Free Green-Eyed Monster by Gill McKnight Page B

her cross to bear that Victoria Gresham had problems processing her own sexual needs and behavior.
    “There’s still not a lot of money in her new accounts yet,” Victoria said, shifting things back to the task at hand. She brought out a bottle of cognac and poured them each a glass. “We need to somehow figure out how to get into them and get my money back out.” Victoria was anxious to understand everything about Ginette’s actions. “Why is she moving so slowly?”
    “I told you. She’s smurfing. It’s a slow but sure way to sneak money around. Next time you look, you could be cleaned out.” Mickey shrugged. “So think about those numbers. I need to break her security. And remember, even though she set up several accounts, the cognitive processes should be recognizable. Once I crack one, the rest will be easier to break.”
    “God, it’s such a unique science.”
    “Part psychology, part geek, but for the most part, human error. People are lazy when it comes to online security. They don’t want to do anything that taxes them too much.” She shook her head. “Look at how easy your ex located all your security details the moment your back was turned.”
    “Oh yes, well, there were dozens and dozens of them,” Victoria said. “She had to burrow deep into my laptop to find that index, let me tell you. I still can’t believe she managed it. I’m very well organized when it comes to money.” I’d love to burrow in your laptop. Mickey’s gaze dropped to Victoria’s denimed thighs curled up on the seat with her feet tucked under. God, the cognac’s greased my wits . Concentrate on the business at hand. You already know her opinion of you. She’s sexually hung up and thinks you molested her, for God’s sake.
    Don’t let her catch you looking at her like a moonstruck cow.
    Mickey took another small sip and felt the glow run all the way down to her belly. She sneaked another peek across at Victoria snuggled up in the massive armchair, her blond head haloed with soft lamplight. She felt the warm glow slip a little farther south. The mellow amber swirled in the depths of her glass, Mickey went back to scrying its contents, unaccountably sad that when the purest passion finally entered her life, it was for a woman who thought so little of her. And rightly so.
    “Are you sure you can do this?” Victoria looked deep into Mickey’s eyes, trying to calculate the odds. But she found their blue intensity behind the glass lenses almost too distracting. “It seems like a long shot. What are the actual chances?” She pulled her mind back into focus. Her confidence was wavering. This was the worst run of luck she’d ever endured in her life. Kidnapped, embezzled, powerless…she hated it. It also didn’t help that she’d been stupid enough to go gooey over her abductor; to sleep with her, and watch her out of the corner of her eye at every opportunity like some silly schoolgirl. Her cold, clinical life was completely out of balance. She felt she was losing her grip on everything, her mojo, her money, her mind!
    “It’s up to you.” Mickey shrugged. “Even as we speak, your money is hemorrhaging out of your offshore accounts. Our only advantage is we know the depository, and the identity of the accounts she holds in it.” She took Victoria’s hand in hers.
    “Look, I have a program that permutates all this information into the most favorable output.” She waggled the sheet of paper. “It’s worth a try. What have you got to lose, except millions?” Two hours later, and the permutation program was still running. Mickey glowered at Victoria, who either paced around her small office or sat wriggling on the chair next to hers, poking at her lucky troll doll collection, playing with her pencils, snapping her glasses case open and shut, and generally messing with her neat desktop. Finally, she lost patience.
    “Look, go away and make a sandwich or something, would you? You’re annoying the hell out of