Game Theory--A Katerina Carter Fraud Legal Thriller

by Colleen Cross

  Then there was the discovery of Svensson’s body. It was only recovered yesterday, and the autopsy completed today. Landers arrived on the same ferry they did, before the autopsy results were announced. If the interview was taped ahead of time, when did Landers and the police get the autopsy results?

  Kat was tired of playing host to an opportunist like Landers. After eating their food and absorbing all their information, he’d offered nothing tangible in return. It was already eleven p.m. She’d been holed up in the room all day and couldn’t work on the case with Landers present.

  Kat turned to the television. The late news was on. Even with the volume muted, she saw that Paris was in a state of siege. The camera panned to the Latin Quarter where an angry mob had set several cars on fire, including a police cruiser.

  “France is the next one to fall.” Landers followed Kat’s gaze. “It’s following in the footsteps of Greece and Portugal. People won’t accept the austerity measures they’re proposing. Especially not the French.”

  Jace turned up the volume. The television footage moved to the Champs Élysées where several men disguised with bandanas kicked in store windows. A crowd had formed behind them, cheering them on.

  “Why are they so mad?” Jace asked. “It’s their fault for overextending themselves on credit. Now they’ve got to pay for it.”

  “Sort of,” Kat said. “The government and the banks share some of the blame with their monetary policy. The government, for keeping interest rates so low. The banks, because they lent to everyone, regardless of creditworthiness. When people defaulted, everything unwound. It’s not just the people who over-extended, but the country itself.” Kat understood why Svensson changed his mind. A common currency made theoretical sense, until you factored in the self-serving behavior of fewer and fewer people who controlled it. Concentration of power lent itself to corruption.

  “Why didn’t the banks just stop lending when things got ugly?” Jace asked.

  “They were making too much money.” Kat said. “The banks offloaded their risk by packaging the good and bad loans together to make a new investment product. As long as most of the loans packaged together have a high credit rating, they can apply the high rating to the group. In reality, the loans have been re-packaged so many times that no one remembers who or what the loans are for.”

  “Or who isn’t making payments,” Landers said. “The banks made money on the way up by loaning to anyone with an address outside of a cemetery. Yet they expect government bailouts when people default. Giving a seasonal berry picker a mortgage on a million-dollar home with zero down is a disaster waiting to happen. When it implodes, the bankers want to make money on the way down too.”

  “What exactly are you working on, Roger?” Kat asked him point-blank so he couldn’t avoid the question. If she was feeding this marooned castaway, she wanted something in return. How could she trust him when all he did was take, take, take?

  “You hadn’t heard of me before? My work is quite well known.”

  Kat feigned ignorance. “Not until I researched the World Institute and discovered you’re a World Institute groupie.”

  Jace frowned at Kat.

  At least she finally had his attention. He was practically fawning over Landers, convinced they could do a story together. Kat was certain Landers would never share credit with anyone. He was a user, a taker. Why couldn’t Jace see it?

  Landers puffed out his chest. “I’m a journalist, not a groupie, Katerina. If you had read my book, you would understand how serious this all is.”

  Kat ignored the snub. “Isn’t your World Institute theory just a bit overblown? You have to admit, making up all this stuff boosts sales of your book. You’ve probably got enough filler for a sequel.” Landers’ book sales had languished, and a bit of controversy wouldn’t hurt his book sales. Bruising his ego might make him show his true colors.

  Landers’s face reddened and he crossed his arms. “I don’t need your opinion.”

  “Let’s call it a night.” Kat turned and headed into the bathroom. Maybe Landers would leave if he were ignored.

  She started to close the bathroom door, but Jace followed and slipped inside. “Kat, why are you acting like this? It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Landers has researched the World Institute for ten years. Together with what we’ve already got, we can expose this thing. It’s a huge story about greed and corruption.”

  Kat pushed past him to the partially open bathroom door. “You left Landers out there with all the documents? Jace, how could you?”

  Jace blocked her and held his forearms up, palms facing outwards.

  “Landers won’t do anything,” he whispered. “I’ll make sure of it.”

  “Of course he will. He’s an opportunist.” Kat turned on the tap to muffle their conversation. “See where this is headed? He’s just using you until he gets what he wants. Then he’ll dump you and take all the credit.”

  “Why are you always so negative?” Jace stood beside her at the bathroom sink, looking at her in the mirror.

  “I’m just being realistic.” Kat squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush, furious. Her head pounded, and she was upset that their conversation had deteriorated into an argument. All because of Landers. Why had she talked to him in the first place? There were better ways of getting information, and now that she had dragged Jace into it, things would only escalate. “I have to wrap this case up before I meet with Zachary at noon tomorrow. I can’t afford any complications or delays.” Zachary had already left her several messages, and she needed concrete proof before revealing the World Institute connection. It sounded too unbelievable otherwise.

  “Can’t you give me credit for anything, Kat? We’re staying here tonight anyways—what’s wrong with taking advantage of an opportunity? I’m going next door.” Jace turned and slammed the bathroom door behind him.

  Couldn’t Jace see Landers for what he really was? Kat clenched her teeth and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She disliked the person she had become.

  While she didn’t begrudge Jace an opportunity for a story, she couldn’t let it be at the expense of her own investigation.

  Kat turned off the bathroom tap and pressed her ear to the door. She strained to hear the snippets of conversation.

  “Let’s go to the adjoining suite.” Jace said to Landers. “Kat’s tired, and we can continue our discussion there.”

  “Sure.”

  “You can sleep there too. The room’s empty, and it’s better than the storage closet.”

  Kat’s mouth dropped open. How could Jace offer the room to Landers? Even if he was trustworthy, which Kat doubted, one more person just increased their odds of discovery.

  She rinsed her mouth and opened the door, ready to voice her objections. But Jace and Landers were already gone. The World Institute papers were gone from the table too.

  Kat pressed her ear to the adjoining suite door and listened. She heard their voices in the next room, animated as they carried on their discussion. She considered knocking but decided against it.

  Let Jace have his story. She had to trust him with the papers. Although she didn’t agree with full disclosure to Landers, she also knew Jace would never part with them. As long as it didn’t interfere with her investigation, it was good to see his enthusiasm return after being sacked from the Sentinel. She shuffled over to the bed and collapsed. He’d get what he needed tonight, and tomorrow they could wrap up and go.

  Chapter 33

  Kat awoke with a start, bathed in sweat. Her heart pounded as she kicked her legs free of the covers. Then she saw the flash of the hotel room’s smoke detector above the bed. Her panic subsided as she realized where she was.

  It was just a bad dream. Hillary had bulldozed Harry’s house and left him at a homeless shelter. Even Hillary wouldn’t go to that extent, she thought as she rubbed her eyes.

  She turned to the bedside clock. Three a.m., and the bed beside her was empty. Then she remembered: Jace had gone nex
t door with Roger Landers. Their World Institute discussion and their ensuing argument flooded back to her. Jace’s new alliance with Landers was unsettling, but she shouldn’t have been so upset with him. He had every right to pursue what could be a breakout story, yet she had put up roadblocks. Didn’t she trust him enough to use his discretion? Of course she did. She felt ashamed of her selfishness.

  After pulling on a t-shirt and jeans, she slipped on her running shoes, just in case. She padded over to the adjoining suite door and listened. No voices. Were they asleep? No—Jace would have returned to the room, regardless of their argument.

  She knocked softly on the door and waited.

  A few seconds later she heard soft voices. “Jace?”

  She tried the door handle, but it was locked. She tapped lightly a second time. The door opened a crack. The back of her neck tingled when she realized the room was dark. It was too dark to tell if the shadowy figure was Jace or Landers.

  “Jace? Is that you?” The door opened wider. Suddenly a hand grabbed her and pulled her into the adjoining suite.

  “Hey—?” Strong arms gripped her shoulders and pushed her further into the room. She stumbled forward and almost tripped as her rubber soles stuck to the carpet. Jace wouldn’t do this. “Roger?”

  “Shut up.” He struck her across the face. “Someone will hear you.”

  Kat regained her balance and turned to face him. Her instincts had been right. Landers was no friend. “You’re hurting me! What are you doing—?” Kat never got the chance to finish her sentence.

  Landers slammed the door behind her. The lights flashed on and Kat stared straight into the eyes of evil.

  Nathan Barron was fully clothed this time, in a black tuxedo under a trench coat. He also wore latex gloves.

  Kat’s heart pounded when she saw his hands. Gloves meant only one thing: no fingerprints and no evidence. Her legs buckled under her and she stumbled back a half step before recovering.

  “You came all this way just to check up on Victoria?” Nathan Barron grabbed her as Roger Landers released his grip. He stood by the nightstand, blocking Kat’s view of a third person who sat on the bed. “How touching.”

  “What do you want from me?” Was is possible Nathan didn’t know about her fraud investigation? Kat surveyed the room.

  Jace wasn’t in the room. She didn’t see the documents she had lifted from Nathan’s room either.

  Landers remained behind her, blocking the adjoining suite door. Nathan moved slightly to the right, revealing the person behind him.

  Victoria sat on the edge of the bed and smirked at Kat. At least as much of a smirk as her Botox allowed. “It took me awhile, but I recognized you. You know something? You are one lousy maid.”

  “This doesn’t have to be unpleasant, Ms. Carter,” Nathan said. “You leave now, quit the investigation, and we’ll both put this behind us.” Nathan’s lips turned up at the corners, but his cold eyes pierced hers. “If you fully cooperate.”

  Kat returned his glare.

  Calm down.

  She inhaled and exhaled twice, blowing the air out slowly and willing her pounding heart to slow. She would not succumb to his scare tactics. She could think her way out of this.

  Did Nathan really think she was here as part of Zachary and Victoria’s divorce? No. The judgment had already been made, so it had to be a bluff. Landers would have told him about her investigation.

  “Cooperate how?” At least she hadn’t told Landers which World Institute member she was investigating. Jace wouldn’t betray her confidence, but Landers might have found other clues from the documents themselves while they were unattended on the table in Kat and Jace’s room.

  “Roger told me everything.” Nathan loosened his grip but still didn’t release her. “You won’t get away with this.”

  Nathan Barron was a businessman, not an enforcer. Kat was certain he wouldn’t dirty his hands with messy details. But one look at his gloved hands and she doubted her conclusion. Did he butcher his kills in the wild, or did someone else do his dirty work? She felt like trapped prey.

  “Get away with what?” So he knew about her investigation. So what? He couldn’t intimidate her. She scanned the room again for clues of Jace’s whereabouts and spotted her laptop with the screensaver engaged.

  She cursed under her breath. How much had Jace shared with Landers? The presence of her laptop here also meant Nathan, Victoria, and Landers had potentially accessed her Edgewater files stored on the computer.

  “Your investigation, or whatever you call this idiotic field trip of yours. You’re wasting your time and ours. But I like you. I’ll help you out of this mess you’ve created for yourself.”

  “How?” Kat kept her voice even. Had Nathan Barron asked the same of Jace? Of Svensson?

  Nathan released his hold on Kat, and she shook out her arms.

  “Cease and desist. Whatever Zachary’s paying you, I’ll double it. Leave now, and quit the case. Then you’ll work for me.”

  Switch sides for double her fees? Zachary’s fees were already generous. Double equaled a year’s worth of billings. Of course it was almost laughable now that she knew he wasn’t good for the money. No wonder Nathan and the World Institute operated with impunity. And got away with murder.

  “What exactly did you have in mind?” Svensson’s death was somehow connected. And it was a murder. She doubted he would sell out. But Landers would.

  “Investigate Zachary for fraud. He’s been operating a Ponzi scheme, and I’ve got the evidence to prove it.”

  “You’d frame your own son for your crimes?”

  Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “He’s guilty, and I’ve got proof. Zachary’s careless and aggressive trades have almost ruined Edgewater. We’d be bankrupt if I hadn’t restricted his access to cash.”

  “You mean the hundreds of millions of dollars you embezzled and diverted to Research Analytics and the World Institute?” No point in keeping secrets. It was obvious Nathan knew he was the subject of her investigation. Kat turned to Landers. “Where’s Jace?”

  Landers leaned against the door. He remained silent, his eyes focused on the floor.

  Kat lunged at Landers, but Nathan grabbed her arms and pulled her back.

  “Your friend Jace had a bit of an accident.” Nathan tightened his grip. “Is that what you want?”

  “You won’t get away with this. The police know what you’re doing.”

  “The police?” Nathan laughed. “I haven’t done anything illegal.”

  “I disagree.” Kat tried not to show any emotion. She refused to give him the satisfaction.

  Victoria smiled at her. Only the Botox turned her mouth into more of a crooked smirk.

  “You think I’m the criminal?” Nathan shoved her down on the bed. “Edegwater’s my company, and I’ll spend my money as I please.”

  “It’s the investors’ money, not yours. But you don’t care, do you? You’re not only screwing the general public, but you’re paying for it with other people’s money.”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  Kat sat up. “Is it? One global currency, controlled by an institution beyond government? It’s simply too dangerous to allow to happen. It’s the downfall of democracy. Svensson thought so, and you silenced him so you could carry out your plan.”

  The words stung as she spoke them. That’s what Jace was trying to tell her, but she’d been more interested in her investigation.

  “Whatever—it doesn’t even matter anymore. The wheels are in motion and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

  She faced Nathan as panic rose in her gut. “Let me go.”

  Nathan tightened his grip and squeezed her wrists together. He pushed her back down with ease. “You want the same treatment? Keep this up and you’ll get it.”

  Nathan had practically admitted his involvement in Svensson’s death. He held her wrists tightly as he fished for something in his pocket. Rope. The nylon strands burned her skin as he coiled it around he
r wrists and cinched it taut. He knotted and tightened it until she screamed in protest. Kat’s chest constricted as she felt the room close in on her.

  “Got the needle?” Nathan waved his hand at Victoria as he sat on Kat’s legs, holding her down.

  Victoria stood. “I do, honey,” she said in a sickly sweet voice. She fished through her oversized designer bag and produced a syringe.

  Kat tried to kick free, but it was no use. Her thoughts raced through all the things Roger Landers had said last night. Was it an act from the start, or had he capitulated to a shark, circling in an ever-smaller tank?

  “How much did he give you, Roger? What’s your price?” She squirmed on the bed to face Landers. No one appeared to be holding him against his will.

  Silence.

  “Shut up, bitch.” Victoria tapped the syringe with a manicured nail. “Time for your medicine.”

  Kat winced as the needle pricked her skin. Then icy hotness pumped into her bicep and coursed through her veins. It burned into her chest, then flowed upwards to her neck and head. Everything hot, hot, hot, then the voices faded. No sound, no color, and nothing mattered anymore.

  Chapter 34

  Kat cried out as something sharp poked her ribcage. She rolled sideways so her back faced the assailant.

  “Get up,” the man said in heavily accented English.

  Kat pulled her elbows up in front of her face in self-defense. Then she realized: her wrists were no longer bound together. Nathan and Victoria were gone. No Roger Landers either. Instead she faced a turbaned Securicor guard in bright yellow Gore-tex. He stood over her, looking uneasy.

  Kat squinted into the beam of light from the security guard’s Maglite.

  “I said move along, miss. Now.”

  Kat’s mouth dropped open as she scanned her surroundings. Voices echoed as people scurried across the tiled floor to their destinations. She lay on a well-worn oak bench, one of several that bordered the open area. Carved moldings arched above Canadiana landscape paintings of mountains and forests. It took a moment before she realized she was at the Waterfront Train Station in downtown Vancouver. Judging by the hordes of commuters, it was rush hour, maybe seven-thirty or eight in the morning. Monday morning. Only a few hours until Zachary’s noon deadline.