Carolyn Evans had just walked in the door, wearing a solemn black dress and heels. She was accompanied by a handsome dark-skinned man with a shaved head. He was dressed in all black, just like the two equally strong-looking men that tailed them in. She had clearly brought her new security team.
I must have gasped involuntarily, because Sloan swung her legs off the chair and hopped onto the bed next to me, abandoning her novel.
“Here we go,” she said. “Well, almost. We have to let her settle in a bit first. Looks like she’s nice and paranoid. That’s a good start.”
To my chagrin, I was still in the dark about some of the plan. Sloan seemed to enjoy unveiling information about her scheme a little bit at a time. I tried to pry out a little more. “So how is Richard getting her away from the party, exactly?”
Sloan smiled mischievously. “There’s going to be another special delivery, but this time for Richard, and much scarier. She’ll talk once she sees this one.”
Sloan stretched out on her stomach beside me. I stayed sitting cross-legged, eyes focused on the screen. We both watched in silence for a while. It was easy to follow Carolyn visually as she small-talked her way through the crowd. We wouldn’t need to use the sound until things started to happen.
By the time Carolyn made it to the bar, we had noticed the host make multiple trips to the bartender. Richard caught up with her there and ordered another drink.
“He better not get too drunk to pull this off.” There was a little worry in Sloan’s voice for the first time.
While the pair was engrossed in what looked like a friendly conversation, someone carried in an oversized gift-wrapped item and placed it on a table near Richard.
Sloan sat up suddenly. “It’s here. Turn on the sound.”
Party guests paused to check out the basket-shaped object with a dramatically large red bow. We watched as Richard approached the basket warily. Carolyn wandered away in the meantime.
“Don’t go too far,” Sloan teased to the screen.
Someone in the crowd called out for Richard to see who sent the gift. He opened the card and reluctantly read aloud. “To Richard. Best wishes on your big deal coming up. I hope to share with you in your company’s prosperous future. No signature.”
The watching crowd tittered and urged him to open the package. Richard carefully untied the bow and removed the layers of opaque cellophane. Before we could get a good view, a woman’s shriek rang out from below us. And then another.
The crowd backed away from the sight and I got my first look. There was a child’s doll dangling from the handle of the basket. Twine was roped around the doll’s neck and tied at the side, causing the doll to list eerily to the side as it swayed. The open, staring eyes had small X marks across them in black marker. Tiny paper headstones marked RIP were planted in the basket’s red paper lining. The party guests gaped at the disturbing diorama.
Richard recovered from the sight quickly and retrieved the manila envelope peeking from underneath the basket.
“Don’t worry, everyone,” he called out. “I’m sure there’s an explanation for this.” He moved away from the crowd before opening the envelope. His expression was blank as he examined the contents and reclosed the packet. Then a smile split his face.
“Just my son’s strange sense of humor.” There were gasps in the crowd. “I told him he has to stop playing around and get a real job working for me. I guess he didn’t appreciate that very much. He always has loved Halloween. Can you still ground a twenty-six year old?”
Richard waited for a few chuckles and groans before finishing. “Someone come get rid of this nonsense. Enjoy the party everybody.”
The crowd began chattering loudly. Richard made his way through the crowd, ignoring the guests patting and clapping his shoulders in solidarity as he passed. He headed straight for Carolyn Evans.
Sloan startled me when she spoke again. “He’s a much better actor than I would’ve guessed. Show time.”
It was only a minute before they passed our hiding spot and appeared on the video feed from Richard’s study. He slammed the door shut.
“Richard, tell me what is this all about,” Carolyn demanded.
“No, I think you need to tell me what this is about,” he replied. “What have you gotten me into?”
She spat her words right back. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about this.” Richard dumped the contents of the manila envelope on the desk. A small baggy of white powder landed on top of a stack of photographs.
Carolyn moved closer to get a look. “What is this?” She slid the bag aside and picked up the top photograph. I recognized it as one of Sloan’s from the hotel bar. “This is Carter. What is the meaning of this?”
“It came with the friendly gift you saw delivered. Check the back.”
She flipped it over and read the message scrawled in permanent marker. At least he enjoyed his last night. Thought you might want his last photo.
Carolyn gasped in horror and threw the picture on the desk. She glared at Richard, who stood fuming, saying nothing. Then her eyes caught on the rest of the stack still sitting untouched.
She moved closer and picked the first one up, hesitant. I could make out Carolyn, sitting alone at a table, looking off to the side. It was taken from a distance. She turned the picture over, her hands now visibly shaking. There was another message: You didn’t say cheese.
Carolyn gaped at Richard. Stone-faced, he picked up the third and final photo and thrust it at her. This one was a shot of an unsuspecting Richard, getting into his car. She studied it and turned it over. I could see her chest heaving as her breathing accelerated. Richard moved to a mini-bar in the corner and began refilling his drink with a dark liquor on ice.
Carolyn read the final message out loud. “‘I want in. Take on a new business partner—and you and your secrets are safe. See you soon.’ What the hell does this mean?”
Richard gulped from his glass before responding bitterly. “You know what it means. We’re being blackmailed.”
“By the man that you sent me to? Who did you put us in bed with, Richard?”
“It was sent by the man I told you to have a simple conversation about narcotics with,” he replied. “You were supposed to get some drugs from him, to make our lives easier. Obviously something more happened, because Carter is dead.” Richard stabbed at the photo in her hands in fury. “And now this. Tell me what happened.”
“That’s all. That’s all that happened.” Carolyn was indignant.
“That doesn’t make any sense.” He drank more of his drink and glared at Carolyn. She glared back.
“Fine,” he said finally. “Then we need to call the police.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I’m not going to be terrorized by some thug that thinks he can hold our companies hostage.” His voice was angry. “We tell the police what happened, and then there’s nothing to blackmail us with.”
“No,” Carolyn repeated, shaking her head. “We can’t.”
“You can handle the slap on the wrist for the drugs. Your lawyers will get you out of that, you know that. But we had nothing to do with your husband. Buying the drugs doesn’t make you at fault, even if we did have dishonorable intentions.”
“There has to be another way—” Carolyn was beginning to sound a little desperate.
Richard walked to the desk. “You saw that thing they sent. I can’t take any chances. I’m calling.” He picked up the receiver and began to dial.
Carolyn rushed forward and slammed down the hook switch, disconnecting the call. She looked up at him gravely, no longer seeming scared. “You don’t understand. We. Can’t. Go. To the police.”
Richard tensed and let his hand drop to his side. The dial tone was still audible while he stared, unmoving. His face was hardened with fury when he finally spoke. “Tell me why not right now, or I’m calling.”
Carolyn stared back, appraising. After a moment she let out a breat
h and her shoulders dropped in resignation. But before she could speak, her eyes shot to the corners of the room, scanning. She spotted the small fake camera planted in the corner opposite our real one.
She turned to Richard, aghast. “You have security cameras in your house?”
“A few.”
Carolyn gathered her thoughts for a moment before calling out for her security detail waiting in the hallway. The lead guy rushed through the door.
“Take his phone,” she ordered. “And check him for a wire.”
“Carolyn, you’re being paranoid.”
“Do you want me to talk to you or not? We’re moving somewhere more private.”
Richard didn’t argue with the lethal-looking man that approached. He handed over his phone and allowed himself to be patted down. Carolyn disappeared from the study for a moment.
Richard had just been cleared when she reappeared in the doorway and glared at him. “Follow me.”
Twenty-Eight
Sloan looked ready to burst with excitement. “It’s working. I wonder which room is going to make her feel secure enough to spill her guts?”
I finally understood the reason for the fake camera. Let her think she’s outsmarted the system. I had a lot to learn.
We watched the camera feed, enthralled. Carolyn led him through the master bedroom and into the attached walk-in closet. The room lined with dark custom cabinets was twice the size of my bedroom.
Richard scoffed when they entered the room. “My closet?”
“I can’t imagine you worried about the maid stealing your sweaty suits, so yes. I’ll talk in here. After you take off your clothes.” Before he could object, she held up her hand obstinately. “I’m not taking any chances. You can hand over your suit, or I’m leaving. Now.”
Richard’s face turned red with outrage, but he began yanking off his clothing. He threw the items in a pile on the floor. When he was down to white boxer shorts and black dress socks, Carolyn raised her hand again.
“That’s enough,” she said, grimacing. “I don’t need to see any more.”
“Fine. Now what the hell have you gotten me into?”
Carolyn waited until the bodyguard gathered the discarded clothing and exited the room, closing the door behind him.
“I don’t know,” she began. She wandered a moment distractedly, as though gathering her thoughts. “It never occurred to me that someone like that would have the wherewithal to plan an extortion like this.” Her look of distress seemed genuine when she looked up at Richard. “I need your help.”
Richard’s face softened just a little. “Tell me what happened.”
“I went to see your guy to get a little something to plant on Carter, just as we planned.”
“As you planned,” Richard interrupted. “I merely suggested. I was just brainstorming.”
“Whatever. I went to him, and somehow I ended up telling him what I needed it for.” Carolyn shook her head, as though frustrated by the memory. “I never bought any drugs. He asked a lot of questions. Then he sort of—suggested—that he could make sure that my husband used, and partied a little too hard. I . . . agreed. And paid him.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“I don’t know,” she replied quickly. “I mean, I assumed it meant just that . . . that he would ensure that Carter had too much. Maybe he would have to be taken to the hospital. He’d never be able to get his job back then.”
She paused and looked up at Richard gravely. “But I guess a part of me knew he could mean something more serious. So I wasn’t all that surprised when I learned that Carter was dead. But I never asked what he meant—because I didn’t want to know.”
My mouth dropped open. I couldn’t believe it had worked. She may not have overtly requested murder, but she had clearly allowed it to be implied.
I looked to Sloan. Her eyes twinkled with delight. “Gotcha.”
Back on the screen, Richard continued playing his part well. He stared at the woman in shock. “Whether you knew what he was going to do or not—you basically paid him to get rid of your husband. Is that what you’re telling me?”
“It could be interpreted that way.” Her voice was careful. “But I never actually said it, and there’s no proof. It’s the word of this shady character against mine.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Richard retorted. “If even a hint of this gets out, your business is finished. And now you’ve brought me into this.”
“You sent me to that criminal in the first place, Richard. So really, this is all your fault.” Carolyn visibly stiffened and regarded Richard carefully. “Actually, how do I know you aren’t behind this whole thing?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Richard’s eyes flamed with fury.
“You’re the reason I ever got involved with those people in the first place. I know about your gambling debts. He told me all about your issues.” She stalked closer, staring him down. “Who’s to say you didn’t set me up? Give him a nice, easy way to make some money on blackmail. While he, what? Reduces your debt, perhaps?”
“That’s preposterous.” Richard glowered down at her, their faces now inches apart. “Even if I wanted to do something like that—don’t you think I know it would blow up in my face? I’d be drug into this just as much as you.”
Carolyn held his glare, considering. Finally her shoulders relaxed in a sigh. “Fine.” She backed away, easing the visible tension between them. “Well, then what are we going to do about this? We can’t possibly make that thug a partner.”
Richard shook his head emphatically. “No. Unacceptable.” He stared off in the distance, pondering, before returning his attention to his co-conspirator. “Maybe we can buy him off another way. Now that there’s nothing in the way, if we can finally get this deal through then you and I can put together a nice payoff without having to get him anywhere near our business.”
Carolyn grimaced. “It makes me sick that we’d give into this scum. And rats like that have a way of sticking around. They show back up wanting more.”
“We’ll just have to deal with that if it comes to it. I don’t see any other way.”
Carolyn looked like she wanted to argue, but held back. She let out another sigh. “I think you’re right. Okay.”
Richard looked relieved, sensing his job was done. “We’ll have to look at the numbers on Monday and figure something out. In the meantime, I have a houseful of people downstairs.”
Carolyn looked just as relieved. “Right. I’ll have them bring back your clothes.”
“Don’t bother. I’ve got more.”
Carolyn nodded her head and left the room without another word. We watched her head back down to the party, her security team at her heels. Richard yanked down a new suit and redressed quickly.
He did not return to the party immediately. Once fully clothed, Richard headed straight back to his study and fixed himself a tall drink. He looked mentally and emotionally exhausted. We took the opportunity to break from our vigilance while he was decompressing.
“That was amazing,” I said, beaming.
Sloan grinned at me. “Fun, wasn’t it?”
“Absolutely.”
“How about some champagne, then? I swiped an open bottle before the party.” Sloan moved to the dresser, where two glasses and a bottle on ice were waiting.
I couldn’t believe I was a part of this. Just yesterday I was having a normal day at the office. And today I was helping coax a conspiracy confession from a prominent businesswoman. Wait—is my role in this going to get out?
Sloan saw the concern creeping onto my face when she handed me a glass. “What is it?”
“Well, it’s just . . . ” I hesitated, unsure. “Is my work going to find out about me doing this? I’m not sure they would approve of a side job tricking criminals.”
“I don’t see why they have to. I’ll turn the recordings into the police—that should be all they need. I doubt I’ll even have to bring
your name into it. And Carolyn never even knew you were here.”
“That’s true.” I nodded, feeling better. “And so there’s no reason it should affect my research project, whether she’s around or not.”
“I wouldn’t imagine. So let’s celebrate a job well done, secret side job or not.”
We clinked glasses and took a sip. I glanced at the video feed of Richard in his office. He was starting on what must’ve been a newly freshened drink, pacing around in silence.
Suddenly I heard a low grumbling from the laptop speaker. “Wait, turn it up.”
Sloan increased the volume. There was nothing again. Then the sound of Richard slamming his emptied glass on the desk.
When he finally spoke again, his speech was beginning to slur. “Do you hear me? I’m done. You people better have gotten everything you need, because I’m not doing another damn thing.”
I turned to Sloan. “We need to stop him. What if someone hears him?”
“We can’t go out there and take a chance on being seen.”
Richard’s voice boomed from the laptop. “And all these cameras better be out of my house as soon as the party’s over, or I’m smashing them all myself. I don’t appreciate being pushed around and setting up my friends. To hell with your plan.”
Suddenly another voice appeared. “What are you talking about, Richard?”
In the corner of the video feed we finally noticed Carolyn, standing in the study doorway. We didn’t kept an eye out for her. I looked to Sloan in panic. She was frozen, spellbound by the scene.
Richard slowly turned toward the door. He seemed to take a moment to process her presence before he stiffened. “What? Nothing,” he muttered.
Carolyn stalked closer. “Setting up your friends? What plan?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I need to get back to the party.” He attempted to brush past her, but she stopped him with a hand on his chest.
“I heard you, Richard.” Carolyn’s voice became soothing, as if talking to a child. “But there’s no one here. Who were you talking to?”
Impulse Spy (Sonic Sleuths Series) Page 16