Page 96 of S.O.S. Perk

“You probably heard. I have ten minutes to download the content of Mrs. Nelsin’s hard-drive,” he said quietly. “Which should give me plenty of time if Sarge’s estimate on the file-dump is correct.

“When I was in here last, I watched Jennifer carefully, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure I have her password. If I’m wrong, I’ll have to abort until I can catch her opening her computer up again. Which, of course, means I’ll have to put up with some of her sexual bullshit today.” He sighed. “Not gonna lie. That’s going to suck.”

Suck was a mild word for what he might have to put up with. Hopefully, he could feign shyness. Mostcertainly, he wasn’t getting a hard-on.

Perk approached Jennifer’s desk, not bothering with too much caution. He’d seen the woman head down to the basement, and knew that on top of whatever she was giving Jeremy for busy-work, she also wanted to head upstairs and primp for their…tryst.

Ewww.

Perk walked around Nelsin’s enormous desk and laid his hands on the keyboard. He sent up a quick prayer, held his breath, then typed.

And…

“Bingo. I’m in,” he whispered gleefully.

He reached into his pocket for the memory stick. “Now to—”

“Well. This is disappointing.”

Perk startled, and looked up to see Jennifer Nelsin in the doorway of her office. She was no longer looking like a wanna-be sex kitten, but instead sported an angry and dangerous face.

“Uh, hi?” Perk hoped he managed to appear dumb and sheepish. “I was just…”

“Snooping in my computer files?” she snapped.

Thank God he hadn’t yet pulled out the thumb drive. That would have cemented his culpability in her eyes. Maybe he could still convince the woman he was just a stupid kid.

He hoped the team was taking note that he might be in jeopardy and he’d need them, ASAP. Oddly, he hadn’t heard a word from anybody, and that was confusingly disturbing.

Right now, however…

Perk ducked his head, and swallowed nervously so that Jennifer could see. “I’m sorry. I was trying to get a quick peek at what you do before you try to convince me to join your…venture.”

Nelsin walked a few steps toward him. “Which youweren’taware I planned to do, thelasttime you were in here, were you?” She snapped her fingers at his face. “So why did you spy on my password?” she glowered.

Perk knew he had to come up with a better excuse than the first one he’d given, and maybe, at the same time, he could get her to admit to some shit, as well. The crew in the van would be recording everything that came over his communication device for evidence.

“You’re right.” Perk shrugged, dropping his aw-shucks cover. “As soon as I figured out you were the one behind Jeremy’s gaming, money-grab, I wasn’t going to settle forcrumbs. I want a major stake in what you’re doing. I can be a useful asset.”

“Well, isn’t that a shame,” she sneered. “Because I’m not one who likes to share.” She pulled a gun from inside her dress jacket and aimed it right at his head.

Perk put his hands in the air, backing up a step. “Whoa. Whoa,” he said placatingly. “There’s no need for a gun.” Perk hoped that would bring the team running. “I…haven’t actually seen or done anything yet.”

“But you know what’s going on, and that’s too much information for my comfort,” she told him. “Now, I’m going to have to get rid of you.”

Was she going to take care of him, herself? Perk didn’t think so. If their investigation had pointed toward anything, it was that Jennifer Nelsin didn’t get her hands dirty. She had left the “disposal” of Kaelyn up to Jeremy, and all signs indicated Shultz as being the one to off Mr. Nelsin.

“What? You’re going to shoot me right here?” Perk postured as if he were not only incredulous, but—with his arms held out away from his sides—daring her to make a move.

Come on, guys. Now would be a good time for the cavalry to arrive.

“I should,” she glowered. “And maybe I will. But first, my son needs to be taught a lesson in who to trust. He’s easily duped into thinking people are his friends, when clearly they’re not.”

Perk wasn’t about to point out that he’d had her fooled, as well. After all, she’d been trying to inveigle her way into his pants, hadn’t she?

“How did you know I was trying to get into your computer?” Perk asked conversationally as she scowled at him. “I thought you were going upstairs to put on something…hot.” He gave what he hoped was his steamiest look.

Maybe reminding her of her rampant libido would do him some good.

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