Finally, something that made Savannah’s shoulders drop with some relief. Later, I would have to massage her to help her relax. Well, given my physical limitations, it would have to be tomorrow or maybe the next day. But soon.
“Since Pasco’s hacking’s been thwarted,” Wheeler said, “Bloomers pulled up building blueprints, and we started planning a nighttime infiltration to locate the servers.”
Now that sounded like fun. I was a little miffed they’d done it without me.
Pasco grunted. “Excuse me for needing a minute to infiltrate an obscured VPN. Typical loggies and tac ops.”
“I like a good nighttime mission as the next tactical op, but I was on Pasco with this one,” Kat said.
Wheeler smiled and pointed to Savannah. “And then she said…”
“Guys, I own the company. We can just walk in the front door Friday afternoon. We have a flexible work-from-home policy, and there will be a skeleton staff in the office at that time.”
“Why don’t we walk in through the front door after hours?” I asked.
“That’s the other reason a night op was a stupid plan,” Pasco said, glancing at Bloom. “I need the processing and usage data from the server room while company computers are in use.”
I looked at Kat. She was my last hope of sanity. “You’re not considering this plan, are you? Masters might be a cultynutball, but that doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. Savannah’s in hiding for a reason.”
Savannah glared at me. “I’m sick of hiding, and we’re talking about walking into my own building. I own the company.”
I didn’t care how pissed off she was, as long as she was safe. “And your business partner in that company has gone off the deep end.”
“I make the call,” Kat said sharply. “This is the best plan on the table by a long shot, Hayes. Of course, we’re going with it.”
I scowled at the Aussie asshole. Somehow I was sure this was all his fault.
“I just spent the past week reading HEAT policies and regulations,” I said. “Lot of language in there about the severely limited circumstances that allow using a civilian in an operation.”
The table went quiet. Kat slowly set her wineglass on the table. “Hayes, I appreciate your concern. X and I have reviewed the operation plan and the exigent circumstances, and we’re comfortable that the mission meets all HEAT requirements.”
I was being put in my place by my superior about a decision that had already gone up the chain of command. In other words, I was shit out of luck and probably skating on thin ice. Maybe if I hadn’t been pushed beyond the point of exhaustion, I could have handled this properly by participating in the planning session and making my case to Kat before X was briefed. But thanks to Wheeler’s hell course, I’d missed my chance.
Yep, I knew it all came back to that asshole.
“She can’t go alone, though,” I said, choosing a new battle, one I was more likely to win.
“She won’t,” Kat said.
“Good.” I looked at Savannah. “But I’m not letting you out of my sight once we get in there.”
Wheeler leaned forward and blocked my view of her. “You, mate?” He shook his head. “Senior tac operative runs point on a mission like this. Or did you miss that part in the HEAT policies?”
I crossed my arms over my chest and glowered at him. “I think that policy is open to interpretation.”
“Yes, and I’m the one who gets to interpret it.” Kat spoke quietly again, and her message was clear. She was not amused by my combativeness.
“I don’t like the idea of our friend doing this, either, but Wheeler’s good,” Mai said. “He’ll have her back.”
“Swear it on my life, mate,” Wheeler told me. “This is a lot for you. You’ve had a hell of a day. Let’s table it for now, and we’ll get you briefed up in the morning, after some sleep, eh?”
I knew he’d do his best to protect her. And I also knew he was right about my day affecting my reaction. But I still wanted to pummel him. “Yeah, long day,” I said. “I think I’ll call it a night.”
“Ben,” Mai said, “don’t—”
“Don’t what? Cut and run? Why not? It’s what you expect of me.” Christ, I sounded like a toddler, even to myself.
Savannah stood and shook her head. “Ben, you’re not—”
