Page 45 of Splintered Security
Matt: Give me ten. Are you okay?
Me: Yeah. Employment shit.
Matt: Are you looking to get into operations? I might know of something.
Me: Not right now. But I’ll always listen.
Matt: Call you in ten.
I’m in the car on the road when the phone rings.
“Gallo.”
“Ren?” Anni’s voice is tentative.
“Yeah, Sunshine.”
“Your mom’s here.”
I grip the steering wheel and roll on the gas to get to the interstate. “I’m heading home now. Are you okay? Want lunch?”
“I’m not hungry.” The boldness she had yesterday has diminished.
“You didn’t answer if you’re okay.”
“I know.”
“Because…?”
Her voice changes in the receiver. “Yes, Mrs. Gallo. Ren’s on his way.” But to me she adds, “You’ll see.”
“Anni?”
“Yeah?”
“Need to know you’re okay, baby.”
“I will be. See you soon.” She disconnects, and I’m left wondering what fresh hell this Monday just dropped in our laps.
When my phone rings again, I answer without checking. “Yeah, Sunshine?”
A long pause is followed by a deep rumbling laugh. “Not used to being called Sunshine, but I can dig it.”
“Shut the fuck up, Morris. How the hell have you been?”
“I can’t complain. DC is good. Life is good, except for being downgraded from Sunshine to Morris in four seconds flat. A man needs a little ego stroke now and then.” His laugh continues, but he’s no joke. The man is talented. And smart. Anyone who underestimates him proves themselves to be a fool.
“Your ego is fine.”
“You wound me. How are you? Long time no talk.”
“Life is… complicated. But good. Still in Colorado. You should come out sometime.”
“I’ll certainly consider it. What’s going on that you texted?”
“I need to increase security for my employees and my employer. If money were no object, what’s the best military-grade background check I could buy?”
“Legally? I’ll dig into it. Not so legally? I have a chick on my team who is a badass hacker. It may not be wholly ethical, but if you need that level of dirt, you’re not dealing with people who deserve any level of privacy anyway.”
