AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Something about those last two words sits different. Like Delilah knows a secret, but can’t share. So, I heed her advice.
“I will, DeeDee. Promise.” Warm arms wrap around me and wash away some of the earlier pain. “Thank you.”
She kisses my cheek, then releases me. “Now, go. Be productive and brilliant.”
“Love you.”
“Love you back.”
Chapter Twelve
LAWRENCE
“Everything okay?” Terrance asks as he steps into my office. His eyes home in on and study the IT guy I have had behind closed doors for hours.
“Fine. Just my computer acting up.” The fib rolls off my tongue too easily.
Glen Princeton was a friend since early college. We never shared dorm space, but ran in similar circles and shared the same morals. I trust Glen and the feeling is mutual. Which is why I reached out to him after days of no answers on the Barron account.
Glen hacked tech with the best of them. And he did so legally. After hacking a multimillion dollar company years back, instead of prosecution, the company hired him. Paid him a tremendous salary to prevent future invasions.
So, when I needed to find the culprit behind my tech issue, once I had crossed every possibility off my list, I called Glen.
“Hope it gets fixed.” Terrance stuffs his hands in his slacks and steps to my desk. “Want to grab a bite? I forgot lunch today.” Terrance shifts his weight left to right and back again. His eyes refusing to meet mine.
What’s up with him?
Terrance isn’t one to be anxious. He may be the youngest in our office pod, but he always stands tall and speaks with confidence. Never dishes out bullshit to attain clients—one of his best traits. That said, seeing him fidget is new. Seeing him fidget has me concerned. Because Terrance doesn’t fidget. Ever.
“Sounds good. Let me lock up the office. Meet you out front?”
Eyes zeroed in on my laptop, he nods. Without a word, he exits the office and walks down the hall.
Weird.
* * *
Terrance sips iced tea while we wait for lunch to be delivered to the table. His nervousness waned slightly, but not enough to keep his fingers from rolling the straw wrapper every other second.
Rosenberg’s Delicatessen is slow at the moment, the lunch rush undoubtedly bombarding the place an hour earlier. But the place remains open all day for those wanting more than just a quick bite. Aside from sandwiches, the deli offers an array of sides, heat-and-eat meals, and select groceries.
“So,” I say, unwrapping my own straw. “What’s up with you?”
Setting his cup on the table, Terrance glances around the deli. His shoulders loosen when he sees the place still empty. He leans forward, covering half the table with his forearms. “Have you noticed anything off recently?”
“Off?”
Several things have been off in the last few weeks, but I don’t know the motive behind his question. From the discrepancy on the Barron account to the power outage to the whispers, I have no clue what Terrance knows or where he stands. Hell, this could be a ploy. A way to get me to spill something he doesn’t know. Not happening.
Terrance needs to show his cards before I show mine.
He looks left and right, then meets my waiting gaze. “The tech guy… have any of your accounts been tampered with?” My eyes narrow as I hold his stare. Gonna have to give me more, Terrance. “I had a meeting with Roger Emerson the other day. Beforehand, I reviewed his portfolio like I always do. The figures don’t add up.”
My eyes widen. Jaw drops.
What. The. Hell?
First, the Barron account. Now, the Emerson account. Has someone hacked the Stone Bay Financial database? Is someone skimming accounts? Seems the only logical explanation. How, though? Our firewall, from what I had been told, is impenetrable.
