The door closed behind her with a soft whoosh of air. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light within, she saw three guys standing around a workstation, one blond with a popped up collar, and two others straight out of dork-central casting. Lindsey leaned forward to see what they were working on. The screen was filled with the photo of a pretty girl who looked to be a student. “Watch this,” the blond said, then hit the enter button on the keyboard. In a flash, the girl’s face turned into a mule that brayed over and over on a loop, its toothy face swinging forward and back.
“Nice!” said one of the dorks. “Hey, can you do a gorilla? I know this other chick that would be perfect as a gorilla.”
Lindsey heard a heavy sigh from the corner. She turned to see a dark, lanky man at another terminal leaned back in his chair, a pair of impossibly high gold stiletto boots swung over the desk in front of him. He was filing his nails, and above his eyes were two perfect eyebrows adorned with arches of gold sequins. Lindsey wondered absently how he glued them on. “Imbeciles,” he murmured.
Lindsey held tight to her bag as she scanned the far corners of the lab, Zach was nowhere to be seen. She stepped in closer and cleared her throat. “Excuse me,” she ventured softly.
The blond looked up quickly, then back to his screen. “Just put the pizza down,” he said.
Lindsey frowned. “Pizza? Oh, gosh no. I’m not…I’m here to meet Professor Wheeler.”
The blond turned his smug face toward her and scanned her arms. “If you don’t have pizza, what good are you? Get out, and don’t come back unless you have pizza.” One dork let out a sudden snort followed by a laugh. All three turned to look at her with giant, goofy smiles plastered across their faces.
Anxiety began to swirl in Lindsey’s belly. You’re older now, she told herself. You’re a woman. Don’t let them get you down this time. She squared her shoulders to say something back when she heard the door open behind her, followed by a rush of cool air being pulled out of the room. She turned to find Zach, looming silently behind her. Relief flooded over her at the sight of him, and she had the urge to throw her arms around his neck, but his jaw was clenched as he gazed at her, his eyes the same suspicious ones she saw the other night. “I…” she stammered, her weight falling onto one hip. “Hi.”
Zach’s smoldering stare washed over her before his jaw tightened and he breezed past her into the lab without a word. A tremor of disappointment surged through her as she watched him turn toward the team and cross his arms. As he did, Lindsey drank in his features. He was as tall and bronze as she remembered, and even in the cool light from the monitors, she found him inexplicably handsome. His features were large, but were all delicately molded into a perfect dream of a face that now turned toward her coldly as he began to speak. “Team,” he said, “heads up.” All faces swiveled toward him, then toward Lindsey, seeing the glare in his eyes. “This is Viper.”
Lindsey’s skin went cold. “Lindsey,” she muttered. “My name is Lindsey.”
The blond student with the popped up collar let his mouth fall open. “No way,” he said, staring. “No F-ing way.”
“Well, how about that!” The man with the sequined eyebrows said, spinning in his chair. “This is going to be a fun day.”
The blond shook his head dramatically, looking toward the two dorks for approval before continuing. “Hold up, Professor. I’m feeling a total disconnect. Minnie Mouse here is Viper?”
Zach nodded and stared at Lindsey as he answered, his cautious eyes skimming over her. “Don’t let the exterior fool you, James.” He glared. “She’s the one.”
James walked over next to Zach and crossed his arms, mirroring the Professor’s body as he snickered. “You hacked into our game?” he asked Lindsey. “The un-hackable game none of us could get into?” He shook his head until a long blond lock fell effortlessly over one eye. “Impossible.”
Lindsey’s eyes darted across the new faces then back at Zach. He stared silently. “It was a pretty surface level environment,” Lindsey offered. “I found backdoors, I—”
“No.” James interrupted, shaking his hair from his eye. “We designed that game so communication was wired inside of the firmware. Impossible.”
Zach stared at Lindsey. She couldn’t tell if she saw admiration or disgust in his eyes. “It was impossible to us,” he said. “It wasn’t for her.”
Lindsey felt an opening. “Ask me anything,” she blurted toward Zach. “Anything. I’m…not that complicated.” Zach’s biceps clenched beneath the fabric of his shirt, but he did not respond, so Lindsey continued. “I just...I found Zach’s—Professor Wheeler’s—IP and joined using his own channel. That’s when I decided to hack all the traffic on your network and piece it together backwards. It just…it made sense.”
“Bullshit!” yelled James, turning toward Zach with a raised hand. “I call bullshit.”
The sequined-man in the corner slapped down his nail file, hoisted himself up effortlessly on his stilettos and glided over. “Stuff it, James,” he said in passing, then turned toward Lindsey. He stood about a foot above her and looked down at her with a wry smile on his shiny lips. “Impressive,” he said, offering his hand. “I say Kudos. I’m Cedric, by the way.”
“Um, thanks, Cedric.” Lindsey smiled, feeling her anxiety wane. “You tried to make your server anonymous, but nothing’s anonymous, really, not anymore.” She looked up and her eyes locked onto Zach’s.
“Don’t spoon feed them all the answers, Ms. Monahan. They can figure it out on their own time.” As Zach continued to stare at her, her skin grew hot and she realized she didn’t exhale until he turned back toward the team. “Lindsey will be joining us as Team Lead, along with Cedric and James.”
“Is this a joke?” James blurted. “Team Lead? She just got here.”
“Bury the ego, James,” Zach said. “Our latest model is no good and Ms. Monahan—”
“Lindsey,” she blurted.
“Lindsey,” he continued with a nod, “should be an asset.”
James guffawed then plopped like a spoiled child into his chair. “What’s the big deal?” he said. “We all have enough credits to graduate already. At least I do. Who cares about some stupid prototype program? It was just an experiment, anyway.”
Lindsey watched as disbelief flashed across Zach’s face. He twisted his neck slightly and took a measured breath before speaking. “I know in five years you want to be on a yacht in Cabo, James, but you have a chance to be on the right side of history here, to do something good with your life.”
“My life is good now, bro. Besides, I have plenty of interest in my own algorithm.”
“Here we go again…” Cedric murmured.
Zach re-crossed his arms. “Right,” he said. “The famous algorithm. Remind me…that’s the one that makes people buy more stuff?”
“It’s called elasticity modeling. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing…” Zach shrugged. “But the work we do here will change the whole world. It will effect real people, and real things, like health care, infrastructure, food supply.” Zach paused, but James only replied with a smug stare. Zach closed his eyes briefly, then opened his arms wide to the group. “Listen, everyone, this code, our code, will make cities responsive organisms. Like a body releasing antibodies to heal an injury, our code can be used to heal entire communities.”
Lindsey watched as passion radiated from Zach’s eyes and mouth. To Lindsey, he looked suddenly a foot taller. His words made something click deep inside her mind. Code for the greater good. She had never even considered that.
As Zach continued, she buried the desire to run and kiss him. Or run to her computer to build this code that he needed. Or both. Please, God, she thought to herself, let it be both. As a throbbing began to grow in her chest, she pulled out her phone. She had to talk to him—to set everything right. Quietly, she texted Zach: Can we talk? She was just about to press send, when Zach continued.
“Listen. You’ve all heard me say
it before, but words are cheap. Tonight, I want each of you to go home and ask yourself: are you here to contribute something?” His eyes blazed. “If you are, be here first thing tomorrow, prepared to work.”
Words are cheap, he’d said. Lindsey’s hand froze. She quickly tucked her phone under her arm and erased the text with her thumb.
The group dispersed slowly, leaving Zach and Lindsey to stare at each other in silence across the lab. With some effort, she watched Zach pick up his bag and walk toward her. He leaned in and spoke quietly. “Do we need to talk?”
Lindsey steadied herself with a breath, even as her heart surged. He was so close she could smell the briny, warm scent rising from his skin. “Nope,” she said, trying not to lean forward and plant her lips on his jaw. “And I don’t need to think about it. I’m in.”
Zach leaned back and looked at her quizzically, doubt or disappointment flashing in his eyes. His jaw tightened as he took two steps back. “Okay, Viper. I’ll email you the files you need. Get up to speed,” he said, “and fast.”
Chapter 12: Zach
Zach twisted his blinds open an inch and scanned the hunched figures that peppered the lab. Electricity surged through the room as he listened to the rhythmic, tapping fingers of his coders. There was a tangible change in the air since Lindsey was planted at the head of the room, like a Viking masthead carved to the front of a ship, she paved the way through new waters.
She arrived early each morning before everyone, except him. He watched from his office as she embedded herself in her cube without a word, an eager gleam to her eye as she waited for her monitors to blink to life. But, unlike everyone, within moments, she was leaned back in her chair, her limbs loose, her head tilted in thought. She was biting her lip and tapping signals onto her leg with the tips of her fingers. Zach recognized the pattern. She was typing rows of invisible numbers, zeros and ones, over and over, her hands a conduit for the code that flew through her brain, so fast she had to let it seep out her fingers.
She leaned forward and raised her delicate fingers to her keyboard and began to type. As she did, Zach watched the light of the lab envelop the soft skin of her neck in pale blue light. He longed to walk out and decorate that neck with kisses. Instead, he silently willed her almond eyes to turn and look at him. They did not, and had not since she had begun her work last week.
Each day, brilliant new code flooded into his inbox, but she did not speak to him. He should be thrilled, but only felt a simmering disappointment burnish the edges of his excitement. He let the blinds slap shut and pulled his long arms up and over his head, hoping blood would begin to flow into other parts of his body besides his groin. No matter how much rowing he did, or how much he tried to think of other things, his body seemed to only be focused on Lindsey—on her skin, her mind, and her laugh. As each silent day passed, he found his longing grow and his ability to dismiss it weaken.
He had secretly hoped to catch her in the hallway of their building, but her windows were always dark. This morning, before dawn, he looked up to see no light shining from within. He raced to the lab, thinking she might be there, but her cubicle sat dark and untouched. He dropped his head and rubbed the back of his neck roughly with his palm. Where did she go every day?
A clickety-clack rang across the floor outside his office, followed by a knock that vibrated through his metal office door. Zach straightened up and combed his fingers through his hair. “Yeah,” he called out expectantly.
Cedric pushed the door open and stuck his face in. Zach scanned today’s costume. Cedric wore faded jeans and a tank top, but over that, a pale blue kimono was draped over his reedy, black shoulders. He had two chopsticks stuck in a bun atop his head and on his feet were wooden, Japanese sandals.
Cedric grinned and leaned against the door jamb. “Shame on you, Professor.”
Zach stiffened. Had Cedric seen him staring? “I’m not in the mood for jokes.”
“Oh, no jokes this time. You’re trouble, and, apparently, I’m not the only one that’s figured that out.”
“Uh huh.” Zach said flatly. “I’ll bite. What are you talking about?”
Cedric slid into Zach’s office, his face flushed. “Well, don’t give yourself away by acting guilty, but there is a devastatingly handsome U.S. Marshall outside this very door.
Zach blinked once then buried his face in his palm. “Oh, God.”
“Oh, yes.”
Zach groaned and leaned around Cedric to see into the darkness of the lab. “Okay.” he said glumly. “Let him in.”
Cedric glided back toward the door, turned, then flipped the tail of his kimono back with a snap. “Listen, boss, I’m always good for a jail break if you need me.”
“Just let him in.”
“Alright. But remember what Buddha said, ‘Chaos is inherent in all things. Strive on with diligence’.”
“Seriously, Cedric. Not today.”
“Jeez, well, alright then.” Cedric opened the door wide to reveal Zach’s brother, Sam, his giant frame dominating the doorway. “He says you can come in now, Sam, but don’t be too hard on him.”
Sam looked down at Cedric, who was almost his height. “Thanks, Cedric. Stay out of trouble.”
“Come on, now,” Cedric said, sailing past him and into the lab. “You know me better than that.”
“I do,” Sam said as he entered the doorway. “That’s why I said it.”
Sam shut the door behind him and glared down at Zach. His two crossed arms looked like tree trunks stuffed into his suit jacket as he spoke. “Hacking into a government database is a federal offense.”
Zach shrugged. “You wouldn’t return my calls.”
“I should arrest you.”
“Sure. But who would help you next time you accidentally erased a file? Besides, if you would answer your phone, you would have helped me.”
“Would not.”
“You would too. You always do.”
Sam uncrossed his arms and shrugged. “I couldn’t answer. I was on a case.”
Zach scanned his brother’s face. He knew that look from when they were kids, when Sam was always trying to talk his way out of trouble. “I thought that case was over.”
“Okay,” Sam said, twisting his mouth. “Guilty. I had to turn off my personal cell phone for a few days.”
“I knew it. Let me guess, another girl problem?”
Sam grinned. “Hey, the ladies love me.”
“Right.” Zach said. “All of them.”
“What can I say? I didn’t mean to be the only brother born with devastating good looks, but shit happens.”
“Your ego is unbelievable. Truly.”
“To be fair, I guess you do have some appealing qualities. If you ever pulled your head out of your books, you could do something with them.”
“I’ve got better things to do than chase tail.”
“See?” Sam’s smile widened, revealing two deep dimples. “You make my point. I have to make up for your embarrassing lack of prowess. You know, save the family name.”
Zach exhaled. “Shouldn’t we get back to you chastising me? I’d rather be arrested than listen to more of this.”
“Alright,” Sam said, leaning back. “What gives? What was so important you had to break in?”
Before Zach could answer, another knock rang against the door.
“Yeah?” Zach called out. The door pushed open and Lindsey’s heart-shaped face peeked inside.
Zach straightened his back. Before he could get out a word, Sam stepped forward.
“Hi there, honey,” he said. “What’s your name?”
Zach stood. “Back off, Sam.”
“What? I’m sure this young lady would like to get to know the more charming Wheeler brother.”
“I—” Lindsey said, then shut her mouth, her head darting back and forth between Zach and Sam. “Is this a bad time? I can come back…”
Sam shot Lindsey a practiced, charming smile. “Not for me. This is the perfect time.�
�
“Sam…” Zach growled. “Seriously.”
Sam’s eyebrows raised and he pressed his fist against his upturned lips. “Sorry, bro,” he said. “I didn’t know you got yourself a girl.”
“She’s not—”
Sam slugged him in the shoulder. “It’s about time, player.”
“Please. Please, just arrest me,” Zach pleaded.
Sam raised his considerable arms up in a sign of surrender and leaned back against the wall, a baffled smile on his face.
Zach turned his tense body toward the door. “Sorry, Lindsey. Come in.”
Zach could see a pink flush bloom across her cheeks as she stepped inside the room.
“Um…” she said. “Did you get my latest?”
“Yup. Looks good,” Zach answered, trying to relax his back. “Good work. Really good.”
“Good?” Lindsey’s face fell.
“Yup,” Zach said with a nod. “Were you just checking in, or…?”
Lindsey teetered on one heel, her frown deepening. “Yes,” she said. “I mean, no.” She shook her head. “I…I have to tell you something.”
Zach felt his muscles tense. “Alright.”
Lindsey swallowed. “I was creating a bridge between two of your core programs. The code works, but,” she said as she jammed her hands into her pockets, “it looks like someone bleached part of the data.”
Zach surged forward a foot then stopped abruptly. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. It’s shredded, but I think I can put it back together. It will just take time.”
“Which file?”
“I was in the main frame when I found it. I’ll send you a link. I can install a trip wire so it won’t happen again,” she offered.
“No,” Zach blurted.
“Why not? It’s easy. Don’t you want to—”
“No,” Zach snapped. “And don’t touch the main frame. I’ll send you the sections one by one from now on.”
Loving Lindsey (An American Dream Love Story Book 2) Page 6
