Digital Fortress Chapter 33

Tokugen Numataka stared out his window and paced like a caged animal. He had not yet heard from his contact, North Dakota. Damn Americans! No sense of punctuality! He would have called North Dakota himself, but he didn't have a phone number for him. Numataka hated doing business this way-with someone else in control. The thought had crossed Numataka's mind from the beginning that the calls from North Dakota could be a hoax-a Japanese competitor playing him for the fool. Now the old doubts were coming back. Numataka decided he needed more information. He burst from his office and took a left down Numatech's main hallway. His employees bowed reverently as he stormed past. Numataka knew better than to believe they actually loved him-bowing was a courtesy Japanese employees offered even the most ruthless of bosses. Numataka went directly to the company's main switchboard. All calls were handled by a single operator on a Corenco 2000, twelve-line switchboard terminal. The woman was busy but stood and bowed as Numataka entered. â€Å"Sit down,† he snapped. She obeyed. â€Å"I received a call at four forty-five on my personal line today. Can you tell me where it came from?† Numataka kicked himself for not having done this earlier. The operator swallowed nervously. â€Å"We don't have caller identification on this machine, sir. But I can contact the phone company. I'm sure they can help.† Numataka had no doubt the phone company could help. In this digital age, privacy had become a thing of the past; there was a record of everything. Phone companies could tell you exactly who had called you and how long you'd spoken. â€Å"Do it,† he commanded. â€Å"Let me know what you find out.†