Trouble ten
Raphael burst into the
lair closely shadowed by Michaelangelo.
“What is it? What does it
say? Show me!” Michaelangelo hopped around Raphael, hoping
to steal a look at the small black book.
Raphael wore a smug smile as he made his way to Donatello’s room; he
barged in without knocking. Quickly
minimizing something on the desktop Donatello spun round on his computer chair
and glared at the intruder. “Come in.” He sighed on catching sight of his
brother. Michaelangelo poked his head
round the door. “What’s going on?” He demanded. Raphael clutched his prize close to him and walked over to
Donatello. “Can you search through
police records on this thing?” He asked
pointing to the small monitor perched on a crate of some sort.
“Why?” Donatello asked as his suspicions rose.
“Can you or can’t you?”
Raphael growled.
“Well that all
depends.” Donatello folded his arms and
sat back. “Oh how nicely you ask.” Raphael turned to Donatello with an indomitable
look. “Do it now!” His tone indicated he meant business.
“Okay!” Donatello wheeled himself closer to the
keyboard, which rested across the desk’s open draw. Michaelangelo sneaked in a little further craning his neck to see
what was going on. After several
minutes of key tapping and mouse clicking Donatello sat back. “Hmmm, there seems to be a faulty interface
somewhere.” Raphael gripped the back of
the computer seat and leaned in closer.
“I think the faulty interface lies between the chair and the
keyboard.” he hissed. Donatello turned sharply in the chair
causing Raphael to lose his grip. “Are
you suggesting that I can’t do it?”
“Seems that way to me.”
“Do what?” Michaelangelo tried to push in nearer. Donatello turned back to the computer; a new
determination had risen in him. Raphael
and Michaelangelo watched as Donatello pounded away on the keys. “First we have to look for a back
door.” Donatello explained. “Then it’s only a matter of finding the
right codes.” He shuffled through a
pile of papers and dug out a small black disk from a box on the floor.
“How long will this
take?” Raphael asked sitting down on
the bed.
“Approximate or estimated
time?”
“American time, you know
hours minutes and seconds!”
Donatello failed to answer
as he pushed the disk in to the computer’s floppy drive. A small window opened up, filled with what
looked like serial numbers. Trawling
down the list Donatello picked one and copied it, pasting it into the required box
he hit the return key and prayed.
‘INVALID PASSWORD!’
Flashed up on the screen. Donatello quickly ran through the motions
again as if they were second nature.
‘INVAILD PASSWORD!’
Donatello started to
search feverously through the pile of papers.
“Three strikes and we’re out.”
He informed Raphael without even looking at him. Raphael sat up and stared at the
screen. “So, are we going to get in?”
“Third time’s a
charm.” Donatello copied, pasted and
prayed once more.
WELCOME TO THE NYPD
WEBSITE
“Yes!” Michaelangelo shouted leaping up from his
seat.
“As if there was any doubt.” Donatello sat back as Raphael came over to
the screen.
“This is the NYPD
website. I wanted to search the
criminal records.” Raphael stood back
from the computer and looked at his brother.
“Oh ye of little
faith.” Donatello hit a key and a database
window sprung up. Raphael stared at the
screen, “Great!” He indicated to the keyboard. “Do a search on Carrie Ryan.”
“Where is this
going?” Donatello asked looking up to
his brother, confusion plastered across his face.
“Don’t ask just do!”
Donatello sighed and typed
in the details, he hit the return key and a little egg timer sprung into life.
“What’s it doing?” Michaelangelo asked.
“Searching.” Donatello said simply. There was an almost inaudible beep as the
computer finished its task.
NO FILE(s) FOUND. SEARCH AGAIN?
“That can’t be
right!” Raphael started to flick
through the book. “Can you search all
the constituencies?”
Donatello entered the
details again, the three brothers crowded in as they waited for the egg timer
to stop rotating.
NO FILE(s) FOUND. SEARCH AGAIN?
“There! Are you satisfied?” Donatello wheeled back a little. “Can we wrap this up now? I don’t fancy having the Government knocking
on my door with a warrant for my arrest.”
“Can they do that?” Michaelangelo looked over a little worried.
“Try under Robyn
Hunter.” Raphael ordered closing the
book.
“Fine! If you promise to drop this and leave me
alone!” Donatello carefully entered the
details for a third time. Suddenly a
new page flashed up before their eyes.
ROBYN HUNTER. POLICE FILE DATED 05.24.80
Underneath was a picture
of Carrie and a long list of arrests and convictions.
“Muggings, armed robbery,
drugs offences, aggravated assault, affray.”
Raphael read down the list. “I
knew it!” Raphael whooped banging his
fist down on the desk before walking out.
Donatello sat dumbfounded for a few moments. “Not very nice to know is she?”
He finally said turning to Michaelangelo. Michaelangelo squinted at the screen. “Solicitation?” He
questioned.
Leo wondered the brightly
lit corridors. “Can’t miss it.” He repeated. “Yeah right!” Eventually
he found a pay phone stuck to the wall.
He hunted around in his pockets for some lose change, just enough for
one call, he’d better make it a good one.
He lifted the receiver and waited for the dial tone. After pushing his money in the slot he
dialled his home number. The phone rang
and rang. “Pick up!” He growled.
After about the tenth ring Leo hit the next call button. He punched in April’s cell phone number by
memory. It rang twice and picked up.
“Hi this is April. I can’t
get to my phone right now, but if you leave your name and number I’ll get back
to you.”
“Damn answer
service!” Leo hissed, slowly losing his
temper. He waited for the beep. “Hi April, It’s Leo. Just a social call to let you know that I am
standing in the maternity department of a hospital waiting for Carrie to give
birth! You’d better hope I don’t get
hold of you when you get back!” Leo
slammed the receiver back in place; at least that made him feel a little
better. He turned only to be confronted
by a rather worried looking elderly gentleman.
“Urm, er,
mother-in-law.” Leo shrugged to the
elderly man; who smiled and nodded in response.
((Yes! I managed to find this story after it was lost in a large computer type black hole! The question is, should I continue?))