“It’s me. Carla.”
“Carla? Carla? What is going on? Why am I being held like this?”
“Oh God. I’m chained and blindfolded. Are you?”
“Yes. What is going on?”
“I don’t know. Someone grabbed me and somehow put me out. I have been chained up like this for days. They only loosen my chains to let me eat and go to the bathroom.”
“Me too. How long have we been here?”
“I don’t know. I can’t keep count any longer. Are you alright?” Carla asked.
“I think so. My arms hurt and the chains are too tight some times. I think I was taken on Tuesday. Do you know what day it is now?”
“No,” Carla said and sobbed softly.
“No talking you two,” a strange deep voice said.
“Who are you? Why are you doing this?” Stephanie yelled out.
A loud slap was followed by the sound of Stephanie falling and sobbing.
Carla yelled out, “Leave her alone.”
“Shut up unless you want me to beat the snot out of you too,” the deep voice said.
“Leave her alone,” Stephanie sobbed.
“Take them to their separate rooms,” the voice said and Carla felt herself being yanked up on her feet. She was unstable as she was shoved forward. They placed her on the floor again and shackled her leg.
“Who are you? Where is Stephanie?” Carla pleaded.
“All in good time,” the voice said and slammed a heavy door. Silence covered the room like a thick blanket.
“Oh Stephanie,” she sobbed, “What is going to happen to us?”
There was no answer as she rocked back and forth.
****
The Federal agents sat passively as the technician went about the process of connecting the various apparatus to the hands and chest of James Ashton. They had read though the case file and had prepared a list of questions for the examiner.
The fact that Ashton had suggested the stress analysis did not impress them one way or the other. They had seen the test beaten many times in the past. Someone like Ashton could do it standing on his head.
“Alright. I need to get some background readings,” the examiner said, “Now I want you to answer quickly when I ask you a question. Just answer the question. Don’t elaborate unless I direct you to do so. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Are you James Ashton?”
“Yes.”
“Do you live at 23 Dover Street?”
“No.”
“Do you live at 23 Dover Lane?”
“Yes.”
“Were you born July 15, 1966?”
“Yes.”
“Do you own DigitCom?”
Jim hesitated, “No. Ah..Yes...I have a partner,” he
“Mr. Ashton, I said to elaborate only I when ask you to and I did not ask you to,” the examiner said.
“I didn’t know how to answer.”
“You don’t know if you own DigitCom?”
“Yes, I know. I just wasn’t sure what you were looking for,” he said defensively.
“Just answer the questions, please. Is your mother’s name Linda?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know Carla Larkins?”
“Of course,” he said.
The examiner waited.
“Yes,” he finally said.
“Do you know where your wife is?”
“No.” he replied.
“Have you seen Carla Larkins in the past week?”
“No.”
“Did you call her on Tuesday?”
“Yes.”
“Did you call her later that night?”
“No.”
“Have you been to their house since Tuesday?”
“No.”
The questions went on and on. Several were asked in different ways. It seemed silly to Ashton and he wanted to say so but he decided that he had better follow Logan’s advice.
Finally after almost forty minutes of nonstop questions the examiner said, “Alright Mr. Ashton. That should be enough. I’ll get you disconnected now.”
It took several minutes to get all the wires disconnected from his body. The two FBI agents had been watching as if disinterested in his answers. He wasn’t sure what to make of that. More problems he supposed. He couldn’t have been more correct. The examiner went off to interpret the results and Ashton sat there looking at the two agents. He didn’t realize that Detective Logan had slipped into the room as well and was sitting against the wall in the shadows of the bright light.
Senior FBI agent Pete Nelson was the first to speak, “Alright Mr. Ashton, we have that over with and I want to move on. I think the best place to start is by clearing the air. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“I suppose so. I take it you were not impressed with the way the lie detector test went?”
“I really don’t put much stock in them. Actually the only time I use them is to help convince a jury when all else fails. There are too many variables for them to be really reliable. I use this stress analysis,” he said, pointing to his gut.
“So I wasted my time?”
“Nah. The examiner will present a big bill, give us a useless report, the state will pay for it and everyone is happy. Most of all, if you pass, the press will get off your back. But,” he continued, “If you fail or it comes out undetermined, heaven help you. They will crucify you.”
“That’s encouraging to look forward to.”
“So, let me tell you where we are on this. Agent Petty and I have read every scrap of paper written on this to date. We have talked to your partner, your doctor and even your secretary, Martha Scott. We have crosschecked every item of your story and frankly I have to tell you, I still don’t know what to make of it. This isn’t like anything I have seen before and believe me I’ve seen some doozies. The biggest problems we face are trying to figure out why two women are missing and only one of the husbands has been contacted. It just doesn’t make any sense at all. Why were you the only one contacted and why in the middle of the night in person? Why the phone calls that are unaccounted for? Actually, very little of what you have told anyone to date fits any pattern we have ever seen. In fact, Mr. Ashton, other than your word, which has little creditability to date, we have nothing solid to go on. Don’t take this personally, but it is a bit much to swallow,” he said, tapping his pen end over end on a pad of paper during the entire narration.
Ashton just looked back at him. What could he say? Nothing would change what he had just rattled off.
“I understand. I empathize with your position. All I can do is give it to you like I believe it is. I don’t know what else to say.”
“Oh, that’s okay. There isn’t much you can say.”
“Mr. Ashton,” the junior agent, Rick Petty added, “I know a lot of computer guys, propeller heads, that think they are smarter than anyone else. It’s a game with them. As they see it, they are just too clever for the poor dumb old cops. You know what? We almost always get them in the end. It may take us a while to understand the game rules but we are methodical and relentless. We don’t overrate our ability and that’s the real difference. I hope you don't think you’re too smart for us and are playing your own little game because if you are, we will catch you and crush you like a bug,” he said, pressing his thumb hard on the table.
“Message received. I am not playing a game. I just want to get my wife back. And Terry’s,” he added.
“Fine. Then let’s get started,” Agent Nelson said.
Once again they went over the story. Checked and double checked his version. They made arrangements to set up around the clock surveillance, phone taps, car transponders, and parabolic perimeter listening devices.
“Now about the money, somewhere in your statement you said you could only raise about a hundred thousand or so. If that’s so, someone has grossly overestimated your worth. Are you including the value of your company in that?”
“Absolutely. Dig
itCom looks good but actually we are hanging everything on the line based on a new product that could set the computer market on its ear,” Ashton told them.
The two agents exchanged glances.
“What?” he asked.
“Oh we were both just thinking 'where have we heard that before? Our last two cases were about people with new technology that was going to change the world. Neither came close to realizing their vision.”
There was no use in responding to that. Besides, if his last lab report was correct, they could well be right. Linda had called in and had seen the problem first hand. The problem was that it could not be duplicated time and time again. She was currently at the DSL, deep space listening facility trying to find some pattern.
DigitCom’s own labs were having virtually no success. They couldn’t even get the chip to malfunction in the way it was being reported, which only confused the issue. The problem had to be in the way it was being installed or used.
The process was very slow and time was running out. Martha had been able to buy some time on releases due to the publicity of the disappearance of the two partner’s wives. Sympathy would work for them for them some time, but soon the creditors would be breathing down their necks and would have little, if any, compassion.
“We have your partner outside. Terry Larkins, isn’t it?” agent Petty asked, and then went on without waiting for him to speak, “We want to bring him in and go over this whole thing. You two haven’t talked much have you?”
“No. For some reason I think he blames me for this,” Ashton replied.
“Blames isn’t exactly the word I would use,” Petty said, opening the door and speaking to a guard outside.
A few minutes later, Terry came in and sat down. He didn’t even acknowledge Jim. Ashton looked at Terry for several seconds, hoping to make eye contact but it was no use.
“First gentlemen, fighting between you two will accomplish nothing. It will only slow us down. You both know what we are doing with surveillance. It would be helpful to only have to watch one house but I realize that’s out of the question. What we do need is for you two to focus on the situation at hand. We need you to instantly let the other one know the minute anything breaks. Obviously the perpetrator or perpetrators are not concerned with you contacting the police. That, in itself, is highly unusual. Second, they have only asked Ashton here for ransom. Why? Anyone?” Agent Nelson asked.
No one said anything for a few seconds then Terry spoke up, “I think it’s because either he and my wife are in this together or he and Stephanie are involved somehow.”
“What?” Jim shouted, coming out of his chair, “Listen to yourself. Have you gone crazy?” Ashton said starting toward Terry.
Agent Petty reached up and grabbed Ashton’s shirt collar from behind and pulled him back down in his chair.
“Sit,” he commanded.
“That’s the craziest thing I ever heard,” he said, pulling his shirt back in place.
“I have to say, the thought crossed our minds as well,” Nelson said.
“I can’t believe this,” Ashton said, pulling back on his hair with both hands.
“There is a certain logic to it.”
“If it’s so easy to figure out then why didn’t I think of it?”
“We don’t know that you didn’t. That may be a part of the game,” Petty added.
Ashton just shook his head. It wasn’t worth responding to.
“Moving on from there,” Nelson said after everyone had settled down, “Let’s proceed on the assumption that someone else is pulling our strings. Some clever person or group of persons has lead us to take a critical look at Mr. Ashton here. Assuming that, we still have the problem of the ransom money, actually, the lack of it. Mr. Larkins, you told us that you could get even less. It that right?”
“Fifty, sixty thousand, tops. The only person who could have bailed us out, he sent packing,” Terry said, pointing a finger at Jim.
“Hold it. Wait just a minute,” Agent Petty said, shuffling through the file folders littering the desk. He opened several before he found what he was looking for. “Aikimoto. Some Japanese firm offered to buy you out a week or so ago. Is that right?”
“Yes. He offered a fair price, considering our current financial situation,” Terry said bitterly.
“And you didn’t agree?”
“I did not,” Ashton said. There was no use getting into it over that again.
“What do we know about Aikimoto?” Nelson asked, turning to face Detective Logan for the first time since he entered the room.
“Virtually nothing. He has the necessary clearance from the State Department to attempt the acquisition. That’s about all we know.”
“All right. We will start a detailed background check on Aikimoto Limited,” Nelson said to Agent Petty.
“That’s ridiculous. I initiated the contact. There is nothing sinister or hostile about Aikimoto. He was a real pleasure to deal with and a very nice gentleman,” Terry interjected.
“That could well be true but what could it hurt? They do not operate like American businessmen do. Maybe one of his junior people wanted to impress his boss,” Petty said, reading through the file.
“It would be worth checking out. If nothing more, it will eliminate any doubt. You said Mr. Ashton eliminated any chance of selling. Obviously you two disagree. What I want to know is ‘how eliminated is the chance?’” Nelson asked.
“Totally. In his usual tactless manner, Jim closed the door pretty hard,” Terry replied tensely.
“I see. So they have no interest any longer?”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Ashton spoke up, “In fact Mr. Aikimoto said something about the journey just beginning. I didn’t know what that meant at the time.”
“Rick,” Nelson said to his junior agent, “Let’s get on Aikimoto immediately. You take charge of that. I want to know everything about him and his company that we can find out in the next forty-eight hours.”
“Would you be willing to sell your part of the company now Mr. Ashton?” Petty asked.
Jim didn’t answer immediately. Something that Carla had said the night he called flashed back in his head.
“Mr. Ashton?” Agent Petty finally said.
“Oh. Sorry. I was just thinking. Doesn’t the FBI have some kind of fund or fake money that can be used?”
The two agents looked at him first and then each other. Terry just shook his head.
“No, Mr. Ashton. The FBI does not have ten million dollars to pay for victims. We have money that we put into ransoms and such, so they can be either traced or mark the suspects, but we are not a bank.”
“Fine, I was just asking. Yes, if necessary, I would be willing to sell,” he said at last.
“Mr. Larkins?”
“In a heartbeat. Now, more than ever. But how does this get my wife back? What if there are two groups at work or....” he said letting the rest of the thought go unsaid.
“That’s an excellent point. I don’t have a good answer either. We are going on the belief that we are just dealing with one entity here. That’s why you need to keep us informed of anything, and I mean anything, that has to do with this,” he told Terry.
“Even if we get the money, pay them off, and follow their instructions, what are our chances of getting our wives back alive?” Ashton asked.
Nelson thought for a minute before answering, “Every case is different. There are so many variables that it is not only impossible to say, but I doubt that it would do your spirits much good.”
“I see. What happens next? Ashton asked.
“We wait. You have a business to run. We go to work on Aikimoto’s background. We will be very discreet in case you need him at some point. Mr. Larkins, I think that you should contact him after we get our initial report. Assuming he checks out okay. You and Mr. Ashton need to work out what has to be done to sell quickly, in case you end up needing the money in a hurry. Can you do that together?” Nelson asked.
They both said they could.
“And I wouldn’t let anything get in the way of the sale. What is it you guys call them?” Petty asked.
“Deal breakers?”
“Yeah. That’s it. I assume your wives are more important than your business,” he said more as a statement than a question.
“Well then, you guys can go. We will be watching and working behind the scene. We will probably know the minute you are contacted but just in case, here are a couple of beepers. All you have to do is press the button and speak into it. When you release it, we will be signaled immediately. Look gentlemen, we are all going to have to work together if we are going to get your wives back. Your personal hostilities are going to have to go on a back burner. You need to be civil to each other until after this thing is over. I will not tolerate petty bickering. Is that clear?” Nelson said.
“Absolutely,” Ashton said quickly.
“Fine,” Terry added.
“Good, then let’s get to it,” Nelson said indicating the meeting was over.
Ashton got up and left first, Terry hung back just a second and said to Nelson, “Look there is something I need to tell you. I think it’s important.”
“Sure, as long as it has a bearing on this case,” he said.
“It’s about Carla and I. We have been having some marital problems. She thought I had an affair a few months ago. I didn’t. I swear. She just got it in her head and things haven’t been very pleasant. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to sell and get out. I wanted to try to start over again with her. Get away from here,” he told them.
“I see. I appreciate your telling us that now. I’m sure it would have come out eventually,” Nelson said.
“There is more. Carla is not the type to let something go. She is more of an eye for an eye. If she thinks I’m fooling around then she would be inclined to get even,” he said looking down at the floor.
“Get even? As in have an affair herself?”
“Yeah,” he said in a low voice, “That’s why I wanted to get the business sold. I think she may have beat me to the punch,” he said and put his hand to his mouth.
It was hard to tell strangers your most intimate secrets. Especially other men.
“And you think it could be with your partner?” Petty asked.
Avarice or Innocence (JOHN LOGAN FILES Book 1) Page 9
