Undue Competition

by R A Wallace

  “Yes. We’re good to go. We just need to get that group of students to click on the link I set up,” Michael said.

  “The program I wrote will add some filters on their computers that will look for specific traffic and alert them real time when it finds any,” Sierra explained. “There shouldn’t be any more issues with those students not being able to submit.”

  “The program will also capture the physical addresses of the computers that are trying to communicate with the infected computers and send them to us immediately,” Michael added. “We’ll know the second it happens.”

  Tammy nodded. “Excellent.”

  Javier held the door open. “Let’s get started.”

  ***

  Callie smiled at Mrs. Brzeski as she passed her desk.

  “Long day?” Clara asked.

  “Maybe it just seems that way because I seem to be going in circles,” Callie said.

  “Someone called and left a message for you.” Clara held up a note.

  Callie scanned it quickly. “Interesting. Thanks.”

  “Sounds like it’s from someone you know,” Clara said.

  “It is. They want me to call them back.” She glanced toward the connecting door to her office area. “Is Greyson in?”

  “No, but he called. He said he’d be here shortly.”

  Callie nodded before passing through the connecting door. After stowing her purse, she returned the phone call to her contact in the records office downtown. She was just ending the call as Greyson walked into her office. He listened to her thanking her contact as he took the seat across from her desk.

  “What was that all about?” He heard her stomach growl as her eyes dropped to the bag in his hands. He set it on her desk and pushed it across.

  She opened the bag and pulled out a packaged salad. “Ooh, thanks.” She pulled the dressing out of the bag then flattened the bag. “Was this salad supposed to be yours?”

  “No, I ate mine.”

  She pulled the lid off and added the dressing to the salad. “My friend from the records office downtown just called.” She reached out and touched the bag to make sure it was really empty.

  “They didn’t give me any utensils, sorry.”

  “No problem.” She opened her drawer and dug some out. “Must have been interesting for you though.” Callie took a bite of salad.

  He grinned. “Luckily, I keep some in my car.”

  She twisted her monitor around so Greyson could see it. “Jesse Dixon filed a petition for determination as an interested person for Guy Gallagher’s estate.”

  Greyson squinted at the monitor. “What does that mean exactly?”

  “Guy Gallagher died intestate.” She took another bite of salad.

  “Without a will? Why would anyone who owns a business do that?” Greyson shook his head. “Maybe he didn’t have any close family?”

  “I couldn’t find any spouse or business partner,” Callie said. “But here’s the really interesting part. Jesse Dixon listed himself as the heir.”

  Greyson’s brows went up.

  “I know, right?” She speared more of her salad.

  “He wants to inherit the business?”

  “That would be my guess.”

  “Still. People can’t just go around saying they’re an heir. That would mean he was Guy Gallagher’s son, right?”

  “That’s my take on it,” Callie said.

  “Have you found anything to indicate that might be the case?”

  She shook her head. “No, not yet. But I still have someone else I want to speak with.”

  “What about the people he worked with? Anyone say anything to indicate that Guy had a closer relationship with Jesse than he did with any of his other employees?”

  Callie thought as she chewed. “Maybe. I mean, several of them mentioned that Jesse acted like the boss whenever Guy wasn’t around. And now, since Guy died, he’s been doing it all the time.”

  Greyson watched her for a few moments as she focused on her salad. “You okay?”

  She looked up quickly. “Yeah, why?”

  “You seem a little quieter than usual.”

  She dropped her eyes back down to what was left of her salad before pushing the container away.

  He leaned forward. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

  She shook her head. “Not wrong. It’s about Corky.”

  He looked surprised for a moment before leaning back in his chair. “Okay. What about him?”

  “Based on what we’ve found so far, we’re thinking he was pointing us to California, right?”

  He nodded his agreement. “You’ve been going through all of the records we found in the storage unit thanks to the heads-up from Mrs. Brzeski. Have you found something?”

  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a note then pushed it across the desk at him.

  He picked it up and smoothed it out before reading it. “It’s an address.”

  “In California,” she said.

  “You’re thinking it has significance?” He looked at the note again before setting it down on her desk.

  “I found it in his things. Seems pretty coincidental, don’t you think?”

  He nodded slowly. “Maybe. Definitely worth checking out, right?”

  “Yeah, but not right now.” She began gathering the debris from her salad.

  “Where are you headed?” Greyson stood.

  “My mom’s. She called and said we’re having a family meeting.”

  Greyson made a face. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  She blew out a breath. “I was thinking the same thing.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Gemma demanded.

  Callie shot her mother a look of reproof.

  Margaret raised her hands. “Don’t look at me. I thought you told her already.”

  “I told you that Dad didn’t want anyone worrying,” Callie reminded her.

  “I thought that meant Ariana.” Margaret waved vaguely in the direction of Gemma. “She’s an adult.”

  “An adult who has the right to know what’s going on,” Gemma said as she crossed her arms.

  “Some would argue that Ariana is too,” Margaret muttered as she looked up at the ceiling.

  “Not my call,” Callie said as she stared at her sister.

  “Keeping secrets like this isn’t healthy.” Margaret moved into the kitchen and opened the fridge.

  The corners of Callie’s mouth drew down as she continued staring at Gemma across the living room of her mother’s mobile home.

  “I should say, keeping secrets from siblings isn’t healthy. You should be telling each other everything and keeping secrets from your parents like other normal children.” Margaret pointed at them with one of the glasses she removed from the cupboard. “That includes your other sister. Ariana has the right to be in on this secret with you. Not to mention Blake.”

  “Not my call,” Callie repeated.

  “Since when do children listen to their parents?” Margaret filled the glasses with sweet tea and set them on the counter separating the kitchen from the dining room. “The four of you should be commiserating together over this. How do you think your brother feels right now?”

  “He’s probably worried sick,” Gemma said. There was no heat in her voice but her eyes still held an accusation as she stared at her sister.

  Callie threw her hands up. “Dad and Leslie didn’t want Ariana upset about this.”

  “What do they know?” Margaret asked. “In the not too distant future, your roles will reverse and you’ll be taking care of us in our doddering old age.”

  Both sisters turned to face their mother.

  “I hardly think that will happen anytime soon,” Gemma said.

  “None of you are anywhere near doddering.” Callie crossed her arms and glared at her mother.

  Margaret beamed. “That’s better. Now you’re united against me the way it should be.”

  Callie glanced over a
t her sister. Gemma still didn’t look happy with her.

  “Okay. You’re right. I should have said something to you.” Callie dropped her arms and crossed the room to pick up two glasses of tea.

  Gemma joined her and took one of the glasses from her. “Don’t do it again.” She flashed her mother a look. “No matter what our doddering parents say.”

  Callie’s smile was fleeting.

  The look in Gemma’s eyes turned from anger to concern. “How much trouble is Dad in?”

  Callie explained everything she knew about the case.

  “That’s it?” Gemma narrowed her eyes at Callie. “You’re telling me everything now?”

  Callie sighed. “Yes, what little there is.”

  Margaret leaned against the counter from the kitchen side. “You’re going to Ella next?”

  “I’m hoping she’ll remember something that could help with the case,” Callie explained for Gemma’s benefit. “Something that will explain why Guy Gallagher left Florida so abruptly all those years ago.”

  “You think that has something to do with his death now?” Gemma set her glass of tea back on the counter. “That was, what? Over three decades ago?”

  “Sometimes our past can get in the way of our future,” Margaret muttered into her glass of tea.

  Callie and Gemma turned to her again.

  “Care to explain that?” Callie asked.

  “No more secrets, remember?” Gemma added.

  Margaret waved between them. “That rule was for siblings.” Margaret made a face. “And girlfriends.”

  “What does that mean?” Callie set her glass next to Gemma’s.

  “Your real friends tend to know all of your secrets. That’s one reason why you should keep them close,” Margaret said as she added her glass to the counter. “And why I think Ella may be able to help you unravel Guy Gallagher’s past.”

  “What are we doing about Ariana?” Gemma asked.

  Callie shook her head. “She’s busy working a case with us right now. I think it’s best that she not know anything until we have answers. Right now, that isn’t the case.”

  “I don’t know that I agree with that but I’ll go along with it. For now. I have to get back to work.” Gemma pointed at Callie. “Keep me in the loop from now on.”

  Callie locked eyes with her sister and nodded. Margaret followed Callie and Gemma out of her house. A golf cart immediately stopped in front of her house and Simon quickly moved to join the three women in Margaret’s driveway.

  “Callie, Gemma. Nice to see you both.” Simon stared at Callie as he spoke.

  Gemma hid a smile. “Simon, how have you been?”

  The frown crossed his face quickly. “Oh, you know. Keeping busy.”

  “Everything looks great,” Gemma said. “You really keep the place up. I’m sure the residents are all happy about that.”

  Simon made a noise indicating he didn’t agree. “I think they’re happier with Kevin. I know corporate is.”

  Callie slid her sunglasses into place. “What does that mean? Isn’t Kevin just an old friend visiting for a few days?”

  Simon made a noise of disbelief. “That’s what I thought at first. It hasn’t worked out that way. He’s been here for nearly six weeks.” Simon waved his arm in a circle. “Since then, everyone here has fallen in love with him.”

  “Well, I doubt that,” Callie began to say.

  “Oh, it’s true. And, the thing of it is, there’s nothing I can do about it. He’s already managed to work his way into everyone’s good graces. That includes corporate. They don’t even bother to ask for me when they call anymore. No one does. It’s like I don’t even exist anymore.”

  “What are you going to do about it?” Gemma asked.

  Simon shrugged. “What can I do?”

  “Does this mean you’re no longer considering him as a partner?” Margaret asked.

  Simon shook his head and looked away. “He may as well have all of it.”

  “Simon, you can’t really mean that.” Gemma put her hand on his arm. “Have you talked to this Kevin about it? Maybe you’re misinterpreting his actions?”

  “Looks like we might have a chance to find out,” Margaret said quietly.

  Kevin pulled up in a brand-new golf cart. He got out and gestured to it. “What do you think? It just arrived.”

  Simon’s mouth dropped. “You bought a new cart without talking to me about it?”

  “Corporate sent it. They said I should have my own.” Kevin turned around to admire it again. “Isn’t it great?”

  Callie’s eyes shifted from the shiny new golf cart to Simon’s old one. She looked at him with her brows up. He shrugged helplessly again and looked away.

  Kevin turned his focus back to the three women. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure?”

  Simon remained mute as he stared down at the ground. His shoulders were slumped and he refused to make eye contact.

  Margaret filled the silence that followed with introductions to Gemma and Callie.

  Kevin took a step closer to Callie. “So you’re the one I’ve heard so much about?”

  Callie fought the urge to take a step back as Simon’s head shot up.

  “Nice to meet you.” Callie plastered a smile on her face.

  “I’d like to hear about some of your cases.” Kevin took another step closer.

  “We shouldn’t leave the office alone for this long.” Simon looked pointedly at Kevin.

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” Kevin said as he continued to smile at Callie.

  “I’m sure it won’t.” Simon pointed at his golf cart. “Take the old cart back to the office. We’ll leave the old one at the office as my spare and I’ll use the new one. When you get back to the office, forward the office phone calls to my mobile.”

  “Why?” Kevin shifted his focus from Callie to Simon.

  Simon’s face was stony. “I have taken advantage of your friendship for too long. I’m sure you’re ready to move on with your life away from here.”

  ***

  Ella Fisher lived in a beautiful stucco house on a double lot liberally decorated with large cutouts symbolizing summer. Callie recognized the place as soon as she saw it. Though she’d never known who lived there, the house itself was known in Pomelo Cove for its elaborate decorations following a rotating theme. At Christmas, it sported a nativity scene, a Santa Clause, several reindeer, and various other wooden cutouts appropriate for the holiday. At Easter, there were rabbits, baskets, and a lot of colorful eggs. Patriotic holidays included an abundance of red, white, and blue, especially in the form of flags. Each wooden cutout ranged in height with the largest often topping six feet.

  The woman that answered the door was a couple of inches shorter than Callie’s five seven. In her late fifties, her mid-length dark hair was liberally sprinkled with gray and pulled back in a tail. Her clear plastic glasses were oversized in a round frame and easily overwhelmed the fine bone structure in her face.

  “Can I help you?” Her smile was warm and curious as her hand curled around the small dog cradled in one arm.

  Callie introduced herself. “I think you knew my parents in school?”

  “Oh, my! That brings back memories.” Ella’s eyes seemed to search Callie’s face for any trace of her parents. “I would never have guessed.”

  Callie followed Ella through her house to the sunroom in the back. It overlooked a large fenced yard. Rather than decorations of painted wood, this space was a profusion of colors drawn by nature. Flowers of every kind were planted strategically around the yard. There were highly decorated hand-made bird boxes scattered amidst bird feeders and baths of various shapes and sizes. The sunroom was full of ferns and other plants in hanging baskets suspended with ornate macramé hangers. Callie assumed those were also hand-made by Ella.

  “Your house is lovely,” Callie said as she took a seat next to Ella.

  “Thank you. I’ve lived here a long time.” The small caramel-colored dog tur
ned around several times on Ella’s lap before settling.

  Once it tucked its nose under its front paws, all Callie could see were the tiny pink bows protruding from the mop of hair on the top of its little head.

  “My mom said that you were also friends with Marquita Dixon?” Callie watched a shadow of sadness cross Ella’s expressive face.

  “I still miss her,” Ella said quietly.

  “You heard about Guy Gallagher?”

  Ella’s eyes sharpened. “Is that why you’re here?”

  Callie let out a breath and clasped her hands in her lap. “Ella, someone killed Guy Gallagher. So far, the police haven’t figured out who that person is. I’m trying to help them. I need your help to do it.”

  Ella opened her mouth as though to argue then closed it. She nodded one time. “You’re right. No one deserves to die like that. Do you really think Marquita’s past had anything to do with it?”

  “Honestly? I don’t know. Based on what I’ve learned so far, it’s possible.”

  “It was all so long ago.” The small dog whimpered in its sleep. Ella’s hand automatically began stroking its back to soothe it.

  “I know. Can you tell me what you remember?” Callie asked.

  Ella smiled wryly. “I doubt you want all of that. There were classes and dances and exams. Like any teens, we were full of angst.”

  Callie smiled. “Fair enough. My mother mentioned a beach party at the end of your senior year. Do you remember that?”

  The sadness returned to Ella’s face. She pushed her glasses up on her nose. “That was the beginning and the end.”

  “Something happened to Marquita?” Callie tilted her head.

  Ella made a face as she considered her answer. She blew out a breath. “Marquita would want me to help Guy.”

  “She still loved him?” Callie asked.

  Ella nodded slowly as a faraway look crept into her eyes. “Always. They were going to be married, those two. They were so happy.” Ella made another face. “And so old fashioned. They waited to… you know. Well, it turns out they waited too long.”

  “The beach party?”

  “Yes. We didn’t know about people slipping drugs into our drinks back then. Marquita didn’t know to watch out for it. None of us did.” Ella leaned forward a little to make her point. The tiny dog’s feet scrabbled for purchase as it slipped. She caught it just in time and sat back again. The dog shot Callie a reproachful look.