"That's a problem," Judd said. "She's bought interests in human companies—we hit any of those, we affect a large number of blameless people."
Hawke's cell phone rang at that moment, the code making his wolf come to wild attention. "Hold on," he said to the others and walked a small distance away. "Talk to me, pretty baby." Yeah, he was having trouble with the boundaries when it came to Sienna, even when he was the one who'd put them into place.
Brenna's voice came over the line. "You sweet talker." The words were tart.
His wolf grinned. "Put her on."
"Here—she was just double-checking something."
"Brenna and I were able to pinpoint three incursions made by the Tk team," Sienna said without any prelude. "Far as we can figure, they were laying charges. Indigo took people to check out the locations, and from the data she sent back, they're getting smarter. No metal components, hidden deeper to beat your senses, difficult to detect unless you're right on top of the devices."
Hawke's wolf bared its teeth, but his thought process remained icily rational. "Good work, both of you." Certain Indigo would have the situation under control, he moved to another matter. "Sienna, while you were with Ming, did you ever learn about a property or holding on which Tatiana Rika-Smythe places particular importance?"
"She has a tendency to buy into other companies," Sienna said, "rather than building herself. But . . . wait a second."
Brenna came on the line. "Your pretty baby is running a search."
"Smart-ass."
"I'm casually walking over to where she can't hear us."
"Why?"
"To ask you if you're courting her properly. Really, Hawke, a girl deserves flowers at least."
"I don't do flowers." And right now, the whole courtship thing was in the air. As last night had shown with inescapable clarity, she was nowhere near ready to handle the truth of him. The thought had his hand clenching on the phone.
"It's not hard," Brenna muttered. "Call up a florist, buy a bouquet."
Hawke's wolf liked her too much to be annoyed. "Let me talk to her, brat. I have to get back to my meeting."
"In a second. First—how's my pretty baby?"
Hawke glanced over to see Judd listening to something Vaughn was saying, his head angled toward the ground, a frown on his face. Unusual for the former assassin. "Flirting with a jaguar."
"You're not funny, mister," Brenna said before the phone passed hands and Sienna came back on the line.
"You'll have to confirm this," she said, "but it looks like Tatiana is still the sole owner of a sculpture that stands in the middle of a small park in Cambridge, England."
"A sculpture?"
"Yes, Ming found that odd, too, so he had me research it as part of my training. It was commissioned by a Smythe a hundred years ago, after the deal that led to their fortune. I don't know if it's the kind of thing you're looking for . . ."
"I might even kiss you for it. All over." Hanging up to her sucked-in breath, he walked back to the others. "I have a target for Tatiana." As for Sienna, he'd give her a bit more time, but . . . he was a wolf. Who the hell said he had to play it civilized? She was his. She would learn to deal with him.
RECOVERED FROM COMPUTER 2(A) TAGS: PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, FATHER, ACTION REQUIRED AND COMPLETED3
FROM: Alice <[email protected]>
TO: Dad <[email protected]>
DATE: April 14th, 1973 at 10:32pm
SUBJECT: re: re: re: hello
Hi Dad,
Yes, my last e-mail did make no sense. I'm afraid I was giddy from the possible discovery. However, as you know from my phone call to Mother, my theory will be difficult to prove without bringing others into the equation, people who may not have the best interests of the Xs at heart. If only I was in the PsyNet, I could see for myself.