“Bagwell did understand that it’s a vacation?”
Manuel, also a former soldier, met Pierce’s gaze. “I understand, sir.”
“I know you do. You’re just doing your job. Thank you, Manuel. I’ll speak with Bagwell.”
“Yes, sir.”
Pierce nodded and headed for the front of the plane. He took in a deep breath and smiled as he walked through the plane. The opulent wide leather seats and mahogany tables with cherry inlays weren’t what made him smile. Pierce was alone. He put the laptop case down and leaned back. No endless meetings, no dealing with hungry investors, and no security issues to address. He loved the feeling of being in a bubble on a plane. The jet engines hummed, and he shut his eyes. The solitude seemed to welcome him. The quiet inside the cabin seemed to be hushed even more as the engine noise wrapped around it.
After a few moments respite, the plane took off. When they reached cruising altitude, Pierce’s eyes flicked open like a soldier snapping to attention. He stared at the beat-on black laptop case that stood in sharp contrast to the high-polished wood of the tabletop. When he had ordered the specialized case four years ago, it turned out to be one of the few things in his life that exceeded his expectations. He wanted security for the laptop that would travel inside it and that’s exactly what he got. Waterproof, fireproof, and impact resistant: it was the trusted guardian of Pierce’s most prized possession—his personal laptop computer and the code he had invented that lay inside it.
With the touch of his fingers, the tumblers spun and the lid silently rose open. The laptop inside was a beast by computer geeks’ standards, but its outward appearance looked dated. Thick, heavy, and boxy, the laptop was anything but. The custom-built machine cost as much as his Porsche 911.
He remembered the sleepless nights in college when he toiled on his old secondhand computer until he collapsed. He glanced around the private jet and smiled; his hard work had paid off.
Pierce strummed his fingers on the armrest. He felt anxious. He had been trying to quit smoking for months. He pulled out his interim crutch, an e-cigarette. He yearned for the real thing. He inhaled deeply and frowned. It had been three months since he quit, but the cravings were still there. Pierce exhaled slowly. He gazed down at the faux cigarette and his expression soured. It did little to satisfy his craving. The cigarette wasn’t his biggest vice. The need for what he couldn’t have was. He plugged the e-cigarette case into the USB port of the laptop before he settled back in the chair.
Stacy approached with his drink. She set the glass down. “Here’s your water, sir.” She scanned his face with rapt attention.
“Thank you, Stacy.”
“Would you like anything else?” She leaned over so her eyes were now level with his.
Pierce looked into her big blue eyes and paused. “Well…”
“I just have to tell you, I love VE-Life. I use it for everything.”
He nodded modestly. “Thank you.”
“Are you making a new app?”
“We’re always working on moving forward.”
“It’s just great. I link up to all my friends just like that.” She snapped.
He nodded. The fact he was having a one-on-one conversation with a woman and he wasn’t in the office or a carefully organized dinner party was not lost on him. Pierce sat up straighter.
“If you need anything, just press this button for help.” Her finger traced along the contour of the switch on his chair.
“I should write F1 on it.” He grinned.
She made a face. “I don’t understand.”
“You said if I needed help, I should press the button so…I said I should write F1 on it.”
Her eyebrow rose higher as a smile that screamed I-have-no-idea-what-you’re-talking-about-but-I’ll-pretend-that-I-do appeared on her face. “Oh, yes.”
“It’s a computer geek joke. F1 is the help button.”
“Oh.” She chuckled, but he knew that she still didn’t have a clue.
“Do you know anything about computers?”
“Just that I hate them. I can never get mine to work right.” She shook her head.
He nodded, but internally cringed as the oh-so-brief possibility flew right out the cabin window. His phone buzzed in his pocket. Grateful for the distraction, he held up his phone. “Sorry, I have to take this.”
Stacy smiled as she backed away.
“Hello?”
“Miss me, buddy?”
“What part of ‘leave me the hell alone’ don’t you understand, Roger?” Pierce asked.
“You haven’t gotten to your destination so technically your vacation hasn’t started yet.”
“You’re keeping close tabs on me.”
“What’re friends for?” Roger laughed. “Did you meet my new secretary?”
“Tiffany? Yes.”
“What do you think? Smoking hot and completely dedicated to her new boss.”
“I’m trying to understand what you’re going through with your home life, but I don’t want to see a sexual harassment complaint come across my desk.”
“Hey, I didn’t pick her. It was HR, but I’m not complaining. It was totally aboveboard.”
“And you had no input?”
“I may have peeked at the candidates when they came in for their interviews. I’m just saying she’s easy on the eyes.”
Pierce loved his old friend; he was a good guy, but his love life was a human train wreck. “Well, I signed her papers. What now?”
“I’m just calling because I know how you get when you start programming. You’ll stick your head into that computer, and I won’t hear from you for a month.”
“Two weeks and I’m almost done,” Pierce said.
“I thought the new version was already a done deal. You’ve gone over it. We’ve had two test groups clear it. Seriously, if you decide to change anything, it’s going to set everything back.”
“It has to be right, Roger. It’s my name on it. Besides, I’m working on something else. When it goes out, it’ll be huge.”
“We’re already huge. It’s kinda hard to top number one.”
“Then this will keep us there.” Pierce’s thumb ran along the metallic edge of the keyboard.
“What is it?”
“I’m going to reveal it at the meeting.”
“Now I’m curious. Give me a clue.”
“Not yet. I’m still working on it.”
“Creative geniuses—you’re a pain in the ass, Pierce. Put your bow on it, and let’s get it out the door. Are we going out for drinks this weekend?”
“No. I’ll be too busy.”
“Can you fill me in a little on what this meeting is all about then? All I know is the Iron Lady told me I had to come. I just don’t want this to be a ‘you threw your poor old college roommate a bone’ thing. You already made me assistant vice president of marketing twice removed.”
“Roger, we’ve been over this…”
“I’m kidding. I appreciate the job, but if I don’t toot my own horn, who will? I’m gunning for Allister’s job when he retires. Everyone knows that.”
“And they know you’re my friend.”
“What’s a little nepotism between friends? Besides, I’m rocking it, right? That new ad campaign has skyrocketed with eighteen-to-twenty-four-year-olds.”
“That’s why I need you at the meeting. I want input from people at the company I trust. We’ll discuss the job when Allister really does retire.”
“Sure. We’ll talk about it over a couple of dozen beers.”
“Roger, I’m serious. After this meeting, I’m not to be disturbed. Two weeks. I want to go over all the code, and I can’t when I’m interrupted every second. There are already more people with me than I want.”
Roger laughed. “How many did Leon send?”
“Five.”
“Seriously? Only five? Didn’t someone make another threat?”
“It wasn’t a threat.”
“Oh, really
,” Roger quipped. “So why did we have all those federal investigators swarming the building?”
“That was for a different situation. It’s not a big deal. It’s probably just some psycho with an axe to grind.”
“Maybe I should check on the whereabouts of my ex-wife?”
“Roger, I have enough on my plate.”
“That’s what I’m saying. You need to blow off steam. One night we’ll go out and—”
“No.”
“When was the last time you ran a little wild?”
“Your house party two months ago.”
“That’s a long time ago.”
“Thank you, but no. Besides, it’s a sleepy town. You’d be bored out of your mind.”
“Then why’d one of the wealthiest guys in the country buy a house in some backwater community when he could live it up in LA or New York?”
“I like the quiet.”
“Seriously? Why’d you pick there?”
“It has special memories for me, that’s why I picked it. Besides, nothing happens there; it’s trouble-free and peaceful.”
“What’s the name of the town, again?”
“Darrington.”
Chapter 3
~
Our Network Girl
Replacement’s foot stopped tapping when she saw the late model, brown BMW round the corner. A man in his late fifties was driving. A heavyset man with a bushy beard sat in the passenger seat, and another man sat in the back. She waved as they pulled up to the curb.
“Hi, Gerald,” she said to the driver as she hopped into the back of the car and shut the door.
“Morning, Alice.” Gerald gave a little wave and pulled right back out. “This here is Bruce. He’s our wiring expert.”
The car rocked as the heavy man turned around to look at her. His eyes all but disappeared when he smiled. “I cable and network, too.”
She nodded. Bruce looked to be in his mid-thirties and a frequent flier at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
“And this is Phillip.” He gestured to the man next to her in the backseat. “He’s our AP guy.”
“Nice to meet you, Phillip.”
Phillip waved as he slid over as far away from Replacement as the seat would allow. Replacement knew his type: shy computer geek. His short, straight brown hair did little to cover the flush of red on his ears. He pushed his round glasses higher up his nose and stared out the window.
Replacement clicked her seat belt and put her bag at her feet. The BMW was clean, but the odor of stale smoke was everywhere. She tried not to wrinkle her nose as they pulled out.
“Do you still expect the job to run the full week?” Replacement asked.
Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes. We need the money.
“It actually could run a little longer. I hope not, but the Bellmore estate’s huge, and it’s smack in the middle of the Blue Hills. Getting wireless coverage up to specs in every room is going to be the tough part. The main line went live yesterday. I’ve got a plan written out, and we can go over the specifics when we get out there.” Gerald ran his hand over his graying short beard.
“Will the client be there?” Bruce asked.
“Not today. He’s supposed to be there later in the week.”
Bruce huffed. “Good. I hate when they stick around while you work. They end up hovering around like a buzzard, waiting for you to screw up. It makes me nervous.”
“Who’s the client?” Replacement asked.
“Pierce Weston,” Gerald replied.
“Pierce Weston? The CEO of Weston Industries?” Replacement’s voice went up. “He’s the one who bought the Bellmore estate?”
Bruce looked over, shocked. “Weston Industries is one of the hottest software firms. They make VE-Life. You’re talking about that Pierce Weston?”
“One and the same.” Gerald sat up a little straighter.
“Seriously? How’d you get this job?” Replacement beamed. “He’s like a legend. He wrote his first computer program when he was seven!”
“On a PC I built for his dad.” Gerald angled his head. “Back when I had my computer fix-it shop.”
“Get out!” Replacement’s hand flew to her hair, and she checked her reflection in the window.
Bruce asked, “I thought he lived in California?”
“He does. I saw his mansion on the news once.” Phillip nodded his head.
“Why’d he buy a house in Darrington?” Bruce scoffed.
“It’s a great area.” Gerald shot him a sideways glare.
“Yeah, it’s okay,” Bruce said, “but the guy’s used to Malibu and the Riviera. Not Lake Onopiquite.”
“It’s beautiful out here.” Replacement waved her hands around at the changing foliage. “Great score getting this gig, Gerald.”
“How’d you meet?” Bruce asked.
Gerald rubbed the top of his receding hairline. “I’ve known Pierce since he was a kid. His parents owned a nice summer house near this cottage Tammy and I had. Down near South Pond. Tyler and him used to hang out.”
Phillip leaned forward but kept his hands flat on his legs. “Who’s Tyler?”
“My son.” Gerald tapped the steering wheel a few times. “Every summer, Pierce’s family would come up. He practically lived at our house. I couldn’t believe it when Pierce called, though. I haven’t talked to him since he was in college.”
“Am I just setting up the wireless?” Bruce asked. “No network config?”
“That’s what Alice is here for. She’s our network girl.” Gerald angled his thumb her way. “Does anyone mind if I smoke?” He rolled down his window.
Both Bruce and Phillip did the same while they reached into their pockets.
“Is there any way you could hold off?” Replacement asked. “I’m sorry, but smoke kills me.”
“Sure.” Gerald’s window rose.
Phillip put his window up too, but Bruce groaned. “Could you try to breathe out the window?”
Gerald pressed the button for Bruce’s window and frowned. “We’re not far.”
“I really appreciate the job, Gerald.” Replacement’s shoulders popped up and down. “It couldn’t have come at a better time.”
“Well, you’re needed, Alice, so I appreciate you. How’s Jack doing?”
“He’s doing great. All healed.”
“Healed?” Phillip asked.
“Her boyfriend’s Jack Stratton.” Gerald pulled down the rearview mirror and gave him a look that said the name should tell the whole story.
Phillip shrugged.
“You know, Jack Stratton?” Gerald repeated as he stared into the rearview mirror.
Phillip shrugged again. “I’m sorry. I—”
“It’s okay.” Replacement waved her hand. “My boyfriend’s been in the news a little bit.”
“A little bit?” Bruce scoffed. “That guy’s your boyfriend? You’re talking about the guy who caught the Giant Killer, right?” Bruce unclipped his seat belt and struggled to turn his large bulk around to look at Replacement. “I heard he got shot and kept going. I got this friend who knows this cop who used to work with him.” He pointed at Phillip. “He said Stratton’s a hundred percent bad-ass. I heard he’s a bounty hunter now. Is that true?” Bruce grinned at her.
Replacement nodded and tried not to appear too proud, but the color rose to her cheeks.
“I hope he’s taking it easy now at least,” Gerald said.
“He promised me he would. No excitement. None at all.”
Chapter 4
~
Zombie Hunter
Jack finished the paperwork for Marvin and hurried out of the jail, grateful Replacement hadn’t called to check on him. His ribs hurt, and his head throbbed. He slid behind the wheel of the Charger and pulled down the rearview mirror. The nurse at the jail gave him two butterfly strips for his eyes and three aspirin. The cut was close to his eyebrow, so if it did scar it shouldn’t be that noticeable.
His phone barked.
“This is Jack.” He looked at the unknown number.
“He’s on his way,” a woman whispered into the phone.
He recognized Kimberly’s voice. “When?”
“Now. How do I tell you when he comes? There’s no phone in my room.”
“You’re on the third floor facing Vine Street, right?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Closest to the barbershop?”
“Yeah.”
“Put your shade up when he knocks,” Jack instructed.
“I got no window shade.”
“Do you normally keep the window open or closed?”
“Open. I get hot.”
“Close it when he comes.”
“Okay. Bye.”
Click.
Jack looked at the clock and groaned. Between getting Marvin processed and the hospital, it was already after nine. The last thing Jack wanted to do was go after another bounty, today especially, but now he didn’t have a choice. He turned the Charger around and headed for Vine Street.
Jack pulled over across the street from the dilapidated three-story tenement. The house sat at the end of the block. That gave the building three entrances, but he could only watch one and still see Kimberly’s window.
He looked down at the two pictures on the passenger seat. It was hard to believe both photos were of the same man. One showed a businessman in his early thirties. Muscular and handsome, he sat confidently as he posed for the camera. The other photo was taken only two years later. He was a ghoulish shadow of himself; Peter Marshall had become a meth addict. In the two years since taking his first hit, he’d lost his job, his house, and his wife and kids. Jack stared at the hollowed-out eyes in the picture and adjusted his bulletproof vest.
Peter’s first mistake wasn’t the drugs; it was sex. That’s what started Peter’s downfall. Kimberly was a high-class escort. Peter had met her monthly for a little tryst, and then it quickly turned into a weekly thing. He thought he could keep the genie in the bottle. When he introduced her to a deep-well bank account, she introduced him to meth. They held hands and threw themselves over the cliff.
DATA JACK Page 2
