Trust Me

I’m looking at worst case scenarios.”
    “I’ll tell him to rework the numbers.”
    “Do that. Tell him if he needs help getting into a gloomy mood, I’m sure I can find a way to put him into one.”
    “As it happens, I wasn’t talking about Lancaster when I said I was afraid of this,” Dane said. “I was talking about your engagement.”
    “What about it?” Stark frowned at another row of numbers.
    “I can’t believe that you’ve asked a woman like Desdemona Wainwright to marry you.”
    Stark glanced up with a frown. “You’re losing me here, McCallum. What, exactly, are you trying to say?”
    A knowing smile flickered around the corners of Dane’s mouth. “I’m just wondering if you’ve finally taken the big fall.”
    “The big fall?”
    “Are you in love with Desdemona Wainwright?”
    “McCallum, for a smart man, you occasionally ask some really stupid questions.” Stark lined out another row of figures.
    “I know. But, then, you were always the brains of the outfit, not me. I’m just along for the ride.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means,” Dane said, “that Stark Security Systems is your creation. You’re the key to its success. Without you, this company is nothing.”
    “No business this size hinges entirely on one individual.” Stark went back to the numbers.
    “You’re wrong. Everywhere you go, you’re the star of the show,” Dane said softly. “It was that way at the Institute, and it’s that way here. How does it feel to always be number one?”
    Stark ignored the question. He was too concerned about the next row of blue-sky numbers.

    At eleven o’clock that evening Tony paced Stark’s study with the restless, prowling stride of a caged cat. “I shouldn’t have let you talk me into coming here. This is dumb. For all I know it’s a trap.”
    “If I had wanted to trap you,” Stark said, “I would have stood back and let nature take its course. The evidence against you has been mounting very nicely right from the start. It’s only a matter of time before it comes to the attention of the cops.”
    Tony gave him a scathing glance. “With a little help from you?”
    “That’s the nifty part. I wouldn’t even have to exert myself. You’ve got a natural talent for shooting yourself in the foot.”
    Tony’s eyes narrowed. “Everyone says you’re so damned smart, but you know what I think?”
    “I haven’t got a clue.”
    “I think you’re a dangerous son-of-a-bitch who likes to use people.”
    “You’re entitled to your opinion.” Stark entered another command. ARCANE slithered through another layer of complexity, searching for patterns.
    “Damn right I’m entitled.” Tony walked over to stand behind him. “What, exactly, are you trying to do here?”
    “I’m using ARCANE to study the anonymous server’s files. I’m searching for the code that links the anonymous email addresses with the users’ real addresses.”
    Tony leaned closer to study the screen. “You think you can crack the code and find the real email address of Tate’s client?”
    “Maybe. With a little help from ARCANE.”
    Tony frowned. “Where the hell is this anonymous server located anyway?”
    “I don’t know. Could be anywhere. Europe. Some island in the Caribbean. Southern California. Whoever set it up seems to be operating a clearinghouse service for hacker mercenaries like Vernon Tate. All the contacts between clients and mercenaries are made anonymously. Delivery of the stolen goods is probably handled through an equally anonymous shipping service.”
    “Are you going to blow the whistle on the operation after this is all over?”
    “Yes.”
    Tony was silent for a moment. “Is this the kind of work your company does?”
    “Yes.”
    “Sort of interesting.”
    “Yes, it is,” Stark said. “Now will you shut up and sit down? You’re making it hard to concentrate.”
    “All right, already.” Tony went back across the room and threw himself into a chair. “Why did you ask me to come here tonight?”
    “Because your neck is on the block, and Desdemona will be upset if someone swings the axe.”
    “It could just as easily be your neck.”
    “Yeah, but it’s not, is it? Whoever is behind this planted the gun in your apartment and went out of his way to make you look guilty, not me.”
    “I still think there’s a real good possibility that you’re the one who’s setting me up,” Tony grumbled.
    Stark glanced at him. “I’ll make a