Free Target by Connie Suttle Page A

time?"
    "I've checked out the market; there are several shops around doing the same thing. I don't think another feed and seed would be a wise investment."
    "And the beaches are glutted with souvenir and clothing shops," Ashe agreed. He'd already checked that for himself.
    "I see you've done your homework," Adele smiled. "But there isn't a bookshop in Port Aransas. I think it would have to be a new and used, with a coffee shop and free wi-fi, but I think we could make it work. Especially if we sold soft drinks and treats, too. The space can't be too large or the rent won't be cost effective. So we'll have to make wise use of a small shop."
    "How long will it take to sell the old store?" Ashe asked.
    "I don't know hon. Jason called and said somebody came by yesterday, but he thinks it was just a tire kicker."
    Ashe smiled at his mother's vernacular. A tire kicker was someone there to look only, more than likely. It came from the car sales industry, he imagined.
    The doorbell rang while they sat together, dreaming up ideas for a bookstore near the beach. "I'll get it," Ashe said, sliding off his barstool.
    "Nobody said I couldn't visit," Marco walked in with Marcus. Adele, who'd followed Ashe, gave Marco a hug. He grinned at Ashe's mother. "You may not want to hug me when I tell you what I came for," he was still grinning. "But I have to make a phone call, first." Marco hit a number on speed dial. Ashe heard it ring on the other end. He also recognized the voice when it picked up. Winkler .
    "Mrs. Evans is here, Mr. Winkler," Marco handed the phone to Adele.
    "Mrs. Evans?" Winkler said. Ashe could hear every word clearly. Marcus stood by, listening in.
    "Mr. Winkler?" Adele said. "What can I do for you?"
    "I hear Shirley Walker wants to put your son to work in the groves."
    "She has offered jobs to the kids who are sixteen or older. Ashe turns sixteen on Sunday."
    "I want to offer a job to Ashe as well. And it won't be twelve-hour days in the heat at minimum wage."
    "Mr. Winkler, that sounds dangerous to me."
    "It shouldn't be. He'll be working at the house with me. Seems word slipped out that he hacked into someone's computer before he was twelve. Now, I won't name any names, but those kinds of skills are valuable to me. I like to know which banks I provide security for are vulnerable. I'd like to give Ashe a crack at them and see if he can get past their electronic security, among other things. Send him to me for the summer, Mrs. Evans. He'll be constantly surrounded by my own security guards and paid a lot better. Talk it over with Ashe and your husband. I'd like an answer by Sunday evening, if that's possible."
    "I was going to take him for his driving test on Monday," Adele sounded stunned.
    "He can take it there or here. It doesn't matter. And I'll make sure he doesn't get into trouble."
    Ashe stared at Marco, who gave him a grin as he took the phone from Adele.
    "Ashe, do you want to do this?" His mother's golden-brown eyes searched his face.
    Ashe considered it for a moment. It only took that long, after all. "Yeah, I think I'd like to try it."
    "I think we'll have a sit-down soon and talk about hacking into computers, young man," Adele added. Marco laughed. Ashe knew the information had been passed from Cori to Marco, and then from Marco to Winkler. Ashe had hacked into Principal Billings' computer—twice—because Cori asked him to. The first time had been to check her math grade, not to change it, and the second was to look into Randy Smith's file that Billings had on his office computer. Billings knew about the first time. Likely didn't know about the second. Ashe wasn't about to own up to that.
    "Look," Ashe reached out and tapped the front of Marco's shirt, causing Marco to look downward. Ashe flipped Marco's nose as he did so. Marcus burst out laughing.
    * * *
    "Son, I know you're still upset." Aedan sat on the end of Ashe's bed. It was Friday night and Ashe knew that Marco had taken Cori, Sali, Dori, Wynn, and