by Jennie Marts
Jeremy lowered his hands and his voice. He spoke calmly, as if talking to a small child. “I’m sorry about that, Leonard. I can see now that was a mistake on my part. But let’s just talk about this. I’m sure we can work something out. Why don’t you just put the gun down, and we can talk?”
“You must really think I’m an idiot,” Leonard replied, a nasty sneer on his face. “That’s the problem. You never saw my true potential. You felt sorry for me. Poor Leonard, so shy, always washing his hands, didn’t talk to anybody. Well, that was the old Leonard.”
He nodded at Charlotte. “She came along and changed all that. She saw me for how smart and funny I was. Or so I thought, until I found out she was just using me to buy her things and to get my input on the new game. Half the code she wrote for you on that fancy new game of yours, I came up with. Just so she and her new boyfriend could sell it to her good buddy, Skyler.”
Edna gasped. “So, really Charlotte was the murderer all along.” She pointed at the blonde, waving her arms and scooting in front of Maggie and the dog, blocking them from Leonard’s view. “You just used these men and threw them away once you got what you wanted from them. How much did Skyler pay you to give him the secrets to the game? What was Jim’s life worth? The price of a swanky car, a new pair of shoes?”
Charlotte shook her head. “I didn’t kill Jim. I liked Jim. But, I love Jeremy. I’ve known Skyler for years, since high school. He tried to weasel information about the new game out of me, but I told him ‘hell, no’.”
“That’s easy for you to say now.” Edna raised her voice, speaking as if she were Jessica Fletcher and she had just solved the case. “But, you just admitted you had a relationship with Jeremy’s biggest competitor. And we know you and Skyler were in Chemistry Club together. So, besides the fact that that makes you total nerds, it means you would know how to develop a poison to kill someone. Someone that you already used and just needed to get rid of. Leaving you free to either go back to Skyler or continue making money selling off secrets from Jeremy. It sounds to me like you had the means, the motive, and the opportunity.”
“No way,” Charlotte said. “Skyler knows my allegiance to Jeremy. He knows I would never turn on him. Besides, one night we were out drinking, and he let it slip that he didn’t need me to get to the codes anymore. That he had an insider working at Rogers’ Realms and was paying someone in our company to give him the codes.”
“Who was it?” Jeremy asked.
“I didn’t know. I thought it was Jim. He worked the closest with the game. So, I started dating him to keep an eye on what he was doing and to see if I could get him to admit that he was selling the information to SkyVision. Once I saw the proof of the payout and the threatening emails from you, I was sure that you had found out about Jim and taken care of him.”
“Those emails were fake,” Jeremy said. “I told you I never sent them. But how could you have seen my emails? Who showed you all this evidence?”
Charlotte lifted her bound hands and pointed at Leonard. “Him.”
Before Leonard could speak, the voice of a ghost filled the room. While Edna was distracting them with her wild accusations, Maggie had inserted the flash drive. It had taken a minute to load, but now Jim’s face filled the screen and thanks to Jeremy’s surround sound, his voice could be heard clearly throughout the room. Maggie noticed Edna turn her chest toward a speaker and hoped Mac was still hearing all of this information.
“If you are watching this, then that means either something has happened to me or you have kidnapped my dog.” Jim looked like he was in his office, speaking into the camera on his laptop. His whole face covered the screen. “And if that’s the case, give him back, you sick bastard!”
Maggie felt Chewie pull away from her, watching Jim’s face on the screen. The big dog tilted his head back and let out a mournful howl. Poor baby.
“I am making this video as proof that something rotten is going on in the Realm. I hope Jeremy gets to eventually see this. Jer, if you’re watching, know that I was always faithful to you, dude. I was approached by Skyler Humphries from SkyVision about six months ago. He’d heard that we were developing this new software that was gonna change everything, and he wanted to pay me to give him the codes so he could launch the game before us. At first, I thought no way, then I realized that if I didn’t say I’d work with him, then he would just go after someone else. And he was offering a lot of money, dude. So I kept stringing him along and giving him bits and pieces of code that were just a little off from what we were developing. He put a bunch of money in my account, but I never spent a dime of it, I swear.”
The room was silent, all mesmerized by Jim’s video confession.
The programmer continued his story. “Then SHE showed up. Man, I have never had a woman like Charlotte Foster pay any attention to me. I fell for her, and I fell hard. I wanted to believe in her, but I’m not a total dope. I knew that she had a connection to Skyler. They were old high school buddies or something. I felt like she wanted me to give the codes to her old friend and so I kept feeding him little clues, but never anything that would give him the real code that he needed to create the artificial intelligence in the new game. But I gotta tell ya, man. I was tempted. I really liked this girl. I mean, have you seen her? She’s beautiful.”
Maggie was surprised to see tears rolling down Charlotte’s cheeks. Maybe she did have feelings for Jim after all.
“But then, after so many false leads, I think Skyler started to get suspicious. I found out that he was working with someone else in the company. I started doing a little digging. Hacking into the other employees’ accounts. Sorry, Jer, but you need better security. Especially when you hire a bunch of brainy tech guys. It was cake for me to break the code and see the real guy that Skyler was working with. And he was giving him the real information. I was online when he sent out a file with the string of code that told SkyVision how to develop the new system. Thank goodness I saw it when I did. I intercepted the file and replaced it with a fake one. But, man, was I surprised when I saw who the real company spy was.”
Chapter Twenty-three
The room held their collective breath as they waited for Jim to name the real culprit.
Jim smiled into the camera, shaking his head. “I couldn’t believe it. That little nerdy guy, Leonard. I totally didn’t think he had it in him.”
“Turn that off. Now.” Leonard’s voice held a note of barely controlled steel. “Who did that? It’s all lies. He’s lying.”
Maggie had been studying Leonard as he watched the computer monitor. His full attention was on Jim’s video. The gun hung limply from his hand.
As a woman lawyer, Maggie thought it was important that she knew how to protect herself in case one of her clients wasn’t happy with her. She had taken several self-defense classes and knew that she could take Leonard down if she went after him while he was distracted.
She watched his control slipping. His whole focus was on the screen. Now was her chance. She pushed off from the floor, lunging at him, her nails out, ready to kick and bite and scratch. Whatever it took to knock the gun loose.
Unfortunately, Leonard must have taken the same type of class. For a short, nerdy-looking guy, he was extremely fast, and she was surprised at his agility. He easily side-stepped her, bringing his arm back and backhanding her across the side of the head with the heavy gun.
The metal hit the side of her forehead and pain exploded in Maggie’s skull. She fell to her knees, clutching her head and crying out in pain. Chewie ran to her side, licking at her head. She blinked and looked up at Jeremy.
Seeing Leonard hit her must have been more than he could take, because in the next instant, Jeremy launched himself at the smaller man.
Maggie watched Jeremy run at Leonard, his arms outstretched, ready to tackle him.
The sound of the gunshot shattered the air. Maggie watched in horror as Jeremy staggered back. Clutching his stomach, a burst of bright red blood blossomed on his whit
e t-shirt beneath his hands. She heard a woman scream and wasn’t sure if it was Charlotte or herself.
Oh. My. Gosh. How could Jeremy have been shot? This could not be happening.
Leonard stood in the middle of the living room, a look of shock on his face. He held the gun outstretched in his hand while he yelled at Jeremy. “Now, look what you made me do! I just wanted to take Charlotte away. I didn’t care about your stupid game and the rivalry between you and SkyVision! It was idiotic! All I knew was I needed to get Charlotte away from you and Jim. Jim was easy. I laced his coffee cup with a homemade poison the night before I left the office. All he had to do was fill it with coffee and have a few sips. And if I could make Jeremy take the fall for his murder, then both of them would be out of our lives. It was so simple.”
He looked pleadingly at Charlotte. “Don’t you see? I did this all for you.” He stared at the computer screen, Jim’s picture still frozen on it, and waved the gun at Edna. “Turn that off! I don’t even want to see his face.”
Edna whimpered. “I don’t know how. You have to do it.”
“Oh, for the love of Pete. You are such a stupid old woman!” He strode forward, leaning over to stab at the power button.
Maggie was awed by the lightning speed at which Edna moved. Those classes at the Y must really be helping.
Edna’s fist came up, connecting with Leonard’s crotch, and a crackling sizzle sound filled the room, followed by the smell of burnt electricity. The gun dropped from Leonard’s hand, and Edna kicked it away. Seconds later, he crumpled to the floor, a gurgling sound coming from his throat, still clutching his groin.
Edna tipped her head down and yelled into her bra. “Get in here, Mac. He’s on the floor. I just stunned him in the crotch with my Taser.”
Pushing up from the floor, Edna stood over Leonard. She pulled back her foot and kicked him in the ribs. “Who’s a stupid old woman now, bitch?”
The next moment, the front door burst open, and policeman swarmed in, guns drawn and yelling orders. A young officer in a flack vest ran to Leonard, who was still lying on the floor, doubled over in pain. He cried out as the officer flipped him over and slapped handcuffs on his wrists.
Then Mac was there. He reached for Maggie, asking her if she was okay.
But Maggie only had one place she wanted to be. She crawled forward, screaming for someone to call an ambulance. To get Jeremy some help.
She wanted to fling herself into his arms but was afraid to touch him. Afraid to hurt him. Tears coursed down her cheeks as she knelt over him, grasping his hand. “Jeremy, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I should have believed you. I should have trusted you.”
Jeremy squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, Maggie. I understand. We both made mistakes. I just about died when I saw him hit you. I’m sorry I didn’t protect you.”
She didn’t care about that. As long as he didn’t die now. She heard Mac give the all clear, and there must have been an ambulance outside, because two paramedics rushed in. They pushed her aside and lifted Jeremy onto a stretcher and within moments he was gone.
Edna knelt beside her, taking her hand. “Come on, we can follow them to the hospital.”
Maggie looked down at the older woman. “Edna, you are amazing. How did you do that?”
“I knew I had my portable mini-Taser with me. I always carry it in my bra, just in case I get mugged. I like to be prepared. I just had to bide my time and wait for my chance to use it when I knew I could for sure get the little bastard. I didn’t want to waste my chance or risk having him take it away from me.”
“You and your bra. You ought to add pockets and patent that thing.” Maggie pulled Edna to her in a one-armed hug. “Come on, let’s go to the hospital.”
She stood up, gingerly touching her head. The hair on her forehead was matted and sticky with blood. The room spun, and she reached out to steady herself.
Mac’s strong hand gripped her arm, steadying her. “Whoa there. Maggie, you’re hurt. You need to get to the hospital.”
Maggie nodded. Which was a bad idea, as it caused stars to fill her vision. “We were just saying that. But we don’t have a car.”
“We do.” Sunny and Cassie rushed into the room, followed by Jake and Piper. They threw their arms around Maggie and Edna, crying and both talking at once. “We were so scared. Are you girls okay? Oh my gosh, you’re bleeding.”
Mac held up his hand, quieting the ruckus. “They can tell you about it later. Right now, I need you to drive them to the hospital to get checked out.”
Jake smiled at Maggie. “I’ll stay here and take care of Jeremy’s place and keep an eye on the dog.”
The dog. That beautiful, mangy mutt that had the evidence around his neck this whole time. Who would have thought?
“Thanks, Jake.” Maggie put her arm around Cassie’s shoulder and headed for the van. Sunny and Piper helped Edna, holding her arms and getting her secured in the car.
“We need to get you to the hospital right away. That wound is still bleeding.” Cassie pulled open the back door and gingerly helped Maggie into the seat. “Don’t worry. I’ll drive fast.”
Maggie had no doubt of Cassie’s driving skills, having been in the car with her when they were late for a soccer game. She was happy to have Cassie break every speed limit in town today if it would get her to Jeremy quicker. “I’m not worried about me. A few stitches and some aspirin, and I’ll be fine. I’m worried about Jeremy. He’s the one who was shot.”
Sunny reached forward and rested her hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “He’s tough. He’s gonna be okay.”
Maggie squeezed her friend’s hand, afraid to speak for fear she would start crying. He had to be okay.
Six and a half minutes later, Cassie’s van pulled into the emergency room parking lot. Sunny opened the door and reached to help Maggie out of the car.
Maggie waved her away. “I’m fine. Help Edna. I’ll meet you in there.”
Maggie set off across the parking lot, bursting into the emergency room and charging up to the desk. Every step she took set off an explosion of pain in her head, but she didn’t care. She had to make sure that Jeremy was all right.
Pleasant Valley was a small town, and the emergency room waiting area was practically empty. One lone mother stood swaying in front of the television, a toddler asleep on her shoulder. An older nurse wearing blue scrubs sat at the emergency room desk, her gray hair pulled back into a tight bun. She looked up at Maggie as she charged the nurses’ desk.
“I need to check on my boyfriend. His name is Jeremy Rogers. He was just brought in about ten minutes ago, and he’d been shot.” A cool hand slid into Maggie’s and grasped it firmly. Maggie was surprised to see Sunny next to her, but she held her hand tightly, thankful to have her friend near, praying the nurse would say something reassuring.
The nurse looked Maggie over, unfazed and clearly used to the drama of the emergency room. “You realize you’re bleeding. We need to get your head checked out.”
“Fine. I’ll see a doctor about my head. But first, I need to know about Jeremy Rogers. Is he okay?”
The nurse paused a beat, her lips pursed as if she were deciding how much information to tell this crazy woman who was bleeding on her counter. “They brought him in a few minutes ago and took him directly into surgery. I can’t tell you much else, but he was unconscious when they wheeled him by me.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Maggie’s legs gave way, but Sunny caught her before she hit the floor.
The nurse yelled for some assistance, and a young man in scrubs appeared with a stretcher. He gently lifted Maggie onto it and wheeled her into an open examining room.
Sunny followed along, never letting go of Maggie’s hand. “You’re gonna be fine, Mags. Just try to relax.”
Relax? How could she relax when the man that she loved could be fighting for his life in the operating room? Had she told him that she still loved him? What if he died before she got a chance to tell him how she
really felt? That she needed him and wanted to be with him.
The guy in scrubs pulled on a pair of gloves and drew back Maggie’s hair to examine her wound. “Looks like you’re going to need a few stitches.” He held a flashlight up and tested her vision and pupil dilation.
Maggie pushed against him, straining to sit up. “I’ll just wait for the doctor. I really need to check on my boyfriend.” Only a few weeks ago, she had cringed at the term “boyfriend”, and now she was throwing it around like a Wiffleball.
“Ma’am, I am the doctor.”
Maggie raised her eyebrows at the young man in scrubs. He did have a stethoscope around his neck. “You look way too young to be a doctor.” She pushed up an inch and the room seemed to spin. Maybe she would lie down. Just for a minute.
The doctor laughed and pulled bandages and a syringe from the cart next to the stretcher. “Yeah. I get that a lot. I promise I’m old enough. I just have a baby face.”
He reached for the antiseptic, but before he could begin to even clean the wound, the examining room curtain was yanked open. Cassie, Piper, and Edna filled the small room.
Cassie rushed to Maggie’s side, pushing the doctor out of the way so she could check on Maggie’s head. “How are you feeling? Are you doing okay?”
Maggie looked around in dismay at the crowded room. “How did you all get back here? I can’t believe that nurse let you past her.”
“Who, Marge? That old battle-axe?! I’m not afraid of her.” Edna waved toward the emergency room entrance. “We actually went to high school together. Believe it or not, we were on the cheerleading squad together.” Edna clapped her hands together and started a cheer. “Rah! Rah! Rah! Kick ’em in the jaw!”
Maggie held up her hand. “Stop! You’re hurting my head! And my brain. I don’t ever want to picture you, or Nurse Marge, in a cheerleading uniform.”
“Oops. You’re right. Sorry about that. Got caught up in the memory.” Edna poked her head out of the curtain and yelled down the hallway. “Can we get a doctor in here? My friend is bleeding.”
