I scratched Ginger behind the ears. “I didn’t.”
The car quieted.
“I mean, when Angel and I explored Tango Bio’s network, I downloaded a clean version of the chip software, to include the tracking module,” I explained. “I also deleted all copies of that software on their network and uploaded a fresh module that has a few bugs and won’t operate properly. The vet visit was just to make sure the chip wasn’t hurting or controlling her in any way. There’s no way in hell they can track her now.”
The silence stretched on before Basia’s mouth twitched. “My God, you’re terrifying.”
“Only when necessary,” I replied.
Ginger snored softly in agreement, blissfully unaware that her life had just been defended by a hacker, a reporter, a vet, and a small army of angry women.
It wasn’t much brighter outside when we left, but it felt a lot sunnier. For once, the crisis was behind us.
And in the quiet hum of the road, with my friends in the car and a warm dog asleep in my arms, I let myself believe we’d actually won one.
Chapter Forty-One
Lexi
We’d long said our goodbyes to Barbie and Tootsie in the parking lot of the casino hotel, and Gwen had issued them both an invitation to her wedding, before I pulled out my phone to call Slash.
Basia was asleep in the front seat, Gwen had passed out next to me in the back, and Gray was listening to music of her choice softly on the radio. Ginger snored in my lap, her stomach full after another pup cup and a hamburger without the bun.
It was just after seven thirty in the morning. My early-rising husband had probably been up for an hour.
He answered on the second ring. “Cara, you okay?”
“I am. Are you up?”
“Of course, just finishing up tai chi.”
I loved the predictability of him. “I just wanted to let you know we’re heading home a little early. Girls’ weekend is over.”
There was a momentary pause. “Okay…that sounds like a story. I hope it’s a good one.”
“Oh, it is. You’ll get the full version later. The short version is…we’re going to have a temporary housemate.”
He paused. “Okay. Girl or guy?”
“Girl, but not human.”
Another pause. “Please tell me you didn’t steal the dog from the lab.”
“I did not steal Ginger,” I said. “Not exactly. I kind of agreed to foster her. Temporarily. Possibly. It’s complicated.”
Another pause, even longer this time. “You’re bringing the dog home?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “I know I should’ve asked you first, but things just happened so fast. The lab was worse than we thought. And while Barbie and the people from the local animal control and SPCA are making sure the rest of the lab animals go safely to vets and shelters, Ginger would’ve been stressed bouncing around the system. Since she already trusts me, everyone thought this would be the right solution. So, I agreed.”
I stopped, aware I was rambling. “I didn’t plan for this.”
He was quiet for a beat. I could almost hear him thinking as he put the pieces together. “Who’s Barbie?” he asked.
“Oh, she’s the amazing investigative reporter who did the exposé on the lab in Arizona. Remember that article you sent to us? It was instrumental in helping us bring down the lab, Slash. She’s great. You’ll really like her.”
“You…brought down the lab?” he asked.
“Yes, but that’s the long part of the story. The short part is that Barbie is our friend now, we helped her get her dog Tootsie back, and we’re heading home with Ginger.”
