A text made her realize she should at least let her boss know she was in the building, just busy. But it wasn’t her boss. Jane’s cousin sent her a note.
Stay strong. Would have been over yesterday but Uncle C told me he had it covered. Let me know what you need.
Jane could always count on family.
Her eyes threatened to water once more, and she drew on the discipline she’d been brought up to lean on.
Quickly shooting Grimshaw a text, she turned to Teri, whofrowned. “I can’t get in. Something’s wrong with the file. I have a friend in tech support, but she’s swamped.”
Jane shook her head. “No. I have a guy.” Diego or Hal?
At this point, she wanted the best of the best. She dialed Hal’s number on her cell.
“Yo, Jane. How are you, sweetie?”
She hadn’t counted on Hal’s compassion, or the fact her uncle would have told everyone what had happened, though she should have. Her family rallied around her and Raine as if they were frail little birds always needing protection.
Because she and Raine were loved. Like Matthew was loved by the people upstairs, by the people he’d worked with for years.
No. Act tough. Do not break down. You’re better than that.“Sweetie? Who the hell is this?” she asked gruffly.
He laughed. “Forgot who I was talking to. What’s up, buttercup?”
That was better. “I have an emergency. I was sent a corrupted file, and I have the feeling it’s got answers I need, like yesterday.”
“Send it.”
“Which address?” With Hal, Team Ten’s computer hacker, there were many.
“Use the ffs.mil one.”
“FFS?”
“Forfudge’ssake. It’s not really ‘fudge,’ but I’m trying to protect your weak FBI sensibilities.” She could hear the smirk through the phone, as well as laughter from someone else in the room with Hal.
“Who’s with you?”
“Smith. He says hi and to take care of yourself. And if you need an untraceable firearm and silencer, he can get it for you, no problem.”
She shook her head. “Tell Smith I don’t need any of that. But thanks.” Funnily enough, she knew Smith meant it. He’d be happy to get her the equipment to do whatever she felt necessary.
Rumbling voices and then Hal added, “Min’s here too. He saidhe’d love to bring you that equipment. Even use it for you if you want. You know. To show you how it works.”
And take out the people who’d hurt her.
“Yeah, no. Tell Min thanks, but no thanks. I don’t mean to spoil anyone’s idea of a good time, but I’m on the clock, and I have a job to do.”
“You’re no fun.”
She sent the file to his email.
“I have it. I’ll get on this right now.”
“Thanks. Call me and let me know when you have something, okay? I don’t care when.”
“You got it. Stay safe.”
“Always. Same to you and the boys.” She hung up and turned to Teri. “Now about TS Cooper, what?—”
