Insider Threat

By Jeff Warren

Jess suspects that her new colleague at the Defence Research Laboratory is a cyber-criminal, but no one takes her suspicions seriously. Impetuous and strong-willed, Jess decides to investigate for herself. Soon Jess is pursued by the police and her job is on the line. Will her suspicions be proved correct? A 30 minute short story, perfect for fans of Stella Rimington’s Liz Carlyle thrillers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeff Warren
• Release date: May 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310281266

Jeff Warren

Jeff Warren was born in Devon in the United Kingdom. He studied chemistry at Imperial College, London, and taught that and other subjects to scientists from hospital pathology and biomedical research laboratories. He then changed career and became a technical editor, knowledge management specialist and software tester with a global computer software company, roles which had him traveling around the world.As well as writing action adventure fiction, Jeff enjoys reading, singing songs from the musicals and observing nature in the countryside.

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Insider Threat

by

Jeff Warren

Copyright © Jeff Warren, 2014

Smashwords Edition

Insider Threat: An employee who uses their access to internal computer systems to perform cyber espionage, including theft of intellectual property and malicious damage.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events or locales in this short story are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead) is coincidental.

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Insider Threat

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Insider Threat

A maggot of doubt hatched in Jess Spencer’s brain and wriggled into her consciousness. There was something about Matt Harding that wasn’t quite right. He asked too many questions, subtly inserted into otherwise innocent conversations. Wasn’t that part of the profile of an insider threat?

‘You still haven’t told me what an influence analyst does,’ Matt persisted, ‘or what it involves day-to-day.’

Jess ate her last mouthful of chicken salad before pushing the plate away. Her stomach ached for a cheeseburger and chips, followed by the chocolate brownie smothered in fudge sauce, but her self-discipline won. Only a few more days to go.

She studied Matt’s face, trying to decipher what went on behind those blue-grey eyes. Matt was about her age, mid-twenties, dark hair, clean shaven, strong mouth and jaw. She wondered about his golden skin. Working on the cyber-crime team wouldn’t give many opportunities for getting out in the sun.

‘Been somewhere good over the summer?’ Jess asked, avoiding Matt’s question.

‘Couldn’t get away. My mother…’

‘How is she?’ Jess asked, remembering that her manager had said something when Matt suddenly appeared at Portsdown two weeks before.

‘As well as can be expected,’ Matt said, ‘for someone dying of cancer.’

A skewer of guilt thrust through Jess’s chest. ‘I’m sorry. Someone said she was ill, but I didn’t know it was that bad.’

‘You weren’t to know. I try not to think about it when I’m here.’

‘If you need someone to talk to, after work if you like…’

‘Thanks for the offer. If I feel down, I might take you up on that.’ Matt shook his head, as if trying to clear his mind. ‘Changing the subject, maybe you can help me. I’ve a meeting with Andy Ashworth tomorrow morning. What can you tell me about him? Any idea what he’s currently working on?’

‘Why do you want to know?’ Jess countered, red lights flashing in her brain. Ever since Wikileaks and Snowden made