“The fact you think I have that kind of capability…” It was almost laughable, but she kept that to herself.
“You kept all of us out of your computer,” Cora pointed out.
“I used a basic algorithm. It wasn’t rocket science.” Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say when Aaron’s scowl turned even harder. Oops. She hadn’t meant to offend him, but obviously her code did its job. Sometimes simple was just as effective.
Cora scratched her upper lip trying to hide her smirk.
“So you expect us to believe it’s a coincidence you have encrypted files no one can access and the base was breached six months after you moved here when nothing like this has ever happened before?” Abigail asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“It’s the truth, whether you believe it or not,” Destiny stated as Mike’s hand squeezed hers, reminding her he was in her corner.
“That’s enough. I told you she didn’t have anything to do with it,” Mike spoke up before standing. “We’re done here.”
“No, we aren’t,” Abigail argued, standing up as well.
“Yes, we are. You have no reason to further question her about the incident this morning.”
“She’s a suspect.”
“She is standing right here and can speak for herself,” Destiny pointed out.
“This is why we told you to stay out of it, Mike. You’re compromised.” Abigail kept speaking like she didn’t hear her. That irritated her, but not as much as Mike’s friends berating him. “Think with your big head, not the other one.”
They were both big, but Destiny wasn’t going to say anything about that.
“Abigail, I know you’re friends with Mike and have known him longer, but that doesn’t give you any right to speak to him this way. I get tension is high in light of what happened, but now is the time to work together, not pick each other apart.” She looked around the room at all of them feeling disgusted. “I have heard nothing but incredible stories about you guys from Mike, and right now you all just reminding me of junkyard dogs snarling and growling at each other, which is not productive. Now, Mike has done nothing wrong and neither have I.” She turned back to Cora who just stared at her, speechless. “You want to know what’s so important on my computer, speak to my supervisor, otherwise we have nothing more to say to each other.” She stepped back pulling Mike with her though she didn’t have to force him. He was ready to leave, too.
“I’m sorry about them.” Mike said when they got out of the room.
“It’s not your fault. I get why they did what they did. I just wish they would have talked to me instead of at me.” She expected more from his friends after everything she’d heard about them. “They just assumed I was guilty before I even came in the room.”
“Well you set them straight. You were beautiful in there standing up to them.” Destiny chuckled under his praise.
“Aaron’s face was pretty funny when he couldn’t get into my system.”
“Especially when you said it was a basic algorithm.” Destiny joined him in laughter until she realized the significance of the situation.
“Can you tell me how bad it is?”
“We don’t know yet,” Mike sobered up. “Everyone is looking into it.”
“I don’t understand why here. This isn’t a nuclear base and doesn’t store secrets or anything. Fort Irwin is pretty off-the-map.”
“Maybe that’s what made it a good location. It’s a small base, less security. They probably thought they could get in and out without trouble.” Mike huffed out a harsh breath as he scratched the back of his head. “I guess they were right.”
She hated how defeated he looked, like it was his fault. Destiny wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s no one’s fault.”
Mike grunted but wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “I’m trained to expect the unexpected.”
“Was it the monks or the ninjas that taught you that?”
“A camel jockey.”
That did make her laugh.
“Hey, camels can be mean when they want to.”
“Know a lot of those, do you?”
