“And because there’s always ice cream stocked in the freezer.”
“Well, yes. Do I look stupid?”
It wasn’t unusual for Roarke to call for a spot-check on security in any department at any time. But it was less usual for him to run scanners personally-and to run tests on his own equipment.
The level-ten lab at Securecomp could only be accessed by employees with the highest clearance. Still, none of them grumbled at the body scans, or the delay while the scanner was run through a series of checks, then the scans rerun.
No one mumbled when a team of exterminators in their white skinsuits and black helmets were called in to sweep for bugs. Glances were exchanged, and a few shrugs, but no one questioned the man.
The lab itself was pristine. Filters and purifiers kept the air absolutely clean. Floors, walls, ceilings were all unrelieved white. There were no windows, and the walls were a full six inches thick. Minicams were positioned to record every area, all personnel, every movement, every sound.
Each workstation was a clear-sided cube or series of clear counters, and each held compact and powerful equipment. There were no ‘links other than interoffice ones.
Authorized personnel wore encoded badges, and passed through three staging areas each time they entered or exited the lab. Access required voice, retinal, and palmprint verification.
The scanners, alarm, and preventatives made it impossible-so Roarke had believed-to remove any data from the lab without his knowledge and authorization. Planting a bug inside would require sorcery.
He’d have bet his reputation on it. And, essentially, had.
He signaled to the acting lab chief, Tokimoto, and walked into what the techs called “the vault.”
It was an office-Spartan, almost military-with a single streamlined desk, two chairs, and a wall of sealed drawers. The desk held a muscular data and communications system with a ‘link that could only send or receive outside the lab with Roarke’s personal voiceprint and passcode.
“Close the door,” he ordered Tokimoto. “Have a seat.”
Tokimoto did both, then folded his long, neat hands in his lap. “If you’ve brought me in here to ask me about Ewing, you’re wasting our time. And we both value our time. She didn’t kill anyone, however much he deserved it.”
Roarke sat, adjusted his thinking and approach as he studied Tokimoto.
The man was forty, trim and long-limbed. He wore his black hair short and close to the scalp. His skin was very white, his eyes tawny beneath long, straight brows. His nose was narrow, his mouth pressed now into a thin line of annoyance.
It was, Roarke estimated, one of the very few times he’d seen Tokimoto annoyed in the six years of their association.
“This is interesting,” Roarke commented.
“I’m pleased my opinion is of interest,” Tokimoto responded in his clipped, precise voice.
“I didn’t realize you were in love with Reva. Obviously, I haven’t been paying attention.”
Tokimoto remained still, face and body. “Ewing is-was-a married woman. I respect the institution. We are associates and colleagues, nothing more.”
“So you haven’t told her, or moved on her. Well, that’s your business. Your personal business, and none of mine unless it pertains to what goes on inside this lab. But I will say that, at the moment, she could use a friend.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Again, your business.” Roarke took a disc out of his pocket, inserted it in his computer. “Have a look at this. I’d like your opinion.”
Tokimoto rose, walked lightly around the desk to study the screen. He pursed his lips over the grid, the complex lines and boxes. He scratched his chin.
“Will you enhance? This area.” Tokimoto gestured to a section of the grid.
Without speaking, Roarke keystroked to enlarge and enhance the requested area. “There’s a shadow, just here in Quadrant B, section five through ten. A bug was there, but is not there now. I think… wait. Does it move?”
The question, Roarke knew, wasn’t directed at him. But to answer he magnified again and let the disc play forward.
“Yes, yes, it moves. Barely a shadow when it moves. More detectable when it rests.”
“And your conclusion?”
“The device is planted on a movable object. A person or droid. It’s highly sophisticated. Minute and very well shielded. Ours?”
“I don’t think so, but we’ll work on that. This is a security print of the lab, Tokimoto. And this…” He tapped a finger on the screen where the shadow was darkest. “This is Reva’s station.”
“There is a mistake.”
“It’s not a mistake.”
“She would never betray you or her associates. She’s honorable.”
“No, I don’t think she’d betray me, or you. I’m going to ask you this once. Have you been approached by any outside party regarding the Code Red?”
“I have not.” It was said simply, with no hints of insult, annoyance, or fear. “Had I been, I would have reported to you.”
“Yes, I believe that. Because you’re honorable, Tokimoto. I’m showing you this because you are. Because in this very delicate matter, I’m trusting you.”
“You have my loyalty, but I won’t believe this of Reva.”
“Neither will I. How, in your opinion, could this bug have infected the lab?”
“On a person, as I said.”
“On her person.”
Tokimoto’s brow creased as he studied the screen again. “This is contradictory to me. She would know if she carried a device, and she would not enter the lab. Therefore, she could not have carried a device. In addition, lab security is meticulous and multilayered and would have detected a device. Therefore, a device could not have penetrated the lab. Yet it did.”
“That’s very logical, Tokimoto, but expand your thinking. How might Reva have brought a device into the lab, unknowingly, that penetrated lab security?”
“She’s an expert, and your scanners are the most powerful available. It’s impossible that a device was planted on her person and escaped her detection, and the scanners. It is…”
He stopped, straightened, and Roarke watched the idea bloom on his face.
“Internally,” Roarke supplied.
“Such things are possible, in theory. Some have been tested. Those in development, including those worked on here, haven’t proven effective.”
“The device can be injected, under the skin.”
“In theory.”
“All right, thank you.” Roarke rose.
“Is she… Is Ewing in some sort of danger?”
“She’s protected. It would do her good to hear from a friend who sympathized and believed in her. Meanwhile, I want work on the Code Red to move around the clock. Four shifts. If she’s up to it, Reva will be back tomorrow.”
“It will be good to have her. She should know of this, but I won’t speak of it if that’s your wish.”
“I’m on my way to tell her myself. If you discuss it with her, do it in the vault.” He started for the door, stopped. “Yoshi, life is never as long as we want it to be, and wasted time can never be recovered.”
A ghost of a smile curved Tokimoto’s lips. “A proverb.”
“No. It’s my way of telling you to make a goddamn move.”
Chapter 9
Eve didn’t see how she could be concerned about total security at this point, but she took the cryptic transmission from Roarke on the odd little ‘link he’d presented to her that morning.
It strapped on the wrist, but she didn’t care for the weight of it, or the absurdity of talking to her sleeve. So she’d stuck it in her jacket pocket, and when it vibrated against her hip, she jolted as if she’d been struck with a laser blast.
“Jesus. Technology is a pain in the-haha-ass.” She yanked it out. “What?”