by Dale Mayer
She could hear them talking in the front room and knew that she should join the conversation, as much as she didn’t want to. She felt vindicated that Zack had agreed with her assessment of Joe’s death. But they still didn’t know all the details. She doubted her sister would think to bring it up. In some ways Rebecca was an airhead. In other ways, she was a good mother.
When a hand settled on her shoulder, gentle but firm, she had been startled but didn’t turn around. She instinctively knew it was Galen.
“You were right, you know.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything.
“What I’d like to know is what caused you to pick up and run.”
“At midnight a couple nights ago somebody tried to break into the house. I chased him away, and I had set up a security system of sorts, so he would set it off and wake us up. But I’m not very good at it,” she said. “It was just a case of dishes and a chair jammed under the door. So when he came again around one a.m., I heard him once more, but he heard the commotion he was making and took off.” She twisted slightly to look up at Galen. “I could see his profile. I know it was the same guy both times.”
“Could you describe him?”
“I told the police, but they weren’t too interested. They said it was likely just a neighborhood kid.”
“Did they take down your details?”
“Yeah, they did,” she said, reaching up to cover a yawn. “Not that it made any difference.”
“Did the cops come to the house?”
She nodded. “Yes, but they wouldn’t find anything. He wore gloves. I could see that clearly too. He had on a plaid flannel jacket with a bright colored lining. Orange, I think.” She was very tired; it came out in her words. “Jeans and some kind of heavy work boots.”
“That’s still a lot of detail.”
“Motion sensor lights are outside Rebecca’s house,” she said, “and he stepped into one.”
“Which meant he also hadn’t scouted out the place beforehand.”
“He was much quieter the second time. At least outside.” She nodded, as if agreeing with herself. “But a different light reflection caught him.” She shrugged. “I figured he came twice, and he probably wouldn’t fail the third time.”
“And you think it’s related to Joe?”
She hesitated, and he squeezed her shoulder.
“Why?”
“Because I think I saw our intruder with Joe in the past,” she said quietly. “Joe was involved in a heavy investigation at the brewery after several break-ins before he was killed. He made a lot of changes at work, and many accusations were flung around, but I don’t know that anyone was charged. I don’t know any of the details, but it seemed like it was much better for everybody if Joe wasn’t around. He was a nice guy but a stickler for rules and loved to make even more. He also wouldn’t allow any break-ins on his watch. I think he thought those were connected to supporters of his predecessor.”
“From what I’ve heard, that would make sense,” he said, “and that fits with him being murdered. But what possible reason could they have for wiping out his wife and daughter?”
“Just in case Joe said anything to them, maybe? In case he hid anything? I don’t know. Many answers probably fit that question.”
“Would he have?” Galen asked. “Would he discuss that with Rebecca?” His frown said no.
Gemma shook her head. “I have no idea. Probably not.”
“But Joe could have hidden something, from his investigation into his predecessor that lost him his job?”
Gemma nodded. “Quite possibly, yes,” she said. “Yeah. I could definitely see him doing that. He was a methodical guy. If he saw discrepancies in the brewery’s systems, wherever, Joe would have spoken up.”
“Tell me about seeing this guy with Joe.”
“There was a big summer barbecue last year,” she said. “I was visiting my sister in between a couple business trips, and we all went to the big bash. I’m pretty sure I saw him then.”
“So it could have been anybody associated with the company or with the extended family?”
“Or a visitor like me, yes,” she said.
“Well, your position was unique, in that you were extended family and a visitor, right?” he asked for clarification.
“Yes. I’m sure the event was supposed to be just for immediate family.”
“How big of a company did Joe work for?”
“It’s one of the major breweries in Germany, in the world, I guess. But his local manufacturing plant entailed about a hundred and forty employees, I think,” she answered. “I went to the website and tried to see if they had photos. I do a lot of computer work myself, but I didn’t hack into the system. I tried though.”
He looked at her sharply, and she gave him a flat look.
“Hey, I’ve had to do a lot to look after my sister and my niece, to keep them alive,” she said. “We lost our parents years ago, and I’ve been looking after her since then.”
“Sounds like you’ve had your hands full.”
“You have no idea,” she said with a short laugh.
“She would have been what, fifteen or so?” Galen asked.
“Just turned fifteen,” she said. “Our parents died in a car accident two days after her birthday.”
“Surely you don’t feel guilty for that somehow, do you?”
“Yes, but no.”
He waited for her to explain, his eyebrows raised expectantly.
She sighed. “They were coming to pick me up. I was at a play rehearsal, and I got sick. I didn’t want to be there or have anything to do with it in the first place, but they had insisted. While I was there, I got really nervous and started throwing up,” she said honestly. “I called and told them how I couldn’t do it, and they were coming to pick me up when the accident occurred.”
“Ouch,” he said. “But still, not your fault.”
“No, but it was in a way,” she said, “and you can bet my sister never let me forget it.”
“That’s not true,” Rebecca said from the doorway. “At least I didn’t mean for you to feel that way.”
“For years,” Gemma said, surprised that her sister was there, “you threw it in my face, saying how they’d be alive if it wasn’t for me.”
“I didn’t mean it though,” she said. “I was a mixed-up teenager.”
“You think?” Gemma walked toward Rebecca, hands shoved in her pockets, frowning at her. “Looking after you hasn’t been easy, you know?”
“Because you were supposed to stop looking after me,” she argued, “like eight, nine years ago.”
“When you came to me pregnant?” Gemma asked. “Or when you were wondering aloud if you should marry Joe because you wanted some security?”
Zack stood behind Rebecca at the open doorway, easily hearing everything.
At that, Rebecca had the grace to look ashamed. “Okay, I guess I have been a trial to you, haven’t I?”
Gemma shrugged her shoulders irritably, the rehash of their history never pleasant. “It is what it is. You haven’t been easy to look after, but that’s all water under the bridge now.” Gemma gave her a forced bright smile and turned away.
“Hardly,” Rebecca said. An awkward silence ensued as the four of them looked at each other. “Zack says Joe was murdered.”
“Right, so because Zack said it, you believe it now?” Gemma asked in outrage. “Even though that’s exactly what I’ve been telling you this whole time?”
“Yes, but you didn’t have any reason why.”
“Right. If you say so.” Gemma turned to face the guys. “If we’re not leaving right away, which I think is the wrong thing to do, I’ll go lie down and get some rest while I can.”
“I don’t see why we had to leave my home at all,” Rebecca replied.
“Because someone tried to break in twice two nights ago. And he will come here next,” she said with a tired sigh. “Just ask the men. They already know it.” She listened as her
sister turned to Zack.
“Are they?”
“Yes,” he said quietly, “they will come here.”
Just as Gemma headed to the small rear bedroom, Galen called out, “What was your plan after this?”
She turned and looked at him. “I’ve rented a cabin not very far from here,” she said, “with the idea that we could blend into that area.”
“What kind of a cabin?”
She gave him a ghostly smile. “It’s kind of a hippie colony,” she said. “They have a couple cabins they rent out for extra money.”
“You don’t think we’ll stick out like a sore thumb there?” Rebecca cried out in shock.
“I said a hippie colony, not a back-to-square-roots type thing. They have internet and computers.”
“It’s not a bad idea.” Zack nodded. “Depends if anybody can track the transaction?”
“They only do cash, and I arranged it a long time ago,” she said.
“Why?” Galen asked, curious.
“Because, once Joe started down this pathway at work, it looked to me like he was heading into trouble. I tried to talk him out of it for Rebecca’s sake, but he said he had to do what was right and that he’d try his best to keep her safe in the meantime.”
“I never knew you did that,” her sister said, staring at her in shock. “He never said anything to me about it.”
“He didn’t say anything because you didn’t want to hear anything,” Gemma said in exasperation. “You haven’t changed, Rebecca. You want what you want, and you don’t want anybody telling you anything different or unpleasant ever.” With a shake of her head, she sighed. “I’ll try to get a quick nap. Then you guys can decide if you’re coming with me or not.” And, with that, she closed the door to her bedroom.
*
Galen looked at Zack and grinned. “I like her.”
Zack snorted. “You would. She’s always been clear about right and wrong.”
“Like how? It would be nice if someone around here liked me,” Rebecca complained. “You like me, Zack, don’t you?”
He nodded affectionately. “Yep, but I’ve known you for a decade.”
“Right,” she said sadly. “How come we didn’t get together?”
“Don’t know,” he said cheerfully. “It just wasn’t right for us.”
“Maybe it is now,” she said, looking at him thoughtfully.
Galen was interested to see Zack’s reaction. He just shook his head. Galen still didn’t understand their relationship, but he’d choose Gemma over Rebecca any day. Hell, he’d love to spend some time to get to know Gemma better.
“You’re the little sister I never had,” Zack said. “We’ll keep it at that.”
She nodded glumly. “I wish Joe wasn’t dead.”
Galen had to admit he didn’t think she cared about Joe being gone because she loved and missed him but more that he’d been there looking after her and now she didn’t know what to do. She had pretty much alienated her sister from what he could see. The relationship definitely wasn’t one of mutual decision-making. And, for that, he felt sorry for Joe.
He looked at Zack to see a similar look of mixed emotions on Zack’s face. Galen finally realized that the answer to what he’d been wondering—if Rebecca was the one for Zack—was no. It really was a past relationship, and she’d slid into the kid-sister slot in Zack’s life. Which would make this job a lot easier.
Zack looked at him. “So what do you think?”
“I think Gemma’s right,” he said. “The fact that she found a couple places to rent is also unique. She’s very proactive.” Zack nodded, as Galen continued, “And maybe you didn’t hear, but she asked for my help. She said potentially some electronics were here.”
At that, Zack’s eyebrows rose. He looked at the closed door of the bedroom and nodded. “She’s always been one step ahead of the others.”
“And, in this case at least, she’s doing it for all the right reasons.”
Rebecca crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the men. “I’m right here, though I’m not sure I understand what you’re talking about.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Zack said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, giving her a quick hug. He looked at Galen. “We should check the car for the stuff then.”
They headed outside, leaving Gemma to get some sleep while they went to the car. They took a look at the stuff in the trunk.
Rebecca came with the guys to the car. “Becky should be waking up soon, and I’ll need a hell of an explanation ready for this,” she announced.
“Why?” Galen asked.
“She had a party to go to this weekend, and she’ll be pretty upset to miss it.”
Galen nodded. He figured a little girl would get over it, but there might be some tears first. “So whose car is this?” he asked Rebecca.
“Whoever gave her the car is a secret, so don’t ask. She won’t even tell me who it was.” Rebecca’s tone held resentment. “He also gave her cash.”
“Cash is good,” Galen said mildly, noting the visible disgust on Rebecca’s face.
As they dug into the trunk of the car, she grabbed two bags. “These are Becky’s.”
He looked at them, nodded, looked at the rest of the gear in the back of the car, and asked, “So how much of this is yours?”
She pointed out six suitcases.
Six. He looked at her. “And this was a quick pack for you?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t know what I would need, did I?” And, with that, she sauntered inside.
He looked at Zack. “Only one suitcase in here she didn’t point to.”
Zack nodded slowly. “Yeah, that’ll be Gemma’s.” He shook his head and pointed to a box. “What’s in there?”
Sure enough, it was electronics. Computerized electronics with long-life batteries.
“This is pretty sophisticated stuff.” Galen whistled. “And this hooks up to the satellite feed.”
“Let’s get this inside, and see what we can do,” Zack said. It didn’t take long to sort out that she had three security cameras. “One front, one back?”
“Maybe one inside for close-ups?”
As Gemma came out the bedroom door, she nodded, rubbing her eyes.
He frowned at her. “You weren’t down for very long.”
“I do power naps,” she said. “I just have to go down, and then I’m good after ten minutes.” She noted the absence of her sister. “Is Rebecca in with Becky?” she asked, pointing at another closed door.
“Yeah,” Zack confirmed.
Gemma motioned at the box. “So that is all I have. Except for my laptop which connects to these.”
“Did you try them?”
“I did, which is why I’m short on sleep.”
The guys nodded, bringing the rest of the stuff inside the cabin. She brought out her laptop from a huge bag he’d noticed sitting off to the side in the kitchen area. One of those over-the-shoulder purses which women carried around that seemed to hold everything. And, sure enough, she pulled out a modem, several battery packs, a mouse, and then a notebook.
She sat down at the small kitchen table and quickly turned on the laptop. “My thoughts had been one for the front road, one for the back door, and one for inside somewhere along this transition wall.” She pointed up to where the wall was. “We could then potentially see the kitchen and living room and somebody coming up and down the stairs.”
With that agreement in place, the men quickly secured the cameras as best they could to be out of the way, hidden, even bringing some greenery in to make it look like it was a decoration.
With that set up, she brought up the software and motioned to the computer. “Numbers one and two are online.”
Galen stepped behind her to take a look. “Good enough. Number three isn’t picking up anything though.” He walked over and readjusted it. “I don’t like the looks of the sensor in the back.”
She went to a box and brought out a smaller box from inside. “Here
. These are replacement sensors.”
He looked at them in surprise. “Where did you get this stuff?”
“I have connections.”
He grinned at that. “So do I,” he said, with an approving nod. “They’re good to have.” He could feel more easing of her stiffness.
She nodded. “They’ve been a saving grace so far.”
“That’s how you got the car?”
“How do you know it’s not mine?”
“I checked.”
“Hell, yes, that’s how I got the car.”
He was glad that Gemma had somebody capable of helping her right now. He wished that he’d been the one she called. Something was just so compelling about that quiet take-charge way about her, to the point that he was getting irritated with the sister and would like to just ditch her. But that was hardly the point, when keeping her safe was why they were here in the first place. “What about at Joe’s home?”
“Three,” Gemma said quietly.
He smiled. “Different system I presume?”
“Yes, and different software. The software has some glitchy crap that keeps throwing me.”
“But you’re in IT, right?”
“Medical systems,” she said. “But honestly, the security in the back end of many of these big systems is similar.”
“I’ve heard that,” he said. “Not sure I’ve seen any medical systems to know though.”
“Nothing really to look at,” she said. “Take a look at any banking system, and you’ll find something similar.”
“Ah, they’re all built on the same backbone, aren’t they?”
“They are,” she said. She switched off several other screens and brought up the house.
He watched as she connected to all three of them. “How long does it hold the feed?”
“I’ve got it running for two days right now,” she said. “I’m hoping that we can check on it at a regular basis, but I don’t know how steady the internet will be for that kind of access.”
“Can you get it longer?”
