Viking Bay Read Online Free

large.
    â€œI’m Kay Hamilton,” she said. “I have an appointment with Ms. Mercer.”
    The man nodded, as if he’d been expecting her, and said, “I need to wand you before you go in.”
    â€œWand me?”
    â€œFor weapons and eavesdropping devices.”
    â€œOkay,” Kay said, wondering what in the hell these people did that required such precautions.
    The receptionist stood up—although it was hard to think of a guy who was six-foot-six and built like the Incredible Hulk as a receptionist. Holstered on his belt was a Dirty Harry .44 Magnum with a seven-inch barrel and a walnut grip.
Whoa
. He passed a standard metal detector over Kay, then some other device the size of a pack of cigarettes with an antenna sticking out of it. Apparently satisfied that she was neither packing heat nor wired for sound, he picked up the phone and said, “Anna, Kay Hamilton is here.”
    A moment later, Anna Mercer opened the door behind the receptionist’s desk and waved Kay toward her. As she passed through the door, Kay noticed a keypad next to it for entering a cybercode.
    Mercer’s office was beautifully decorated, but windowless and not very large. She had a glass-topped table she used for a desk, and Kay thought it might be an antique because the legs were gilded and elaborately carved. On the floor was a thick Oriental carpet that looked expensive and on the table was a Tiffany-style lamp, a laptop, a normal phone, and a second phone that Kay recognized as a Stu III encrypted phone. In one corner was a Gardall safe with a large combination lock. Above the safe was an oil painting depicting a canal in Venice that looked as if it had been painted by some famous old-time artist; Kay didn’t know anything about art.
    Next to Mercer’s desk, resting regally in a wicker basket, was a large, snow-white Persian cat with aquamarine eyes. Mercer noticed Kay looking at the animal and said, “That’s Scarlett. She’s not in a good mood this morning.”
    Kay didn’t know what to say in response to that. She was also surprised that a seemingly no-nonsense person like Mercer would bring a pet to work.
    Like the last time Kay had seen Mercer, the woman was dressed in a gorgeous suit—this one hunter green with matching high heels, which Kay loved. If she ever got to know Mercer better, she was going to ask where she shopped. Mercer pointed Kay to one of the two chairs in front of her desk and pushed a manila folder toward her.
    â€œThat’s your nondisclosure agreement. Read it if you want, but if you don’t like something in it, too bad. We’re not going to change a word. Sign it on the last page.”
    â€œI haven’t agreed that I’m going to work for you yet,” Kay said.
    â€œThe nondisclosure agreement covers everything you’ve done in connection with the Callahan Group since the day we met in San Diego. You need to sign it before we proceed any further.”
    Kay opened the folder and saw a twelve-page document written in incomprehensible legal gibberish. She flipped through the pages—she didn’t bother to read every word—and signed it. She figured: What the hell. If she ever felt like disclosing something, a piece of paper wasn’t going to stop her.
    â€œOkay,” Mercer said. “It’s time for you to meet Callahan.”
    â€”
    KAY FOLLOWED MERCER down a long, narrow corridor. She noticed another surveillance camera as they were walking. They passed several closed doors—Kay didn’t hear anyone behind the doors—until they came to an office at the end of the hall. There was another camera above this door. Mercer rapped, the door lock clicked, and Mercer pushed open the door.
    The man behind the desk was gray-haired and overweight, and the first word that came to mind when Kay saw him was
rumpled
. He was wearing a blue shirt that had never been introduced to an iron and a baggy gray