Read Online The Flinck Connection (Book 4) (Genevieve Lenard) by Estelle Ryan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Estelle Ryan
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me that she was having fun at Manny’s expense.
A full minute passed while Francine worked on the computers, her face and body relaxed. Manny’s posture was becoming increasingly rigid, his breathing louder through flared nostrils. Vinnie and Colin had once watched a movie with a scene where two cars were racing towards each other as if planning a head-on collision. Vinnie had called it playing chicken. This situation between Manny and Francine was reminding me of that scene and I wondered who was going to concede first.
“For Pete’s sake, supermodel!” Manny slammed both hands down on Francine’s desk and leaned closer to her. “Talk to me.”
Francine finished typing something, clicked with the mouse a few times before she slowly lifted her eyes to meet Manny’s. “Hey, sexy. What do you want to talk about?”
“I want you to talk about the security in this room.” Tension was causing Manny’s throat to constrict, making the words sound strangled.
“All the computers are secure.” Her voice had the same tone she used when she was flirting with the waiter at her favourite wine bar. I had visited that establishment with her on two occasions. She lowered her eyelashes and slowly lifted them again, a typical nonverbal flirtation indicator. “I double-checked all the computers as soon as you guys left. Nothing managed to get past my supergeek security.”
“And do the walls have ears, little girl?” Manny only resorted to this name-calling when he was really annoyed with her.
Francine’s eyes widened and she threw her hands up, feigning sudden recall. “Oh my, how did I forget about that? Hah! Gotcha. We checked and found three bugs in this room.”
Manny straightened and looked down at Francine, the corners of his mouth turned down. “Stop screwing around with me. Tell me exactly what you found.”
“We found the bugs in all the places that weird man was,” Nikki said as she stood up. She walked over to Manny and put her arm through his. “You make it too easy for Francine to tease you.”
Manny turned to Nikki, none of the annoyance present on his face. “You helped them look for the bugs?”
“I found one.” Her shoulders pulled back and her chin lifted. “Vinnie said I would make a great spy.”
“But she’s never going to be one. Right, punk?”
“Sure, Vin. I don’t want to stress like you guys do.” Nikki pulled Manny’s arm and led him to the table. “Let Francine finish what she’s doing. I’ll tell you about the bugs. We found one on the doorframe where Weirdo was leaning, one under the table where he was sitting and one under Francine’s chair.”
“The chair he was sitting on,” Manny said. “Bastard.”
“That’s what Vinnie also said.” Nikki glanced at Vinnie. “And a few other things.”
When Nikki had first come into our lives, Francine had been very strict about the use of language. She didn’t want curse words used around Nikki. Her intent had been noble, but realistically it was impractical to expect of these men to eliminate swearing. I had noticed their efforts in toning down the use of strong language.
“Well? Did you disable all the bugs?” Manny asked.
“I crushed them,” Vinnie said with a cruel smile.
“Okay, listen carefully.” Manny turned back to Francine. “You too, supermodel.”
“I’m listening, handsome. I’m very good at multitasking.”
“Hmph. From now on we must be careful what we say, where we say it, and which computers we use for what. Supermodel will make sure that these two rooms and Doc’s apartment are clear of any electronic surveillance at all times.” Manny waited for Francine to nod before he continued. “This means that until we solve these cases, we only discuss it in here and at Doc’s apartment.”
“What about our cars?” I discussed a few of my ideas with Colin whenever we were travelling together.
“Too big a risk,” Francine said. “It’s easier to control access to buildings, but the
A full minute passed while Francine worked on the computers, her face and body relaxed. Manny’s posture was becoming increasingly rigid, his breathing louder through flared nostrils. Vinnie and Colin had once watched a movie with a scene where two cars were racing towards each other as if planning a head-on collision. Vinnie had called it playing chicken. This situation between Manny and Francine was reminding me of that scene and I wondered who was going to concede first.
“For Pete’s sake, supermodel!” Manny slammed both hands down on Francine’s desk and leaned closer to her. “Talk to me.”
Francine finished typing something, clicked with the mouse a few times before she slowly lifted her eyes to meet Manny’s. “Hey, sexy. What do you want to talk about?”
“I want you to talk about the security in this room.” Tension was causing Manny’s throat to constrict, making the words sound strangled.
“All the computers are secure.” Her voice had the same tone she used when she was flirting with the waiter at her favourite wine bar. I had visited that establishment with her on two occasions. She lowered her eyelashes and slowly lifted them again, a typical nonverbal flirtation indicator. “I double-checked all the computers as soon as you guys left. Nothing managed to get past my supergeek security.”
“And do the walls have ears, little girl?” Manny only resorted to this name-calling when he was really annoyed with her.
Francine’s eyes widened and she threw her hands up, feigning sudden recall. “Oh my, how did I forget about that? Hah! Gotcha. We checked and found three bugs in this room.”
Manny straightened and looked down at Francine, the corners of his mouth turned down. “Stop screwing around with me. Tell me exactly what you found.”
“We found the bugs in all the places that weird man was,” Nikki said as she stood up. She walked over to Manny and put her arm through his. “You make it too easy for Francine to tease you.”
Manny turned to Nikki, none of the annoyance present on his face. “You helped them look for the bugs?”
“I found one.” Her shoulders pulled back and her chin lifted. “Vinnie said I would make a great spy.”
“But she’s never going to be one. Right, punk?”
“Sure, Vin. I don’t want to stress like you guys do.” Nikki pulled Manny’s arm and led him to the table. “Let Francine finish what she’s doing. I’ll tell you about the bugs. We found one on the doorframe where Weirdo was leaning, one under the table where he was sitting and one under Francine’s chair.”
“The chair he was sitting on,” Manny said. “Bastard.”
“That’s what Vinnie also said.” Nikki glanced at Vinnie. “And a few other things.”
When Nikki had first come into our lives, Francine had been very strict about the use of language. She didn’t want curse words used around Nikki. Her intent had been noble, but realistically it was impractical to expect of these men to eliminate swearing. I had noticed their efforts in toning down the use of strong language.
“Well? Did you disable all the bugs?” Manny asked.
“I crushed them,” Vinnie said with a cruel smile.
“Okay, listen carefully.” Manny turned back to Francine. “You too, supermodel.”
“I’m listening, handsome. I’m very good at multitasking.”
“Hmph. From now on we must be careful what we say, where we say it, and which computers we use for what. Supermodel will make sure that these two rooms and Doc’s apartment are clear of any electronic surveillance at all times.” Manny waited for Francine to nod before he continued. “This means that until we solve these cases, we only discuss it in here and at Doc’s apartment.”
“What about our cars?” I discussed a few of my ideas with Colin whenever we were travelling together.
“Too big a risk,” Francine said. “It’s easier to control access to buildings, but the
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