Page 19 of Beyond the Rules
“Why are you looking to findUlysses?”
I tore my eyes away from Aiden and faced Zar. “Can’t tellyouthat.”
“Okay, then.” Zar pulled out his own cell from his packet and pressed dial. “I suppose you can explain it to your probationofficer.”
I was all done if my probation officer gotinvolved.
I glared at Zar with all I had. His stare reminded me I was screwed, very screwed. I groaned. No other wayaroundit.
“Ulysses is a hacker like me,” I said, “only he’s better than me, better than everyone else. He’s reallykickass.”
“Why do you want to meet with him?” Zarasked.
I took a ragged breath. “I’ve come across a very dangerous situation. I’m worried that it will result in the death of innocent bystanders and damage our national security. Ulysses may be the only one who has a chance to tackle this and take thesebastardsout.”
“Why didn’t you go to the police?” Tannerasked.
“The terms of my probation forbid me from hacking anything, anywhere. If I do, it’s back to the slammer. Not for anything, but federal prison? No laptops. No devices. Not even cable TV. Boring as hell. I’d rather die than to go back there and waste my time againlikethat.”
“So,” Tanner said. “Is it fair to assume that you came across this situation while you were breaking your probation by hacking into something orsomeone?”
They didn’t miss athing.
“Look…” Could they ever understand? “When I came out of jail, no one would hire me. If you can’t get a security clearance in my line of work, you’re shit out of luck. Mine was shot to hell with the jail thing.” I hunched over my aching belly as I remembered the frustration, the lack of options. “I had to pay these huge restitution fees and I also had to take care of the people who depend on me. Who’s gonna cover my mother’s housing fees if not me? And what about Mr. Cho, my ninety-two year old landlord who needs the money to buy both his food and meds? And Susie Mae, the home health aide who helped take care of Daniel, who’s raising her grandson all alone? And the Little Sisters of Charity. How are they supposed to drive wounded veterans to their doctors’ appointments if no one ponies up the dough to pay forthegas?”
The men stared at me as if I’d gone off the deep end which, judging from my little tirade, maybe I had. I squirmed under the weight of their gazes. Ranting was something I’d been known to do on occasion. Okay, often, but mostly in my head. Why I’d just exploded like this wasbeyondme.
Just shut up, Nina. Nobody wants to hear your crap. Go back to yourlaptop.
The intensity of Zar’s gaze sent shivers down my spine. “You’re a pain in the ass, Leon, but you’ve got heart and guts. I like thataboutyou.”
Heat crept up my cheeks and tears flooded my eyes again. God, I needed to get a lid on my emotions. I wasn’t going to cry. Not in front of them, not in front ofanybody.
“How have you been making a living since you got out of prison?” Tannerasked.
“I created an alternative identity,” I said. “I hung my digital shingle and started to do small hack jobs for private clients, mostly cyber-snooping.”
“So you broke the law.” Zar folded his arms over his chest and stared at me. “Again.”
Well, when he put it like that… “Better than starving, don’t youthink?”
He rolled his eyes but wisely decided to move on. “How did you get acustomerbase?”
“At the federal slammer, I met some well-connected broads, like Hannah Klum, the famous lingerie model, who was in for possession with intent to sell, and Lina Roberts, the legendary divorce attorney, who was serving nine months for insider trading. When I got out, she hired me on behalf of her clients. I used the money I earned to begin to pay down the huge restitution fees I’ll be forking outforever.”
“And that’s how you came across the case that sent you looking for Ulysses,” Zar said. “Have you actually watched Ulyssesatwork?”
“I’ve trailed him from time to time.” I had to fight the smirk that curved my lips for a second, because I was no slouch but neither was I a showoff. “And on that note, I should inform you that I’ve delivered on this deal and we’ve come to the formal end of myinterrogation.”
“Wow.” Aiden looked as if he’d been hit by a Macktruck.
“I told you.” Tanner leaned back on his chair and cradled the back of his head in his hands, flashing a smug grin. “I’ve never met anybody quitelikeher.”
Zar shook his head, but I wasn’t sure he was buying anythingI’dsaid.
I’d laid a thick one on these guys and yet it was all true. They’d asked for it, demanded it from me. But I was surprised about the way I felt. Lighter. Brighter. Much younger than my current thirty-three. As if I was a supertanker and had just cut loose at least half of my cargo’s tonnage. So what if I wasn’t a straight arrow? Did a girl have to go to jail forthattoo?
“I don’t mean to be bossy,” I said, “But, please, I need to getgoing.”