The Crooked Banker

By Michael A Kelly

One simple plan, which takes effort and discipline, can change a person's life forever. This roller coaster thriller details that simple decision— the theft of $78 million in hundred-dollar bills from the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston all because of a computer glitch.

"The Crooked Banker" is a riveting heist novel about an unassuming man making a pivotal life decision. But can he get away with it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098377908

Book preview

1.

COMPUTER CONNECTION

On a bright and sunny Saturday morning in Mid- July of 2014 Larry Hause fires up his laptop at 8:00 A.M. He feels good; he’s rested and bright -eyed this morning after getting a great night’s sleep. He certainly needed it, his Friday was anything but routine with the startup of the new construction project he’s supervising at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston. He relaxes taking advantage of his precious downtime slowly sipping and savoring a hot cup of coffee he’s just poured from his French press. It’s his first day off in a month and he hopes he can enjoy it after he knocks off a couple of quick e mails & organizes a few files. Today he anticipates his to-do list will only take him a few minutes and that suits him fine. Fortunately the southern ocean breeze coming through his kitchen window is keeping him cool on this hazy, hot and humid summer morning. Any breeze on Martha’s Vineyard is an ocean breeze and this one’s playing havoc with the curtains throughout his house but the smell of salt air makes it all worthwhile.

It seems he surmises the faster computers get the longer they take to fire up, finally after 5 minutes his laptop’s completely alive and ready to go. He needs to check on his most recent files--his computer put in a little overtime on Friday downloading them. He’s a construction superintendent for Structuretone in Boston, over the years he’s learned to expect an atmosphere filled with pandemonium that’s palpable during the first few days of any new project and this one’s no exception. He also knows the pace is always intensified when the job’s located at 600Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Boston. The Federal Reserve Bank or the F.R.B. as everybody calls it has occupied this address for almost 4 decades.

The F.R.B., at 680 feet tall, is one of the most recognizable skyscrapers on Boston’s skyline representing strength, it’s been a beacon on Boston’s harbor since 1977. This architecturally award winning building was completed after a three-year construction project during the 1970s and is a beautiful sight. The banks signage at street level is passed by each and every day by tens of thousands of locals and tourists alike. They have no inkling that copies of every bank transaction they’ve ever made in their lives is stored inside its aluminum-skinned walls. Boston’s F.R.B., one of twelve in the United States proudly serves New England. The FED, as it’s also known, is Structuretone’s best client and Larry’s been entrusted with all the construction projects at the bank for the previous eight years. The new $10 million dollar state of the art control center, or C.C.as it’s been coined, is just underway and will test all of his skills he’s amassed over the past 40 years in the construction industry. Taking control of a job like this one’s invigorating and he knows very few projects in the city could offer him such challenges.

As he scans his laptop this morning he notices an icon on his desktop that’s out of place, it appears like a soldier straying six feet out of step with his platoon. He recognizes it immediately but he can’t possibly figure out how it landed on his screen. Friday was an all day marathon of new files streaming in from the projects architect, engineer, Structuretone and the F.R.B., that explains the when but not the why. Although he recognizes the icon from smart board presentations over the years during weekly job meetings he knows he shouldn’t be in possession of it. This software represents the entire banking system of the United States and is reserved for Executive Vice Presidents and the President of the Federal Reserve System, he’s positive this files classified--it’s considered Top Secret.

He’s extremely excited about the start up of this project. He recalls the same feeling of excitement back in the spring of 2011 when he built out the 2nd floor computer room in the secure block. Security clearances were extremely tight back then and they’ve tightened up a notch or two each year leading up to the construction of the new control center. He gained considerable knowledge of the F.R.B.s computer network at that time, that’s why he can’t understand how this software landed on his computer. On Friday just like all previous projects at the FED he plugged his laptop into the CAT-6 outlet supplied by the bank for his internet connection. It’s always been an uneventful process over the years until now. The FED always supplies him with a DSL line to get on the web, but not access to the trillion dollar economy of the United States.

His curiosity’s got him, he decides to open up the icon, he’s amazed and can’t believe what he’s looking at. This website allows him access to all twelve Federal Reserve Banks. The first thing he notices is the release of Friday’s M-2 money supply, that’s when he realizes this is way too much to process unexpectedly on a Saturday morning with just one cup of coffee.

He pauses for a moment to think, has he already committed a crime by just viewing this information? Should he contact John Foley and explain what happened? John’s the head of security at the bank and he was the former head of the F.B.I in Boston. He took over the reins at the bank when he was forced to adjust his law enforcement career when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 55, it’s been the policy of the F.B.I. for decades. This information’s so sensitive all he needs to do is pick up his phone and call the Massachusetts State Police, they’ll send a cruiser--confiscate his laptop and have it sanitized. He goes in for another look, after 15 minutes of snooping through the site he decides to shut his laptop off and mull the situation over before he gets into any more trouble.

His wheels are spinning so fast now he can’t control his thoughts. After his second cup of coffee and after thinking it over for an hour he unplugs his Wi-Fi router next to his stereo and fires up his laptop again, at least now he won’t be transmitting all of his keystrokes back to their server in Boston. Now he can take his time, he can view the data sitting on his computer at his own pace. His first reaction is shock at the size of the file, it’s 4750 gigabytes, quick math tells him it’s 7 times larger than any file he has on his computer---it takes up almost half of his hard drive. He comes to the realization that it’s decision time, he’s sweating now with the sun higher in the sky and the breeze is losing some of its punch---he has that sickening feeling in his gut and it won’t go away.

The F.R.B.s website’s like nothing he’s ever set eyes on, he’s seen a lot of software in his life but nothing compares to this. Maybe government workers and law enforcement personnel become accustomed to seeing official logos and insignia, it’s so impressive he momentarily considers standing at attention and saluting but he holds off. The file is split up into twelve regions with Boston denoted by the letter A, just like the one found on any bill from the U.S. Mint. Each Federal Reserve Bank is assigned their own letter and can be found on the face of any bill.

He still can’t believe the excitement of surfing this folder. It brings back memories of coming down the stairs on Christmas morning to his family tree surrounded by toys. This site is packed with every data file from the bank including: Weekly M-2 money supply figures, Private memos from FED meetings, six-month unemployment forecasts, Treasury delivery schedules, Personnel files and Remote camera access. It’s nonstop and there is way too much information for him to absorb so he shuts off his computer for the second time today.

Again he considers the thought of calling John Foley, but at least momentarily he keeps that thought at bay. He knows John’s a good man; he’ll understand what happened on Friday. He was at the forefront of the hunt for the Boston Bombing suspects in 2013 and he supervised the 2,300 Special Agents during the 3 day search for the terrorists. He coined the term, White hat, Black hat, for the Tsarnaev brothers. His agents found them after a round the clock search combing through over 600 hours of footage from a mile radius of the terrible bombing during the Boston Marathon. He’s certain he can’t be charged with a felony at this point, he knows he has until Monday morning before he needs to .make his decision.

His mind’s been racing almost as quick as the sun’s been making tracks, climbing higher in the sky on this hot summer morning. Sitting on his back porch he tries’ to relax but he can’t there-’sway too much information floating around in his head. He enjoy.sa burger and a couple of dogs then he catches himself becoming mesmerized by the heat signature coming from his gas grill. His mind continues racing with the thoughts of the F.R.B. website, his thoughts are traveling through his mind at the speed of light. His A.D.H.D. is driving the bus at the moment and he can’t seem to slow it down. Hyper focus is one symptom that he can’t control t. One quote his mind continually keeps pulling him back to is the reference from Dr. Hallowell’s book about A.D.H.D. and A.D.D. ( It’s like having a Ferrari with bicycle brakes). The hot July sun’s cooking his Irish skin, he decides he’s had enough Vitamin D for one day. He cleans up his mess from lunch and decides to. go to the Portuguese American Club, or P.A Club as the locals call it.

Although he built his house on the island 20 years earlier he’ll never be considered an islander and he’s accepted that fact. Becoming a member of the P.A. Club is as close as he’ll ever get to fitting in on the island. He’s proud of his roots though, he grew up in Weymouth Massachusetts located 12 miles south of Boston and he’s one of six kids from an Irish Catholic Family. On weekends he enjoys making his way to the Vineyard as often as possible, he’s built relationships with a circle of friends at the club and he’s enjoyed their company over the years. On a bright and sunny day like today the club will provide a haven for those looking to take advantage of the A/C, but all he’s considering is a beer and a shot to slow down his brain.

One hour after eating lunch he’s pumped to be at the wheel of his island car heading down to the club. It’s a 15-year old Jeep CJ-5 with no A/C but he doesn’t mind. He often wonders though wouldn’t it be nice to drive a brand new one, a bright orange one with a soft top he imagines. Although he makes good money, keeping an apartment in Weymouth, a house on the Vineyard, child support payments as well as college tuition for his daughter Lauren at Northeastern University, things are tight for him these days.

The P.A. Club is a member’s only social establishment that’s been an anchor for island residents for nearly a century. It started out as a meeting spot for Portuguese fisherman and has flourished into a rock solid island-wide connection for locals. Luckily Larry was introduced to the P.A. Club by his buddy Remo Fullin five years earlier, now it’s a regular stop for him a couple times a month. Today Remo is occupying the corner stool at the bar next to another pal, Paul Humber. What’s going on guys? Larry says. Can I buy you guys a shot and a beer ? That’s a stupid question! Remo replies. In the past five years since you’ve been a member have you ever seen either one of us refuse a drink? Anything else silly you want to add to the conversation, just go ahead. I have something on my mind right now that you might consider silly Larry says, but I’m not going to fill you in on it. What’s up pal? Paul says. Yesterday I started a new $10 million dollar control center at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston, Larry says. One day into the project and we’re already under the gun with a deadline of New Years. Come on that shouldn’t be a problem Remo says, with your talent, you can handle the pressure. There are roughly 1,000camerasin the building!!, Larry says, and we need