Replacement worked in the server room while Pierce had his meeting with the Weston employees in the living room on the second floor.
As five o’clock neared, Jack was outside with Bruce and Phillip and helped them load some gear into Replacement’s Bug.
“Something’s going on.” Bruce elbowed Jack.
Jack looked up and saw Leon and Manuel pull up out front in a gray sedan. Behind them was a police cruiser. He recognized Mark Jenkins and Ray Miller.
Damn it. So much for Pierce waiting.
Jack pulled out his phone and walked for the side entrance.
“Where are you going?” Bruce asked.
Jack kept moving. The phone rang, and Pierce answered.
“Did you tell him not to do this?” Jack growled.
Pierce raised his voice too. “Leon confiscated Sophia’s phone. She took photos of a confidential letter and sent it to Nancy. That’s enough for an arrest warrant.”
“I don’t care if one of them confessed. I made it clear not to do this.”
“That wasn’t your call—it was mine. The time for waiting was over.”
Click.
“Moron.” Jack fumed. He dialed Replacement and the call went straight to voicemail.
Jack started for the server room. The kitchen was empty. His phone buzzed.
“The police are here.” Replacement’s voice was labored. He could tell she was walking too.
“Did you talk to Pierce?”
“He just called.”
“Where are they?”
“Living room on the second floor. I’m heading there now.”
“Me too.” Jack went up the side staircase and started down the long hallway.
Pierce and the others were in the back living room.
As Jack walked in the room, Replacement entered from the far door. Roger, Mrs. Maier, Nancy, and Pierce stood in a circle. Replacement gave Jack a little nod as she hurried over.
“They’re here,” she whispered.
“Pierce shouldn’t have moved yet.”
“Why?” Replacement asked. “Pierce said Leon found evidence on Sophia’s phone records.”
“Something still doesn’t add up.”
Replacement nodded to the door.
The police led Sophia into the room in handcuffs. Her head hung low and her shoulders rose and fell rapidly.
Nancy looked over and froze. Then she looked ready to bolt.
“Nancy Bell.” Officer Jenkins walked over to her while he took out his cuffs. “I have a warrant for your arrest for theft of company records.”
“What?” Nancy turned to Pierce.
Pierce’s whole stance changed. He looked at her with pity.
Sophia glared at Nancy. “I haven’t done anything.”
“Just be quiet,” Nancy said.
“Ah, no. Look, I had nothing to do with this.” Sophia’s eyes darted around the room for anyone who’d listen.
Nancy stood there for a moment and just stared at Pierce. Her lip curled up, and she shook her head. “No. I didn’t…I didn’t steal anything.” She glared at Sophia.
“Don’t look at ME!” Sophia stepped forward, but Officer Jenkins held onto her arm. “I didn’t even know what the hell she wanted me to do! I was ready to quit. This whole thing was ill conceived. And I didn’t do anything either. She told me to keep my eyes and ears open. For what? This place is as boring as the town.”
“Shut up!” Nancy yelled back. “Stop talking.”
Officer Miller walked forward and cuffed Nancy. When he read her rights, she broke down and started crying.
“Where’s your phone?” Miller asked Nancy.
“My purse. You can’t open that without a warrant.”
“I’m sorry but we can, ma’am.” Miller opened the purse and took out her phone. “Is this the company phone?”
Nancy nodded and hung her head.
Miller handed the phone to Pierce.
Leon handed another phone to Pierce. “This phone belongs to Sophia. IT has already copied the files from it.”
Nancy’s head snapped up. She glared at Sophia in disgust. “You texted me that file from your company phone?”
“You told me to.”
“Not on the company phone.”
Sophia shrugged in her handcuffs. “How else would I get it to you? Carrier pigeon? I’m broke. I don’t have a phone.”
“Is that why you did it?” Pierce frowned. “Money?”
Sophia scoffed. “Uh, yeah. Try not having any.”
Replacement looked at Jack and made a face. “They’re not the criminal masterminds I thought they’d be,” she whispered rather loudly.
As the police started to take them out of the room, Nancy planted her feet. “Wait. Rutland Systems paid me. I’ll make a deal with you.”
Pierce stepped forward but Leon cut him off. “You can talk after you’re charged and processed,” Leon said.
Nancy shook her head. “I won’t then.”
“I’m sure you will,” Leon said.
As the police led them out of the room, Sophia yelled out, “Wait. I’ll deal too. Nancy told me everything. She’s still working for Rutland. She gets two paychecks and they’re giving her a ton of money. She’s only given me a grand. That’s it. I just needed a job. I didn’t—”
“Shut up, Sophia!” Nancy bawled.
“You shut up. It was her idea. Please….” Sophia kept yelling all the way out of the mansion.
Leon marched over to Jack. “Nice job, Stratton. I’d still like to have that talk.”
“You moved too early. There’s more to this than those two. Gerald getting hurt was no accident.”
“Pierce conveyed your theory. You think there might be a connection. I think you’re wrong but we’ll look it over later. Right now, we have enough evidence anyway.”
“You’re making a mistake, sir.”
“Like I said, we’ll look it all over. My offer to you still stands. You have my card.” Leon turned to Pierce. “Manuel and I will follow the officers downtown. They may need some additional signatures, and I want to know who these two will call. Gibson is on duty if you need anything.”
Pierce nodded. “Thank you, Leon.”
“Wow.” Roger headed over to the bar. “I didn’t see that one coming.”
“It really is a shame,” Mrs. Maier said.
Bruce and Phillip stood in the doorway and peered in. Replacement waved them over to her and Jack.
“The cops just took Nancy and Sophia away in cuffs.” Bruce’s mouth hung open.
“What was that all about?” Phillip asked.
“I can’t believe they arrested Sophia.” Bruce frowned. “She was a really nice lady. She gave me extra sandwiches.”
“Lady,” Jack muttered.
“What did they do?” Phillip asked again.
“Corporate spying,” Replacement whispered.
“No way.” Bruce’s eyes got huge and his voice got louder. “Both of them?”
Pierce stood by the window and looked out at the lake. He glanced back at them and then thrust his hands in his pockets.
“Why don’t we keep our voices down?” Replacement said.
“Excuse me.” Jack walked over to Pierce.
“Looks like everything’s almost wrapped up.” Pierce extended his hand. “Thank you.”
Jack kept his hands at his side. “They’re not the ones who tried to steal the case.”
“What?”
“Lady took a chunk out of the robber. Neither Nancy or Sophia had any bite.”
Pierce took a step back. “Maybe they had an accomplice who broke into your apartment?”
“It’s possible but someone who was here pulled that server rack down on Gerald.”
Pierce rubbed his face. “You figured it out. Nancy and Sophia were behind everything. If it wasn’t an accident, one of them pulled the rack down.”
“They couldn’t have. They’re not strong enough.”
“Then who did
it?”
“I have an idea but we need to—”
“You sound like some conspiracy theorist.” Pierce’s raised voice caused everyone to turn around.
Replacement walked over. “Is everything all right?”
“I think we should be celebrating but Jack…” Pierce rolled his eyes.
Jack felt his neck stiffen. His mouth pressed into a hard line.
“I’ve got it!” Pierce’s hands shot out in front of him. “Lydia, can I borrow your laptop?”
“Of course.” Mrs. Maier walked over to her bag.
Pierce marched over to the bar. Mrs. Maier handed him her laptop and Roger moved over. Pierce flipped open the laptop and turned it on.
Jack walked over with Replacement.
“I’m connecting it wirelessly.” Pierce took two phones out of his pocket. “Here are Nancy and Sophia’s phones.” He set them down on the bar.
Phillip and Bruce came over and stood next to Roger and Mrs. Maier.
Pierce took the e-cigarette case out of his pocket—grinning like a science teacher about to perform his favorite experiment before the class.
“Now.” Pierce turned back around. “The e-cigarette case is programmed to contact a phone when it’s plugged in, right?” He looked at Jack.
Jack nodded.
Pierce plugged the case into the laptop “As they say in football, the kick is up!” Pierce held out his hands to the phones on the bar.
Everyone watched.
After a few moments, Bruce cleared his throat. He leaned toward Jack but Jack held up his hand.
“What’s supposed to happen?” Roger whispered.
Mrs. Maier shushed him.
Roger sat down on a barstool.
A phone played a cheery tune but it wasn’t one on the bar.
Everyone looked around.
The phone rang again.
Replacement turned. “Can I see your phone, Phillip?”
Phillip reached into his pocket and took out his phone.
Jack moved between Phillip and Replacement. Jack held out his hand.
Phillip’s eyes narrowed. He threw the phone at Jack’s face.
Jack knocked the phone away.
Phillip rushed back and grabbed his bag. Phillip’s eyes went wide as his hand fumbled inside the bag.
Jack smirked. “If you’re looking for the huge knife that was in your bag, it’s not there anymore. I thought it was best if I took it out.”
Philip reached behind his back. A utility knife flashed in his hand.
“I missed that one,” Jack muttered.
Phillip stepped toward the door.
Jack moved to cut him off.
“Back away.” Phillip swung the knife in front of him.
“That’s not happening.” Jack slid one foot back and bent both knees, getting on guard.
“I said move,” Phillip growled.
Jack now stood between Phillip and the door.
Replacement grabbed the bottle from Roger and threw it at Phillip’s head.
Phillip ducked.
Jack lunged and grabbed Phillip’s wrist. With one hand on Phillip’s wrist and the other on Phillip’s shoulder, Jack spun him around and slammed him to the floor.
Pierce leapt down and grabbed Phillip’s other arm.
As Phillip struggled, Pierce punched him in the face.
Phillip dropped the knife.
Jack yanked Phillip’s arms behind his back. “Do you have any zip ties?” he asked Bruce.
Bruce looked in the bag. “No. But I have some cord.”
“That’ll do.” As Jack tied his hands behind his back, Phillip continued to struggle. “Stop fighting me or I’ll let Alice have a turn on you.” Jack yanked Phillip to his feet and then shoved him onto the couch. “Start talking.”
“I want to talk to a lawyer.”
“I’m not arresting you.”
“You can’t. You’re not a real cop.” Phillip sneered.
Jack’s back tightened.
Replacement darted by Jack and grabbed Phillip’s shirt. She spoke so softly that no one except Phillip could hear her. Whatever she said made all the color drain out of Phillip’s face. His cocky grin vanished. He swallowed and nervously looked up at Jack.
Replacement let go of Phillip’s shirt and moved back to stand next to Jack.
“You took his knife.” Pierce moved to Jack’s side. “You suspected him?”
Jack nodded. “One of his tools had a European plug but he said that he’d never been out of the States.”
Phillip cursed under his breath. “My Dremel.” His voice was noticeably deeper and rougher now. “I had a feeling when you saw it.”
“That and the code,” Jack said.
“The date!” Replacement practically shouted. “In the code. The date’s European.”
Phillip sat forward on the couch and shook his head.
“Was he working with Nancy and Sophia?” Pierce asked.
“He wasn’t,” Jack said.
“But we caught Nancy and Sophia red-handed. The evidence is overwhelming. They were spying.” Pierce stared at Jack.
“I didn’t say they weren’t guilty of corporate espionage. They are. Definitely. I’m saying that they didn’t make that case and they didn’t hurt Gerald.”
Pierce stuck his finger in Phillip’s face. “You’re strong enough to pull that rack over.”
“Should I contact the police?” Mrs. Maier asked.
“Tell them to send out a car.” Jack glared down at Phillip. “Who else are you working with?”
Phillip closed his mouth and stared straight ahead.
Jack grabbed Phillip’s shirt. He twisted the fabric tight and yanked him forward. “Someone else broke into my apartment. They hurt my dog.”
Phillip shook his head. “It wasn’t me.”
“I know. You have no wound. Who was it?”
Phillip pressed his lips tightly together.
“I’m so lost.” Roger poured a drink.
“Shut up, Roger,” Pierce snapped.
“They don’t have enough to hold me,” Phillip muttered.
“You came at me with a knife in front of a roomful of witnesses. That gives them enough,” Jack said.
Phillip glared at the floor.
Bruce walked over to Replacement. “This is crazy. Do you need me to do anything?”
“You have to stick around,” Jack said. “We need you to give a statement to the police.”
Bruce nodded.
Roger walked over to the door and looked out to the front of the house.
“Now what do we do?” Replacement asked.
“Wait for the police.” Jack nodded toward Phillip. “I can’t wait to see what comes back when they run Phillip’s fingerprints.”
Phillip’s shoulders slumped.
Two faint pops outside caused Jack’s adrenaline to shift straight to overdrive.
Roger stood in the doorway. The drink fell from his hand and shattered on the floor.
Jack ran up beside him and looked out. Two sedans pulled down the driveway.
A security guard’s body lay on the ground outside the guardhouse. A growing stain spread on the tar underneath it.
“They shot him.” Roger turned around. It looked as if he was about to throw up. “They killed him!” he shrieked.
“Alice, call nine-one-one now.” Jack yanked Phillip to his feet. One look at Phillip’s pale face, and Jack’s chest tightened. Jack knew Phillip had almost killed Gerald yet remained undercover right among them. He knew Phillip had nerve, but that courage was now replaced with fear.
“They’re here. The case called them, too.” Phillip groaned.
“Who’s here?” Jack shouted.
Phillip trembled. “We’re all dead.”
Chapter 45
~
A Club to a Gun Fight
“How many are coming?” Jack slammed Phillip against the doorframe.
“I don’t know. A crew. Five or six. They�
��re going to kill us all. Me too.”
Replacement spoke into her phone. “I need to report a home invasion at the Bellmore estate. Six armed men. They shot a security guard.”
“Who are they?”
“Ex-soldiers. They’re crazy.”
Jack looked down the hall as he mentally analyzed the house. “Everyone head to Pierce’s bedroom. Barricade the door. There’s a staircase in the back. If they come to the door, go down the stairs then run for the woods and scatter.”
Replacement ran over to her laptop and grabbed the e-cigarette case.
“They have guns.” Roger moaned.
Replacement ran next to Jack. “I’m going with you.”
“No. Stay on the line with the police. I’m going to distract them. Nothing more. It’s at least an eighteen-minute response time.” Jack pushed Phillip into the hallway and grabbed Roger. “You hold him.” He put Roger’s hands on Phillip’s shoulders.
Roger pushed Phillip down the hall.
“Oh, Mr. Weston.” Mrs. Maier gulped in air.
Replacement took her by the hand. “I’m getting them there and coming back for you.”
As Pierce went by, Jack grabbed his arm. “Make sure Alice is safe. Don’t let her come after me.”
Pierce nodded.
Jack sprinted down the hallway toward the kitchen while the others rushed down the hall. His feet clicked on the wooden floor. At the main entrance, he scanned the empty driveway.
Five or six guys. Three to a floor. They’ll sweep left to right. Half in the front hall, half in the back.
Jack reached into the umbrella stand and grabbed a thick walking stick. Gripping it like a sword, he swung hard once, testing it. The old wood was solid. Jack ran toward the kitchen entrance once again.
I’m bringing a club to a gun fight. Idiot.
He slowed at the kitchen and pressed himself against the wall. The side door opened, and he heard muffled voices and boots. When he peered around the corner, he counted five men. They all carried pistols. Three headed up the back steps.
One man on the ground floor pointed toward the far hallway. “Tolyan, take right.”
Jack slid back down the hallway and slipped into the first room. He kept the door open and pressed his back against the wall.
Sweat poured down his back as he waited. He gripped the walking stick tighter. The approaching footsteps echoed down the hall and rippled through Jack’s chest.
DATA JACK Page 20
