No Room for Error: A Lexi Carmichael Mystery, Book Seven

by Julie Moffett

  Slash didn’t answer.

  I tried again. “Look, this could have been just a robbery attempt or something. I don’t think I need extra security. You don’t even know that this is about me.”

  “It doesn’t matter what it was about. He almost got away with you. I’m not taking that risk again. Just humor me a while.”

  “How long is ‘a while’?”

  “Until I figure out who this guy is.”

  His jaw was clenched tight. I thought about protesting but I knew he’d put the security on me even if I didn’t agree.

  “Fine. If it gives you peace of mind.”

  “It does. There will be an FBI agent following you until my guy is in place. The FBI agreed to do this as a courtesy for me. So, don’t be surprised to see someone as soon as we get home.”

  “Great. They’ll probably be bored to death with my schedule.”

  “As long as you’re safe. Be aware of your surroundings, okay? I’ve got some things to do, but I’ll be back tonight, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Sure.”

  When we got to my apartment, a black sedan was already idling in the parking lot.

  “That was fast,” I observed. “By the way, doesn’t the FBI like any color other than black for cars?”

  A small smile touched his lips. “Black is a largely indistinguishable color and it’s good for night surveillance.”

  He walked me to my door and checked inside my apartment to make sure it was clear. As we stood in my doorway, he gave me a lingering kiss goodbye.

  “Be back soon. Stay safe.”

  I went to the window and watched him climb into the SUV. As he left, another dark sedan followed him. The agent in my parking lot turned off the engine and sat staring up at me. I waved and after a moment he waved back.

  I let the curtain fall into place with a sigh. Whether I liked it or not, I’d started to get a firsthand glimpse of the fishbowl Slash lived in on a daily basis. And I didn’t like it one bit.

  * * *

  “Lexi?”

  My thoughts were so preoccupied with car chases, gunfire and explosions I didn’t even hear my name being called. This wasn’t good because as the Director of Information Technology for X-Corp, I should have been thinking about firewalls, penetration testing and system back doors.

  “Lexi!”

  This time the voice was insistent enough it broke me from my thoughts. Unfortunately, it also startled me so when I looked up, I almost knocked the coffee mug off my desk.

  “Lexi, are you alright?”

  I caught the mug before it toppled. “Hey, Basia. Sorry, I was just thinking. It’s really great to have you back in the office.”

  She’d been in Hollywood for the past several months taking my place—thank God—on a reality television show about geeks. The series had wrapped a couple of days ago. I had spent three days back in California two weeks ago filming my part in the finale. While I’d been glad to see my geeky contestant friends again, I couldn’t wait to hightail it home to my computers and real job.

  She slid into my visitor chair. “I’m getting reacquainted with things. It’s been so long since I’ve been here, I’ve forgotten where everything is.”

  “I really missed you.”

  “I missed you, too. Believe it or not, I even missed this place. I’ve got a boatload of work to catch up on.”

  “I bet.”

  Basia was X-Corp’s resident translator and had been helping Finn reach out to international markets with our cyberintelligence business before she’d gotten sidetracked into the work in Hollywood on my behalf.

  “So, what’s new?”

  I took a sip of my coffee and tried not to look too worried. “Well, I was in New York this weekend and survived either a kidnapping or robbery attempt.”

  “What?”

  Okay, maybe I could have eased into that better.

  I quickly brought her up to speed. Not surprisingly, her first thought was of Johannes Broodryk.

  Her face paled. “It has to be related to Broodryk.”

  Broodryk had badly injured her boyfriend, Xavier Zimmerman. Xavier’s twin brother and one of my closest friends, Elvis, had been kidnapped and nearly killed by Broodryk before we shut him down. I felt sick just remembering it. We were all recovering the best we could.

  “Look, Basia, don’t worry. I sincerely don’t think it’s Broodryk. But Slash will look at every angle.”

  “He’s investigating?”

  “Of course, along with the NYPD and the FBI. I’ve now got private security on me 24/7. That’s how seriously Slash is taking it.”

  That solicited a small smile from her. “Well, that makes me feel better.”

  “In my opinion, Slash is overreacting, but better safe than sorry.”

  “Absolutely.”

  I leaned back in my chair, making a conscious effort to change the subject. “So, how are you and Xavier doing?”

  Basia had been dating Xavier for a couple of months on an exclusive basis, and it seemed to be getting more and more serious between them. It was a big step for a free spirit like her.

  “Good. His recovery is going really well.” Her expression softened. “It’s been quite a process, but he’s been a good sport. He goes to every physical therapy session and he listens to me when I boss him around and tell him to take it easy.”

  “He probably loves that. He’s lucky to have you.”

  “Yes, he is.” She ran her fingers through her dark bob. “And I’m lucky to have him. In fact, we’re damn lucky we have a second chance at things.”

  “I’m happy for you guys. Really.” I truly was. I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams—not that I had many of those—that she would date, let alone get serious, with a geek like Xavier.

  “Speaking of happy, why were you and Slash in New York in the first place?” she asked.

  “We were working on a training program at his office in New York.” I picked up a pencil and fiddled with it. “It’s a cyberwarfare frontier simulation. It’s wicked prime.”

  “You guys are such geeks.” She rolled her eyes, then smiled at me. “You do know that most people go to the city for a swanky dinner and a Broadway show?”

  “Well, there was pizza and a concert, both of which were awesome, before the unfortunate ending to the evening.”

  She sighed. “You know, I think you and Slash may be far more compatible than I ever suspected.”

  Before I could respond, my phone rang. I picked it up. “Lexi Carmichael.”

  “Hey, Lexi, it’s Finn.”

  Finn was the co-owner of X-Corp and a onetime romantic interest before I’d realized I couldn’t handle the complicated nuances of dating my boss.

  I peered at the number he’d dialed me from. “You’re calling me from a conference room?”

  “Yes, can you join me for a client meeting?”

  “Of course. I’ll be right there.”

  Basia raised an eyebrow, clearly curious to know where I was headed. Before I could mouth the words client meeting, Finn spoke again.

  “See if you can find Basia and bring her with you, would you?”

  “What a coincidence. She happens to be sitting right here.”

  “Excellent. See you both in a few.”

  I hung up and unplugged my laptop, sliding it under my arm. “Our presence is requested in Conference Room 3 for a client meeting.”

  “Mine, too?”

  “Apparently so.”

  Basia rose from the chair, smoothing down her skirt. “And so the day begins.”

  Chapter Seven

  We made a quick stop in the company kitchen for coffee, then headed to the conference room. I entered the room and almost tripped when I saw Elvis
and Xavier sitting at the table along with a couple of guys in suits I didn’t know.

  I kept my eyes on Elvis as I slid into a vacant chair next to Finn. I hadn’t seen him for several days, but I was encouraged to see the bruises on his face were healing and his color was healthier. I knew he was still recovering from internal injuries, but he was alive and alert, and I couldn’t have been more thankful for that.

  He gave me a smile but said nothing. Basia sat at the other end of the table and she looked as surprised as I was to see the twins.

  Finn spread out his hands. “Lexi, Basia, thanks for joining us. Let me introduce our guests. You already know Elvis and Xavier, of course. Joining them are Mr. Andrew Garrington and Mr. Fox Cutler, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Research at ComQuest Technologies in Baltimore.”

  There was no handshaking, just a nodding of heads around the table as acknowledgment. Elvis and Xavier both worked for ComQuest, so my curiosity was piqued as to why they were all here at X-Corp. When I looked at Basia she lifted an eyebrow as if to say she had no idea what was going on either.

  Finn shuffled some papers and then folded his hands on top of them. “I’m going to turn this meeting over to Andrew to bring Lexi and Basia up to speed.”

  Andrew looked between Basia and me. “Elvis and Xavier have been working on a special project for ComQuest for the past year. It’s an extremely confidential project and one that has great promise, not only for our company, but worldwide.”

  Interesting. I observed Elvis again, but he was watching his boss speak.

  “The project involves a proprietary invention they’ve created. We’re ready to begin a limited trial manufacturing of the device.”

  Fascinating, but I still couldn’t figure out why they had come to us. X-Corp was a cyberintelligence and cybersecurity company, not a manufacturer. But I kept my mouth shut and let Andrew get to the point.

  “The problem is that, due to the extreme circumstances of the past few months, neither Elvis nor Xavier feel they are physically capable of making the trip to Indonesia, where the device will be manufactured.”

  Finn jotted something on a piece of paper. “Okay, but if the prototype is finished, why would either of the Zimmermans have to accompany the device to the manufacturers anyway?”

  Elvis answered. “The nature of the prototype makes it highly likely adjustments will have to be made on-site, especially since properties can change during a manufacturing process. If even the slightest calculation is wrong, it will have to be adjusted on the spot or it won’t work. This is very precise and delicate work. Nothing like it has ever been created before.”

  “Understood.” Finn stopped taking notes and rested his pen against the paper. “So, gentlemen, how exactly can X-Corp help ComQuest in this matter?”

  Andrew leaned back and crossed his arms against his chest. “This prototype is of exceptional value to ComQuest. We’ve invested a lot of money into the project and have fended off multiple attempts at industrial espionage and theft. When I say this is a revolutionary product, I assure you I am understating the matter at hand. The information we are about to share is extremely privileged.”

  My gaze locked onto Elvis’s and I saw a spark in his eyes. Pride. Satisfaction. Intense excitement. My heart kicked up a notch.

  Finn looked at Basia, then me. “I assure you all of us at X-Corp will keep any information spoken here completely confidential.”

  We nodded, and Andrew continued, apparently reassured by Finn’s promise. “ComQuest needs someone to accompany the prototype to Indonesia—someone who can fill in for Xavier and Elvis and adjust the device as necessary during the process. A person who could understand and act upon the instructions that either Elvis or Xavier would provide remotely. A person they trust implicitly that could do the work.”

  Every head in the room turned to me.

  “Of course, I’ll help.” I addressed Finn. “If X-Corp is on board with it, of course.”

  Finn picked up his pen, poised to write. “What would Lexi be required to do?”

  Fox, the research director, said, “We’d need her to meet this week with Xavier and Elvis to learn about the prototype and any potential issues that could arise as a result of the manufacturing process. We’re scheduled to be in Indonesia early next week.”

  Finn turned his head to me. “Lexi, can you clear your plate?”

  “Absolutely. But first I want to know more about this device. What is it?”

  Elvis exchanged a glance with his boss, Andrew, who gave a small nod. “It’s pretty prime, Lexi. We’ve created a special microplate that can be bonded to microchips to allow computers to operate at faster speeds and still remain cool.”

  “Wow. How much faster?”

  He leaned forward, his hands flat on the table. The flexible cast on his arm peeked out from beneath the sleeve of his shirt. “Faster than anything operating today. We’re talking totally game-changing. Imagine quantum computers becoming a hundred times faster than they are now. A thousand times faster. That’s the level we’re talking about.”

  It took me a minute to absorb that concept. Game-changing would be an understatement. The technical world would explode.

  “Extraordinary,” I breathed. I wanted to add impossible, but I knew better than anyone that with the Zimmermans, nothing was impossible.

  “It will be our first manufacturing test,” Elvis explained. “The prototype must be able to withstand the process or we’re back to square one.”

  “How long will you need to bring Lexi up to speed on the prototype?” Finn asked Elvis.

  “Just a week should do it. She’s good and won’t require much more than an overview. She’ll need to work with Xavier and me in the lab outside Baltimore for some demonstrations. Once the manufacturing process is under way in Indonesia, we can assist her remotely. But we need a hands-on observer, and I can’t think of anyone I trust more than Lexi.”

  I was touched by his faith in my abilities. “Thanks, Elvis. I’d be honored to do it.”

  “What about me?” Basia asked. “How can I help the effort?”

  “We need a translator,” Fox explained. “I understand from Xavier that you speak French.”

  She nodded. “I do.”

  “Good. Our project manager at the factory, Antoine Paquet, speaks decent English, but French is his first language. Given a project of this importance, every nuance matters. You’ll need to come to the lab, too, to learn the vocabulary and precise definitions.”

  “Understood.”

  “Most important, we want to keep this as tightly contained as possible. The fact that we are able to have all of you from the same company under a binding nondisclosure agreement makes it much more secure for us.” He regarded both twins. “They trust you implicitly, and by extension, so do we.”

  “Excellent.” Finn stood. “Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we have a deal.”

  It looked like my life had just gotten a lot more interesting.

  Chapter Eight

  I spent the rest of the day at X-Corp clearing my desk for the next two weeks before heading home to my small apartment. A dark blue Toyota followed me. Stan, my new guard, had showed his identification and explained that, thanks to Slash, he’d be keeping a close eye on me. I thanked him and pretended it wasn’t going to be weird having someone watching my every move.

  I had several chores to do once I got home. I’d just changed into sweats and an old T-shirt and gathered all my laundry when my cell phone rang.

  I picked it up. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Lexi, it’s Elvis. Any chance you can swing by the house? There’s something I want to give you.”

  Sounded interesting. I quickly changed back into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and drove over to the Zimmermans’ house with Stan trailing behind.

 
I pulled into the driveway next to Xavier’s blue pickup truck while Stan parked across the street. I rang the bell and Elvis answered, ushering me inside. He moved a lot slower and stiffer due to his injuries, but I was encouraged by the fact he was determined not to let the pain slow him down.

  “Wait here for a sec, okay?”

  He’d disappeared toward his bedroom, so I wandered into the room affectionately known as the Command Room. The twins had transformed their dining room and living room into a high-tech operating center. Long tables crowded with a mixture of desktops and laptops ringed the room. The Linux cluster of thirty-four computers they used to break encryption and do serious number crunching took up an entire corner of the room. Cables, wires and routers snaked across the floor and draped over tables. The room was freezing and I shivered, looking for the blanket they always left for me. I found it slung over one of the chairs, so I grabbed it and wrapped it around my shoulders.

  Xavier sat at his laptop in a short-sleeved T-shirt, typing away, oblivious to the cold. He swiveled his chair toward me. “Hey, Lexi. How are you?”

  “Good. Even better now that we’ll be working together.”

  “It’s going to be prime.” He made some calculations on a sheet of paper and then stuck the pencil behind his ear. “Can’t wait to show you.”

  “I can’t wait to see.” I wanted to ask him more about it, but due to the highly secret nature of their work, we couldn’t speak about it outside secure areas.

  Elvis walked into the room and motioned me to follow him. “To the kitchen.”

  I followed him and we stood at the counter while he took something out of his pocket. “Close your eyes and hold out your hand.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  I did as instructed and felt Elvis press something hard and cool in the palm of my hand and then close my fingers around it.

  “Open your eyes.”

  I looked down at my hand. He’d given me a necklace. I pulled it up by a gold chain and inspected it. On closer examination I saw it wasn’t a pendant, but a delicate locket with an exquisite jade and gold inlay cover. It looked oriental.