Page 86 of Death Wish

“You don’t get to dictate. You do as you’re told.”

“You want the program fixed? You’ll do as I say. I need food and coffee. If you drug me, your work won’t be finished. Period. All bets are off because I don’t respond well to drugs of any kind and they take forever to leave my system.”

He cursed and looked at Grant. “Go to the cafeteria and get food.”

“For two, Grant,” Simone added. “Plus coffee. I need caffeine to keep moving at this pace.” She left the threat hanging in the air.

More cursing from Daley. “Do as she says.” After Grant left, Daley said, “Progress report.”

“I’m halfway through dismantling the traps Beckett set.”

A scowl. “Is that all? What have you been doing in here? Mooning over your boyfriend?”

“You have cameras and listening devices in here. If you can’t tell I’ve been working, that’s not my problem. The traps are complex, and each one is different. They’re taking a long time to find and dismantle.”

“We don’t have a long of time,” Boudreax snapped. “Do you need another demonstration of how important it is to work fast?” He removed a capped syringe from his pocket. “Maybe another deadline to save your boyfriend’s life will finally convince you we’re serious.”

Jesse’s muscles tightened. No telling what was in that syringe but he didn’t want his reflexes hampered. Not only that, he knew without a doubt that if he was drugged, Boudreax wouldn’t give him the antidote. He’d be content watching Jesse die.

Dying wasn’t on the agenda because it would leave Simone alone and vulnerable to Daley and Boudreax. Neither one would let an opportunity pass to abuse Simone.

Simone shifted to stand between Jesse and Boudreax. “No more abuse, Daley. You want the program ready? I’ll do it but only if you leave Jesse alone. Touch him again and I’m done.”

Boudreax stalked closer. “I could switch the torture sessions to you. In fact, I’d enjoy it.”

“Go for it, you jerk.” Simone crossed her arms. “Then you can do the programming work when you’re finished.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

SIMONE’S HEART RATE skyrocketed as she waited for Boudreax and Daley to decide if her threat to stop working on the program was serious or just her blowing smoke to spare Jesse pain. She’d do anything to stop these clowns from hurting Jesse.

Daley watched her a moment. “Back off, Boudreax.”

“But, sir….”

“Zip it. Simone, show me what you’ve accomplished so far. If it’s not significant progress, I’ll turn Boudreax loose on your boyfriend.”

She walked up to Boudreax. “Not one bruise, needle prick, scratch, or shock. Am I making myself clear?”

The security chief glared down at her. “Don’t push me, little girl. You don’t know how dangerous I am.”

Although sheer terror weakened her knees, Simone glared at Boudreax. “A few taps on my keyboard, and I can ruin you financially and every other way I can find. You’ll never recover. Keep pushing me, Boudreax, and I’ll show you the power of a few keystrokes.”

Daley snorted. “You heard the lady. Stay away from Porterfield.” He shifted his hard gaze to Simone. “For now.”

With a bravado she didn’t feel, Simone said, “Come with me.” She led Daley to the bank of computer screens and sat down in front of the keyboard. A few keystrokes later, she pulled up a copy of the program with all the traps in place. After splitting the screen, she showed her progress in dismantling Beckett’s traps. “As you can see, each trap is unique and has to be taken apart in a different manner.”

“Beckett sabotaged the program,” he muttered.

“From the very first line of code,” Simone agreed. “He was working under duress?”

“Not at first,” Daley admitted. “He was on board until he realized what we were doing with the program.”

“The buyers, you mean?”

A curt nod. “He had too much of a conscience. All he had to do was finish a program, and he’d walk away with a million dollar bonus. How hard is that?”

“He must have felt the price was too high for the victims.”

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