by JoAnn Durgin
“Wonder what discussion’s about over there.” Caleb angled his head toward the two men.
“I wondered the same thing,” she said, trying not to worry. “Okay, I’ll tell you that Martin is the primary Reidco officer I thought might possibly be connected with the accounting discrepancies. I caught a few errors in his reports in the past and called him on it. He didn’t seem pleased, but he corrected them.”
“How recently?” Caleb tossed more hamburger patties onto the grill. They sizzled, and he pressed down on the meat and then proceeded to flip others. The man could multitask with the best of them.
“When we both worked in the Lubbock office in the past two years. To be honest, I felt like his work was sloppy at times, and I had to double-check him.”
“Accounting records?” He glanced around the area. So did she. They couldn’t risk being overheard.
“Not in those instances, but perhaps they were indirectly connected. This is my opinion only, and I have no concrete evidence, but a few times I felt as though he’d exaggerated the projected revenue figures for the stations in his reports. From what I was seeing, his numbers were grossly misrepresented. When I first discussed it with him, he flat-out told me I was mistaken. Then I showed him the audits, comparisons, and latest monthly reports. Basically, I called him out on it.”
Caleb looked over at her. “Are you suggesting he falsified records?”
“I’m saying he did until I called him on it.”
“And why do you think he would do that? Simply because he was sloppy or for any other purpose?”
“Martin’s a smart man, I know that much.” She hesitated.
“Caty, this could be significant. Why didn’t you say anything before?” He frowned. “I find it a little odd we’re talking about it now. At a park. With me standing at a grill. Wearing an apron. On the other hand, if my office is bugged, maybe an open park is actually the best place to have this conversation.”
She lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry. Maybe I should have told you, but that’s a serious accusation. He’s an executive vice president of Belac’s largest division, and I’m the chief accountant. He’s worked for you for ten years, and I’ve only worked for Reidco for five. Besides, Martin revised and corrected his reports because I made sure he did. I’ve kept an eye on his reports ever since. Not that it’s even my job, and that’s another reason why I felt uncomfortable. I felt if he knew I was watching him so closely every month, he would have had me fired for being Catherine Lewis, the Reidco Whistleblower.”
“You’re also now my fiancée.”
“So?” Caty resisted moving one hand to her hip. “That has no bearing on the matter.”
Caleb’s forehead creased. “Eliot hasn’t been able to find anything on them. The next step is to get a court order and subpoena the records. We can’t do it without going through the proper legal channels according to Josh Grant. Eliot asked him under the cover of anonymity.”
“If Martin’s behind it, he’s careful and covering his tracks well,” Caty said.
They interrupted their conversation as they greeted picnic goers who’d come to load their plates. For the next few minutes, they were kept busy. Eliot and Marta kept an eye on Lauren, and for that, Caty was grateful.
Caleb leaned close when they were alone again. “I guess my bottom line question is whether or not you believe Martin’s capable of purposely altering the records, falsifying entries on the accounting ledgers, and then somehow funneling the funds out of Reidco? In other words, do you think he’s embezzling from my corporation?”
He watched her with the fierce intensity of a man fighting for what was his. Rightfully so.
Caty nodded slowly. “That’s more than one question. Yes, he’s more than capable. I think he could have, but I can’t possibly say whether or not I think he’s the culprit. Up until these last two discrepancies, the amounts weren’t nearly as alarming. As you know, financial losses aren’t exactly uncommon, but losses that were later discovered to be falsified isn’t anything I’ve dealt with before. You know that. And you’d better turn those patties and dogs.”
“You’re right. We have a few more well done hamburgers and hot dogs if anyone asks. Eliot did tell me that his review of the surveillance tapes showed a number of employees coming and going during the time we were at lunch the day the envelope was delivered. A few of them went behind the desk for something or other, including Cordelia. He’s going to see if he can blow up the images and study them.”
“Maybe I can ask Suma,” she said. “On second thought, that wouldn’t be good. It’s like she’s erected an invisible wall where I’m concerned. I think we need to wait and see what else Eliot finds first. The fewer people we involve, the better, at least for now.”
“You’re right. Now more than ever, I’m convinced this is all connected. Why are they doing this, Caty? Why do they hate me that much?”
“You know why. Because you have what they want, or what they think they want. It’s not personal no matter what you might think now.”
“How can it not be personal?” he snapped.
She checked her watch. “I’m going to take Lauren to get something to eat. I’ll send Kevin to relieve you at the grill in a few minutes. Come and join us.” She pointed to a tree across the way. “We’ll be sitting over there.”
“Sure. Sorry.” He reached for her hand. Taking it, she squeezed and gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
“It’ll be okay, Caleb.”
“I know. Keep praying for me, please.”
~~♥~~
“Excuse me, are you Caty Lewis?”
“That’s me.” Caty glanced up at a young man standing nearby. She’d never seen him before.
“I was asked to give this to you.” He handed her a piece of paper and then quickly departed.
“Thanks.” She shrugged and put her plate of food on the ground.
Lauren sat beside her. “What is it? A love note from Dad at the grill saying how much he loves you and already misses you?”
Wiping her hands on her napkin, Caty unfolded the note. “It’s from Marta although it doesn’t really look like her writing. I’ve only seen her cursive.”
“Is it another clue? Maybe she figured out the latest one,” Lauren said, taking a drink of soda.
“Well, it says to meet her over by the ice cream truck in five minutes. She wants to show us both something.” She glanced around the area. “Have you seen an ice cream truck?”
“No, but I haven’t looked for one either,” Lauren said. “Are you finished? I am.”
Caty nodded. “Why don’t you gather up the plates, and I’ll grab the soda cans. We can toss them in the recycling bin and then go in search of an ice cream truck.”
“I see it! There it is.” Lauren pointed to the truck on the far end of the park. “Race you!”
“You’re going to make me run after that meal?” Laughing, Caty started after her.
The closer they came to the ice cream truck, the more Caty felt a sense of foreboding.
“Lauren, stop!” Something didn’t seem right. No one else was around. Caleb might be upset that she’d brought Lauren to such a remote area without telling him. The man was already snappish.
She felt something cold and hard push into her back. “Don’t move. Don’t scream. Don’t do anything except walk forward.” Ahead of her, Caty spied the same young man who’d brought the fake note to them as he approached Lauren from behind. When she started to scream, a hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her cry.
“I warned you,” the man’s voice growled close to her ear. “Don’t make me hurt you. You and the girl come with us quietly, and no one gets hurt. Walk. Now.”
Frantically glancing around the area as she moved toward the ice cream truck, Caty saw Miles within shouting distance. He stood beneath a tree talking with a pretty blonde girl. What could she do? She couldn’t endanger Miles, and he seemed oblivious to her.
Lord, help us. Please.
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Caty began to limp.
“What’s wrong with you?” the man snarled, shoving whatever he held in his hand against her spine. She didn’t want to speculate what it was, but it was either the barrel of a pistol or some type of sheathed knife. She shuddered and crossed her arms over her stomach.
“I have a pebble in my boot. It’s cutting into my foot.”
“Whiny woman. Take it off.”
“What?” That’s exactly what she intended to do. When she started to turn and look at him, he jerked her arm.
“Take the boots off and leave them. Keep walking.” Seeing that Lauren was a good thousand yards ahead of her now, Caty made a big deal about the pebble. The man grumbled, and she said whatever she could think of to distract him. She whined, she fussed, and she acted as if her life depended on it. Maybe it did.
It was a blessing in disguise that he wanted her back turned to him. As she continued her antics, Caty managed to slip her cell phone out of her pocket. Pushing a button to engage the tracking device Caleb had installed on her phone only a few days ago, she did a little dance—gyrating and acting like a fruitcake—while she tugged off her right boot. All the while, she prayed that cell phone on the fast track down her arm. By God’s great mercy, her idiocy distracted the guy long enough that he didn’t notice as the cell phone dropped into the boot. Seconds later, the left boot fell on the ground.
The man wrenched her arm. “About time. Get a move on. We can’t dawdle.”
Caty began to run in her bare feet. Panicked, she couldn’t see Lauren. Pushing ahead, she caught sight of her again within seconds. Lauren still had her cell phone although they’d probably confiscate it first thing. She almost screamed but then thought better of it.
Jesus, please let them find my boots. And my phone. May it somehow lead them to us.
Within minutes, she and Lauren were pushed into a black van with tinted windows parked behind the unmanned ice cream truck. No one was around this remote area of the park. Lauren looked up at her with wide eyes. Caty nodded. Trust Jesus, she mouthed.
The man who’d brought her to the van climbed in, but the younger man who’d had Lauren slid the door closed. The van’s bench seats had been removed.
“Now, we’re going to blindfold you, and we’re going to take a little ride, ladies.” He picked up a dark bandana from the floor of the van and proceeded to wrap it around Lauren’s head. Then he did the same with her. No one said anything.
Not long after, Caty felt a prick of something on her arm. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you a little something to help you enjoy the ride, princess. Relax now. Just sleep.”
Chapter 50
“Eliot!” Caleb ran toward him.
The other man turned. He’d been in conversation with Sam. Good. Well, maybe not. Sam might very well kill him once he found out what was going on.
“I can’t find Caty or Lauren. Neither one of them are answering their cell phones. How could this happen? How?”
“I’m sure they’re not far away,” Sam said.
“Sam, you don’t understand.” Gasping, Caleb had never felt more desperate. “I should never have let them out of my sight.”
“Where did you last see them?” Eliot jumped into emergency mode.
“Someone want to explain?”
Eliot turned to Sam. “There’s no time. Sam, we don’t want to spoil the picnic and alarm everyone. This is personal with Caleb. Caty and Lauren might be in danger, but I assure you, we’ll find them as soon as possible.”
Sam appeared wary and shot Caleb a look he couldn’t define. He trusted Eliot implicitly, and that worked in his favor. He really didn’t want to have to deck Caty’s brother. He’d need to do some explaining later.
“I’ll do whatever’s necessary,” Sam said. He tossed his half-eaten plate of food in the nearest trash can. “We can talk another time. Let’s find them. What do you need me to do?”
“As hard as it is, we need you and the other TeamWork members to stay here and carry on as usual,” Eliot said. “You’re their leader, and I need you to be calm.”
“I can do that. Call me and keep me posted on what’s happening as soon as you can.” Sam’s piercing stare zeroed in on Caleb. “Can you promise me that much?”
He nodded. “Promise. I’m sorry, Sam. Eliot’s the best man to have around in circumstances like this. You know that better than I do. We’ll bring them back safe and sound. I don’t know when, but we will. You have my word.”
Sam closed his eyes and put one hand on Caleb’s shoulder, the other on Eliot’s. “Father, go with these men now. Keep them safe. Keep Caty and Lauren calm, and we ask you to wrap your tall and wide hedge of protection around them until they can come home safely to us again. We claim power and strength in your mighty name, and we ask that the forces of evil against them will fall in defeat. We ask these things in faith, and in the precious name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.”
“Amen.” Caleb nodded to Sam, and the other man departed. What a godly man.
Eliot turned to Caleb. “What was the last thing Caty said to you?”
Think. His brain was numb. “The tree.” He pointed to the tree where Caty indicated she’d be sitting with Lauren. “She told me that she and Lauren would get food and be eating beneath that tree.”
Caleb took off at a run after Eliot. Why hadn’t he brought Max? Lauren had begged him, but he’d decided he didn’t want to have to deal with getting him into the SUV. They could find nothing near the tree, and Caleb waited while Eliot figured out his next strategy.
Miles came running toward them. “Mr. Reid, sir, I found Caty’s red boots over there on the ground. At least I think they belong to her. She had on red boots, right?”
His heart took a flying leap, and Caleb grabbed the boots. “Yes. These are Caty’s.” He looked at Eliot. “She loves these boots. Caty wouldn’t willingly leave them behind without good reason.”
“Do you know where she is, Miles?” When the young man stared at him, Caleb said it again. “Where’s Caty?”
The confused young man lifted his hands. “I don’t know. I guess I thought she was with you.”
“Did you see Lauren?” Caleb barked.
“No, sir. What’s wrong?”
“They’re missing,” Eliot told Miles. “Where did you find the boots? Show us exactly where you found them.”
“Over here. Follow me.” Miles ran, and they both followed.
“They were right here.” They stood in a remote, deserted area of the park. No one was around, and an out-of-service ice cream truck sat nearby.
Eliot took the left boot from him. “Check the boot.”
“What are we looking for?”
“A sign from God, most likely.”
Eliot turned his boot upside down, shaking it. Caleb did the same, and his eyes widened as Caty’s cell phone slid out into his hand. He turned on the phone, staring at it with wide eyes. “Look.”
“What is it?” Eliot and Miles both looked over his shoulder.
“Caty had this tracking device installed just this past week. Like you suggested, Eliot. Looks like she somehow managed to activate it and get the phone down into her boot.”
“Smart woman.” Eliot took the phone. “It’s only got a fifty-mile radius, and they got a head start. We have no idea where they’re taking them. Let’s move!”
“Whoa,” Miles said as Caleb took off with Eliot beside him. “God bless!”
“The Hummer or the Porsche?” Caleb called to Eliot as they raced across the large park together. Of course, their vehicles were parked on the opposite end.
“Depends on whether you go for scrappy or overpriced talent.”
“Give me a break,” Caleb muttered. Funny man. Caty must have told Marta. Oh well, women talk about things like that. He knew that. Didn’t matter. The only thing that did matter was finding Lauren and Caty. At least Eliot had a sense of humor. He’d left his somewhere unknown about a month ago.
“
We’re taking the Hummer. I know Houston. You don’t,” Eliot hollered over one shoulder, already several lengths ahead of him. The guy was ex-military, powerful, and fast. What did he expect? He wasn’t exactly a wimp, and he was keeping pace close behind Eliot, so he had no reason to be ashamed.
“I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be getting a phone call any minute with instructions on what they want and where to meet them. Where to make the drop.”
“Make the drop?” Caleb said, incredulous. “Are you serious? People actually say stuff like that outside of some cheesy action movie?”
“Yep. They do. Get in, Caleb.” Eliot unlocked the doors to the Hummer.
He couldn’t easily just get in a tank. He needed to hoist himself up and climb inside the thing, and that’s precisely what he did. “I’m sure glad I work out regularly.” Caleb slammed the door and roared back against the seat as Eliot tore out of the parking lot, tires squealing. He managed to get the seat belt on. He glanced at Eliot, and he had his belt strapped across his body. When had he even done that?
“Here. Take the phone and guide me. I hope you can navigate.”
“I thought that’s what this tracking thing did.” Caleb tried not to gasp for air, but he did. Couldn’t help it.
“Just give me the cross streets and keep me posted where they’re at.”
“Got it.” Caleb read the current coordinates to him and prayed under his breath. “You’ve done this before, I take it.” He cringed and ramped up the silent prayers as Eliot careened around a corner and floored the accelerator. Caleb clutched the armrest and held on to the bar near the Hummer’s ceiling as Eliot made a sharp right at the next corner. “Do you have some kind of police immunity? If you don’t, I get the feeling we might be stopped.” He had to be going at least seventy.
“No offense, buddy, but please shut up, and let me drive.”
“Right. Sorry.”
“It stopped!” Caleb shouted fifteen minutes later. They had to be somewhere down near the docks. He could smell water, and he heard the call of seagulls as they sailed overhead.
