Read Online Executive Dirt: A Sedona O'Hala Mystery by Maria Schneider - Free Book Online

Latin had possibly gotten on Joe’s phone.
    “The code existed in a past build. The only weird thing is that Kovid seemed to think the code had been deleted.”
    “Can Joe have added it again?”
    I hesitated. “He had access.  Even I have access to the build server. But I don’t think he knew how to change code in and out. I doubt he did it, which makes things even more strange.”
    “Okay,” Mark acknowledged. “Are you going to pass this along to your brother for the police?”
    “Shouldn’t I wait for them to ask? I’m still not sure whether or not it was Joe’s personal phone, although the voice assistant was in his voice.”
    Mark didn’t argue the point. “I’ll let Radar in on what you told me.  It would be a good idea if he were hired on there. He might be able to track who added code and when just in case it’s important.”
    “That’s a good idea, but I don’t think it will work. I’ve heard rumors we’re under a hiring freeze until we get the first product out.”
    “Oh really? Money must be tight or running out. When the money leaves, some people get desperate.”
    “Desperate enough to kill Joe, anyway.  But I’m not sure how him being dead helps anyone.” I sighed. “I’ll check some basic things. I already know how to access the code if I want to, and Joe could have done the same. It would still take someone with brains to add that code back in. I don’t think he could do it.”
    “Okay.  Should I stop by tonight? And bring Chinese?”
    “Definitely.”
    “Enough for your parents too?”
    “They’re having dinner at Sean’s.  Mom is cooking over there so we’re good.”
    I ate my sandwich on the way back upstairs.  Gosh, working for a startup sure was fun.

Chapter 10
     
    The only reason I was able to sneak out of work at six was because Cary was busy writing up his memoirs in the form of a lengthy thesis on why he should be listed on the patent as the number one inventor. He’d already sent around two drafts.
    There hadn’t been nearly enough quiet moments in my life lately, but at least Mark met me in my driveway after work. He had Chinese food in hand.
    “Radar had a date so he couldn’t make it, but he said to ask whether the old version of code containing the Pig Latin was still readily available if someone went looking.” 
    I nodded. “I checked the server.  All the old builds are still available, including the Pig Latin modules.”  I led the way inside, turning on lights and setting my backpack down before grabbing dishes from the cupboard.
    “In that case anyone could have changed a few lines to call the Pig Latin code back into the latest build?”
    I nodded again. “Anyone who knew what they were doing.  I just don’t know why anyone would bother, and if Joe did it, that’s not really enough of a reason to kill him.”  I finished setting plates out. The serger was in the way, but Mark moved it off the table.
    “It does seem like it would be easier to take the code back out than kill him.”
    “He was pretty annoying. Maybe the Pig Latin code was the last straw for someone.” I shrugged. “I forgot to tell you that Cary took credit for hiring Joe today.” I gave him more details about the patent meeting.
    “Was Cary smart enough to put the Pig Latin back in there? Perhaps he thought he’d get a patent?”
    “The Pig Latin angle on a patent probably didn’t occur to him before today because it isn’t patentable. He’s grasping at straws and trying to make a house out of them.”
    “Was Joe dumb enough to think he’d make it on a patent?”
    “I doubt he even knew anything about patents. He’s more the type to have thought he could use Pig Latin as a secret code to impress people. Huntington seemed to think Joe was involved in moving or selling stolen contraband. Maybe Joe thought it was worth talking someone into putting the code back in so that he could use it to set up the deliveries of the stolen goods.”
    “Considering these