Technical Risk

by Sidney Bristol

  “How long until the briefing?” He glanced at his watch.

  “It’s been moved to tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Yes, I believe so.”

  He opened and closed his mouth.

  They weren’t a bloody team. Zora Clark and her so-called team wanted lackeys to fetch when they called. This wasn’t a partnership. They were being used.

  “Ms. Balakrishnan, it is my understanding that we invited your team here under the promise that we would work together and share what we knew. Let me cut to the heart of this. I’ve worked with your team before. It was a one-way street. That shall not happen this time. Either we work together, or this doesn’t work at all.” He didn’t like being so firm and forthright, but these Americans would walk all over them given the chance.

  Diha’s brows lifted slightly, but she continued to hold her ground. “I’m sure Zora intends to talk to you before that.”

  “I hope so, but my prior experience with Agent Clark says otherwise.” She was the kind of woman who would dole out crumbs and hoard the rest for herself. He didn’t doubt that she believed she had reason, but it was damn hard to see and understand that from the outside.

  “I’ll speak to her,” Diha said.

  “I don’t want this to be a strenuous partnership, but I’m also not willing to pull good men and women from their jobs to be your lackeys.”

  She shifted her weight a bit and parted her lips. It was the first indication that she was nervous or maybe uncomfortable.

  And that was his cue to go.

  He was too frustrated to remain here. A little air would be good for them all.

  “Give me a little time, Mr. Green,” she said.

  “I’ll give you that.” He nodded his head and turned on his heel.

  Part of him wished he could take all those words back. He was just so damn frustrated. They were all doing the same job. Why did it have to be so God damn frustrating? And why did he have to suddenly notice a woman—that woman—like this?

  It was piss poor timing, that was for sure.

  2.

  Monday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.

  Diha Balakrishnan winced as the door thudded shut behind Miles Green.

  That had not gone well. It had at first, but they’d taken a wrong turn. Where? Why? How?

  Cat sighed and hopped up onto one of the desks, staring wistfully at the door. “I would not kick that out of bed. You did not adequately tell me how good looking that man is. Damn, Diha, you do know how to pick them.”

  Diha turned as a blush rose up her neck and into her face. The last thing she needed was Cat seeing that and poking at her over the blush.

  Besides, Diha didn’t have it in her to admonish Cat’s mouth. This time. She was only speaking truth.

  Miles Green was a handsome specimen of man. Everything about him telegraphed strength from the strong, square jaw to his wide shoulders and the way he carried himself. The accent and his 007 job only sweetened the package. Then there was the permanent stubble. It offset the clean-cut image somehow making him more irresistible. When they’d first met, he’d intimidated her to the point she’d barely been able to form words when he was in the same room. And he’d kept sitting near her, subjecting herself to his smell and that aura of his. She wasn’t sure how she’d withstood him today, but she had.

  Maybe it was because she’d been ready for him? Or because she’d wanted his attention?

  Her goal had been simple, get Miles Green to look at her.

  That was it.

  All she wanted was to be noticed. And he’d more than noticed her earlier, before she reminded him of all the reasons he had to be pissed off.

  Lord, the way he’d looked at her. She’d felt stripped bare and teased all at once. If it hadn’t been for Cat whispering at her the whole time, she’d have forgotten herself.

  A pang of guilt stabbed her.

  Diha knew Zora wasn’t going to part with one fact more than she had to. Miles wasn’t going to like that one bit. So much for a pleasant working relationship. Somehow Diha was going to have to make this work. Offer him something, some small bits here and there to pacify him.

  God, that made her feel wretched, but it couldn’t be helped.

  “Come on, Kat. Let’s get set up. I think we should be in here.” Diha picked the room adjacent to the entrance. It was out of the way, and yet she’d be close at hand for new developments.

  “I’m pretty sure you need to get a pregnancy test,” Cat said.

  “What?” Diha whirled to face the other woman.

  Cat just grinned. “He totally eye-fucked you upstairs.”

  Diha opened and closed her mouth. Her face was so hot her eyes were watering.

  Shit.

  Her mascara.

  Diha tipped her chin up and looked at the overhead lights, willing herself to calm down. She noted where the vents were and walked directly to the desk, sitting in the air flow. If Cat was going to persist in saying crazy things, Diha was going to need some help keeping cool. “I need you to promise me you’re going to stop saying things like that.”

  Cat sighed dramatically. “I know. Fine. But he totally noticed you.”

  “He did,” Diha whispered, and a girlish part of her was giddy over that.

  “Think we’ll see much of Mr. Miles?” Cat purred and set her things on one of the desks across the room from where Diha was.

  “I imagine we’ll see a lot of him.” Her stomach did a flip-flop at that idea.

  There was something about the man that got stuck in her head. He wasn’t what Cat would call GQ hot. Miles was a bit rough around the edges, something intangible. He kept his dark hair cut short and neat. His clothes were pressed and well-tailored. Diha wasn’t sure she’d ever seen the man smile or show emotion besides frustration. He shouldn’t intrigue her, and yet she’d never forgotten him.

  How pathetic.

  He’d probably forgotten her the moment she left, if he’d ever even noticed her to begin with.

  Figured.

  Diha sighed and put thoughts of Miles out of her head. She and Cat had things to do, and soon enough the Aegis Group team would arrive. She’d have her hands full with them, not to mention keeping Cat from making one of her now famous statements, the likes of which had gotten her fired from the FBI, which was how she’d wound up a contractor for Diha. The woman was good, but that mouth.

  She set about unpacking her laptop and the assorted things she’d brought with her, like her favorite pens and a notepad with her own shorthand that was a combination of computer code, Hindi and English all mashed together that only made sense to her.

  A card slid out from between the pages and she dove to catch it before it slid away. To anyone else, it was a random piece of junk mail from an internet streaming service. But it was special to Diha.

  Fiona Ivanov was the latest addition to their ever expanding team and worked closely with Diha. The woman had lived a sheltered, Rapunzel-like life and the strangest things made her light up. Halfway through Fiona’s first week at work, she’d slid the flier across Diha’s desk and asked if she might be interested in getting a pizza and watching a movie. It was a keepsake now. A tangible thing that symbolized the beginning of a new friendship.

  Diha hadn’t had many of those. She’d always been focused on school or starting her career off right. Along the way, she’s missed out on girlfriends. But she was making up for that now. There were people in her life she counted as her friends, like Cat and Fiona. Zora was something of a friend, though Diha could never shake the feeling that Zora was keeping her at arm’s length, despite how close they’d become.

  The main door to the suite of offices banged open. Diha gasped and jumped, startled by the sound.

  “Lucy, I’m home!”

  Not Miles.

  No, it was much worse.

  “Harper,” Diha muttered and rolled her eyes while chuckling.

  Their prep time w
as over.

  The team had arrived.

  Harper Wright strode through the door and plopped his behind down on the corner of her desk. He held up his fist and grinned at her. “How’s it going, Bond Girl?”

  She opened and closed her mouth, staring at that fist.

  She knew what he wanted her to do, and every time she felt just as awkward as the first time.

  How she wished he wouldn’t do this stuff. Then again, part of her liked being included and she felt ridiculous for thinking such a thing.

  There was no resisting Harper, though.

  She made a fist and they tapped knuckles, gently. Harper’s personality might be abrasive and jovial at times, but he never picked on people. It was a slight but meaningful distinction. Sure, he’d be crass and embarrass her from time to time with his behavior, but he never laughed at her.

  “You guys get situated okay?” she asked.

  “Yup.”

  “Still no name for me?” Cat pouted.

  Harper winked at the other woman. “Cheer up, Kitty-Cat.”

  Cat grinned and blew a kiss at Harper. He pretended to catch it and slid it in his pocket.

  Diha gave Cat a level stare. While it was one thing for Evan and Felecia to work together—they were married now—workplace relationships would only make the team dynamics more complicated.

  Cat ignored the look and began unpacking the chaos for her desk.

  The other four Aegis Group team members drifted in, filling the small office. Though each man was distinct in his own way, they were all of a certain type. Big. Imposing. Dangerous. In the beginning she’d been intimidated by them, but not anymore. During the short time they’d worked together, she’d found endearing qualities about each.

  “Diha, hey.” Evan Ivanov approached her desk. “I was supposed to give you this before the flight, but I missed you.”

  He handed a small, colorfully wrapped box to her. No doubt something from Fiona. Diha smiled and pocketed the gift to open later when she was alone. No need to give Harper ammunition against both of them.

  “Zora around yet?” Jamie Silva peered into the corners, as if their illustrious leader could hide in the empty room.

  “No, not yet. Need something?” Diha slid her notepad in front of her and picked up her pen.

  Jamie grinned his winning smile at her. “Nah, just wanted to call Tabby really quick.”

  “Jamie, didn’t you said you had brothers?” Cat sighed. “I need to find me a man like you.”

  His grin just widened. He really was something to look at with his jet black hair and tanned skin, like something out of a Latino telenovela. “Sorry, they broke the mold after they made me.”

  He tapped his phone and turned away from them, speaking softly to his girlfriend, no doubt. If those two didn’t end up married or pregnant by the end of the year, Diha would be shocked. Her money was on pregnant, but she wouldn’t say that out loud.

  The remaining two members of the team were quieter men.

  Logan Muller, their leader, was the embodiment of the strong, silent type. He’d begun to let his dark hair grow out, which only framed his proud features. There was Native American blood in him, that was clear at a glance. What she’d come to learn was that Logan led by standing shoulder to shoulder with his men. He was a good guy, and Diha liked working with him. He was always open to input and carefully considered her suggestions before offering his own feedback. She’d learned a lot working with him, which was something she appreciated.

  The last member, Tucker Papadopoulos, popped his gum and leaned against the wall. Harper called him Redneck and given Tucker’s preference for large trucks and country music, the name seemed to fit. The thing that stuck out to Diha about him was that he had some sort of history with Zora, though what it was Diha couldn’t say. Zora wouldn’t answer questions and Diha didn’t want to dig, but she dearly wanted to know. There were times when Zora would speak to Tucker, when she almost seemed to lean on him, when she wouldn’t lean on anyone else. And then there were times when there was nothing but frost or fire between those two.

  They were all exceptional men, and for some reason that still baffled her, they’d accepted her as their Bond Girl. The name had at first made her uncomfortable. She wasn’t some feme fatal. She’d never wear a bikini or revealing clothing. It just wasn’t her. Or it hadn’t been her until she’d realized, with Fiona’s help, that to these men, a Bond Girl wasn’t just eye candy. To them, a Bond Girl was a capable woman who could hold her own with the rest of the team. They valued her as one of them. They depended on her, and that silly name was a badge of honor.

  God, this was such a different place to work than where she’d been two years ago.

  She was happy. And the job challenged her. What they did mattered.

  Another figure darkened the doorway. She’d slid in like a shadow and wore her command like a second skin.

  Zora Clark had arrived.

  “Morning, everyone,” she said a second after Diha had noticed her.

  The others turned eyes toward the door.

  “Silva,” Logan barked. “Off the phone.”

  Jamie jogged up behind Zora. “Present and accounted for.”

  “Diha, where are we with getting access to the MI5 files on the train hack?” Zora set her things down on the desk closest to the door.

  “I still need system verification.”

  “Get Miles on that.” Zora turned her attention to the men. “Today I need you guys to adjust to the time difference, rest and be ready to move when I say. Understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Tucker drawled.

  Zora pointedly did not look at Tucker.

  They must be in a fire and ice period.

  Oh, goody.

  “Alright. Move. Go.” Zora gestured toward the door.

  Harper winked at her. “Later, Bond Girl.”

  “Bye, Harper,” Cat called out.

  The men filed out, though Logan did stare at the side of Zora’s head for a moment.

  There’d been several conflicts between those two about information compartmentalization. A lot like the issues Miles had. The Aegis Group team only got to learn so much. It was necessary for their protection and the integrity of the team.

  Diha, Cat and Zora remained quiet until the suite door had closed. Then they waited a moment longer.

  “The door?” Diha opened her bag and pulled out a small device.

  Zora swung the office door shut and leaned against it.

  Diha clicked the device on and waited for a green light to appear. If there were any listening devices in the room, they wouldn’t work so long as the device was active. “We have five minutes.”

  Zora took a deep breath and let it out, her shoulders relaxing a bit. “Anything?”

  Diha shook her head.

  Zora shrugged. “Oh well. Had to hope.”

  The team had a mole. Someone who’d leaked information and killed people in their custody. Finding the mole fell under Diha’s purview and was the heart of the reason behind hiring Cat. Besides assisting Diha, Cat’s entire job was to help them find the mole. The two of them were the only people who knew almost everything about what the team was really doing and who had access to what information.

  For five minutes they covered sensitive details, then when the limited range jammer ran out of juice, they changed topics and hashed out their plans for the rest of the day and the big briefing tomorrow.

  “Anything I can do for you?” Zora asked as she gathered her things.

  “Yes,” Diha said slowly.

  “What?” Zora crossed her arms over her chest. It was likely an unconscious move, and yet it didn’t bode well for Diha.

  “I need you to talk to Mr. Green. I think he’ll give me the access to the Security Service’s network like we talked about, but he’s not happy with the compartmentalization going on.”

  Zora’s chin tipped up a bit. “I’ll reach out to him, remind him how this is done.”

  Grea
t.

  Why did Diha think that conversation would only make things worse?

  “Anything else?” Zora asked.

  “No. I just need to be left alone.”

  “Consider that request granted.” She smiled a rare flash of teeth, then waltzed out the door.

  Cat spun her chair in a circle. “What would you like me to do?”

  Diha massaged her temples. This trip was going to max her out for dealing with people. “I think... I think you should get some rest.”

  And give her some peace.

  Besides, she needed to do some deep-diving work, and she did that best in total silence. Cat, on the other hand, thrived in chaos and noise.

  “Don’t have to tell me twice.” Cat stood and tucked her laptop under her arm, then blew a kiss to Diha. “I’ll make sure to get dinner delivered. We all know how you can get.”

  She watched the other woman leave and couldn’t help but smile. Her life was pretty darn good.

  MONDAY. CRASH PAD. Brighton, United Kingdom.

  Valentino tapped at the keyboard and frowned.

  On the surface, nothing had changed. She could still see all parts of the network. Nothing was denied to her that she’d had access to prior. And yet, she had a hunch. A feeling.

  Something wasn’t right.

  It had begun when her mentor had reached out with a new job. He never did that. She could count on one hand the number of people who knew about their relationship. It was a secret they’d both kept, like her real identity. Normally, jobs came through her point of contact, Skilton. She’d have much preferred to not work with Skilton. The man was a pompous ass. But the chain of command made sense, just like computer code. There was always a beginning and an end to every string of commands. Interjecting her mentor was just weird.

  She could have let that go. Sometimes things had to go out of order for the sake of expediency. But the abnormalities just kept adding up.

  The train hack.

  What was it about that job that didn’t sit right with her?