In Too Deep by Eliza Jane Read Free Book Online

sending tingles along the back of my neck. I look up from the file and study McAllister’s eyes. They are hard and unfeeling. I swallow a lump in my throat, wondering what type of work I’m about to get involved in. This doesn’t feel real.
    I shuffle through the pages and reports behind the photo.
    “You’ll have time to review this later, but your assignment is here.” He places an envelope on the table in front of me.
    I pick up the sealed envelope. McAllister stands to leave. “When’s the assignment due?” I ask as he turns to leave.
    Without turning back, he says, “I expect it’ll take you a few days to complete, no more.”
    Once he’s gone, I slip my finger under the flap and tear into the envelope. Inside is a single sheet of paper, with a brief typed message. I can’t help but notice, it isn’t addressed to anyone, there’s no date and no name signed at the bottom. It strikes me as odd. The instructions are simple and as I read them, I hear McAllister’s voice in my head.
    He wants me to uncover who Ivan Kazcyk is working for. He’s a former Russian mafia leader and known assassin trying to purchase twelve million dollars’ worth of explosives and rumored to be involved with some Middle Eastern business men. I’m supposed to find out who is involved and what they want with the explosives.
    How am I supposed to solve this? I reread the note again. I have no idea where to start.
    I glance around at the computer lab, wondering if I have this all to myself. It’ s an awesome set up –three desktop computers, with large HD monitors, and a MacBook Pro that is a definite upgrade from the laptop in my bag. I select the MacBook and get started.
    I spend the first thirty minutes exploring the network setup at the ac ademy. I download a free open source network mapping system. It’ll tell me what hosts are available on the network, what operating systems they’re running and what types of firewalls are in place. I can already tell the network security here is much better than what I’m used to at my old school. This is going to be fun. I feel the familiar buzz of excitement as my fingers dance over the keys.
    After I get the lay of the networks, I search for information about Ivan Kazcyk. I pick up his trail in a database used by the British military. I guess McAllister isn’t the only one interested in this guy. The site I’m on is an official military database, housing confidential records. I pull back, my fingers hesitating over the keys. This is bigger than any hack I’ve done before, probably against the law, and I’m torn about what to do. If I refuse the assignment, I’ll get sent home, like I’ve wanted all along. But something tugs inside me urging me on, to see if I can do this, to prove to myself that I do belong here. And if my assignments are going to be help capture dangerous criminals, really how could I say no?
    And then there’s the whole avoiding going home to face my ex thing. Piper might hate me for it, but the idea of staying here a bit longer, avoiding seeing Wes and working on my hacking skills appeals to me.
    I flip open the folder again, and glance down at his photo. I’m sure hacking into a British site wouldn’t be against US law. And besides, I’m just gathering information. My general rule of thumb is that if I’m capable of getting in, they practically deserve to be hacked.
    I hear someone approach and look up to see Colt. He’s leaning casually against the doorframe and watching me with a crooked smile. 

 
    Chapter 8

    I lean against the doorframe and watch Taylor work on her laptop. She has a tiny crease in between her brows and chews on the end of a pen with enthusiasm. It’s more than a little distracting. She looks so absorbed that I don’t want to startle her. I clear my throat, signaling my presence. Her eyes dart up to mine, and the pen falls from her open mouth.
    I step inside the room and she watches me with rapt attention. “I was going to come