Stolen Secrets

by Nancy Radke

  They passed the casket and entered the anteroom, which buzzed with low talk.

  “Good job, Ryan.” He shook hands with an acquaintance of his, a man he barely knew.

  “Wished I had have said that,” another added, and several more men, some who had spoken, some who had not, came up and shook his hand. “Excellent.”

  He couldn’t understand it. Did they feel so sorry for him that they had to exaggerate?

  Robyn found him next. “Alison and I’ll take Mary to live with us. We figure she’ll be okay if she isn’t left alone at night.”

  “I’ll help you move her.”

  “That might be awhile. We’ll let you know when she’s able to sort through Warren’s belongings and decide what she wants. For sure she’ll need that old chair of her mother’s. We’ll get it today.”

  “It’s a good thing she has you, Rob. She needs someone who can help her though this.”

  Robyn nodded, her gaze searching for Mary, returning to him only when she felt assured that her charge was making it. “I couldn’t leave her, not after what you said. I wouldn’t anyway.”

  Alison stepped up and nodded to him. “I agree. That was a super speech you made, Ryan. Better than all the rest.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so. So did everyone else. We all felt joined to you and what you were saying.”

  “But Scott’s— ”

  “Scott was eloquent. You spoke from the heart.”

  “Don’t sell yourself cheap, brother,” Robyn added. “All you had to do was try.”

  Embarrassed, Ryan looked around. “There was a red-haired woman here. Angie and I saw her at Warren’s house the day he died. Any idea who she is? She seemed devastated.”

  “She probably signed the guest book. Why not look there?”

  He walked over to where the book lay open on the small table and scanned down the names. His and Angie’s were there, with Scott’s name immediately underneath. Several Barbara’s. He read through completely, but couldn’t put a last name to the red-haired woman, so gave up.

  Scott stood nearby and he asked him if he knew her.

  “No. Don’t know who you’re talking about. How goes the investigation?”

  “We’ve got a picture of my thief.”

  “How?”

  “I set up a surveillance camera this morning and video-taped him while I was at the grocery store. Now all we’ve got to do is put a name to the face. Shouldn’t take too long. I’m going down to the police station after I take Angie home. She’s living with Gran— with Mrs. Miller.”

  “Good hunting.”

  “Right. We’ll check Ted’s bookie first. My bet’s on him.” He left Scott to help carry the casket.

  * * *

  Returning home, Angie changed clothes, then went downstairs to bring Grandma up to date. She petted Sugar as the cat crawled into her lap, much to the annoyance of Tag. “Ryan is at the police station right now, giving them the surveillance tape,” she said, feeling elated that Ryan finally acted like he trusted her. Just before leaving, he had shown her the combination to his office safe.

  The phone rang. Angie sprang up to answer it, dumping Sugar on the floor. It could be Ryan.

  “Hey, there.” It was Scott, his voice sounding excited. “You need to bring the CDs to my office. Ryan’s going to meet us here.”

  “He is? Why?”

  “We’re planning to set up a trap for the thief, using the CDs to lure him in.”

  She frowned. That didn’t sound right. “Can’t you use substitutes?”

  “No. It wouldn’t hold up in court. He has to have the actual CDs in his hand. We have the video from Ryan’s house, but there’s no law against looking at a houseboat. Ryan’s coming here directly from the police station. We need to set this up quickly, so Ry had me call you. He wants you to bring the bait.”

  “But what happens if the thief escapes? He’ll have the CDs.”

  “He’ll just destroy his hard drive again since he won’t know the access codes. And you know Ry always has backups. If they’re lost we can replace them. The police agree this is the best way.”

  “Should I take a cab?”

  “Yes. Hurry, the police had one of their informants drop the info that the CDs are here.”

  “Okay.” She hung up, then called a cab. Telling Grandma she’d be back in an hour or two, Angie grabbed her coat and went to Ryan’s. She opened the big safe and retrieved the CDs. There were two sets, one marked with an X and one without. Which set did he want?

  She could see why the thief had to actually be caught having valuable goods in his hands, otherwise he’d say he hadn’t stolen anything of value. But wasn’t there a law against entrapment?

  Twenty minutes later she arrived at their offices, carrying both sets. Scott’s door was open and she looked in.

  “Ryan here yet?”

  Scott stood up and walked around his desk. He still had his heavy coat on, so he must’ve arrived just before she did. “Ry just called. He’ll be here in a couple of minutes. Do you have the CDs?”

  “Yes.” She pulled them out of her pocket. “Where should we put them?”

  “In the safe.” He motioned with his hand, saying, “The thief has our combination by now. Patti must’ve given it to him before she died.”

  “How do you know?”

  “We’ve an undercover officer working the case with us.” Scott took the CDs from Angie and stopped. “You’ve got two sets here.”

  “One’s real. One’s a trap. And I can’t remember which is which. Ryan’ll know.”

  “I see.”

  “Does he want me to wait?” she asked, wanting to see him again. She sat down in one of the conference chairs and tucked her purse in beside her.

  Scott laughed and for some reason the sound disturbed her. “No. But I wouldn’t bother going home if I were you.”

  “What do you mean?” She shifted uneasily at his tone.

  “I finally figured out who you are. It took seeing your name written in the guest book at Warren’s funeral before I realized you were the one who invaded my office.”

  “I can explain— “

  “Nothing. Ryan hired you on a whim— probably to make sure you didn’t disappear while he checked out your story. We’ll, you’ve just proven him right. He was always a little suspicious of you, now he’ll think you stole the CDs when they turn up missing.“

  Angie stared at him, not believing his words. “I don’t see...” But she did. Scott— Ryan’s partner— was behind this. Somehow. “You?” She leaped to her feet. “But why?”

  “Not me.” Scott shook his head, as if to rid himself of her accusation. “A friend of mine. Or he used to be. I have to help him... and you have to disappear.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Your funeral. Your word against mine. Your fingerprints are on Ryan’s safe. Once he thinks you stole his CDs, he’ll never believe anything you tell him. Ever! That’s the way he is. And I’ll say you never came here. It’s Saturday. There’s no one around but me. Now get out— and keep going.”

  “But I— “

  “Out!”

  The CDs were lying beside the computer. He stood a few feet away. Angie dashed for them.

  “No, you don’t,” Scott said, shoving her aside with a sweep of his arm. She fell to the floor, her face striking the table. Ignoring the pain, she jumped to her feet and tried again.

  He grabbed her arms, forcibly keeping her from reaching the CDs. “Sorry, but I said to get out.”

  She struggled frantically. If she lost the CDs, she lost Ryan. Scott laughed at her attempts, and slapped her when she bit him.

  “Listen to me,” he growled. “Ryan’s had women cheat him before. Even if he believes I’m involved, he’ll know you were the only one with the combination to his safe. And I bet you told Mrs. Miller you were getting the CDs. You sunk yourself, sweetheart.”

  Angie could picture Ryan’s face, white and shocked. Wha
t had she done to both of them?

  “But other times,” she protested. “I helped him...”

  “So did I.”

  “You stole the first CD.”

  “With your help. At least he’ll think so. I’ll tell him I knew you months before this happened. You sink me and you’ll go right along. Ryan never really trusts anyone.”

  He had trusted her— and Scott had used Ryan’s trust against him.

  “Keep quiet and leave town.”

  Her mind refused to accept that. Surely Ryan would give her a chance to defend herself. “Why should I?”

  “Because although I draw the line at murder, Vince doesn’t. He’ll kill both you and Ryan.”

  23

  Angie ran out of Scott’s office, down the stairwell and into the cold. There she leaned against the side of the building, her body trembling so violently she couldn’t stand. Sickness swept over her.

  Scott. Involved with a murderer. How terrible! Someone named Vince. At least she now knew his name. She also remembered where she had seen him. He was the man who’d nearly run into her just before Scott did. Scott must have been chasing him.

  At that moment a bus drove up and stopped, letting off a passenger. Angie forced her legs to carry her to the bus, eager to put distance between them.

  Her purse. It remained in Scott’s office, but she couldn't go back.

  Angie swayed and stared up at the Metro driver. A woman in her late forties, she took one look at Angie's face and said, "Get in."

  "I don't have any money," she explained helplessly. “My purse... “

  "It doesn't matter," the driver said. "Come on. You look like you could use some help."

  Angie climbed in, using the handrails to pull herself up the steps. Still in shock, she sat down behind the driver.

  "Want me to call the police?" the woman asked, motioning to her radio as she started to pull away. "Or an ambulance?"

  "No... no... it wouldn't help."

  "It was a man, wasn't it? Were you robbed?"

  Angie nodded. "A man. But I left my purse when I ran. He didn't steal it."

  "Husband?"

  "No." She laughed bitterly, her body still shaking.

  "Don't you dare go back to him."

  "Don't worry, I won't."

  They made several stops, picking up passengers and dropping them off as they neared the downtown area.

  "I'll get off here," Angie said, as they entered the heart of Seattle.

  "You got any place to go?"

  "Not really, but thanks. I'll find some place."

  "Take several transfers, you might need them. I'll punch them for you."

  "Thanks."

  "I might have some quarters.” The woman reached into her own purse and handed Angie five quarters. “Call your folks. Take care."

  "Thanks. Thanks again." It seemed all Angie could say, and she repeated it as she stepped out onto the street.

  Walking used up time and she meandered down one street and up another. But she wasn't seeing the street, or the people. She saw only Ryan's face, shocked and betrayed. Why had she believed Scott when he asked for the CDs?

  Stumbling over a curb, she pushed her way through the crowd. The last of the workers were leaving and businesses were closing down. She stopped at the public phone booths at the library.

  Scott had let her go, confident he had frightened her sufficiently. She could think of no way to prove her innocence. He had tied her to this robbery as surely as if she had been his accomplice.

  She dropped the quarters into the slot, then stood staring at the numbers. For his own protection, Ryan needed to know about Scott and about the CDs. Ryan might still get them back. Angie had to tell him, even if it meant jail for her.

  Resolutely, she dialed his number. No one answered and after several rings she hung up, unwilling to leave a message and lose her phone money. Her quarters clattered into the box and she retrieved them. Now what?

  The police. She dialed 911. “I have a message for Detective Eric Hayes. It's terribly urgent. You must get the warning to Detective Hayes right away."

  * * *

  Ryan bounced happily into his office and over to his safe. Now that they had a photo of the murderer, he’d soon be caught. And Ryan could talk to Angie about the number of kids he wanted. At least three. Maybe four.

  He reached down to spin the lock, but stopped as he saw the number 9 where the dial rested. He always placed it at 20 when he closed it, so he’d know if it had been tampered with.

  Only Angie knew the combination. He hurried to unlock it, then stared at the empty spot in his safe. Angie had taken the CDs the first chance she got.

  Betrayed! How could she? He sank to his knees, letting his head drop forward against the open door. He breathed deeply, trying to still the overwhelming disappointment that shook him to his inner being. Angie.

  Angie. He thought she loved him. He fought the tears. Angie. “No!”

  So sure of her, he had been. So trusting. Now... so devastated. Deceived. It pulled the life from him.

  He couldn’t take it. How could she act so loving? She had betrayed him the moment he’d left, he was sure. Now she and her accomplice...

  Ryan gasped, raised his head. The bug. Still in her cell phone; still active. There might be time to catch her before she handed over the CDs.

  Ryan grabbed the tracer and ran out the door and up the dock. Only then did he remember his coat, but he had one stored in his trunk, so he jumped in and turned the key. He aimed his car towards Bellevue.

  He drove blindly, seeing only her face. Hot anger mixed with the raw agony of betrayal. Bile rose bitter in his mouth and he swallowed hard against it.

  The signal got weaker. Strange. Puzzled, he turned around.

  The locator led him straight to the suite of offices he shared with Scott. Now he really felt puzzled. He parked, got out, and went in. Scott was just closing his office door as he walked up.

  “Where’s Angie?” Ryan asked.

  “She’s not here. Why?”

  “My CDs are gone. I thought... ” He glanced down at the locator. Its needle pointed into Scott’s office.

  “Gone? She took them?” Scott looked at him, amazed.

  “Yes.” Ryan gave the locator a shake, wondering if it was malfunctioning. “I thought she came here.”

  “No sign of her. And I came as soon as Warren’s funeral was over.”

  Then why did the locator dial refuse to move? “Open your door.”

  “Why?” Scott took two steps as if to continue on to the elevator. “I’m in a hurry.”

  “Just open it.”

  Scott threw the door open. “Take a look. She’s not here.”

  Her purse was. Stuck in the side of the chair. Ryan knew she had had it at the funeral that morning. She had used a tissue from it.

  He picked it up and held it aloft. “What’s going on?”

  “Oh. Ah...” Scott for once seemed to be out of words. “That’s, uh.” He chewed on his lip. “Well, you might as well know. She’s been helping me— “

  “Don’t give me that.” Ryan refused to hear what he didn’t want to hear. He lifted his hand like a sword, in a threatening manner, and saw Scott’s gaze swing toward it.

  Scott crumpled, the bluster all gone. “Oh, man, Ry. If I don’t give your CDs to Vince, he’ll kill me next.”

  “Vince?” Ryan’s voice was grim, but inside his heart jumped hoops. Perhaps Angie hadn’t betrayed him.

  “Yeah. I didn’t know how bad he was until he killed Patti. I just helped him because Kathleen— ”

  “She’s in on it?”

  “She stole information from me while we were married, then used it after our divorce to blackmail me. Vince is her latest bankroll— a programmer who used to work for MXOIL. He stole millions from them and then tried to hide the transfer of funds.”

  “What stopped him?”

  “He got fired. He hacked into MXOIL to erase the incriminating records, but you
had just installed your program and he couldn’t get past it. He told Kathleen to demand the CD from me.”

  “Thinking he could use the program to enter.”

  “Right. We arranged a robbery to cover the loss, so you wouldn’t think I stole it. Vince bought up Ted’s IOUs, then demanded the money-—or all your CDs. Ted got an ex-con to help him.”

  “So that’s why Ted got involved.”

  “I gave Vince the CD, not realizing he needed the second one, too. If Vince could’ve gotten in, he could’ve erased the second set of books he had been running and no one would’ve been hurt.”

  “Is Angie all right?”

  “Sure. I let her go. I’m no murderer.”

  Angie didn’t have her purse, but that wouldn’t slow her down too long. She’d probably catch a bus and go straight back to Grandma Miller’s. He shook his head at his soon-to-be ex-partner. “You’d have let them take all the other CDs, knowing the businesses you were going to ruin?”

  “I planned to call all those companies the next day and warn them. Even MXOIL— after Vince erased his part of the files. The CDs Ted stole would’ve been useless. It would’ve worked, too, except you had the second one on you. When you called, I realized Vince needed both. I would’ve caught him if I hadn’t run into Angie. He nearly came unglued when he ruined his computer and was also out Ted’s money. I’ve never heard anyone so angry.”

  “That’s probably when he shot Ted’s friend.”

  “Probably.”

  “And you gave him the key to my house.”

  “Yes. I didn’t know about Ted’s friend. I thought Vince would just steal the CDs and leave. I never dreamed this would go so far. When he killed Patti, he called me and threatened me— just after you called to say she was dead.”

  And Angie hadn’t been in on any of it. Ryan felt so happy it was hard to stay angry with Scott. “And now you were going to betray me and MXOIL, by giving both CDs to that murderer?”

  “That’s just it, Ry. He is a murderer. If I don’t hand these over, he’ll come after me and then you.”

  “If you do hand them over, he’ll still kill you.”

  “What else can I do? I’m sorry, Ry. This all started years ago with Katherine. Each time she wanted more.”

  “Greedy woman.”