by Melissa Good
“Growf!” Chino crouched down on her front legs.
“Yap!” The puppy let out a squeaky bark.
“Oh my gosh, that’s so cute.” Kerry sat down on one of the chairs they’d scrabbled together for the room. “I think she likes him!”
Gerry took a seat across from her and watched with a look of beaming content. “Sure looks like it.”
The puppy scampered over to where Kerry was sitting, attacking her boot with enthusiasm. Chino came after him, slamming into Kerry’s knees as she got her nose between the puppy and Kerry’s shoe.
“Ow. Easy.” Kerry leaned over and picked the puppy up. “What do you think you’re doing, huh, little man?”
The puppy scrabbled up her chest and tried to get to her chin, poking his tongue out.
Dar started laughing, as she sat down next to Gerry, watching the show. “I think that one’s yours,” she said to Kerry. “Chino, come over here before you knock her down.”
Chino trotted under the table and came out next to Dar.
“Did you say hi to your grandpa?” Dar asked.
“Heh.” Gerry folded his hands on the table, and motioned the aide to sit down. “So you’re moving very fast here, eh? Been only a week?”
“Only a week,” Dar agreed. “Been a little crazy.”
Gerry nodded. “So, what happened? I thought you were going to run it out as it were.”
“You happened,” Dar said bluntly. “I told them about the Joint Chief’s not wanting ILS in the mix due to our international setup. Between that, and the executive branch wanting me to work for them, board lost their minds and booted us. Figured to cut their losses, or something like that.”
“Insane,” Gerry said. “Like little boys.”
Dar lifted her hands and let them drop. “Just got this started faster. Didn’t think you would mind.”
“Not in the least.” He reached down to pat Chino, who had poked her nose into his elbow for attention. “Well, madam, didn’t you grow up to be a pretty girl.” He stroked her head. “Look just like your mother, how d’you like that?”
Chino’s tail wagged at the attention, then she turned her head and spotted the puppy upside down in Kerry’s arms, getting his tummy rubbed. She scooted under the table to investigate.
“So we finished the incorporation work yesterday,” Dar said. “I just got my checkbooks, we rented this space, talked to a few people about coming on board—it’s been nuts.”
“I can appreciate that,” Gerry said. “But it’s a good move for us, if you know what I mean.” He pulled out an envelope and put it on the table. “That’s the specification they want. Had a bunch of the boys, couple from each service, sit down and powwow, and that’s what they came up with.”
Dar opened the envelope and pulled the clipped papers out, scanning them quickly.
“Dar, how about some coffee?” Kerry still had the puppy in her arms, and he’d calmed down and was blinking sleepily. “Gerry?”
“Sure,” Dar murmured distractedly.
“Joe would do me good,” Gerry said. “Jennifer, give a hand, eh? You know how I like it.”
The aide got up. “I’ll bring in the dog things too, sir.” She went to the door and opened it, holding it while Kerry went through ahead of her. Chino followed them and after the door closed, it seemed overwhelmingly quiet inside.
Dar had unclipped the papers and she was reading them. Easton waited in silence, playing with his wedding band a little as he sat there, apparently content to simply wait for her to finish.
The writing was dense. Dar scanned it stolidly, reaching the point where she started thinking ahead of the words, the comprehension of the subject in place as her head started to shake back and forth a little.
“Problem?” Gerry hazarded.
“Ungh.” Dar rested her head on her hand and continued reading, and Gerry leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his uniformed chest as he regarded the blank wall.
“Okay,” Dar finally said. “Done.”
He started a little, and turned to look at her. “So? What do you think, Dar? Something you can do?”
Dar straightened the papers out and clasped her hands over them. “I can, but I won’t.”
“Eh?”
“I won’t. It’s the wrong idea. Wrong structure,” she said. “The general idea is okay, but the structure isn’t scalable.”
He blinked at her. “Haven’t got a clue what you just said, Dar. Good? Bad? Yes? No?”
Complicated question. “Can we set up a meeting for me to talk to them about it, maybe do a white board session?” she countered. “Present a different way to get the same results?”
“Ah, they came up with nonsense. I get it.” He patted the papers. “Long as you commit to getting this rolling, do it how you want to. Right? I’ll send these boys down here to talk to you. They’d love the break from the weather.”
She put the papers back in the envelope. “Deal,” she said. “Oh wait. We probably have to sign something now, since we don’t have a preexisting contract.”
Easton made a snorting sound.
Dar chuckled softly. “It’s going to have to wait until I get home anyway. I don’t have a typewriter, a computer, or a printer here yet.”
“No problem.” Gerry took a pen out of his pocket and turned the envelope over, scribbling on it for a long minute. “We know how to do things like this in the Army, don’tcha know. Can’t tell you how big a weight this lifts off me, Dar. Was told to find someone else to do this, and hadn’t clue one where to start looking.”
“There are other companies who do what we do, Gerry,” Dar said. “I could have given you names.”
“Would have been second best though.” He continued writing.
Dar twiddled her thumbs. “Wasn’t like that the last time I did a job for you. I thought you were going to have me whipped on the yardarm, or whatever that saying is.”
Gerry snorted again. “Navy,” he said, finishing his writing and signing underneath. Then he turned and looked at Dar. “I know that ended up in the crapper,” he said. “My fault.”
Dar’s brow lifted.
“My fault, because I should have stood fast on it.” Gerry leaned on the table and regarded her. “We sorted it out, sure. People got punished. Press would have been bad. But we’d have survived it.”
“And now it doesn’t matter,” Dar said, quietly. “Because of the attack.”
He nodded. “Right.”
“I’m sorry I was a part of that project. Wrecked a lot of old memories,” Dar said. “No matter how big of a jackass Jeff turned out to be, I still remember growing up playing with his kid.”
Gerry frowned. “You were too close,” he said, after a brief pause.
“I was.” Dar pulled the envelope over and took the pen from Gerry’s hand. She spent a minute reading the hand written contract, then she smiled and signed it, her slanting script distinct from her old family friend’s. “Water under the bridge though. Now it’s a new day.” She put the pen down. “So thanks for becoming our first customer.”
Gerry looked relieved. “Glad you feel that way.” He held his hand out, and she clasped it. “Listen, now. This thing, it’s important.” He watched her nod. “Fool us once, shame on you, fool us twice, shame on us. We let them get us. Failure in intelligence they said? Well it’s true. I know it and you know it. Embarrassing all around. But it can’t happen again.”
“Got it,” Dar said. “I’ll do my best, Gerry. But I’ll need a chance to get this company up and going. Don’t expect me to deliver anything overnight.”
“No worries.” He waved a hand. “Now, about those other contracts. The ones from before.”
“Leave them with ILS,” Dar said, then after a brief pause, she smiled faintly. “For now.”
He studied her face. “You sure, Dar? Got an opportunity to get the whole enchilada.”
“I’m sure. We don’t have structure for that. Yet. ILS does a good job of support. Let them keep it. They renew
next year anyway.”
He nodded. “All right.”
The door opened and Kerry and the aide, followed by Chino and the puppy entered. “Coffee all around.” Kerry put the tray down. “You all wrapped up?”
Dar handed her the envelope. “Our first contract,” she said. “Stick around, Gerry, a team from Bridges is due here any minute.”
“Hah. Fancy boys, most of ‘em.” He moved his chair to play with the dogs. “Probably run from these two.” He picked up Mocha and let him chew his finger. “Look at that vicious little man.”
Kerry leaned over and gave Dar a kiss on the head, and patted her shoulder. “Might have been nice to get the sign on the door first, hon.” She whispered.
Dar chuckled, and shrugged.
Kerry chuckled with her. “And a couple of employees...maybe a PC or two. I know we’ll make it work.”
“We will,” Dar said. “One way or another, we will.”
Chapter Ten
WHEN THE NEXT car came there were secret service agents in it, and instead of a fancy boy it was Bridges himself. He swept past the reception area and glanced around, then took his sunglasses off. “You may think I used this as an excuse to take a few days off in Florida at the government’s expense.”
Kerry had just come down the stairs with a cup. “Well, glad we didn’t open an office in Michigan then.” She held the door to the conference center open. “C’mon in and join our little circus.”
Bridges eyed her, then he motioned one of the agents forward. “No offense, Stuart.”
“None taken. I’ve had secret service agents peek in my bedroom since I was six,” Kerry responded mildly. “My sister had a crush on one of them I still tease her about.”
The agent paused and looked at her, then grinned and moved past, glancing quickly around the room. “Just some Army people and a couple dogs, sir,” he reported, with a twinkle in his eyes.
“About what I’d expect to find here.” Bridges pushed the door open and entered. “Ah, Easton.”
“Hello there.” General Easton had his jacket off, and he was tossing a ball to the end of the room. “Didn’t figure to see you here.”
“Back at you.” Bridges regarded him, then looked around. “Damn spook was right. Couple of Army people and some dogs. Where the hell is Roberts?”
“Dar’ll be right back.” Kerry sat down at the makeshift table.
“What in the hell is this?” Bridges took a seat and picked up the puppy. “This one of yours, Easton?”
“Both of them are, matter of fact,” The general said. “Pups of my Alabaster.”
Bridges held the puppy up and examined it. “Cute.” He put the puppy down, and watched as Chino came over, snuffing at the creature and giving Bridges a doubtful look.
“Entertaining.” Bridges dusted his hands off. “You just moving in to this place, I take it?”
“Signed the lease Monday,” Kerry said, sipping her tea. “By next Monday, we might even have a few employees and toilet paper in the bathrooms.”
He chuckled dryly. “A little too much chaos to suit you?”
Kerry pondered that question, her ears catching the rhythmic sound of Dar coming down the steps. “No, not really. I was looking to make a change, after September.”
Bridges nodded, looking up as Dar came in the room. “There you are, Roberts.”
“Hello.” Dar came over and sat down across from him. “Sorry. Had to talk to the electrical inspector.” She put her hands on the table. “I didn’t expect you to be here. Thought you would send someone from your staff.”
“And waste a trip to Miami in the winter?” he responded. “What kind of fool do you take me for?”
Dar lifted her hands in a faint shrug. “I live here.”
Easton got up. “Well, I know you lot have things to discuss. We’ll be getting on, back to the hotel and then a few days of R and R.” He winked at Bridges. “No fools here either.”
Dar stood back up. “Gerry, give us a call tomorrow. We’d love to have dinner with you.” She extended her hand, which he gripped and released.
Easton gave her a genuine smile. “Absolutely, Dar, I will.” He reached down to give the puppy one more pat. “Little man, you take care of these ladies, all right? Be a good boy.”
“Yap.”
“We’ll take good care of him,” Kerry said. “And I think he and Chino are going to get along just fine.”
Then the general was gone and they were facing each other around the table. Bridges studied them in silence for a moment. “Well, here we are people.”
“Here we are.” Dar was carrying a portfolio and she now opened it. “I’ve had some time to study the requirements document you sent.” She studied a page thoughtfully. “It’s an ambitious project.”
He lifted his hand and rotated his finger, brow lifted.
Dar folded her hands. “The technology, the algorithms that this would take don’t exist.”
“Yet,” Bridges said, dryly. “Listen. Cut to the chase, Roberts. I know this thing is outlandish. I had ten people in my office yesterday telling me it was pie in the sky. Can it be done?”
“Did they say it couldn’t be done?”
“Yes,” Bridges said. “That’s why I’m here. The last time everyone told me something couldn’t be done, you ended up doing it.”
Dar exhaled. “I don’t know if it can be done.”
“That’s what you said the last time.”
“Last time I was encouraged to find a way by the fact you were going to railroad a friend of mine and destroy the company who paid my paycheck,” Dar replied bluntly.
He shrugged. “End justified the means. You can call me an asshole all you want, Roberts, but no matter—it was worth it.” He indicated the portfolio. “You going to try it or not? I’ve got a pool and a scotch and soda calling my name.”
“Two conditions.”
He rolled his eyes.
“One, no one tells me how to write this,” Dar said. “No one has a say in how it’s done but me.”
Bridges raised his eyebrows.
“Not going to have a committee instructing me how to design,” she continued. “I didn’t put up with that at ILS, and I won’t with you.”
Now he smiled. “As it happens, Roberts, I agree with you a hundred percent. Done. Go on.”
“Two, you give me access to all the systems you want to parse the data, so I can write filters for them,” Dar said. “Giving them raw access is useless. It’s too much data. I need to narrow focus the intelligence to what they need to look at.”
Now he looked serious. “Maybe they don’t know what they’re looking for,” he said. “I don’t want anything held back from them on some namby pamby privacy crap.”
Dar shook her head. “If you don’t focus this, it’s a waste of your money and my time. Last thing you want is to have a system that does fracture all that privacy crap, but doesn’t find a bad guy who blows up Penn Station.”
Bridges grunted. He eyed Dar for a moment, then shifted his gaze over to Kerry, who was sipping her tea with a mild expression. “You’re both undergoing a security profiling, you know.”
“We already have top secret clearances,” Kerry replied.
“This is more than that,” Bridges said. “Everyone you bring into this thing is going under a microscope. You get it, I’m sure.”
Kerry nodded.
Dar nodded.
Finally he sighed. “All right, Roberts. You get what you’re asking for. Now here’s my condition. I find out you’re scamming me, or you go public with what you’re doing, you both go to Guantanamo and you’re never coming back.” He looked quickly at both of them, but neither flinched. “Understood?”
“Understood,” Dar responded quietly. “You get billed for my time and for any resources, at a cost plus twenty five percent for the development period. I’ll hand over a set of milestones to you, and before it goes into production, you and anyone you want, comes here to get a demonstration a
nd sign off. If it’s what you want, we’ll agree on a price for it. If it’s not what you want, you don’t owe anything more than that.”
He relaxed visibly. “Now that’s a deal I can shake on. Most companies would have asked for ten mil up front to squander. It’s a deal, Roberts.” He held out his hand and Dar took it and they shook. “For the record, the fact that everyone else told me this wasn’t do-able is in inverse proportion to my confidence that somehow, you can.”
Dar gave him a skeptical look.
“They told me what you did,” he remarked in a conversational tone. “With the cables, the NASA guys, little miss butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth breaking into the exchange.” He looked amused. “Woulda made a decent movie. Pissed off a lot of politicians, and gave me a laugh for the day when that bell rang and all that crap started flashing.”
“I didn’t break into the exchange,” Kerry said. “My mother got me in.”
Bridges laughed. “Did she know why?”
“No.”
He laughed again. “They would have arrested the lot of you if it hadn’t worked. Had all the charges ready, sabotage, and the rest of it. You got lucky.”
“And we’re dealing with you again, why?” Kerry inquired.
“Wasn’t me,” Bridges said, surprisingly. “You can call it bullshit, but believe it or not, Stuart, I was on your side. Told them it was stupid, not to mention dangerous playing that game. You knew too much. Your company knew too much. That’s why we need to back them off from the tricky stuff.”
“From what Hamilton said, we’d never have gotten to testify so what was the danger?” Dar asked.
“You can only go so far with that. You can put Arab looking men and dirty turban heads in jail and no one much cares. But you two would have caused a lot of fuss,” he said. “You look too good on TV.”
Kerry rolled her eyes.
“Think about it,” he said. “Roger Stuart’s kid and the daughter of a well known artist and a war hero? Would have been easier just to have them shoot you.”
“And we’re dealing with you now, why?” Kerry asked again.
“Because you know it has to be done,” he answered straightforwardly. “And you’re both idealistic enough to think you can do it the right way.” He eyed Dar. “Don’t think I don’t know that. You’ll try to do all that left wing protect the individual crap and, with any luck, I’ll be able to take what you give me and get enough out of it to justify the pain in the ass and the cost.”