We arrived at the Hive at 3 a.m. – a sizeable two story office space domiciled within an industrial park in an easterly suburb of LA. And from where we’d parked – the large, ill lit parking lot opposite – we could clearly make out the front of the building: the lights were on, and the occasional person was moving around behind the second floor windows.
I’d expected as much. Ellen had warned me these places didn’t sleep.
‘So the plan’s to find Manek, and ask him about GhostWallet?’ I said.
Ellen nodded. ‘These places are usually open-plan, so that should be easy enough.’
‘And you’re sure that, if there is a trapdoor, he’ll know about it?’
‘No way Lawrence could’ve slipped something like that past a co-author. Manek’ll know the code intimately.’
‘And if he says there isn’t a trapdoor?’
‘Well, it’d mean one of two things. Either, he’s telling the truth and we’re barking up the wrong tree, or, he’s lying.’
I grunted. ‘It’s tricky, because he may have nothing to do with this, but may still lie purely to protect his app. Yet, at the same time, we have to watch what we say – in case he is in cahoots with them, or under their thumb.’
‘Agreed.’
Conversation tapered off, and we both readied ourselves to make a move. But then, just as we were about to open our doors, we had a stroke of luck. Two motorcycles swung into the industrial park, moseyed into the parking-lot, and came to a halt fifty yards from us. And though we were watching them only idly, when the two riders then headed for The Hive, and came within range of the lights out front, we saw that one was Manek.
I clicked my fingers. ‘Brilliant. Now we know which vehicle’s his.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning we can bug him. Ever since I’ve been on the run, I’ve carried a GPS bug – so that if I ever found myself tailed, I could bug my hunter, and turn the tables. But we can use it to track Arjun. Could be useful if we want to revisit him later.’
‘Keeps our options open.’
‘Precisely. Let’s do this.’
We got out, and I opened the trunk, and grabbed the GPS bug. Then we made for the building, and since the motorcycles were en route, it was simple enough to plant the bug to the underside of the seat as we strolled past.
Next thing we knew, we’d entered the foyer – which was empty but for a couple of youngsters, oblivious to our presence, sitting in comfortable seats to our right – and we immediately made for the stairs to the main hacker space. And a few second later, we were in a 2,000 square foot room, brimming with materials: computers, new and old; 3D printers; deconstructed car engines; clumps of wiring; bean bags and sofas; the obligatory pizza boxes and red-bull cans; and a bunch of other tech I couldn’t identify.
The room wasn’t busy, but there was activity. In the corner nearest us, three guys were crowded round a computer. Two other guys were playing a video-game on the opposite side of the room. And, sitting alone on a sofa against the left-hand wall, was Arjun, engrossed in his smart-phone.
Without hesitation, we approached Arjun, though it was only when we were practically on top of him that he looked up.
‘Arjun Manek?’ I said.
Arjun looked me over carefully.
‘Yes?’ he said; then, before I could respond, he glanced at Ellen, and his eyes narrowed with recognition. ‘You must be related to Lawrence Kelden. You’re his – sister?’
He said this without emotion.
‘Right,’ said Ellen. ‘And this is my friend, Saul.’
I nodded at Manek.
Manek tilted his head. ‘Can I help you?’ He glanced at his watch, as though to emphasize the oddness of the hour, then looked back at us. ‘How is Lawrence?’
Ellen glanced at me, as if to say I should take the lead.
‘Well, that’s sort of what we want to talk to you about,’ I said. ‘Would you mind chatting to us about the project you worked on together? GhostWallet.’
Manek continued studying me closely, his expression one of curiosity. But then he gave an accommodating half-smile.
‘Sure. I can chat.’
‘Thank you. Our query’s fairly simple. We’re aware that GhostWallet anonymizes Bitcoin payments, and that it does a damn good job, too. But our question is this: is there – or has there ever been – a hidden code in GhostWallet that’d allow you to in fact identify, or even geographically trace, its users?’
He frowned, as though slightly affronted. But still, there was patience in his face. ‘You’re asking if there’s a trapdoor?’
I nodded seriously.
He shook his head. ‘I don’t know if you know much about me, but I take my work very seriously. There’s no way I would’ve allowed a trapdoor in GhostWallet.’
‘So that’s a no?’
‘It’s a no,’ he said definitively.
An awkward silence. Already we’d hit the brick-wall we’d feared. But I knew there was still every possibility Manek was concealing the truth simply because he didn’t want to compromise the app.
Presently, Ellen said: ‘I’m sorry if we’ve stepped on your toes. We simply wanted an answer, and figured it was best to just ask.’
Manek’s face softened slightly, and he made as if to speak. Ellen cut him off:
‘But if you’d humor me, am I right in saying that placing a trapdoor in an app like GhostWallet is at least theoretically possible? Theoretically.’
Manek shrugged. ‘A trapdoor’s always possible,’ he said, now with definite irritation. ‘But I can assure you categorically that there’s no trapdoor in GhostWallet, okay?’
Again, an awkward pause. Then, this time, Manek broke the silence.
‘Look, I’ve been patient, and answered your questions. But with all due respect, what the hell’s this about? If you want to know about GhostWallet, why not ask Lawrence? And for that matter, what the hell did you mean when you said this had something to do with Lawrence’s wellbeing?’
Arjun was now on the edge of his seat. And while he wasn’t being inhospitable, he was definitely being firm. This was understandable: we’d stormed in unannounced, and sprung probing questions apropos of nothing.
But, crucially, there was concern in his voice when he’d mentioned Lawrence. And this was potentially useful. If we could exploit it, there was a chance he’d play ball.
I glanced at Ellen, then said:
‘The truth is – Lawrence is missing.’
Arjun’s goatee twitched, and his face blanched. ‘Missing?’
‘Right. And we were hoping maybe—’
‘When’d he go missing?’ Arjun interjected severely.
‘Two days ago,’ I said coolly. ‘And we were hoping maybe, if there was a trapdoor in GhostWallet, it could help us find him.’ I paused. ‘Or that it may even explain how he came to disappear…’
‘For the last time, there’s no trapdoor, alright?’ he said shortly. ‘And if you’re insinuating I had anything to do with this, you’re very much mistaken.’
I held his gaze. My attempt to play on his sympathies had backfired. All it’d done was put him on the defensive. I could hear his tension and fear.
‘And you haven’t heard from him lately?’ I persisted calmly. ‘Any information would be a great help.’
Arjun shook his head sharply, then jumped to his feet. ‘No, I haven’t seen him.’ He turned to Ellen. ‘Listen, I’m sorry about your brother – I really am. But I don’t know anything about this. So, unless there’s anything else, I think we’re done here.’
I nodded, made a conciliatory smile. ‘I’m sorry to’ve dropped the news on you like that – we’re just eager for answers.’
Arjun looked at me hard, and repeated, ‘I think we’re done here.’
‘Okay,’ said Ellen. ‘Thanks for talking to us.’
Arjun said nothing. We turned and left.