The next day, we started to pour over the data that Mark had stolen. "I think we've got a lot here," Mark said as he skimmed the file headers. "I recognize a lot of these businesses, they're ones that the Confederation used to launder their money."
"That's a lot of businesses," I said as we looked at the long list of file folders. Even on the huge thirty inch monitor we were plugged into, the list of names filled the screen. "How are we going to get through them all?"
“We probably won't need to," Mark said. "If we take down random ones, it'll put pressure on the others. Since I know quite a few of them myself, I was actually thinking of saving some of those for last. Let Sal Giordano and the rest of the Confederation keep guessing. Also, we don't have to take down these companies. We can just monitor them, get the dirt on them, and then turn them over to the Feds. Even if the FBI is pretty incompetent, they have their uses."
"You don't like the FBI, I take it."
Mark chuckled. "Considering the rings I ran around them for years? Nah. But I give the FBI credit on one thing. Once they know where to apply pressure, they are like millstones, they grind very very fine. We just have to make sure that we're not in their path when they let loose their juggernaut."
"Can you do it?" I asked. Mark grinned and nodded.
"Of course. With this amount of data, it's not a matter of if the FBI will get involved, but when."
Our conversation was interrupted as Tabby Williams buzzed for entrance. We were on the fourth floor of the Smiley Headquarters, far enough away from the noise and music of the gym on the first floor that we could work uninterrupted. After buzzing her in, Mark shut down the files we were looking at and went back to his normal desktop. Tabby may have known our real identities, but there was no reason to put her at risk by letting her in on more secrets than she already knew. "Hey you guys."
I could tell as soon as she came in the door that something was different with her. Tabby was always bubbly, but this was almost perky. "Hey Tabby. What's up?"
"Oh, just wanted to drop off some more files for your perusal," Tabby said, practically skipping across the floor. "How's life in Mount Zion?"
"Good," Mark replied, turning towards her. "You seem rather chipper this morning. Get some extra caffeine in your latte or something?"
"I just had a really good night last night, that's all," Tabby said, starting to blush. I looked at Mark, who nodded.
"What was his name?" Mark asked with a smile. "And just how good a night was it?"
"Marcus Smiley!" Tabby said in mock outrage. I was glad that Tabby knew Mark more under his assumed alias than as Mark Snow, because you could tell she was being flippant and not really thinking. "I will let you know, Sir, that despite all appearances, I am a very hard to please woman. In fact, I'm just the sort to take home to your mother for Sunday dinner."
"Uh-huh. So is he or she cute?"
Tabby rolled her eyes and nodded. "Yes, HE is very cute. But more than that, he was a total gentleman the whole time. In fact, we only kissed once, when he walked me to the door of my apartment."
I was surprised. Tabby was no slut, but she rarely played hard to get like this. "Really? And you're seeing him again?"
Tabby smiled and started giggling. "Tonight, in fact."
I was flabbergasted. "Whoa, two dates in two nights with the same guy? He must be a good one."
"He is. Listen, I'd love to tell the two of you all about it, but I just barely had time to drop these files off before getting to the office. I have a meeting in thirty minutes that I can't be late for."
"Okay. Well, give me a call tomorrow or something, we can talk all about it," I said, picking up the inch thick pile of file folders. "And when do you need these back?"
"I don't," she replied, heading for the elevator. "Those are your copies now. See you!"
As quickly as she arrived, Tabby was gone, the elevator taking her down stairs. I turned to Mark, who had a careful look on his face. "What is it?"
"Have you ever known anyone interested in Tabby who was willing to settle for just a kiss at her front door at the end of a good date?"
"No, but that doesn't mean it can't happen," I said. "Maybe Tabby has finally run into a guy who will treat her with respect and admiration. Trust me, when that happens, it feels great for a woman."
I saw Mark blush, and he turned back to his computer without a reply. "Okay, well, could you start taking a look at the businesses while I work my way through the files from last night?"