Page 68 of Undeniably Corrupt

“I’m a cybersecurity professional.”

I roll my eyes. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

“You tell me your secrets and I’ll tell you mine.”

I look at him as we walk. “Why are you so interested in my secrets?”

He doesn’t answer, and I decide to let it go. We reach the conference room, but before we enter, he stops me and says, “I find I’m more interested in everything that has to do with you than I should be. And curiosity isn’t something I’m known to sit on.”

21

I’m staring at three monitors of code while I try to write a new software program that will cut corners for me when my work phone buzzes against my glass desk. The caller ID reads Monroe Building Daycare, which throws me. Liora has her work phone forwarded to mine since she’s at her clinical, and Champagne is down on the fifth floor today dealing with a marketing issue.

For a split second, I consider not answering. What business would I have with the daycare? But then I remember Liora dropped Hazel off there before her clinical this morning. Shit.

“Vander Moore,” I answer.

“Oh, Mr. Moore. I’m sorry. I was trying to reach Liora James.”

“Yes, she’s my assistant and is out of the office right now. Her calls are forwarded to me.”

“I’m sorry to bother you, sir. This is Bethany from the building daycare. I’m calling about Hazel James.”

I sit up straighter, a flash of alarm racing through me. “Is something wrong?”

“She has a fever of 101.2 along with a runny nose and aslight cough. The daycare policy states she needs to be picked up within an hour. We’ve tried reaching Liora, but?—”

“Liora’s at a clinical rotation today. And often when she’s there, she doesn’t hear or see her phone.”

I check the time: 8:47. Liora won’t be done until noon at the earliest.

“Um. Okay. But we need someone to come and pick Hazel up. Is there a father or someone else we should try? She doesn’t have anyone listed as an emergency contact.”

Of course she doesn’t.

I haven’t seen or talked to Liora since Thursday when I bought her clothes and then smelled my fucking bodywash on her skin. For every step I take toward her, I’ve been forcing myself to take two back, and that’s what I’ve done. All weekend, I kept my distance even if I did occasionally watch them at the house on my security cameras.

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Mr. Moore?”

I realize I’ve been silent too long. “I’ll be down in ten minutes.”

“Um…”

“It’s okay. Liora and Hazel are mine and live with me.”

I end the call and stare at the lines of code I was writing. I can do this at home as easily as I can do it here, which I guess is a good thing because I’m about to pick up Liora’s sick kid and take her home. This should be interesting.

With a sigh, I close the windows and engage my custom lock screen. CEO by day, hacker by... also day in this case. Just not the type of hacker anyone expects, though Liora certainly figured it out. I send a quick message to Champagne letting her know I’m going to be working from home for the rest of the day, pack up my stuff, and head downstairs.

I’ve only been to the daycare once during the building tour five years ago when I bought the place and moved us from ourother location. The daycare is a bright, overstimulating explosion of primary colors and cartoon animals painted on walls. A security door requires people to be buzzed in, and I press the button and look into the camera.

“Mr. Moore.” A young woman approaches me. “I’m Bethany. We spoke on the phone. Thank you for coming so quickly. I hope you know this isn’t standard procedure for us.”

“It’s fine. I promise you. I can sign whatever you need me to sign. Where’s Hazel?” I ask, scanning the room. There are five rooms off the main registration area, but no kids are out here.

“She’s right over here. We’ve kept her isolated since we noticed the fever. Her backpack is with her. Her temperature has fluctuated between 101 and 102. No vomiting or diarrhea, but her nose seems to be pretty runny, and she’s started coughing.”