“Even assuming the file was copied, a list of eight numbers would mean nothing. It could easily be seen as some kind of work file.”
“Until it’s deciphered.”
“Assuming someone cares enough to do that,” Lee said.
“You told me yourself Hank Reed is clever. Maybe he’s clever enough to want to decipher the list?”
“He may not even have it.”
He detected a hint of hope in the last statement and couldn’t resist. “As I recall, last week you were positive Reed had the memo we planted. If he has that, then he has the list.”
10:00A.M.
CHRIS SENSEDHAMILTONLEE WAS AGITATED, AND THE SIGHT BOTHpleased and interested him. They were in the boardroom on the thirtieth floor, engaged in a special meeting, originally called to discuss the upcoming union negotiations, but another subject now seemed of greater urgency.
“We have a problem,” Lee said.
Then he listened as his partner reported what De Florio had found.
“This is our first breach in the program,” Hughes noted.
“Alleged breach. We have no idea if anyone actually has the Priority list.”
“Why did you find it necessary to plant memos in the system for Reed to find?” Chris asked. “I don’t recall us approving such a tactic.”
“During the last negotiations it became obvious that Reed accessed the system and used our own cost projections against us. The idea of that happening again galled me, so I decided to turn it around to our advantage.”
“What exactly did you do?”
“I wrote a memo instructing our Concord people that we weren’t interested in a five-year deal. I told them it wasn’t worth the trouble and to take three years when offered, but try and get takebacks for the concession.”
He understood. “You figured if Reed knew that, he’d come to us and offer five years on a silver platter. Those two years are his strongest bargaining chip.”
Lee nodded. “And when he made that offer, the cost would be far less than last time.”
“Since Reed would figure we didn’t give a damn about five years to start with.”
“Seemed like a good plan.”
Actually it was, and Lee was clearly proud of himself for thinking of it.
“What if he doesn’t offer to get those two years for us?” Chris asked.
“He will. I know Hank.”
“Come on, Chris,” Hughes said. “That whole move was damn smart.”
“Maybe. But no vote was taken on that strategy.”
“That’s right,” Lee said. “I made the decision on my own.”
“And because of that somebody got into the secured folders and may have enough evidence to indict us all for mass murder.”
“How could I know there’d be storm damage to the system at the precise time someone was trying to nibble on my bait?”
He wasn’t backing down this time. “You invited someone to snoop in the computer. That comes with clear risk.”
Lee shook his head. “Reed was going to do that anyway. I only left something for him to find.”
