Page 40 of Too Old for Love

“A phantom maintenance account was found.”

“Expected.”

“A photograph was delivered to my home.”

“Less expected.” Sean folded his hands. “Has anyone used the name LEGACY?” Alice felt the room narrow around her.

“No.”

“Seen it written?”

“No.”

“Heard it in a call, perhaps beneath another voice?”

“What is it?” Sean’s smile disappeared.

“An old promise kept by dangerous men.”

“Are they after me?”

“If LEGACY were after you, we would not be having this conversation.”

“Then who killed Abigail and Samantha?”

“I don’t know.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I expect you to understand the value of ignorance.” He lowered his voice. “Your cohorts became liabilities. Someone removed them. That someone may believe you are next or may believe you are protected. Either possibility buys time.”

“Protected by whom?”

“Men who do not introduce themselves.”

“Why would they protect me?” Sean studied her with sudden tenderness.

“Because your father-in-law is still a dangerous man, even behind bars. Because Michael made an agreement before his trial with several unsavory fellow prisoners. Because I asked. Choose whichever answer lets you sleep. Just know that we have friends on the outside that owe us.”

Alice’s fingernails dug into her palm.

“Michael wants Everest to rebuild the audit layer.” Sean nodded.

“That would expose the hidden mode.”

“He said to keep Everest from seeing it.”

“Michael still believes software obeys intention. It does not. Software obeys structure, and your structure is rotten.”

“Then what do I do?”

“Give Everest a clean fragment. Let her repair the visible system while you move the buried records.”

“Move them where?”

“Nowhere connected.”

“That’s not an answer.”