“Hi,” echoes from somewhere in the background.
Oh, how this man has changed.
“Now I’m up. Want to tell me what’s so urgent it can’t wait?”
I know it has to be something important for Gabriel to even pick up the phone.
“Are you alone?”
I pull up sharply, my eyes darting back upstairs.
“Do I need to be?”
“I’d prefer it if you were, for what I’m about to tell you.”
I make my way towards the empty kitchen and step inside, closing the door behind me.
“I’m on my own. Kris is still in bed,” I say. “I’m downstairs.”
I make my way across the enormous kitchen and flick on Kris’s state-of-the-art coffee machine. It rivals Gabriel’s, and I’m tempted to send him a photograph, but refrain. Maybe later.
I step back as the machine begins to bubble and hiss.
“It’s okay, you can tell me whatever you need to,” I say.
Gabriel knows I hold a secure phone. I test for bugs and taps regularly. A force of habit. I work in a competitive industry. Industrial espionage is common. And then there’s my other line of work.
“Elijah’s in trouble.”
My heart stops beating at his brother’s name.
“What do you mean? Clarify, in trouble,” I whisper. “Has Darra? Is Lottie okay?”
They’re the connections my brain makes whenever I hear his name.
“Darra and Lottie are fine, or at least I think they are. They’re not why I’m calling.” Gabriel sighs, surprising me. “This is business related.”
I pause, wracking my brain to determine what could be wrong with Elijah’s business and why Gabriel would call me about it. He runs one of the largest cyber security firms in the world. His reputation for perfection is flawless.
I make my coffee as Gabriel gives me the rundown.
“Let me get this straight,” I say. “Elijah accidentally opened an email that should have automatically deleted. It shows he’s made code changes, he hasn’t made? Hundreds, maybe thousands of changes?”
“The long and the short—Yes.”
I sink back onto one of the kitchen stools, glad of my earpiece so I can cradle my coffee.
“What does Todd say?” I ask.
Todd’s been with Elijah almost from the beginning. Was a friend to both of us at uni. He assumed my role when I stepped aside.
“He hasn’t asked him,” Gabriel admits.
Oh crap! Why the hell wouldn’t Elijah talk to Todd?
“Does he think Todd’s involved?”
“He doesn’t know. In all honesty Pen, he doesn’t know much. When I saw him earlier, he was in a spiral. It’s one of those catch-twenty-two situations. He doesn’t know what these changes signify. He came directly here this morning. Typical Elijah, he wants to get to the bottom of it before he involves anyone else.”
