18. Chapter 18 #2
Sid’s and Lewis’s laughter filled her ear as a rumbling growl from Raz suppressed it. Both inaudible except to Caige and her.
“Look, I made him blush, darling.” She glanced over as the burly guard frisked Caige.
“You suppose he’d want to join us later?” Caige spoke in an unrecognizable voice. Higher and throatier. Was that a Boston accent?
She tried to keep her jaw drop in her head. Her giggle came out higher pitched and more choked than she meant, his full persona change taking her by surprise.
The stream of grumbling threats from Raz along the Micron Ear heated her cheeks.
The guard was efficient, not meeting her gaze as he patted her down. “Can I check your clutch?”
She forked it over.
He grabbed the lipstick tube and popped off the top. The fake red silicone didn’t fool him. With narrowed eyes, he reached for the metal-detecting wand beside him. Oh, no, you don’t.
She leaned forward. “Press the button on the bottom for a few seconds.”
He gazed at her pointedly.
She winked. “For when the night gets boring.”
He shoved the items back into her purse and handed it to her. “All clear.”
Caige took her arm again, and as he led her away, he whispered, “Nice distraction.”
“All part of the plan.” She smiled. A hall branched off to either side, but straight ahead lay the entryway embellished in cream roses, black dahlias, and fine greenery.
The clean scents announced how fresh the flowers were.
Walking through, the entrance opened to an enormous conference room with a stage at the front.
People gathered on the bare wooden floor, mingling among themselves.
Nerves spiked along her throat. I didn’t expect this many people.
“Can everyone hear me?” Clyde said over their Micron Ears.
“Roger.” Raz’s deep voice, so close to her ear as if he’d whispered, sent fire through her. Damn. How did he do that?
Each of the others said something in the order they had pre-selected.
“So, this is a hackers gala?” Caige said.
“I guess so,” she said, both of them giving their cues, letting everyone know they had heard them.
“Good. We will keep in touch,” Clyde said.
“Let’s get some champagne.” She squeezed Caige’s arm.
He offered a smile before steering her toward a bar. Near the stage, raised on a small platform, sat a desk with a sleek matte computer tower. A red valet rope blocked off the area. Kate breathed deeply. That computer was the target for the compact safely tucked in her clutch.
The two of them slid past the line to the table of champagne-filled flutes and grabbed one each.
“So how does this work?” Caige asked, curiosity lacing his voice as he leaned in.
“You see that computer setup?” She pointed toward the sleek tower and blank monitor.
Caige nodded.
“I remotely log Clyde in for the hacker portion, and everyone can see his computer on the large screen hovering over the stage. He and six other hackers will compete to see who can hack any system, government or corporate, the fastest. They won’t know what they are looking for specifically until just before the timer starts. ”
“So, all the hackers stay at home, incognito, while a representative like yourself comes to the gala?”
“Precisely.”
“Elizabeth?” a German-accented male asked from behind her.
She steered Caige around. A tall man with rich brown hair and green eyes smiled. The ragged scar down his chin was more distinctive than the over-the-top diamond-lined tux covering his lean form.
“Ziegler.” She held out her hand to tonight’s host. “Nice to see you again.”
He took it with both of his, the warm rings on every finger pressing into her skin as he shook firmly. “I was surprised when you accepted my invitation.”
“Sixth time’s a charm, I suppose.”
“She’s so suave,” Sid said into her ear, momentarily distracting her. “Why can’t you be more like that?”
“Shut up,” Raz said.
Ziegler was smiling at Caige. “Hello, have we met before? You look familiar.” The two shook hands.
“I don’t believe so. The name’s Jack.”
If Jack had been in Matsuda’s circle, it would only make sense that Ziegler might have seen him on occasion. But only if Jack was higher up on the totem pole. She took a full swig of the dry champagne. The bubbles tickled the back of her throat and down to her empty stomach.
Ziegler gave her a pointed look. “Don’t waste yourself on booze as if you’ve already thrown in the towel.”
“It’s a victory drink. I’m sure your wallet can take it.”
He laughed, head tilted back, showing that his scar stretched down his neck. “Someone’s confident in their hacker.”
“I only work with the best.” She took another drink.
“Ah. Of course.” When someone called Ziegler’s name, he raised a hand to pause them from speaking. “Sounds like you came here to win. I look forward to seeing your hacker’s work. Please excuse me?”
She smiled and nodded. Ziegler took his leave, and the tension between her shoulders eased until someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“I couldn’t help but overhear,” another male said behind her. “Are you Elizabeth Hackerm?”
“Well, isn’t she Miss Popular?” Sid asked.
She downed her glass, steading herself in the drinker that Elizabeth was, and whispered, “And so it begins.”
“The purse doesn’t go,” the guard said, standing before Kate hours later as the logging in part of the gala commenced. Other representatives had received the same treatment, so she expected it.
“What about the dress?” she teased.
“I can’t take this.” Sid laughed into her ear.
Something rustled as if Raz had thrown an object at him. The guard didn’t find her words amusing: his expression was a blank slate. With the compact already flat against her palm, hidden from view, she handed her purse to Caige.
She walked with the guard, but knowing another frisk was on the agenda, she purposefully tripped onto the platform. As she caught herself on the guard’s arm, she slipped the compact into his side pocket.
“Sorry. These heels are killer,” she muttered.
He grunted and instructed her to lift her arms. She did so with a playful grin and idled through another efficient pat-down.
Inching closer, she rubbed her chest against his muscular arm as she whispered into his ear, “Next time ask for the dress…” She pulled her compact back from his pocket, keeping it between her thumb and flat palm like she practiced.
“Please tell me there’s a purpose to the flirting,” Raz said into her Micron Ear.
“Nature of the beast,” Caige said for her as he stood behind the valet rope, waiting. “Distract the baby to take its candy.”
“Yeah, this baby sounds like a grown ass man,” Raz said.
Sitting in front of the plain computer as instructed, she kept the laugh inside. Along their link, she sent Raz impressions of calming reassurance. He was all she desired. Her heartbeat quickened. The words resonated true. Shit. She really was falling for a dragon.
She shook her head, forcing herself to focus. If she didn’t get her compact connected to the computer without anyone seeing, her plan would be ruined.