CHAPTER TWELVE

Danny had watched the five men as they drove away and disappear behind a corner. He checked his watch and saw that the time was ten minutes past ten o'clock.

Good. They're gone. Now, I must get that smartphone and login before it's too late.

He walked to the mailbox and looked around him. After seeing no one around, he opened the mailbox and, to his satisfaction, saw a small white box inside.

This must be it.

He reached his hand inside the mailbox and took the box out. He flipped it over in his hands, this way and that, felt how much it weighed and shook it next to his ear.

"Yeah, there is definitely something inside," he whispered.

He looked around him once more, saw no one watching him and went inside the apartment. Once inside, he locked the door and sat down at the table. He placed the box on top of the table and took a big breath.

He then proceeded to open the box. Inside the box he saw a device that looked like a phone, but with a design he had never seen before. He picked it up and discovered a small handwritten note that was placed underneath the device.

He took it and read it:

You've just seen the device, Danny. Login before your time runs out. It might just blow up.

"Always with the humor. Ha ha, Jake," Danny said, smiling at the note in his hands.

He then took out a cigarette lighter from his pocket and burnt the note in an ashtray. He went on to examine the smartphone, flipping it and turning it around, searching for a button to turn it on. He found it within a few seconds and pressed it.

The device's screen lit up and displayed Secusol's logo and the LINK label underneath it. After a few seconds it showed two empty text boxes labeled username and password.

Danny didn't struggle typing the required information in as the device's keyboard resembled those of other regular smartphones. For the username he entered 'DANNYLINK' and entered the date for the password, just as Jake had instructed him to.

He then pressed the login button and the screen became blank. Danny's heart skipped a beat, as he expected the device to report a failed login attempt. His mind eased when a green tick appeared on the screen, and the device proceeded to startup. After a few more seconds, the device was ready to use.

"It's got a signal," Danny said to himself as he noticed a full-strength symbol on the signal-strength indicator.

Unexpectedly, the smartphone vibrated and surprised him. It sounded a tone and a notification appeared on the screen, informing him of a new message.

He pressed a button and the message was opened. It was from Jake and it read:

I hope you are enjoying your new toy. I have just been informed of your successful login and I want to tell you that you must now create a voice recognition password, to secure this device. You can find the option to create one in the Security menu. I'll send you a message after you create one, with further instructions.

He closed the message and, without delay, went to the security menu and selected the option to create a voice recognition password. As soon as he clicked the button to create a password, the screen showed a countdown timer, set to ten seconds, and a textbox asking him to say a password after a beep that would sound when the countdown expired.

As the countdown began, he began to think of a password to use.

It has to be hard to guess, but easy for me to remember. Should I use my name spelt backwards? No, too obvious. Maybe I should use a random dictionary word. No. That won't do.

He quietly thought some more and then made his decision. The countdown expired and the beep sounded.

"It's me," he spoke into the phone's mouthpiece.

The device beeped again and another countdown timer started, set for five seconds this time. It too expired and a beep sounded again.

"It's me," Danny spoke into the mouthpiece again, trying his best to keep his tone consistent.

The device captured the password and notified him that the two sounds matched, and that the password had been created and activated.

Danny let out a sigh of relief. He expectantly waited for a message to come, but none came for a minute, so he started browsing through the smartphone's menus, familiarizing himself with its features.

He saw a calendar, an alarm feature, a stopwatch and a notebook among the device's features. He also saw email and web browsing applications.

After five minutes of exploring the phone, a message tone rang. Danny opened the new message, and it too was from Jake.

Well done, Danny. I heard the password and I must say that it's quite smart and unique. It will do just fine. Now, here is your first task. I want you to begin surveillance of Fox's house as soon as possible. I want you to know everything that goes on in that house. Maximum discretion is required. You will receive the surveillance equipment tomorrow morning. One of my guys will deliver it to your apartment at 4 AM. The pickup for your deposit is tomorrow too, but I'll give you the location later. If you have any queries, send me an email.