The one on the far left, a brown haired man with a scar under one eye cleared his throat. “I'm John Duggan.” He said. “Senior technical officer for the Coast Guard.”
Aw. Leave it to the coasties to speak up first. “Hi John.”
“We really don't know who you are, ma'am.” He said. “Except some civilian woman from some civilian company we've never heard of, who we're supposed to cooperate with.”
The other men looked guardedly grateful at the words but kept their eyes on Dar.
“Fair enough.” Dar said. “I am some civilian woman from some civilian company you've never heard of because the company was just formed a couple weeks ago. Prior to that, I was the CIO of ILS. Which is also a civilian company but one you might possibly have heard of.” Dar observed the nods. “I left there and started my own company and the very first contract I signed was the one that has me here in this room.”
“You know the General.” John stated.
“I do. Or more to the point, the General's known me since I was born.” Dar stated mildly. “My father is retired Navy. So though I'm some civilian woman from some civilian company the service isn't as alien to me as you might think.”
A thin, middle aged man with dark hair and glasses regarded her. “You're Andy's kid.” He stated flatly. “You look like him.”
Dar nodded again, and smiled. “I am, and I do.”
“Ken Charles.” The man said. “Head of Naval intelligence systems. So that explains why you're here, but doesn't really explain what the hell we're supposed to do with you.” He stated. “I know all about this scheme of the Joint chief's to get us all communicating but what they don't know, and what I assume you do know, is it ain't that easy.”
Dar rested her chin on her hand. “True statement.”
“Our systems aren't compatible.” John agreed. “We all know it, we all live with it. Those goompahs up top think they can just wave their arms around and make that not the case. Well, they can't.”
“We'd have to all change to new systems.” A third man spoke up, young and blond and with a ferocious crew cut. “Aside from money, which ain't' coming to do that, we're at war. No time to mess around with intelligence systems.” He gave Dar a truculent look. “Dan Draper. Army.” He added, pointing with his thumb at a fourth man. “This is Daddy Perkins He's my tech lead.”
Daddy was a cherubic looking man of middle age, with round, astonished eyes and pink cheeks. “Hello.” He said. “What he said.” He pointed back at Draper. “These guys don't know what they're asking.”
A little silence fell. Dar waited, to see if anything else was going to be offered. She had her arms folded over her chest and she was leaning against the white board. “You all finished?” She asked, after the silence had lengthened enough to be uncomfortable.
They nodded, after glancing at each other.
“Okay.” Dar turned and picked up one of the white board markers. “So let me just run down what I committed to Gerry to get done, then we can sit and argue about it.”
“Gonna be a long day.” Draper commented.
“That's all right by me.” Dar responded, as she sketched. “I just need a break to go meet the president. Then I'll be back to argue all night if you want.”
“Ah.” John grunted. “What's he want from you?”
“That was my second contract.”
“Holy crap.”
“That's what I said.”
Kerry regarded the man sitting across from her with some bemusement. “So, Carlos, Mark tells me you're an artist?”
The big, square jawed man across from her dwarfing her chair nodded. “I paint.” He said. “And I do .. three dimensional stuff? Like metal sculpture and carved leather.”
“Really.” Kerry said. “That's impressive. I'm always blown out by people who can do art. My mother in law's an artist.”
“Yeah?” The man said. “Local?”
“She lives off South Beach. Cecilia Roberts.” Kerry saw the start of recognition. “I see you've heard of her.”
“Sure. Seen her stuff in the galleries down there. Nice.” He said. “But y'know, unless you're mainstream it don't always pay the bills.”
“That's what she says too.” Kerry agreed. “So you freelance as a security guard?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I lift weights and stuff, and I look the part.” He grinned. “But I'm always booked for late shift, or mids, y'know? And I like to work on my stuff at night. Doesn't work for me during day hours for some reason.”
Kerry leaned forward and rested her elbows on her desk. “Well, that would work for us, because at least right now, we're closed at night. We work pretty much eight to eight. We kinda need someone around.”
“Mark told me. He was freaked.”
“I was freaked, he was freaked, my partner was freaked.. it was just a full on freak show here.” Kerry agreed. “But also, we're working on some government contracts, and we think it would be a good idea to have some security around.” She tapped a pencil on the desk. “You interested?”
He nodded. “I like Mark. We went to school together.” He said. “I knew he was tied up with that big company and that's not my style. This is different.”
“Not most of our styles, apparently.” Kerry's eyes twinkled. “So we can do this one of two ways. We can hire you on direct, or, if you want, if you have a company of your own, we can contract you.”
He was already shaking his head. “Don't ask me to do all that company stuff. I can't even do my paperwork for my art.” He said. “I”ll come work for you, and I've got some buddies, if you get like you need night guards, that would love to do some hours too, this is a nice area.”
“Most of the time.”
“Those vet guys... I seen them.” Carlos said. “I think I can handle them.”
“I think you can too.” Kerry agreed. “To be honest, I”m pretty sure Dar could have handled them, but you know we're business owners and respectable women, so I think it's better to hire some nice, big strong guys instead.”
Carlos chuckled. “I've been hearing about Dar for like twenty years.” He admitted. “Be cool to finally meet her. Mark's got all kinda stories.”
“Yes he does.” Kerry smiled. “She'll be back tomorrow. But for now, let's walk you down to personnel, and we can get you started, and, also, we can talk about what kind of money you want.”
“Right on.” He stood up, towering over her. “Mostly us contract guards, we get minimum wage. No one sticks around real long.”
“Probably that's why.” Kerry led the way towards the stairs. “I think someone with your experience should be worth more than that, don't you?”
“Oh, lady, I like you already.”
Dar leaned back in her chair and folded her arms, rocking her head back and forth a little to loosen the muscles on either side of her neck. “Next objection?”
The door opened, and Gerry poked his head in. “Dar? Car's here from the White House for you.” He looked at the scribbled full white board, and the scattering of notepads with boxes and lines on them on the table. “We doing all right, boys?”
Dar stood up and pushed her chair in. “Let me go meet with them, Gerry, so these guys can answer you honestly.” She winked at the group, then slipped out past Easton where an aide was waiting. “You for me?”
The aide nodded, and smiled. “I've been assigned to accompany you, Ms. Roberts.” He said politely. “Please follow me.”
Dar amiably did. “Least I have my drivers license this time.” She commented.
“Ma'am?”
“Last time I went to the White House, I had no ID.” Dar said. “Day or two after 9/11.”