That said, she launched herself at me, giving me a fierce hug before raining kisses on my face as she kept repeating 'thank you, thank you' – much to the amusement of Robyn and Sandra.
Part 9
We spent the rest of that evening watching TV, of all things. We sent out for pizza, and were all piled on the bed in my room as we ate it, watching a movie on one of the cable channels.
We went to bare skin, but more for comfort than desire; the same way, there was a reasonable amount of touching and groping, but it was more social that arousal. I think all of us needed to take a break.
When bedtime finally rolled around, there was a little discussion on sleeping arrangements. We finally decided that it would be acceptable if it looked like the girls had spent the night with Lucy; that meant that I could have a sleeping companion, as could Lucy. The girls discussed it, and finally decided that Robyn would stay with her mother, and Sandra would sleep with me.
The next morning, Lucy and I both got up at about the same time; as she was doing her makeup thing in her bathroom, I hauled Sandra into her room, and put her in bed with Robyn; the two of them quickly latched on to each other, even in their sleep, amusing Lucy greatly.
After a light breakfast, we were again headed to the office. Lucy seemed to realize that I had a lot on my mind, and was tolerant of the short answers I gave her when she tried to make conversation on the drive. Once there, I came out of it long enough to give her a proper kiss and hug before she left to tell the execs that I'd be done that morning, and wouldn't be back after lunch.
Back at my desk, I started to work after verifying that my laptop hadn't been tampered with. It was a busy morning for me, but I did manage to find out the last bits of information I needed, which told me where to get what was completely missing. As it got close to lunchtime, I eased myself out of their system, disconnected from their network, and went in to talk for a moment with the IS supervisor. I told her that I was done with what I'd been hired for, and let her know that I was out of their system. I thanked her for her help and tolerance; she responded by saying that she wished all the contractors she saw were as easy to deal with as I was. I thanked her again, and made my way outside, where I found Lucy waiting for me.
As I got in, she asked me how it went, and I told her that I had everything we needed, and that there simply wasn't any way for the execs to get away with what they'd been up to. She gave me delighted smile, and said that she'd called the local FBI office, and we had an appointment for 1:30. We left for a nice, leisurely lunch, and each had a glass of wine in celebration. 1:30 found us sitting in a small, nondescript office in FBI headquarters, waiting for a couple of agents to join us. After a short bit, the door opened, and in came a man and woman, he in his mid- twenties, her about ten years older.
The woman introduced herself as Agent Clara Hawkes, and the man as Special Agent Charles Tunisi. Lucy and I introduced ourselves, and all of us sat down before Agent Hawkes asked us how the FBI could help us. Lucy gave them some background on the situation, and what had happened. With that done, the Agents turned to me, and I ran them through a brief description of what I'd found.
When I was done, Agent Tunisi looked at me and said 'So why is it we should believe that you've found something? You admit that you're not an accountant or even a bookkeeper, but you say you've got proof that over three hundred million dollars has been siphoned off? Really, Mr. Andrews, I find it difficult to believe you; and I should warn you that the FBI takes a dim view of people wasting its agents time.'
I looked at him in surprise before looking over at Agent Hawkes. She rolled her eyes, and told him 'Charlie, did you read the file?'
'Uh, no.'
'Why not?'
'Because the request came in from headquarters that somebody was requesting we meet with their local reps. Happens all the time, usually a waste.'
'Charlie, did you bother to find out who was making the request?'
'No, why?'
'Because if you had, you would have found out that it was from a reputable company, and that headquarters asked we treat them nice – which you're not doing. Read the file, Charlie', she told him as she nudged a folder over in front of him. When he picked it up, she told us 'Charlie, here, is a new agent.
He didn't go through the Academy like the rest of us. Thought he knew everything when he got here, and still doesn't realize he doesn't. We pulled so many gags on him the first few months, he got the name Charlie 'the Tuna' Tunisi, because of how many times he took the hook. Believe it or not, he's actually better now, when he pays attention. Please, accept my apologies'.
Lucy and I both nodded, and watched as Charlie read.
After a couple of minutes, he visibly paled, and looked up at me before going on. When that happened, Agent Hawkes told us 'I was waiting for that.' Then she turned to him and said 'Charlie, maybe you need to start reading the file out loud?' Between telling us about his nickname and how he'd earned it, and talking to him this way, it was clear that she was slapping him down. Hard.
He looked at her, and she nodded that she was serious. He cleared his throat, and read 'Andrews, Daniel W., U.S. Army. Assigned Special Forces with all appropriate training; further assigned to Strike Team Alpha, a prototype for the Delta Force. Qualified with all personal weapons in the Army inventory. Rated Expert Pistol, Expert Rifle. Assigned duties were team sniper and explosives expert.
Backup duties included communications and medic. Fluent in Russian, German, and Spanish. Received advanced sniper training, and advanced ordnance training. In both cases, class instructors requested he be retained for instructor duty.
Ordnance instructor is reported as having said 'I think he could blow the Hoover dam with three matches and can of lighter fluid, if you pushed him. He's that good.' Instructor for unarmed combat, instructor for guerilla warfare tactics and strategy. Multiple missions, all classified. Received Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, other commendations. Recommended for Medal Of Honor. Offered Officer school three times, all refused, last time saying 'once through boot camp was enough'. Others he served with describe him as 'Smart', 'Nerveless', 'Gutsy', 'fast-thinker', 'integrity out the wazoo', and 'unflappable'. Commanding officers uniformly praised him in the highest terms.
'Served two tours before being discharged. Upon leaving the military, attended M.I.T., majoring in computer science. Graduated top one percent of his class.
Masters degree in computer science, with a paper on 'Data Recovery Through Forensic Analysis Techniques'. Offered doctorate program, refused, saying 'I've got my schooling, now I need an education'. Standing offer from his dean to join doctorate program.
'Attended Princeton, graduated dual degrees in Philosophy and Mathematics.
Questioned at Princeton about a surveillance system that was used to help bust a chemistry professor for manufacture and distribution of several drugs.
'Several jobs followed, each a move up. Supervisors uniformly disappointed that he left, but not upset. Started his own business ten years ago. File maintained because he is a contractor and contributor on several DoD contracts.'
Lucy was staring at me through all of this; when he finished and put the folder down, Lucy looked at Agent Hawkes, who asked 'You didn't know?'
Lucy shook her head, and said, 'I knew some of it, in general, but not the details. He wouldn't talk to me about any of it.'
Agent Hawkes smiled, and said 'Good. He wasn't supposed to. I've seen the file that they used to make THAT one. Believe me, you don't*want* to know any more than what you've heard here.'
That out of the way, Agent Hawkes looked at me again, and asked 'So, Mr.
Andrews, what is it that you propose?'
Lucy and I went through what we'd found in a little more detail, and I explained to Agent Hawkes what I had, and what I thought it meant. She called in a couple accountants and computer people, and they and I went through it in some detail. When I was done, and answered their questions, they told her I was right, then left. When they
