Acquiring Trouble

She knew exactly what needed to be done and what was being done to her. She was about to get screwed, and not in the good way. She turned her car toward the interstate and started the nine - hour trip to DC.
     
    *      *      *
     
    Morgan ar rived in DC early in the morning. She went straight to the office and parked in the small lot in the back. She glanced around trying to see into the shadows that the yellow streetlights cast around the area. She kept her keys out and walked purposefully toward the back door. She unlocked the door. The so und of the lock tumbling echoed across the lot.
    Once inside, she disarmed the alarm and quickly hurri ed up the stairs. She passed her office and headed straight to David’s. She paused then, listening for any sound coming from the other side of the door. When she heard none, she opened the door and he aded straight for his computer.
    His office seemed eerily quiet as she started his computer. She looked around again when the light of the screen cast shadows around. She was worried she’d be seen and would h ave to explain herself. While the computer booted up, she went to the massive filing cabinet. Her fingers flew through the folders until she found what she was looking for. She pulled it out and brought it with her over to the computer.
    “Crap,” she whispered. It was login protected. She tried his name and then the name of his wife. Wro ng. She tried his birthday, anniversary, and street address. Nothing. “Think Morgan.”
    She tapped her fingers on the desk and stared at the blinking arrow next t o the password. What was David most proud of? His baby, that’s what! Morgan remembered when he bought her. A shiny new Lexus LS sedan. He had showed all his junior partners. He had told them that if they worked hard they too would be able to afford the eighty thousand doll ar car that he lovingly called Alexa .
    Morgan typed the name in and hit enter. The computer screen came to life and Morgan smiled . She searched through his files until she found what she was looking for.  Morgan scanned the information on the screen. What she had here would save her life. She took out her keys and found her silver horse charm. Pulling on the sadd le she exposed the flash drive.
    Her heart was pounding as she plugged it into the computer’s USB drive. She copied the documents to the flash drive. She powered dow n the computer and stepped around the desk when she saw the light coming from under the office door. Oh G od, she was caught!
    She stood frozen b y the filing cabinet as she watched in horror as the door slowly opened. If they caught her with the flash drive there was no doubt what would happen to her. She’d disappear and no one would be the wiser.
    “Morgan? Is that you?” David asked when he poked his head in through the door.
    “Oh David!” s he sighed in relief. “You scared me to death!” Morgan laughed as she relaxed some.
    “I can say the same to you. I was sound asleep when the alarm company called me to say that an expired code was used to get into the building.  What are you doing here?”
    “Miles is kicking my ass. I wanted to copy his file and see what I could find out. If I couldn’t find anything tonight, I was hoping to convince you to have one of your in- depth reviews made,” Morgan explained as she held up the thick file.
    “In the middle of the night?” David asked as his brow wrinkled.
    “Time is of the essence. Miles won’t be working this weekend —h is brother is getting married. That gives me a leg up. If I can find something on him to force his hand, I can have this wrapped up by Monday. ”
    “I hear you hid the bad news with the good. I must be honest, I’m not too happy with the fact that Miles is doing so well. I was hoping this whole thing would’ve been wrapped up weeks ago , ” David said seriously.
    “ I know. I’m just as upset. These people are loyal to a fault.”
    “H ave you reviewed the file yet?”
    Morgan shook her head . In fact, she had a copy of it in her hotel room. She always made copies of his master fil e. “I got about half way through it so far. I was just going to make a copy of it now.”
    “No. You know I don’t allow copies of these files.”
    “You’re right. I’ll go in my office and take notes of the pertinent items. Is there an in-depth personal review in the file along with my business report ?”
    “Yes. It’s already been done. It didn’t show too much. Our evaluation was