by McCoy, SJ
“Yeah, looks like you'll need it. Good luck.”
“You too, Dan.” Herb shot him a grin before turning away to deal with Mrs. Emmersley.
Dan let himself into his apartment and looked around. He wondered what Missy would make of this place. It was the penthouse of one of the most prestigious buildings in town. Again, Olivia had been the major influence in him buying it. He didn't love it like he did his car though. The stark white walls and high ceilings just emphasized how empty it was. How alone he was. Now there was a novel thought! Being alone was one of his priorities. He craved solitude most of the time. When he was with people he couldn't wait to get away from them, back to his machines, to his code, to a world that made sense to him. That had changed lately, though. He'd always enjoyed being around Jack. Spending time with his brother had never been the challenge spending time with other people was. Since Jack had asked him to come up to Summer Lake to work with Scot, he'd discovered that he didn't mind, in fact he enjoyed, spending time with the people there. He'd liked Pete since he first met him. He must have been about fifteen then—no wonder he felt like another brother. Ben was becoming a real friend too, as was Smoke, the Phoenix pilot with whom he'd been spending quite a bit of time. Even the women up there were cool. Jack's new wife, Emma was great, and Pete's fiancée, Holly was fun. They didn't make him feel uncomfortable like most women did. They weren't bossy or gossipy. They made sense.
He chewed his thumb as he walked over to the plate glass window that rose twenty feet to the ceiling. As much as he liked everyone up there, it was Missy that changed everything. The beautiful, little Missy. As he rested his forehead against the cool glass, he realized that it wasn't just that he didn't mind being around her, he actually missed her when he wasn't. He thought about her much of the time, and Scot too. He couldn't remember to buy coffee for himself, but he had remembered to stop at the bookstore to get the textbooks for Scotty. That was why this place felt so empty now, when it never had before—it was because they weren't here with him. He felt alone because he wasn't there with them. He wandered into the bedroom to change into his workout gear. He hadn't told Jack, but he'd added a bike, a rower, and a full weight bench to the home gym birthday gift that had started it all. He needed to think clearly, and the endorphin rush from a good workout would help. All the parameters of his world were shifting. He needed to figure out how best to arrange them to suit the man he was becoming and the kind of life he was starting to want.
Chapter Nine
Missy pulled the sheets from the dryer and dumped them into the laundry basket. She'd get Scot to help her with them in a little while. She hated folding sheets, so the two of them made a game out of it, dancing around the kitchen. She smiled, remembering the look on his face when he'd helped her fold his sheets on Monday. He'd told her how Dan had taken care of his wet bedding and pajamas that morning, before he'd walked with him to the bus stop. She'd been so pleased. Pleased that Dan had helped him out with his little accident, and that he qualified as cool enough to be seen with in public. She wasn't allowed to accompany Scot to the bus stop under any circumstances.
Lindy Miller, Jarret's mom, had called her to ask about the hot guy who had picked Scot up after the robotics trip. Apparently Dan had caused quite a stir. She felt the now familiar fluttering in her stomach at the thought of him. She could see why people called them butterflies. She couldn't wait for tomorrow night. For their date. They hadn't even talked about where they would go, but she didn't care. They'd probably go to the Boathouse, it wasn't like there were many other options around the lake. As long as Ben left them alone, and the whole gang didn't come down to join them, it would be fine. She wanted to be alone with him, have him all to herself for an evening. She was excited just to be going on a date—it had been a long time. She'd dated some over the years, but it was hard with Scot to think about. Most guys didn't get it. She'd never met anyone she'd felt was worthy of being around her son. She'd certainly never met anyone like Dan before. On the surface he didn't make any sense as a guy for her. He was so damned smart. When he and Scot talked computers—or robots, or physics, or even math for that matter, they may as well be talking Arabic for all she understood. She had common sense and life smarts, but all that techno stuff fried her brain when she tried to grasp it. Apart from being so smart, Dan was also quiet. She had thought he was shy, but she wasn't so sure about that now. It wasn't that he was afraid to talk to people, he just didn't bother with mundane chatter. If he was interested in the conversation, he joined in. If he wasn't, he didn't see the point in talking for the sake of it. She, on the other hand, could chatter away with the best of them. She usually saw the funny side of things, and liked to share it. She loved to make people laugh and was never afraid to speak her mind. It shouldn't make any sense that Dan liked talking to her and she liked listening to him, but she was glad of it.
She threw another load in the washer, wondering what she should wear tomorrow night. He must have seen every outfit she owned by now. She wanted to look good, but she couldn't exactly afford to go out and buy something new. She mentally ran through her wardrobe. The doorbell interrupted her musings and she went to see who it was.
“Hey, Miss!”
“Hey, you two! This is a nice surprise.” Emma and Jack stood on the doorstep. “Come on in.” They followed her through to the kitchen.
“How are you feeling?” asked Emma.
Missy grinned. “I'm fine, honestly. Almost back to full strength, just like I told you this morning.” Emma had called everyday to see how she was doing. “You'd think there was something really wrong with me, the way you've all been carrying on. Though it is kind of nice to know you care. Have a seat, do you want a drink, or anything?”
Jack sat at the kitchen table. “Not for me, thanks. I've got to run over to see Ben, so I’ll leave you ladies to visit a while.”
“I'll have an orange juice,” said Emma, “but I'll get my own.” She was at the fridge before Missy could move. “Do you want one?”
“Yes, please, but I'm not used to being offered a drink in my own home. I was a bit tired, not at death's door!”
Jack laughed. “You're just not used to having people looking out for you, Miss, but now we're up here you're going to have to get used to it, okay?”
“I don't know.” Missy smiled. “I mean, it's nice to feel cared for, but damn! I'm not allowed to do anything. I haven't been to work all week. I haven't even cooked a meal. You're right, I'm not used to it. At least I've still got Scotty to take care of, otherwise I'd feel completely useless!” Emma and Jack exchanged a look. “What? What are you two scheming?”
Jack laughed. “You don't miss a trick, do you?”
“Can't afford to in my world, hon. Now tell me what you're up to?”
“We came to see if Scot can come up to North Cove tomorrow night and stay with us?”
Missy frowned. “Why?”
“Because,” said Jack, “the gang is all coming up there for dinner. Michael is bringing Ethan and we thought Scotty would enjoy it.”
She wrinkled her nose at them. “Why do I feel like you're all taking over my life?”
Jack looked concerned. “We're not trying to interfere, Miss. It was just an idea.”
Emma laughed. “Yes we are. We're interfering because we know you're going out with Dan tomorrow night, okay?”
Missy nodded. “Yeah, that's more like it.”
“So we're all staying out of town. Even Ben is taking the night off and coming up to our place. That way you two will have the run of the town all to yourselves. And Ethan has been dying to see Scotty.”
Missy shook her head. “Oh, the joys of small town living.”
Jack nodded. “You know what they say—the worst thing about it is that everyone knows your business, and the best thing about it? Is that everyone knows your business!”
“Ain't that the truth!” agreed Missy. “And thanks, guys. It is sweet of you to do that. I'm sure Scot would love it. He was goi
ng to go to my dad's, but he wasn't too keen on the idea.”
Emma smiled. “Well, ask him, to make sure, but I'll bet I can seal it with the offer of pizza and pie.”
Missy laughed. “With that offer, you'll probably get Dan up there too!”
“No chance!” said Jack. “Who do you think suggested getting Scot and Ethan together? He wants to take you out, but not unless he knows Scot gets to do something fun too.”
Missy smiled. Dan was so thoughtful, and it wasn't as if he was just doing it for her. She knew how much he cared about her son. Now she wouldn't feel guilty about not only usurping time Scot would normally get to spend with Dan, but adding insult to injury by packing him off to Poppy Jim's. Scot loved his grandpa, but there was no internet connection at his place. Her dad would have come to her, but he'd expect to see Dan leave before he left himself. Missy was hoping that Dan wouldn't be leaving at all. She realized Jack was watching her.
“I'm hoping you two will have a good time, Miss. I've never seen him like this.”
Missy didn't want to say too much. “I'm hoping so too.”
“And on Saturday,” said Emma, “Scot and Dan can get their time because, if you feel up to it, you, me, and Holly are going to LA to get our costumes.”
“In that plane?” asked Missy warily.
Emma laughed. “Yes, we're going to go hurtling through the skies in our very own tin can again. But don't worry, I've asked Smoke to stock extra champagne to take the edge off your nerves.”
That plane really did make her nervous. It was kind of cool to be able to just pop to LA or San Francisco for a day's shopping, but still. “Okay.” she said. “I'll be brave.”
Jack laughed. “That's the spirit, Miss. Now. I'd better get over to see Ben. I'll be back in an hour, Mouse, okay?”
“Yes, say hi to Ben for me?”
“Will do.” He stood and gave Emma a quick kiss. He hugged Missy. “See ya.”
Missy hugged him back. Jack was a good guy; she was glad he'd been so determined to earn Emma's trust. They were good together. “Bye, Jack.”
“Do you feel like packing a bag?” asked Emma once he'd gone.
Missy laughed. “Why? Are we planning on skipping town?”
“No!” Emma laughed with her. “My running days are over. Jack's been so good to me. I'm over myself and being scared. These days he's the only place I want to run to.”
“Good,” said Missy. I'm glad to hear it, but if we're not running away why do I need to pack a bag?”
“Because we might stay at my apartment when we go into the city shopping. And don't worry, if we do Scot can stay with Dan and Jack. Since you're not supposed to lift a finger, I thought I should help you pack your bag now.”
“Seriously, Em? It's not exactly a big job.”
“Just humor me, would you?”
“Fine. Come on then.” They went upstairs and Emma sat on the bed while Missy packed an overnight bag. “There,” she said once she was done. “Happy now?”
“Um, I will be in a minute.” Emma went into the closet and came out holding a little black dress.
“Team Slinky?” asked Missy. It was the dress she had worn for Emma's bachelorette party. Emma, Holly and Laura had all worn exactly the same that night.
Emma laughed. “It's best to be prepared for anything.” She folded the dress and put it in the bag and closed it up. She grabbed the bag and ran down the stairs with it.”
“Where are you going?” laughed Missy as she followed.
Emma went out of the front door and ran down the path. She slid open the minivan door and put the bag in the back. Missy stood at the bottom of the stairs watching.
Emma came back in and grinned. “Just making sure you won't forget it.”
“Sometimes I worry about you!”
“No need,” said Emma with a sweet smile. “I'm not as crazy as I make out.”
“I hope not.” Missy turned and looked back up the stairs as Scot emerged from his room. “Hey, Scotty. Want to come down and say hi to Auntie Em? She's got something to ask you.”
***
Dan stared out of the window, not seeing the city below. He rarely noticed the view from his apartment. It was illogical to pay a premium for something that others coveted yet he barely noticed. He recognized now that many aspects of his life had become illogical over the last couple of years. He did things that should suit a person in his position, but that didn't actually suit him. He'd never really liked San Jose, but it was logical for Prometheus to be here. If he was going to sell his share of the company, it wouldn't make sense for him to stay here. He felt no emotion about what had happened. His partnership with Steven was over. The company they'd started in a garage and grown to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, was about to be subsumed into a huge—and to him, distasteful—corporation. Everything that had been his life here was ending and he felt nothing. Well, perhaps that wasn't true. He felt no negative emotions, but he did have a sneaking sense of relief, of freedom. In the early days Prometheus had been fun, building, coding, striving, even persuading venture capitalists to invest in them; that had all been fun. He'd loved it, felt alive. The last few years though, it had all grown stale. The only highlights had been developing new programs, but they'd just been more of the same. He hadn't done anything truly innovative in two or three years. As he'd told Herb, this might turn out to be a good thing. It wasn't like money was an issue. He had more than enough to live out several lifetimes in style, and that was before he sold his share—to Steven, or Systech, or whomever, he didn't particularly care. He just wanted out. He didn't know what he was going to do next. He did know it would be something he wanted to do, something he could enjoy and find value in.
The intercom buzzed. He went to answer it. “Yes?”
“Hey, Mr. Dan. It's Herb.”
“Hey Herb. What's up?”
“You have a visitor. A Mr. Ryan Brady.”
“Ryan? Jesus, send him on up, Herb. Thanks.”
Dan went to the door and waited, watching the elevator lights flicker their way up to him. What the hell was Ryan doing here? The elevator doors opened and there he was. Even in a suit, Ryan looked rough around the edges, menacing even.
“Hey, nerd!”
Dan laughed. “Ryan! What the hell brings you out of the jungle, or the desert or wherever it is you hide these days?”
Ryan grinned and clasped Dan's shoulder. “I could tell you, but then I'd have to shoot you, and it'd be a shame to lose my favorite nerd.”
“Well, come on in,” said Dan. “I've got some beer if you want one?”
Ryan followed him into the penthouse and looked around. “Damn! Looks like tech town's been good to you.”
Dan shrugged, “I wouldn't say it's been good to me, but I have made a shitload of cash.”
“It's got you in shape too, by the looks of it.”
Dan felt a little self-conscious as Ryan looked him over. He did have more muscle, was in better shape than he'd ever been, but standing next to Ryan he felt like a whippet next to a Rottweiler. They were equal in height, but Ryan was probably twice as wide, and solid muscle. His neck was probably wider around than Dan's thigh. “I did finally get around to working out, like you always told me. And you were right, I do love it.”
“Good on you, it suits you. Now, where's that beer?”
Once they were settled at the kitchen island with their beer, Dan asked. “So what brings you? I know I'm your favorite nerd and everything, but I don't normally warrant an in-person visit.”
Ryan nodded. “I'll cut to the chase. I need some help with security and can't think of anyone better than you.”
Dan laughed. “I may have been working out, but I don't think I'll ever be much use for your kind of security.” He didn't even know what Ryan really did. He worked for some government agency, spent most of his time overseas. The last time Dan had seen him had been about eighteen months ago, Ryan had been back Stateside on forced R&R while he recovered from a gu
nshot wound to his shoulder.
“I'd sooner take you into the field with me than the kids they're sending me these days. But no, I mean cyber-security, not physical security. I've still never met anyone who can do what you do.”
They had first met at Berkeley. Dan still wasn't sure what Ryan had been doing there. They'd only shared one cryptography class, and Ryan had been gone after that semester. They'd formed and maintained a close, if unlikely, friendship though. Ryan would pop up out of the blue like this after months, sometimes years of silence. Dan was never surprised, and always glad to see him. Right now, he was intrigued. “What kind of cyber-security?”
“I need someone to hack our systems. The agency's nerds have come up with a new system that they claim is unhackable, impenetrable. Before I take a team into the field with our lives depending on that, I want to be sure. When I kicked up a shitstorm, they gave me the budget to hire an independent contractor to test everything. Course you're the only man I'd trust to do it. I never forgot when the whole world was saying your systems were impenetrable and you told me they weren't, that no system ever truly could be. When the agency guys started claiming that this new system of theirs is unhackable, I knew they were more invested in their egos than in my team's safety. I want, and need, the best nerd there is, and that's you. And I've got the budget to pay for it. So, what do you say?”
Dan's mind raced. He'd just been thinking that whatever he did next would have to be something he enjoyed and valued. Getting the chance to hack government systems in order to expose their weaknesses, and to keep Ryan and his team safe, fit the bill on both counts. The timing couldn't be better, which made him pause. He frowned and looked at Ryan. “And what makes you think I'd have the time to do it? I have a company to run.”
“Not for long you don't. Word travels fast, Danny boy.”
How the hell could he know?
Ryan waggled his eyebrows, apparently understanding what Dan was thinking. “It's probably best not to ask. But I know you, you don't actually need the money, but I'm sure you'll find some use for it. I do know you need the challenge. It'll save you from sitting up here playing video games and dreaming about getting laid by a real woman instead of that Olivia. So, say you'll do it.”
