern#ent an+ #ilitary &o#pternet-or's &ol+ be #a+e #ore se&re"

To #y srprise, I -as also in%ite+ to appear on a n#ber of ne-s sho-s an+ tal' sho-s"

8++enly I -as a 'in+ of #e+ia &elebrity, i%in inter%ie-s to lea+in international pbli&ationsin&l+in the &ashington 2ost, Fores, Newsweek, 'ime, the &a Street ?o*rna , an+ the 3*ardian"The online site Brill0s Content as'e+ #e to -rite a #onthly &ol#n" 8in&e I -asn0t allo-e+any-here near a &o#pter, the people at Brill0s sai+ they -ol+ be -illin to a&&ept #y +rafts inlonhan+"

Mean-hile, other nsal 1ob offers &a#e porin in as -ell" A se&rity &o#pany -ante+#e to ser%e on its a+%isory boar+, an+ Para#ont 8t+ios in%ite+ #e to &onslt on a possible ne-tele%ision series"

On hearin abot these offers, ho-e%er, #y Probation Offi&er, Larry /a-ley, infor#e+ #ethat I &ol+ not -rite arti&les abot &o#pter te&hnoloy or parti&ipate in any other 'in+ of -or' in-hi&h the topi& -as e%en +is&sse+" /e insiste+ that the Probation Offi&e &onsi+ere+ all s&h -or'

to be 3&o#pter &onsltin,4 -hi&h I -as not allo-e+ to +o -ithot his e=press per#ission" I&ontere+ that -ritin abot a sb1e&t +i+n0t #ean I -as a &onsltant" The arti&les -ere inten+e+ forthe eneral pbli&" I -as +oin essentially the sa#e type of -or' that for#er ha&'er $e%in Polsenha+ +one -hile he -as on sper%ise+ release"

.n+eterre+, I soht ot leal &onsel" 8her#an Ellison, an attorney frien+, aree+ torepresent #e pro bono" Natrally, this #eant that I -ol+ ha%e to plea+ #y &ase before >+ePfael<er" Or #ore re&ent three:year:lon 1+i&ial relationship ha+ not +one #&h to i#pro%e or#tal rear+" Neither of s -as la+ to see the other"

3The Cort ha+ no +obt that -e -ol+ be ettin toether -ith Mr" Mitni&' aain,4 >+ePfael<er sai+" What she #eant, of &orse, -as that she ha+ been e=pe&tin #e to be broht in onne- &hares, or for %iolatin the ter#s of #y sper%ise+ release" Bt in the en+, she #a+e it &learthat the attorneys -ol+ ha%e to -or' it ot a#on the#sel%es an+ stresse+ that she +i+ not -ant tosee #e ba&' in her &ortroo#" 8he -as ob%iosly tire+ of the Mitni&' &ase"

The Probation Offi&e ot the #essae6 3Be a bit #ore fle=ible in the Mitni&' &ase so he+oesn0t en+ p on &alen+ar aain"4 The Probation Offi&e starte+ bein #ore reasonable an+a&&o##o+atin to-ar+ #e"

In the fall of ())), 1st after I finishe+ an inter%ie- on Bill /an+el0s %ery poplar #orninsho- on Los Aneles ra+io station $2I:AM 9), I spo'e -ith the station0s prora# +ire&tor, Da%i+7" /all" /e e=plaine+ that internationally syn+i&ate+ tal':sho- host Art Bell -ol+ be retirin soonan+ -ante+ to sest #e to the syn+i&ator, Pre#ier Ra+io Net-or's, as his possible repla&e#ent"What an a#a<in &o#pli#ent I -as stnne+" I a+#itte+ that I ha+ no e=perien&e in hostin tal'

ra+io an+ in fa&t ha+ har+ly e%er listene+ to those sho-s #yself, bt I sai+ I -as -illin to i%e it atry"A fe- +ays later, I a+itione+ as a est host on the 'im O Nei sho-, an+ Da%i+ offere+ #e

#y o-n sho-, to be &alle+ 'he Darkside o$ the -nternet " Later I broht in #y &lose frien+ Ale=$aspera%i&is to &ohost -ith #e" We e=pose+ the +ar' &orners of the Internet, tellin listeners ho-to prote&t their pri%a&y, an+ ans-erin listeners0 &all:in @estions on ho- to best se&re their

personal &o#pters, a#on other thins, an+ tal'e+ abot all 'in+s of &ool sites an+ ser%i&es that-ere appearin online"

Da%i+ /all, a re&oni<e+ lea+er in ra+io prora##in, a%e #e only three -or+s of a+%i&e6the sho- #st be entertaining, reevant , an+ in$ormative" Riht a-ay, I in%ite+ on ests li'e 8te%eWo<nia', >ohn Draper, an+ e%en porn star Danni Ashe, -ho too' her top off in the st+io to sho- s

all ho- hot she -as" Listen p, /o-ar+ 8tern, I0# follo-in in yor footstepsBe&ase I still -asn0t allo-e+ to se a &o#pter, the station -as 'in+ enoh to pro%i+e #e

-ith a pro+&ers&reener -ho -ol+ o beyon+ that 1ob0s typi&al +ties an+ help #e -ith #y



Internet resear&h" The hor:lon sho- aire+ e%ery 8n+ay" Drin that hor, the station -ent fro# bein forteenth in the Arbitron ratins to se&on+" An+ +efyin the ass#ptions that >+e Pfael<erha+ se+ to &al&late the +ollar a#ont of #y restittion, I earne+ *,))) for ea&h sho-"

Drin #y stint as a tal' sho- host, >" >" Abra#s, the fa#os fil# an+ tele%ision pro+&er,&onta&te+ #e" /e sai+ he -as a fan an+ ha+ e%en pla&e+ a 32ree $e%in4 b#per sti&'er on a set inhis hit tele%ision series Feicity" After -e #et at a st+io in Brban', he in%ite+ #e to +o a s#all

&a#eo as an 2BI aent on his sho- Aias, as an in:1o'e" In a s&ript &hane, I en+e+ p as a CIAaent -or'in aainst the trea&heros 8D9"

The 2e+eral o%ern#ent refse+ to i%e #e per#ission to type on a -or'in &o#pter forthe s&ene, so the prop #aster ha+ to #a'e sre the 'eyboar+ -as +is&onne&te+" I appeare+ on&a#era -ith >ennifer 7arner, Mi&hael 5artan, an+ 7re 7rnber" It -as a-eso#e!one of the#ost en1oyable e=perien&es I0%e e%er ha+"

Aron+ the s##er of ())*, I ot a phone &all fro# a #an na#e+ E++ie M`o<, -ho 'ne-of #y past ha&'in e=ploits an+ -ante+ to hire #e to fi= a rather nsal proble#" /is hihlys&&essfl ser%i&e in pro%i+in 3+an&ers4 a%ailable on &all in Las 5eas ha+ +roppe+ off %erysinifi&antly" E++ie felt &ertain that the Mafia ha+ ha&'e+ 8print0s phone s-it&h an+ reprora##e+it so that #ost of the &alls to E++ie0s ser%i&e -ol+ be +i%erte+ to other &all:irl ser%i&es rn by the

Mob"M`o< ha+ file+ a &o#plaint -ith the Pbli& .tilities Co##ission P.C aainst 8print,

&lai#in that his bsiness -as sfferin be&ase the &o#pany ha+ not se&re+ its infrastr&tre properly aainst ha&'ers" /e -ante+ to hire #e as an e=pert -itness for the &o##ission hearin"Initially I -as s'epti&al that 8print -as at falt for E++ie0s +e&linin re%ene, bt I aree+ to testifyabot the &o#pany0s %lnerabilities"

Drin the hearin, I +es&ribe+ ho- I ha+ been ha&'in into phone &o#panies for years,in&l+in 8print" I e=plaine+ that the CALR8 syste# 8print se+ for testin -as si#ilar to Pa&ifi&Bell0s 8A8, bt -ith -hat I thoht -as e%en better se&rity6 anyone tryin to a&&ess the re#oteCALR8 test nits in ea&h &entral offi&e ha+ to i%e the &orre&t response to a &hallene in or+er toet a&&ess" The syste# -as prora##e+ -ith a h*ndred +ifferent &hallenes!+oble +iits fro#)) to , ea&h of -hi&h ha+ its o-n response of for he= &hara&ters s&h as bKa9 or ++&" /ar+ to&ra&'? e=&ept throh -iretappin or so&ial enineerin"

The -ay I0+ otten aron+ it, I tol+ the &o##ission, -as by &allin the #anfa&trer of thesyste#, Northern Tele&o#, &lai#in to be -ith 8print0s Enineerin Depart#ent, an+ sayin I -as

bil+in a &sto# testin tool that nee+e+ to &o##ni&ate -ith the CALR8 test nits in ea&h&entral offi&e" The te&hni&ian fa=e+ #e the 38ee+ List4 of all one hn+re+ &hallenes an+ responses"

One of 8print0s attorneys &hallene+ #y testi#ony6 3Mr" Mitni&' is a so&ial enineer, lyin-as part of his sto&':in:tra+e, an+ yo &an0t belie%e anythin he says"4 Not only +i+ he absoltely+eny that 8print ha+ been ha&'e+ or &ol+ be ha&'e+ in the ftre, bt he pointe+ ot that I0+literally -ritten 3the boo' on lyin46 'he Art o$ Dece#tion abot -hi&h, #ore in a #o#ent"

One of the P.C staffers &onfronte+ #e, sayin, 3Yo ha%e offere+ all these &lai#s btha%en0t offere+ a shre+ of e%i+en&e" Do yo ha%e any -ay of pro%in 8print &an be ha&'e+H4It -as a lon shot, bt there -as 1st a &han&e I #iht be able to pro%e it" Drin the ln&h

brea', I -ent to a storae lo&'er I ha+ opene+ -hile in Las 5eas 1st before oin on the rn" It-as &ra##e+ -ith &ell phones, &hips, printots, floppy +is's, an+ #ore!stff I &ol+n0t ta'e -ith#e bt +i+n0t -ant to lose an+ &ol+n0t ris' lea%in at #y #o#0s or 7ra#0s, -here the 2e+s #ihtsho- p -ith a sear&h -arrant an+ fin+ it all"

In&re+ibly, in that bi pilep of ol+ oo+s, I fon+ -hat I -as loo'in for6 a sheet of paper, by no- tattere+, +o:eare+, an+ +sty, &ontainin the CALR8 8ee+ List" On #y -ay ba&' to thehearin roo#, I stoppe+ at a $in'o0s an+ ha+ enoh &opies #a+e for the &o##issioner, la-yers,&ler', an+ staff"

$e%in Polsen, -ho by this ti#e ha+ be&o#e a hihly respe&te+ te&hnoloy reporter, ha+flo-n to Las 5eas to &o%er the hearin as a 1ornalist" /ere is -hat he -rote abot #y retrn to the-itness stan+6



3If the syste# is still in pla&e, an+ they ha%en0t &hane+ the see+ list, yo &ol+ se this toet a&&ess to CALR8,4 Mitni&' testifie+" 3The syste# -ol+ allo- yo to -iretap a line, or sei<e+ial tone"4

Mitni&'0s retrn to the hearin roo# -ith the list enerate+ a flrry of a&ti%ity at 8print0stable; Ann Ponra&<, the &o#pany0s eneral &onsel, an+ another 8print e#ployee stro+e @i&'lyfro# the roo#!Ponra&< alrea+y +ialin on a &ell phone -hile she -al'e+"

The fa&t that the t-o 8print people -ere ashen:fa&e+ as they rshe+ ot of the roo# #a+ethe sitation &lear enoh6 8print -as probably still sin the sa#e CALR8 +e%i&es, prora##e+-ith the i+enti&al 8ee+ List, an+ Ponra&< an+ her &olleae #st ha%e re&oni<e+ that I &ol+ ha&'into CALR8 anyti#e I li'e+ an+ ain the po-er to -iretap any phone in Las 5eas"

Thoh I -as %in+i&ate+, E++ie +i+n0t fare as -ell" Pro%in that 8print &ol+ be ha&'e+-asn0t the sa#e as pro%in that the Mob or anybo+y else ha+ a&tally +one any ha&'in to reroteE++ie0s flo- of &alls an+ steal bsiness fro# hi#" E++ie -as left e#pty:han+e+"

In the fall of ())*, a -hole ne- &hapter starte+ in #y life -hen I -as intro+&e+ to literaryaent Da%i+ 2ate" Da%i+ thoht #y story -as e=traor+inary" /e @i&'ly &onta&te+ >ohn Wiley U8ons an+ propose+ that I athor a boo' on so&ial enineerin to help bsinesses an+ &ons#ersali'e prote&t the#sel%es aainst the 'in+s of atta&'s I ha+ been so s&&essfl at &arryin ot" Wiley

sho-e+ enthsias# for the +eal, an+ Da%i+ re&o##en+e+ a seasone+ &oathor na#e+ Bill 8i#on to-or' -ith #e in +e%elopin the boo', -hi&h &a#e to be &alle+ 'he Art o$ Dece#tion"

2or #ost people, lan+in an aent, a &re+ite+ &oathor, an+ a leiti#ate pblishin +eal isthe #ost +iffi&lt part of ettin a boo' pblishe+" 2or #e, the @estion -as6 ho- &ol+ I -rite a

boo' -ithot a &o#pterHI loo'e+ at the stan+:alone -or+ pro&essors e%erybo+y se+ before the intro+&tion of

personal &o#pters" 8in&e they -eren0t e%en able to &o##ni&ate -ith other &o#pters, I thoht Iha+ a pretty soli+ ar#ent" 8o I presente+ it to #y Probation Offi&er"

/is ans-er -as &o#pletely ne=pe&te+" /e +is#isse+ the -or+:pro&essor i+ea an+ tol+ #e I &ol+ se a laptop &o#pter, so lon asI +i+n0t a&&ess the Internet an+ pro#ise+ to 'eep it se&ret fro# the #e+ia

While Bill an+ I -ere -ritin or boo', Eri& Corley release+ Freedom Downtime, the+o&#entary abot the 32ree $e%in4 #o%e#ent" It -ent a lon -ay to-ar+ &ontera&tin the rossina&&ra&ies of 'akedown" It e%en &ontaine+ footae in -hi&h >ohn Mar'off a+#itte+ that his sinlesor&e for &lai#in I0+ ha&'e+ into NORAD -as a &on%i&te+ phone phrea' 'no-n for sprea+infalse r#ors"

When it &a#e ot, 'he Art o$ Dece#tion @i&'ly be&a#e an international bestseller, pblishe+ in eihteen forein e+itions" E%en to+ay, years later, it0s still one of A#a<on0s #ost poplar ha&'in boo's, an+ is on the re@ire+ rea+in list in &o#pter &orses at a n#ber ofni%ersities"

Aron+ 2ebrary ()), I -as ne=pe&te+ly in%ite+ to Polan+ to pro#ote the boo'" At #y

first stop in Warsa-, #y host offere+ for se&rity ys in sits -ith 8e&ret 8er%i&eGtype hea+setsto han+le se&rity" I lahe+, thin'in it -as ri+i&los" 8rely I +i+n0t nee+ se&rity"They es&orte+ #e throh the ba&' of the bil+in into a he shoppin #all" The &hatter

ot lo+er an+ lo+er ntil -e -al'e+ ot into the #all, -here hn+re+s of fans -ere presse+ paainst a rope" When they sa- #e, they trie+ to psh for-ar+, an+ the se&rity staff ha+ to hol+the# ba&'"

Thin'in they #st ha%e #ista'en #e for so#e international &elebrity, I starte+ loo'inaron+ for the star #yself" Bt a#a<inly enoh, the &ro-+ really -as there for me"

My boo' ha+ be&o#e the n#ber:one bestsellin boo' in the entire &ontry, e%en beatinot a ne- boo' by Pope >ohn Pal II" One lo&al offere+ an e=planation6 in e=:Co##nist Polan+, ifyo beat the syste#, yo -ere &onsi+ere+ a hero

After a lifeti#e of ha&'in, al-ays -or'in either alone or -ith one partner, -ith the #ainoals of learnin #ore abot ho- &o#pter syste#s an+ tele&o##ni&ation syste#s -or'e+ an+

bein s&&essfl at ha&'in into anythin, I -as bein #obbe+ li'e a ro&' star" It -as the last thin



I0+ e%er e=pe&te+"One of the #ost personally #eaninfl #e#ories of this ti#e, ho-e%er, -as -hen the boo'

tor too' #e to Ne- Yor' an+ I finally ot to #eet the C88 spporters -ho ha+ &heere+ #ethroh so#e of #y +ar'est hors %ia the 32ree $e%in4 #o%e#ent" When I -as on #y roh ri+ethroh the &ri#inal 1sti&e syste#, it #eant the -orl+ to #e that there -as an ar#y of people-or'in tirelessly to spport #e" It a%e #e #ore hope an+ &orae than they &ol+ e%er 'no-" I

&an ne%er e=press the tre +epth of #y ratit+e to these -on+erfl people"One of the lan+#ar' #o#ents in #y life after prison ha+ to be the +ay -hen I -as finally

allo-e+ to se &o#pters aain, eight years after I -as first arreste+" It -as a festi%e +ay fille+ -ithfa#ily an+ frien+s fro# all o%er the -orl+"

A li%e &able T5 sho- &alle+ 'he Screen Savers, -ith Leo Laporte an+ Patri&' Norton, as'e+to tele%ise #y first intera&tion -ith the Internet"

On the sho- -ith #e -ere Eri& Corley, -ho ha+ hea+e+ p the 32ree $e%in4 #o%e#ent an+repeate+ly pro%e+ hi#self to be #y stan&hest spporter, an+ 8te%e Wo<nia', &ofon+er of Apple,-ho ha+ be&o#e one of #y &losest frien+s" They both &a#e on to 3help4 #e na%iate online afterso #any years a-ay"

As a srprise, the Wo< presente+ #e -ith a bran+:ne- Apple Po-erBoo' 7 -rappe+ in

paper &o%ere+ -ith a fnny &artoon of a y tryin to rea&h a &o#pter -ith a sti&' throh the barsof his 1ail &ell" In #any -ays, ettin that laptop fro# the father of the personal &o#pter -as the#o#ent I 'ne- #y life -as finally startin to trn aron+"

It has no- been ele%en years sin&e I -al'e+ ot of prison" I0%e bilt a &onsltin pra&ti&ethat pro%i+es a stea+y flo- of bsiness" It has ta'en #e to e%ery part of the .nite+ 8tates an+ e%ery&ontinent e=&ept Antar&ti&a"

My -or' to+ay is, to #e, nothin short of a #ira&le" Try to na#e so#e illeal a&ti%ity that,-ith per#ission, &an be &arrie+ ot leiti#ately an+ benefit e%eryone" Only one &o#es to #in+6ethi&al ha&'in"

I -ent to prison for #y ha&'in" No- people hire #e to +o the sa#e thins I -ent to prisonfor, bt in a leal an+ benefi&ial -ay"

I -ol+ ne%er ha%e e=pe&te+ it, bt in the years sin&e #y release, I0%e ser%e+ as a 'eynotespea'er at &ontless in+stry e%ents an+ &orporate #eetins, -ritten for the (arvard B*siness

"eview, an+ a++resse+ st+ents an+ fa&lty at the /ar%ar+ La- 8&hool" Whene%er so#e ha&'er#a'es the ne-s, I0# as'e+ to &o##ent on 2o=, CNN, or other ne-s #e+ia" I0%e appeare+ on C8

Min*tes, 3ood Morning America, an+ #any, #any other prora#s" I0%e e%en been hire+ byo%ern#ent aen&ies li'e the 2AA, the 8o&ial 8e&rity A+#inistration, an+!+espite #y &ri#inalhistory!an 2BI orani<ation, Infra7ar+"

People often as' if I0%e &o#pletely 'i&'e+ the ha&'in habit" Often I still 'eep ha&'ers0 hors!p late, eatin brea'fast -hen e%eryone else has alrea+yfinishe+ ln&h, bsy on #y &o#pter ntil three or for in the #ornin"

An+ I a# ha&'in aain? bt in a +ifferent -ay" 2or Mitni&' 8e&rity Consltin LLC, I +oethi&al ha&'in!sin #y ha&'in s'ills to test &o#panies0 se&rity +efenses by i+entifyin-ea'nesses in their physi&al, te&hni&al, an+ h#an:base+ se&rity &ontrols so they &an shore ptheir +efenses before the ba+ ys e=ploit the#" I +o this for &o#panies aron+ the lobe, an+ ha%e

been i%in so#e fifteen to t-enty &orporate 'eynotes a year" My fir# also %ets se&rity pro+&tsfor &o#panies before ne- ite#s are release+ to the #ar'et, to see if they li%e p to the &lai#s bein#a+e for the#" My &o#pany also pro%i+es se&rity a-areness trainin pri#arily fo&sin on#itiatin the threat of so&ial:enineerin atta&'s"

What I +o no- fels the sa#e passion for ha&'in I felt +rin all those years ofnathori<e+ a&&ess" The +ifferen&e &an be s##e+ p in one -or+6 a*thori1ation"

I +on0t nee+ athori<ation to et in"

It0s the -or+ that instantly transfor#s #e fro# the Worl+0s Most Wante+ /a&'er to one ofthe Most Wante+ 8e&rity E=perts in the -orl+" >st li'e #ai&"



A'KNOWLEDGMENT"

Fo5 Ke*in Mi#nick

This boo' is +e+i&ate+ to #y lo%in #other, 8helly >affe, an+ #y ran+#other Reba5artanian, -ho both sa&rifi&e+ a reat +eal for #e all #y life" No #atter -hat sitation I ot #yselfinto, #y #o# an+ 7ra# -ere al-ays there for #e, espe&ially in #y ti#es of nee+" This boo'-ol+ not ha%e been possible -ithot #y -on+erfl fa#ily, -ho ha%e i%en #e so #&hn&on+itional lo%e an+ spport throhot #y life" I a# so fortnate to ha%e been raise+ by s&h alo%in an+ +e+i&ate+ #other, -ho# I also &onsi+er #y best frien+" My #o# is s&h an a#a<in

person" 8he -ol+ i%e the shirt off her ba&' to help ot another person -ho nee+e+ it" My #o#trly &ares abot other people, e%en to the point of sa&rifi&in her o-n self:interest #&h of the

ti#e" My 7ra# is another trly a#a<in person" 8he taht #e the %ale of har+ -or' an+ preparin for the ftre, by tea&hin #e proper #oney #anae#ent li'e sa%in for a rainy +ay" 2or#y entire life, she has been li'e a se&on+ #o# to #e, i%in #e so #&h lo%e an+ spport, an+al-ays bein there for #e rear+less of #y #is&hie%os a+%entres"

In De&e#ber ()), #y #o# -as +ianose+ -ith ln &an&er an+ has been sfferin reatlyfro# the effe&ts of &he#otherapy an+ the illness itself" I +i+n0t reali<e ho- #&h ti#e I ha+ -aste+

bein a-ay fro# #y #o# ntil this trae+y happene+" As &arin an+ &o#passionate people, both#y #o# an+ 7ra# taht #e the prin&iples of &arin abot others an+ len+in a helpin han+ tothe less fortnate" An+ so, by i#itatin their pattern of i%in an+ &arin, I, in a sense, follo- the

paths of their li%es" I hope they0ll fori%e #e for +e+i&atin so #&h ti#e to -ritin this boo', passin p &han&es to play &ar+s or -at&h %i+eos -ith the# be&ase of -or' an+ +ea+lines to #eet"

I still feel +eep reret for all the stress, ner%osness, an+ ara%ation I &ase+ the# -hile I -asin%ol%e+ -ith #y ha&'in a+%entres an+ the after#ath follo-in #y arrest" No- that I0%e trne+#y life aron+ an+ &ontine to #a'e positi%e &ontribtions to the -orl+, I hope this boo' -ill brin#&h happiness to #y #other0s an+ ran+#other0s hearts an+ erase so#e of the #e#ories of theneati%e e=perien&es +es&ribe+ in these paes"

/o- I -ish #y +a+, Alan Mitni&', an+ #y half brother, A+a# Mitni&', -ol+ ha%e li%e+lon enoh to brea' open a bottle of &ha#pane -ith #e on the +ay #y #e#oir appears in the

boo'stores" Althoh #y +a+ an+ I ha+ a +iffi&lt ti#e li%in toether as father an+ son, -e ha+ lotsof reat ti#es, too, espe&ially ta'in his boat ot for fishin trips in an+ aron+ the Channel Islan+sin O=nar+, California" More i#portant, #y +a+ pro%i+e+ #e -ith lo%e an+ respe&t an+ a%e #e areat +eal of spport -hile I -as ri+in the roh roa+ throh the 2e+eral &ri#inal 1sti&e syste#"/e 1oine+ other %olnteers fro# C88 #aa<ine -hen they pi&'ete+ se%eral 2e+eral &orthoses to

protest the o%ern#ent0s han+lin of #y &ase" A fe- -ee's before I -as release+ fro# &sto+y, hesffere+ a #il+ heart atta&'" Trai&ally, his health rapi+ly +eteriorate+ after he a&@ire+ a seriosstaph infe&tion +rin his srery an+ then trne+ ot to ha%e ln &an&er, as -ell" /e passe+ a-aya year an+ a half after I -as release+" I +i+n0t reali<e ho- #&h ti#e I ha+ lost -ith #y father ntilhe -asn0t aron+ any#ore"

My ant Chi&'ie Le%enthal has al-ays been there for #e, espe&ially -hen I really nee+e+her #ost" When 2BI aents sear&he+ #y apart#ent in Calabasas in late *( -hile I -as -or'infor Telte& In%estiations, she &onta&te+ a &lose attorney frien+ of hers, >ohn Y<r+iaa, -hoenerosly pro%i+e+ leal a+%i&e an+ e%entally represente+ #e pro bono, alon -ith his partner

Ri&har+ 8teinar+" Whene%er I nee+ a+%i&e or a pla&e to stay in Manhattan Bea&h, she is al-aysthere offerin her lo%e an+ spport" I &annot foret her lonti#e boyfrien+, Dr" Bob Ber'o-it<, -hohas been li'e an n&le to #e, al-ays -illin to tal' -ith #e -hene%er I nee+ a+%i&e"



My &osin Tr+y 8pe&tor -as so 'in+ an+ eneros in allo-in #y #o# an+ ran+#otherto stay in her ho#e -hene%er they -ol+ &o##te to Los Aneles to %isit #e" 8he also allo-e+ #eto stay at her pla&e before I +e&i+e+ to +isappear after #y sper%ise+ release ha+ e=pire+" I -ish she&ol+ ha%e ha+ the opportnity to rea+ these -or+s, bt she sa+ly sffere+ a serios #e+i&al issean+ passe+ a-ay in ()*)" I feel a reat sense of loss an+ sa+ness that I lost s&h a lo%in an+ &arin

person"

My +ear frien+ Mi&hael Morris has al-ays been a tre an+ loyal frien+ to #y fa#ily an+ #e"Than' yo, Mi'e, for all yor 'in+ an+ eneros spport throhot the years" I 'no- yo0ll

personally re#e#ber a lot of the stories -ritten in these paes" I -ill al-ays &herish yorfrien+ship"

I ha%e ha+ the e=traor+inary oo+ fortne of bein tea#e+ p -ith bestsellin athor Bill8i#on on&e aain to -rite #y #e#oir" Bill0s notable s'ills as a -riter in&l+e his #ai&al ability tota'e infor#ation pro%i+e+ by #e an+ -rite it p in s&h a style an+ #anner that anyone0sran+#other &ol+ n+erstan+ it" Bill has be&o#e #ore than 1st a bsiness partner in -ritin; he isalso a &lose frien+ -ho has listene+ to #y stories, so#eti#es se%eral ti#es o%er to ensre that thestory is -ritten -ith pre&ision" Althoh -e ha+ se%eral #o#ents of frstration an+ +isaree#entsrear+in the in&lsion of te&hni&al:base+ ha&'in stories +rin the +e%elop#ent phase of this

boo', -e al-ays &o#pro#ise+ to or #tal satisfa&tion" In the en+, -e +e&i+e+ to taret a larerrea+ership that +i+n0t re@ire prere@isite 'no-le+e s&h as a+%an&e+ ha&'in or net-or'ins'ills" Besi+es -or'in -ith Bill 8i#on, I ha+ the pleasre of tea#in p -ith Donna Bee&h forso#e -or' at the en+ of the pro1e&t" It -as reat -or'in -ith her"

I0# eaer to than' those people -ho represent #y professional &areer an+ are +e+i&ate+ ine=traor+inary -ays" My literary aent, Da%i+ 2ate of Lan&hBoo's, spent a reat +eal of ti#eneotiatin the boo' &ontra&t an+ a&tin as a liaison -ith the pblisher, Little, Bro-n" My spea'inaent, A#y 7ray, -ith Ne- Leaf 8pea'ers, has represente+ #e for al#ost a +e&a+e" 8he hasthohtflly an+ +iliently -or'e+ -ith &ontless &lients throhot the -orl+ -ho hire+ #e to'eynote at their e%ents" 8he has +one an+ &ontines to +o an a-eso#e 1ob as #y aent" Than' yo,A#y" An+ al-ays re#e#ber!Al#ost 2a#os ;:

I0# ratefl to ha%e ha+ the opportnity to -or' -ith Little, Bro-n on +e%elopin thise=&itin pro1e&t" I -ish to than' #y e+itor, >ohn Parsley, for all his har+ -or' an+ reat a+%i&e onthis pro1e&t" Than' yo, >ohn" It -as a pleasre #eetin yo -hile I -as in Ne- Yor'"

I -ish to than' #y &hil+hoo+ hero 8te%e Wo<nia' for spen+in his %alable ti#e in penninthe fore-or+ for #y #e#oir" This is the se&on+ fore-or+ that 8te%e has ra&iosly -ritten for #e"The first one -as pblishe+ in 'he Art o$ Dece#tion Wiley Pblishin, In&", ())(" I0ll ne%er foretthat 3ettin off sper%ise+ release4 ift yo a%e #e on 'he Screen Savers sho-!a bran+:ne-Po-erBoo' 7" It -as an a#a<in ift that left a s#ile on #y fa&e for #onths" I al-ays loo'for-ar+ to hanin ot -ith 8te%e +rin or tra%els" We both try to %isit the /ar+ Ro&' CafV ine%ery forein &ontry -e %isit an+ &olle&t the T:shirts" Than' yo, 8te%e, for bein s&h a reat

frien+" An+ of &orse, I ha%e to than' #y for#er irlfrien+ Dar&i Woo+ for all her lo%e, spport,an+ +e%otion in the ti#e -e -ere toether" .nfortnately, so#eti#es relationships +on0t -or' otfor one reason or another" Rear+less, it0s &o#fortin to still ha%e Dar&i as a loyal an+ trste+frien+" No- I 1st nee+ her to sin a ba&'+ate+ Non:Dis&losre Aree#ent fro# the +ay -e #et an+e%erythin -ill be 1st fine >st 'i++in, Dar&i" Or #aybe not"

>a&' Biello -as a &lose frien+ an+ &arin person -ho spo'e ot aainst the e=traor+inary#istreat#ent I en+re+ at the han+s of 1ornalists an+ o%ern#ent prose&tors" /e -as a 'ey %oi&ein the 32ree $e%in4 #o%e#ent an+ a -riter -ho ha+ an e=traor+inary talent for -ritin &o#pellinarti&les e=posin infor#ation that the o%ern#ent +i+n0t -ant people to 'no- abot the $e%inMitni&' &ase" >a&' -as al-ays there to fearlessly spea' ot on #y behalf an+ to -or' toether -ith

#e preparin spee&hes an+ arti&les" At one point, he e%en represente+ #e as a #e+ia liaison" >a&'0s passin, -hile Bill an+ I -ere finishin p the #ans&ript for 'he Art o$ Dece#tion, left #e feelina reat sense of loss an+ sa+ness" Althoh it0s been al#ost nine years no-, >a&' is al-ays in #y



thohts"Althoh #y frien+ Ale= $aspera%i&is -as ne%er really a ha&', he -as al-ays -illin to

be broht into #y ha&'in pro1e&ts, sally to parti&ipate in so#e e=&itin so&ial:enineerin pro1e&t" Later -e +e%elope+ a so&ial:enineerin -or'shop to help bsinesses i+entify an+ #itiatethe ris' of so&ial:enineerin atta&'s, an+ +eli%ere+ these -or'shops at bsinesses aron+ thelobe" We e%en ha+ the honor of trainin the 2AA 2e+eral A%iation A+#inistration in O'laho#a

City" In late ())), -e hoste+ a poplar Internet tal' ra+io sho- &alle+ 'he Darkside o$ the -nterneton $2I:AM 9) in Los Aneles" Than' yo, Ale=" Yo ha%e been a loyal an+ trste+ frien+"

Eri& Corley a'a E##anel 7ol+stein has been a frien+ an+ spporter for al#ost t-o+e&a+es" /e lan&he+ the 32ree $e%in4 #o%e#ent in early * after I ha+ been +etaine+ for o%erthree years" Eri& &ontribte+ sbstantial effort, ti#e, an+ #oney in ettin the -or+ ot +rin #yin&ar&eration in 2e+eral +etention" /e also &reate+ a +o&#entary entitle+ Freedom Downtime,release+ in ())*, -hi&h +o&#ente+ the 32ree $e%in4 #o%e#ent an+ e%en -on an a-ar+ for best+o&#entary at a Ne- Yor' fil# festi%al" Eri&, yor 'in+ness, enerosity, an+ frien+ship #ean #oreto #e than -or+s &an e=press" Than' yo for e%erythin an+ for bein there for #e"

I -ant to a&'no-le+e #y e=:ha&'in partner Le-is De Payne for ta'in the ti#e to refresh#y #e#ory on se%eral past ha&'in a+%entres that -e both parti&ipate+ in" Than' yo, Le-is" It

has been a lon an+ &ra<y a+%entre for both of s an+ I trly -ish yo the best"My &lose frien+ Christine Marie assiste+ #e -ith the initial roh +raft of the After-or+

in&l+e+ at the en+ of the boo'" Than' yo, Christine, for yor parti&ipation an+ effort"I -ish to than' #y &lose frien+s $at an+ Matt Waen'ne&ht for -or'in -ith #e to +e%elop

the &o+es that appear at the beinnin of ea&h &hapter" 7reat -or' Let0s see ho- #any rea+ers areable to sol%e the p<<les an+ -in so#e pri<es"

I -ish to than' >ari To##inen for allo-in #e to se a photo he ha+ ta'en of #e in/elsin'i, 2inlan+, for the 3host in the &ires boo' 1a&'et"

I -ant to a&'no-le+e #y frien+ an+ se&rity e=pert Da%i+ $enne+y, -ho -as 'in+ enohto re%ie- a se&tion of this boo' an+ pro%i+e #e -ith oo+ a+%i&e"

Than' yo, Alan L&'o-, for allo-in #e to in&l+e in #y boo' a pi&tre of the +ra-inyo #a+e, -hi&h -as on the ift -rappin that &o%ere+ the bo= that &ontaine+ the ApplePo-erBoo' 7 that 8te%e Wo<nia' a%e #e on 'he Screen Savers sho-"

Than's to the so&ial:net-or'in site T-itter, I -as able to fin+ a fe- %olnteers -illin tota'e so#e photoraphs for the boo'" I -ish to than' Ni&' Arnott, 8hellee /ale, >ohn Lester, a'aCont [ero, Mi&helle Ta&'abery, an+ se%eral others for their 'in+ &ontribtions an+ for %olnteerintheir ti#e" 2or those of yo -ho -ish to follo- #e on T-itter, please %isitt-itter"&o#'e%in#itni&'"

I -ant to than' #y for#er 2e+eral prose&tor, Da%i+ 8&hin+ler, -ho -as 'in+ enoh tota'e the ti#e to allo- #e to inter%ie- hi# for #y boo'"

I also -ish to than' >stin Petersen, a'a Eri& /ein<, an+ Ronal+ Mar' Astin, -ho -ere

'in+ enoh to allo- #e to inter%ie- the# for #y boo'" A short ti#e after Bill 8i#on an+ Iinter%ie-e+ >stin Petersen, he -as fon+ +e&ease+ in his apart#ent in West /olly-oo+, possibly be&ase of a +r o%er+ose" It0s a sha#e he sffere+ the sa#e fate as #y brother, -ho ha+ #einitiate &onta&t -ith Petersen -hen >stin -as sin the alias Eri& /ein<"

An+ as I -rite these a&'no-le+#ents, I reali<e I ha%e so #any people to than' an+ toe=press appre&iation to for offerin their lo%e, frien+ship, an+ spport" I &annot bein to re#e#berthe na#es of all the 'in+ an+ eneros people I0%e #et in re&ent years, bt sffi&e it to say, I -ol+nee+ a flash +ri%e to store the# all" There ha%e been so #any people fro# all o%er the -orl+ -hoha%e -ritten #e -or+s of en&orae#ent, praise, an+ spport" These -or+s ha%e #eant a reat +ealto #e, espe&ially +rin the ti#es I nee+e+ it #ost"

I0# espe&ially than'fl to C88 an+ all #y spporters -ho stoo+ by #e an+ spent their

%alable ti#e an+ enery ettin the -or+ ot to anyone -ho -ol+ listen, %oi&in their &on&erno%er an+ ob1e&tions to #y nfair treat#ent an+ the hyperbole &reate+ by those -ho soht to profitfro# the 3Myth of $e%in Mitni&'"4



I0%e ha+ too #any e=perien&es -ith la-yers, bt I a# eaer to e=press #y than's to thela-yers -ho, +rin the years of #y neati%e intera&tions -ith the &ri#inal 1sti&e syste#, steppe+p an+ offere+ to help #e -hen I -as in +esperate nee+" I ha%e &o#e to respe&t, a+#ire, an+appre&iate the 'in+ness an+ enerosity of spirit i%en to #e so freely by so #any" I -ish to than'7re A&lin, 2ran Ca#pbell, Robert Car#er, Debbie Droo<, >ohn Dsenbry, 8her#an Ellison,O#ar 2ieroa, >i# 2ren&h, Carolyn /ain, Rob /ale, Barry Lanber, Da%i+ Mahler, Ralph

Peret<, Mi&helle Cars-ell Prit&har+, Donal+ C" Ran+olph, Tony 8erra, 8'ip 8lates, Ri&har+8teinar+, the /onorable Robert Tal&ott, Barry Tarlo-, 7reory 5inson, an+ >ohn Y<r+iaa"

Fo5 Bi&& "i5on

In #y A&'no-le+#ents for 'he Art o$ Dece#tion, I -rote abot $e%in that 3this is not a-or' of fi&tion, althoh the &entral fire &ol+ be one I #iht in%ent for a s&reenplay thriller" I

bilt for this one:of:a:'in+ &oathor a %ery healthy respe&t"4 An+ I &o##ente+ that 3his -or'instyle +iffers fro# #ine so ra+i&ally that one #iht -on+er ho- -e &ol+ ha%e &oathore+ a boo'an+ &o#e ot plannin to +o other pro1e&ts toether" We ha%e both stret&he+ an+ learne+ an+ fon+

pleasre in the intensely har+ -or' of trnin his 'no-le+e an+ e=perien&es into a fn rea+"4Thoh this, or thir+ boo' toether, has been by far the har+est on or frien+ship, I0# happy toreport that the frien+ship an+ #tal respe&t sr%i%e+ an+ strenthene+ +espite the san+paper

fri&tions of the pro&ess" I e=pe&t that this boo' -ill last a lon ti#e; I e=pe&t or frien+ship -ill lastas lon or e%en loner"

It -ol+ be har+ to beat the talents of >ohn Parsley as an e+itor" 8pporti%e bt +e#an+in, brinin ot the best, al-ays there -hen yo nee+ hi#" >ohn0s i+an&e has #a+e this a better boo', an+ I0# in his +ebt" /is esti#able &hief &opye+itor, Pey 2re+enthal, pro%e+ to be a&ha#pion!pttin p -ith a &hallenin tas', perfor#in peerlessly, an+ ne%er losin her &ool;$e%in an+ I are both in+ebte+ to her"

It0s ne%er easy to finish a boo' -ithot ha%in #y -ife an+ &o#panion of so #any years,the #ltitalente+ Arynne 8i#on, spportin #e, &heerin #e on, #a'in #e -or' 1st a littlehar+er on fin+in the riht phrase" Bt her s#iles still 'eep #e oin"

Aents Bill 7la+stone an+ Da%i+ 2ate both ha+ a han+ in #a'in this pro1e&t &o#etoether" A tip of the hat to yo both" In a++ition to the inpt fro# $e%in, I0# ratefl to those others -ho helpe+ fill in parts ofthe story!in parti&lar $e%in0s #other, 8helly >affe, an+ his ran+#other Reba 5artanian; his e=,Bonnie; Assistant ."8" Attorney Da%i+ 8&hin+ler; $e%in Polsen; for#er Pa&ifi& Bell 8e&rityIn%estiator Darrell 8antos; for#er Dete&ti%e, no- Chief Da%i+ 8i#on, Los Aneles 8heriff0sDepart#ent an+ #y t-in brother" The boo' is ri&her for their -illinness to share" Bt I espe&ially-ant to a&'no-le+e the late >stin Petersen, a'a Eri& /ein<, -ho -as forth&o#in in -ays that-ent beyon+ #y e=pe&tations"

I espe&ially -ant to re&oni<e 8hel+on Ber#ont for his &ontribtions to this boo'" An+ toran+&hil+ren 5in&ent an+ Elena Ber#ont, -hose s#iles an+ enthsias#s ha%e helpe+ 'eep #e in a

happy #oo+"2inally!last #entione+, a pla&e of honor!I e=ten+ a +eep bo- to Charlotte 8&h-art<, -ho#a'es all the +ifferen&e"



Me in #y pre:ha&'in +ays, aron+ ae nine, -hen #y hobby -as perfor#in #ai& tri&'sShey ?a$$e



Me at ae t-enty:one, -ith #y #other in 8to&'ton, California, *



With bri+e Bonnie 5itello at or -e++in re&eption, >ne *K



My ha&'in partner Le-is De Payne, aron+ the ti#e he an+ I first #et >stin Petersen, a'aEri& /ein<, *( Virgi Kas#eravici*s



>stin Petersen a'a Eri& /ein< -hile -or'in as an 2BI infor#ant tryin to ather e%i+en&eaainst #e, *( %o*nt 7ero aka ?ohn Lester



The 8on+e=, or +ri%er0s li&ense i#ae, that I obtaine+ of Eri& /ein< -hile he -as tailin#e



The $in'o0s lo&ation in 8t+io City, California, that the DM5 in%estiators &hase+ #e fro#on Christ#as E%e, *(



The &ash reister bil+in hosin the Den%er la- fir# -here I -or'e+; in the foreron+ isthe apart#ent bil+in -here I li%e+ Nick Arnott



In Den%er -hile on the rn, April *, ae t-enty:nine



The apart#ent in 8eattle -here I -as rai+e+ by the 8e&ret 8er%i&e an+ 8eattle poli&e, *Sheee (ae



M shot on the +ay of &aptre, 2ebrary *J, *J, Raleih, North Carolina



My prison ID &ar+ fro# Lo#po& 2CI, sb1e&t of international press after eBay yan'e+ theite# for %iolatin 3&o##nity stan+ar+s,4 %astly raisin interest!an+ raisin the %ale to ,)))



De#onstration by #y spporters otsi+e the Mira#a= offi&es in * protestin the+epi&tion of #e in their featre fil# 'akedown !mman*e 3odstein, (9)) maga1ine



Ale= $aspera%i&is postin a 32ree $e%in4 sti&'er at the Mobil as station a&ross the streetfro# the Metropolitan Detention Center on #y thirty:fifth birth+ay, Ast 9, * !mman*e

3odstein, (9)) maga1ine



/ol+in p a b#per sti&'er fro# insi+e the Metropolitan Detention Center0s in#ate la-library, in Los Aneles, to a &ro-+ of 32ree $e%in4 spporters otsi+e, on #y thirty:fifth birth+ay

!mman*e 3odstein, (9)) maga1ine



In Lo#po& 2e+eral Corre&tional Instittion %isitin roo#, *, ae thirty:si=



The +ay I -as release+ fro# Lo#po& 2e+eral Corre&tional Instittion, >anary (*, ())), aethirty:si= !mman*e 3odstein, (9)) maga1ine



7ift -rappin on the Po-erBoo' 7 8te%e Wo<nia' a%e #e in front of tele%ision &a#erasto &elebrate the en+ of #y sper%ise+ release, >anary ()) Aan L*ckow



Apple &ofon+er 8te%e Wo<nia', #e, an+ E##anel 7ol+stein fon+er of C88 #aa<ineon the tele%ision sho- 'he Screen Savers, &elebratin the en+ of #y sper%ise+ release, #a'in #e

a &o#pletely free #an6 >anary (), ()), ae thirty:nine %o*rtesy o$ 3 'V



Boys -ill be boys6 #e before &yberspa&e Athor0s personal &olle&tion



'ONTENT"

2ront Co%er I#ae Wel&o#e De+i&ation Foreword y Steve &o1niak

2roog*e

PART ONE8 The Ma'in of a /a&'er

* Roh 8tart ( >st 5isitin

Oriinal 8in Es&ape Artist J All Yor Phone Lines Belon to Me 9 Will /a&' for Lo%e K /it&he+ in /aste Le= Lthor The $e%in Mitni&' Dis&ont Plan *) Mystery /a&'er

PART TWO8 Eri&

** 2ol Play

*( Yo Can Ne%er /i+e * The Wiretapper * Yo Tap Me, I Tap Yo *J 3/o- the 2&' Di+ Yo 7et ThatH4 *9 Crashin Eri&0s Pri%ate Party *K Pllin Ba&' the Crtain * Traffi& Analysis * Re%elations () Re%erse 8tin (* Cat an+ Mose (( Dete&ti%e Wor' ( Rai+e+ ( 5anishin A&t

PART THREE8 On the Rn

(J /arry /o+ini (9 Pri%ate In%estiator (K /ere Co#es the 8n ( Trophy /nter ( Departre ) Blin+si+e+

* Eyes in the 8'y ( 8leepless in 8eattle PART FOUR8 An En+ an+ a Beinnin



AUTHOR BIO

K e%in Mitni&', the -orl+0s #ost fa#os for#er ha&'er, is no- a se&rity &onsltant" /ehas been the sb1e&t of &ontless ne-s an+ #aa<ine arti&les an+ has appeare+ on n#erostele%ision an+ ra+io prora#s offerin e=pert &o##entary on infor#ation se&rity" /e has testifie+

before the ."8" 8enate an+ -ritten for (arvard B*siness "eview" Mitni&' is the athor, -ithWillia# L" 8i#on, of the bestsellin boo's 'he Art o$ Dece#tion an+ 'he Art o$ -ntr*sion" /e li%esin Las 5eas, Ne%a+a"



AL"O B( KEVIN MITNI'K

'he Art o$ Dece#tion -ith Willia# L" 8i#on

'he Art o$ -ntr*sion -ith Willia# L" 8i#on



'o),igh#

Copyriht ()** by $e%in Mitni&' 2ore-or+ &opyriht ()** by 8te%e Wo<nia' All rihts reser%e+" E=&ept as per#itte+ n+er the ."8" Copyriht A&t of *K9, no part ofthis pbli&ation #ay be repro+&e+, +istribte+, or trans#itte+ in any for# or by any #eans, orstore+ in a +atabase or retrie%al syste#, -ithot the prior -ritten per#ission of the pblisher" Little, Bro-n an+ Co#pany /a&hette Boo' 7rop (K Par' A%ene, Ne- Yor', NY *))*K 5isit or -ebsite at ---"/a&hetteBoo'7rop"&o#

---"t-itter"&o#littlebro-n2irst eBoo' E+ition6 Ast ()**

Little, Bro-n an+ Co#pany is a +i%ision of /a&hette Boo' 7rop, In&" The Little, Bro-nna#e an+ loo are tra+e#ar's of /a&hette Boo' 7rop, In&" The na#es Betty, Da%i+ Billinsley, >erry Co%ert, $#a#oto, 8&ott Lyons, Mi#i, >ohn

Norton, 8arah, an+ E+ Walsh are fi&titios na#es that represent people I en&ontere+; I se+ the# be&ase, althoh I ha%e a stron #e#ory for n#bers an+ sitations, I +on0t re&all their realna#es" The pblisher is not responsible for -ebsites or their &ontent that are not o-ne+ by the

pblisher" I8BN6 K:):*9:*K:K

Ghost in the Wires_ My Adventures as the - Mitnick_ Kevin

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