Black Math

by Ron Ellis

Jack Strummer works for NetDefense, a company that secures computer networks for defense contractors. A 30-year-old network security specialist at NetDefense, Jack recently returned from the war in Iraq wanting only to snowboard and slack off. Ignoring his roommate's belief that it's just a kid downloading MP3's, Jack realizes lives are at stake. With the help of his old army boss, Jack tracks the hacker, determining it's an inside job. He mulls over a list of suspects including people he works closely Amelia Black, co-owner of NetDefense (and Jack's girlfriend); Patrick Nadeau, co-owner and founder of NetDefense, who's trying to rekindle an old relationship with Amelia; Amy Hill, an auditor from the defense contractor; and Fabien Pellicuer, a stylish French network consultant. Hope, a massage therapist snowboarding buddy, encourages Jack to try and solve the mystery. As a major defense contract is about to be signed, Jack comes close to exposing the hacker. Just as he thinks he knows who it is, several attempts are made on his life.

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 2, 2011

About the author

Ronald Walter Ellis