Marshall bit his lip for a second. "I couldn't handle doing the um, graphic work, but I could handle the computer side of things. I mean, computers are what I'm most comfortable with."
"Yeah, me too." Jeremy grinned.
"Were you the one who locked me out? I mean, dude, no one locks me out. I can get in almost any system. I mean I could probably hack the government if I was dumb enough to try it." Marshall shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.
Jeremy liked him. He understood the cockiness of hacking. He'd worked with guys like that his whole life. "You couldn't get into the government computers." He raised a brow as he stared at Marshall.
"How do you know that?"
"You couldn't hack me. Where do you think I learned what I know?" Jeremy took a drink, trying to hide his grin. He shouldn't tease Marshall. He wanted him to come work with him.
"Dude, you have to teach me." Marshall's eyes lit up.
"You come work with me, you'll learn a lot, but it comes with risks that you have to take into consideration before you agree to anything. This isn't something you can fuck around with for a week or two then move on. We are looking for someone willing to commit their time and make a career out of this." Jeremy needed him to understand how serious this was. "You can understand why silence is so important when it comes to what we do."
Marshall nodded. "You say career. What does this pay?"
"It differs month to month, but I promise it's at least five thousand dollars a month, often more." He was going low. They would make much more than that once they got going, but if he could get him in at that amount, anything more would be a bonus to him.
"And all I'd have to do is work on the computer? Act like I'm one of those perverts and find out information on them?"
"Pretty much. I mean, it's a little more complex than that. You'd collect information, track where the photos and videos are being uploaded from. Trace identities and locations where children are being held. And when the other half of the team goes in, you'd have to help track cameras in the area, deactivate them, keep our team safe. It's a lot of late nights. Just the content of the stuff we collect and hunt through on the computer makes this a stressful job. Add in the risk, and the fact you have to keep the secrets, it makes it harder."
Marshall nodded. "Is that why you picked me? Because I'm a loner?"
"It was one of the reasons. You're used to long hours behind a computer screen. You're not going to cut out of work early to go hit the bar. Don't get me wrong, it's not all work and no fun. As a team, we make sure we get downtime, and we do hang out together. We are friends. The work is hard, but the atmosphere is good." Jeremy didn't know what else to tell him.
"So it's not like I have to give up my apartment or leave my lame life behind?" Marshall asked.
"No, not at all. We'd ask you to be there on nights when the other part of the team go out to work, but other than that, you can come and go. As long as you're doing your job, we don't mind. You want to work from midnight to six in the morning, go for it. You want early morning work, go for it. As long as we get the info we need. Right now, I'm the only other computer guy, and we'd like to have a total of three if we can, but as you can guess, it's not easy to find people."
Marshall took another swallow of his coffee. "How do you know you can trust me?"
"I don't. Not yet. It's a risk, but you don't know anything more than the police do. They know what we do, just not where or all of the how. If you left here and started talking about this meeting, I'd still be safe. You don't know who I am. You don't know where I live. I won't give you that until you agree to our terms, and even then, you'd have to meet the rest of the team and get their approval before we'd have you officially join us."
"If I join, you'll teach me what you know?" Marshall asked.
Jeremy laughed. "As long as you promise not to hack into companies and government agencies. Seriously, I'm not bringing you on to make you a criminal. I'd be bringing you on to stop them."
Marshall was silent for a moment, but Jeremy hoped he's said enough to make the job seem worthwhile. He hated this part of building a team. How was he supposed to trust that once they brought Marshall in, he wouldn't turn on them? Carter and Bryon both insisted he follow his gut, but all his gut wanted to do was throw up with nerves. It wasn't just his life his choice would put on the line.
"I'm interested. It's better than working for some asshole in an office all day. I don't see it as a risk honestly. I mean, if everyone is quiet about what they do, the computer guys should be safe. It's the ones who go out that are at risk. The ones like that guy from California." Marshall took another drink of coffee. "So you said I'd have to interview with the rest of the team?"
Jeremy nodded. "We'll plan dinner somewhere. Keep it casual so they can get to know you. Is that okay?"
"You're buying dinner. Hell yeah, it's okay. Pay me with food and I'm a happy man." Marshall grinned.
Jeremy laughed. "Good to know."
"You'll call me?" Marshall asked.
"I will. It won't be long. A day or so at most. Hell, if the team's able, we could maybe pull it off tonight, but I'd have to check."
"I'm free whenever. Just no seafood, okay?"
Jeremy nodded. "Deal." He offered him his hand. "Hopefully, we'll be welcoming you to the team soon."
"I'm looking forward to it." Marshall stood. "Thanks for tracking me down."
Jeremy grinned. "I'm almost going to miss you trolling those fools."
"Yeah, me too, but I'd rather do what you're hiring me for than troll. It pays better and actually serves a cause. See you soon, Jeremy." Marshall waved as he walked off.
Jeremy sat for a moment, then once he saw Marshall get in his car and pull away, he got up and left too. His gut told him to trust Marshall, but his brain was saying be careful. He'd be glad when they had a full team and wouldn't have to do this anymore. Putting himself out there like this was scary. Still, it was worth it. Now he just had to get home and let the rest of the team know what the plan was.
