Stratagems

  “Okay,” she said softly. “Something else has happened.”

  Kyle closed his eyes, his stomach starting to feel tight. “What?”

  “Robert’s disappeared. No one knows where he is, and they’re afraid he’ll end up like Charlie.”

  “Robert’s with me,” Kyle said. “Don’t tell anyone else just yet, but he’s fine.”

  “Okay,” she said softly, the relief evident in her voice. “Is this gonna be over soon?”

  “It will be over this afternoon. These guys killed Charlie and I’m going to nail them. Santiago will be out of your life forever.”

  “I’m sorry for...”

  “Forget it,” Kyle said. “And don’t let them intimidate you, okay? Trust me.”

  “I do.”

  “Bye,” Kyle said softly.

  Kyle thought he heard her say bye before she hung up, but her voice was still shaky and barely audible. He stayed out back for a few more quiet minutes and watched the clouds amble by, the sun suddenly coming to life with bright rays of light piercing through and falling to earth, to only disappear again as another cloud passed by in a slow march east. It was the first time in days Kyle was able to enjoy something so beautiful and he started to wonder if he would make it through to the end. He had been lucky up to now, but the stakes were growing, as well as the unpredictability.

  He went into the kitchen, Carmen nowhere to be seen. He walked down the hall to the bedroom, stopped at the door, and heard her voice. He leaned closer, holding his breath so he could pick off each word she spoke. The door was closed and he barely heard anything, but one word stood out before he burst into the room – hurry. She turned quickly, putting her back to him, and snapped her cell phone shut.

  “You called the FBI, didn’t you?”

  She slowly turned around and faced him. “Yes,” she said, rather proud of the fact. “This has gotten way out of hand and more people could die. It’s over, Kyle. Federal agents will be here within the hour and...and I’m taking charge.”

  “And what exactly do you intend to do?” he asked, cynically.

  “I’m taking you into custody. We’ll stake out the hotel, arrest Robert when he steps in the room, then anyone else who gets in the way. If they’re planning to kill you, we’ll be waiting, and you’ll stay the hell out of it. Afterward, you’ll be questioned until you tell everything you know, or think you know. And no wild, government conspiracy theories, either. You’ll stick to the facts and you’ll cooperate. Am I making myself clear?”

  Kyle leaned forward, moved his face nearer to hers, his eyes fixed on hers in a dead stare, then turned around and started out the door.

  “Where are you going?” she demanded.

  He looked casually back, still moving forward. “To do it my way.”

  Kyle turned back for the door when he heard the click behind him, then slowly moved in a semi-circle until he was looking at Carmen once again. She held her gun in both hands, pointed down toward the floor, her expression resolute.

  “What?” Kyle said. “Are you going to shoot me in my sister’s home?”

  Carmen remained silent.

  Kyle started moving toward her, his hands half-raised in mid-air. “Would you shoot me? I don’t think so. In fact, I don’t even think you’re all that upset, if you want the truth.”

  “Stay back,” she ordered, the gun still extended outward in her grip.

  He shook his head slowly, inching his way along. “I think something else is bothering you.”

  “What?” she asked, not moving a hair.

  “That you actually have feelings for me, and you don’t even know why. But I do.”

  “Oh, please,” she said sarcastically. “I’m doing my job.”

  “All this...tell the truth, it excites you. I took you away from some drab desk job and threw you into the real world. I saw you out there on the crest. You pulled that pistol out and fired those rounds like you’d been waiting all your life to do that. Then you slapped me and kissed me when we landed the glider, your feelings all mixed up.”

  “You’re reading too much into that,” she said, her voice wavering.

  She finished lowering the gun when Kyle reached her and moved even closer, his body up against hers, his face inching closer to her own. “You’re just too damn proud to admit it. You’re a federal agent, which is cool, but you’re also an amazing woman, you just don’t let that part show.”

  They stood staring at one another, as they each contemplated what Kyle had said. Carmen tossed the gun on the bed, wrapped her arms around him as she pushed her lips against his, their heads moving rhythmically as they kissed passionately. Kyle put his arms around her and pulled her tighter, feeling her body against his as they moved together in a small, private dance. He released his right arm from around her waist, his heart racing, then her hand grabbed his whole arm as she moved quickly, then a cold sensation against his wrist. He heard a loud click, followed by another click of steel hitting wood. He stepped back, felt the grip on his wrist squeeze tight, holding him in place. Carmen stepped back too, still breathing hard.

  “Holy shit, that really worked,” she said, proud of herself.

  Kyle looked down at the handcuff on his wrist, the other end fastened to the bed post. “What the hell…”

  She looked at him, a sly smile across her face, still catching her breath. “You are a good kisser, I must say.”

  Kyle glared at her. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m saving your life.”

  “No,” he said, pulling against the chain a few times, pain travelling up his arm. “Get these off me.”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  Kyle moved closer to her, causing her to stumble back a couple of feet. “Look, listen to me…you can’t do this. I have a plan; I have to be there.”

  Carmen shook her head slowly. “I’ve let this go too far, Kyle. It’s over.”

  “No, no, no, no,” Kyle pleaded. “Just listen to me. Okay?”

  Carmen stood her ground. “We have time, I’ll listen.”

  Kyle relaxed a bit, leaning against the foot of the bed where he was chained. “I made a call outside, when I was in the back yard. Things are in motion.”

  “What things?”

  Kyle pondered, looking up at her. “Okay, the truth.” He shook his head slightly, looking down at the carpet and gathering his thoughts, then back to her. “Someone in my group is being manipulated by one of the fake FBI guys, Santiago. He was on the mountain.”

  “Who in your group?”

  “That’s not important, but they are going to call Santiago and let him know I will be at the hotel with Robert in less than an hour.”

  “Great,” she said, “my team will be there to grab him.”

  “It’s not that simple,” he said. “I need him to admit Rudy’s involvement. I need him to admit money will be stolen when the code goes live. I need to know that my family will be safe.”

  “Kyle, this guy’s a killer. He’s not going to sit down for a chat, that’s the movies. In real life, they shoot first. You saw what they did on the mountain.”

  “I know, I know. But please…I need this…it’s important. I’ll tell you everything, after this is over, all of it. I promise. Just unlock me and call off the feds.”

  “I can’t do that,” she said lightly.

  “How about a compromise?” Kyle asked.

  “What kind of compromise?”

  “Call 'em back, have them meet us at the Pyramid instead.”

  She seemed to be considering it, standing quiet for a few agonizing moments. “If I do this, and I’m saying if…you’ll follow my lead?”

  Kyle nodded. “I will.”

  “Without question?”

  He managed a smile. “Without question.”

  “First,” she said, “you’ll tell me how it’s supposed to go down?”

  “Okay,” Kyle said, taking a deep breath. “We discovered an informant inside our company. A young girl. She didn�
��t know what she was doing, and before she knew it, she was in over her head. I’m trying to protect her. I called her a while ago and she’s agreed to let Santiago know that I will meet with her at the hotel, in our room, at three-thirty. After she calls him, she’s going to call me on my cell phone. You and your friends can be waiting inside the room.”

  “And you’re sure they’ll actually show up?”

  Kyle smiled. “Pretty sure. The CD I gave them on the crest contains programs that can derail all their efforts, or at least put a dent in them. They also want the money, which I’m assuming they assume I have.”

  “That’s a lot of assuming.”

  “Yeah,” he said, thinking, then added, “but it’s all we got.”

  Carmen thought for a long moment, Kyle standing by watching her as she rolled the idea over in her mind. “Okay, but you do what I say.”

  Kyle nodded. “Okay.”

  Carmen pulled the handcuff key from her pocket and started in on the metal bracelet around his wrist.

  Kyle chuckled a bit, relieved. “You know, I’ve fantasized about handcuffs in bed before, but not like this.”

  Carmen managed to laugh a little. “Not likely.”

  He looked at her as she grabbed his hand, working the key into the hole. “So, the kiss a while ago…just doing your job?”

  She shrugged her shoulders, gazing into his eyes. “Not just.”

  “I thought it was…” Kyle started, cut short as she interrupted.

  “Just shut up,” she said, and kissed him again.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Rene sat quietly in her chair, watching the clock sitting on top of the monitor. It was nearing three and her palms were sweating. She hated talking to Santiago, even when she knew he would have an envelope full of money. Now she would have to lie and wasn’t sure she could pull it off, at least convincingly, and what nagged at her was the thought that, if she didn’t, Kyle could get killed. She still felt responsible for Charlie’s death, and dreaded the idea of sending someone else to the grave, all in one week.

  “Rene?”

  She looked up, startled. It was Lawrence.

  “Are you okay?” he said, walking in.

  She nodded slowly, looking down at her desk. “Tired. Just real tired.”

  Lawrence set several sheets of paper to the side of her desk. “This just came for you. Is there anything I can do?”

  She looked up at him. He was cute, but too eager. He was always helpful and followed her around like a lost puppy, and at first, right after her divorce, she enjoyed it, even encouraged it. Yet, as time passed, she liked it less and less, making Lawrence step up his efforts. One day she would simply have to tell him, but not today.

  “I’m okay, thank you.”

  Lawrence lingered for a while before slowly disappearing down the hall. Rene sat with her head in her hands, glancing up at the clock again. It was five minutes until three and the task loomed over her like a dark cloud. She would page Santiago and he would then call, surprised that she phoned. She would go into her spiel about Kyle calling her and asking for more source code. Her worry wasn’t the story, but if she could sound convincing enough.

  She lifted her head and looked at the pages Lawrence delivered. The top sheet was a handwritten fax cover page which included her name and phone number, but didn't indicate who sent it or from what company. The second page caught her by surprise as she flipped the cover sheet over. It was a photograph of her son, Benjamin, swinging on the swing in her mom’s backyard, enlarged to fit portrait orientation. She had saved up for a swing set last year, giving it to him for Christmas. Kyle, Charlie and Robert had come over to put it together for him, then stayed to play with him and have dinner with her family.

  The wind seemed to have been knocked out of her when she saw the clothes he was wearing, especially his shoes. They were the new pair she had bought with the last installment from Santiago, today being the first day Benjamin wore them. She realized the picture she was staring at was taken today, within the last couple of hours.

  The phone rang.

  Her hand shook as she picked it up, but she didn’t say a word.

  “Rene?”

  She recognized the voice on the other end instantly. Santiago. Her heart sank as a feeling of dread descended upon her. The first thought to dart in her mind was that Santiago had kidnapped Benjamin to gain her cooperation. Or worse, maybe they harmed him in some way. Maybe they found out that she had told Kyle everything and were getting even, sending the picture and now phoning to make sure she knew who did it. Her throat tightened as she waited for his next words.

  “Did you get the photograph? It’s not my best work, but I’m trying.”

  “You son of a...”

  “Now, now, is that any way to talk to someone who’s provided for your son.”

  “Where is he?” she asked, her words choked.

  “He’s exactly where you see him in the photo. Swinging at grandma’s house. Nothing has happened to him, yet.”

  “You leave him alone,” she said coldly. “If you hurt him, I’ll kill you.”

  “I only want one thing, only one thing, and you’ll never see or hear from me again.”

  “You’ve said that before,” she reminded him.

  “We need to see a Mr. Kyle Randall. You know, your boss. We just want to have a talk with him, that’s all. Maybe offer him some money, you know, to not pursue certain things. Just like we did with you.”

  Rene mustered her courage. “Kyle quit yesterday.”

  “Actually, I already knew that, but I’m glad you told me. Has he been in contact with you?”

  Rene remained silent. Make it sound convincing, Kyle had said, and she knew that sometimes silence was better at convincing than trying to excuse with words.

  “Rene?” Santiago said, after waiting a few moments in silence. “You know your son is in a delicate position here. He’s an innocent child, but sometimes they wander into the middle of adult disputes, and sometimes they get hurt.”

  “Kyle called me half an hour ago,” she said softly.

  “And what did he say?”

  Rene paused a couple of seconds before answering, tamping down her fear, trying not to be too eager. “He asked me to copy some more files off our development server. More source code. Then deliver it to him at three-thirty.”

  “And where are you scheduled to meet him?” Santiago asked slowly.

  “You’re not going to hurt him, are you?”

  “Now, we’ve already been through that. I don’t want to hurt anybody, honest. This will be the last time you’ll hear from me, I promise. Now, be a good girl and tell me.”

  “Room 824 at the Marriott Pyramid.”

  “You see,” said Santiago, “that wasn’t so hard, now was it?”

  “My son is okay?”

  “He’s fine. I’ve already forgotten where the photo was taken.”

  “Do I still go to the hotel to meet with Kyle?”

  Santiago didn’t answer right away. “No, that won’t be necessary.”

  Rene almost cried out in relief. “You won’t hurt my son?”

  “No,” Santiago said, “I won’t hurt your boy.”

  When Santiago hung up the phone, tears streamed down her cheeks. Rene quickly grabbed a tissue, wiped the tears away, snatched her purse and ran out of the office to her mom’s house.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  The office was packed as Robert gazed out the window for the fifth time, looking for anything happening across the street. It was ten after three and he expected Kyle at three on the dot. There was little room for error.

  The Press had taken the bait and were standing around the office, each wishing they had an exclusive but reconciled to the fact that the evening news on each station would carry the same story. It wouldn’t be the first time. The first news services to arrive filled the eight chairs, plus four more Robert begged from another office. Channel 4 sent three people to cover the story, Channel 7 four people,
Channel 13 three and Channel 2 only one person. Counted among the print media were three reporters and two photographers, equipped with high performance cameras sporting telephoto lenses. Sixteen in all, and every one of them eager to get the show on the road, a couple starting to doubt the validity of the story that of which they had only been fed tidbits of information. Kyle was supposed to page when they neared the hotel, and Robert was becoming concerned. His instructions had been detailed and meticulous.

  Robert turned to the group who had been eyeing him for the past ten to fifteen minutes since they arrived. The equipment and people filled the room to excess, reporters relegated to standing or sitting in place as they waited, glancing at their watches restlessly as each minute passed.

  The pager on Robert’s belt buzzed and he quickly silenced it.

  “Okay,” he said aloud, “if I can have everyone’s attention.”

  The muffled rumble of idle conversation ceased in an instant, all eyes once more focused on him, cameras and microphones pointed his direction, pens and pencils and tape recorders at the ready. He started to feel a tight knot form in his stomach, knowing that this had the potential to be seen all over the country at some point, with CNN showing it every half hour.

  Robert pulled a stack of papers from underneath the table; staples in the corners separated 20 copies he had printed on the small Bubble Jet. He explained the contents as he handed one to each person in attendance. “Right before Charlie Duncan was killed on Monday evening, he dispatched an e-mail to his manager at Allied Professional Computer Consultants, Kyle Randall, which also provided clues about those responsible for his death. After that, Allied was visited by the same people who killed Charlie, posing as federal agents. The real FBI were soon called and things got more complicated. Throughout this time, Kyle and I have been working diligently on information provided by Charlie that points to a…well, a conspiracy, as cliché as that sounds.”

  Robert finished passing out the documents, per Kyle’s instructions, returned to the table and faced the mesmerized delegation of media personalities. He recognized three of the television reporters, and even one of the journalists.