The Priority Unit (Maine Justice Book 1)
Page 33
He laid the papers down. “What are you working on today?”
“Well, I pulled up that hospital program I started earlier, but if you want me to do something else, I can—”
“No, that’s fine.” He gave a dismissive wave, so she nodded and went back to her desk, thankful to leave his presence.
Jane watched her with wide eyes when she returned to her desk. Jennifer quickly opened the hospital program and immersed herself in it. When she went to the ladies’ room just before lunch, Jane followed her.
“Jennifer!” Jane hissed, closing the restroom door behind her.
“What?”
“Are you in trouble?”
She smiled and said, as innocuously as she could, “I hope not. Why?”
“There’s a rumor,” Jane said.
“What kind of rumor?”
“That Rainey called you on the carpet this morning.”
“Nonsense. He just wanted to ask me about the security on one of the programs.”
Jane looked down, then back at Jennifer. “Tom said he raked you over the coals about something you did.”
“And if that were true, how would Tom know?”
Jane blinked. “Good point.”
“This office gossip is sickening,” Jennifer said.
The door pushed open, and Tessa Comeau came in. Jane and Jennifer said bright hellos, and busied themselves with combs and lip gloss.
“So, are you ready to go eat?” Jane asked, meeting Jennifer’s eyes in the mirror.
“Sure. Where are we going?”
“Pizza Hut?”
“Too fattening.”
“As if you have to worry,” Jane said. “All right, the Chinese place.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
“Care if I join you?” Tessa asked.
“That’s great,” said Jane, shooting Jennifer a sidelong glance.
“Oh, there’s one thing I have to do first,” Tessa said, running a brush through her dark curls. “How about if I meet you there? Order me a shrimp egg roll and some fried rice. I’ll be right there.”
Jane shrugged.
“Sure,” said Jennifer.
She and Jane went out to the workroom. Massal was just walking out the door to the lobby, carrying his briefcase.
*****
“You boys always manage to find a little excitement.” Mike stood on the sidewalk in front of the apartment building, watching as the medical examiner bent over the body of the gunman.
“I can only take so much bed rest,” Harvey said.
“Well, he’s the same kid Jennifer told us about, Mohammed Hamad. Student at the university. Has a few priors. Assault, criminal threatening.” Mike put a stick of gum in his mouth. “I’m having his apartment searched, and Pete’s getting his phone records.”
Mrs. Jenkins peeked out the doorway. “Harvey?”
He turned toward her. “Yeah, Rebecca? You okay?”
“I’m fine. I thought maybe you got shot again.”
“No, I’m good,” Harvey said.
Eddie grinned. “Me too, Mrs. J. And you did just right. Thanks for taking orders so well.”
She nodded, glanced at Mike, and disappeared in the direction of her apartment.
“You boys better come to the station and give statements,” Mike said. “I want thorough reports on this one. Eddie, you know you’ll have a review.”
“Sure.”
“What about Coastal Technology?” Harvey asked. “While we’re filling out paperwork, they could be selling out the country.”
Mike set his jaw. “We’ll get them.”
*****
At the restaurant, Jane and Jennifer put in their orders and sipped tea. “So, how do your parents like Harvey?” Jane asked.
“They like him a lot.”
“Yeah?”
Jennifer felt the bothersome blush coming on. “Yeah.”
“What’s he like?”
“Well…” She stalled, wondering if keeping the relationship from Jane mattered any more. Jane seemed so transparent and harmless. Or was she being naïve again? Until Nick Dunham’s murder was solved, she’d be foolish to trust anyone at Coastal. “He’s really nice, and he’s smart and funny…He’s a little older than me.”
“Isn’t he a computer buff?” Jane asked.
“Why do you say that?”
“Last time on the phone, you said something to him about software—adding names to a program or something.”
Jennifer tried to remember what she and Harvey had talked about. “I guess that was something he was doing at work.” She eyed Jane, wondering if she’d already confided too much to her.
The waitress brought their food, and while she arranged it, Tessa breezed in. “Jane, Mr. Channing wants you to go right back to office.”
“What?” Jane’s didn’t mask her incredulity.
“He’s got potential clients for the utility program coming in at one, and he wants you to help him with the presentation.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, why couldn’t he tell me this an hour ago?”
“Debra went home sick,” Tessa slid into the booth next to Jennifer. “She was supposed to do it. You did a lot of work on that program, didn’t you? I guess Mr. Channing figures you’re familiar with it. Leola caught me just as I was leaving and asked if I knew where you were, because Mr. Channing was panicking.”
“Now, there’s a picture,” Jennifer said dryly. “Ron Channing panicking.”
Tessa looked from one to the other. “Fine. Do what you want. Tell him you didn’t get the message in time. Personally, I’m hungry.” She picked up her egg roll.
Jane sighed. “I suppose I have to go. Jennifer, sorry to mention it, but you drove.”
“Here, take my car,” Tessa said, holding out her key ring. “It’s right out front.”
“Thanks.” Mournfully, Jane looked at Jennifer. “Would you mind having them put my meal in a carton?”
Tessa moved to the other side of the booth, and Jennifer began to eat. Tessa was watching her. “So, how are things going with the boyfriend?”
Jennifer chewed while she formed her answer. “Fine.”
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Are you two serious?”
“Well, maybe.” Jennifer smiled. “How’s Courtney?”
“Good. She’s good. Her father hasn’t paid me any child support for two years, but she’s a great kid.”
Jennifer nodded and cast about mentally for another topic, but Tessa’s daughter seemed safer than work. “How old is she now?”
“Just turned three.”
They kept up a piecemeal conversation as they ate, but Tessa didn’t seem inclined to linger. She broke open her fortune cookie, looked at it and laughed. “That figures.”
“What?” Jennifer asked.
“Happiness is an elusive treasure. Isn’t that the truth? What does yours say?”
Jennifer broke the brittle cookie and picked out the slip of paper. “Faith will sustain you.”
Tessa’s eyebrows arched. “Those aren’t fortunes.”
“I guess that’s the oriental way,” Jennifer shrugged, but inwardly she felt they were very appropriate. They paid for their meal and walked out to Jennifer’s car. She placed Jane’s carton of food carefully on the floor behind her seat.
“So, do you have faith, Tessa?” she dared to ask as she backed out of the parking space.
“No. Do you have happiness?”
“Well…yes, I’d say so.” Jennifer pulled up at the exit to the parking lot, looking left toward the oncoming traffic. “It’s so hard to get out of here.”
“Turn right,” said Tessa.
“And then turn around down below? It would probably be easier.” Jennifer changed the turn signal to right, then cranked the steering wheel toward Tessa. A glance toward her passenger made her freeze.
In her right hand, Tessa held a pistol, low below the level of the car window.
“Just turn right,” she said placidly.
“It’s clear. Drive,” Tessa said harshly, looking beyond her toward the traffic.
Jennifer inched the car slowly down the block, trying to keep her hands steady on the wheel. “Where are we going?” she managed to whisper.
“I’ll let you know. Go straight at this light.”
Dear God, help me, Jennifer prayed silently. This is what happened to Nick. Please don’t let me die.
The words of the psalm Harvey had given her the week before came back to her. She had read the chapter over and over, exulting in the grandeur of its promises. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God; in him will I trust.
Slowly peace settled over her, and her prayer changed. Whatever you want for me today is all right with me. But please don’t let Harvey despair. If you want to take me to heaven, let him know he’s not alone again.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked aloud, amazed that her voice was steady and strong now.
Tessa gave a short, mirthless laugh. “You have no idea what it’s like, do you? Being a single mother, having to do everything yourself. Being responsible for every breath your child takes.”
Jennifer was startled. “What does this have to do with Courtney?”
“Everything. I’m doing this for my daughter.”
Jennifer shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Financial independence, Jennifer. When I get out of this car, I’ll have earned enough to take Courtney away and start over. No more day care. No more going to work every morning and leaving her screaming with a bunch of strangers. Somebody else heard her say her first word. Do you know how much that hurts? I had a nanny for a while, but it got too expensive. But you know what? She was calling the nanny Mama.”
“Tessa, there are ways to work through your problems.”
“You bet there are.” Tessa raised the gun a bit. “Get into the left lane and get ready to turn.”
*****
Harvey pushed his computer to capacity while Eddie filled out reports.
“Harv, we may have something,” Mike called across the room.
Harvey swiveled his chair to face him.
“Pete’s found out Massal and Hamad are both booked on a plane to New York tonight.”
Pete Bearse stood beside Mike’s desk. “Massal is going on to Paris and Tehran,” he said.
Harvey sat still for a moment. “Tonight.”
“Right.”
“Those disks are leaving the country with him, for sure.”
“And the motive for the Dunham murder goes with them,” Mike agreed. “If the CIA wants the software, they’ll have to move fast. I’m calling them now. And Pete, alert airport security, just in case he gets by us.”
“Maybe we should get over to Coastal,” Eddie said. “They could be sending the program over the Internet right now.”
Mike reached for his phone. “I’ve sent Arnie to the courthouse for the warrants. He should be back any second.”
“Let’s go, Eddie. Get your vest.” Harvey started for the locker room.
“No, wait,” Mike said in a tone that brooked no argument. “You two can’t go storming in there alone. You’ll tip them off, and half the suspects will get away. Just give me ten minutes to set it up, Harvey. I figure we need at least ten men.”
“But every minute we delay makes it more likely they’ll get away.”
“Come on, Harv,” said Eddie. “We’ll go get a sandwich at the diner, and Mike will be ready when we get back.”
“That’s good,” Mike said, and turned back to his phone.
Harvey sighed and glanced at his watch. It was a quarter to one. As he and Eddie trudged down the stairs, he pulled out his cell phone and punched Jennifer’s code. Eddie said nothing.
Harvey listened as the phone rang once, twice. It might take her a moment if she had it in her purse. There was a click and then a sharp, “Give me that.” He stopped on the stairs in surprise, but now he heard nothing.
“What?” Eddie asked, turning to look back at him from the landing.
“Something strange.” He pushed Jennifer’s number again. This time the phone rang repeatedly, but no one answered. Harvey scowled and turned back up the stairs.
“Harv, aren’t you coming?”
“Not hungry.” He flung the local phone book open and fumbled with the pages, then dialed the number to Coastal Technology, his adrenaline surging as he waited. Mike eyed him curiously while he talked on the phone.
“I’d like Jennifer Wainthrop, please.”
“One moment.”
He waited. Eddie came out of the stairway and stood watching him silently.
“I’m sorry,” said the receptionist. “Miss Wainthrop is at lunch.”
Harvey hung up and looked bleakly at Mike and Eddie. “Jenny didn’t answer her cell phone. The receptionist says she’s out to lunch.”
“Probably nothing,” said Mike.
“I heard another person say ‘Give me that.’ I’m going over there.”
*****
Pick up the shield of faith, Jennifer told herself. Even as the depth of her danger weighed on her mind, she was conscious of signs of God’s faithfulness. Even her fortune cookie had given her a reminder.
As she slowed for another traffic light, the clicking of the door locks startled her.
“What—?”
The rear passenger door opened as she spoke, and she was aware of another person sliding smoothly into the back seat. Jennifer caught her breath and stared into the rearview mirror.
The man handed Tessa an envelope. She glanced inside it, then shoved it and her pistol into her purse. “So long, Jennifer.” Tessa opened her door and hopped out of the car.
“Drive.”
Jennifer took a shaky breath.
“Your light is green. Drive,” said Massal.
Chapter 29
Harvey’s fingers shook as he fastened the Velcro closure on his Kevlar vest. It was too soon to be going into high risk again.
“I’m coming with you,” Mike said from the doorway. He crossed to his locker. “Lights, no siren. Terry’s sending six units of backup.”
When they entered the lobby at Coastal Technology, Leola’s chair was empty. Harvey strode into the work room. Jennifer’s work station was vacant, and so was Jane Morrow’s. he looked slowly around the room. About a third of the chairs were empty. He glanced at his watch. Ten after one. He walked briskly down the aisle between the cubicles, sensing Mike on his heels.
He stopped by one of the dividers. “You’re Macomber?”
The man looked up in surprise. “Yes.”
“I’m detective Larson.”
“Sure. I remember.”
“Where’s Jennifer Wainthrop?”
“I have no idea.” John Macomber stared at him.
“How about Jane Morrow?”
“In the conference room with—no, there she is now.” He nodded toward the end of the room, and Harvey saw Jane come in from the hallway and go quickly into the break room.
“Thanks.” He hurried after Jane.
“Miss Morrow!”
Jane jumped and whirled around, nearly dropping the coffee pot.
“Oh! You scared me.”
“I’m Detective Harvey Larson.”
She nodded. “Yes, I—Harvey? Oh.” Her brow furrowed.
“Do you know where Miss Wainthrop is?”
“Well, I left her about an hour ago, having lunch at a Chinese restaurant.”
Harvey felt the first inkling that he may have overreacted. “You ate lunch together?”
“She ate. I didn’t. I was called back to the office. She should have been back by now with my doggie bag.” Jane frowned at her watch. “Oh, well, guess I’ll have to make do with coffee with the clients.”
“Wait.” Harvey put out his hand to detain her. “Jennifer’
s overdue from lunch?”
“Only a few minutes. But still …” Jane’s dark eyes were troubled. “It’s not like her. She’s very conscientious.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“I know.”
“You’re Harvey.”
“Yes.”
Jane nodded. “I thought you were just some computer guy. I mean, that Jennifer’s boyfriend was just…Oh, man.” Jane stomped her foot, putting the coffee in danger of sloshing over the rim of the pot. “Why doesn’t your partner like me?”
Mike cleared his throat.
“Jane, this is important,” Harvey said quickly. “Were you with Jennifer when she got a call on her cell phone?”
“No.”
“Was she alone when you left her?”
“No, she was with Tessa.”
Harvey’s apprehension returned, greater than ever. He glanced at Mike. “Tessa Comeau also worked on the special project.”
Mike nodded.
Jane was clearly alarmed now. “You think something happened to Jennifer and Tessa?”
“The restaurant?”
“The Lotus.”
“I need a phone book fast.”
“Do you know where my desk is? I—I really need to get back to the conference room. Mr. Channing will be upset if I don’t.”
“He’s in there now?”
“Yes, with potential customers.”
“I’ll call the restaurant,” Mike said, and left the room.
“Where are Rainey and Owen?” Harvey asked.
“Mr. Owen’s gone to Boston, and Mr. Rainey’s here. Somewhere. In his office, I guess.”
Harvey nodded. “Please don’t tell the partners we’re here.”
“O. . .kay.”
He let her go. When he entered the workroom, Mike rose from Jane’s chair and walked toward the entrance. Harvey followed him. When they reached the lobby, Mike faced him soberly.
“Harvey, I’m sorry. Jennifer and the woman who was with her left The Lotus at least half an hour ago.”
“But it’s only five minutes from here.”
“Yes. I put out an APB on Jennifer’s car.”
Harvey looked at him, not wanting to understand, but his brain insisted on clicking through the possibilities.