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“That’s not a fair statement, Kate. Your mother was very sorry for what she did. She would set the record straight herself, if she were still here and could see the ridiculous direction in which this audit is headed.”

That was probably true. But the whole thing still felt manipulative. “Is this why you asked for Noah to lead the audit?”

“Someone has to lead it. I figured it might as well be someone I know.”

“You mean someone you can influence?”

“Someone I can trust.”

Kate looked at him quizzically. “What are you trying to accomplish, exactly?”

He took a half step closer, very serious. “Half of Buck’s business is government contracts. This company can’t afford to fail a cybersecurity audit. I want to know what’s driving it.”

“It could be routine, like you said at the press conference.”

“That’s wishful thinking,” he said. “It’s more likely that the Justice Department really is worried that I’m vulnerable to extortion. Or...”

“Or what?”

“Is something else entirely driving it?”

Kate felt the need to sit down, or at least put a little more space between her and her father. She found an open couch by another firepit and placed her near-empty champagne flute on the table.

“Dad, if you want to know what’s driving the audit, you should ask Noah that question yourself.”

He joined her on the couch. “He would never tell me,” he said, theflickering flames of the firepit reflecting in his eyes. “But he might tellyou.”

It was exactly as Kate had feared. “Are you asking me to be your spy?”

“I wouldn’t put it that way. I’m just saying that I need to know, and it would appear that you’re in the best position to find out.”

“What makes you think Noah would tell me anything?”

“Come on, Kate. He obviously still cares what you think, or he wouldn’t have rushed to tell you it was my idea that he be in charge of the audit. From what I remember, that boy would empty the ocean with a teaspoon if you asked him to.”

“You still think I should have married him, don’t you?”

“Not necessarily. But I do think it was a mistake to let the sad state of your parents’ marriage foreclose the possibility.”

Kate drew a breath. “I’m not really comfortable with this conversation.”

“I understand. You don’t have to give me an answer tonight. Let’s put that question aside and just have a nice dinner.”

“Good plan.”

“But if, come the morning, you can see your way clear to helping your old man save his company from the financial ruin of a wrongheaded cybersecurity audit, then happy day.”

He rose and started for the elevator, but Kate stopped him.

“Just so I understand, are you asking as my father or as my employer?”

He shrugged, as if he hadn’t really considered it. “Both.”

“Then my answer is no. And maybe.”

She got up from the couch and started walking. Her father caught up. “Maybe, as to which?” he asked.

Kate stopped at the elevator and pressed the call button. “You’ll figure it out.”

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