lose out because an employee sold me down the river.”
“Allegedly sold you down the river. We haven’t proven anything yet. And
whether you like it or not, that’s all that matters in a court of law.”
“You saw the videotape. What more proof do you need? Hell, all I’m
really asking you to do is your job. What’s wrong with that?”
“I saw Jason Archer giving some documents to some people. I have no
idea what the documents were or who the people are.”
Gamble sat up. “See, the problem here is that if RTG knows my deal and
outbids me for CyberCom, I’m screwed. I need you to prove they ripped
me off. Once they get CyberCom, it’s not going to matter how they got
the deal, it’s theirs. You hear where I’m coming from?”
“I’m working as hard as I can, Gamble. But there’s no way in hell I’m
going to tailor my investigation to fit your business agenda. The
murder of a hundred and eighty-one innocent people means a lot more to
me than how much you pay in income taxes.”
Gamble didn’t answer. “You hear where I’m coming from?” Gamble finally
shrugged. “If it turns out RTG was behind it, then you can rest assured
that I’ll spend every waking moment making sure I bring them down.”
“But couldn’t you put the screws hard to them right now? The FBI
investigating them would probably knock them right out of the running
for CyberCom.”
“We are looking into it, Gamble. These things take time. Bureaucracy
with a capital B, remember?”
“Time is something I don’t have a lot of,” he growled.
“Sorry, the answer’s still no. Now, is there anything else I can’t do
for you?”
The two men watched the game in silence for a few minutes.
Sawyer picked up a pair of binoculars from the table in front of him.
As he watched the action up close he said, “So what’s up with Tyler,
Stone?”
Gamble grimaced. “If we weren’t so far into the CyberCom deal, I’d fire
their ass right now. But the fact is I need their legal expertise and
institutional memory. For now, anyway.”
“But not Sidney Archer’s.”
He shook his head. “Never would’ve figured that lady to do something
like that. Helluva lawyer. A real babe on top of it too. What a
waste.”
“How’s that?”
Gamble looked at him, amazed. “Excuse me, did we read the same
newspaper? She’s in it up to her nice-looking ass.”
“You think so?”
“Don’t you?”
Sawyer shrugged and finished his beer.
“Lady takes off after her husband’s memorial service,” Gamble continued.
“Hardy tells me she tried to give your guys the slip. You followed her
all over New Orleans. She’s acting suspicious, comes right home after
getting a phone call. Hardy also said you thought somebody may have
gone through her house while she drew all you guys off the scent.
Brilliant how you let that happen, by the way.”
“I’m gonna have to be careful what I tell Frank in the future.”
“I pay him a hell of a lot of money. He better keep me informed.”
“I’m sure he’s worth every penny.”
“Pennies, right! That’s a joke.”
Sawyer gave Gamble a sidelong glance. “For all he’s done for you, you
don’t seem to hold Frank in very high regard.”
Gamble chuckled. “Believe it or not, I have really high standards.”
“Frank was one of the best agents the bureau ever produced.”
“I have a short memory for good work. You have to keep showering me
with it.” Gamble’s smile quickly turned to a glare. “On the other hand,
I never forget screwups.”
They watched the game in silence. Finally Sawyer stirred.
“Quentin Rowe ever screw anything up for you?”
Gamble looked surprised by the question. “Why do you ask that?”
“Because the guy’s your golden egg and from all accounts you treat him
like crap.”
“Who said he’s my golden egg?”
“You saying he’s not?” Sawyer sat back and crossed his arms.
Gamble didn’t answer right away. He brooded over his glass of liquor.
“They had a lot of golden eggs in my career. You don’t get to where I
am off one racehorse.”