by Nadirah Foxx
“In your dreams,” he said with a smirk.
◆◆◆
After our scrumptious meal, I felt like a nap, but that would have to wait until later. We had to tend to business first.
“How much has been done on the City Center project?” I asked Debbie.
“The mayor’s office gave us a checklist. So far, we’ve completed half of the requirements.”
“How long before we finish the rest?”
“End of week if we put in the extra hours.”
“Make it happen. Tell everyone involved there will be bonuses if they meet the deadline.”
Debbie typed on her tablet screen. “I have some information on Dr. Upton.”
Josh chimed in, “Anything we should be concerned about?”
“Not sure,” Debbie said as she read something from her device. “What stood out to me was her tie to the Arcadia City Police Department.”
Josh and I exchanged a look, and then he said, “What exactly?”
“She’s the psychologist for the department. She’s also Mayor Simpson’s sister.”
Mayor Gena Simpson took over Arcadia City’s office when corruption made its home there. It could simply be coincidence, but I didn’t believe in the notion. Everything happened for a reason.
“Debbie, find out whether Dr. Upton is also affiliated with the departments in Victoryville and Golden Harbor.”
“On it. I’m still compiling information on Cedric Stratham though.”
Josh leaned forward, laced his fingers on the tabletop, and gave her a cocky grin. “I can help you with that.”
“I’d appreciate it.” Her gaze lingered a moment on him before she left the room.
Cleaning up our mess, I asked, “Do I have to worry about the two of you?”
He laughed nervously. “What are you talking about?”
“You don’t think I noticed the flirting?”
Josh grabbed the trash bin and placed the empty containers inside it. “Jealous?”
“No,” I blurted out.
“I think the woman protests too quickly.” He picked up his backpack and walked toward the door. “If you want to talk about your bruised knuckles, you know where to find me.”
I glanced down at my hand. Sure enough, my knuckles looked like I went a few rounds with an unforgiving punching bag. I made a mental note to use a little concealer next time.
◆◆◆
The highlight of my morning came via a phone call—the one I had been trying to avoid.
“Hi, Gertrude.” I tried to force pleasantness into my voice, but I might have missed the mark.
“Now, now, dear. I know it’s been hard on you, and you probably don’t want to speak to me—”
“No, no, Gertrude. I’ve been busy taking care of Sentinel.”
“Okay.” She didn’t sound like she bought my lie. “Care to tell me why the house is up for sale?”
I hadn’t given Jackie the paperwork yet.
“Don’t try to talk your way out of it. Did you forget I have friends who work for Jackie Stevens?”
Shit! I did.
“I’m sorry, Gertrude. I planned on calling you and Mom this weekend. You should go through Ryan’s belongings. See if there’s anything you’d like to keep.”
“I’m glad you remembered he was my son,” my mother-in-law said flatly. “I’d like to do it this afternoon. I can be in Liberty Heights by two o’clock. You can meet me there, or I’ll let myself in.”
I rubbed my temple. Going to the house was not on my agenda. “Sure, I’ll meet you. I might be a few minutes late.”
“Being late got my son and grandson killed,” she said coldly and disconnected the call.
When I first delivered the bad news to my in-laws, I had a funny feeling Gertrude blamed me for the tragedy. Her nasty comment proved I was right. The woman had never liked my working outside the home. She thought being a mother was enough of a job. What worked for her would never make me happy.
Someone knocked on my door.
“Come in.”
Josh poked his head around the corner. “Can we talk?”
I stared at my phone for a moment and then waved him in. “What’s up?”
“A little news. You were right about Dr. Marsha Upton. She’s the psychologist for the four cities.”
“Hmm. Must be a lucrative deal for her.”
“I’ll say.” He sat in front of me. “The woman grossed seven figures last year.”
“What! You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope. Debbie found an article from the Daily Tribune mentioning the doctor. She was listed as one of the top-paid psychologists in the state.”
“That’s insane. How much do you want to bet her income comes from the corruption in those cities?”
“Oh, I’d bet any amount of money.” Josh leaned forward and rested his elbows on his legs. “There’s proof Upton became the shrink for the police departments after the change in each city’s mayoral office.”
“Question is, who made sure she got the position?”
“I have a better one. If she was appointed after corruption, does that mean we now have an issue in Liberty City?”
“How long has the doctor worked for the LCPD?”
“Six months.” Josh cocked his head. “You’re thinking that’s when the problems started in town, right?”
“Possibly. We need to pull crime stats. See what types were prevalent at that time. We also should look again at each of the Tri-Cities. See what types of crimes they’re dealing with now.”
“Kerrie, I still believe we should contact the FBI or at least the state. This is a lot bigger than what we imagined.”
“True, but we don’t have enough proof for the Feds.”
Frankly, we had a lot of questions that needed answers before we involved anyone else. Without knowing who was good and who was bad, we couldn’t afford to go to the FBI. What if the problem went all the way to the top? That was a chance I wouldn’t take.
Not yet.
14
Taking Care of Business
Before I could deal with the Drama Queen, aka my mother-in-law, I had to take care of business with the mayor’s office. Thanks to Debbie’s due diligence, I’d learned that Adam Fairchild had indeed played me. He’d delivered a revised bid to the city earlier in the day. If I had believed him—trusted he told the truth—we wouldn’t have moved forward in finishing up the list of requirements. As a matter of fact, my team was hard at work to complete the checklist ahead of schedule. It was up to me, though, to shore up the deal.
Just before I entered my car, the slapping of footsteps echoed through the parking structure. I looked up to Josh running toward me. “Kerrie, wait!”
I stopped with my keys in my hand. “What’s up?”
“Debbie said you were going to the mayor’s office. Just wondered if I can be of help?”
Pursing my mouth, I thought about it. As much as I hated to admit it, I might be taken more seriously with a man by my side. Our mayor was old-fashioned—a man who had little faith in the abilities of a woman outside of housework or being someone’s secretary.
“Sure. But let me handle this in my own way. If I need you—”
“I know exactly what you’re going to say. I’m coming along to present a strong front should anyone question your ability.”
“Exactly.” And, that was why Josh and I had always been great friends. He knew when to step up and when to fade into the background.
It was a short drive to City Center—the seat of all government-run services for Liberty City. Ryan’s proposed plan would provide a new secure server linking the fire and police departments along with rescue services and city hall. Every employee would receive new passwords and a facial recognition system would eventually be implemented. Naturally, what Ryan had planned was costly, but it was necessary. The prime objective was keeping hackers out. I had to convince the mayor’s office that the project, as previously laid out, still had validity.
Getting past Mayor Hughes’ gatekeeper—a petite pit bull of a woman. The gray-haired matron sat tall and shot us a cold, impenetrable gaze. “The mayor is busy at the moment. You’re more than welcome to make an appointment Miss—”
“Ms. King.” I wouldn’t take no for an answer. Placing my palms on the desk, I leaned over and said, “The security of Liberty City is at stake. I think Mayor Hughes can find a moment to speak with us.”
Her eyes darted from me to Josh and back again. “Give me a minute.” She pushed to her feet and walked toward the closed door.
I didn’t like the woman. She only changed her tune after glancing at Josh. “What did you do?”
“When?”
I looked at him. “Don’t play dumb.”
He flashed me his award-winning smile. It had been known to work on quite a few instructors back in college. I shook my head and took a seat.
Seconds later, the gatekeeper returned. “The mayor will see you now.”
I picked up my laptop bag, and we hurried into his office.
Mayor Hughes, a man who should be looking toward retirement, sat behind his huge wooden desk. He patted his thinning gray hair as we approached. “Miss King, I’m—”
“That’s Ms. King, and I’m fully aware you’re a busy man. What I have to say will only take a few minutes.”
He waved his hand toward the vacant chairs. As I sat down, I began my speech. “Months ago you awarded City Center’s Security Revitalization Project to Sentinel Security. I’m here to make sure we keep the contract.”
The mayor cleared his throat. “Months ago, it was your husband who proffered the deal. I’m sorry for your loss, but I fail to see how you can fulfill the terms.”
Just what I feared. He was another man doubting what I could do. “Would it help if I told you my team has already completed most of the requirements on your checklist? The remainder will be finished in a matter of days.”
Mayor Hughes steepled his hands on top of his desk. “That’s fine and dandy, but my office will have to go over the details. Make sure they fit our needs exactly.”
“I’d expect no less.”
His head bobbed a few times. “You should know that Covert Technologies has made a counteroffer. It’s considerably less expensive than Sentinel’s.”
Crossing my legs, I looked directly into the mayor’s rheumy blue-gray eyes. “Forgive me for saying it, but you get what you pay for. If you want a mediocre system that can easily be hacked by anyone with shoddy skills, then give the contract to Covert. Adam Fairchild will provide you an adequate system and will gladly do upgrades to it. He’ll have to because every day there will be a new threat his infrastructure will be vulnerable to.”
The mayor scoffed. “If your product was so worthy, you wouldn’t have to disparage your competitor.”
“Trust me. Sentinel Security’s reputation speaks for itself. I’m not disparaging anyone. I’m merely stating the facts. Don’t believe me? Do the research.” With those words, I reached into my bag, pulled out a file, and dropped it in front of the mayor. “Never mind. I have.”
“What is this?”
“Every company in Arcadia City and Victoryville who implemented Covert Technologies software. At least once a week there’s a security breach, not to mention other issues. Do you want Liberty City to end up with similar problems or worse?”
The mayor mumbled something unintelligible before glancing up. “Ms. King, if your product is as good as you claim it is, then my office would have no choice but to choose Sentinel. I’ll meet with my staff today and deliver this information. Someone will reach out to you before end of business.”
“Today?” I asked.
“Today.”
I uncrossed my legs and stood. “That would be appreciated.”
“One more thing, Ms. King.” He flipped open the file. “Can your company begin installation this week?”
This week?
We hadn’t even finished it, but the contract was too important an endeavor. Sentinel’s reputation and the safety of Liberty City depended upon fast action. “Not a problem. We can finalize deadlines when we speak later.”
“Very well. It’ll be a pleasure doing business with such a formidable woman.”
Once we reached the elevator, Josh said, “You’re shrewd, Kerrie. Tell me how you’ll pull off the mayor’s deadline.”
“Lots of overtime and bonuses,” I said as I depressed the down button.
Sadly, I couldn’t focus on company business as I cranked up the car. I had to meet with Gertrude, and I was already fifteen minutes late. Glancing over at Josh, I asked, “Are you in a hurry to get back to the office?”
“Not really.” He flipped on the satellite radio and selected a smooth jazz station. “Where do you need to go?”
“I have to meet my mother-in-law at the house. She should go through Ryan’s things.”
“Of course, Kerrie. Do you have boxes there?”
I blew air through my cheeks and tapped the steering wheel. “No. Honestly, I haven’t done shit.”
“Not a problem. You deal with Gertrude and let me take care of the boxes. There’s a storage facility not far from your house.”
“Thanks.”
◆◆◆
Gertrude was as hot as a kettle of a fried fish when I arrived. She’d let herself in and was rummaging through my kitchen cabinets. The good china she’d given us for a wedding present was on the island along with other knickknacks I’d received from her over the years. A stack of packing paper was on one side, and she was instructing her housekeeper what to pack.
“I’m sorry I’m late, but I had a business meeting at City Center.”
My mother-in-law hit me with a pinched expression. “I expected as much. That’s why I had Matilda come with me.”
“Matilda, can you give us a moment?”
The middle-aged Latina set a plate in the open box and hurried from the room. I waited until I heard the front door open and close before speaking.
“Gertrude, what are you doing? The last time I checked, Ryan’s things were in the study and our bedroom.”
“His things include the family china too,” she said harshly.
I slammed my purse on the island. “Let me see if I have this correct. Because Ryan is no longer alive, you don’t consider me family.”
It wasn’t a question. Like I said, Gertrude wasn’t my biggest fan.
She smiled thinly. “That’s correct. I’m taking back what you should have never been allowed to own.”
That did it.
I clenched my hand. “I want you to listen carefully, you arrogant ass bitch. You will not take one item out of this house. I lost my husband and child through no fault of my own. You won’t pillage my belongings too!”
“We’ll see about that. My lawyer—”
“Can’t do a damn thing! Now, get the hell out!”
Instead of running for higher ground, my mother-in-law came toe-to-toe with me. Her hot breath scorched my face as she calmly said, “I was right about you. Ryan would still be alive if he had listened to me.”
“If you don’t—”
“Mrs. King, I think it’s best that you leave,” Josh said from the doorway. “If there’s anything you should have, a courier will deliver it to you.”
Her eyes bounced from me to Josh. “Of course, you’d be here. I bet you couldn’t wait for my son to die.”
My friend’s face reddened. “I’m a little more forgiving than Kerrie, but do not mistake my tolerance. Keep pushing, and I’ll personally escort you to your car. Come near her again, and I’ll file a restraining order.”
Gertrude flinched as if Josh had slapped her. Then, she gathered her purse and reached for the box.
“What did Kerrie say about that?”
She removed her hands and then stalked out of the house.
As soon as she left, I collapsed onto one of the counter stools.
“You okay?” Josh asked.
“Yeah. The nerve of that woman.” I glanced at him. “When Ryan and I first began dating, Gretchen let me know she didn’t like me. She didn’t want him going out with anyone from the neighborhood. She thought he was meant for bigger and better things.”
“That’s ridiculous. All of us lived in Shade Land. We went to the same high school.”
“Yeah, but the Kings didn’t stick around for long. Remember? A month before we graduated, they sold their house and moved to Golden Harbor. Mr. King knew someone on the school board. Otherwise, Ryan would have had to transfer schools.”
“Kerrie, you don’t know for a—”
“Don’t!” I pointed my finger in the air. “It’s true. Everyone knew how snobbish the Kings were, but Ryan wasn’t like his parents.”
He was the complete opposite of his mother and father. Where they only cared about status and attaining more money, he had a concern for the homeless and tried to help those in distress. Ryan never once behaved like an arrogant CEO either. From my short time at Sentinel, I got the feeling the employees truly liked him and felt lost without him.
“Don’t worry about her. I brought boxes. We’ll pack up what we can tonight. I’ll arrange for movers to finish the job first thing in the morning.”
I nodded. What would I do without Josh in my life? I prayed I’d never have to find out.
15
Some Things Won’t Rest
Night had fallen by the time Josh and I finished packing up most of the house. We were both tired and hungry. Instead of heading back to Sentinel, he ordered pizza while I pushed past my fatigue and went through Ryan’s side of the closet.
When I ran across his favorite sweater, the tears came, and my knees buckled. The memories came back to me hard and fast as I slumped to the floor.
Ryan looked so handsome in the heather-blue wool sweater. It was a Christmas present.
Unexpectedly, he went down on one knee in the middle of my parents’ living room. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small black box.
“All I want to do, Kerrie Ann Walker, is come home to you every day of my life. My future will be brighter if you’re in it as my wife.”
