Chapter 39
Afew days later, Mack, Alex, and I are called into a meeting at Haven Security. We sit at the same conference table with most of the same men who were there the first time. Except for me the vibe is completely different because now my brother’s here, too.
“We’ve handed the thumb drive over to the FBI.
” Cole says without preamble. His cold eyes slip to mine.
“We have friends there who are very interested in taking down the supremacist group. As a token of their commitment, the Albanians who destroyed your property and harassed you have already been arrested. Well, the surviving Albanians.”
“Thank you Mr. Heckler,” Mack murmurs, giving a little salute.
“Will I have to testify?” I ask. I’m irritated by how meek my voice sounds; I sit up as if to counteract it.
“No--they were arrested on drug charges. They had lots and lots of drugs in their car when they were pulled over. Plus a couple of stolen guns. They’re being charged on major federal drug charges and won’t see the other side of a prison wall in this lifetime.”
Cole nods and continues, “As far as the thumb drive, our friend in the FBI has agreed to treat the situation delicately. Apparently, the Albanians were the only connection between Alex and Daniel. We were able to see the communications they sent back and forth--they never told the group down in Laredo what they were going to sell them. They only touted it as an answer to their money problems. It’s our guess that they were never going to give full control of the program to the group, only use of it for a time. ”
“Like a subscription model,” Ziggy offers from down the table.
“So now that the Albanians are in prison?” I ask, my eyebrows raised.
Cole shrugs. “You and your brother are in the clear. We’ve handed over Alex’s program to the FBI. I can’t really say what they’ll use it for, or if they’ll use it at all, but it’s not connected to either of you.”
“I went through the code and made sure it was extra, squeaky clean,” Ziggy says, nodding.
“Are you sure?” I can't help but ask. “This is really over?”
Cole nods.
And I guess that's all the confirmation I'm getting, but it seems to be enough assurance for the rest of the guys at the table. I have to remind myself again that they deal with this sort of thing all the time.
“Gabriella, you good with that?” Mack says.
I nod too, because what am I going to say? No?
“Yeah,” I say with a grin. “I’m good.”
They go over some details after that, with a bunch of the guys asking follow-up questions, but I’m nearly high on relief. Suddenly, amazingly, the biggest problem in my life is whether my butt looks too big in my red swimsuit and the fact that there’s some mold in my walls.
But hey, at least there’s a solution to that. The mold, not my butt--I’m not giving up margaritas and queso. And yeah it might be more expensive than I like, but hey, what is work for, after all?
I'm so happy, so excited, that I barely pay attention when Ziggy pulls Alex aside afterward for a private chat.
Later, we’re back home ane I’m puttering in the kitchen, emptying the dishwasher. With six people living in the big Victorian, we go through a lot of dishes. I figure the least I can do as a thank you to the guys for letting me and Alex stay is to help keep things tidy.
I grin at Mack. “Want to order in some dinner? My treat.”
“Sounds good, babe.” He smiles. “But I’m no LoveMatch dud--I’ll buy.”
I'm so happy I’m nearly humming. This outcome is better than my wildest dreams. I truly believe it’s the best possible result for Alex.
It's nearly miraculous, actually. I'm so overwhelmed by my gratitude and the release of my stress about the thumb drive and the Albanians that I hardly pay attention to what Alex is saying.
“…And he's going to give me a room, and there's a cafeteria and everything.” Alex nearly bounces on his stool with excitement.
“Wait, what?” I say.
“Ziggy,” he says, as if that answers all my questions.
“I'm sorry, Alex, start from the beginning. What about Ziggy?”
“He's going to give me a job, if I want it. And I do. It's working with computers, but a little different than at Shady Lake. Which is good, because the AI help chatbot I designed is going to put me out of a job anyway.” He shrugs like that's no big deal.
“Wait, what?”
I feel stupid repeating myself, but in my defense, it's been a very stressful day. Stressful, then exhilaratingly happy. I decide I'm to be instantly forgiven for all of my distraction and lack of focus.
“How about he tells us all about it over dinner?” Mack suggests.
“Pizza?” Alex asks, his voice hopeful.
“Sure,” Mack says. “Digino's?”
“Extra pepperoni and cheese with sardines?”
Mack grimaces. “I'll order you your own.”
“Aw man, that's what I missed the most living out in the woods,” Alex says with a dramatic sigh. “Pizza.”
“What about your sister?” I snap, half in real indignation, half fake.
Alex just laughs and heads towards the stairs. “Gonna take a shower, let me know when it gets here.”
I shake my head affectionately. “Ungrateful little shit.”
“What's this about Ziggy?” I ask Mack, because obviously he knows about it.
“Sorry.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I was trying to let Alex tell you, but he did a really shitty job. That guy does not know how to pick a moment.”
Truer words have never been spoken, but that's still no answer.
Mack sighs. “Ziggy took a look at that program your brother wrote, and he wants him on board.
Dylan's been bugging him to add a second computer guy for years, but Ziggy never met someone he wanted to work with before.
Either they didn't have enough talent, or they weren't moldable enough for him.” He uses air bunnies as he says the word.
“Well, I wouldn't call Alex moldable.”
Mack shrugs. “For Ziggy, I think he is. I think they are simpatico.”
“And what,” I say, “he's moving out?”
“That's part of the gig,” Mack says. “I'm sure you noticed that place is an old hotel.
The guys live there for the most part so that they can be ready at a moment's notice. A couple of them have other places for vacation, stuff like that. And Gage has an ex-wife and a kid in Albuquerque that he visits once in a while. But otherwise, they pretty much live the job.”
I chew my lower lip and try to figure out how I feel about that. Truthfully, I’d reconciled myself to having a permanent roommate for the rest of my life. It's a bit disconcerting to think that there's a different option--one that might be better for both Alex and me.
“They're not going to take advantage of him, if that's what you're worried about,” Mack says. “He'll get time off if he wants it.”
I shake my head. “He won't want it. Not if he's dealing with computers all day. I mean, he’ll probably get in trouble for trying to play War of Veilcraft on Ziggy's monitors. But other than that…”
Mack chuckles. “I don't think he'll get in trouble. I think that'll be encouraged. Ziggy is like some famous character on that game. He’s got a weird name…I think they call him the Red Maven?”