“Sort of.More like, I was a genius-level hacker who could read three times as fast as most people and could visualize code twice as fast as that.So I taught myself everything I needed to know.”
He nodded slowly, so she continued.
“My father died when I was just a baby, and my mom struggled to provide for us on a waitress’s salary.I wasn’t an easy kid.If you think I’m awkward and prickly now, you should’ve seen me then.When I was six, she realized I had a gift for computers.”
More than a gift.So much more than a gift.A huge blessing.
And a curse.
“By the time I was eight, everyone in the entire school system for the whole county had taught me everything they knew.By that point, I was teaching them new things about coding and software development.”
“You were a child prodigy.Like kids with the instruments.”
“I guess, except a computer was my instrument rather than a violin or piano.But yes, I could—can—play it beautifully.That’s how I came to the attention of Communication for All.You’ve heard of them?”
He took a sip of his coffee.“The charity group?Sure.”
“They have schools for underprivileged children to help them learn computer skills and hopefully better their lives.”
“Sounds like a perfect fit for you.”
She shook her head, remembering quite clearly how excited she’d been at eight and a half to finally be around people who understood her.Who knew as much about computers as she did and didn’t think she was odd.
The people at Communication for All, especially Michael Jeter, revered her.
At least at first.
“I quickly got the attention of people high up in that organization.They wanted to groom me for important things.They brought me to live at one of their schools.My mom didn’t want me there by myself, so they brought her, too.All expenses paid—my mom didn’t have to pay for a thing and was even able to quit her job.They even brought my cousin, Melissa, since she also had skills beyond her years.”
“Sounds like an amazing opportunity.I’ve always heard wonderful things about Communication for All.”
Bree stared straight ahead.“No doubt you have.”Everybody had.
“Yeah, I mean Michael Jeter has pretty much been termed an altruistic genius by every person who’s ever...”Tanner faded out.“Jeter.”
He stood with controlled movements.She wasn’t surprised he was figuring it out.Tanner was too smart, too observant, not to piece it all together.
“That guy in the alley in Denver was talking to a Mr.Jeter.”Tanner turned to her.“You stiffened at the name, but I misread your body language at the time.I thought it was because of the guys with the guns.But it was because Jeter was threatening to come there personally.”
“When I was eleven, I outgrew most of the instructors at Communication for All.I knew more about system development and coding than they did.I was twelve when I backdoored into their main system and...”
Her whole life had changed that day.What had started out as preteen mischief and an attempt to show off had ended in a nightmare.
One she was still trying to wake up from.
“Bree?”Tanner sat back down beside her and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against his chest.
God, he felt so strong.Like nothing could get through him.Nothing could break him.
But everyone could be broken.A twelve-year-old Bethany had learned that very quickly.
“I found out every dirty secret the inner board of Communication for All had.They’re evil, Tanner.Human trafficking, weapons and information sales.They use their humanitarian front to get into places without much scrutiny.”
He stiffened.She could almost hear his mind working, attempting to process it all.He stood up and began pacing again.“Good God.”
“I know,” she whispered.It was difficult to take it all in.
“Everybody can’t be in on it,” he finally said.“Communication for All must have a thousand employees.They couldn’t keep it under wraps.”
