“No reason at all,” sighed Silas. “And then, of course, the confirmation was issued, and the shipment came through. It probably would have gone unnoticed, but since we have all been a little rattled lately, it turned on a bright red light for me.”
“As well it should,” offered Alastair. “Verity, let’s hear your concerns...”
She too pulled out a couple of sheets of paper. “This is the second time for me. The first was a puzzle, and as Silas so accurately pointed out, probably would have gone unnoticed. But the second time? No.” She leaned back in her chair a little and surveyed the three men around the table. “It’s a similar situation. A deposit was listed as pending, which had never happened before. On its own? Nothing calamitous, and it cleared shortly after. But this morning, I received another note from my charity manager—and I trust her completely, by the way—that it had happened again. A successful and acknowledged deposit, as you can see here...” she pointed to a line on the sheet, “but not released into the account until quite some time later, as you can see from the information here.”
“They’re small amounts,” Alastair said, after looking at the numbers.
“And reputable accounts, too, as far as I can tell,” added Silas.
“I’ve never had this happen before, in the five years I’ve been managing the charity accounts. It’s always been correct to the penny, every month.”
Lucas leaned over, and spent a few moments focussing on the numbers in question. Then he glanced up at Verity.
“The timing is very precise,” he said, a slight frown drawing his eyebrows together. “And the amounts are not consistent. This isn’t the Forge account, of course, but these are modest numbers, not errors that could be counted in thousands...”
“I agree,” Verity nodded. “I looked closely at the overall financial activity for the past six months. Our accounts balance, so this can’t be theft? And I refuse to believe that the Arcvale bank and its PBIC system...” she nodded at Lucas, “I can’t imagine it’s at fault.”
“I’m pretty certain it’s not,” he replied calmly. “But you’re correct in your assessment, Verity. It’s not theft. I don’t think it’sincompetence...I’m not sure what it is yet.” He looked across the table. “Let’s take a look at what I have. Add it to the picture we’re painting.”
“I don’t think I’m going to like it when it’s finished,” Verity said.
“I don’t think any of us will,” agreed Lucas. “But first we have to work out what’s happening.” He paused. “And who’s behind it.”
“Oh God,” whispered Verity. “I never thought of that.”
“Let me toss my findings onto the table. Get some more brushstrokes into that picture.”
“Go ahead,” said Alastair. “We need all the information we can get.”
*~~*~~*
Lucas pursed his lips as he added his papers to the growing pile on the table. Something was gnawing at him, something other than the increasing anger that had him struggling to contain it. Whatever that ‘something’ was, it was attackinghissystem. The PBIC.Hisaccomplishment. And in many ways, his pride. It would not be allowed to continue.
He spared a glance at the three faces watching him. Alastair, sober and thoughtful. He’d not jump to any conclusions, but he’d analyse the hell out of every single number.
Silas, the brother he’d just rediscovered...and what an amazing sensation that was, to be welcomed so warmly and hugged again after so many years.
And Verity. A surprise, a delight, her intelligence unexpected, her appeal beyond what he could have imagined. Even now, in the midst of what could be a dangerously serioussituation, he felt the attraction between himself and Verity vibrating like a low note played quietly on a cello. And he could smell lilies of the valley.
But he drew upon his need to focus, brushed all that aside.
“How familiar are you all with a mirror-engine?”
“Youhaveone?” Verity almost leaped out of her chair with excitement.
“Yes, I do. Sit.” To his surprise, she did just that.
“I know what it is, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one,” offered Silas.
“And I have a small version of one,” nodded Alastair. “But it’s a bit antiquated by today’s standards.”
“Alright. That makes this easier.” Lucas sorted his papers and removed two, offering them to Silas. “Take a look at these numbers, then pass them around.”
The room was quiet for a moment, then Silas shook his head. “I can make some sense of this, but I’m probably missing something.” He passed the papers to Verity.
She pored over them, her expression one of concentration. Then she raised her head and looked at him. God, those eyes. Grey stars that haunted him.
“Lucas, if I’m reading this correctly, you’re suggesting that these rounding errors areintentional.”
