“I did.” Kerry agreed. “He asked me why none of the jobs had been offered to you and your friends – and the real reason is none of you are registered with a technical placement agency. But I gave him a list of openings in case he was qualified for one of them.”
“Seems like he can talk just fine.” Carlos commented. “Not sure why you're all in his business.”
Patterson turned and looked at him. “Why don't you get out of here?”
“Cause I don't have to. I work here.” Carlos replied, in a mild tone. “And my job is to make sure that this lady doesn't have to deal with jackasses. So don't be one.”
Kerry was really getting to like Carlos. He stayed relaxed, leaning against the wall and maintaining a benignly friendly expression that was at complete odds with his words. He didn't see any need to bluster, there was just a calm confidence about him that reminded her a little of Andrew.
“Whatever.” Patterson turned back to Kerry. “So here's the deal.” He said. “All of us come in together.”
Kerry folded her hands. “Do all of you have IT experience?”
“Wheels knows that stuff. And Doug, too. But it's all or nothing. We're a team.”
“Mr. Patterson.” Kerry cleared her throat. “I do not hire gangs.” She paused. “If any of you have experience, I would be more than happy to have you apply, and if you qualify for a position, I'll hire you. But no one gets to work here on someone else's back.”
“That's not how it works.” He said.
“That's how it works here.” Kerry interrupted him. “Because I get to make the rules. I own the company.” She had to stifle a smile as she said it because it was impossible to suppress the shiver of pride that went through her. “So if you or any of your friends, individually, are interested in a position, c'mon in, and fill out an application.”
Behind him Kerry suddenly caught sight, in her peripheral vision, of Dar coming to stand quietly in the doorway between their offices, leaning on one jamb, arms crossed, watching Patterson like a hawk.
“So what's it going to be?” Kerry asked, since Patterson was just glaring at her. “I don't really have the time to debate with you about it.”
“Okay look.” He grudgingly responded. “We all of us been friends since grade school. If we could do civ stuff we woulda. But we ended up going into the service, and had each other's backs there. Same thing here. We want to stay together, and e call all do useful stuff. Just not all that tech crap.”
“I get that.” Kerry said. “But it's just not how we do things. We're a small company, and every person has to be here to help us go forward. I can't just hire people with useful skills, because they might not be useful to me.”
“Yeah well I figured you'd say that.” Patterson stood up. “Screw it. We'll go find someone else that appreciates veterans who served their country.” He turned his back and started out, pausing when he saw Dar watching him. “Too many queers around here anyway.”
Dar looked him up and down. “Takes one to know one.” She drawled, with a smile. “Carlos, see the gentleman out, please.”
“Yes ma'am!” Carlos caught up to Patterson at the door and bowed him through. He followed him out into the hall and their boots were heard going down the steps.
“That was icky.” Kerry commented, as Dar sauntered over and parked herself on the windowsill behind Kerry's desk. “Was he serious, Dar? Did he really think we'd just hire a bunch of guys like that?”
“Should have offered to take all of them but only pay for the guys who were qualified. Let them share that.” Dar commented, muffling a smile when her partner turned all the way around and stared at her. “Just kidding.”
“Jesus.”
“I think.” Dar folded her arms. “I think those guys are in a place where it's them against everyone. You let someone get ahead, like Wheels maybe, and the group breaks down. I can see why they'd want to stick together.”
Kerry eyed her thoughtfully. “Isn't that sort of a fantasy land?”
“Well. I think they're looking at it like, that's all the family they have. They don't have anything else.” Dar said, in a gentle tone. “I don't agree with the request, and I think they're a box of assholes in a pink paper wrapper, but I remember what my dad used to say about his team mates and it is what it is.”
“Mm. Wish Dad were here.” Kerry sighed. “Maybe he could talk to them since he's been there.”
“I think we should talk to Wheels on the side, if he's the one with tech skills. Not fair to him to hold him back.” Dar said. “Maybe we can force a split there. Might be a good thing for all of them.” She pushed herself up off the sill. “But I wouldn't hire this guy that was here even if he was Charles Babbage himself.”
“Booyah.” Kerry agreed, giving her a wry grin as she retreated back to her office. “Okay, next.” She picked up the phone and dialed a number. “Charles? Hey, it's Kerry.” She said. “Just wanted to make sure you got those quotes.”
**
Dar dropped into her chair and leaned back, glancing at the darkening sky over her shoulder. Mark had just settled in her visitor chair and they both had bottled drinks they were sucking on. “Hear from your buddy?”
Mark rolled his eyes. “Six times.” He admitted. “I'm feeling it for the guy. They're roasting him.” He related. “They got like three contractors and half the tech staff from two vendors and they're still in the weeds.”
Dar frowned. “What in the hell could they have done to screw things up that badly? Network was stable for two god damned years before I left.”
“Well, from what he told me.” Mark muffled a smile. “That new guy, the one that took Kerry's spot? He said we'd been doing it wrong, you know? So he had them switch all the routing protocols, because he told them it would make everything faster.”
Dar covered her eyes in eloquent silence.
“Boss, it's a mess.” Mark agreed. “They literally had to static route stuff in the main office just to keep systems up.”
“Oh my fucking god.” Dar muttered. “Are you kidding me?”
“Pete didn't want to tell me. He's sure it's gonna get out he was talking to me and he's gonna get fired, but he said today, he's probably gonna get fired anyway because the new guy's got Teflon boxers and he's throwing them all under the bus.”
Dar lowered her hand and stared at him. “What?”
“He told the big cheeses Pete and his team screwed up the change and he's doing his best to fix it.” Mark watched his bosses face alter from exasperated bemusement to a dark, cold anger in the flash of an eye. “I felt bad for Pete. He was kinda losing it. Said he never thought his boss would do that.”
“No.” Dar said, in a clipped tone.
“We never had to worry about that.” Mark added, gingerly. He could see Dar was totally pissed off, her body was getting restless and she was breathing a little faster. 'Sorry boss, didn't mean to tick you off.”
Dar took a deep breath and released it. “That sure did tick me off.” She confessed. “What an asshole.”
Mark grinned wryly at her. “I kinda hope they call you.” He admitted right back. “I want to be there when you finish fixing that crap and tell that guy what he's going to die of.”
“What's that?” Kerry came in, sorting through a handful of papers. “Charles signed the letter of intent, Dar. He got funding for about ninety five percent of the quotes we gave him.” She glanced up at her partner, and saw the storm clouds. “What's up?”
“Just filling Big D in on stuff at the old place.” Mark explained. “Anyway if I hear any more, I'll clue you.” He got up. “Time to go get on the bike and ride.” He lifted a hand and waved, then left.
“What's got you so torked?” Kerry put her papers down and went around behind her partner, reaching over the back of the chair to start massaging her neck and shoulders. “They still screwed up?”