Nerds in Force

by D. R. Grady

  “So, Harlow.” Finn set his mug on the counter after a sip.

  “So, Finn.” She took another draw on her own. Definitely need to try this one again.

  “The police took down the tape around your house.”

  “Really? I can assess what’s left?”

  “Yes. They tried calling you but you didn’t answer. So they called us and said to tell you they’re finished with what they need from the site.” Gage twiddled his mug.

  “I’d like to take a look at what’s there.”

  “Your dad had a safe.” Finn’s stomach growled.

  “Yes. I need to see if that survived.” She really hoped it had. There were a few family valuables inside that she’d like to keep.

  “We have security posted around the house until you have opportunity to save whatever might be salvageable,” Finn said.

  “I’ll take a look after breakfast.”

  At that very moment, Keith and his mother dished up the food. Her own stomach didn’t growl but she was happy for the opportunity to eat.

  Half an hour later, she, the twins, and Keith headed next door to her property. Although unseen, she guessed the eyes she felt on her were from their side. The twins took attacks on their family seriously.

  Keith probably had taken security measures as well. She didn’t relax. Once they arrived, she knew she’d be grateful for the extra protection so she could drop her awareness to go through whatever remained of her family possessions.

  Chad hadn’t expressed interest in seeing the house and she didn’t push him to accompany her. Chances were he needed time to come to terms with the bombing and subsequent fire. He’d deal with all of it in his own time.

  Autistic people had different limits than those not on the spectrum. She had no intention of pushing him past those. The setbacks for him weren’t worth it. She could and would handle this.

  The pungent fetor of charred wood, plastics, and metal made her nose curl. Smoke no longer curled from the ashes and nothing glowed but the smoky scent lingered. She stepped into the perimeter, aware of the pitfalls as parts of the structure wouldn’t hold her weight.

  Nothing of the upper floors or the main floor was left. Everything had fallen into the finished basement at some point in the last two days. Blackened debris littered the area where she had once played video games with Chad. The indoor pool was barely recognizable and the snack area had been obliterated.

  She carried a lightweight ladder. Everyone had looked at her weirdly, and rightfully so. But Harlow knew what needed done.

  “Umm, Harlow, you probably shouldn’t…” Finn started, but fell silent when she tucked the ladder into the hole that had been the basement.

  With care she eased down the ladder and finally stepped into the space. Unidentifiable objects crunched when she trod on them while the stench of burned things not meant to burn clung to the entire space. It took her a moment to get her bearings. Once ascertaining where she was she headed to the far wall. Nothing down here had survived. The blackened debris offered no clue as to her whereabouts. What destruction the bombs themselves hadn’t accomplished, the subsequent fire certainly had. She relied on her memory for the basement layout.

  Her father had hidden a safe in the far wall after they moved in. That safe was her destination. He had designed the wall itself to hide the existence of the fireproof container. Her father had further ensured its survival by having it installed into the ground side. Their basement was a walkout, but the front wall of the house had been built into a bank.

  It took time to cross the rubble strewn floor and again to locate the section of the wall where the safe hid. Harlow didn’t rush. She did keep curling her nose at the charred scent that her footsteps caused.

  She hoped that the safe hadn’t melted in the fire. She took note that Keith followed her down the ladder with the determination of a man bent on protecting a woman. Harlow couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t the protector.

  An unfamiliar emotion tried to hinder her trek across the basement floor. She tucked Keith’s sweet gesture away for later pondering.

  Finn and Gage remained on the surface to watch their backs. She trusted them to spot anything she and Keith missed from below. Both had brought small binoculars.

  Now she scanned the back wall and brought to mind the image of the safe. It took a few steps to the left but she did locate the place where the safe should be. This section of the wall didn’t show much damage. She contemplated that.

  “Is there fireproof wall cladding?” She frowned at the wall that showed burn signs, but looked nothing like the rest of the house.

  Keith nodded. “If you’re hiding a safe, experts encourage you to use this type of building material to give the safe and its contents the best possible chance of surviving a fire. At least here on Toliliel. I think this stuff is supposed to help with hurricanes, fires, and other expensive disasters.” Keith hunkered when she did to run her finger along the bottom of the wall. At the notch she pushed then rose and jabbed another one, followed by the next close to the floor, one near the ceiling and a final one to the right. Her actions caused the wall to creak and groan. A few squeaks and the sound of metal grinding on metal followed.

  The door cracked open but remained in place. “It melted.” Panic tried to encroach.

  “To be expected.” Keith inspected the door, then grasped the edge, and used his impressive strength to force it aside. The barrier resisted with more metal on metal screeches, a cloud of the acrid charring scent, and the door gave way. She could even taste ash on her tongue. Her nose wrinkled.

  Behind the wall stood her father’s safe. It didn’t look much different.

  “The wall and door took the heat but the actual safe looks okay.” She placed her hand in front of the safe to make certain it wasn’t still hot. Enough days had passed that it should be fine. The temp proved safe so she spun the dial to zero then entered the combination.

  And the additional security measures she had added over the years worked flawlessly. The lock clicked and she glanced up at Finn and Gage. They nodded to her that all was well up top. She swung open the safe and shouldered off the backpack she had donned in the hopes of emptying this safe.

  Keith took the bag and held it open so she could empty the contents into the bag. After they finished she shut the safe again. Using his strength once more, Keith tugged the door until it grated into place. Not a pleasant noise but the area looked the same as it had. No sense in destroying the safe by leaving it exposed to the elements.

  Harlow hoped to reuse it when she purchased her next house.

  It had withstood bombs and a fire. Well worth saving.

  §

  After Harlow emptied the safe Keith herded her toward the ladder. He didn’t want her to take the time to look through valuable things while out in the open. He also wasn’t terribly happy about being in the burned out basement.

  He relieved her of the backpack. It’d be heavy with the weight of all the contents of the massive safe that stood nearly as tall as Harlow.

  And they still needed to climb the ladder.

  “I can carry the backpack.” Of course Harlow protested.

  “Let Keith carry it. He’s used to carrying a heavy pack.” Gage didn’t let up on his surveillance.

  “I am. I’ve run miles carrying a pack heavier than this.”

  “Showoff.”

  He took a moment to grin at her. “I’m not exactly small.”

  “There are reasons why farmers use oxen.” Finn cracked the joke but he also kept vigilant as though his instincts kept prompting him to get out of the area.

  Keith concurred. His danger siren shrieked with every step.

  Harlow’s must have as well because she relinquished the backpack without another word. She didn’t take her time on the ladder either. At the top she joined the twins in keeping watch.

  He followed right after her and the backpack didn’t impede his progress. Carrying a heavy pack felt normal. He sna
gged the ladder too. No sense in leaving it behind.

  Finn and Gage joined him in circling Harlow as they hurried back to the safety of the house. It didn’t take long as they all had incentive to move.

  The hidden watching men helped to protect a determined Harlow from whoever wanted to silence her. What did she know that they wished to keep secret? Or what did she possess that might lead them to the knowledge that killed the parents of far too many people?

  His eyes narrowed as he scouted the area with his companions before they entered the mansion through the mud room entrance. Harlow paced inside and edgy energy emitted in waves from her. Her shoulders hunched ever so slightly but he had no idea what to do to help her.

  Finn and Gage had no such problem. They each looped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her in what looked like an awkward embrace but it loosened the tension in her spine. She rolled her eyes so the boys had done the right thing.

  “I’m not going to fall apart.”

  “Good, because I don’t want to clean up that mess,” Gage quipped and Finn guffawed. Their banter further reduced the stiffness in Harlow.

  “That’s right, you always have to clean up gross stuff because your brother gags.” Keith remembered now.

  “Every single time. He’s got the weakest stomach ever.” Gage shot a superior look at his brother.

  Finn didn’t seem concerned. “Lots of people can’t stand gory stuff.”

  “You are a wimp.” Harlow poked Finn but she had relaxed between the brothers. Nothing like family to lean on in times of chaos like this.

  Keith wished… He didn’t go there. Instead he removed the pack and indicated the twins’ office. It should provide plenty of space and privacy for her to sort through the treasures inside.

  Harlow seated herself on the couch in front of a coffee table large enough to sleep on. Two additional chairs graced this section of the office. The masculine space also boasted two desks, a massive console behind them, and plenty of shelving. A table with chairs completed the area on the opposite side of the room from the couch.

  She took a deep breath and with the exhale, opened the backpack. The items inside poked out the sides at various points.

  The first item out of the bag proved to be paperwork. She set that aside on the coffee table. He spotted passports and social security cards. As well as contact info for insurance agents and wills, that sort of thing.

  Next she tugged out a velvet bag that certainly contained the Horgate family jewels. Harlow set that aside as well. It made sense. She didn’t seem like the type to wear fancy jewelry.

  A fat book that appeared to be a family history and another that he guessed housed coins also ended up in a neat pile on the coffee table. A keyring followed as well as an ornate box that she set aside. A large leather zipped book that he guessed housed hard drives and flash drives. A few guns also raised his brows. Several looked old and valuable.

  Another box that had been made for pictures and negatives landed on the coffee table. The last thing she pulled from the large backpack was a painting. Harlow had wedged it in the laptop pocket at the back. Now it took some maneuvering to remove the large laptop sized painting. This she stared at for a long while.

  Finn reached for it and she handed it to him. Gage crowded his brother to peer over his shoulder. “That’s your family estate.”

  “Yes. I don’t recall my father painting this picture.” She shoved a hand through her hair. “We hung all of his other paintings.”

  Keith took that to mean all of her father’s artwork had perished in the fire. His heart went out to her.

  “Did you lose all of his work?” A muscle in Gage’s cheek pumped.

  “Some of it. Chad has some in his condo. Most of my belongings are in storage since I sold my condo a month ago. My favorites should be safe.” She gazed at the back of the picture. “I moved into the house because I needed a place to stay and thought I better decide what to do with it. Chad and I don’t want it and it seems bad to leave the house empty.”

  “It is.” Finn agreed as he studied the painting. “Now you don’t have to worry about that. I’m glad some of your dad’s artwork is still intact.” He pointed to the painting. “Why was this one in the safe?”

  “That’s the million dollar question.” Harlow’s eyes narrowed.

  §

  After Gage and Finn retreated to the chairs across the way from her and Keith, who had chosen the sofa, Harlow held out her hand for the painting. Finn handed it back. She turned it slightly so Keith could see the scene. She calculated the odds of him recognizing the place.

  He shook his head.

  “This is our family estate.”

  Keith pursed his lips as he took in the art with her. “Is that how you left it?”

  Good question. She cocked her head. “No. This is a modern version.” Harlow fingered the ugly statues Nesla and her grandfather had added to the front yard. They obscured the lovely fountain her great-grandmother had designed.

  The house was graceful and lovely without being over-the-top. But the current owners had added elements that didn’t personify the beauty of the original building. Their additions provided a tacky, gaudy aesthetic she found repugnant.

  Her father had captured the statues, but some of the newer additions weren’t on this painting. That made sense since he had died long before a few of them.

  Keith studied the painting with her. She could almost feel the energy his brain burned as he assessed her father’s artwork.

  “You like art?” She had to ask.

  He shrugged. “Sure. But this feels like a clue.”

  Everything stilled in the room as though suddenly thrust into a vacuum. All the air in her lungs whooshed out as memories of her father inundated her. All the little things he’d done through her growing-up years to lead her to the answer of whatever he wanted her to learn at that moment.

  And you’re still doing it now, even after you’re gone, Dad.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat as love for her lost parent surged through her. Of all she had missed out on by losing him.

  The world felt as though it had been tipped on its side, or she had, and she shut her eyes before the dizzying sensation passed. She opened them to gaze at the picture but her mind remained blank.

  Finn and Gage joined them on the couch again, perched on either side of her and Keith. The three men with her none the wiser to the emotions that tried to suck her under.

  Harlow took a moment to thank her secret operative mentor from all those years ago. She deep breathed in the way she’d been taught in order to keep herself together. The moment passed as though it had never occurred, thankfully.

  The twins inspected the painting with the same fervency she usually employed.

  “I don’t know what he might have…” Then a thought propelled into her brain and she flipped the painting to peer at the back. It sported a wire for hanging, but nothing else. She and Keith pried up the tabs keeping the painting secure within the frame.

  Gingerly, she grasped the back and pulled it away. Nestled between the backing and the canvas lay a sheaf of papers. She looked up at Keith, her eyes wide, before she gathered them out of the painting.

  Her brain left a will-return-at-this-time sign without bothering to move the little red arrows to indicate the time of its return. She thrust the papers at Finn who read them.

  “This is a standard contract for a mortgage.”

  Gage reached for them and Finn handed the sheaf over for verification.

  While Gage perused them Keith tapped the painting laying face down in her lap. “I still think the painting itself is a clue.” Keith had remained silent and he didn’t appear interested in the contract that held the twin’s attention.

  “What are you thinking?” She was willing for any input. Stubborn brain.

  “It’d be great if your dad discovered that the person of interest was whoever is living in this house.”

  “Seems like he wanted to l
ook into this contract agreement.” Gage waved the papers. “We’re going to go through this and see if we can discover any criminal activity.”

  “While you’re doing that, I want Verity, Hunter, and Chad if he’s willing, to check into the people who live in this house.” Keith’s jaw had hardened.

  “It couldn’t hurt.”

  “There is enough evidence of wrong doing with the way they cheated you out of your ancestral home that checking into this family seems like a good place to start.” Keith took the canvas out of the frame and turned it over.

  She checked the frame while Finn spoke. “If nothing else, that research might lead us to someone else to investigate.” Or some other corporation. Someone wanted her and others in this house dead. Harlow couldn’t allow a moment of weakness to overcome her.

  In truth, she wanted to sit down and cry her eyes out. Until there was nothing left inside. That luxury had never been hers. She cried sometimes in the shower, but here, with so many people and sharing a room with the other women, it didn’t feel right.

  One of the twin’s phone rang followed by the other’s. They rose and headed across the room. She and Keith gathered up her belongings and shoved them into the room safe behind one wall then left the study. She didn’t put the canvas and frame back together but left it out on one of the desks.

  Then she and Keith, by mutual consent, headed to the office area she’d used previously. They entered the space and then she didn’t know what to do with herself. She looked everywhere but him.

  “Did you cry?”

  His deep voice in the silence of the room made her jump internally. Externally she’d never show that. “What?”

  “Did you cry when you lost your dad?”

  “Of course.” She gawked at him for longer than she should have. Then gathered herself.

  “Did you cry or grieve for your house?”

  “No.” Why does he need to know this? Nosy!

  “Do you allow yourself to feel, Harlow?”

  “What kind of questioning is this? What are you trying to accomplish?” The first rule in avoiding questions is to ask your own. Hit the offensive, don’t appear weak. Harlow cringed at the very thought of being weak. Especially in front of this man. He wouldn’t be attracted to a weak woman…