Undue Competition

by R A Wallace

  Shane reached for the card. “Yes, sir.”

  ***

  Ariana stopped at the entrance to the large room. There were students everywhere. Although several of them were working in groups, there were also some completely focused on the computer in front of them. They probably weren’t aware of anyone else. Students were snacking or drinking. She spotted a single female across the room that she thought matched up with one of the descriptions Sierra had given her. She crossed the room, pulling out a bag of chips as she did.

  “Mind if I sit here?” Ariana stood next to Angelina.

  The girl that looked up at her with unfocused eyes took a moment to answer. “Ah, sure. Yeah. Seat’s not taken.”

  “Thanks.” Ariana opened the bag of chips and tilted it toward the other girl. “Chips?”

  Angelina absently reached for the bag and grabbed a handful as she stared at her computer. “Thanks.”

  Ariana watched the other girl put a chip in her mouth and chew slowly. She looked at the words on the screen. “Working on a program?”

  “What?” Angelina turned from her computer toward Ariana. She seemed a little confused at first to see the chips in her own hand. “Did I steal your chips?”

  Ariana laughed. “No, I offered.” She pointed at Angelina’s screen. “Are you writing code?”

  “No. These are data packets. I was studying them in case I see any similar situations in one of the competitions later.” Angelina popped another chip into her mouth. “These are good, thanks.”

  “Data packets. You’re competing in the cybersecurity competition?”

  “Yes. I can’t wait.”

  “What do you like about it?” Ariana tilted the bag toward Angelina again.

  “What’s not to like?” Angelina took another handful of chips. “I love the challenge of solving mysteries and maybe even helping others.”

  “And the competition? You think it will help you?”

  Angelina tilted her head. “Are you kidding? The competition gives us visibility at a national level. I know it will help when I graduate next year.”

  Ariana flattened the empty bag. “Those were good but I think I need something else now. Have you eaten yet?”

  “No, and that’s probably why I wolfed down all of your chips.” Angelina closed her computer. “C’mon on. I’ll buy you another bag to replace it.”

  Ariana stood when Angelina did. Just before they reached the exit, another college kid poked his head through the door. He froze for a moment when he saw them, then smiled shyly. After a quick wave, he disappeared.

  Angelina shared a look with Ariana and they both laughed.

  Chapter Twelve

  After dropping Greyson off at the office, she drove to her mother’s place. Driving slowly through the retirement community, she saw several faces that she recognized. Although the afternoon was seasonably hot, several residents were refusing to adjust their plans accordingly. She saw some working in the small garden spaces around their homes. Several more were scattered around the ponds fishing.

  The community boasted several sizable ponds including some within the golf course. The two largest ponds separated the community from the original section to the newer one on the other side. She knew those with rods were fishing for fun, not food. Although permitted to keep tilapia, all other species were catch and release.

  Out of habit, Callie waved as she passed anyone even if she didn’t recognize them. It was a close-knit community. They knew by sight that she wasn’t a resident and would monitor her actions while she was in view. She maintained her slow speed until she reached her mother’s driveway. After parking, she stepped out of her car and was immediately hailed by a familiar voice.

  “Callie!”

  “Hey, Howard. What are you doing out in this heat?” Callie closed her car door and walked down the short drive to meet Howard at the street.

  “Oh, this is nothing. Wait for another month or so. It’s going to be a hot one this year.” Howard checked the mirrors above his head to see if there was anyone behind him.

  “I’m sure you’re right.” A moving car at the other end of her mother’s street caught her attention momentarily. “What’s been going on here?”

  “Same old, same old. Paula’s having her windows replaced.”

  “Oh, yeah? Might help with cleaning.” Callie glanced at her mother’s house. Margaret had swapped her windows out several years ago.

  “You’re telling me. That new door I put in a couple of years ago made a huge difference. At least the floor isn’t always covered with dust now.” Howard waved at Margaret’s house. “Helps with heating in the winters too.”

  Callie nodded. Her mother had said the same thing.

  “I put up a new antenna,” Howard said.

  “Yeah? You get a lot of channels with it?”

  “Oh, yeah. Not enough to cut the cord yet, but I have it connected to a small television in my sunroom.”

  Callie nodded her understanding. “Cheaper than paying for another satellite hookup.”

  “Hey, have you met Kevin yet?” Howard asked.

  “Kevin? Is that the new guy in the office?” Callie looked down at where the grass in her mother’s small yard met the driveway. There was a sizeable ant hill forming.

  “Yeah. He’s Simon’s friend. Been helping out a lot around here. Simon’s lucky to have him.” Howard frowned. “Maybe.”

  Callie adjusted her sunglasses. “What does that mean?”

  “I wonder if Simon is planning to leave. Kevin seems to be doing most of the work now.” Howard saw movement in his mirrors. “I’d better go. You take care now.”

  Callie waved as the car drove past then turned and walked toward the sunroom entrance. At this time of the day, she didn’t expect to find her mother in there. She opened the sliding glass door to the kitchen and sighed audibly when the first blast of frigid air hit her.

  “Tell me you have iced tea.” Callie opened the fridge. “Oh, yeah!” She held up the pitcher. “Want some?”

  Margaret shook her head as she pulled off her reading glasses. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

  Callie approached the dining room table with her glass of sweet tea. “Working?”

  Margaret glanced at the computer on the table. “Planning another trip. Elliot has some meetings and I’ll be going along with him.”

  Callie leaned against the counter. “Will you be gone long?”

  “Not this time.” Margaret tilted her head as she studied Callie. “What brings you by? Is this about your father?”

  “Yeah. I have another question. You told me about Guy Gallagher. There’s another name that came up. I wondered if you knew it also? Marquita Dixon?” She watched her mother’s eyes narrow. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Margaret leaned back in her chair. “I haven’t thought about Marquita in years,” she murmured.

  “Did you know her well?” Callie could tell that her mother’s mind was somewhere else for a few moments.

  “That was a long time ago,” Margaret said finally.

  “What do you remember?”

  “Something I should have remembered before. Marquita and Guy were something of an item in school.”

  Callie frowned. “I thought Guy and Dad competed over you?”

  “They did. Marquita was in love with Guy though. I can’t say how much it was reciprocated but I do know they often spent time together. Keep in mind we were all young. Just kids, really. And I’m sure Guy and your father competed simply because they could. I doubt it really had anything to do with me. It certainly didn’t stop Guy from spending time with Marquita.”

  Callie did the math. “You think they were close?”

  Margaret shook her head slowly. “That I don’t know. I do know that’s when Guy left the area.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Margaret’s eyes grew distant again. “It was the end of the school year. Our senior year. Marquita went to a beach party.” Margaret waved one hand. “She
invited me but I didn’t want to go. I don’t remember why now.”

  “Something happened at the beach party?”

  “I think so. At the time, I didn’t understand what.”

  “And now?”

  Margaret’s eyes held sadness. “Marquita went to the beach party. After that night, she would never talk about it.”

  “You asked her?”

  Margaret’s shrug was barely noticeable. “It was the end of the school year. We didn’t really see much of each other after that. Guy left, as I said. It was sudden. At the time, I didn’t connect the two events together.”

  “You think he had something to do with the beach party?” Callie went to the sink to rinse her empty glass.

  “No. No, I don’t remember him going but, as I said, it was a long time ago.” Margaret frowned. “You might ask Ella if you think it’s important.”

  “Ella?” Callie put the glass into the dishwasher.

  “Ella Wareham. Marquita and Ella were really close. Much more so than I was with Marquita. Ella might know something that I don’t.”

  “I’ll do that. Before I leave, I need to sprinkle some more poison by your driveway.”

  Margaret stood from her chair. “Ants again?”

  “It’s a never-ending battle. I swear I’m just chasing them around your yard.”

  Margaret gave a wry smile as she followed Callie out. “If you were really good, you would chase them to my neighbor’s yard.”

  Callie chuckled as she went into the shed. After finding the bag and her gloves on the shelf, she joined her mother near the ant hill and tossed a few handfuls.

  “Looks like they’re in the front flower bed too.” Margaret pointed near the front of the house.

  A golf cart stopped in front of their house. “Callie! Need help?” Simon left his cart where it was and moved quickly to join Callie.

  “No, I got it. Thanks.” Callie folded the top of the bag back down. “How are you doing? I hear you have a new helper in the office?”

  A brief frown crossed Simon’s face before his usual smile returned. “Kevin. Yeah, I guess. He’s just a friend really. We were, anyway, when we were young. I haven’t seen him in years. Not until he showed up here.”

  “Really? I thought he was practically running the place?” Callie watched the frown on Simon’s face return. This time, it stayed.

  “He does seem to have made himself at home,” Simon said. “This morning he suggested that we become partners.”

  Callie shared a look of surprise with Margaret. “Really? Is that something you’re interested in doing?”

  Simon’s frown deepened. “I have no idea. I’m not even sure what it would mean, really. I guess it has been nice having someone else to do some of the work here.”

  “You technically own the retirement community, right? It’s like a franchise of some sort?”

  Simon nodded but the frown on his face remained. “Yes. I still have to deal with the main corporation, but my name is on the business here.”

  “Adding someone else’s name to that business could have a lot of potential ramifications,” Callie said.

  The frown on Simon’s face switched to concern. “What do you suggest?”

  “I could run a prospective partnership for you. That would let me dive into his background. See if there’s anything there you need to know about but also let you know if he’s financially sound.” She watched the concern on his face turn to relief.

  “That would be awesome.” Simon smiled down at Callie. “I would really appreciate that.”

  “Not a problem.” Callie asked Simon for a few details. A car drove down the street and stopped behind Simon’s cart.

  “Oh, I’d better move that. Thanks again, Callie.” Simon slid onto his golf cart.

  Callie stood next to Margaret as they watched him drive away. It occurred to her that perhaps she should take her own advice.

  ***

  Gemma sliced the ends of the blinds to the precise length that she had measured. The bells on the door surprised her.

  “Callie. What brings you by today?” Gemma moved the blinds to another table and discarded the ends.

  “Just wanted to touch base with my sister. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

  Gemma stopped what she was doing and turned to Callie. “You were just here two days ago.”

  Callie leaned against a counter. “Really?”

  Gemma waved her hand. “Earth to Callie. What’s wrong?”

  Callie rubbed the bridge of her nose where her sunglasses left indents. “Nothing. It’s just that my partner doesn’t exist.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Callie sighed. “I stopped by Mom’s place. To make a long story short, I agreed to run a prospective partnership for Simon.”

  “That’s where you assess the risks to help someone decide the possible benefits or how much they should invest in the partnership?” Gemma moved to her small fridge and pulled out two bottles of water. She handed one to Callie.

  Callie nodded vaguely. “Something like that, yeah.”

  “What does that have to do with Greyson?” Gemma uncapped her water. “Oh.”

  “Yeah. I ran Greyson.”

  “He doesn’t exist?” Gemma didn’t sound surprised.

  Callie’s eyes shot to her sister’s. “That doesn’t surprise you?”

  Gemma’s brows went up. “No. You?”

  Callie sighed again. “No.”

  “Obviously, he exists,” Gemma said.

  Callie uncapped her water. “He does. Indigo Investigations pays him a salary. He has a social security number and everything.”

  “Max said that Greyson can’t talk about his previous work,” Gemma reminded her. “You either need to come to terms with that or tell him to walk away.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Callie heard the sound of someone dragging her garbage can up her driveway. She guessed it was either Greyson or Dex. Both had been doing it regularly for Callie and Ramona long before either woman made an appearance outside in the morning.

  She stood outside of Ramona’s sunroom and chatted with her for a few moments before getting into her car. The drive to one of her father’s work sites took about forty minutes. She found the man she was looking for setting up a ladder next to a modular home.

  “Troy?” Callie stopped several feet away from the young man in jeans and a faded tee shirt with the Indigo Aluminum and Roofing logo on the back.

  “Callie? Long time no see.” Troy gave Callie a curious look before making sure the ladder was situated correctly.

  “I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me.” Callie watched Troy climb the ladder.

  Troy climbed to the top of the ladder to look at the roof then ducked quickly. Callie reached into the tool bag near the base of the ladder and pulled out the wasp and hornet spray.

  “Here.” She stretched her arm as far as possible.

  Troy stepped down a rung and grabbed the can. After popping up above the roof and releasing most of the can, he quickly climbed down the ladder and stood next to Callie who had backed up a safe distance.

  “Looks like I have a few minutes now,” Troy said with a wry grin.

  Callie kept a wary eye on the angry hornets buzzing above them. “It’s about my dad.”

  Troy didn’t look surprised. “The Gallagher thing?”

  “Yeah.” Callie shifted her focus from the hornets to Troy. “What can you tell me?”

  He shook his head. “Not much.”

  “You remember the day of Guy Gallagher’s death?” Callie watched him nod.

  “I do. I feel pretty bad about it.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

  Troy crossed his arms as he watched the hornets above them. “I held your dad up that day.”

  “Held him up?”

  Troy nodded but kept his focus on the hornets. There weren’t as many of them now. “I had to ask him some questions about another job. We were having problems wi
th getting supplies in on time. I ended up having to switch to another project while we waited for the rest of the supplies to come in.”

  “What made you feel bad about that?”

  Troy shrugged. “What if I hadn’t held him up?” He dropped his arms to his side and turned to Callie. “What if your dad got there on time? Maybe he could have saved Gallagher, you know?”

  Callie put her hand on his arm. “Don’t think like that. It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Yeah.” He didn’t sound convinced. Troy shifted his gaze back to the ladder. “They’re gone. I should get back to work now.”

  ***

  The silence in the room was suddenly filled with a hum of excited voices as the competition for the day began. Throughout the large building, there were other rooms filled with students also competing. The various events ranged in time from two hours to eight hours. The four-hour event scheduled in the room she was sitting in would be completed by lunch time.

  Sierra sat in one corner with her computer in front of her. Although she kept her focus on the students around her, she reached down and hit a key to begin the capture. She knew that Michael was across the building in another room doing the same thing. She waited for several minutes as the packet capture continued then nonchalantly closed her computer and stood. Smiling at the group next to her, she wished them luck and left the room.

  Michael approached her as she waited in the hall. He lifted his brows when he reached her.

  “It’s going to take a long time to wade through all of this data,” she said as she fell into step beside him.

  “Having the data from the students will help. I was able to get some good scans on open ports. We can match those up with the individual addresses of the computers we know about. See if any have been compromised.” Michael stopped at the door to the room they’d been given to work. He swiped his card to unlock it and held the door for Sierra.

  She stepped inside. “I’ll start working on the packet capture files. I broke them up into more manageable chunks.”