Page 31 of Tango
“So they were planning something,” Tucker says.
“Yes. Something big. We stayed under the desk until we were sure they were gone, but it was then that I realized what was happening. Or, at least, what the evidence was pointing to. Ramiro was right. They were purposely putting holes in the security surrounding certain companies so hackers could get in and steal the information. Then, they can claim innocence while clients lose everything. Bank numbers, routing information, employee social security numbers. The name of every single federal employee in the region. Names of people in witness protection. Anything that Web Safe protected was at risk.”
“Did you turn them in?” Dylan questions.
I shake my head. “I wanted to, but Ramiro said we needed more proof. Wilbur Huck is the brother-in-law of the man who founded Web Safe. We couldn’t be sure they weren’t in it together.”
“So you went at it alone.”
“I went home and wrote a wall of code that would shield every single Web Safe account. Then, the next day, we went to work like nothing was wrong. But at closing time, Ramiro and I stayed behind so I could install the code directly into the server room. Deploying it meant we didn’t have to worry that they would Swiss cheese the accounts before we could find proof.”
“Web Safe is a high-level cybersecurity company. You truly believed you alone could put something in place to protect all of those accounts? Tucker asks.
I turn to him. “I’m very good at what I do, Mr. Hunt. And I knew it wouldn’t last forever, but I’d hoped to have enough time to gather what we needed. Right as we were finishing the installation, Darren found us. He opened fire, and Ramiro shoved me behind a tower before pulling out a gun.”
“He was armed?”
I nod. “I didn’t even know he knew how to shoot, let alone that he owned a gun. He tried to shoot back but got hit in the chest.” It all plays out in my mind with horrific detail. “His gun fell, so I dove for it, and that’s when I got hit.” A tear rolls down my cheek, and I wipe it away with the hand of my uninjured arm. “He died, and I returned fire on them, using all but two rounds. Seeing no other way out, I shot out the glass of the second-story window and jumped.”
“You jumped out of a second-story window and got nothing but glass in your arm?”
“I landed on an awning and bounced off. So aside from the glass and some bruises, I was fine.”
Both of the brothers look skeptical. But the truth is on my side. They’ll see that, won’t they? God, please let them see the truth.
“What happened then?” Tucker asks.
“I ran. As hard and as fast as I could.” Reaching into my front pocket, I withdraw a thumb drive. “This is the patch I wrote to secure the accounts. I had to rip it out without ejecting, so there’s no telling whether it’s still usable. But you can look at it and see that I was trying to fix it. Not steal anything.”
Both men are silent, and I can tell from their expressions that they’re processing everything I’ve told them. The question now is: Will they believe me? Or turn me in for being a cold-blooded killer?
“Two days ago, you were wide-eyed and terrified. Now, I find out you not only shot out a second-story window to escape, but you also seem relatively calm for a person in your position.”
I turn to Tucker. “Two days ago, I accidentally killed a man. That would put any decent human being into a shocked state. As for the server room, it was a matter of survival. Something I’m relatively adept at, thanks to my past. As for my disposition right now—you’re right. I’m not scared. I’m furious. They killed my friend, sent people after my parents, and now are trying to frame me for something I would never do.”
“Don’t forget they supposedly bugged your apartment,” Dylan adds.
I glare at him. “I tend to take things in stages, and, as I said, since I’m not currently residing at my apartment, the surveillance has no direct effect on me at the present moment.”
Tucker crosses his arms. “I’m not one to refute evidence that’s placed right in front of me. However, given your story and the sensitive nature of what Web Safe protects, I do think it’s worth looking into.”
“Thank you.”
“We’re doing this my way, though,” he says. “And if you so much as present even the slightest risk to my family or me—I won’t hesitate to eliminate that risk.”
Read between the lines. I go after his family, he’ll put me down.
I hate that he doesn’t trust me, but I can be grateful he’s not turning me over…yet. “Fine. We’ll do it your way.”
Chapter 11
Tucker
I’ve spent every moment since I got home yesterday trying to rip this video apart. But whoever forged it did an incredible job ensuring it would pass even the highest level of scrutiny. I lean back in my chair and groan, then roll my shoulders.
Everything aches from sitting in this chair for so long.
At my feet, Tango looks up at me, clearly hopeful that my movement means I’ll be getting up and he’ll get some outside time. Which, to be honest, wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Sunlight has a way of resetting me when I’ve spent far too long indoors.
