Wired Courage

by Toby Neal

  Sophie took that time to strip out of her clothing and take a quick shower herself, reveling in a few moments alone.

  Within the hour, the three of them were seated at the little dining room table, and Momi was slinging handfuls of rice at them with startling accuracy.

  “I have a little extra work to do tonight,” Sophie told Armita as she cleaned up Momi’s mess after the meal. “I’m going next door.”

  Next door.

  Next door was the other reason Sophie had chosen this apartment over any other. The Ghost had conducted his activities in a secret office in the apartment next to his living quarters. The setup inside was just the same as when Sophie and Connor had worked there together so long ago. Connor’s calm, cool computer lab had missed being damaged in the bomb blast that wrecked Sophie’s current abode.

  Armita nodded. “I’ll keep watch in case Momi wakes up.”

  Sophie nursed the baby and put her down. Once Momi was asleep in her bassinet beside Sophie’s bed, Sophie walked to the bedroom closet and opened the door.

  Sophie’s shoes and clothing took up little space in the walk-in—she was a wardrobe minimalist. As she faced the floor-to-ceiling shoe rack at the back of the closet, Sophie remembered the first time she had discovered the entrance to Connor’s secret world. She never would have dreamed that, a few short years later, she would be pressing a lever that moved the shoe rack out of the way, and stepping through a hidden door into the Ghost’s computer cockpit.

  That cool, secret space, humming with technology, was hers now.

  Keep reading for an excerpt of Wired Truth, Paradise Crime #10

  Acknowledgments

  Dear Readers!

  I am so excited to complete this latest wild ride with Sophie and her growing family. Thank you for coming with us on this journey!

  I have to say that this book was even more intense than many of the others. The characters continue to do what they're going to do, and it's downright hard to herd them towards the happy ending that I envisioned originally. That said, you know my storylines and that I always want three things to happen: good to triumph over evil, love to win in the end, and the characters to have experiences that make them grow into better people.

  And sometimes, those characters hit a wall. They get to do that, just as we do—and Jake hit that wall in this book. Should we be mad at him for it?

  I’m not. I actually think Felicia is a better match for him in the long run—a woman he can truly be happy with. He’s made some choices that take him in another direction, and for her part, Sophie has let him go—though not without deeply appreciating how his love has helped and healed her from her past. Every relationship, whether it continues or not, has the potential to help us grow to be better people, and both Sophie and Jake grew through their time together.

  The part that gives me the most angst in this whole story (besides the death of Thom Tang!) is Connor’s sacrifice for Jake and Sophie to be together—but as the story hints at, he made that choice for himself too. Connor wanted a new challenge, new ways to grow, and the Master is providing that for him.

  Sophie is on a journey of self-discovery. That has been the theme of all of these books. She is learning and growing through her work, through her relationships, and now, through motherhood, finding who she really is as a woman in the world. I expect that in the next book, more will be revealed about the Master, Pim Wat, the CIA, and Sophie's own heart. And for the first time in the whole series, Sophie is completely alone to figure that out. She has a lot on her plate as she fully steps into her potential as a woman and a leader.

  Momi has brought a new facet into Sophie’s life that stabilizes, heals, and gives her a purpose. But Sophie also has other purposes besides motherhood, as do all of us modern women. She has a multimillion-dollar company to run, crimes to solve, and friends to help her in time of need—as well as room in her heart for a special someone. I can’t wait to see what she does with Security Solutions, and with the Ghost software, in the future. Will she fully occupy not just Connor’s corner office chair, but his alter ego? I look forward, and I hope you do too, to the next installment of her journey in Wired Truth, coming in 2019.

  Want to know how I get so many crazy ideas? On December 30, 2018, I’m releasing my personal memoir, Freckled: A Memoir of Growing Up Wild in Hawaii. I’m very excited to let you know that it is available for preorder under my nonfiction writing name, TW Neal. Check it out on my website HERE. If you read the memoir, you'll get a good notion of where it all started for me, growing up as a hippie kid living in a tent in the jungle, completely off the grid, on the North Shore of Kaua`i in the 1970s.

  As always, thanks go out to my awesome helpers: Jamie Davis, Bonnie Hodur, and Don Williams, as well as my faithful typo hunters, Shirley and Angie—each of you are fabulous and important. It takes a village to write a book, and bring it out into the world, and you are my A-team!

  If you enjoyed this book, or the series, would you please leave a review? I so appreciate every single one of them! Just a few words are fine. Mahalo!

  Hope you enjoy the sneak peek of Wired Truth! And until next time, I'll be writing!

  Toby Neal

  Check out the Freckled memoir on my website HERE.

  Read on for excerpt from Wired Truth on the next page!

  Excerpt Wired Truth

  Chapter One

  Two years after Wired Courage, Paradise Crime #9

  The vice president of Honolulu’s branch of Finewell’s Auction House had a damp handclasp and a plummy British accent. “The diamonds are gone, and I need them found by next week.” He pulled a silk kerchief from his front pocket and mopped his shiny, balding head, pale eyes blinking rapidly. “Infernal Hawaii heat. I don’t know how you stand it.”

  Sophie gestured to the seating area in front of her desk and wiped her hand on her narrow black pants out of his view. “Please have a seat, Mr. Childer, and you can tell me all about it. Our entire conversation is confidential—though I must warn you, not protected by law. I have some documents for you that will clarify things. You can review them while I fix us a cup of tea.”

  Childer looked her over, clearly surprised at her accent. “Delightful to encounter a fellow countrywoman in this place, and a cup of tea! Heaven, Ms. Smithson.”

  Sophie set a clipboard with the company’s intake forms and disclosures, along with her best Waterman pen, at the man’s elbow. “Actually, I’m American and Thai. But I was educated in Europe.” She walked over to a glossy wood credenza and pushed a button. A coffee and tea service, along with the equipment for preparation, rose from within. Security Solutions’ receptionist cleaned and stocked it daily, so all Sophie had to do was press a button to begin the water heating. “Do you take lemon or milk?”

  “Milk and two sugars, please. Anything can be endured with a spot of tea, they say, but I’m afraid this is a most distressing situation.” Childer patted his pockets restlessly, as if looking for something.

  “I’m sure it is, but please take a moment to look over the company’s confidentiality agreement and other protocols before we get started. You did insist on speaking to me as the president of Security Solutions, did you not?” Sophie gave Childer a practiced smile. She’d improved her social skills considerably since she’d left a desk in the tech lab of the FBI, and assumed leadership of a multimillion dollar security company with a global presence.

  Childer turned his attention to the clipboard as Sophie busied herself with the tea things. Once she had their cups prepared, she set them on the tray and returned, setting the beverage down on the low table in front of the couch where Childer sat. She took a sleek modern armchair across from him and dosed her dark Thai tea with honey. She then set a computer tablet on her knee, tapping to wake it up, and began inputting details for Childer’s case into a new file.

  “This appears to be in order.” Childer stashed a pair of reading glasses in his breast pocket, along with the abused kerchief, and handed her back the intake
forms. Sophie read over them as he lifted his teacup for a sip. “Excellent, my dear.”

  “You said diamonds are missing?” Sophie glanced up into Childer’s pasty face.

  “I am the manager of the Hawaii branch of Finewell’s Auction House, as I told you. Are you familiar with our company?” He’d dug the kerchief out again and dabbed at his forehead. “We are the premier brokerage for luxury collectibles in the Western Hemisphere.”

  That was a big claim to make, but Sophie nodded politely. “Please elaborate on how you came to have the diamonds, and what you know about their disappearance.”

  “The diamonds are part of a family-owned set that is being auctioned off this coming weekend. They arrived at our vault and were authenticated upon arrival—all part of our protocol. We cannot vouch for something that comes to us not truthfully represented.” Childer pursed his pink lips and blew upon his tea. “The set was received, verified as authentic, and stored. All was in order at that time; I saw video of that process and signed off on it per usual. As manager, I oversee preparing the items for sale—photographing the items for the catalogs and whatnot. I went in to the vault to pull the set for the photographer, and it was gone.” Childer’s cup rattled in its saucer as he set it down. “I verified that the other items on the premises being prepared for this weekend’s auction were all accounted for. Only that diamond parure was gone; it included a necklace, earrings, a ring, bracelet and even a hair clip. The set was assessed at three million dollars.”

  Sophie blinked at the value. “Why didn’t you notify the police?”

  “A theft from our supposedly secure location would be a great scandal. Terrible for the company, and for me personally.” Childer dabbed his mouth with a paper napkin. “I will, of course, disclose the theft if we are not able to reclaim the jewels by next Friday.”

  “The sale is Saturday, you said?” Sophie frowned. “Twelve days is not long to find something like this. That’s cutting it close.”

  “All I can ask is that you try.” Childer reached inside the lapel of his suit and removed a checkbook. “What do you require for a deposit?”

  After the contracts were signed and funds exchanged, Childer pointed a plump finger at Sophie. “I researched who to approach. I want you to work on this for me. I can’t have this case given to someone who won’t treat it with the sensitivity it deserves.”

  “Mr. Childer.” Sophie set her tablet down. “I appreciate your confidence in me, but I’m the company president. I no longer personally handle cases.”

  “Please.” Childer placed his hands together and bowed a little in her direction. “I looked for the best private investigators and company available, and was delighted to find Security Solutions right here in Honolulu. I was even more impressed with you personally.” He ticked off her accomplishments on his fingers. “A trained ex-FBI agent with a background in tech. Inventor of the Data Assessment Victim Information Database crime solving software. President and CEO of the top-ranked security company in the United States with a seventy-five percent case closure rate.” He gave her a frank once-over. “And a goddess in the flesh who makes a lovely cup of tea, to boot.”

  Sophie smiled at the praise, and ducked her head. “That last part has little actual application to crime solving. I will have to run this by Kendall Bix, our president of operations. He is in charge of case assignments.”

  “But you’ll consider it? Tell me you will.”

  “I’ll consider it. You’ve caught me at a vulnerable moment, Mr. Childer. I’ve been up to my eyebrows in quarterly reports. Who wouldn’t rather get into the field, while a clock is ticking, to solve the mystery of a missing set of diamonds?” She stood, smoothing sleek black pants made for movement. “I’ll be in touch. We will need to access your vault and to review all your video footage and admissions protocols, just for a start.”

  Kendall Bix had been head of operations at Security Solutions since Sophie had come to work for the firm three years before. The man shook his neatly barbered head. “No. We’ve got an entire theft division that hasn’t had enough work lately.”

  “I’m not asking, Kendall.” Sophie set the tray of tea things back on the credenza. She’d tangled for control with the senior executive on and off over the two years since she’d taken control of the company at the request of its owner and CEO, Sheldon Hamilton. Hamilton had disappeared in Thailand and was in the process of being declared legally dead. The enigmatic billionaire CEO had left Sophie his estate and his position and shares in Security Solutions.

  She wasn’t surprised by Bix’s periodic objections, nor did she resent them. Bix had been abruptly and mysteriously passed over for leadership by Sophie, who at the time of her appointment to CEO was a contract operative for the company, untested in any kind of leadership. She’d relied on Bix to guide her and speak his mind, and she usually went along with his opinions.

  Not this time, however.

  “I’m in need of a change of pace, Kendall.” She smiled engagingly at Bix. “I’d like you to finish the quarterly reports and give me time to work this case.”

  Bix chuckled, shaking his head. “Rank hath its privileges, m’dear. You can have your case, and the quarterly reports too.”

  “All right. I’ll take them home with me. Momi is at her father’s this month, so I have room to work in the evenings.” Sophie shared custody of her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter on a month on, month off basis with her child’s father on Kaua`i. Momi’s nanny Armita took the toddler back and forth between the islands, providing consistency in her care.

  Sophie slid the papers that Childer had signed into a fresh manila file. “I would like someone to work with on this case. A new partner. Do you have someone from the theft division I could work with? Two pairs of hands and eyes are better than one on a situation with a lot of pressure like this.”

  Bix raised his brows. “Funny you should ask. Remember Jake Dunn? He just picked up some of our contract work. He might be available.”

  Sophie frowned. “Anyone but Jake Dunn.”

  “Oh, right. I forgot you two were in a relationship. Did you hear he got married? An announcement came, addressed to the whole office. Guess he and his girlfriend Felicia ran off to Vegas.”

  Sophie kept her expression neutral with difficulty. “No, I had not, but I am happy for them. Do you have someone else to suggest?”

  “Have you met Pierre Robichaux? We hired him on a contractor basis. He’s a retired detective from the French police, living bicoastally in Hawaii and France. He’s turned out to be quite good with art theft and high-end cases—a perfect fit for the diamond heist.”

  “He sounds qualified.” Sophie sat down behind her desk. “I’ll work on the quarterly reports until you send him up.”

  “Sounds good, boss.” Bix gave a playful salute, and shut the door of the office behind him.

  Sophie waited until his steps had receded down the carpeted hallway to open her desk drawer. She reached inside and took out a yoga mat. She rolled the flexible, brightly colored foam out on the open space beside her desk. She always wore movement-friendly clothing to the office to accommodate the exercise breaks that were so important to her working life. She dropped into a series of memorized asana poses, moving through them smoothly and automatically.

  Just breathe. Feel your body moving. You’re okay in this moment…

  But tears welled up as she breathed deliberately through the structured movements.

  Sophie stood by what she had told Jake when she sent back his ring more than two years ago: “I wish you every happiness.”

  Yes, Felicia was the one to bring him happiness.

  Sophie’d never brought him anything but torture and heartbreak.

  The yoga wasn’t helping. Her old depression flapped its black batwings around her mind, fanning darkness around her. She rolled up her mat and pulled out a drawer in her desk. A folded, yellow flannel square rested at the bottom of the drawer.

  Momi’s first blanket.

>   Her child had been kidnapped when the baby was only twelve hours old. That blanket had been a comfort during the harrowing time of getting her daughter back. She unfolded the square, sat down, and buried her face in it. The fabric no longer smelled of her infant child as it once had, but the softness on her cheeks reminded her of Momi’s velvety skin.

  She had loved and lost three men, two of whom were with new partners and one of whom was unreachable. Sophie let the tears come.

  She’d learned the value of allowing her emotions, of knowing that they shouldn’t be swept away and ignored, and that expressing them helped her keep them managed. Having a good cry over Jake’s marriage would help her get over it faster. Or so she hoped…

  Sophie wiped her face on the precious flannel square. She tucked the blanket in her bag to take home and wash. In her executive bathroom, she splashed water on her face and composed herself.

  She was reseated, having a go at the quarterly reports again, when Robichaux knocked lightly on the door frame.

  Click here to continue reading Wired Truth March 2019!

  About the Author

  Kirkus Reviews calls Neal's writing, "persistently riveting. Masterly."

  Award-winning, USA Today bestselling social worker turned author Toby Neal grew up on the island of Kaua`i in Hawaii. Neal is a mental health therapist, a career that has informed the depth and complexity of the characters in her stories. Neal's police procedurals, starring multicultural detective Lei Texeira, explore the crimes and issues of Hawaii from the bottom of the ocean to the top of volcanoes. Fans call her stories, "Immersive, addicting, and the next best thing to being there."