Innocent as Sin

49

Chandler Mall

Sunday

There’s been activity in the correspondent account,” Kayla said. “Since I’m on record as the account executive, I should know a little bit more about what’s happening.”

“I’ve discussed it at length with Andre,” Foley said. “He’s using the account to finance acquisition of some long-term oil-” He broke off and looked at Rand.

Rand snapped his fingers and mouthed meaningless words.

“Look,” Foley said flatly. “You want to know more, get rid of lover boy.”

“You’re the one who asked me to meet after hours.”

Foley’s jaw flexed. He slammed his laptop case on the table.

Rand’s eyes opened just enough to see into the case as it opened. Nothing more deadly than a computer. Even so, he didn’t really relax. Knives were easy to hide.

Hell, given the right incentive, even the dull ones on the table could get the job done. The long forks would get it done faster.

“All I need from you is access to the account,” Foley said. “There are some transactions that have to be posted, but I can’t gain access through the remote portal. I’m screwing up part of the protocol, I guess.”

Because you never bothered to learn how to do it right, suck face, Kayla thought savagely. You always had one of the “girls” do it for you.

She smiled. “No problem. I’ll do it.”

“That’s why I rely so much on you,” Foley said with a grin as he logged on to the bank web site. Or tried to. He barely managed to keep from smashing his fist on the computer keyboard. “I can get into the account to monitor activity, but when I go to conduct transactions, it says I’m not authorized.”

“I’m not authorized for remote access at all,” Kayla said. She tilted her head. “Maybe the portal you’re using is read-only. Or maybe you need special access to conduct after-hours operations.”

He shook his head. “That’s not good enough. One of Andre’s requirements is that he has access to his money twenty-four/ seven. That’s what I promised him. He conducts business all over the world, all the time.”

Kayla’s mouth thinned. Do you know what kind of shitty business he’s conducting?

“See this?” Foley demanded, slanting the laptop screen toward Kayla. “I can get into the account to read balances, but I can’t move sums to other accounts, either within the bank or outside of it.”

Through slitted eyes, Rand watched Kayla. She’d gone still, then gooseflesh had broken out on her arms. The restaurant was air-conditioned, but not to the point of chill.

The feral smile on her face sent adrenaline into Rand’s blood.

“Let me try something,” Kayla said.

She took the laptop and stared at the screen. “Wow, this is awesome, almost like having your own private bank branch on your laptop.”

And Bertone had been depositing money right, left, and center. One hundred and eighty-two million, and counting.

Holy hell. War is expensive.

“I see our client has been busy,” Kayla said mildly.

Foley looked hard at Kayla’s date, but the idiot still had his eyes closed and was swaying and hip-jigging to a tune only he heard. He hadn’t even tried to peek at the computer screen.

“I got it that far,” Foley said, “but I can’t make any transactions inside the account.”

Kayla put her fingers on the keyboard and typed for a few seconds. Then she frowned and studied the screen. Gooseflesh rippled again as the simple, beautiful, incredible truth echoed in her mind.

Bertone doesn’t control his account.

Foley doesn’t.

I do.

She’d been in such a rush to set up the correspondent account that she’d chosen the password for it herself. She’d meant to give it to Bertone at the Fast Draw but had forgotten.

Being blackmailed by a client was distracting as hell.

“I know what part of your problem is,” she said. “The portal isn’t set up for access to correspondent accounts, only for private-bank checking and savings accounts.”

“You mean there’s no way to conduct business right now?” Foley’s voice was raw.

“Not until the main system comes back online,” Kayla said casually. “Even the bank president can’t move money from that account until Monday morning at nine.” At least I sure hope that’s the case.

Foley muttered something savage under his breath.

“I’ll be glad to take care of the transactions on the account first thing Monday morning,” she offered.

He shook his head abruptly. “No. Andre’s instructions for the transactions are very detailed. Nine o’clock Monday?”

“Not a minute before. But everything would be posted to the account Monday, anyway, even if you made transfers today. So Andre won’t lose any interest or anything. On an account of that size, interest will matter.”

Rand started humming “Diamonds and Rust.”

Kayla kicked him again under the table.

“You said my portal was only part of the problem.” Foley frowned at her. “What’s the rest?”

“You don’t have the password. Without it, you can’t move money out of the account.”

Foley shrugged. “Bertone will give it to me.”

“He doesn’t have it.”

Rand went still.

Foley’s mouth opened, closed, opened again. “What?”

“Everyone was in such a lather to open the account, I couldn’t get through to Bertone for him to choose a password, so I did it. I’m the only one who can move money out of that account.”

“Christ Jesus,” Faroe breathed in Rand’s ear. “Why didn’t she tell us!”

It took Foley a moment to digest her words. When he did, he spoke through clenched teeth. “What. Is. The. Password.”

Subtly Rand gathered himself, ready to jump Foley if he went through with the violence vibrating in his voice. He’d rather belt Foley than twitch to imaginary music any day.

“I don’t know the password,” Kayla said.

Rand forced himself not to react.

Faroe groaned. “So near and yet so far.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Foley asked.

Kayla yawned and nudged Rand in the ankle. “I use a million passwords, so I write them down in code in my little black book.”

“Where’s the book?” Foley demanded.

“At Jerry’s apartment with my overnight case.”