Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,55
“You’re all right, Alexia. Good job, Brothers.”
Web texts me.
Glad you’re smarter than me.
I laugh and show it to Akai. He laughs. “Good job, Boss Alexia. Threat not know how smart you are. Pres Cort not need worry.”
I smile at him. “Thanks, Akai. I have to get back to the files. I already took time to watch the Op.”
He nods and runs. I get back to work.
When my alarm goes off I’m ready for lunch. I got nothing from one lead, almost nothing from another, it isn’t anything we can use for location. I sent a NIT. I hope he’s a dummy. The one I just started really is a dummy. I have transmissions to the Bank of Colorado, once I follow that, I’ll have his IP address.
Garren and Michael are in the hall when I come out of my office. “Alexia, we were painting. Gregor is a good painter.”
“That’s good, Garren. He’s always doing something artsy. Did Télia come back with you?”
He stops walking. Michael is surprised and stops too, looking back at Garren. “I didn’t tell you Télia was there. Brad is bringing her home. Why do you want to know about my Télia?” He’s so smart.
Holy moly. “I saw you were out of the safe zone and saw Télia, Michael and Brad with you.” Shoot!
“Phoenix compound is safe.”
I nod, close enough to take his hand, I do and turn him toward the elevator. “I meant off the Alpha-Bits safe zone. I think all the Club compounds are safe zones too. We don’t call them that.”
He relaxes and goes on about the compound names. Michael watches me in the elevator. I agree the safe zone should be just the safe zone because we live here too and we’re not Alpha-Bits. Michael smiles nodding and I relax. Holy moly. I can’t talk about work. Even though this was about family, it was work. I have to ask Web what I can say. In Providence, I couldn’t talk to Kyra or even the other women in the unit about Investigator work. I should be able to talk to people here. Stella, AJ and Hannah work IT here. I’ll ask Web.
Lunch is good. They brought pictures to show. Télia is amazing. She painted the Web compound so I feel like I’m standing on her stairs seeing it. “You are all amazing. Unless someone makes the lines, I can’t paint. I want to make Web’s house like postcards from his favorite places. He liked bus tours he took in every city he visited.”
Michael smiles. “Brusher.”
“I saw him. He’s big and scary.” No way. I’m not talking to a man I don’t know that looks like Brusher. He’s scarier than Boulder.
“I’ll tell him. Make a list of where Web likes.” Garren is so good to me.
“I will. Can the printer make it on our house too?”
Michael nods. “Yeah. We’ll call.” He gets up and pulls Garren up. I laugh.
“Thanks for coming to lunch. I have to get back to work. I have a good lead to follow.”
“We’ll see you at home. We won’t come by at work time.”
“Thanks, Garren and Michael. You’re good brothers to me.”
They leave smiling. I get back to work as soon as I send the list of Web’s favorite bus tours to Garren.
~*~*~
Web
I make IT and check tracking. Alexia is in training so that’s where my feet take me. She’s unbelievable. She found more Alpha-Bits and didn’t say a word. Brantley told me. I smile watching her from the door. The Alpha-Bits and techs are riveted. I don’t get it. They get a list then she shows how to do it. Her voice is close to monotone as she talks looking at the screen and moving to the next step. She isn’t flashy or even looking at the techs. Most of her time is spent looking at the screen.
When she turns, she smiles seeing me at the door. “Web, I’m almost done.”
I nod and take a seat. She goes right back to the list and asks for questions. No one has any. I get a shit ton of questions after a lesson. I shake my head smiling at her. She’s unbelievable. Today a call to get her off the safe zone, finding new Bits and here, teaching without a single question. She dismisses the class and I watch them thank her. The two Alpha-Bits that stay back are asking for more.
Alexia bends. “I have some video classes. Akai said Alder will be changing the classes and we’ll use them too.”