“Not until you give me the list.” Wyl raised a brow.
“You’re too easy.” Rod shoved Wyl. “I have no list.”
They crossed the room and sat at the table. Wyl went through the projects, explaining to Rod how one dovetailed with another.
“It’s best you have all the information, Rod. Since I’ll be working with Ailbe, you’ll understand what I’m doing with this project.”
Rod shuddered. “This also helps me grasp the seriousness of this crime and why we’re here to stop it.”
Wyl put his hand on Rod’s and squeezed. “Now I need to call Glenn and tell him what we found.”
Wyl grabbed his secure cell phone to call.
“Glenn, Wyl Sterling.”
“Hi, Wyl. What’s up?”
“I have information on the papers Chief Superintendent O’Brien sent. How would you like me to report? Verbal or written?”
“Tell me what you discovered, and we can decide what will work best for O’Brien.”
“I checked the coding Fergus Rafferty sent. He worked on a password algorithm. It’s difficult to determine how it fits with the remaining projects. MacGowan emailed a project overview to me, and I can understand how all student projects dovetail.”
“At least you discovered the connection.”
“Yesterday, Rod and I met Ailbe and Declan at Wilde’s. During the conversation, Ailbe asked me to help him grade the class projects. He claimed the projects were complicated, and feared he would not finish grading before the deadline. I agreed to give him a hand.”
“So he threw out the bait, and you took the hook, eh?”
“That about sizes it up. Before we flew to Ireland, I created a public email for this mission. I can receive messages without compromising my personal email or using our secure email. It allowed Ailbe to send me the project guidelines.”
“You’re a smart man, Sterling. I need a copy to take to O’Brien.”
“After I review what he sent and mark any relevant points, I’ll provide a copy to you.”
“Perfect, Wyl. Thanks.”
Wyl disconnected the call.
“What’s next?” Rod massaged Wyl’s tense shoulders.
“I need to print this out and read a hard copy to mark items of interest. And I need to send a hard copy to O’Brien via Cross.”
“We don’t have a printer but can buy one at the TechStar store in City Centre. They have computers and printers and accessories.” Rod leaned down and kissed Wyl behind his ear, ending the shoulder rub.
“Can we have lunch while we’re out?”
“Works for me,” Rod said.
Wyl closed his laptop. “You ready?”
Rod handed Wyl his jacket. “You bet!”
* * *
At the front of the classroom, Ailbe assembled his papers after class. A snippet of whispered conversation caught his ear as the students filed out.
Yes, several of us went in. Chief O’Brien interviewed lads who talked to Keenan.
Fergus got called in twice.
He didn’t. He went on his own the second time.
Why did he go again?
He thought O'Brien should be told about the change in due dates.
The conversation faded away as the lads reached the classroom exit. Ailbe tensed at the last words he overheard. He hurried to his office, dropped his notes and textbook on his desk, and called Declan.
“Declan Knowlan,” Declan answered.
“We may have another problem.”
“What problem?"
“I overheard my students talking. Fergus Rafferty went to the police station…twice. Several students got called in, but his second visit makes me uncomfortable.”
“Should I take care of it?”
