Free Essentially Human by Maureen O. Betita

old age, all at once. I want everything we can find on this woman. It’s possible Hammer has corrupted every official electronic file, but she still has fans and archived fan club material.” She addressed Drum. “You’re old warhorse desktop will be the only electric archive. Print everything and stash it in your safe room. We all know where the cameras and recording devices are at the office, do nothing when in sight or hearing. We’ll meet for coffee every morning for an informal report, at the Starbucks on Halsey Drive. Otherwise, the team holds all reports for my home, where I have installed a dampening device, or here, in Drum’s basement.”
    “You need someone outside the office.”
    Hermione waved at Drum’s youngest son, refusing to be shocked at his eavesdropping. “Jermaine. How long have you been listening in?”
    “I know that bastard Hammer is trying to frame Uncle Monty. You need an outsider and it’s gonna be me. I’m as good as Agent Dancer. And I’ll work off the radar.” Jermaine stared his father down.
    Hermione shrugged. “Drum, you know he’s good. Is he that good?”
    The large black man glanced away, then turned to address her. “Yeah. He’s that good.”
    “Fine. You follow the same safety measures as the rest of us. You don’t talk to your friends, the only person you talk to is your father. In person, no cell phones.”
    “You know, there is one format you guys are missing when it comes to chatting.” Jermaine moved into the room to perch on the old fashioned pool table.
    “What’s that?” If the kid had a good idea, she’d listen.
    “The RPG rooms. No one monitors that. You already play, Professor.”
    “Oh, you know that?” She knew Drum’s son was a computer genius and if he could help, she’d use him.
    “Sure, but we need one of the huge ones. They are impossible to track.”
    She had to give the kid credit. It was a good idea. And Sam knew her handle, they’d run up against each other. Even teamed up a few times. She looked at Harold. “You play Ringsearch?”
    “I have, been awhile.”
    “What’s your handle?”
    “He’s Sigurd.” Jermaine snickered. “Haldor’s second in command.”
    “How the hell do you know that?”
    Drum’s son smiled. “No magic, man. I lifted your cell two years ago and saw the e-mail from your teammate.” He held up his hands. “I had no business doing it, just being a shithead. I know better now. Ask Dad, I went through some crime time.”
    “He did. He doesn’t do things like that anymore.”
    “You claimed to know mine. How’d you get that one?”
    “I stood next to Monty once as he closed down a battle where you two had just beat down a pack of Orcs.” Jermaine winked.
    Hermione laughed. “Okay, you’re right. That is a good idea. Drum, who are you in Middle Earth?”
    “The Ebony Wizard.”
    “Of course. And you, Jermaine?”
    “Dauri. Sam is Gimlad.”
    “Okay, take notes and use the chat room sparingly. Jermaine, where do you want to start?” The kid had a good idea, let’s see which way he’d run.
    Jermaine turned his face to the ceiling and closed his eyes. She studied the young man. Born late to Drum and his wife, he still lived at home, but she knew he spent most of his time helping out his mother with her home-based business while attending the occasional class at the local junior college. His IQ was off the charts.
    “You guys are best with the official data. And if you go near Hammer, he’ll nail you to the wall. I can’t get at him directly, but…I can do sideways. He funds a second chance program at the JC.”
    “Nope, he’ll know who you are through your dad.”
    “Not if I use my friend’s student ID. Todd and I could be twins.”
    “He’s right about that.” Drum nodded.
    “You know that isn’t enough to get by his security,” Harold stated.
    “I wouldn’t count on that, I’m not stupid. For one thing, he isn’t going to run a ninth level of hell security check on