O Lord & the Queen - Elizabeth Stevens Page 0,1

think criminals would have some decent hackers, so I guessed the authorities figured it was only a matter of time before someone followed my e-footprints back to their source.

“Mr Olafson said the security company was organising their team to get you someone as soon as possible. Could be this afternoon, could be tomorrow.”

“That soon?” came out as a squeak and I cleared my throat.

“Yeah. He was going to give me a heads’ up to send you up to his office to meet them.”

“You mean I’m going to have to leave the Dungeon?” I asked him, utterly aghast.

He nodded solemnly. “Sorry, Rae. But it’s the only way.”

“But no one leaves the Dungeon, Duncan… Not unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

He shrugged. “I guess it’s absolutely necessary.”

I sighed and hung my head. “Fine. But, let the record state that I’m not pleased about this.”

“You think anyone will be?”

A sudden thought hit me. “What are we going to tell Jackson?”

Jackson completed the Company of Nerds who ruled over the Dungeon.

Duncan frowned. “About what?”

“About why there’s a security dude following me around?”

Duncan rubbed his hands over his eyes. “I dunno. We’ll work it out. Oh hey, can we say your nan finally kicked it and left you the millions?”

I rolled my eyes. “He’ll be all over that in a week.”

“Shame. I’ll sort it. Just be ready to meet the dude. Yeah?”

“Sure, because I didn’t have anything better to do with my life.”

Duncan huffed a laugh. “Go forth, Nerd Queen. Janice’s email won’t fix itself.”

“Janice should stop giving her email address to sex sites,” I said as I stood up.

Duncan snorted. “Oh, but I don’t possibly know how they got my email,” he said in his sarcastic falsetto.

“The Wallbanger and Thrusting Swan winging their way to her front door say otherwise,” I replied wryly.

“Not that you’d know anything about those things,” Duncan said.

I pointed at him and tried not to smile. “I am far too pure, boss-man.”

“No. ‘Course. Miss Innocent of the Perpetual Single would rather watch Touched by an Angel.”

I sniggered. “You shut up, Duncan. I don’t see dates clamouring at your door.”

Which was as surprising as it was unsurprising. Duncan was a lot younger than Mel’s dad, which put him about ten years older than me. I think he’d recently had his thirty-fifth, maybe? I found it hard to keep track. But still, guy wasn’t heinous, and he was falling behind in the nerd-knowledge compared to me and Jackson, so I didn’t know why he didn’t pull more tail.

He had that light brown hair and sweet brown eye combo and, had he not been Mel’s uncle, then I might have even been inclined to roll the die on that one. But, between that and understanding adulthood required a modicum of professionalism, I’d put Duncan in the ‘drool but don’t touch’ basket as soon as I became legal.

“Maybe not.” He leant back in his chair and laced his hands behind his head. “But I’m not going to pretend I don’t indulge in carnal pleasures.”

I barely contained an epic snort. “I’m going to get to work before Jackson slaps a sexual harassment suit on us.”

He unlaced his hands quick smart, but didn’t lose the companionable smile. “Good plan. I’ll let you know as soon as Mr Olafson calls.”

I nodded, starkly reminded of the serious dive my life was about to take. “Cool.”

I pulled his door open and saw Jackson’s eyes snap up at the sound.

“Everything good?” he asked and I nodded as I threaded my way back to my desk through the piles of computer towers and parts and spare monitors that littered the Dungeon.

“Yeah. All good.”

Jackson nodded and went back to focussing on his computer. I had to hand it to the nerd, he was even less adept at social interaction than me. At least I managed it with flair and an endearing bumble.

I dropped into my chair, picked up my pen, gave my David Tenant bobble-head a whack for good measure, and pulled up Janice’s email account.

Managing to get lost all day in work, any hopes that I’d go home without having to meet whoever was sent for my bodily protection were dashed at four fifteen.

We’d long since stopped using our legs to covey messages in the Dungeon, so the notice came via an email that just said:

Mr Olafson’s ready.

Why Janice hadn’t just called me, I didn’t know. But message received.

I nodded to Duncan to show him I’d got it, then pushed up from my chair.

Again, Jackson’s eyes darted up. “Leaving early?”

“Nope,” I replied, popping