Chapter Six
This
better work out. Phillip thought, pressing the doorbell on the off-white
colonial-style home sitting in the outskirts of Gibsonville. Otherwise, Ray is going to kill me.
Within seconds, a thin-built man appearing to be in his early to mid-forties came to the door. “Hello. Can I help you?”
“Yes,” Phillip gulped. “I’m looking for a Mr. Carl Thompson. Our records show that he resides here.”
“Well. Your records are correct.” Carl confirmed, opening the screen door a couple of inches. “I’m Carl Thompson. Would you like to step inside?”
Phillip nodded and followed him into the living room.
“So what can I help you with today, Mr. …?”
“Cuttingham,” Phillip answered. He then took a seat on the country-style sofa, while Carl sat down the lounger located a few feet away. “I’m from Krypton Software Corp. and have been instructed by my superiors to present you with a proposal. One I believe you will find to be profitable. … But before we can get started, I’m going to need to ask a few preliminary questions. You don’t mind, do you?”
Carl raised an eyebrow and appearing to be debating the question. “If it’s not too personal,” he eventually said. “What exactly would you like to know?”
Phillip pressed one of the gold-plated latches on a leather case sitting next to his ankle.
“Let’s begin with, are you familiar with Krypton Software and its products, Mr. Thompson? Our company’s based a few hundred miles west of here – in Hidden Valley, Tennessee.”
Carl negatively shook his head. “No. I can’t say I am. Does it produce word processing software? If so, I might be interested. The Microsoft Word program we use in my Office Skills is the 2003 version, so it’s a bit outdated.”
Phillip glanced in Carl’s direction and gave him a smile. “I’m afraid not, Mr. Thompson. Our company specializes in top-of-the-line youth entertainment.”
“You mean like video games?”
“Precisely,” Phillip affirmed, popping his briefcase’s other latch. “And I’m proud to state; we're also Titan Industries biggest competitor.”
“Titan Industries?” Carl repeated, tilting his head as if he was a bit puzzled. “Who are they?”
“You‘re not familiar with Titan Industries?” Phillip took a brightly-colored DVD case out of his briefcase and raised it waist level. “Then perhaps I’m talking to the wrong Carl Thompson. Is there another one living in or near Gibsonville?”
“No. I’m the only one I’m aware of that lives within a couple of hundred-mile radii," Carl replied, grabbing his remote and shutting off the TV. “Are you, in all reality, actually a door-to-door salesperson, Phillip … and you’re about to try to sell me something – like a set of encyclopedias on DVD?”
Phillip laughed as he subtly tried to see if his victim's TV was connected to a setup box. If it was, then most likely Carl's Internet service was through a cable modem and hacking into his computer should be a simple three-minute process.
“No. I’m absolutely not a door-to-door salesperson. And I’m certainly not about to try to sell you anything, Mr. Thompson – at least not anything tangible. As I stated earlier, I’ve come to Gibsonville for the sole purpose of making you a business proposal. That is, if you can confirm you are the Carl Thompson, who’s employed at Gibsonville School. … Are you THAT, Mr. Thompson?”
“Yes, I am.” Carl said as his stomach began to tense. “You need to see some ID or something?”
“No. It won’t be necessary, Carl. I do have a few reasons to believe you are exactly who you claim to be; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”
Turning to grasp the DVD he previously set near his lap, Phillip raised it to a position where Mr. Thompson could easily see its front cover.
“Have you ever seen this PC game before, Mr. Thompson? It hit the market last year just in time to make the Christmas season rush.”
Carl slowly leaned forward and a few wrinkles soon formed across his forehead.
“Clash of the BattleStars? Hmm. I’m personally not familiar with it. But, I’ve overheard a few of my students talk about it. Some even say it's one of the best action/adventure games they’d ever seen.”
“I see.” Phillip said, handing him the DVD. “Unfortunately, recent sales figures tend to agree with your student's assessment. This game has been topping the video gaming charts for several weeks now. Which brings me to the reason I’m meeting with you today.”
“Oh?” Carl glanced at Phillip and frowned.
“Yes,” Phillip said, counteracting with a smile. “If you don't mind flipping the DVD I handed you over to its backside, I’d like for you to read the names of the game’s co-developers.”
“Sure. No problem.” Taking the game in both hands, Carl flipped it and proceeded to read its back cover. “Paul Pontiac and Tim Hegler,” Carl mouthed before his jaw dropped. “This can’t be right. They’re two are nothing but a couple of kids in one of my classes.”
“I know,” Phillip said, displaying a wide grin. “And I believe they’re also members of the computer club you’re in charge of. Isn’t that correct, Mr. Thompson?”
Carl nodded yes, while his eyes continued to budge from the recent shock.
“Do you realize, Mr. Thompson, that if these students would have sold the rights to this game to Krypton Software, instead of Titan Industries, our company would currently be several hundred million dollars richer? And I wouldn’t have had to make this trip to Gibsonville?”
Mr. Thompson’s eyes narrowed, and he pursed his lips. “So you drove several hundred miles just to talk me about Paul Pontiac and Tim Hegler?”
“More or less,” Phillip acknowledged. “Those two are the most predominate members of your school's computer club, and we need to talk about the game they’re developing for Titan Industries software contest.”
“Titan Industries software contest?” Carl repeated as if he wasn’t familiar with it. “What game and contest are you referring to, Mr. Cuttingham?”
Phillip smiled a mischievous smile.
“Come. Come, Mr. Thompson. Please don’t try to tell me you’re not aware of all of this … Both of us know better. Don’t we?”
Phillip then reached forward and removed the “Clash of the BattleStars” DVD from Carl’s hands.
“Unfortunately, my company doesn’t know the name of the game your computer if developing for Titan Industries contest or its specific details. But we do intend to soon find out.”
“I see,” Carl replied, uneasily sitting back in his chair. “And how exactly does your company plan to do that without breaking into our school?”
“We have our ways,” Phillip said as his lips formed a sinister grin. “However, it would be unwise for me to divulge the specific details at this time, don’t you think?”
Carl thought about it for a moment before deciding to ask what he deemed would be the question Phillip would be expecting.
“So what specifically do you want from me?”
“Nothing illegal,” Phillip answered, trying to sound reassuring even though his hand had begun to fidget. “And if you don't mind, before we proceed any further about this, I do believe I would like something hot to drink.”
Mr. Thompson frowned and took a deep breath. “Okay, if you insist. But it’s going to take a few minutes to brew a fresh pot. We’re currently out of the instant stuff, and my wife hasn’t done this week’s shopping.”
He then got off the couch and strolled toward his 1950s - styled kitchen. Near the door, an authentic ironclad wood stove connected to a fireplace and an old-fashioned aluminum whistling teakettle proudly sat on one of its burners.
“Would you prefer some tea instead Phillip? Fixing a cup would be a bit faster.”
“Coffee, please, Carl. I rarely drink hot tea.” Phillip answered. That should keep him tied up in the kitchen for at least the next three to five minutes.
*****
As soon as Carl exited the living room, Phillip tipped-toed toward his victim’s LED TV. “Uh huh. Just what I thought,” he said, examining at the back of it. “A Time-Warner connection if I’m correct.” He then scampered across the room and took a peek down the hallway. A seventeen-inch HP laptop running the latest version of Windows sat in plain view a few feet inside the master bedroom.
Phillip smiled and re-took his seat – shortly before Carl returned with a couple of saucers.
“I take it you want me to make a copy of the kids’ game and give it to you,” Mr. Thompson said, handing Phillip an “Intel Rules” coffee cup.
“Basically, you’re correct,” Phillip replied, taking a sip. “We need a copy ASAP so we can determine how far the kid’s game has progressed. After that, we shouldn’t need a second one until the kids have completed the final version or at least are close to it.”
“The second copy may take a while,” Carl stated matter-of- factly while returning to his lounger. “As you probably already know, our club’s recently experienced a major setback.”
“Are you referring to what happened to Paul Pontiac, or has something else happened?”
Carl folded his arms in front of himself. “You guys do have a way of keeping up with things, don’t you?”
“Only things we deem necessary, Mr. Thompson.”
Carl shuffled his feet as if expressing serious doubts about that.
“Does your company actually believe my students are going to be able to finish the game in time to meet Titan Industries’ deadline Mr. Cuttingham? … With Paul’s situation looking as bleak as it does, things obviously don’t look real promising.”
“Mr. Furrow, our programming chief,” Phillip began. “Believes they will. … In fact, rumor has it that even if Paul Pontiac isn’t able to return to the picture, Daniel E. Whitehouse the Third and Tim Hegler are more than qualified to get the job done.”
“I see,” Carl said, shaking his head in disagreement. “Your company must think it has everything laid out. Doesn’t it? … But what if it’s wrong? What’s going to happen if my kids don’t meet Titan Industries’ deadline? What is Krypton Software planning to do then?”
Phillip gazed at Carl and laughed.
“Whether Daniel and Tim completely finish the program on time doesn’t really matter, Carl. That’s totally irrelevant. All we need is a near-finished copy of the game. Our experts are qualified to do the rest.”
Carl grimaced and rose to his feet, then began to pace in a tight circle.
“And why should I be willing to steal what the kids are working on? It sounds like what you are asking me to do is not only downright unethical, I’d make an even bet – it’s probably illegal.”
“What could possibly be illegal about copying a DVD?” Phillip asked with a crooked grin. “It’s not like the program’s been patented or anything. Not to mention, our executives have authorized me to offer you a tidy sum … for only a few minutes worth of work.”
“Oh?” Carl’s mind immediately reflected upon the enormous amount of cash he would soon need in order to pay for wife’s upcoming breast cancer treatment. “And what exactly does Krypton Software call a tidy sum?”
“How does twenty thousand fresh greenbacks sound?”
Carl grinned and released a small chuckle. “Are you out of your pea picking mind, Mr. Cuttingham? There is no possible way I’d consider potentially putting my career in danger for a measly twenty thousand.”
Phillip stared at him and grunted.
“Okay. How about fifty thousand, then? It’s not bad dough for less than five minutes worth of work?”
“No. I just can’t see it.” Carl said while gesturing for Mr. Cuttingham to proceed toward the door.
“A hundred thousand, then?” Phillip asked, looking dismayed.
“You just don’t get it. Do you? While the amount you’re offering sounds mighty good, and I seriously could use the cash. There is no way I am going to put my career on the line just because some software corporation wants to do something unethical. I owe both my family and my students a lot more than that.”
“Would two hundred thousand possibly change things?”
Carl looked at Phillip and hesitated.
*****
Depositing a number of coins into one of the very few pay phones still in existence within the Burlington city limits, Phillip waited for his company's operator to answer. Security was of top importance in this project and at least from here, no one would be able to trace the call.
“Oh. Hi, Sarah. This is Phillip. Could you ring Ray Sizemore’s office for me? Thanks.”
Phillip tapped his foot against the phone booth’s metallic floor as he waited for Ray to answer.
“Ah. Hi, Ray. Phillip Cuttingham here.”
“Hi, Phillip,” Ray said, with an optimistic tone in his voice. “Have you talked with Mr. Thompson, yet?”
“Yes I did, Ray. But I don’t have good news.” Phillip said, before pausing. “I offered him twenty thousand like we discussed, but he wouldn’t take it.”
“Okay. Did you then increase it to fifty thousand?”
“Yes, sir. But he still wouldn’t bite.”
Ray loudly exhaled. “What about a hundred thousand? That should more than cover his wife’s medical expenses.”
“I know,” Phillip mumbled, condescendingly. “However, he turned that down – as well as two hundred thousand. He claims what we’re trying to do is unethical, and he doesn’t want to risk his career by getting involved.”
Ray chuckled in reply. “What we’re trying to do Phillip is unethical. Not to mention, downright illegal.”
“So what are we going to do since he’s unwilling to cooperate?”
“Just what we previously discussed.” Phillip could tell by the tone of Ray’s voice that his boss was about to lose his patience. “Proceed with wiretapping his phone and his computer as mentioned in our backup plan, so we can find some dirt to use against him.”
Phillip silently shook his head in reply and began to stare at his surroundings.
“Now just wait a minute, Ray. Do you actually want to try to blackmail the guy? I think we need to discuss this with Tom before we proceed. After all, if anyone found out about this, it’d really get Krypton into enormous trouble.”
Ray growled into his phone’s mouthpiece.
“Phillip. I surely hope you’re not starting to get soft on me, are you? If you are, I can guarantee you can kiss that raise and promotion you’ve been bugging me about for the past few months, good-bye. … Now go do exactly what I just told you and don’t give me any trouble.”
Phillip loosened his collar and gulped.