Free Maggie Undercover by Elysa Hendricks Page B

moved all critical operations out
of harm's way. It was Daniel's job inside the company to make sure
the hacker did no more damage and got no further information on the
company's latest project.
    Reed Software pockets were deep, but they
expected value for their money. If something didn't give soon,
Daniel would end the operation. Reed Software would plug the holes
in their security system and move on. Before that happened Maggie
was determined to find the hacker. By doing so she'd make her
reputation in the industry and prove to Daniel and herself that she
was ready to branch out on her own. She just wasn't sure anymore
how to accomplish her goal.
    "Hey, Maggie," Bradley Morrison called.
    She turned to meet the gangly boy trotting
down the hall toward her. One of the youngest members of the
computer club, skinny, with round spectacles that gave him an
owlish appearance, he was the stereotypical computer geek and after
Jared Blake Maggie's second most likely suspect. But so far her
investigation showed him to be just what he looked like, a shy
sophomore boy more comfortable with bits and bytes than flesh and
blood people.
    The fact that he had worked up the nerve to
call her name in public surprised her. Usually, unless talking
about a computer program, he communicated in mumbles and
grunts.
    "Hi, Bradley. What's up?" She liked this boy.
He reminded her of her own difficult teenage years when she
struggled to fit in and never quite did.
    He skidded to a stop in front of her. Several
students gave them surprised looks but moved on at Maggie's
glare.
    "Well, um, I thought that, well, you know,
ah, it's Halloween and I thought, ah, that well maybe, um, you'd
want to, you know, go out with me. To Trick or Treat."
    Maggie's mouth dropped open that this awkward
fifteen-year-old boy, a boy almost young enough to be her son, had
the courage to ask her out.
    "I can't. I already have plans. I'm going
with Mr. Blake and his daughter," she blurted.
    Color reddened his face. Just before he
ducked his head his eyes narrowed changing his appearance from an
eager puppy to a vicious pit bull. "That's okay. You and Mr. Blake
are getting chummy lately. I understand." He didn't sound
understanding. He sounded angry
    Before she could say anything else, he turned
and hurried off.
    "Damn," she swore under her breath. She'd
blown that. The male ego, especially the teenage male ego was
fragile.
    The bell rang and she moved into her last
class for the day, Algebra. Distracted by her thoughts she let the
laughter and conversation roll over her unheard until she was
settled in her seat. Another bell rang and she looked up. Her mouth
dropped open again.
    Jared Blake stood at the front of the
classroom wearing a costume straight out of Sleeping Beauty. Tan
tights covered his thighs like a second skin. Over a deep green
turtleneck he wore a tan, sleeveless, thigh-length vest. A wide,
black belt emphasized his lean waist and muscular chest. Black
boots rose to his knees. Fastened at his throat, a bright red cape
was flung back over his shoulders. All that was missing was a sword
and shield.
    Muffled male laughter and whispered feminine
appreciation rang throughout the room. Try as she did to
concentrate on Algebraic equations, the rest of the period passed
in a blur.
    At the end of class she gathered up her
things and tried to slip out.
    "A moment please, Ms. McCade."
    Reluctantly, Maggie waited as the rest of the
class filed out then turned to Jared. "Prince Phillip I
presume?"
    His cheeks darkened. "Alexandra insisted. She
wouldn't let me out of the house this morning without this get
up."
    "You look cute."
    Jared groaned. "Cute?" Dressed in a
voluminous black robe as the evil fairy, Millificent from the
Sleeping Beauty tale, she looked adorable. Though she wore a cheap
black wig some of her own hair had escaped. Against the ratty rayon
hanks the blonde strands glowed like spun gold.
    "Not handsome?"
    "Okay, handsome." Her eyes sparkled in
amusement.
    He