Not a fool this time…. Chapter 8
Walter got the coffee going in the downstairs kitchen then went up to the loft to shower to return in jeans and t-shirt. Gale was at her desktop attempting to look like she was doing something but was surreptitiously watching him. He got some coffee and went to the back bay to look at the Datsun thoughtfully for a few minutes then returned to the common area.
"I know computers- you are not doing anything on that. Shall I call an Uber and you go home, or did Richard tell you to keep an eye on his contract employee. If so, go on up to the loft, take a shower, rummage around my closet and drawers to find something more comfortable to wear than your formal company dinner attire." He then, coffee in hand, went to the back, opened the toolboxes to start dismantling the car.
She watched him go into where the Datsun was parked, put his coffee on the top of the car opened the garage door, got a few tools out, opened the driver's side door and started to take the seat hardware out. She then went back to her computer to send a message to Richard:
Richard- He was up all night- worked math problems I did not even know the symbols for, took a shower and is presently dismantling the Datsun. Do not think he will be leaving here for a while- like a cocoon of safe space. Sticking around for a while longer just in case. Gale
She sat for a moment – tired after being up all night and a shower would be good. She got up and went to the doorway where he was working on the car. "A shower would be nice, but I am not comfortable rummaging around in other people's stuff."
"I give you permission, so go ahead. Not like there are any hidden personal items – only things of value are programmed hard drives in the safe, so have at it." He said while pulling the driver seat out.
She looked at him, but his back was to her so she turned and went up to the loft. She stood at the open doorway and scanned the place. Wow, she thought, Walter O'Brien's inner sanctum. He was certainly truthful- if there was anything of a personal nature it was well hidden. She saw but two photographs, one of him as a child with a slightly older girl, and the other him as an adult with a dark haired woman. The big, dimpled smile showed the young girl and adult woman were the same- sibling, maybe? Other than that, there were no trinkets, statuary, just shelves of books of various subjects ranging from thermodynamics, chemistry, logic, metallurgy and mathematics of assorted disciplines. Not one novel to be seen. "Wow," she murmured to herself, "all that in his head, available for recall in a moment." She shook her head and went into the bedroom area, opened the first drawer and found drawstring waist sweat pants; next drawer was t-shirts so she pulled one out, so good to go and went into the bathroom to shower. After being up all night in formal dinner wear, the shower and getting into the sweatpants and t-shirt felt good and comfortable. She towel dried her hair, ran her fingers through to get it all in place, grabbed her dress, stockings and shoes rolled it all in a bundle, went downstairs and put it on the sofa with her purse. She then got a cup of coffee and in bare feet padded to the doorway to sit, drink her coffee and watch his progress.
"Ready for more coffee?"
"Please."
She got his cup off the floor next to him, went to the kitchen and filled it and returned it to the floor within reach.
"Thank you, by the way, for use of your facilities…. and clothes."
"No problem. You can stretch out on the sofa, or in the Airstream bed if you want. May be a bit musty as it has been closed up for some time- clean sheets in the cabinet under the stairs. Make yourself at home."
"You're not tired?"
"Not for a while…. maybe tomorrow."
"I used to hand tools to my dad when he was working on his cars. Can I help at all….. besides keeping the coffee flowing, that is?"
"Sure. See that jack in the corner? That and the four stands so I can jack it up and remove wheels."
She brought the hydraulic jack to the front of the Datsun and placed two stands in front and the other two at the rear of the car.
"Have any empty coffee cans or containers to put all the hardware in? My dad always grabbed empty coffee cans and peanut butter jars to put all the small bits and pieces so we kids didn't scatter them to the four winds so not able to be found when he was reassembling."
"Big family, I take it?"
"Yeah, four kids- probably the big reason why he started working on the car himself- save money and getting away from the screaming me-me kids. With four of us there was always some dispute going on."
"That cabinet there," he pointed to it, "has empty containers- get a couple for the lug nuts and other hardware."
She pulled a couple empty containers out, put them on the floor within his reach, gathered the seat hardware into one and the lug nuts into another. "As my dad always said 'organization breeds efficiency'," she remarked to Walter's back with a yawn. "How can you drink so much coffee and not get jittery or talkative?"
"Genes," he replied. Rolling the last wheel to the corner of the shop. "I am going to get some computer work done." He glanced at her as she yawned again. He got up and went to his desk to open his laptop and checked mail. She got up, got his coffee cup from the floor next to the car, went into the kitchen, filled it then put it on his desk within reach.
"Thanks." He glanced at her again as she went and sat down on the sofa. He started tapping away on an e-mail to Richard. Periodically he glanced at her- she had pulled her feet up onto the sofa and her eyelids were drooping. Within a short time while he was typing she drifted into a doze then fully asleep. He hit send, got up and got a light blanket to put over her and returned to the Datsun to continue its dismantling.
At Richard's office, his computer alerted in-coming mail. He sat to read it:
Richard- Gale remains here- feel free to message her that being my keeper is no longer necessary and she can go home when she wakes up. I will be working out of the garage for a few weeks- all have my contact info if any consultations on the design modifications are necessary. The car can stay with you as it will not be needed for now and Datsun parts are littering the floor. Walter
Richard chuckled. Gale probably has not been awake near as long as Walter yet she is out like a light while he is dismantling a car. Even Richard had gotten some sleep last night. Since Walter left the dinner in such a state, he had left his bonus envelope on the table. Tony had a currier drop it off at the gate this morning so a perfect excuse to drop by the garage in the next few days. It has been a long time since he worked on a car himself like he used to-might be fun to get hands greasy. He has made sure to get the very best, so should he be gone from the office for a while, the enterprise should survive it. He hit reply:
Walter- Gale made her own decision. Will return the car all clean and waxed in the next few days. Will pass on to everyone your contact info as needed. Richard
"Oh damn, what a failure I am," Gale said waking up under the blanket and stretched.
Walter was at his desk looking over design specs when she woke. "Why a failure?" Walter asked looking her way from his desk. He sat back and faced her. "Why is it a failure that you slept? Everyone does…. sooner or later."
"I know you had an incredibly bad day and wanted to be sure you recovered OK."
Walter took a sip of his coffee while looking at her. "I told you the math last night regained my equilibrium. That…. 'bad day' was nothing more than a system overload that has now been stored away."
"You are one funny man, you know," she said stretching again and sitting up on the sofa.
"How so?"
"You use so many mechanical or computer terms in reference to yourself yet you are neither mechanical nor computer like, 'system overload', 'store', 'equilibrium', like you are trying to convince yourself."
"There are great number of people who would dispute your remark, like those at the dinner last evening….. and they know me much longer- years, some of them."
"People can be blind to what is right in front of them, you know. Length of time around something or someone tends to dull the senses," she said. "You ever notice that dirty spot on the wall anymore? Nope. Just blends in to the general every day atmosphere. You would be amazed at what people just space out."
"Ah, you have a degree in psychology?"
"Oh my god, no. What a waste of educational time. I just observe. When I was a kid, I had a hummingbird feeder. Kept it clean and filled and all those little birds knew right where the good, free chow was. After a couple months, a bush grew and blocked my view of the feeder so I moved it to another spot just four feet away. Have any idea how many times those hummers would fly and hover at the empty space where the feeder used to be? There they were, hovering wondering where the hell their free meal was. Little itty-bitty bird brains or three pounds of gray matter in a person's skull- just as blind."
"People are more complex than birds," Walter said with a slight frown.
"Of course they are, but they can 'suffer' from the same unconscious blind spots….. we ARE animals, after all. You can't tell me you have not run into situations of incomprehensible stupidity of incredibly smart people and wondered how can that possibly happen. No rime, reason, thought, logic… just happens."
She looked at him- "you hungry? Any decent restaurant within walking distance of this place?"
"Thought you would be heading home by now."
"Wanting to get rid of me? OK, I can take a hint," she pulled her phone out of her purse and called an Uber. "I will return your clothes all nice and clean next time I am in the area." She gathered her bundled dress, slipped on her shoes, picked up her purse and headed for the door as the Uber pulled up and tooted. "Thank you for everything, Mr. O'Brien."
"I told you the 'Mr. O'Brien' was not necessary."
"And I was brought up to show proper manners to those deserving respect," she said and went out the door.
It was not until Thursday that Richard drove the blue Ferrari to the garage to see Walter. The garage bay door was open and sure enough there were Datsun parts scattered around.
"Hey, Walt, how goes it?"
"Richard, what brings you here?"
"Well, for one thing, are you so wealthy now that you can leave bonus checks laying around? Here you go- you can get a lot of Datsun parts with this. Barry, the engineer you sent the specs to is overjoyed with the test results. Looks like another good job."
"Good, it is nice not having to argue with people to have changes made," Walter said. "Since the tests went well and new design is incorporated, there may need to be changes considered to the rest of the delivery system….. will have to check it out further."
"You going to go concourse, modify, or incorporate some other modifications? You know, there are a lot of automotive enthusiasts throughout the enterprise. Quite a few into the classics, modified, some to the point of making their own parts. Some do the Salt Flats and over in China Lake- those with the crazy need for speed, competition, timed runs, drags- just about every aspect of automotive is covered by a bunch. You should check them out- could fill this garage with parts and people full of expertise no matter what you decide to do with it. "
"Going to just keep it stock. Was a nice driver and I like the design," Walter said. "Get too carried away with modifications on a production vehicle, and dependability drops considerably." Walter said putting his tools away and closing the toolboxes. "Like I said, I no longer have that meditative need for speed. Discovered an interest in hypothetical mind games and the higher math of theoretical equations."
"You will have to show me some of that- but probably above my skill level."
"You may enjoy stretching your math skills- can be fun," Walter said heading into the common area with Richard following. "Especially into the theoretical- what is needed for space travel for instance."
"Ah, you have been talking with the egghead branch of the space think tank, huh? Some of them give me a headache. Math symbols on the white board I do not even know what they represent. A whole new language… but I know they could not run the enterprise as well as I do. So, while the areas of expertise are vastly different, everyone had a role to play to get where we all want to go." Richard sat on the sofa while Walter was at his desk. "My crass commercial profit making sections pay for the eggheads department… and their paychecks."
"Richard, I have a question- not work related, but has been on my mind."
"OK, shoot."
"You did not tell Gale to stay with me the night of the dinner?"
"No, like I said she made her own decision, why?"
"She seems to have a very strange opinion or attitude about me and I do not understand the reasoning."
"Strange ideas? How so?"
"Hard to put it- she acts like she is in the presence of someone special. I have told her to call me Walter or Walt as I do everyone I work with and she insists on referring to me as 'Mr. O'Brien'," he explained. "Her deference to me is rather disconcerting, to be honest."
"Wow, Walt, hero worship," Richard chuckled. "You should appreciate it, cultivate it even. She is a very nice looking young lady, and not stupid- a rare combination these days with all the psycho-bunnies everywhere. You ever have anything to do with a Stevenson in the past? Many of the things you did with Scorpion were widely published in papers and on TV news broadcasts, and not just in the LA area. Hell, look what you did for me- getting Zoe back to me safe. I can never truly repay that. And that experience certainly changed her attitude about her wealthy father- we have never been so close as we are now."
"All that was not me alone- many times the others were more instrumental in getting those favorable outcomes. Hero worship is misplaced."
"That's another thing- you always share the glory with others- even when they maybe don't really deserve it- you get blind-sided by the rotten in people. Walter, why not try the novel approach and just ask her next time she is around? That is how you find things out about people, you should try it," Richard chuckled. "By the way, you have the shop manual for this little orange beast of yours?"
"Yeah, over on the shelf by the toolboxes. It is pretty self-explanatory, though. An internal combustion engine is an internal combustion engine, after all."
Three weeks of working in the garage and Walter was getting cabin fever. Three days ago Richard dropped off the blue Ferrari. The Datsun's engine was on the bench in pieces so there was room in the bay for it. While there, Richard discussed another coding job that was coming up. One of his satellite facilities in Santa Monica holding a lot of proprietary data was getting a lot of hack attempts. Nothing had gotten through, but he was getting worried so wanted a better security program- he had Gale Stevenson working there to monitor the system as she had done in the past until Walter had a secure system to put in place. Walter told him to send him the particulars of the business and he would get on it post haste. He brought up one of his hypothetical programs, worked through the night to make some alterations to better suit the facility. He opened the desk drawer, pulled out an external hard drive and down loaded the program, disconnected, put the hard drive in a static free bag, boxed it up and put it in his case with his laptop. He then e-mailed Richard in the morning that a program was ready, notified the plant manager he would be there by ten to up-grade the system.
Walter drove to the Santa Monica facility and was met at the gate by Gale.
"Mr. O'Brien, so nice to see you again. I told the plant manager he could rest easy knowing you were on your way," She said leading the way to the server room.
"Ms. Stevenson, nice to see you as well."
"Please, Mr. O'Brien, call me Gale." She said as she opened the server room door. "I have a place set for you, coffee ready. You don't mind if I watch?"
"Of course not. By the way, your anomaly detect section has been added to this program as well….. Ms. Stevenson." Walter brought out his laptop, hooked into a port and started scanning the system. "I see why there was reason to worry. You did well keeping the system clean."
"Thank you, Mr. O'Brien."
"Alright- how many times do I have to tell you Walter or Walt is my preference when spoken to. WHY do you persist with the Mister nonsense?"
"As I said, manners and respect preclude using your title."
Walter set up the system to download his security. While in process, he turned to her "I understand your up-bringing gave you manners, what have I done to deserve such respect? You hardly know me, there are countless people who code as well as I. Many give respect to the wealthy, yet you refer to billionaire Richard by name, not as MR Elias. Being proficient in math is certainly not deserving of respect. I have made it plain I do not prefer to be so addressed yet you persist- why."
"Do you remember a while back the pharma CEO that hacked the LA blood supply?"
"Of course."
"My mother was to undergo emergency surgery that was put on hold because of that animal. My father was devastated, the entire family was- we almost lost her- she managed to hold on until the blood supply was properly relabeled because a MISTER Walter O'Brien discovered the hack of the blood labeling system and got it straightened out. It was a very scary situation but the family is still whole, thanks to you."
"You do realize those people that interrupted the celebratory dinner were the rest of the Scorpion team that were also involved in getting that tainted blood labeling straightened out. Not just me, by any means."
"I researched you, and your Scorpion team Walter. You might be surprised but I am a pretty damned good hacker, myself. Yes, the rest of your team were instrumental in 'favorable outcomes' as you put it, but YOU were the one riding an oxygen bottle to another building in Santa Ana winds to get a doctor to an emergency surgery. YOU were the one crawling through the collapsing sand tunnel to get that boy out, YOU were the one who jumped out of a burning plane, YOU were the one to take the place of the team member held hostage by the arms dealer, YOU were the one who deliberately got bitten by a snake to avert a conflict, YOU were the one to manage to tilt the sub so sailors could escape, YOU were the one to risk death on the run away subway, YOU were the one to figure out how to have an over flowing dam 'fight its nature'. YOU were the one to spotlight the South American thieves wanting to make a super dirty bomb from the museum meteor, and god, YOU were the one to rescue the woman in the tar pit with a hastily put together suit of duct tape and an outdoor light lens. YOU are the one that always risked life and limb for the others, for total strangers, for everyone. And they have the gall to treat you like dirt." She was practically in tears by the end of that rant. "And you live alone, in a garage, and have nothing but MATH to keep your 'equilibrium'. I told my family I met you- my dad said to show you all the respect you deserve, and calling you MISTER does not even come close to the respect you deserve." She got up and left the room leaving him stunned.
He turned to the completed downloaded program and set things in order, rebooted the system as it was after five and this place only had one shift so the system was free to relaunch. He did so and scanned the system to make sure all was well. When done, he removed the external hard drive, re-boxed it, disconnected his laptop and put both in his case. He sat there a few minutes, then called security to escort him out of the building. When he got to his car Gale was sitting on the curb next to it. "Can I get a ride back to LA?" she asked.