That didn’t stop Ash from finding a pattern and blocking it.
The hacker on the other end tried to hide his attack via a series of reroutes and layers of more complicated code.
Ash snorted. It looked complex, but it wasn’t. “Sorry, friend. That’s not going to work either.”
What was Mendez doing right now? Probably something very similar. Ash could spend time trying to watch Mendez, but he wanted to catch this hacker instead.
“Oh, I see what you’re trying to do.” Underneath the misdirects and the crazy code writing, Ash saw signs that he was getting close to the other hacker’s firewall.
Good.
Ash was so close he could taste it. Mendez would be hot on his trail, so he needed to shut the intruder down.
Now.
Ash’s fingers flew over the keyboard, a combination of keystrokes that would render the computer on the other end useless. It was an old trick, one he’d used before.
He waited a fraction of a second for a response from the other end of the line.
Nothing.
Ash launched a final attack, in case his last trick hadn’t stopped the hacker. He slammed down on the final key and held his breath. Around him, he sensed the rest of the team holding their breath too.
Seconds later, the room burst into cheers. Ash thought they were for him, but it was possible—barely—that Mendez had owned the final block.
“Damn, Ash. You’re fucking amazing.”
“Yeah, I am.” It wasn’t bragging when it was the truth.
A different voice said, “Man, Mendez, you were so close.”
“I know,” Mendez said, his voice gruff with disappointment.
Ash swiveled to face him.
Mendez pushed his goggles to his forehead, shook his head in rueful acceptance. “Next time, Ash. Next time.”
“Any time.” Ash smiled his cockiest smile.
Mendez flipped him off.
Ash laughed, then looked at the big screen. He wanted to make sure that the attack vector really was stopped. Though he hated his job, he took threat neutralization seriously. Part of it was just the way he was wired: he hated doing a half-assed job. The rest was purely to protect his sister.
The board showed the threat gone, so Ash finally relaxed. “Sorry, Mendez, looks like you’re gonna have to pay up.”
He pushed out of the chair and stretched. His shoulders ached like he’d had a punishing workout, instead of just a computer battle.
Mendez grumbled, then said, “Fine, first round’s on me tonight.”
He’d won, so he didn’t have to say anything, but in the spirit of team building, he threw them a bone. “If it’s any consolation, she’s way out of my league and doesn’t want to see me again.”
They groaned. Mendez slapped his hand over his heart. “You’re cruel, Ash. Cruel!”
He smiled. “I know. Imagine how boring I’d be otherwise.”
The rest of the shift passed quickly. The mood remained light, the work steady and easy. After Ash’s battle with Mendez, the team split their time razzing Mendez about the loss and Ash about his new “girlfriend.”
The Jack as his girlfriend. That’d be amazing if it weren’t so terrifying. In the brief time he’d spent with her, she’d been smart and funny, savvy and thoughtful, intense and scary. Add in those eyes that looked like they’d seen infinity and a body that wouldn’t stop...
