Matthew Eberz
Major Sam Call, now retired from the Army, has joined LNMB Investigations owned by his friend David Lytle. David was instrumental in helping Sam uncover the identity of an escaped German POW, solve a war crime that had remained hidden for 45 years, and also bring home a soldier missing since 1945.
IdentityPoint, a public records company, is a major player in the relatively new world of computerized public records; providing the government and private companies with reports on an individual's data; data which revealed everything from the person’s birth to their death, and everything in between. One corporate officer believes others in IdentityPoint have been illegally benefiting from a string of acquisitions and hires LNMB to go undercover to seek the financial data to prove her suspicions. Along with David’s long-time associate Bob, a small, unassuming but extremely resourceful man, Sam is immersed in a mesmerizing world of data and computers and quickly discovers the immense power the company and the data have over the lives of typical citizens. While using the company’s powerful reporting tools, Sam unknowingly alerts the F.B.I., and Sam once again finds himself the target of those who would wish to silence anything Sam has to say, as well as silencing Sam–permanently.
Set in Georgia, British Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C., Very Public Data, explores the world of public records, secret organizations, world of personal identity systems and those that build them and those who abuse them.
Very Public Data unveils both the positive and negative power of public data, and while this is a tale of corruption, murder, and deception, it is also a celebration of the love of a man and a woman, the unbreakable bond of soldiers, and the undying strength that honor brings to the human spirit.
Matthew Eberz was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania attended Penn State University and graduated with a degree in Business Logistics. While at Penn State, Matt was a part-time reporter for the school newspaper at the Ogontz campus of Penn State, and was a member of the Pershing Rifle Drill Team, a member of the ROTC Army Rangers, and the Captain of the Rifle Team. After graduation he entered the United States Army, was initially trained at Ft Bragg, North Carolina, and rose to the rank of Regular Army Major. He served in numerous assignments including Platoon Leader, Detachment Commander, Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, Division Transportation Officer, Chief World Wide Military Command & Control Systems Europe, Training Officer with the United States Reserves at Ft. Sheridan (Tenth Man), and Deputy Director of the United States Army Artificial Intelligence Center. While in the army, Matt also participated in the Training With Industry Program, training with Apple Integrated Systems, Apple Computer Inc. Post army service, he continued in the computer industry developing major computer systems, including personal identity systems for private industry. Matt has a Masters degree in Computer Resource Management, and while in the service, among his many citations, was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal for attempting to save the life of a German Soldier. Mr. Eberz is also the creator of the ADAM missing children alert notification system, which supports the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and that development was nominated for MIT’s Best Use of Technology for the Public Good in 2001. Matt Eberz, along with his wife Rebecca, is now a full-time resident of Highlands, North Carolina where he not only writes but serves as the President of the Literacy Council.
“Maybe we shouldn’t do that?” Sam looked to David.
“Say again?” David looked to Sam for some further input.
“Maybe there’s more going on than greedy executives scamming money. Perhaps I did something there that spooked them.”
“And they needed to take you out for it?” David shook his head. “I’ve met these guys Sam; they don’t have the guts to arrange a hit.”
Sam shook his head. “This is bigger than just insider trading. Don’t forget NECO and a possible government connection.”
“Okay, I’m listening,” David checked the window again.
“What if there is a connection between the two,” Mary offered.
For an entire minute no one spoke. Each was thinking of what the team had been doing at IdentityPoint and about the POW case and Ream.
“I was using IdentityPoint’s systems to try to find a link between Ream and anyone working with PEI during that time. I was hoping that one of those records would lead us to just one of the POWs.” Now standing, Sam seemed to be pleading his case.
“Maybe you did.” David had been sitting on the window ledge his arms crossed and one hand on his chin thinking. He turned to Sam, “find a link that is.”
Mary looked at Sam. “If it’s true, then Chicago didn’t die with Ream.”
“I stand corrected; we have four tasks. Task four is to determine if Sam hit a trip wire while using IdentityPoint’s systems.”
“We need to see the data,” Sam said, “And I know someone who can help.” Sam opened his wallet and took out a business card and read the name and title, George Bailey, Seasoned Geek. He called the number on the card marked home.
“Hello.”
“George, this is Sam Call.”
“Hey Sam, back from vacation?” came a warm and friendly reply.
“In a manner of speaking. George, I have a problem.” Sam stopped for a moment and looked back at David as if looking for the go ahead to tell him. “Something happened in the islands.” He paused again to be sure what to say, “A man tried to kill us. It was a professional hit, and we think it might be related to what I found at IdentityPoint.”
“My God, Sam, are you alright?”
“I am, but Mary was injured. George, I need to get into the IdentityPoint systems now and re-examine the data we got from the PEI batch run. We think somehow I may have actually found the link I was looking for, but I don’t know what it is or how someone could know about it.”
“Hold it right there, Sam. I can’t get you into the systems now. Certainly not at the level I think you need.”
“I understand, George. I would appreciate if you don’t tell anyone I called about this.” Sam was disappointed and it was clear to David and Mary that he didn’t get the answer he had wanted.
“Sam, I said I couldn’t get to the level, but I didn’t say I didn’t know someone who could. Meet me at the Architect’s house at eleven.”
“Thanks, George. Sempre Fi.”
“It’s the least I can do for an army puke.”
Sam hung up the phone. “The Architect’s house at eleven hundred hours.”
“Well, Bob can meet us there. We should get going Sam.” David motioned to Sam as he stepped towards the door.
