“We live here,” Deckersaid.
“Close the door,” Crockettordered.
Ellen’s cheeks flamed and she started toleave.
Crockett chuckled. “No, Ellen, with youintheroom.”
“Oh.” She shut the door and joined them at thetable.
“We’ve found the breach,” Crockett said. “I’m calling my cousin, Danny Strong. With any luck, he’ll be here this morning. Until then, it’s business asusual.”
Concern laced Ellen’s eyes. “Yes, sir.” She glanced from one man to the other. “I’m glad you found it. I’ve been on pins and needles.Who?”
“Larry. I think Ruth Lizzard is involved. Text me when hearrives.”
“He’s here. We rode up together. Did you eatanything?”
“A few hours ago,” Deckerreplied.
Ellen rose. “I’ll make a Mimi’srun.”
“You’re a saint,” Decker said before she closed the door behindher.
Crockett dialed and with phone pressed to his ear,waited.
“Hey, Crockett,” Danny said. “What’sup?”
“I’ve got a work situation and need your professionalopinion.”
“Go.”
“I have reason to believe one of my employees is sabotaging my products, including the ones I used during the FBIdemo.”
“Crockett, you gotta let this one go,buddy.”
“Hell, no. Not when I have a mountain ofevidence.”
“Look, I can pass your message to the appropriateteam.”
Crockett’s hand rolled into a fist. “Do not dismissme.”
“I know you’re upset,but—”
“Dammit, Danny. We’ve pulled an all-nighter searching the code. It’s all here, or in this case, it’s not. Bring me a forensic software analyst who will fucking hear meout.”
“Crockett, agents aren’t just sitting around waiting for a call. We’ve got fullworkloads.”
Gritting his teeth, Crockett said nothing.Hell can freeze over before I utter one fuckingword.
Danny broke the frosty silence. “I’ll grab someone from the white collar crimedivision.”
“When can I expectyou?”
“ByCOB.”
“Not good enough. We’ve got thousands of products in the market thatcannotfail. I’ve no idea what additional surveillance devices my employee has tamperedwith.”
“You’re like a fucking pit bull, you know that? You better have something concrete. I’ll be by aroundnoon.”
