got the impression she was blocking him, but couldn’t understand why. His tone took on an edge. “If you don’t have anyone, then I’ll have to bring in my own specialist, Mary.”
“That violates company policy, Mr. Black. I’m afraid we can’t have just anyone snooping around our server.”
“Jacobs said I was to get full cooperation. This hardly qualifies.”
Mary looked shaken. Her face set in a frown, she pushed back from her desk and stood. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to say good night, Mr. Black. I’m leaving. I’m no use to anyone at this point, and I’m not up to arguing with you about the policies Mr. Jacobs and his people set up for security reasons. But don’t worry – I told Matt to give you every courtesy, short of violating the law…or company policy.”
“If you can’t reach the day guy, I’m going to call my own computer person in and see if she can figure it out,” Black repeated.
“I can’t tell you what or what not to do, but I’d advise you again that that violates company policy, which is in place for a reason. Besides which, the way I understand these things, there’s no guarantee that anyone beside Alec could access the files he really wanted to keep secure. He was a technology specialist, remember.”
Black’s eyes narrowed. “I’m calling Jacobs.”
“Do whatever you need to do, Mr. Black. It’s his policy, not mine. Now if you don’t mind, I really feel terrible. I just hope I can make it home safely.”
“Can I get your cell number? In case I run into any other problems?”
Mary rattled off a number. Black withdrew his phone, entered it, and pressed send. Her cell chimed in her purse. He hung up as she gathered her remaining things.
“Mary–”
“Sorry again about Mugsy, Mr. Black. I hope he turns up.”
Black watched Mary walk away, confused by her sudden obstinate stance. It wasn’t like he was asking for the combination to the safe. And he had Larry’s full authority. Black slid his phone out and redialed Larry’s number. When the older man answered, he sounded annoyed.
“Didn’t we just talk? I told you I’d try to reach her. I haven’t been able to yet.”
“Mary just left. She went home.”
“What? Why?”
“She’s feeling ill. She looked pretty terrible, so I believe her.”
“Fine. Why are you calling?”
Black laid out the situation for him. When he finished, Larry was silent for several seconds.
“You really think there could be something on our servers?”
“I don’t know. But doesn’t seem like anybody else does, either. Look, if there’s something there that would clear Bethany, you’re paying me an awful lot to find it. Let me do my job. As of now, it’s not looking great for her.”
“You found something that incriminates her?”
“No, but I haven’t heard anything that exonerates her, either. And the clock’s ticking. Morning will be here before we know it, and then things will be out of both of our hands.”
“I don’t like a stranger in our systems. The people that set them up warned me…”
“It’s our only option. But I need the go-ahead from you.”
More silence. When Larry finally spoke, he sounded tired. “All right. But if they do anything to damage our data, it will be on your head, Black.”
“Don’t worry. She’s the best.”
“She?”
“My assistant. Roxie.” Black hesitated and checked the time. “Assuming she answers her phone.”
Chapter 20
Larry looked up from where he was lying in bed as Bethany emerged from the bathroom clad only in a towel, her hair wet from the shower, smelling like vanilla and flowers. She moved to the dresser, where her half-drunk glass of tequila and grapefruit juice rested, and lifted it in the air in a toast.
“To the most incredible man I’ve ever met,” she said, her voice a purr, and tossed the rest of the drink back in two swallows.
Larry reached for his own glass of Scotch and returned the gesture. “To the most amazing
“That violates company policy, Mr. Black. I’m afraid we can’t have just anyone snooping around our server.”
“Jacobs said I was to get full cooperation. This hardly qualifies.”
Mary looked shaken. Her face set in a frown, she pushed back from her desk and stood. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to say good night, Mr. Black. I’m leaving. I’m no use to anyone at this point, and I’m not up to arguing with you about the policies Mr. Jacobs and his people set up for security reasons. But don’t worry – I told Matt to give you every courtesy, short of violating the law…or company policy.”
“If you can’t reach the day guy, I’m going to call my own computer person in and see if she can figure it out,” Black repeated.
“I can’t tell you what or what not to do, but I’d advise you again that that violates company policy, which is in place for a reason. Besides which, the way I understand these things, there’s no guarantee that anyone beside Alec could access the files he really wanted to keep secure. He was a technology specialist, remember.”
Black’s eyes narrowed. “I’m calling Jacobs.”
“Do whatever you need to do, Mr. Black. It’s his policy, not mine. Now if you don’t mind, I really feel terrible. I just hope I can make it home safely.”
“Can I get your cell number? In case I run into any other problems?”
Mary rattled off a number. Black withdrew his phone, entered it, and pressed send. Her cell chimed in her purse. He hung up as she gathered her remaining things.
“Mary–”
“Sorry again about Mugsy, Mr. Black. I hope he turns up.”
Black watched Mary walk away, confused by her sudden obstinate stance. It wasn’t like he was asking for the combination to the safe. And he had Larry’s full authority. Black slid his phone out and redialed Larry’s number. When the older man answered, he sounded annoyed.
“Didn’t we just talk? I told you I’d try to reach her. I haven’t been able to yet.”
“Mary just left. She went home.”
“What? Why?”
“She’s feeling ill. She looked pretty terrible, so I believe her.”
“Fine. Why are you calling?”
Black laid out the situation for him. When he finished, Larry was silent for several seconds.
“You really think there could be something on our servers?”
“I don’t know. But doesn’t seem like anybody else does, either. Look, if there’s something there that would clear Bethany, you’re paying me an awful lot to find it. Let me do my job. As of now, it’s not looking great for her.”
“You found something that incriminates her?”
“No, but I haven’t heard anything that exonerates her, either. And the clock’s ticking. Morning will be here before we know it, and then things will be out of both of our hands.”
“I don’t like a stranger in our systems. The people that set them up warned me…”
“It’s our only option. But I need the go-ahead from you.”
More silence. When Larry finally spoke, he sounded tired. “All right. But if they do anything to damage our data, it will be on your head, Black.”
“Don’t worry. She’s the best.”
“She?”
“My assistant. Roxie.” Black hesitated and checked the time. “Assuming she answers her phone.”
Chapter 20
Larry looked up from where he was lying in bed as Bethany emerged from the bathroom clad only in a towel, her hair wet from the shower, smelling like vanilla and flowers. She moved to the dresser, where her half-drunk glass of tequila and grapefruit juice rested, and lifted it in the air in a toast.
“To the most incredible man I’ve ever met,” she said, her voice a purr, and tossed the rest of the drink back in two swallows.
Larry reached for his own glass of Scotch and returned the gesture. “To the most amazing
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