Page 122 of Only the Wicked

“Wait. What? I’m not letting you quit.”

She places her palms on each side of her face and stretches her fingers out like her head is going to explode. “Rhodes,” she says, gritting her teeth, “I need you to do this.”

“Alright. You’re going to have to back this one up.”

“Fine. Sixty-second version.” She finally looks me in the eye and I half expect her to flip me off.

“Go.”

“There’s a man who basically raised me.”

I nod while pacing. This isn’t new. Daisy doesn’t always see eye to eye with her mother. She has a much younger sister and began working for us remotely when she moved home years ago to help take care of her. I thought things were better. Her sister’s in college. Daisy left LA. Lives in Chicago, at least, she did the last time I asked.

“He died.” She swallows and looks to the side, lips pursed, and she swipes under one eye. “Unexpectedly. Seems like he wasn’t taking care of himself, and I hadn’t been home in ages, so I had no idea. I know you’re going to say it’s not my fault and I get that; I’m working through that. I can’t change…” she breaks off and mutters “sixty seconds” to herself. “He was swindled. Lost his entire savings. He was a vet. Vietnam. Living off Social Security basically but he had enough that he said he’d never be a liability on anyone. Anyway, I looked into this company. They target retirees and vets. It’s shady as fuck. They’re hiring a coder, looking to build a system I’m sure so they can swindle more people online.”

“Wait. You’re going to work for these crooks so you can, what? Catch them?”

“It’s shady. They have to be breaking the law somehow. And they’re connected. Maybe even funded by rich-as-fuck big wigs. I’m still working through it. ”

“The fund went under?” I ask, trying to follow what’s happened.

“Failed.”

“And they’re hiring?”

“Suspicious, right?”

“Why do you have to do it? Why not… I’ll call someone at the SEC. The FBI.”

“No. I’ve looked into this guy. He’s connected up the wazoo. The DOJ or the DA or whoever needs to authorize will never sign off. I’m gonna bring the receipts so they have no choice but to open an investigation.”

“Daisy…”

“Rhodes.” She peers up at me through stubborn, glassy eyes. “I need to do this. Reed could’ve come to me for money. He didn’t. And he probably didn’t because his stupid pride wouldn’t let him. I couldn’t set everything straight, and he…” She inhales. “I can’t change what happened, but I’m going to make those bloodsuckers pay. Going after retirees. Vets?”

“But…” I pause, hoping she doesn’t take too much offense at the truth. “You’re not an investigator.”

“No. But I’m going to be using our system to find out everything I can on this fuckwad swindler. It’s not the whole company. Sterling Financial has too many employees. Once I get inside, I’ll find out each person who’s involved and whistleblow like a smoke detector with a dying battery. No one shall ignore me.”

I hold up my hands, showing I’m not fighting her on this. It’s not really how we planned on using ARGUS, as a matter of fact I’m pretty sure we agreed in our initial ethical discussion meetings to never use it for personal purposes, but even if I told her no, she’d do it anyway. And I suppose her goal is for the greater good.

“And you’re in D.C. because the company is in D.C.?” Daisy and I were scheduled to have a secure video call this morning. She texted earlier, said she was in D.C. and suggested we meet in person, and at four a.m. when I couldn’t sleep, I planned my long run and suggested we meet on the trail.

She pulls her knees up to her chest and lifts her sunglasses to her forehead. “It’s nearby. In Virginia. And I wanted to speak to you in person.”

I stop pacing and take her in.

The cicadas are already starting their summer drone, a backdrop to our conversation that feels both soothing and grating. A helicopter—likely Marine One based on the direction—flies overhead toward the White House. In this city, even the air space is a reminder of power dynamics.

“You’re not fucking quitting.”

“Fine. But if I get that job, I’m taking it.”

“If that happens, we’ll call it personal leave. A paid personal leave because you’re not really leaving.”

She should’ve joined as a partner but changing the company structure now would be almost impossible so I refrain from saying anything along those lines.

“Whatever.” There’s an eyeroll, a shift in demeanor, and just like that, she’s on to the next subject. I make a mental note to look into this company she wants to infiltrate. “That’s not why I wanted to speak in person. I’ve been digging into your love interest.”