“So, you thinking of working for God and Day, huh? You into action and adventure?” Hart smiled genuinely, staring down at Free.
“I wouldn’t say I’m into that. I’m more of a background player. But Tech called… so I answered. I’m willing to give it a shot if they’ll have me,” Free said cautiously, and finally took his eyes off Hart, only to turn his gaze right back.
Tech felt Steele lean against his back and murmur in his ear, “Um, what’s happening?”
“I’m not sure.” Tech noticed everyone was standing there watching the interaction with fascination. Tech was ninety-nine percent sure that Hart was straight. He’d been divorced from his wife for three years and he’d dated a couple other women, but Tech didn’t think it had amounted to much. The man was a dedicated officer, like many of them, which meant not much of a social life. All Tech ever saw was the man at work. Every blue moon, he’d accept one of their invitations to a game night, but rarely.
Prescott and Blair came back into the room, putting an end to Hart and Free’s extremely long introduction.
Hart cleared his throat. “Well, I got a transport to do. I’m making sure God’s witnesses stay safe. Good luck, Free. Hope to see you… umm… see you lat—… yeah, have a good day… evening.” Hart shook his head like he was confused and stepped around Free, leaving the office without saying goodbye to anyone else.
Free moved over to Tech’s station and sat down, awakening the computers like he already belonged there. The facial recognition software was still running, the progress bar only a quarter of the way through. God and Day moved a little closer but stayed quiet. All of them did. Free was looking around for his laptop bag when Green hurried and set it down by his feet. Free reached inside and pulled out a small electronic device that looked like an eight-by-five external hard drive. But Tech knew it wasn’t, it was something spectacular created by Free’s brilliant mind. He inserted the USB into Tech’s main system and watched the screens flicker a second before the progress bar on the facial recognition sped up times one hundred. Codes were running through so fast Tech had to squint to try to follow them. Seven seconds later a face appeared on the big screen.
All of them stared at the face of the man who’d been hacking Pres’ system.
“Do you recognize him?” Day asked Pres.
“No, I don’t. Not at all,” Pres answered.
Still working in silence, Free pulled his own laptop from his bag – it was about three inches thick and looked like it was old and outdated, but Tech knew it was specially made. Not available in any store, anywhere – and plugged it into Tech’s. The screens synched and Tech’s pulse raced as he watched Free do what he did. It’d been a long time, but he always got a rush anytime he saw the man work. Like watching a brain surgeon operate. Magnificent.
The systems whirred loudly in the room while Free’s powerful computer pushed Tech’s system to capacity. His hands danced across the keyboard, manipulating the screens and codes to show what he wanted to see and go where he needed to go. Another couple seconds passed and a red signal appeared on the screen to the far right, flashing on a map of the entire world. Free was showing them he could find damn near anyone. Tech’s printer spit out a couple pieces of paper. Free grabbed them and turned around, handing them to the closest man beside him… Day. “That’s your man. Robert James Mercer.” Free turned back to the computer. More screens were appearing and reappearing, Mr. Mercer’s life and personal information being hacked and reviewed while he was none the wiser. “He got a wire transfer of ten thousand dollars nine days ago. Unless he got one helluva bonus at his Cannon Systems technical assistance operator job, he was just paid off for doing something quite naughty.”
“That’s a helluva way to apply for a job,” Pres said, sounding shocked, still watching Free. Holding his chest, the star looked relieved, probably to be a few steps closer to figuring out all this mess. “I’d say you’re hired, but it’s not my decision. If God won’t hire you, I can use a man of your talents.”
“Too late. He already has a job… if he wants it,” Day spoke up before God could. “That was amazing. I see why Tech is so good. We’ll need to iron out some details, but the job is yours if you want it.”
“I don’t carry a gun and I won’t.” Free pointed at Tech’s hip.
“We need a technology specialist. You don’t have to be an officer of the law for that position. Tech chose to become a detective. You’d just have to be okay with the pay grade,” Day told him.