The Priority Unit (Maine Justice Book 1)

by Davis, Susan Page

  “Local boys?”

  “I’m not sure. Mr. Channing has a New York connection, I think.”

  “What kind of software do they produce?”

  “They generate sophisticated programs for a small company. We’ve done a lot of industrial and retailing programs, several for municipal infrastructure, and at least a couple of military jobs. One I worked on was a buoy tracking system for the Coast Guard.”

  “And your responsibility is…?”

  “I started out developing programs, but lately they’ve had me doing security for all the programs that other people create. They’ve kind of forced me to specialize in security programming. I’m starting to hate it, especially since that’s what we think made them try to kill Harvey.”

  Mike said, “You lost me. You think they’re the ones who hired Nason?”

  She looked at Harvey, and he said contritely, “It’s my fault, I guess. I made a mistake when I first met Jennifer.”

  “What kind of mistake?” Mike asked, with a What now? expression on his face.

  Harvey sighed and looked at the wall, then back at Mike. “I used my computer at work to check Jennifer out. I just wanted to find out if she was as terrific as she seemed.”

  “Harv, the Priority Unit is not a dating service.”

  Harvey looked penitent, and Jennifer longed to reassure him, but the time didn’t seem right, with his stern boss glaring at him.

  “I know. I’m sorry, Mike. I’ve already apologized to Jennifer. The point is, stupid as it was, I did it. I looked at her credit record and some other stuff, including her personnel record at Coastal.”

  “When did this take place?”

  “May sixth, the day after they found Nick Dunham’s car. Remember, I told you I was doing a background check that afternoon? Well, Jennifer was the subject.”

  “And you had to break their security codes to do that.”

  “Yes. They weren’t nearly as complicated as the ones they put on their clients’ programs. It took me a little while, but I got in and accessed her file. The problem is, I didn’t know the program had a tracer. Jennifer just told me today. Otherwise, I’d have put two and two together before this.”

  “A tracer? Like on a phone line?”

  Jennifer spoke up. “The tracer is standard on their security systems. It follows the breach back to the point of origin. The new one on the secret program we were talking about would even trace an attempted breach, successful or not.”

  “I don’t understand how that’s possible,” said Mike.

  “It’s very new, and it works sort of like caller ID. I thought it was a good thing. Now I’m not so sure.”

  Mike stood and began to pace. “Let me get this straight. Harvey, you went to investigate the disappearance of Nick Dunham and met Jennifer. A few weeks later, you tapped into her company’s files. They traced it back to you. It made them nervous that the PD was looking at their files, so they hired an ex-con to get rid of you. While Bobby was busy blowing up your car, they put Jennifer to work making their security more secure.”

  Eddie and Jennifer were quiet. Harvey said, “Does it make sense?”

  “Maybe. If the partners had guilty consciences, and if they thought we were onto them.” Mike walked over to the window and looked out. “Is there anything concrete that we can check on, to see if this cockamamie theory has any merit?”

  “Jennifer’s seen the whole program now. She’s sure it will give the client military capabilities.”

  “How so?”

  Jennifer hesitated. “It seemed to me that this program would let them access other files, say Pentagon files. Parts of it had to do with military operations, covert exercises, and materiel stockpiling. There was a lot more. I didn’t dare copy any of it, and I was a little out of my field.”

  Mike stood frowning and leaning on the window sill.

  “There’s the kid,” Harvey said. “Hamad, the translator. Jennifer gave me his name Monday, but I couldn’t find anything on him, and I haven’t heard back from the State Department yet.”

  “Well, I can check with them.”

  “Get on my computer in the office,” Harvey said. “I checked his name first thing to see if he matched any lists of terrorists, diplomatic personnel, or convicted felons, but nothing turned up that I could identify with him. It’s a fairly common name, and it would help if we had his first name.” He struggled to sit up, gave up, and sank back with a groan. “I also put out a request for information on him with all the national and international law enforcement databases.”

  “You have that much clout?” Jennifer asked in surprise.

  “Yes, I can exchange data with several government agencies.”

  Mike said, “We’ve spent a lot of time building up Harvey’s credentials in the computer field. It’s paid off, but not on an international thing like this.”

  Jennifer said slowly, “Maybe Jane Morrow knows Hamad’s first name. She does some of the translating in the office—German and Italian—and she seems to keep tabs on every man who comes through the door. It’s possible she’s met Hamad. I’ll ask her tomorrow.”

  “Do you trust her?” Mike asked.

  Jennifer hesitated.

  “She talks too much,” Eddie said.

  “I think I could make it sound innocent, especially if I get her talking about guys first.” Jennifer looked to Harvey for approval.

  “Be discreet.”

  She nodded.

  “No sense arousing suspicions at this point,” Mike said.

  “Take me to the office,” said Harvey. “I need to get back on this thing now.”

  Mike shook his head. “You’re wiped out.”

  “Don’t you think we should move on this?” Harvey insisted.

  “I’ll contact the State Department and the CIA. I’ll also drop by the hospital and see if LeRoy Nason can talk. You’re not coming back to work until Dr. Turner gives the word.”

  Harvey let him win that round, and Mike stood up.

  “Eddie, you coming in tomorrow?”

  “Yeah. I just wanted to make sure Harvey was all right today.”

  “That’s fine. We’ll talk later.”

  Jennifer walked to the door with Mike. Before he went out, he looked at her keenly. “You take good care of Harvey. He’s my best detective.”

  She nodded.

  “Harvey’s the last man I would have expected to be checking out a girl on city time.” Mike smiled. “I’m just glad you didn’t stuff him in the reject bin when you found out.”

  “I’m sorry, Captain.” She knew her face was scarlet.

  Mike nodded. “Well, Harvey needed a stabilizing influence in his life. Maybe you’re it. You and God, I guess.”

  She swallowed, groping for a response.

  “So why did God let Harvey get shot?” he asked.

  She looked at him quickly, but Mike was serious. “He let the Nason brothers get shot, too,” she said.

  “Hmm. Right.”

  “I don’t know why, but I think it’s all part of something bigger, that we can’t see. I can trust God for that.”

  Mike nodded pensively. “My wife would say that.” He winked at her. “Now, if I could just find a nice young lady to take Eddie in hand!” He went out.

  Beth had put away the groceries and baked brownies. They went back to Harvey’s room with a tray of brownies and milk for four. Eddie and Harvey were arguing over whether Harvey should be alone that night, and finally it was settled that Eddie would sleep there. He would go to his mother’s for supper and come back by seven o’clock. Beth and Jennifer would stay until he returned.

  “Do you want to go to prayer meeting tonight?” Beth asked Jennifer.

  “I’d like to.” Jennifer looked at Harvey.

  “Take notes for me, gorgeous.” He sounded groggy.

  “Sure.”

  Beth said, “We’ll wait until Eddie gets back. It won’t matter if we walk in a few minutes late.”

  “You don�
�t have to baby-sit me,” Harvey said fretfully.

  Jennifer thought maybe her presence all day was too much of a good thing for him. “Do you want us to leave now?”

  “Not really.”

  She smiled. “Then don’t complain.”

  Beth produced her Sunday School material, and Jennifer sat on Harvey’s bed cutting out flannel graph figures for her, while Beth sat in the living room studying the lesson book. Harvey seemed to drift off for a while, then Jennifer caught him watching her.

  She leaned over and rubbed his cheek. “Are you going to grow a beard?”

  “Nah,” he said sleepily.

  “It would look good on you.”

  “Think so?”

  She studied his face, considering. “Well, maybe not.”

  He smiled. The corners of his eyes crinkled up. “I’ll try to shave when Eddie comes back.”

  “I can help you.”

  “No,” he sighed, “that would be dangerous.”

  She stooped lower and kissed the corner of his eye softly. Before he could react, she stood up and carried the scraps of flocked paper to the wastebasket. Turning, she said, “I want a picture of you in that bulletproof vest.”

  He gave her the look she had tried to describe to her mother. “Come back here.”

  “No.” Although it was tempting, very tempting. “You’re the one who’s dangerous.”

  “Me? I’m an invalid.”

  “Ri-ight.”

  He made a face. “Okay, then, can you get my Bible?” She got it, and sat in Mike’s chair. Harvey asked her to read to him from Genesis. He lay back and closed his eyes, and Beth came in after a while, bringing another chair. Jennifer read through the ark and the flood and the tower of Babel.

  “He’s asleep,” Beth whispered when Jennifer paused at the end of the chapter. She stood up and pulled the sheet up a little, to Harvey’s chest. “He’s cute when he’s sleeping.”

  Jennifer laughed. “Thanks for giving up your whole day for us.”

  “No problem.”

  When Eddie came back, Jennifer woke Harvey.

  “Do you want to get up?” she asked him.

  “If you’re leaving, I do.”

  “So you can shave?”

  “No, because you won’t kiss me on the bed.” He struggled to his feet and reached for her. She went into his arms. “Don’t squeeze.” He flinched as she touched him, so she slid her hands up around his neck and let him hold her.

  *****

  Eddie was so good to him that Harvey felt guilty for all the times he had yelled at him. He slept in a sleeping bag on Harvey’s living room floor and helped him dress and shower and shave, and all the other things Harvey took for granted when he didn’t hurt.

  Jennifer came to the apartment in the morning, before work. To Harvey’s chagrin, he was still prone and hurting badly. Eddie went to work and apparently told Mike that he was complaining. Mike’s response was to call Carl Turner and beg him to make a house call.

  Carl came late in the afternoon and listened to Harvey’s lungs, then poked dispassionately at his muscles.

  “Stiff?”

  “More like excruciating agony.”

  “You shouldn’t be here alone.”

  “Eddie will be here in an hour. I made him go to work, but he came over on his lunch hour and fed me.”

  Carl shook his head. “Well, You’ve got to get up and move. A hot shower might help. This is no way for our city’s finest to be treated in his hour of need. Where’s Goldilocks?”

  “Working.”

  “Oh, right, computer stuff. You’d better marry her and take her out of the work force.”

  Harvey scowled. “You’re telling me this? Your wife is a doctor.”

  “That’s why I’m telling you this. Tell me you don’t dream of coming home every night to a hot meal and a little cuddling, not necessarily in that order.”

  “What, Margaret’s quit cooking?” Harvey laughed.

  “She’s always out nights, delivering babies. She’s seeing too many patients.”

  “And this gives you license to put my life in order.”

  “Just a little friendly advice.”

  Harvey said nothing. He couldn’t argue too far, or he’d have to admit he did have dreams like that. Jennifer waiting at the door at the end of a trying day.

  “Taking your meds?” Carl asked, putting his stethoscope to Harvey’s chest.

  “Ever been shot? Ibuprofen doesn’t touch it.”

  “Well, do you want to be lucid and in pain when Eddie gets here, or comfortable and unconscious?”

  “I’ll tough it out,” Harvey said. “Jennifer’s going to be along, too.”

  “Right. Lucid it is. Let’s get you in the shower.”

  “I need to work tomorrow.”

  “In your dreams. Give it over the weekend. Monday’s a holiday. I’ll tell Mike Browning you’re not allowed within ten blocks of the police station before Tuesday.”

  Chapter 26

  On Friday, Eddie was at Harvey’s apartment when Jennifer got there after work.

  “No ride to Skowhegan tomorrow,” Eddie said sternly. “Doctor’s orders. By Monday you should be up to it.”

  Harvey scowled. He still felt drained, but he didn’t want to admit it.

  “I’ve already told my folks we’re postponing the trip until Monday,” Jennifer said. “Stop fretting. I brought you something.” From her purse she produced a hand-held computer game. “Cops and robbers. It seemed appropriate somehow.”

  Harvey smiled, but laid it on the quilt.

  Eddie left to pick up a pizza, and Jennifer sat down in the chair and held Harvey’s hand.

  “You’re getting better.”

  He sighed deeply. “How was work?”

  “All right. Tessa called in sick, but it was probably her daughter who was actually sick. I did ask Jane about the translator.”

  “Anything come of it?”

  “No, he’s too juvenile for her to notice, I guess. But she did say something disturbing.” Jennifer’s gray eyes clouded. “She has a date tonight, and it’s not Brent.”

  “So?”

  “She usually can’t tell me enough about her love life, but she’s really clammed up this time.”

  “You think she’s going out with someone you know? Someone from the office?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m almost afraid she’s getting involved with a married man or something.”

  “What were the partners up to today?”

  “Not one of them spoke to me. Mr. Owen was on the road, and I saw a group of prospective clients go in after lunch. Mr. Channing showed them out an hour later. Mr. Rainey wasn’t very visible today.”

  “This whole investigation is fizzling,” Harvey complained. “I need to get on it.”

  “No, you don’t,” Jennifer returned heatedly. “You heard Eddie. Mike’s working out the details with the federal agents. You need to rest and stay out of it.”

  Harvey sighed. Being powerless was totally demoralizing. “I don’t see why we can’t go to your folks’ tomorrow.”

  Jennifer smiled. “Just take it easy. They’ll still be there Monday. If you’re good over the weekend, we’ll have a great day together.”

  Harvey did his best to avoid looking petulant. “Can we at least go to Nick Dunham’s memorial service tomorrow?”

  Jennifer frowned. “I was hoping you’d forget about that.”

  “I haven’t. Have you?”

  “I was going to bring some cookies and tuck you in for a nap, then go to the service.”

  “I want to go.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “How about we drop by the police station after the service? I’ll use the elevator.”

  “Forget it.”

  *****

  Eddie agreed to drive Harvey to the church Sunday morning. Harvey was looking forward to it. He’d seen the wisdom of skipping the memorial service, and Jennifer had gone alone. Her description of Lisa Dunham a
nd her fatherless children had only renewed his resolve to find Nick’s killer. He’d been restless ever since, and slept only when Eddie insisted he take his narcotic.

  His ribs weren’t quite as sore as they’d been the day before, and going down the stairs wasn’t so bad.

  Jennifer and Beth were waiting outside the church. They both had French braids, and Harvey wondered if they’d done each other’s hair that morning. Jennifer wore a calf-length khaki skirt, an ivory blouse, and a tapestry vest he didn’t recognize, and Beth had on Jennifer’s necktie vest. The roommate match was a success.

  Eddie carried Harvey’s Bible and walked with him to where the girls stood.

  “Eddie, you look sharp! Are you coming to church with us?” Beth asked, as Harvey clasped Jennifer’s hand and gave her a private smile.

  Eddie seemed embarrassed and kicked a rock with his toe. “No, I was going over to Mass. I haven’t been for a while.”

  Ten steps led up to the front door of the church, and Harvey started up, then swayed back down off the first step, feeling a sharp tug in the muscles of his back. Jennifer stopped mid-stride and looked at him anxiously. He put one hand up carefully to her shoulder. Immediately Eddie was on the other side.

  “Let me help you, Harv.”

  “Okay, but let’s think about this. There’s a ramp on the side of the building.” Eddie went around with him to the handicapped access ramp, and Jennifer and Beth followed. With his arm around Eddie’s shoulders, Harvey walked slowly up the ramp. They came into the auditorium from the side, and Eddie settled him in a pew about halfway back.

  “Thanks, Eddie. I think I’ll be okay now.”

  Beth headed for her Sunday School class, and Jennifer settled on the other side of Harvey. Eddie hovered in the side aisle.

  “Maybe I should stay with you.”

  “I’m fine,” Harvey said. “Beth’s brother will help me if I need it.” He looked around and saw Ruthann and Rick installing themselves farther back, on the other side. Ruthann and Jennifer exchanged waves.

  “I think I should stay,” Eddie said firmly.

  Harvey looked up at him and realized he didn’t want to be sent away. He felt a surge of tenderness for Eddie. Jennifer moved over, and Harvey hitched himself over carefully, so Eddie could sit beside him on the aisle.