Page 147 of Pandora's Pleasure

Phoebe’s lips trembled. “Can you still help me?”

“After all the evidence on you is destroyed,” I said, “I’ll give you enough money to set up a life anywhere you like.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

Reaching into my handbag, I pulled out an envelope and slid it toward her. “Ten thousand dollars.” I rested a fingertip on it. “Get me into Galante’s house tonight and I’ll give you a lot more.”

“You’re insane.”

“That’s all I’m asking of you.”

Phoebe went for the cash.

“Does he keep the dirt on everyone in a vault or a safe?”

“I think he did once. Someone tried to destroy it. He had a fire at his office about a year ago.”

“I need his home address, and a sketch of the layout. Everything you can remember.”

Phoebe looked at me with doubt.

“Have you seen how he accesses his computer?”

“I saw him on his iPad in the car.” Phoebe chewed her lip thoughtfully. “He just swiped the side of his wrist across the screen instead of typing in a code. It was kind of weird.”

Did Galante use a biometric encryption key?

“You don’t want to be on Salvatore’s shit list,” she said. “One feature on his political talk show can wreck a reputation.”

“I’m well aware.”

“Does he have something on your fiancé?”

“Not that I know of.”

“You’re here for his dad, then?”

“Actually, it’s someone else that’s motivated me to be here. He has something on someone I care about.”

“Do they know you’re here speaking with me?”

“No, and they never will.”

“I want to help.”

“From what you’re telling me, the key to the BODI is not in his watch. It’s embedded in his wrist.” Raising a finger, I added. “Probably.”

Phoebe realized what I was suggesting. “What the fuck…”

“I believe what you saw was him using a biometric encryption key.”

“Like a microchip implant?”

“That transmits a signal. Exactly.”

“I’ve heard of employees getting bonuses by having an implant that clocks them in, tracks their workday, follows their movements.”

“They can store medical records on them, too.”