“I would be very interested to hear about those safeguards,”

Freeman said.

“Essentially,” Lance replied, “while they use outside connections to send data, they do not receive data except on a single connection, which has not only the latest in firewall protections, but on which every incoming request for data is vetted by a human operator before it is passed on to the central computer.”

Freeman frowned. “That sounds almost too simple,” he said.

“Yes, it does, doesn’t it? Oh, their ordinary office computer system accesses and downloads from the Internet, but their system for transmitting and receiving secure data is discrete from that.”

“You want us to supply you with people who can hack into their computers?” Freeman asked. “I should think the National Security Agency could better handle that.”

“Of course,” Lance replied. “Unfortunately, the bulk of their personnel are not available to us . . . on-site, let us say.”

“You mean they won’t do a black bag job for you?” Stone asked.

“To put it crudely,” Lance said drily.

Freeman spoke up. “Am I to understand that you want us to put our people inside this institution for the purpose of sacking their computer system?”

“At our present level of expertise, that is the fastest way for us to gain access to their secure data.”

Freeman had not stopped frowning. “You want us to carry out an illegal entry into their offices and steal their data.”

“We would, of course, provide umbrella protection from prosecution to your people,” Lance said.

Stone spoke up. “I’m sure that Richard Nixon offered the same protection to the Watergate burglars.”

Lance blinked. “Well, perhaps so.”

“I’m sure I could find personnel in our organization who would be enthusiastic about such an operation,” Freeman said, “but I am not sure I could furnish someone with a sufficient level of computer expertise to break into a secure system within a matter of a few hours, which is what you are talking about.”

“I understand,” Lance said. “That is why your people would take an NSA operative along with them.”

“I think that would make a great movie,” Stone said, “but a bad business story in the Wall Street Journal. I have to tell you, Mike, that you would be putting your company at great risk at a level all out of proportion to the reward to be gained.”

Lance bristled. “The reward, as you put it, Stone, is to destroy the enemies of your country.”

“By breaking the laws of my country,” Stone pointed out.

“I think I sense your position on this, Stone,” Freeman said. “Lance, I will have to discuss this matter with some of our people, then get back to you with a decision in principle, not having details of the actual operation.”

“Perfectly understandable, Mike,” Lance replied. “I’m at the Lowell, and here’s my cell number.” He handed Freeman a card.

Freeman stood up. “Thank you for coming to see us, Lance.” They shook hands and Lance left.