The Ghost Pattern (27 page)

"Do you have any questions for me?" Mr. Isaac offered.

Alex sighed thoughtfully.

"How many steps are in this interviewing process?"

"Just this. Based on this one interview, I will make my decision and let you know."

OK, now I know for sure I screwed up. He won't hire me
, Alex thought. She was surprised to realize how saddened she was by this thought. She couldn't help feeling that the man in front of her was quite remarkable, and she would have liked him to appreciate her. She continued, out of curiosity.

"Thank you. I asked on my online form, 'Who are you?" And I'd also like to know what job did I apply for?"

Mr. Isaac leaned forward and smiled.

"I created The Agency 17 years ago, when a friend of mine, a business owner, got into some trouble. He had grown suspicious that someone was stealing his customer files and selling the info to his competition. In order to find out who that was, he hired me, not as an investigator, but as a payroll clerk. No one pays attention to the accounting clerks," he said with a chuckle and paused, letting the story and all its implications sink in.

As it did, surprise showed on her face. She saw the ramifications, the possibilities, and grew excited about the idea.
Yes. Obviously, this idea worked. I'd love to do that for a living, yes I would,
she thought, thinking fast.
Not a moment of boredom, no office politics, actually use my brain, my dream come true. Plus they have to be paying really well. However,
her enthusiasm abruptly cooled,
why the hell is he telling me this stuff if he's not even going to call me for a second interview?
She did not realize how well the man could read her thoughts, just by looking at her transparent features and bright, expressive eyes.

"Starting from that case," he continued, "I realized there was growing potential on the market for this kind of service. We are currently a small team of four people, and we need a fifth person. I'm looking specifically for someone with a little more computer knowledge than we currently have among us, to be able to work as an IT executive and assist with email and data-related fraud concerns."

She almost had tears in her eyes.
I can't believe they won't hire me—no other job will ever compare
, she thought. Mr. Isaac was now standing up, most likely preparing to show her out. Somehow, she found the courage and asked.

"Mr. Isaac, will you please tell me where I screwed up?"

"Who said you did? Let's go meet the guys. And please, call me Tom."

Her exhilarated scream was loud enough to make the receptionist wonder what the hell was going on back there.

~~~End Preview~~~

Like
Executive
?

See
Executive
’s video trailer here:
http://bit.ly/ExecutiveVideo

Buy it now!

This book is part of a series of self-standing novels. You can enjoy them in sequence, or one by one, as self-standing books.

• Book One:
  Executive
  

What do we really know about drones? Challenge everything you thought you knew. Unrelenting, thought-provoking, plausible.

• Book Two:
  Devil’s Move
  

Terrorism has a new target. We know the day of the attack, Election Day. We know very little else.

• Book Three:
  The Backup Asset
  

Espionage has a new dimension. Everyone is gettable. 

• Book Four:
  The Ghost Pattern
  

In the new age of terrorism, nothing is what it seems. No one is safe. 

• Book Five: … Coming soon!Still working on the titl
  e
  
  

Copyright © 2015 Leslie Wolfe

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, with the exception of brief quotations used in reviews and articles.

This is entirely a work of fiction. Characters, organizations, agencies, corporations, places, aircraft, and incidents depicted in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or events, is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for
third-party websites or their content.

Italics Publishing Inc.

Edited by Joni Wilson

Cover and interior design by Sam Roman