Page 35 of One Cry Too Loud
“Yes,” I said. “And that’s why we’re going to follow it, but you’re not going to be part of it.”
“What are you talking about?” Holly asked.
“He’s right,” I said. “While I don’t like Tag’s approach and I feel like his tact is nonexistent, I can’t ignore the fact that you’re insanely emotionally compromised by this.”
“I can do this, Jack. I can do my job,” Holly said.
“This isn’t your job, though, sweetie,” I said. “It’smyjob. I know how to do it, and I know how it’ll best work.”
“And it best works without me?” Holly asked.
“If it was Sarah Jane, I would expect you to do the same thing,” I said. “I would expect you to pull me.” I sighed. “I couldn’t think clearly if it was her. I know I wouldn’t, and do you know why? We can’t think clearly when our children are on the line. We would do anything, give anything, sacrificeeverythingto save them. We would throw caution to the wind and fly in the face of our better angels and smart sensibilities. We’d rip through them like tissue paper to save our kids.”
“That’s why I have to be there,” she said.
“No, sweetie,” I said mournfully. “That’s why you can’t be.”
“He’s right, Holly,” Kat said. “I’m sorry, but he is.”
She looked at me for a long moment, her face contorting in pain. “All of you,” she said in a hurt whisper. “All of you have let me down.”
She got up, stormed into one of the bedrooms, and slammed the door shut.
“God, I hate hurting her like that,” Kat said.
“It's for the best,” I said. “Now, we have to make a plan.” I turned to the people in front of me. “Charlie, you’re right. We don’t know what we’re walking into. That’s why you’re coming with me. You’ll be outside, listening in on what’s going on inside.If we’re surprised or, even better, if we’re not, you come in when you sense things are going sideways.”
“And me,” Tag said. “You’re dealing with someone who is potentially a cyber Goliath. You need a-”
“Kid with a cyber slingshot?’ I asked. “Yeah. I was just getting to that. You’ll be outside too, playing David and set up in a van with whatever tech mambo jumbo you might need to combat anything we find in there.”
“What about me?” Kat asked.
“It’s a boys’ night, I’m afraid,” I said. “I need somebody who can keep Holly and our jolly billionaire here safe if, God forbid-”
“The wolves come knocking at the door?’ Kat asked. “Yeah. I figured as much.” She winked. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”
“I can’t promise anything,” I said. “We’re either going to face off with the computer equivalent of a human nuclear missile or we’re walking right into a trap.” I nodded. “Either way, it’s shaping up to be a hell of a night.”
CHAPTER 23
Tag looked from the back of the van we were in, his eyes narrowing as he took in the duplex where Joe was apparently living these days. The young man had a look of disappointment on his face as he shook his head.
“Harry told me that you guys had a lot of architectural flair down here, but I have to say, I’m not seeing much of it,” Tag said. He swiveled around in the office chair sitting in the back of what was basically a delivery van. It was covert enough to not draw much attention. That way, if Eli was telling the truth and we were getting the jump on Joe, we’d still have the element of surprise on our side. More than that, the kid needed a bit of room to work his cyber magic. In addition to having that damn phone that seemed to be able to do everything back in New Orleans, he had a computer setup as well.
“We usually do,” I replied, looking at the industrial looking duplex myself and figuring that it almost certainly used to be some other kind of establishment that had been renovated into living spaces. “This is a rare exception.”
“Figures,” Tag said. He shook his head. “I can’t wait to get back home. I’m aching for some pretty landscapes and proper andouille.”
“This place has God’s handprints all over it. It would take heaven to be more beautiful,” I answered. “And we have sausage.”
“No you don’t,” Tag said. “Not really.”
“Let’s focus up. We don’t know what we’re heading into here,” Charlie replied, his eyes trained on the duplex. “I’m seeing a single car here, which either means that Joe is out, the people who live under Joe are out, or this is all a trap and we’re about to walk right into it.”
“I’mabout to walk right into it,” I corrected. “You’re staying put until we get that question answered.”
“And what if the answer to that question comes too late?” Charlie asked. His eyes cut toward me. “What if you don’t see whatever this is coming? What if I don’t get to you in time?”
