High above them, gods of some sort hovered among fluffy white clouds in a pale blue sky painted on the arched ceiling.

“Do you think they’re Greek or Roman?” Alicia said.

“I think some folks are taking themselves just a bit too seriously. And do you really care?”

“Come to think of it… no.”

“What floor are they on?” Jack said as he led her to the directory that took up a large section of one of the west walls.

“Twenty-something.”

He found it. Looked like they called the whole twenty-third floor home.

Out of the corner of his eye he watched the guard at the security desk watching them. It was after hours and they didn’t look all that presentable, what with Jack in jeans and Alicia wrinkled from being taped up.

“We shouldn’t risk trying to go upstairs tonight. Don’t want to arouse any suspicions or put anyone on alert. But I wish I could get a look at their office layout.”

“Not much to see,” Alicia said. “You step out of the elevator and face a glass wall with a receptionist on the other side. I’m sure she’s gone now, but even when she’s there, you don’t get past that wall until she hits a button to release the door.”

Damn, Jack thought. Getting a client list was going to be tough. Maybe impossible.

“Why all the security, you think?”

Alicia shrugged. “Well, you never know what kind of riffraff will be sneaking around after hours.”

“Oh-ho!” he said. “The doctor makes a funny.”

“Mark the date and time,” she said. “It doesn’t happen very often.”

“Can I help you folks?”

The security guard had walked over. He was big and black, and acting friendly, but Jack could tell he was all business. If they didn’t have any business in the Hand Building, he was going to ask them to please move themselves back to the street. No monkey business on his shift.

“Fascinating architecture,” Jack said. “When did this building go up?”

“I’m not sure,” the guard said. “I think there’s some sort of plaque in the corner behind that tree by the door. Take a look at it on your way out.”

Jack gave him a nod and a smile. “Heard and understood. We’re on our way.”

The guard returned the smile. “Thanks.”

Just to keep up appearances, Jack peeked behind the ficus tree sitting in front of the brass plaque, but he never got to read the inscription. Something else snatched his attention.

“I’ll be damned!”

“What?” Alicia said. “What is it?”

“See that little mark there on the corner molding above the plaque? The black circle with the dot inside?”

“That magic marker thing?”

“That’s it. I know the guy who made that. His name’s Milkdud… Milkdud Swigart.”

This was good. Better than good. This was great.

“And…?”

“It means this building’s been hacked.”