“Cool.” Charles nodded. “That's what we think too, that people are going to like having things like that. So we want some programs that let people with phones like that interact with us. We want to be able to send them notes about specials, and have them text us back to hold one for them, or things like that.” He said. “We're a specialty grocery, you know? It's all about local for us.”
“”I get it. I live out on Fisher Island.” Kerry said. “We have that kind of personal relationship out there, where you can call and talk to a butcher whose name you know, and who knows you. It's sort of like recreating a small town thing.”
“Exactly!” Charles agreed. “So these ideas, how to really boost up local business, and not so much on a national level, is where our local management thinks we can take advantage of the consumer mindset right now.”
Kerry saw him to the door, and waved, and then detoured into the conference room to get a cup of coffee. “Hey.” She smiled, at the cafe runner who was replenishing the cart. “Just in time.”
“Hey Kerry.” The man smiled at her. “Heard you had a scare this morning.” He said. “What a bunch of jacktards those guys are. Gary told them not to come around asking for leftovers if they were going to act like that.” He offered her a small tray of neatly sliced pound cake. “Try the lemon. It's really good.”
Kerry selected a slice and bit into it. “Oh.” She swallowed hastily. “That is good. Really moist.”
He nodded. “Exactly – I don't like it when it's all dense and dried.” He put the tray down and swapped out a hot thermos of coffee. “Your honey around? They sent over this chocolate chocolate chip muffin for her.”
Kerry started laughing, perching on the conference room table. “Boy, it didn't take you long to zero in on her, did it? Dar's on her way to DC at the moment. She'll be back tomorrow.” She took the muffin. “I'll try it for her. But yeah, this morning wasn't much fun. I have to take a lot of blame for it though, I left the door open. Kinda dumb.”
“It's a company. You had the right to? We leave ours open when we're in there.” The man protested. “Guy had no right coming in here and messing with you. Especially that guy.”
Kerry cocked her head. “Why? I heard from the police he's some kind of minister?”
The man handed her a cup of coffee. “That's what he says. From what I heard, he picked that position so he wouldn't have to get shot at, but still get all the perks of being in the military.” He wiped around the cart. “Anyway, gotta get back to the shop. Enjoy the muffin.” He winked, and took the old coffee thermos as he left her to ponder.
Kerry dropped into a seat and leaned back, breaking off a piece of the muffin and chewing it as she sipped. She checked her watch, then as if in response, her gizmo buzzed in her pocket. She put her coffee down and removed it, smiling when she saw the caller id. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Dar's voice echoed softly, with the background of a busy airport behind her. “Heading to the Pentagon. How'd your meetings go?”
“Really well, and glad you got there all right.” Kerry said. “Call me after you meet Dubya.”
“Ah heh. Yeah.” Her partner sighed. “Later.”
Kerry released the line and put the gizmo down on the table, a smile still on her face. “Hope someone takes a picture.” She said. “Hey, wonder if that's going to be a publicity thing?” She asked aloud. “That would be crazy publicity.”
She finished the muffin and dusted her fingers off, then picked up her coffee and returned to her office. “What a day.” She commented to Mayte as she crossed through the outer office. “I've got two more meetings, right?”
“Yes.” Mayte agreed. “Florida Power and Light, and someone to see you from the Qwest.”
“Ah yes.” Kerry went to her desk and circled it. “Someone who wants to sell me something rather than hire us.” She checked her mail, and opened one. “Ah.”
Her security presenter from the previous day. She propped her chin on her fist and regarded the note, viewing it now from a slightly different perspective. There was something in her that resisted having security at the door, no matter how creepy the morning had been, and, as she reminded Dar, despite what the man had threatened he really hadn't done any more than talk.
Just talk. Hot air.
Would he have done more? Kerry felt instinctively he wouldn't have, though she really didn't have any solid hard reason why she did.
A soft knock came at the door and she looked up. “C'mon in.”
It opened, and Mark's head poked inside. “Hey.”
Kerry motioned him forward. “Come. Did I say thank you to you for rushing in here to save me this morning?”
Mark chuckled and came inside, walking over and dropping into one of Kerry's visitor seats. “So listen.” He said. “No problem about the ride in. Dar was pretty freaked out.”
“I know.”
“I got this guy who's a family friend.” Mark said. “He's a freelance security guard.”
“Uh huh.” Kerry let him talk it out, though she could plainly see where it was going.
“He's also an artist.” Mark pushed his train onto an unexpected track. “He likes painting and stuff, and he does security to pay the bills. Anyway, I thought maybe you might want to bring him on for now, until we can sort out the alarm systems and monitoring and all that stuff.”
Kerry leaned back. “Like a freelance?”
Mark nodded. “He's not real corporate.” He said. “I wouldn't have suggested him for the old place, but he's a real good, solid guy, and he's got some buddies he can bring in to trade off.”
That seemed more appealing to her than bringing in a security firm. “Okay.” Kerry decided. “I like that idea. I don't really want uniformed guys marching around in here. I don't want us to have that kind of culture in this place.”
Mark nodded, and grinned. “Yeah thought so.”
“So bring your guy in and let's meet him.” Kerry said. “And his buddies.”
“Will do.” Mark stood up. “I called him earlier, so he's waiting for me to call back. Okay for him to come over now?”
“Yup.” Kerry leaned forward. “I would love to tell Dar we worked out security while she was in DC.” She said. “Before she has to go and meet the president.”
Mark stopped in mid motion and looked at her, both dark eyebrows hiking up. “Say what?”
“Yeah. She's bummed. But maybe if they make it a photo op we'll make the Washington Post and get some business out of it.” Kerry winked at him.
“As long as she doesn't pop him one.” Mark said. “That could be more publicity than we need, y'know?”
“Oh I'm sure she won't do that.” Kerry said. “She's way too smart, right?”
Mark eyed her skeptically, then disappeared out the door, shaking his head.
“Right?” Kerry asked her faint reflection in the monitor.. “She won't hit the president. She's way too smart for that.”
“All right, boys. Now pay attention to Dar, and lets get this rolling.” Gerry looked pointedly at the half dozen men sitting in the room, then nodded briskly at the one woman standing at the front of it. “Go on then. I'll go get some chow arranged.” Gerry walked to the door, which was opened by his aide, and disappeared.
The men all looked at Dar, who looked back at them in a long moment of uncomfortable silence.
“Well.” Dar finally broke it. “I guess we can start with hello, my name is Dar Roberts and I'm the solutions architect for your new database system.”
The eyes watching her were dubious, to say the least.
Dar absorbed that wryly. “I know none of you are deaf mutes. Gerry would have warned me.”
She could see the wary shift at her casual use of the General's first name. “So what is it? You don't trust civs, you don't trust women, you don't like girls who are taller than you are? I won't bite you.”