Katie shrugged and folded her hands together on the desk.She seemed cool and collected to Kyle’s eye, though it was anyone’s guess what Niko thought of her.
“I would have reached out to you last night, but it was after business hours, and I thought you might be otherwise occupied.We’ve accessed the solid state drive you gave me during our lunch on Sunday, and Root Source, Inc.is willing to work on the Saunders & Associates project.”
“You…accessed it.”
Someone quietly snorted; Kyle wasn’t sure who.
Katie gave Niko a closed-lipped smile.“I did say we would get the job done, did I not?While I didn’t realize when you assigned it to us that it would be a two-stage job—the encryption was a nice touch but not impossible to overcome—we’re more than capable of completing something like this.I can set up a meeting with Mr.Saunders today if you like?”
“I—let me reach out to Mr.Saunders first.”
“If you think the introduction will go more smoothly that way, then by all means, get in touch with him.”Katie lifted one hand to tuck a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ears.“The testing of their firewall and other security systems will take several days before my company can recommend a viable fix.I understand, from your instructions on the drive, you’re looking for remote surveillance options?”
“Yes.Mr.Saunders, ah, travels a lot for his job.He’s very hands-on, however, and likes to check in from wherever he’s staying, especially if there’s a problem.The remote access would be helpful, especially if the avenue itself is encrypted.”
Madison raised her hands and made air quotes while mouthingcheck inbefore rolling her eyes in an exaggerated manner.They all knew who’d really be doing the remote accessing.
“That won’t be an issue to set up.”
“I suppose not if you managed to crack the solid state drive’s security.”Niko didn’t exactly sound happy about that fact, but it was the job he asked them to do.He probably hadn’t thought they’d be successful.
“Now that you know my company can do the work you require of us, we do need to know who we will be contracting with.You mentioned before that it wouldn’t be Oksana but that a meet could happen at the gala.Jamie wants that meeting to go forward.”
“I was under the impression this was your company, Ekaterina.”
“It’s my company, Niko, but Jamie is my captain, in or out of the Marine Corps.”
“I see.”On the uplink, Niko pasted a wide smile on his face.“Please let Jamie know that we expect to see you all at the gala Friday night.A meeting with my employer isn’t guaranteed—”
“I’m sure whoever it is wouldn’t dream of passing up a chance to meet Jamie Callahan.He’s quite the businessman, after all.They’ll have plenty to speak about.”
Niko’s momentary pause before speaking was telling.“We’ll see.I’ll have you down on the list as a party of two?”
“Four,” Katie corrected.“My COO and CFO will also be attending.A networking chance like this in a foreign market is not one I’m willing to pass up.We’ll all be on hand to work.”
“You strike me as an exacting boss, Ekaterina.”
“You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen Jamie giving orders in the field.Thank you for the gala invite, Niko.We look forward to meeting with your employer.”
Katie cut the uplink before he could respond.Only then did she wipe the bland smile off her face.“I don’t think he expected us to hack the drive.”
“Probably not so soon, but he should’ve known the gala would be a good incentive for us to try,” Sean said from his seat on one of the leather armchairs situated in front of the desk.The chair was angled enough that he’d been out of eyesight of the uplink feed and camera.
Jamie straightened up from where he was leaning against the wall near the door.“Good job, Katie.”
She propped her chin on her hand and closed down the holoscreens with the other.The spread of data on the screen embedded in the desk went opaque.“You realize I’m going to need a dress?”
“You realize you get to wrangle Alexei into a tux?”
Kyle cackled at his brother’s squawk of indignation from farther down the hall.Katie wrinkled her nose.“Dress shopping was supposed to be fun.Now you’ve turned it into a punishment.”
“You find your dress.I’ll find Alexei and me something to wear.I’ve been to a few things like this before.I know what the dress code is like,” Sean said.
“Pretty sure working the streets for drug deals as a member of the Irish Mob isn’t a job that would lend itself to high-class gala fundraisers,” Kyle said, unable to help himself.It was a little reflexive, to be honest.His own history with his biological father and the Irish Mob meant he was biased in a big way against that criminal organization.
“That’s not the only cover I’ve held.”
“You’re just full of surprises.”
