Rich (Benson Security #5) - Janet Elizabeth Henderson Page 0,103
thinks it was done recently by a newer app, so there might be a shadow of it left underneath.”
“What’s metadata?” Rachel asked. Must they speak in techie? And if they had to, couldn’t they at least be polite enough to translate for the normal people?
“It’s information about a file that’s stored in a way that you can’t see it unless you go looking for it.” Harvard smiled at her. “Ten years ago, before people were fully aware of what extra data was saved with their files, and before guidelines and restrictions were put into place, there was a whole lot of sensitive info stored in the metadata. If the team can access it, they might get some personal info that you wouldn’t get from a phone today.”
Elle nodded. “Exactly. The video editing might offer up some clues too. If that’s recent, then there might be some metadata transfer from the process that the blackmailer missed. It depends on how computer savvy they are.”
Rachel waved a hand. “Blah, blah, blah, computer talk, more blah. Do we have something or not?”
Harvard rubbed the spot between her shoulders, making everyone freeze in place and stare at them.
“She gets cranky in the mornings,” he said with amusement.
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Ryan shook his head at Harvard. “Rachel’s been known to eat her prey.”
Callum glared at them. “Can we focus? What you’re saying is, you don’t have anything off the video yet, but you and Harry are working on it. Where is Harry?”
“Here.” A hand appeared above the end of the table.
Rachel peeked underneath, and sure enough, Harry was sitting tailor style on the floor, surrounded by at least half a dozen laptops.
She straightened again and looked at Callum, whose head was red.
“Why the hell are you on the floor?” he shouted.
“Needed more space.”
“Get your arse to the table for meetings. This isn’t how we run a business.”
“I swear,” Rachel said. “If you start going on about how much better things were in the army again, I will tackle you to the floor, remove one of your prosthetic legs, and beat you to death with it.”
There was silence before Harry said, “She’s always been cranky in the mornings.”
Lake leaned forward to clasp his hands on the table. “Let’s recap. We don’t have anything from the video yet. We don’t have any leads on the men who attacked Rachel. We don’t know who’s behind all of this, but for some reason, they want you gone from the family company. Did I miss anything?”
“No.” Rachel folded her arms over her red and black color-block dress. “Except that I have no intention of giving in to a blackmailer’s demands ever again. Once was enough, and I’m a whole lot older and less easy to intimidate than I was when I was twenty. They’re going to be very disappointed when I don’t resign today.”
“You can’t go back to TayFor,” Lake said evenly, obviously under the misguided belief that he was the boss of her. “It’s too dangerous. We don’t know what your return might provoke.”
“Plus”—Elle stole a sausage from Ryan’s plate, earning herself a glare as he wrapped his arm around his food to guard it—“there’s no need to go back to TayFor; we found the thief.”
“That’s not the only reason I have for returning,” Rachel said, feeling strangely hesitant about sharing her plans. She glanced at Harvard, and his usual calm demeanor immediately eased her nerves. “Which is why I called you here this morning. I’ve decided to return to my family’s company for the foreseeable future.”
“Yes!” Ryan shot to his feet, fists in the air. “Best. News. Ever.” He grinned as he pointed around the room. “Pay up because I won the bet. She’s been lured back to the family company. I’m rich.” He faced Rachel. “I could kiss you right now.”
“And then I’d have to get a rabies shot, so please don’t.”
“What bet?” Harvard asked as Ryan sat back down and folded his arms over yet another T-shirt that Rachel didn’t understand. This one said, By the Power of Grayskull.
“You know how we had to drop the sex bet?” Ryan said. Everyone around him groaned. “What? We can’t even mention the word now?”
“This is a business meeting,” Callum snapped. “So, no, you can’t mention sex.”
Ryan pointed at Rachel. “It’s not like it’s a secret. They’re obviously doing it, which means I would’ve won the first bet too.”
“You shouldn’t even be betting on your teammate’s sex life.” Callum glared at Ryan, as though that