Eric took a deep breath. “Leave it alone, bro.”
Scott knew he should, but he couldn’t. “Listen to me. Something isn’t right about this. I feel it in my bones.”
“Feelings are your strong suit, not mine.”
Scott nodded. “Before you close off that logical mind of yours, Eric, just listen. Okay?”
After a long sigh, Eric sat back down in the chair. “You’ve got my undivided attention.”
“I’ve got to file some papers with the court.” Cam snapped his briefcase shut.
“I’m betting these two fools are letting their dicks do their thinking about the cute blonde.” Dylan shook his head. “Don’t forget you’ve got hundreds of millions on the line, fellows. Maybe more if that platform gets damaged again. She might look sweet on a St. Andrew’s Cross at Phase Four, but is it worth everything you’ve built?” The ex–CIA agent didn’t wait for an answer, but headed for the back door.
After Dylan’s exit, the only people left in the courtroom were Eric, Cam, and Scott.
“Let me know what you two decide about Megan Lunceford,” Cam said and left them alone.
He and Eric watched as Cam walked away.
Then Eric said, “Convince me she’s not our hacker.”
He sat on the half wall, took a deep breath, and began. “Kip’s skill as a programmer was quite good, which he loved touting to any who would listen.”
Eric nodded. “I remember.”
“But the only women he’d ever dated were definitely not MIT girls.”
His brother chuckled. “You saying his wife is lacking in the brains department?”
Scott shook his head. “I remember the bimbos he brought to the Christmas party at the Dallas office, but he also dated that girl who was the psych major. Remember?”
“Wasn’t her name Lila something?” Eric asked.
“I don’t remember her last name. Kip preferred women with liberal arts degrees. For them to even get a second glance from him, they could have expertise in lots of things but not in programming. In TBK’s first year, Vicky shamelessly flirted with him. We both know how that worked out for her.”
“That’s true. He cut her off at every turn.”
“Okay, Mr. Logic, if all that’s true, then how can Kip’s wife be a programming genius that is able to get around all TBK’s safety measures?” He watched Eric’s eyelids narrow and brow furrow. “She might be an Einstein about art, music, history, or whatever, but not coding. Kip would’ve never married her if she was.”
“Okay. I’m with you.” Eric leaned forward as if to highlight what he was about to say. “She might not be the programmer behind the attacks on our system, but that doesn’t mean she’s not working with Kip or one of his associates.”
His gut tightened. Eric was right. They couldn’t just let Megan off the hook, no matter how much his feelings told him she was innocent. Someone might be manipulating her, convincing her to go along with his scheme with all kinds of promises.
“I’ve got an idea, bro,” he told Eric.
“That’s what worries me.”
Ignoring the comment, he continued as the scheme became clearer in his mind. “We’ll be able to keep an eye on her twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. If she’s involved in the hacking in any capacity, we’ll discover it.”
“Sounds too good to be true, which doesn’t surprise me. You dream. I smash your dreams with reality. That’s been our jobs at TBK and on the ranch. Details. What’s your plan?”
Scott braced himself for Eric’s reaction. “We’ll offer her a job.”
Eric looked like he was ready to explode. “Have you lost your fucking mind? She’s the reason for TBK’s current vulnerability.”
“Best to keep our friends close and our enemies closer.” As he laid out the rest of the plan for his brother, Scott vowed to himself to help Megan. Whatever it took, he would prove her innocence.
* * * *