When he’d last spoken to Portia, the Tremaine Corporation hadn’t intended to offer a reward. It had never occurred to him to offer one himself.
“That…could work,” she said at the same time he blurted, “That’s a good idea.”
They looked at each other.
“Do you have any spare credits?” she asked.
Killian leaned forward to pull out his wallet. The move brought him close enough to see her pulse flutter in her neck.
“Untraceable credits, I mean.” Credits that weren’t linked to personal information or bank accounts.
He flipped through his wallet, though he already knew what he’d find. “A few hundred.”
Small stuff. For bribing a maître d’ or grabbing a bite from a food truck. It used to be a few thousand. Since the accident, he did a lot less partying and carried a lot less free money than he used to.
“That’s probably not enough.” Dizzie sighed, looking so lost that all he wanted to do was make it better. “How much do you think we need?”
He was used to throwing money at problems, but never in the form of a reward. “I have no idea,” he admitted.
“Maybe the Jack could help.” Dizzie paused. “That’s where my money is. Maybe we can ask for help getting the word out. And ask how much we need.”
He knew of the Jack. Shrewd and ruthless in business. Willing to provide solutions, for the right price, cash up front. “That could work.” While Killian hated the idea of bringing an unknown into this mess, the Jack had shadier connections than he did.
“What if it’s not enough?” She clicked her nails together. “Wait, why can’t we use your money?”
Killian coughed. “Happy to. The problem is that you want untraceable credits so folks don’t know who’s asking, right?”
“I guess.”
“I don’t think it matters who’s paying the reward.” Her look told him to continue. “I don’t see why it matters where the money comes from,” he said. “Because you’re right. I’m Killian St. John.Thatis my skill. No one will think twice if I offer a reward for information on the bombing that killed my best friend.”
She shoved her hands in her pockets. “You think that will get the hacker to come forward?”
Killian shrugged. “The hacker. Anyone with information. I don’t care who brings us the information as long as I get answers.”
“If you’re Killian St. John, payer of reward, what do you need me for?”
Of course, she’d picked up on the weak part of his plan. Technically speaking, he didn’t. Killian could set up a reward—with or without the Jack—easily enough. Keeping her close was more about knowing her location than anything else. Except maybe it was also about keeping her safe from Portia.
“I’ll need you to connect me with the Jack.” Making that connection would give her a role to play.
She nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
He was sure. He wanted this nightmare over. If throwing money at it worked, he’d be thrilled.
They had a plan. He had the feeling it was going to be a very expensive plan.
Chapter26
“And you’re goingto your bank to set up a reward?”
They’d spent hours in the blue-tinged room of computer monitors looking for answers online and finalizing their next steps. She hadn’t heard a word from the hacker. Did he or she know that Killian was here too?
“Yes,” Killian said. He took a bite of the meal Dizzie had thrown together.
It wasn’t great, but the food in the tiny kitchen was their only option. Canned chili or stale cereal without milk. She’d chosen the latter, too damn tired, despite a second cat nap, to even heat up the chili.
“Because you don’t trust the equipment here,” she prodded.
