“Software meaning if someone breaks into the house, it tells the system to call the police or if there is a fire, to call the fire department?” Markie asked as she got up to grab a bottle of water from the table. It was still cool and she resisted the urge to roll the bottle across her eye.
“That’s correct.” Jamie glanced up from his writing pad. “Shadoe, has infiltrated the monitoring software at Beck Security Systems, uploaded a computer virus and I’m assuming that same virus after it’s completed its task destroys itself.”
Markie started twisting the lid off the bottled water and stopped her hand still on the cap.
“You’re saying that Shadoe is hacking into Beck Security Systems, uploading a virus that tells the system if there is a break-in, fire, or whatever, in any of the houses they’ve installed alarm systems in not to call the appropriate response unit. And then this virus destroys itself?”
“Yep,” Jamie replied.
“Is that even remotely possible?” Markie asked, wondering who would go through all that trouble and why. She sat down again, taking a long drink from the water bottle.
“Think about it,” Jamie said pushing his chair back from the table and stretching his arms above his head. “All a computer does is follow orders. It doesn’t know right from wrong and it doesn’t question what you tell it to do. It does it.”
“I understand that,” Beck said impatience creeping into his voice. “What I don’t understand is why we can’t find a trace of this,” he finished, rubbing the back of his neck.
“You can’t because you don’t know what you’re looking for,” Jamie said simply. “And therefore you’ll never find it.”
“And you could?” Beck asked staring at Jamie with skepticism.
“I’d have to see the monitoring software program, but more than likely yes. It takes a hacker to catch a hacker.”
“Malcolm would have access to do that,” Markie said eyeing Beck, voicing her thought out loud gauging his reaction. “He would know how to create a virus like that. He has the educational background for it.”
Beck shook his head. “Malcolm wouldn’t do that. I was struggling with the company after the car accident. With the divorce following that, I was a financial train wreck. Malcolm came in with the capital we needed to turn the company around. Why would he sabotage the company after all that?”
Because he didn’t get the recognition he deserved. He wanted a bigger chunk of the pie. All those reasons and more came to mind, but Markie kept them to herself. Beck wasn’t ready to hear that his right hand man could be involved in the sabotage.
“You said you started having problems three months ago. Why? What’s so special about three months ago? Did you fire someone at the company who you think could be holding a grudge? Jealous girlfriend wanting to get even…any ideas?”
“We fired no one three months ago, we checked. We went as far back as to when we started the company and no red flags. As for the jealous girlfriend theory about holding a grudge…there is no one.”
“What about employee background security checks?” Jamie asked.
“It’s mandatory for all employees. We found nothing.” He was silent for a moment looking at Markie. “I’ve been told the same thing Jamie said about the malware. What we need is someone that specializes in this sort of thing. Perhaps Jamie can work with our team at Beck Security Systems to get to the bottom of this, if that’s okay with you. Sydney is tied up in this somehow.”
Markie hadn’t responded right away. She didn’t really know why she hesitated because she had decided to help him. Perhaps it was that look in his eyes that she couldn’t quite read. Perhaps he thought she wouldn’t help him because of Sydney. His next words confirmed it.
“I didn’t try to hurt you last night, Marklynn and I had nothing to do with Sydney’s disappearance. You have to believe that. Do you believe me?”
His eyes met hers, searching. It was as if his eyes were pleading for her to believe him and she was lost in the heat they generated as her dream floated into mind. She was vaguely aware of Jamie leaving the room, something about making a call.
Beck got up and moved over to her chair. He turned her swivel chair to face him and pulled her gently to her feet to meet his searching gaze.
He smelled of soap, a spicy woody scent. She was aware of his masculine strength, the feel of his hands as he touched her. Again she wanted to offer comfort. She wanted to reach up to smooth the tired lines from his forehead. Her heartbeat sped up as she felt his warm breath on her cheek.
“Marklynn? You do believe me, don’t you?”
She nodded her head not trusting herself to speak at that moment. A smile lit up his face and she found she liked his five o’clock shadow more than the clean-shaven face he had when they first met.
Beck was gearing up to be all touchy feely again and she welcomed it. He ran the back of his hand along her cheek and a kiss as light as a feather touched her bruised eye. Their lips were a whisper apart and she waited in anticipation for the kiss that she knew would follow. He dropped his hand from her cheek when he heard Jamie’s loud voice outside the conference room door announcing his presence.
“You owe me a rain check,” Beck whispered. “And I fully intend to collect,” he added with a teasing grin.
Her heart was beating so loud she was sure Jamie heard it when he came into the room.
“What now?” Jamie asked. He grabbed a Danish and bit into it wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Beck moved over to his computer and started to pack up. “I’ve a meeting with our company’s lawyer this afternoon. We could meet later and talk.”
His comment was meant for both her and Jamie, but Beck’s eyes never left hers when he said it.
Jamie who wouldn’t know the meaning of the word tactful even if it hit him overthe head said, “Two’s company and three’s a crowd.”
“Call me later,” she said ignoring Jamie’s comment. What did she expect after he’d given them a moment together? And he wasn’t going to let her forget it either.
“I’ll see you out,” Jamie said to Beck winking at Markie as they left the conference room. Oh yeah, he wasn’t going to let her forget it.
• • •
Beck was having a hard time reading Jamie as they exited the conference room into the hall. The row of offices that were empty when he’d passed earlier was now occupied except for the one with the pile of tissues on the desk. Perhaps the man went out to buy more, he mused. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind Karter came up the stairs carrying a box of Kleenex.
Two’s company and three’s a crowd.
Beck thought about Jamie’s comment and glanced over at the man walking beside him in silence. It was clear they both had an interest in Marklynn and he figured Jamie was using the excuse of walking him out to set the record straight. But then, why had he given them a moment alone in the conference room?
“What makes you think you have a chance in hell with Markie?” Jamie asked and continued walking without breaking his stride as they came to the stairs.
Beck stopped at the top of the stairs but Jamie jogged down. “Are we going outside to the parking lot to settle this with a fist fight?”
“You think you’d win?” Jamie waited until Beck joined him at the foot of the stairs. “I think you like her. A whole lot, I reckon. Want some free advice?”
Beck was annoyed. His likes and dislikes were none of Jamie’s business. It didn’t matter if Jamie was right.
“I don’t see why it’s any of your business how I feel about Marklynn.”
If he was offended by Beck’s response he didn’t show it.
“Markie takes care of everyone and sticks her neck out for everyone. Sydney is the worst. She’s a spoiled brat who doesn’t give a damn about anyone but herself. Syd calls and Markie gets shot at and mowed down. And that crackpot grandmother of hers who thinks she’s some kind of voodoo priestess with her visions…”
“I’m still wai
ting for the free advice.”
A scowl appeared on Jamie’s face. “It’s about time someone takes care of her for a change instead of her taking care of everyone else.”
“And you’ve appointed yourself that someone.” He was jealous and if need be would throw a punch or two if it meant landing Marklynn.
Jamie broke into laugher that ended in a cough. Beck was not amused. To add insult to injury the man grabbed on to the railing and bellowed out another roar of laughter.
Cate looked up at them, a stern expression on her face. Her office was across from the stairs and she had someone with her. Jamie mouthed the word “sorry” and they moved towards the door stepping outside into the warm sun.
“If you knew Markie then you’d know why I’m laughing. All the woman does is work. Besides, if I ever, and I mean ever, think I’m man enough to go there I would have to give my wife my head on a stick. It would be less painful. Then she would kick the rest of me from here to Canada.”
Beck smiled at the thought and he saw the features in Jamie’s face softened when he mentioned his wife. Jamie was a no-nonsense kind of person. He said what was on his mind and Beck couldn’t help but like the man. Jamie also had a genuine affection for Marklynn.
Genuine affection he could handle. Jamie being married he could handle that too.
• • •
“You forgot I was coming, didn’t you?”
Markie was sitting at her desk thinking about her meeting with Beck and what had happened between them in the boardroom not more than fifteen minutes ago, when her grandmother appeared at her door. Cate always send her up if she didn’t have a client with her. Nan must have passed Beck in the hall Markie thought and stifled a groan. If that was the case, then she was about to hear the rest of her grandmother’s dream.
“Sorry. I just got out of a meeting.” She got up and hugged her grandmother then closed the door. A scent that was distinctly hers, gardenias, filled the office. “Come in and have a seat.”
Nan gently touched her face. “Does it hurt?”
“Only when the light hits it. The sunglasses work outside, but I can’t see a thing when I wear them in the office,” she smiled.
“It looks painful,” Nan said and began taking off her lace gloves as she sat in the chair smoothing down the front of her red floral summer dress. She took off her matching hat and set it on the edge of the desk.
“I’ll live,” Markie said as she sat down behind her desk. “Where are you off to all dressed up?”
“There is more to life than just surviving, Marklynn.”
Deep worry lines were etched in her strong face. She didn’t want her grandmother fussing over her. Markie leaned back in her chair and watched her.
“Maybe,” she said choosing her words carefully. “But it’s all I can do right now with everything that’s happening.”
Nan settled back comfortably in the chair. She was ready for one of her long drawn out talks. Markie could tell by the way she clasped her hands together in her lap. Trying to hurry her along would only make it longer so Markie just sat back and waited. She was probably just as scared about Sydney’s disappearance if not more so and wanted someone to talk to.
“Life doesn’t have to be only about surviving. I’m here for you. I guess it doesn’t seem that way sometimes. I’m always bailing out Sydney or fussing over her then running to you.”
“I’m sorry about what I said this morning. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“What you said made sense. It got me thinking about your father. Do you remember him?”
It was the first time in a long while she’d mentioned dad and she dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a white-laced handkerchief then drew in a deep breath. Markie hadn’t seen her cry in a long time either. Chalk it up to Sydney’s disappearance, and her black eye didn’t help either.
“Yes. I remember him.”
“You’re a lot like him in many ways. Strong, stubborn and you don’t easily forgive,” she said, wagging a finger at Markie. “He would have been proud of you with all that you’ve accomplished.”
“You think? He would’ve wanted me to be a doctor just like him.”
“No. He would have wanted you to be happy. Being a police officer made you happy,” Nan said getting all misty eyed again.
“That’s ancient history.”
“Maybe. Do you remember why you became a police officer?”
“Yes.”
Markie didn’t know where Nan was going with her line of questions, but it was easier to respond than to put her off with the mood she was in.
Answering, however, meant digging up the past. She had gotten shot at nineteen, when she attended a birthday party. It had taken a long time for her to feel safe enough to leave her house back then. That was one of the reasons why she became a police officer. She wanted people to be safe, to feel safe.
“When you walked away from your job it broke my heart. I think a piece of you died that day also,” Nan said, pulling at a thread on the laced handkerchief in her lap.
“I suppose,” she hesitated.
Nan’s eyes focused on the stack of file folders on the credenza before she turned her gaze back to Markie. “I confronted Jared a few days after you broke up. He told me why he’d called off the wedding.”
“Oh, Nan,” Markie groaned. Where was this coming from? And why was she dredging up the past?
“I never told you I knew because I wanted you to tell me, to trust me. You never did.” She sounded hurt. It was as if she wanted some kind of explanation.
“You had your hands full with Sydney.”
“That may be. I just wish you had told me. That’s all.”
“It doesn’t matter now. Does it?”
Markie didn’t want to talk about it then and she didn’t want to talk about it now. Nan wanted it out in the open and Markie didn’t know what she hoped to accomplish with dredging up the past. She didn’t have to wait long for an answer.
“I think it does. Jared wasn’t the right man for you. You need to be open when he does come along.”
Markie braced herself ready to hear her grandmother’s declaration about who “he” was. She was sure Beck’s name was going to come up, but it never did.
Instead Nan said, “I know you’re scared, but you’re not alone, Marklynn. Remember that.” Nan stood up. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. Call me later.”
“Sure.” She didn’t know what to say after all that. Nan had opened old wounds…wounds she had not allowed to heal. Unresolved issues she had buried rather than confront were right in front of her again. But she would not tackle them today or tomorrow.
“I love you,” Nan said. A quick peck on Markie’s cheek and she was gone.
Chapter Six
Phoenix watched Beck and the man with the Mohawk emerge from Brooks Investigations, laughing as if they were old friends instead of meeting for the first time. She had been keeping an eye on him from a distance over the last three months. He was more focused than Malcolm and she didn’t want to be careless and get caught.
Beck was the taller of the two, more refined, looking handsome in his tailored suit. He was wearing a suit. He didn’t like suits. Monika said so. The only time he wore them was for business meetings and that depended on the client. He wore one to his wedding…the wedding that…
Phoenix shook her head and blinked. It didn’t matter anymore. That was in the past. There were more important things to worry about. With Sydney’s pictures now in circulation, she had to assume that Beck and Marklynn would meet to discuss them in an effort to find Sydney and she was right.
Phoenix thought about the woman she’d left unconscious on the floor. She couldn’t get a straight answer out of Sydney about the pictures or why she’d taken them. A call to the magazine she claimed to work for was unreturned.
The woman loved her sister and wanted to protect her. She would rather die than tell the truth about the pictures. Isn’t that what sisters were supposed to d
o? Protect each other with their lives.
Monika wouldn’t risk her life for her. She was the perfect one and Phoenix was born with problems. Her mother said so. That didn’t matter, for Monika had promised to take care of her, to protect her. Dalton Beck had made her break that promise. Now he’d moved on with his life and she was all alone, left with nothing.
She would not allow him to live happily ever after. Not with Marklynn Brooks. The way he held her last night after the accident that should have been her. He had never held her that way. Never cared about her that way. No need to be jealous she consoled herself. It was time to move on with the next phase of her plan.
• • •
“Go home,” Jamie said as he knocked on Markie’s door. He invited himself in and took the guest chair in front of the desk “Your grandmother said if you weren’t gone by early afternoon to send you home.”
“I thought as much.”
“But you’re still here.”
“I wanted to get some work done.”
Since everything possible was being done to find Syd, instead of worrying she thought her time would be better spent catching up on paper work. She’d just signed off on the expenses for the Miller file.
Child abduction cases she took once in a while. She hated handling them when they had to find the spouse who abducted the child. The Miller case did not have a happy ending.
“I’ll be packing up soon. I thought you were going to see Sara?”
Sara Miller was a lovely petite Asian woman who’d come to Brooks Investigations a few months ago when the police couldn’t find her ex-husband. He’d decided not to return their son after a weekend visit.
“I spoke to her sister a few minutes ago. Sara is still in the hospital under a suicide watch,” Jamie replied with a grim look on his face. “The police should’ve told Sara about her ex-husband killing the boy then turning the gun on himself, not you.”
The Miller case had rattled Jamie. He’d found both bodies in a roadside motel after tracing Mr. Miller’s credit card usage. A four-year-old child with a bullet in the head does something to you.
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