“I’ll get right on it. What else?”
“Aikimoto Limited. I had a long talk with them. They were concerned that the future of DigitCom didn’t look very bright. It could just be all of the adverse publicity we are getting but it seems like they know more than meets the eye,” he said, measuring his words carefully.
“And?” Bob asked.
“And nothing. I just want you to keep a close eye on your staff. Jim seemed to think we might have a spy in house. Poke around and see if you can uncover anything. Report it back directly to me without telling another soul. Got it?”
“Sure Terry. I don’t think that’s very likely though,” he said.
“Just humor me.”
“Fine. You’ve got it.”
“Uh, let’s see. Oh yes, about Aikimoto Limited. They have asked me to do a review on each person involved in R & D. I just want you to know that I have already started on yours. Don’t worry, it will be top notch. I know you are nervous about the future with the buyout, but I will do everything within my power to help you in whatever path you pursue. Do you want to stay on?”
“I honestly don’t know. I guess it would be smart to at least look at that option but I have even considered retiring and taking it easy for a while,” he said.
Terry was fairly shocked at that statement, “Really. You’re what? Forty-five?”
“Forty-nine actually. I have been saving up and I might just start doing some traveling. I have been at this all my adult life and I have never taken much time off. I want to see the world while I’m still healthy. I’m not sure what I will really do,” he told Terry.
“Well good for you. I have never felt financially secure enough to pull that off yet. I hope it all works out well. I’ll admit I have given some thought to that as well lately. I may just do the same now that the company is sold,” Terry told him.
They talked for several more minutes as Terry went through his list of items for Bob. A series of meetings took place for most of the rest of the day as the different department heads came to see what was going on at DigitCom. The Director of Marketing turned in his resignation, catching Terry off guard.
“I just can’t work for a company that is generating the kind of publicity that DigitCom is,” he told Terry.
Terry assumed there would be more to come as the days wound down. He was sure most of the employees were polishing up their resumes. He couldn’t blame them. If his future weren’t set he would be doing the same thing.
The FedEx man arrived and delivered the daily packages. Martha found one marked for Terry’s urgent attention. She interrupted one of the meetings and handed him the package. Terry opened it and found a cassette recording inside. No label or any letter accompanied it.
He quickly ended the meeting and went over to his tape deck and inserted the recording. It was very short and he played it through quickly. After listening to it two more times he
immediately used the pager to summon the FBI agents. They arrived within minutes, so he knew they couldn’t have been too far away.
“This came,” he said handing over the cardboard envelope, “There is no return address. I thought that was required.”
“It was probably placed in one of the drop boxes. We’ll get to work on the billing number but five will get you ten it’s a phony,” Agent Nelson told him.
“Let’s hear it,” Agent Petty said, motioning to the tape recorder.
Terry pushed the play button and a disguised voiced said, “You have compromised the proceedings. We are forced to deal with you now. We expect no further complications or the women will be killed. Ten million dollars must be delivered on time. Have the money ready. This is not negotiable and no extension will be allowed. You will receive a package on Friday. Inside will be the first set of instructions. They are to be followed exactly as noted. If even one instruction is not followed to the letter the consequences will be dire. We are aware of the police and FBI involvement. That was anticipated. If they attempt to track, intercept, or interfere in any way, you will receive your wife back in the same manner you received this tape recording. Be ready to comply on Friday. Here is your wife’s voice.”
The taped recording of the two women followed. The FBI played the tape over and over, trying to listen for clues and any discernable background noises. They made two copies and sent the original to the lab for further analysis.
“There we have it. It all goes down on Friday. We have a lot to do before then to get ready,” Agent Petty said.
“You have nothing to do really,” Terry said.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I mean after listening to that tape I don’t intend to do anything but pay the money and get on with our lives. I am not about to play games with these people.”
“Are you crazy? They don't intend to return your wife. They will just grab the money and kill the women, if they haven’t already done so by now,” he said.
“I don’t want to hear it,” Terry screamed at the agent and lunged at him.
Nelson grabbed Terry and pulled him back.
“Petty, take a hike,” he ordered.
The agent glared at them both for a minute before straightening his coat and walking outside.
“It’s okay. Really it is. I totally understand. I would do the same thing if I were in your position. Don’t pay any attention to Agent Petty. He is young and doesn’t think sometimes.”
“I won’t have you interfering. I mean it.”
“I said it was your call and it is. We will be here but we will do nothing that will hinder the operation in any way. I doubt there really is much we can do in reality anyway. They have never been concerned with you going to the police so they must be sure they can’t be tracked or followed. They are bound to know we would tag and wire you. I agree with you, let’s just pay the ransom and then worry about tracking them down.”
“Alright. But no funny stuff. Got it?”
“No funny stuff,” Nelson said in agreement.
“Now what do I do?” Larkins asked.
“How about making us a pot of coffee. We all need to calm down. I’ll go talk to Agent Petty while you make it okay?”
“Okay, fine, I’ll make the coffee,” he said heading for the kitchen.
Nelson went out to where Petty was leaning against the car.
“You know Petty you are not a bad agent. You have a lot of great qualities. You think quickly and react quickly but you don’t engage your brain before you shift your mouth into gear. You just open up and let it spill out. Those are people’s lives we are talking about in there. His wife, not yours. You have no say in this and you were totally out of line to say that in front of him. You want to spout off to me, that’s fine. However, you do that in front of a victim ever again and I’ll knock your teeth down your throat. If you think I’m kidding or too old, I suggest you talk to our physical ed. trainer,” Nelson said poking his finger in Petty’s chest.
Petty started to shove Nelson's hand out of the way and before he realized it, he was sitting on the ground looking up at Nelson.
“I’m not kidding. You’ll feel some of his pain if you ever pull that again. Got it?”
“Got it,” Petty said shaking his head and rubbing his temple.
Nelson held out his hand and helped the young agent up, “Now let’s go have some civilized conversation and a cup of coffee,” he said, heading back to the house.
****
“The Star, bringing you the latest in news, sports, and entertainment. How may I direct your call?”
“Carol Brown, please.”
“You mean Carrie Brown?”
“Sorry, yes, Carrie Brown please,” Ashton said.
“Just one moment.”
Jim only had to wait a few seconds before she came on the line, “This is Carrie Brown.”
“Hi Miss Brown. I know this may seem like a very strange call but this is James Ashton. Do you remember me?”
“Remember? You’re the talk of the
hour. Where are you?” she asked in obvious excitement.
“That doesn’t matter for the moment. I wanted to see if you wanted to meet someplace and talk for a while. I would like to tell you what really happened and give you my side of the story. You seemed like an honest and fair reporter when we talked last,” he told her.
“Meet somewhere? What did you have in mind?” she asked a little more skeptically.
“I understand your concern. After all, I am accused of murder. I wouldn’t blame you if you said no. I don’t mind telling you my side on the phone but I just felt it would be better if it were done face to face,” he said.
“Look, I’ll meet you, but you have to understand, I’ll have to clear it with my editor. You’re a fugitive and I’ll need his approval. He will probably want to run it by legal first. If everyone clears it, I’ll meet you. Where are you now?” she asked.
“I would feel better if I called you and named a place. It’s not that I don’t trust you it’s just better that way. You won’t have to lie if you’re asked,” he said.
“I’ll accept that. Give me an hour and then call back,” she said.
He hung up the phone and drove back out to the park. He used the camping facility to wash and shave. He couldn’t do much about his clothes so he drove to a strip mall and bought a new shirt and pants. He only had sixty dollars and change after the purchases. He decided to risk trying to use is bankcard to make a withdrawal. He drove to the far side of town to use it.
It seemed to take forever for the machine to finally disperse the money but it did and he quickly got out of the area. He was probably just being paranoid but it was better to be safe than sorry. He ate and by the time he found a phone it was time to call Carrie Brown back.
“It’s a go,” she told him.
“Good. All right, here is what I would like you to do. Do you know the Shell station on North Kingston?”
“The big new one with the mini-store?”
“That’s the one. Can you be there in thirty minutes? Just park your car and come inside. I’ll meet you in there,” he told her.
“I’ll be there but I’m going to let my editor know where I’m meeting you,” she warned him.
He paused for several seconds before saying, “In that case let’s just forget the meeting. I can’t take the chance that he or someone else might tip off the police. I just can’t have that. Not right now,” he told her.
“But honestly, he won’t tell anyone,” she insisted.
“Sorry. I can’t risk it. I’ll have to get someone else. Sorry to have bothered you Ms. Brown,” he said.
“Wait. Don’t hang up. I’ll meet you and I won’t tell him or anyone else,” she quickly said.
“I don’t know. How can I be sure?” he answered cautiously.
“I guess we will just have to trust each other, won’t we?” she replied.
“Okay I guess. See you in a half hour,” he said and hung up.
Jim had called her from the phone out on the lot after having checked out the store. He stayed in the car, watching for any signs of surveillance but saw nothing unusual.
After twenty-five minutes he went inside and walked to the back. The restrooms were there as well as an exit that led to the dumpster area. He bought a Diet Coke and waited. Right on time he saw her car pull up and she got out and came inside. He continued to look out of the window while she came to where he was standing.
“Watching to see if I was followed?” she asked.
“I’m a tad apprehensive,” he said, “Would you like something to drink?”
“No thanks, I’m fine. So what is it you have to tell me?”
“Follow me,” he told her and headed back into the store.
He took a quick look around and led her out the door and along the backside of the building. He had parked his car just at the corner. He quickly led her to the car and let her in.
“Where are we going?”
“Just away from here. Don’t worry, it will be a public place,” he told her.
They drove in silence to a mall a few blocks away and parked as far out as he could get. He backed the car in, just in case he had to try to get out of the area quickly.
“I know how this must look to you but believe me it isn’t anything like that. First, let me tell you about my alleged escape,” he said.
He told her the entire story from the time they started down the stairs until the judge shoved him out the door.
“Judge Luke, I think that’s what it said on the door,” he told her.
“Judge Lark. I know who you mean. He can verify that he let you out?”
“I don’t know if he will say exactly that but yes, he should be able to verify that he shoved a group of people out the side door. You can see it from the street. In fact, when I was leaving I saw you doing a remote. I almost came over then but you were taping or whatever it is you do.”
“I’ll check it out. Now what about the rest of it?” she asked.
Jim spent the better part of an hour going over the details. She stopped him quite often to ask questions and take notes. She phrased the same questions several different ways from time to time to try and confuse him or get him to change his story but he never wavered.
“And you are sure that Larkins was in the room when you took the call from Linda Taylor?”
“Absolutely. I didn’t see any way around it. I told him what I had done. He didn’t seem particularly upset but he was curious as to what I expected to find. I gave him some vague answer. He seemed to take it all right. The point is I am not the only one who knew she was bringing the chips back. I didn’t know her exact return schedule. I was in the process of trying to track her down when they came and arrested me,” he told her.
After he had finished, she went back over her notes one more time, verifying the times and sequence of events.
“That’s about it,” he told her.
“All right. I can run a story. It won’t tell everything but it couldn’t hurt,” she said.
“I would be grateful,” he replied.
“Look Mr. Ashton, let me lay it on the line. From all the circumstantial evidence you look very guilty. People in my business tend to run with that. The actual evidence is usually not only unglamorous but worse, not considered newsworthy. I can assure you, if I run a story that goes against the grain I’m going to get a lot of heat. Sometimes that can be good and sometimes not. I’m willing to risk it because like I said before, basically I think you’re a pretty good guy and that someone is out to frame you. If you can prove it, I’ll be a hero. If you fail then I’ll have to eat a little crow and then come after you. Just so you understand,” she told him.
“Fair enough. I guess that’s more than I had expected,” he told her.
“One more thing,” she said, “You really should contact Detective Logan. I’ve talked to him and I think he still has an open mind about you. I honestly believe that he has not prejudged you. Your escape won’t help matters any but I think he is still unconvinced that you are involved in either the kidnappings or the murder of Linda Taylor.”
“That would be a big risk on my part,” he said.
“Do it the same way you did me. Call him and arrange a meeting you feel comfortable with,” she said.
“Yeah but he has a gun,” Jim pointed out.
“So do I,” she said, opening her purse so he could see.
“I see you came prepared,” he said raising his eyebrows, “In failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” he said softly.
“Exactly. Wouldn’t you?” she asked.
He drove her back to her car and she once again encouraged him to at least make contact with Logan. He said he would consider it as he drove off. He spent most of the day just walking around in a mall. He ate lunch in the food court and then decided that Carrie Brown was right. He should at least call Detective Logan and explain his side of the story.
“Logan,” the rough voice said.
“It’s Ashton. I
just wanted to call and tell you what really happened the other day,” he said.
“That would be good. Why don’t you come on in and we will talk,” Logan suggested.
“Look, if you are going to treat me like I’m stupid, I’m wasting my time,” Ashton said.
“But you have been stupid. A fugitive does not exactly inspire confidence. You should never have taken off like that. You would have probably made bail,” Logan said.
“That depends on how high it was set doesn’t it?”
“You only have to put up ten per cent in actual cash. You just sold your company. You have plenty of money now,” Logan pointed out.
“Fine. I was stupid. Do you want to hear my side or not?”
“I’m listening,” Logan replied.
“No. I don’t want you to trace this call and try to bring me in. I’ll come in when I’m ready or when I figure out what this is all about. I did not kill Linda Taylor and I did not have anything to do with the kidnapping. I’m just worried about the ransom being paid now that I’m more or less out of the picture,” he told Logan.
“Don’t worry too much about it. The FBI informed us that Larkins got a recording with the demand and new instructions. It seems they can at least read the paper.”
“Then you know I had nothing to do with the kidnappings,” he said.
“It doesn’t change a thing. There is no proof you didn’t send the tape,” Logan said.
“But how could I? I didn’t even know about it until just this minute,” he argued.
“That’s your story. As far as anyone knows this is just a ruse to get us to buy into your side. Sorry, it really doesn’t change a single thing.”
“I’m wasting my time then,” he said dejectedly.
“Just come in Mr. Ashton. It would really be better for you. I don’t want to see you end up getting shot like a dog with rabies. Come on in,” he urged.
“I can’t. Something is all wrong and no one seems to be doing a thing about it. It looks like I’ll have to go it alone,” Jim said.
“You can’t do it alone. Look, you be the accused and let me be the policeman. It will work better that way for both of us. Just let me do my job. I haven’t bought into you being the guilty party yet. I haven’t let up one bit in my investigation and I won’t. Come on in so I can do my job without the distraction,” Logan said.
Avarice or Innocence (JOHN LOGAN FILES Book 1) Page 17