Nerds in Force

by D. R. Grady

  She whapped him. “I’ve done this for Horgate but I’ve also stepped in to assist their troubleshooter.” She pointed to the twins.

  “From what we hear, she’s fairly decent at her job.” Gage said this so drolly a few smiles peppered the room.

  Cian looked intrigued. “So if my computer gig gets old, I could look into the corporate troubleshooting business?”

  “Oh yeah. You can make good money and keep up with your skills. Plus it’s safer than whatever you’re doing.” Gage shrugged.

  Verity might be interested as well. She exchanged glances with Cian, but they returned their attention to the conversation. Verity had a question. “Did you ever work as a secret operative?”

  “No. I was trained by one but my employment path has always been obvious.”

  “When were you trained by an operative?”

  “He retired and now offers training to people like me. I started while in high school.” She followed their line of questioning.

  “No wonder you know what you’re doing.” Cian glanced at Verity. “She started young, like you, slick.”

  Verity flicked his nose, but completely ruined it by leaning forward to kiss him.

  “Ugh, not here.” Finn didn’t whine but pretended to.

  They all laughed, because that’s what you did in the twins’ presence. While she didn’t need her big “brothers” to come rescue her, she was still happy they had.

  “Shouldn’t you two be working?” She didn’t intend to let them off the hook though.

  “We’re officially on vacation.” Finn said this with the most beatific expression she’d ever seen.

  Hers wasn’t the only groan in the room.

  §

  “You’re on vacation? When have you ever taken a vacation?” Keith had to ask because he couldn’t recall a time when these men had done so.

  “Never, so we thought we should finally clear our schedules and take one. So far it’s been great.” Gage snuck in a tweak to Harlow’s nose.

  That these two men weren’t in the least bit intimidated by her was obvious and that they were both really protective of her was even more so. As was the case when Eric teased her, Keith’s hackles didn’t rise. They appreciated how attractive she was but their concern and love stemmed solely from the brotherly standpoint.

  Keith couldn’t concur. None of his thoughts about this woman came from the sibling realm.

  He made every effort possible not to be creepy and thus far she didn’t appear to find him stalkerish or scary or weird. All pluses. She didn’t shy away from him or hunch her shoulders at his size. Other women had done so in the past.

  Keith had learned not hover and to exude gentle giant vibes. Never in his life had he ever wanted to hurt or scare a woman. If he had his mama would have annihilated that urge fast. Everyone knew not to mess with an Island Mama.

  Perhaps part of the reason why he was so attracted to Harlow came from her lack of fear and penchant to never cower in the face of adversity. His mama had burst from the same mold. Terrorize her and you’d have a war on your hands.

  Harlow would stomp a malefactor into the ground.

  He frowned. Once they discovered who was terrorizing them he wanted a front row seat. She didn’t cower, she didn’t back down, and she certainly hadn’t fallen apart after being shot at and bombed.

  Another commotion at the front door broke into his thoughts. “Who did you guys bring?”

  Harlow leaped to her feet and made for the front foyer. There she launched into the arms of a tall man whose awkwardness made Keith immediately like him.

  Dark frames shielded his eyes and he hugged Harlow—in a mechanical fashion. Harlow released him and he didn’t look relieved but Keith caught the impression he might be. He did look over Harlow.

  “You were bombed?”

  “Did you see the house?”

  “No. Finn and Gage told me to come here.” He glanced at the men in question. “And they sent security guards to make sure I did.”

  “Ah, it appears they know you, Chad.” She patted the man before turning to them. The kitchen must be clear of people because everyone congregated in the front foyer. “Let’s go to the family room.” Harlow led the way there with the tall young man at her side.

  Keith hadn’t made up Chad’s awkwardness. He did seem to enjoy the heckling of the Rembrandts. Both of them popped his arm and made comments and he responded in a positive manner. It didn’t take major observational skills to figure out this man landed somewhere on the autism spectrum.

  Once everyone settled in the large room Harlow made the introductions. “This is my brother, Chad Maxwell Horgate. He’s a computer genius,” she looked at Verity and Hunter, both of whom perked up, “Chad, this is Verity Wellington and Cian Hunter, she and her fiancé are also computer geniuses.” She went around the room and introduced each person.

  She also explained to Chad about Savannah and DuBois losing their parents.

  “Like Dad.” Chad’s nod showed a trace of sorrow.

  This clapped the room into silence again.

  “You lost your father?” DuBois was the first to ask.

  Everyone looked to Harlow. She swallowed. “I have started to dig a little deeper into the mysterious death of our father. That’s when I discovered the eerily similar deaths of your fathers’ and Mr. Bentwater’s parents.” She rubbed her arms before she must have recognized that tell and dropped her hands.

  “Your father also died or just disappeared?” Savannah’s hand rose to wrap around the base of her neck.

  “The same as your father, only fifteen years later. He’s gone but we’ve never found a body. ” Harlow’s sorrow echoed that of Savannah’s. She also included Eric, but Eric had lost two fathers, not one. His birth father who he’d never known and his adoptive father.

  “Trust us, we’ve looked.” Finn’s words rang with authority. He and Gage were capable of this, they were successful businessmen, but this persona didn’t show much outside of their offices.

  “My grandfather and their parents threw a lot of resources into my father’s disappearance and found nothing.” Harlow watched Chad. So did Finn and Gage.

  “I’m okay.” Chad’s hands twitched though, so Harlow rose and headed down the hall. She opened a closet door, rifled through it and returned carrying a blanket. She draped it over Chad, whose twitchiness settled.

  Keith recognized the blanket as being weighted. Harlow didn’t sit right on top of her brother. She offered him space. All of this furthered his theory that Chad might be autistic.

  Perhaps to take the attention off Chad, she turned to the twins. “Did you look at the house?”

  It took him a minute to follow. She must mean her burned out house. “Yes. Someone did a great job with those bombs,” Gage answered.

  “You’ve never liked that house anyway.” Finn’s observation made Keith’s eyes narrow.

  “No, but what clues might have burned with it?” She didn’t expand on that but both men nodded.

  “Our dad is gone and now someone burned down our house.” Chad rocked under the blanket.

  Harlow’s head snapped around to him. “No worries, Chad. We’re going to find out who did this.” Her complete conviction resounded through the room. And her authority wasn’t manufactured. Harlow intended to do what she declared.

  “And when we do, we’re going to let Harlow have first crack at them.” Finn followed up with a promise of his own.

  Chapter 8

  Harlow kept darting glances of concern at her brother. It helped that the twins were here, who had been big brothers to them since childhood.

  “Which one of you is older?” Keith asked her and Chad. Chad hadn’t relaxed yet. He might not today. This many strangers definitely made him withdraw into himself.

  The twins and she knew this, however so they could take measures to aid him in not doing so. But he’d soon need to head into the world of computers.

  “I am. By thirteen months.” She grinn
ed at Chad.

  Who grimaced. “Everyone calls us the twins.” Then he looked at the auburn men wearing identical expressions. “When they’re not around.” What constituted mischief for Chad glowed in his eyes.

  “We’re identical. You’re not.” Gage took the bait. He grinned at Chad, right along with Finn.

  “She’s a girl. So no, we’d be fraternal.” Chad took the comment at face value.

  “And I missed the tall gene.” She made a point to mention the one factor Chad enjoyed about himself. He did enjoy height. She was only average in that department. “You three stole those genes. I’m not happy about this.”

  “Has she tried to murder you in your sleep?” Chad sounded interested.

  “Not that we’re aware.” Finn played along.

  “She threatens me.” But Chad wasn’t concerned and this showed.

  “You should probably take her threats more seriously.” Keith smiled at Chad.

  Chad snorted. “She’s ticklish.”

  “That she is. Takes her down every time.” Gage rubbed his hands together.

  Harlow rolled her eyes to the high ceiling. Sunlight danced through the wall of windows that made up the family room. The plush seating and fireplace added to the ambiance of the fabulous space. Not many homes boasted a room that easily accommodated this many people. The muted grays and blues worked well with the predominant white. It was a man’s room but a woman could relax in the space as well.

  She held up a finger and tried not to look at Keith. “The people I love can take me down.”

  “That’s true. I’ve seen others try and she usually beats them up.” Chad spoke with the solemnity that was so him. “But I never get beaten up.”

  “You weigh more than her so that helps.” Finn agreed with Chad.

  “How many times have these three ganged up on you?” Verity expressed her own amused concern.

  “A lot.” Harlow didn’t even try to add up the number.

  “We make an excellent team.” Gage high-fived Chad. Finn looked on the verge of sticking his tongue out at her. He refrained, because there were lots of witnesses and a revered businessman never conducted himself in that manner. And he hadn’t done so since their teens.

  “We do.” Chad ducked his head but he did agree.

  Harlow caught Verity’s eye. “Chad knows a lot of the secrets of the computer room.”

  This immediately stole Verity’s attention. “Really?”

  Chad rubbed his thigh. “I set up the space.”

  Verity caught on to what this meant because she immediately stood. “Let’s go. Cian and I have been enjoying that room, but we’re ready to learn more. And I need to know how you scrubbed the internet of Harlow’s existence.” She headed for the basement, Chad on her heels. Cian followed them, keeping watch as the two computer geeks pattered down the stairs.

  “See you some time.” Gage waved at the back of the three from where he lounged in one of the easy chairs, at ease, seemingly.

  Savannah leaned forward. “You’ve been researching all of this stuff alone or with Chad?” Concern radiated from her.

  “Just me until a few days ago. I grew up thinking my father was the only one who had disappeared. I didn’t stumble onto the death of your mother and the others until recently.” She’d read, her heart in her mouth, and nausea roiling in her stomach, all through the night once she stumbled onto that information.

  “No other attempts have been made on your life before your research? Before you triggered the same traps we probably did.”

  She shook her head. “My brother is a computer expert, but I’m adept as well. I can hold my own.”

  Finn sat up abruptly. “You discovered this information what, three weeks ago?”

  “Two or three. The details are hazy.”

  Gage’s eyes narrowed. “But someone didn’t try to take you out until early this week.”

  “Right. I covered my tracks well. Chad has been adamant all our lives that I do so.”

  “The practice is ingrained in you then.” Keith gave her a thoughtful stare. “And it slowed down whoever is after us.”

  His inclusion of her in the dangers around them planted a little seed, perhaps of hope, perhaps of inclusion, within her. “You’ve been dodging these people longer than me?”

  “I researched my father, or tried to, a few months ago,” Savannah admitted.

  “As did I.” Beau clasped his hands together in front of him. “But it’s only been in the last two weeks or so that someone has taken shots at us.”

  “Have any of you had anything weird happen?” Harlow focused on Eric. “You, for instance. Has anything happened to you or your loved ones?”

  “No.” But then Eric’s lips firmed. “Unless you count the death of my fiancée.”

  “How did she die?” Harlow waited for his answer, aware they might be grasping at straws, but every instinct she possessed shouted this might be important.

  “A car accident. A single car accident. It’s never made sense to me though. Becky was an excellent driver and I still don’t understand why she was on the road where they found her.” Eric didn’t express frustration, but it bubbled under the surface.

  Trace Montgomery, Savannah’s fiancé stirred. He kept his eyes on Savannah when he made an observation. “Savannah was in a car accident that scared her so badly she’s been reluctant to drive ever since.”

  Molly Wellington, who played in Savannah’s band and was her best friend, straightened. “That’s right. I forgot about her car accident. It was so bad that she still has pain from it today.”

  Both Trace and Molly peered at Savannah. “Savannah is one of the safest drivers I’ve ever met.” Trace wrapped his hand around Savannah’s. “I should know, my dad and I taught her how to drive.”

  “She’s always been cautious since I’ve known her. One, because that’s her nature, but two, because she was already being recognized back then.” Molly added this tidbit.

  Harlow tried to tie all this information together. “Would whoever is behind this suspect that Eric and Savannah are brother and sister?”

  Keith answered her question. “They might if they’re from Toliliel.”

  §

  “You think whoever is after us is from Toliliel?” Harlow’s question added to the tension in the room.

  “It seems obvious. I had no idea Savannah and Eric were full brother and sister, but I think Eric had an inkling they were at least half siblings. I had noticed through the years that Savannah looks like Eric, but thought it a mere coincidence. However, someone took note of everything that happened on this island.” Keith pointed out what felt obvious. In hindsight.

  “What are the businesses here?” Finn rose to grab a pad and pen from a nearby built-in.

  “Horgate Industries, obviously.” Harlow’s front teeth dug into her bottom lip for a fleeting moment. Then she collected herself.

  “The van den Roos family have several business holdings.” Eric mentioned a family who had lived on the island for decades. He had gone to school with one of the boys.

  Then a new thought popped into his head. “Isn’t there a van den Roos who is missing and has been for years?”

  Gage exclaimed something. “Yes, I called him a few years back for a business deal. Things were progressing nicely but then he dropped off the face of the earth.”

  “Another unexplained, mysterious disappearance and likely death.” Harlow must be keeping score. “That’s at least six.”

  “The number keeps growing.” Finn mimicked Eric, who leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, seemingly relaxed but both were wired for action.

  “Wasn’t Micah van den Roos married to Nesla Nunes?” Harlow must have pulled that information out of the very ether of her mind.

  “That sounds right.” Keith tried to read what Finn wrote, but the room expanse disallowed it.

  “Is she running the van den Roos holdings now?”

  “No, Micah had a younger brother and sister, and
I believe they stepped in, fresh out of college, to run it. From what we hear, their various interests are doing well.” Gage spoke and everyone’s eyes narrowed at the information he relayed.

  “We need to look into everyone on this island.” Keith’s voice dropped two octaves. Harlow eyed him in a manner that made him want to remove her from her chair and explore that expression, but not now.

  His mama offered up the names of three other families with profitable businesses on the island.

  Finn recorded them and he and Gage inspected the list. “We’ll give this to Chad, Verity, and Cian. They can look into each of the these families.”

  “Nesla van den Roos lives in my family home.” Harlow inserted this info with no emotion.

  They all looked at her. “Your family home?”

  “That’s right. There was a lot of controversy about how she and her grandfather acquired the Horgate estate.” Gage blew out a breath.

  “We were looking into that as well, but then stopped all of a sudden.” Finn frowned at his twin.

  “The situation in Florida went downhill fast and we were still new at our jobs.”

  “That’s why my dad bought the house next door.” Harlow pointed in the direction of her burned out home. “He was burning mad about what he called ‘being cheated out of our family home,’ and he was prepared to fight hard.”

  Finn’s jaw clenched. “Only he disappeared soon after that.”

  “Coincidence?” Gage followed his brother’s train of thinking.

  “Nesla’s new husband mysteriously disappeared. By then she and her grandfather had been living at our estate for some time.” Harlow’s ability to remember timelines must be impressive.

  Finn scribbled a few additional notes on the sheet. “Right. Those things all happened, what, ten years ago?”

  “She was single when she moved in, so her husband died around seven or eight years ago. But my dad has been gone for at least ten, but probably closer to fifteen.”

  “Fifteen sounds right.” Gage tapped the list in Finn’s hand. “We need a lot more information.”