We headed inside and to the conference room and I stopped at Ruth's desk and said, I need Kyle right now. Nancy said, I already called him and he and Dillon and Riley are in the conference room. Then I asked the agent is he would like coffee or anything and he said hopefully I won't be here that long. In the conference room introductions were made and I asked, so agent Schwartzmiller what can we do for you? The agent said well two thing actually, one of your people from a home computer accessed your system and tried to hack into the Department of Justice. He has been detained and well will be having a serious chat with him. While the attempt wasn't successful we take these things very seriously. Then as someone who works on your government contracts, we are doubly concerned. So to your question we need a cyber security check on your entire government operation and the Software Engineering Institute at CMU will be conducting a complete review. Kyle, immediately said and they will have our complete cooperation. What's the second thing? Well updated security clearances for everyone involved. Kyle said, well that involves 50 people or so. Agent Schwartzmiller said well actually 52 and then it will include the 4 of you. We have already started that process. More than likely that would have been done as you are being considered for an expansion to your program. Kyle and I exchanged looks as if to say what the fuck. I mouthed Senior and Kyle simply shook his head in agreement. Then the Agent said, well thanks for the cooperation, not that we were giving you much choice. By the way you building security is very good, they even gave me a hard time and checked with my superior. With that I walked Agent Schwartzmiller out. As he was leaving he said, thanks and I'll be seeing you soon.
When I got back Kyle said, Mike we need to have a chat with the people working that department. I said Kyle you and Dillon should do that as I'm out of my league with the technology. He laughed and said, well it's not the technology it the ethics. I said ok and asked Ruth to get the government people in the cafeteria and it is a required meeting. Mike, they should already be there. I just shook my head and Kyle, Dillon and I went to the cafeteria and when we walked in it was totally quiet. I walked to the front of the room and took a deep breath. I said good morning and I use that term loosely. We have all had an interesting morning and someone from this group has a lot of questions to answer. Not my questions as he will not be back, but for the Feds. Considering the tracks he left for the Feds to follow, he won't be missed. I never hold the group accountable for the actions of any individual but understand we are better that this. Working from home is one thing but logging into our system and then TRYING to hack the DOJ, well that's stupid. There will be a down side for all of us and security clearances are being redone and that includes Kyle's, Dillon's, Riley's and mine. Then there will be complete review by SEI. You are expected to cooperate fully with all that. Any further ethics violations will be dealt with accordingly, any questions? There were none and I said Kyle and the team will take it from here and I went to look for dad.
He was in his "new" office and I simply sat down, when he got off the phone he said, interesting morning? I shook my head and asked, so when were you telling Kyle? Mike, they called me and there was no option. I laughed and asked, should I build a new building? There seems to be no end to the growth. He said, just house people in the Harmerville building. Well dad, the whole point of this was to have everyone in one area. Mike, build something or give up space in mini me. From the looks of things your office won't be over there anyway. Ok, dad when does this expansion take effect? Michael, it needs approval and I would say 6 months so you will have the time to deal with it as it will be between football seasons. I smiled and said thanks.
I stopped to see Ruth and asked, am I that predictable? She said well when you are focused you are, heck that was easy. I said thanks and went to my office and as soon as my ass hit the seat the phone rang and it was Alex. He said Mike, you wanted to see me, when are you free? I laughed and said who the fuck knows, when you free? He said how about lunch at noon? I said fine and the sports bar around the corner, I'll see you there. A minute later Tim called saying he had the loan documents to be signed and that I needed to sign for Enterprises but that Jace should sign for the Winery. Mike, I don't want it to look like you are loaning money to you're self and I set it up as a line of credit. Then I said Tim, please figure out how solvent I am, shit I have no idea what's is my checking account. Tim laughed and said well a guess would be too much. You collect money at a faster rate than your dad. While your at it roundup a financial statement for Enterprises. Mike, please tell me you are not starting something els? Tim, I wish I could say that but property is cheap and I sense a turnaround. Mike, neither of have the time for this. Then I said, well hire someone and I'm running financials on Technology as well, all of a sudden I need to know. Tim laughed and said Mike, it's that new office and the FBI visit today, but please go slow. I said, thanks Tim and I'll try. Once I hung up I asked Ruth to screen my calls. She said well that didn't take long. I laughed and said well you got promoted to gatekeeper.
I was busy sending emails requesting all sorts of financial information. Then I called Lois in accounting and asked for a semi detailed summary of the legal invoices we have received in the last 6 months. I wasn't expecting anything but I'm trusting Tim more and more and my experience with attorneys hasn't been that great. I also asked for expense reports from Standard Properties. I was sure alarm bells were going off company wide and decided it will be what it becomes and better to clean it up sooner than later if anything needed done at all.
I stood up to stretch and saw Riley at the door and she said one minute please? I said sure but I actually have 15, have a seat. She sat down and handed me a folder and said, the resume's for the 3 finalist I have selected. When are you free to interview and I said Noon, 1 and 2 on Wednesday. Ok, that should work and they will simply be told second interview. I said that woks and anything else? Well thanks for the short talk with the group, it covered all the needs and settled a couple of nerves. Riley, talk to HR and start interviewing for 6 replacements as this will be a real rectal exam from the Feds and some will quit and there will be exit interviews once SEI probes the system. Also, give these to Ruth and have he make copies for Maggie in HR, I'll pick up my copies on the way home.
I still had some time so I took the long was around the block to get some fresh air and time to think. I was really looking forward to the new building and being near water. I got to the restaurant too soon and went inside and saw Alex, he was alone and I was a bit surprised. We shook hands and I sat down and drinks were quickly ordered. Alex, I thought you would have your associate with you? Well Mike, we were not that busy and he was bored. I told him he could stay but if he found something else it would be cool. He quickly found something and I like being busy. I said so, Hillgrove? Alex said well he didn't know much and he wasn't actually that good so I gave the old fart a perceived win. I laughed and said, perfect. So Alex, what have you been up to? He said well the Harmerville building is rented. Two tenants and other than a wall and HVAC adjustments no build outs. I said fantastic and they move in mid September. Before you ask it's an insurance agency and an eye doctor. Both 3 year leases. Wow, Alex that's a fantastic job. We ordered food and again I had a chicken salad with Italian dressing he ordered a burger and fries.
Once the food orders were out of the way I asked if he was aware of any properties available at a reasonable price. Mike, there is one right beside your big building and it's reasonable. Alex, look around for something as I really don't want a compound but then again I would like to know what's going to be built there. Well Mike, it will be a business building but nothing like yours. Ever since you put that NASA logo up I have had numerous calls asking if space would be available. Ok Alex I'll think bout it but right now I am figuring out how much money is available. So you pulled my expenses for the review or am I in trouble? Damn, I did that 30 minutes ago and it's a company wide review of both companies. Mike, it spread like wild fire and everyone is concerned it had to do with the events this morning. Alex, they are completely unrelated but there will be a rectal exam by the FEDS and I'm just piling on. I have things all over the place as there are two companies and that startup and my foundation and I have no idea what's in my checking account. It not like the old days when there was one account. We finished eating and I paid for lunch and as we were leaving, I said look around discretely.
Back at the office Ruth said Mike, David Cummings would like a call. I said thanks and looked at my phone and saw he had called there. I called him on the private line and when he answered I asked, what's up? Mike, we all appreciate the donation of your winnings and would like to join the other clubs in the scholarship deal. We raised 200k and that's available on the first. I said thanks and Tim can deal with that. Mike, we would like a seat on the foundation board? I said no can do, you get what the other clubs gets, freedom to chose who gets the award. Ok, Mike I take that back to the members. I said fine anything else? Well dad tells me there are plans for a harvest festival, would you mind that I come up? David, not at all but I'm surprised you even asked. He was quiet for a second and said, so you found out about the tickets. I said yup and you ask if I'm ok with you visiting your dad and blow right past a financial arrangement with Cole. David, I almost bought the tickets and gave them free to people over 50. Hell, I qualify for the discount. David, all I have to say about the subject is what I said to Cole. A posse like a certain army is earned it isn't purchased. Then I said I'll see you at the festival and hung up.
Thinking this day couldn't get more complicated, I went to the security office. When I got to the office I gathered everyone present and said, I've had a complicated day and the only good news I got involve you guys. Special Agent Swartzmiller raved about your performance and the hoops you put him through. I just wanted to say thanks and it's appreciated. I chatted for a while and on the way to my office I ran into Kyle who said, I was just coming to see you. Mike, what's going on, you have the company scratching their collective heads? Kyle, I simply need to know how much we have coming in and where it goes. I say do this, do that and no one says stop, no one questions it. I could easily spend us into oblivion. Then there is dad adding a mere 25 people in 6 months and as usual he couldn't say no. Kyle, I need to know where we stand, how much the move will cost and disrupt things. I promised you guys a raise and Wednesday I will, at the staff meeting have to tell you, that they are coming but I need more time. Sure I'm spot checking some departments and it is because of how much trust I have placed in them. Kyle laughed and asked, so where do I fit. I said seriously, you are above reproach. In fact if you leave I'm selling the company and becoming a spoiled, rich dude. Mike, I was kidding but it is nice to hear you say that. Kyle, I would like you to think about something. He said sure Mike, what is it. Spin off or sell the video game division. I think we could use the room, even in the new building and the financials will make the decision easy. Ultimately, you and I have to make that decision. Then have Major Jim explain it to the world. The message here is that productivity and profits ultimately matter.
Kyle the FBI today shook me up some and I have no idea what's in my checking account let alone how much money is in the two companies. Mike, you need to set it up so that you have an instant standing of the companies and the checking account. I laughed and said I just gave the rents a sizable check today and looked at the checkbook and there were no entries. Kyle laughed and said you do know you own a technology company, we actually have people who could design programs to keep you informed. Well please get that done for me as it needs to be working for the college years. Mike, the way you are going you will be at CMU, taking evening classes. I found that funny until I thought about it.
I wasn't in the mood to workout put wasn't letting things get me tok that point so I picked up the resumes, said good night to Ruth and drove to school. The wind and the sun with the roof down helped a lot. Inside the place was packed and I simply changed and went to the stadium and sat in the top row and relaxed. Well like the rest of the day, it didn't last long and Sam sat down. I looked at him and said Sam, what's happening? Mike, what happened Saturday, I was able to do that last year. I laughed and said Sam, you are trying to skip a step. You would find things much easier on the JV team. Don't kid yourself Saturday wasn't real. Mike it was up to speed? Sam it was close and you need to adjust to the speed. Even the scrimmages aren't as fast as the varsity games. Thankfully we are faster than most teams. The question is can you adjust? I have said over and over again a strong arm matters if you can find the receivers, if you can take a hit, if you can read defenses, if, if, if. So Mike, how do I answer all these questions? I said backup Jim and play JV and get experiences. You should get as much playing time as you can. Sam, Jim will need is arm protected and you will get a lot of varsity time and if you ask coach he see to it that's it's with starters. Sam said, thanks he left not liking what I had told him. I waited a few minutes and went inside and worked out. Once I got out of the shower and was dressed, it was coaches time to bother me. We were almost alone and he asked, what did you say to Sam? Coach, I honestly told him the issue was SPEED and he was skipping a step and that he should back up Jim, get a bunch of varsity time and play JV as well? So coach was there something incorrect with that? Mike, I told him the same thing about 90 minutes ago, he was looking for a different answer. Mike after he chatted with you he stopped in and said he didn't care but he wasn't playing JV. So coach, how did you respond to that? Well Mike, in the spirit of me running the team, I gave him 24 hours to grow up or he was off the team. Coach, well let me know if you need anything.
I left school, totally fried and didn't even consider goin inside the house and went right to my new space. That wasn't working as the AC wasn't on and it was hot and still a mess. In the house I grabbed a beer and went out back. I had just finished the beer and Colleen came out and asked, if I needed anything besides another beer. Well Colleen an iced tea would be nice. When she returned with the iced tea I said thanks but what else do you need? Well lad, I understand that you will be moving to that other building. I said that's correct. Lad, will I be expected to clean that as well? Well Colleen is that something you would like to do? Lad, I a, not looking for more work? Well Colleen it is one large room with a kitchen and one bathroom. Jace, who will rarely be there is a button downed military type. The place is a mess because of the dude who moved out. That means that I would like some help one day a week. Colleen, I will gladly pay whatever you needed and if you wanted it could be just a couple of hours when you are already here. Oh, same deal stay out of the bedrooms. She laughed at that and said she could do that. Ok Colleen, what would you need to do that? She was thinking and I asked if $25.00 would be enough and she smiled and said that about right. I said great $30 and it's a deal. Colleen there would be no extra cooking and I'll eat here. She said lad, thanks and went back inside. A few minutes later she returned picked up my iced tea and handed me a beer. Lad I saw you on TV today as the FBI paid a visit to you at work today. Well Colleen they weren't there for me but it is dad's and mine company. An employee was detained and yes he was fired. Colleen simply went back inside.
Alone again, I started to think about the day while it was complicated and busy it was mostly good. The one thing that bothered me was my attitude towards working out, that was the very first time I even considered doing that. I was hoping that it was because it was surrounded by drama and the number of people around and the waiting to use the equipment. I have always needed to workout and then I realized it was because it wasn't for me it was for the team and to prove I cared and was involved. FUCK, just one more on my list of obligations. I really need to use my gym once a week and I was determined to do that.
I needed to check in with Mary Ann and when she answered she said OMG I'm so glad to hear from you I thought you might have been arrested. I thought, damn that's the second person who said that. Babe, an employee tried to hack the DOJ and he was detained for questioning. It was a shit show but I'm fine. By the way, if you were concerned, why didn't you call? Then I changed the subject to the past weekend and how much fun it was. She asked if I wanted to hang out and I said how about a 24 hour rain check. She was disappointed but readily agreed. Just the dad and Megan appeared and I got off the phone.
Dad looked at me and said, I'm guessing you need another one of those, indicating the beer. Dad, actually if you are buying an iced tea would work. While he was gone Megan and I discussed the security clearance. She told me that for me it would be minimal but that there would be no security clearance till I was 18. I asked about being emancipated and she said that might matter and she would check. When dad appeared he said Mike, there is a reporter and a camera crew from WTAE outside and they would like a statement. I looked at Megan and she said from what I'm seeing and hearing that would be a good idea, I'll come with you. I looked at dad and asked please invite them back here, let's pretend I'm relaxed and hide the drinks. Once things were set up I was asked Mike, there was an event at Technologies today do you care to make a comment? Well it is an ongoing Federal investigation so I can't comment. Ok can you tell us anything at all? We are, because of some classified work we do, continually monitored and a security breach was detected. The investigation resulted in the visit today. Mike, was an employee arrested? Again, I simply cannot comment. Mike, will there be changes at the company? Well our internal investigation will start with the help of CMU's Software Engineering Institute and we will see about changes once that is complete. How long will the review take? I was done with this and said, when it is finished, thanks. Once they were gone Megan said, great job but when you lose interest it certainly ends quickly. I laughed and said well on the 11:00 news there will be me saying I'm sorry but because of an ongoing investigation I can't comment. It will look like we are hiding something. Tomorrow Parry from KDKA will call and I'll say the same thing, provide background and it will be a more beneficial story, for us. We will get coverage at 6:00 and 11:00 on the station that more people watch. Jim is dealing with the print media so front page story in both papers, I'm hoping below the fold.
It was time to eat and Colleen had marinated halibut steaks and I put them on the grill. Cole was not around and Megan said he wouldn't be there for dinner something about golf. We had a pleasant meal and dad and Megan cleaned up and I went upstairs grabbed my headphones and put on Chopin and three myself on the bed. After about 30 minutes I called JJ and left a message which said stop over SOS, I need you. Then it was back to the music.
PLEASE REMEMBER NIFTY. A CONTRIBUTION IS ALWAYS WELCOME.
THANKS FOR READING