Jennifer Government Part 15

"But if you want to simulate an attack, you can"

"Let's just agree I need to control the timing," Nathaniel said. "Shall we?"

And Violet realized Nathaniel ExxonMobil wasn't interested in simulating anything. He didn't want her software for defensive purposes. He didn't want to sh.o.r.e up his I.T. security. She felt a tinge of fear.

"What if we could gain access to a key server?" Nathaniel said. "Could you control the timing then?"

"Thenyes, you could load it and tell the server to push an update. But if you can access a server, why would you go to the trouble of"

"We could gain temporary access. If we have to."

She took a breath. "Well, if you can do that, you can control the timing."

Silence.

Rendell said, "How would you like to become an employee of ExxonMobil, Violet?"

She jumped. "I'm not here to become anyone's employee. I just want to license my software."

"We'll license it," Nathaniel said. "And pay you well for it. But I want your services to implement it, too."

Her gut tightened. "Implement how?"

"We gain access to the server, you load your software and spread it through the network."

"You mean remotely?" Violet said, although she didn't think he did.

Nathaniel said, "I won't risk doing anything remotely. It'll have to be on-site."

"Buton-sitehow will"

"A small group of our security personnel will enter the target building," he said, "and take steps to allow you pa.s.sage to the server."

She gripped the seat. "I thought you didn't believe you could accomplish anything by force."

"A-ha-ha," Nathaniel said, amused. "You've seen right through me, Violet ExxonMobil."

28 Espial

Billy NRA was giving Jennifer a headache. She rubbed her forehead. "You're saying these NRA guys just a.s.sumed a.s.sumed?"

"They had guns. I wasn't going to tell them they'd made a mistake. And then they put me on the planeI had no chance to get away." He looked from Jennifer to Calvin. "You gotta believe me."

She said, "This is the biggest horses.h.i.t story I ever heard in my life."

"You say the NRA approached you because of your shooting," Calvin said. "Are we talking sniper shooting? Who'd they want you to a.s.sa.s.sinate?"

"Pearson Police, obviously," Jennifer said.

"No!" Billy said. "That was some other other NRA guys. These guys thought I was someone else, they thought I was someone called Bill!" NRA guys. These guys thought I was someone else, they thought I was someone called Bill!"

"So where's the real Bill?" Calvin said. "Who is he?"

"How should I know?"

"And you never heard anybody mention the name John Nike?"

"For the fifth f.u.c.king time, I've never heard of John Nike! I just got put in a plane and sent here and then people are getting chopped up by cars with machine guns on the front and"

"Quiet!" Jennifer said. "Calvin?"

He dragged his chair over. Billy rubbed his face. "Look, can I get a smoke? I'm"

"Shut your pie-hole." She leaned close to Calvin. "What about the NRA guy Taylor tagged?"

"He wasn't called Bill."

"Any of the victims?"

"There are no dead Bills."

"So this guy's story is full of s.h.i.t. He's covering."

Calvin shrugged. "Maybe the real Bill decided to split once he capped a Government agent."

"Or maybe this guy is the real Bill, and he killed Taylor."

They looked at him.

"I could really use a cigarette," Billy said. "Really."

"You know what the Police will do to you?" Jennifer said. "Do you have any idea? They run their own prisons, you know."

"Whoa, whoa"

There was a knock at the door. She turned. It was Elise Government. "Hi, boss," Jennifer said.

"A word?"

"Sure." She closed the door behind her.

"Guess what I just got?" Elise said. "A psych evaluation."

She supposed she'd known it was coming. "Oh, hey, Elise, I was joking around with that shrink. I didn't think he'd take me so seriously. Between you and me, that guy needs a vacation."

"You're taking a vacation," Elise said. "As of right now. Go home."

"No, wait, no. Elise, I'm making a major breakthrough here. I've caught a murderer red-handed; we can roll him over on John"

"This isn't a breakthrough. The labs finished checking your suspect's weapon. It hasn't been fired."

Jennifer blinked. "Not once?"

"Listen to me. You need a break. This case will be solved without you. You're not my only competent agent."

She hesitated. "Give me an arrest warrant for John Nike and I'll go home."

"No."

"Elise! Today John killed one of the few people who could link him with the Nike Town killings. If we don't pick him up, Hack is next. John is cleaning up cleaning up."

"I can't give you a warrant on one person's say-so."

Jennifer said, "Ihave more evidence coming in."

"Something substantial?"

"Yes." She bit her tongue.

"Soon?"

"Yes."

"You wouldn't lie to me, would you, Jen?"

"Elise!" she said.

Elise eyed her. "Here's the deal: I'll approve an arrest warrant on condition that somebody else serves it. You go home, you watch TV, you resist the urge to call in every five minutes. We'll take care of John Nike. All right?"

"Okay," Jennifer said, thinking she could ride along on John's arrest without Elise finding out. "Deal."

"And get yourself a decent haircut," Elise said. "What did they use on you, garden shears?"

"Ha-ha," she said, and went back inside. Calvin had given the NRA guy a cigarette. She sat down and watched him a while.

"What?" Billy said.

"You never fired your gun. Not once."

"That's what I'm trying to tell you," he said. "That's what I'm saying saying."

Jennifer stayed late at the office, formulating a plan. By the time she left, she had a good idea what she was going to do with Billy NRA. She thought he would turn out to be useful after all. It meant she'd have to come back to work tomorrow, but that was okay. Elise's direction to go home was probably more of a suggestion than an order anyway.

When she arrived home, Kate was scribbling on some drawing paper on the coffee table. "Heya!" Jennifer said.

"Hi, Mom! How was your day?"

"Great! I caught a bad guy."

"Yay!"

"I know," she said. "It was very satisfying. How about you?"

"I had a good day, too." Kate rummaged in her schoolbag and emerged with a gray folder.

"What are you doing with an internal Government report?" Jennifer said. She took it and flipped open the front. It said: PENGUINS! In the corner, Kate's teacher had written: Excellent work, Kate! You obviously put a lot of time and effort into this one. 10/10. Excellent work, Kate! You obviously put a lot of time and effort into this one. 10/10. "Kate! This is fantastic!" "Kate! This is fantastic!"

"Yeah."

"Wow! Come here!" She knelt and opened her arms and Kate fell into them. Jennifer kissed her. "You are very very clever." clever."

"Next I'm going to do one on Dalmatians. They're a type of dog."

"I had heard that," she said. "You're really into animals, huh?"

"I like them, Mommy. When I grow up I want to be a vet."

"I know you do," Jennifer said. "I love you. You'll be the world's best vet." Kate hugged her back. "You know, it's a pity that..."

"What?"

"Well," Jennifer said, "if you're going to be this famous vet, it's a shame you have nothing to practice on."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm reconsidering my no-pet policy," she said. "In light of this excellent penguin project."

"Mom! Are you serious?"

"How about a dog? We could rescue one from the shelter."

"Yes! Yes! Can we get a dog? Can we go this weekend?"

"Yes," she said. "This weekend."

Kate squealed and threw her arms around Jennifer's neck. "I love you, I love you!"

"I love you, too," Jennifer said. She hugged her tightly.