“As you can see, I worked for many years at Raven Tech and then as a freelancer.” It was better to keep things as close to the truth as possible. “But the self-employed gig wasn’t for me. I can do just about anything you need. Websites, cyber security, systems or database work. What can you tell me about your department?”
Patrick leaned back in his chair. “Raven Tech, huh? We use their integrated system, so maybe you won’t be completely lost here. This whole department falls under the umbrella of technology. We’ve got the Marketing Technology folks who handle our customer facing website, phone apps, surveys, and digital advertising.”
Maybe he came from a marketing background. That would explain his charismatic demeanor.
Patrick continued while Joey tried to keep it all straight. “Then there is the Database Management team and the standard IT staff, who are both pretty self-explanatory. Then we have the Internal Technology Security team. They work closely with the security personnel, but handle all of our security hardware—cameras, locks, key codes.” He waved his hand as if to say et cetera. “As well as our internal network and server security, and cyber security for anything connected to external networks.”
He tipped his chin down and gave her a serious look. “The work we do is important, and discretion and secrecy are critical to our success. This is the big time. I don’t need a little leaguer on the team.”
He just had to go with sports metaphors. Joey wanted to grimace at the condescension, but instead she smiled and nodded. “I totally understand. I’m happy to do whatever you need. I saw the job posting, but I’m a team player.”
“Right. The job posting. That happened pretty fast. Unusually fast.” He shook his head. “Not that I’m complaining about the extra hands, but I like to choose my own staff. For now, we’ll just have you shadow Ben Parker. Not that I don’t believe your skills,” he said with a smile that told Joey that was exactly why he was doing it, “but this way he can get you up to speed. And make sure you don’t break anything. Cole might have stuck you in my department, but it’s still my department and I make the calls.”
Forget being underestimated. If she had any hope of not being fired, she was going to have to win Patrick over very quickly.
The entire speech told Joey everything she needed to know. Patrick assumed she was going to be a drain on the department. She’d be lucky if she got access to anything remotely classified. How could she play this to her advantage?
She smiled tightly. “I look forward to proving myself a valuable member of the team.” What she was looking forward to was throttling Kensington for sticking her into this situation. Couldn’t he have looped Patrick in? He claimed to trust the man, but apparently not enough to reveal her mission. Which meant Joey was going to spend every minute with a babysitter named Ben.
When they left his office, Patrick introduced her to her new guard dog. Ben Parker was a kid in his mid-twenties and seemed completely unconcerned with his new role as her instructor.
Then he showed her to her glass-walled cubicle, the empty desk a little jarring. A sleek chair sat in front of it, but otherwise there was nothing on the clear surface. Not even a spare pen or forgotten slip of paper. Not exactly a great place to do sleuthing into the servers.
“I told you I didn’t know you were coming, so just order whatever hardware you need and have it delivered. Ask Ben for the account info.”
When she dragged the ordering information out of Ben, who was reluctant to even remove his headphones, she chuckled at the Best Buy Corporate Account card. Well, at least this would be fun.
CHAPTERFOUR
Joey retrievedher phone from the tiny locker using her fingerprint and waved good-bye to her new coworkers. She walked out of the Zia building just after five o’clock. Despite the overwhelming push of the corporate culture, most people seemed to be keeping relatively normal hours. Probably not Cole. At least not if his weekend emails were any indicator.
Her phone chimed with messages from several people as soon as she turned it on.
Flint: Report?
Ryder: How’s the new gig?
Ryder: Do you still think he’s part of the Syndicate?
Tank: I need a background check on a new housekeeper.
Unknown: We’ll meet tonight. 8 pm. I’ll pick you up.
She debated calling a ride share, but instead, she headed to the Metro station. How typical that Kensington had picked her up this morning and not bothered to care about how she got home.
“Miss Rodriguez!”
She turned and saw Cole’s driver standing next to a black town car pulled over on the shoulder.
Oh great. She considered pretending she hadn’t seen the driver. She’d seen Kensington’s text. Had he changed his mind about the time of their meeting? She’d rather have some time before she had to face him again. Putting on airs for the entire day and sitting through a mind-numbing department staff meeting this afternoon on top of the orientation had drained her entirely.
“What does he want now?”
The driver’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile fully. “Mr. Kensington is not in the vehicle, but he has asked me to see you home safely, since he left you without transportation.”
Her irritation faded. That was… nice of him? Thoughtful, even.
She didn’t like it.