both force and fraud. “I think you’ll find everything you need there to cramp these guys’ styles.”
“Good work, Milenko,” he said, leaning back. “I’m sensing a but, though.”
“Perceptive as usual, boss. Paige and I found a couple of anomalies. Here,” I tapped the screen, stopping its automatic scroll on one entry, then flicked my finger, sending the list scrolling faster than most eyes could read, then tapped it again, “and here.”
“Anomalies?”
“They don’t fit the pattern. Small shipments that don’t seem worth the trouble, a different nomenclature for the entries, and the kicker, tougher encryption.”
“I take it you want permission to investigate these further.”
“I do, Captain. Also,” and this was the part where I thought I was pushing it, “I’d like to ask that you hold off on stopping the main smuggling operations while I look into it. I don’t want them tipped off.”
Captain Rominger leaned forward, rubbing his salt-and-pepper eleven o’clock shadow and scanning the bits of data I’d pointed out. “Granted,” he said, just as I’d decided he was going to say no. “But I won’t hold off forever, so move quickly. And Link, try not to set anyone else on fire.”
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.” I hurried out of his office before he could change his mind.