Pierce laughed but let up on the gas. “How fast?”
Replacement breathed normally again. “This is good.”
“You don’t like driving fast?”
She shook her head. “I was in a car accident when I was little.”
Pierce slowed down even more.
“Thank you.”
Pierce nodded. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
Replacement smiled. “I’m okay with a little fast.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes as the Porsche hummed along the winding road. When they reached the road that headed straight for Darrington, Replacement glanced at the clock.
“You can speed up a little more.”
“Your wish is my command.” He pressed on the gas.
Replacement pulled down the rearview mirror and saw the flush at the tip of her ears. It spread as she tried to pull her hair down to cover them. “Oh, crud.” She groaned as she flipped up the mirror. “Look at me.” Her business casual outfit was going to be underdressed for Antonelli’s.
“You look great.” Pierce smiled.
Replacement’s eyes darted forward again as she felt her chest tighten slightly. She pulled the rearview mirror back down. The flush spread to her cheeks.
“If you want my opinion,” Pierce continued, “you should let your hair down.”
Replacement pulled out her clip, and her brown hair fell around her shoulders.
“Beautiful.” Pierce’s smile widened.
Replacement flipped the visor back up. She turned toward the window, pretending to use the reflection as she fanned out her hair, and tried to hide her beet-red cheeks.
“Do you work full-time for Mr. Mathis?” Pierce asked.
“No. Odd jobs here and there, mostly.” She exhaled and reached into her purse.
“What does your friend Jack do?”
The question hung in the air for a moment as she started to put on some light makeup.
“He’s a bondsman.” She dabbed on some lipstick.
She turned back to Pierce and smiled.
He opened his mouth and held out his right hand to her.
Puzzled, she looked down at his cupped hand.
“Can I have my breath back? You took it away.” He chuckled.
She blushed even more.
Pierce had to slow down as they came into Darrington. Replacement rocked in her seat as she tried to peer over the cars. Traffic slowed and then stopped. She craned her neck and clamped her mouth shut before she swore.
“It’s an accident.” She slapped her knee.
Pierce pressed a couple of buttons on the GPS and took a right.
“Uh…” Replacement frowned as she looked at the map, “that’s not a thruway.”
Pierce tapped the screen again, and the map changed back to satellite view. “The grid view is wrong. Officially the road ends but it doesn’t—look.”
“Nice. Thank you.” Replacement smiled.
The Porsche slipped down the side road, and Replacement’s grin vanished. The end of the road turned into a dirt parking lot before it connected with the other road past it.
She felt her fist tighten and forced herself to open her hand. “It’s okay. We can just turn around.”
Pierce kept going.
“Are you sure?” Replacement’s eyes widened. “I don’t think you want to take a car like this in the dirt.”
“You buy a car to drive it, not put it on a shelf. Besides, helping a friend’s worth it.”
The Porsche rocked back and forth as it shot forward. Small rocks pinged off the undercarriage, and Replacement winced.
Pierce looked at her and laughed.
Tires hit tar, and he sped up.
“You didn’t have to do that.” She shook her head.
“Yes I did.” Pierce flew back up to the main road and took a right on Main Street.
Replacement beamed. “We’re not that late. Jack would’ve been really bummed. Thank you.” She noticed Pierce’s forearm muscles tighten as he gripped the steering wheel.
“I’m glad I could help.”
Chapter 20
~
Updates
Gerald stood in front of the server and shook the mouse. He was updating the home server, but he still had to give access to the Weston Industries IT department. The security there was like dealing with the CIA. Gerald had never seen anything like it.
He looked over his shoulder at the other computer rack. That rack held all the company equipment. Gerald had no access to it. The only thing he had done was unpack it, mount it in the rack, and turn it on. They did everything to it remotely, but Pierce could access it.
Gerald pushed his glasses farther up his nose. He reached into his pocket for his phone and put it down next to the keyboard. It clinked against Pierce’s metallic e-cigarette case. He slid the case to the side and put his phone at an angle so he could read the screen.
His fingers slid across the mousepad and a log-in menu popped up on the monitor. Gerald entered his credentials and followed the update procedures. He clicked through page after page of screens until another window opened. A little progress window with a green bar popped up.
Gerald sighed and stretched.
Someone tapped on the door.
“Hello?” Gerald opened the door and looked out at the new maid with short red hair.
“I made some sandwiches for you in the kitchen earlier.” Her smile made her freckles stand out. “I wanted to make sure you got some. A lot of guests have arrived.”
“Thanks, Sophia.” Gerald grinned. “I’ll go let the guys know.”
“I already did.” Sophia started down the hallway. “Roast beef, chicken, and tuna. They’re right on the counter.”
Gerald glanced at the computer screen, saw it was only thirty percent complete, and then he hurried down the hallway after her. He loved the roast beef she had made them yesterday but so did Bruce. He shook his head. Bruce had put away three sandwiches and had taken a fourth for a snack for later.
When he reached the kitchen, he was happy to see the plate of food still untouched. He snagged two roast beef sandwiches and headed back to the computer room, munching on one sandwich as he went.
The list of things he still needed to do scrolled through his mind as he walked. Each room he passed added to his list as he mentally noted jacks, outlets, and devices.
Gerald reached the server room, typed in his security code and pulled the door closed behind him. The screen on the computer monitor displayed that the update had finished.
“Finally. Now we’re done, and I can go home.” He reached out for his phone. He ran his finger down the screen to find the final step in the instructions.
While Gerald typed at the server, he heard a noise come from behind the other server rack. The sound of metal scraping against metal startled Gerald. He began to turn around, and everything went black.
Chapter 21
~
C Level
Jack paced back and forth on the sidewalk outside of Antonelli’s. A line of people stretched out the door. He looked down at his phone and hit redial again. Replacement’s voicemail kicked in immediately.
“Mr. Stratton?” the maître d’ called from the doorway.
Jack tried to smile as he walked toward him. “She’ll be here any second.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’ve held onto your table for twenty minutes. You can see from the long line we’re very busy tonight. I do apologize.” The man’s mustache curled down.
“Five minutes?” Jack held up his hand.
The maître d’ shook his head. “I’m just doing my job, sir.”
Jack exhaled and took a step back. “I know. I understand.”
“Thank you, sir.” He motioned to another couple, who gave Jack a sympathetic look before they hurried through the door.
Damn it. I’m going out there right now and check on her.
Jack marched over to the valet parking kiosk. Three teenage boys sat huddled on a be
nch, busily texting on their phones. One looked up, saw the expression on Jack’s face, and jumped to his feet. “Yes, sir.”
The sound of a car racing down the street toward them made all their heads turn. Electric blue headlights swept the street as a Porsche zoomed down the road and squealed to a stop in front of Jack.
One teenage boy whistled.
“Sweet ride,” the other said.
Replacement bounded out of the car. “I’m so sorry!” She rushed up to Jack. “I was working in the guesthouse and the clock was totally wrong.”
“And your phone?” Jack’s voice was low.
“It ran out of juice. I’m super sorry.”
“It’s actually my fault.” Jack looked over Replacement’s shoulder toward the voice that came from the driver’s side of the Porsche. Pierce got out of the car. “She was helping me and we just lost track of time. I got her here as fast as I could.”
That lit Jack’s fuse.
“Fast?” Jack bristled at the word.
“I can assure you, she was safe.” Pierce walked around the car. “I told Alice I’m training to drive in the Sprint Cup.”
“That’s a closed track with just left turns,” Jack quipped back.
Pierce stopped with one foot on the curb. “That’s true, but we’re driving at a hundred ninety miles an hour.”
Replacement grabbed Jack’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m sorry I was late. Ready?” She gave him a look that screamed please-let-it-go. “Boy, I’m starving.”
Jack’s scowl softened, and then he clicked his tongue. “We lost the reservation.”
“I wasn’t that late.” Replacement glared at the entrance. She looked at the clock and groaned. “Yes, I was. I’m sorry, Jack.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Let me see what I can do.” Pierce shut his door. “After all, it’s my fault you’re late.”
“Really, it’s okay.” Jack waved him off.
“Just give me one second.” Pierce hurried to the doorway.
Jack watched Pierce go and then turned to Replacement. “What happened to getting a ride from Gerald?”
“He had to work late.”
“You should’ve called me for a ride instead of riding alone with him.”
“There wasn’t time. I was already late.”
Jack huffed.
Replacement mashed her lips together and closed one eye. “Is someone getting jealous?”
“Jealous—no. Protective—yes. You don’t know him from Adam.”
“He’s a good guy.” Replacement pressed up against Jack. “And he didn’t drive too fast. I told him to slow down, and he did.”
Jack exhaled. “Well…” He ran his hand through his hair to the back of his neck. “Maybe we can go for subs?”
“Sounds good to me.” She took his hand.
Pierce walked back out of the restaurant. “They had a cancelation.”
Replacement lit up. “Sweet! What’re the odds of that?” She grinned up at Jack.
“I’d say a hundred dollars to one,” Jack muttered.
“Can I park your car, sir?” One of the teenagers walked up and held his hand out to Pierce.
“No. I’m just leaving.”
Replacement squeezed Jack’s hand.
What? he mouthed to Replacement.
She squeezed his hand again.
Jack rolled his eyes, turned around, and dryly asked Pierce, “Would you like to join us?”
“No, thank you,” Pierce replied with a tone that matched Jack’s sincerity. “I’ll head back to the estate.”
“Don’t be silly.” Replacement waved him back over. “It’s late. You and Jack can talk cars over garlic bread.”
Jack wanted to tell him to get lost but instead said, “You came all the way out here.” Jack knew how hard Replacement was working at this job, and this guy was her boss. With a great deal of effort, the corners of his mouth rose slightly. “Please. Join us.”
Pierce nodded. “Okay. I did see they have sautéed swordfish on the specialty board. It sounded delicious. Just one second.” Pierce walked back over to the Porsche.
Replacement turned to Jack. “Wow. I’m surprised at you,” she whispered.
“Surprised? You wanted me to ask him.”
“I didn’t.”
“You squeezed my hand.” Jack looked shocked.
“No, I didn’t.” Replacement shook her head.
“Right after he said he was leaving, you squeezed my hand—twice.”
“Oh, I was just excited about going to dinner with you.”
Jack groaned. “I thought you wanted him to come.”
“No, but it’s still nice of you.”
“Me? Nice?” Jack’s eyes widened. “Can I un-invite him?”
“No.” Replacement gave Jack a little elbow in his gut.
Pierce handed the valet the keys and trotted back.
The three of them headed for the door. As they walked in, the maître d’ looked up and his ever-present smile wavered as he glanced down at Replacement’s sneakers. “Mr. Weston. Will you be joining us too?”
“Yes. It seems I will.” Pierce moved over to the desk and whispered something to the maître d’. As he did, the maître d’s fingers tapped excitedly on the countertop.
The maître d’ himself led them over to a reserved table in the corner of the room. The restaurant was filled with diners. A few conversations stopped as they watched the mismatched set of three escorted to their table.
Jack pulled out the chair for Replacement.
“I think I should’ve changed,” she muttered as she sat down.
“You look great.” Jack smiled at her.
“But I know what you mean,” Pierce said. “It’s not exactly a jeans and sneakers place.”
Jack leaned closer to Replacement and whispered, “You’re so beautiful, nobody’s looking at your feet.”
She blushed.
“So, Jack, Alice told me you’re a broker,” Pierce said.
Jack cast a quick puzzled look toward Replacement as the waiter filled their water glasses.
Replacement laughed. “Not stocks and bonds.” She sat up straighter. “Bail bonds.”
“Oh.” Pierce chuckled. “You’re a bounty hunter?”
“Technically I’m a bail enforcement agent, but yeah, you could call it that.”
Jack looked at Replacement and tried to guess what she was thinking. Did she not want to tell him what I do for work?
“I think I’d write Bounty Hunter on my business card,” Pierce added. “You don’t get a more bad-ass sounding title than that.”
“I think you have me beat.” Jack tilted his water glass toward Pierce. “Boy Billionaire sounds better.”
Pierce laughed, while Replacement stomped on Jack’s foot. “Pierce is a CEO.”
“Thank you, but Boy Billionaire has a nice ring to it. I might change my business cards. The truth is, I’d prefer a job with a little more excitement rather than sitting behind a desk all day.”
“Is that why you’re learning to race?” Jack asked.
“Partly. I like to learn. If there’s some fear to conquer, it adds to the excitement.”
“Fear? About driving?” Replacement asked.
“I had an issue with driving, so I thought if I could learn more about it, I wouldn’t be bothered by it.”
“That’s an interesting way of going at it. I’ll give you credit. For most people, driving a hundred ninety miles an hour causes fear—it doesn’t get rid of it.”
“It worked for me. I tackled my triumvirate: driving, skydiving, and scuba diving.”
“You dive? So does Jack,” Replacement said.
“It was only natural, being a programmer.” Pierce leaned toward Replacement. “We like to get below C level.”
Replacement giggled.
Pierce grinned.
Jack raised an eyebrow.
“He’s a programmer,” Replacement explained. “C is programming lang
uage. Sea level?”
“I get it,” Jack grumbled and then took a sip of water.
He looked up as the waiter approached their table. “May I bring you something to drink?” the waiter asked.
“Iced tea,” Replacement ordered.
“Do you know what you’ll be having for dinner?” Pierce asked her. “We could order a bottle.”
“Of what?” Replacement asked.
“No thanks,” Jack said.
“I’ll have a glass of Coche-Dury Meursault Les Rougeots.” Pierce set down his menu. “It will go with the sautéed swordfish with the niçoise vinaigrette.”
Jack tried not to make a face as he attempted to unravel Pierce’s order.
“Sir?” The waiter leaned closer to Jack.
“Whiskey, neat. It goes great with the T-bone.” Replacement stepped on his foot again. She cocked an eyebrow. “Actually, water will be fine.”
She grinned.
Jack closed his menu and held out his hand to Replacement.
“I’ll have the house salad with honey mustard and the chicken Marsala.”
“I’ll have the same salad and a T-bone, rare,” Jack said.
Pierce closed his menu and smiled at the waitress. “I’ll have the sautéed swordfish with a house salad with Italian on the side.”
“Do you want to order for your security?” Jack tipped his head toward Manuel, who blended in with the crowd at the door.
Pierce glanced at Jack. “I’m impressed.”
Jack nodded.
“I would, except he’d never eat it. He’s all business. Retired Marine.”
“Never would have guessed,” Jack quipped as he eyed the man’s wide physique. “I saw him this morning. Outside U-Do2.”
“Very observant,” Pierce added. “Perhaps I should suggest he try to be even more invisible?”
“Don’t. He’s not trying to, and that’s good. It puts people on notice that you have security. It also makes people say, ‘If I see him, are there other security guys I don’t see?’ Sometimes you want that.”
“Where do you scuba dive?” Replacement asked Pierce.
“I’ll dive anywhere. I was really fortunate. My last dive was Frégate Island. It’s in the Seychelles archipelago. It’s a beautiful location. I swam with some Aldabra giant turtles.”
“You swam with giant turtles?” Replacement leaned in.
DATA JACK Page 9
