"I was shot because his reactions were quicker than mine. Comparatively, my reactions are much better than his today. How's Sandy?"
"She's amazing, Charlie, and looking forward to meeting you."
"She's ok then? They didn't hurt her?"
"Not at all, not even a scratch. Walker and I are planning to drive her home when this is over today, wish you could join us."
"Well good morning, Mr. Watson. I'm Nurse Heidi." I turned to her voice as she approached us. She was one of those sweet, smiling grandmother types than had dedicated her life to help in the healing process. She picked up the pendant and continued, "You are set up to administer pain medication by pressing this blue button. Go easy, you can't overdose, but give each dose a chance before each additional press of the button. Doctor will be in shortly, any questions?"
"Should I cancel my 5K run today?"
"Not at all. If you can do it in this bed, go for it," she said without breaking stride and looked directly at me. "I see we have good spirits in this one."
"Yeah, I think I'll keep him."
"You may change your mind when he reacts to his breakfast choices. Chicken broth or no chicken broth?"
"Will a flirty smile get crackers on the side?" he asked her.
"Mr. Watson, if I did that now, where would be my really big surprise in tomorrow's choices? Patience my new friend."
"I see your point, Nurse Heidi. Happiness returns with steak and tatters'."
"Ok, I'll have the chicken broth and please bring my lovely wife the all-you-can-eat beef platter."
"Dreams are wonderful things, Mr. Watson. Take me for instance, I still dream of the honeymoon I've spent my life reading about. So it's chicken broth and a copy of Gourmet Magazine. Can I bring you something, Mrs. Watson?"
How could you not love this woman, I was thinking when Charlie made a suggestion. "Jenny, why don't you find Walker and Sandy and without sharing any details with me later, have breakfast in the cafeteria?"
"Okay, if you insist. I know they both really want to see you, after you've … sipped breakfast."
"Surrounded by real compassion." I did leave him a smile before I left to track down Sandy and Walker.
Chapter 23
Special Agent Maria Sanchez had been informed of all developments and she arrived early at Branson Systems that morning to monitor Don Richards' activity. All information indicated today was the transfer, but there was no idea on the how it would be accomplished. She was getting a second cup of coffee when Don Richards walked into the design area. She walked slowly back to her desk and set the coffee down, but didn't sit. Richards placed his suit coat over the back of his chair, looked around casually and walked to the server room door, entered the code on the key pad and went inside. Sanchez dashed across the short distance to catch the door before it closed and slipped in behind him. The room surprised her as it was noisier than she'd expected and he didn't hear her enter.
She watched him kneel at one of the panels and remove a small device. When he stood and turned to face her he froze. "What are you doing in here? This is a controlled area!"
"I'm Special Agent Maria Sanchez with the FBI, Mr. Richards. We know that you have been contacted to provide that secret information in exchange for your daughter, Sandy's freedom."
His shoulders dropped into a slump like air had leaked out and his gaze dropped to the floor in defeat. "I didn't have a choice. They have Sandy and threatened her life and worse. If you arrest me now, they'll kill her."
"Actually, Mr. Richards, we have no intention of arresting you. I'm here to help you, help us. We need you to pass along that device so we can arrest them with possession of it."
"I didn't have a choice," he repeated shaking his head shamefully.
"We know that, Mr. Richards. As far as the theft of secret information, think of it as you are working with us now. An agent, if you will, helping the FBI and Branson Systems to trap the real thief. Can you do that?"
"With my daughter's life at stake here, I'd give my own life."
She paused a moment trying to figure the best way to proceed for everyone's success. "How is the transfer to take place?"
"There is a phone they gave me in my car. I'm to take this device with me at lunch and call them from my car for directions. Once they have verified the data on this device, they will let Sandy go. That’s why I couldn't just load the device with garbage; they will check it before releasing her."
"Mr. Richards, we've done an extensive search into you beyond your already top secret clearance. So we know none of this is your doing. You are what you appear to be, a good Citizen of the United States. Having said that, I have a question for you and need your honest answer. If the FBI came to you asking for your help to trap these people, knowing the kind of people they are, capable of kidnapping, of inflicting the fear and panic they have already done with you, and Sandy was not involved, would you help us?"
"We are beyond formality, Maria is it? I am stealing and betraying this company by giving this to them. I'd sacrifice prison, disgrace, anything to save my daughter's life. No, I'd not do this just to help you catch them if Sandy was not in their hands."
"Walter Price put me here, Don. He doesn't know your involvement, but he is desperately trying to catch these guys. With his blessing could you help us?"
"I have the utmost respect for Walter Price, but he would never bless letting three years of research leave this building to catch potential thieves. He allowed you, Maria, in the door to keep me from taking it through the door."
She paced the room thinking and moved back to face him. "Could you put something we could identify on that device, photos of the company picnic, purchase orders for office supplies anything that would not betray your company?"
"Of course, but that would kill my daughter, they aren't stupid!"
"Don, all I need is two things. Their request for the guidance system specifications from you, we have that and the device they gave you passing back to them with something on it we can tie back to that request."
"I need my daughter!"
"Sandy's not involved, could you do that?"
"I wish that were the case, hypothetical wishing is pointless!"
"Humor me, damn it. Could you help if it was crap on that device and Sandy was safe?"
"Yeah, I'd shoot the bastards myself if I could! But we're in reality, Maria. So all of this bullshit wishing doesn’t change a thing!"
"We have Sandy, Don. They think she is dead."
"You are without a doubt the cruelest person I've ever met, how could you tell me that."
"It's true, Don. She was being transported from Arizona. We took her away from them on the road and forced the driver to call in that she was dead. But she's not. She's safe with us, Don."
"Why should I believe you? It's a trick."
Maria pulled out her cell phone. "This should help convince you we have already been helping you."
"Cell phones don't work in this department."
"Special Agent Baker recorded this last night and we transferred it to my phone, Don." She hit the memo button.
"I love you, Daddy and am very safe tonight, rescued by new friends. They didn't hurt me, Daddy, the kidnappers I mean, they are in jail and I'm completely OK with a bear hug and kiss for you and mom just moments away."
"She is safe." Was all he could say.
"Yes, Don, she is safe and as she told you herself, unharmed. Will you put some crap on that device and help us put away the man that kidnapped her?"
"I can put some of our commercially available software on it that we can verify by serial number that it is ours. Thank for saving my daughter."
"We know the top man won't be at the drop, but we won't lose sight of the device. It will comfort you to also know we already have his identify, we just need that device in his possession."
"When can I see Sandy? Talk to her?"
"The moment he's cuffed, Don. We'll bring her to your home."
"If you lose
him and he checks that device. He'll kill my whole family."
"We won't lose him, Don. We know where he is and will be following him as well as whomever he sends to pick up the device. When they come together, it's over."
"I hope you're right." He plugged the device back into the larger mainframe server, then walked over to a fold down keyboard and started typing commands. "This will remove the device's contents with a continuous cycling of downloading and uploading done by the cleaner software. Then I'll download the design software, but I guess that's of little interest to you."
"Don, I'm so pleased with Sandy safe and you finding a way to not compromise your integrity, that you're willing to help us."
"It's done, and I'll deliver it, under one more condition, Maria. I want my wife, Linda taken from our home to where ever you have Sandy. She doesn't know Sandy was being held, so be gentle with her. They may be following me so I'll come back to the office and wait here for you. Deal?"
"Deal. We have agents outside of your home now. I'll instruct them to do as you wish when you leave the building for lunch, Don."
"Don't let me down, Maria."
"If their surveillance is gone, we'll move her right away, and I'll let you know it's done."
"We'd better get out there before we blow our cover here," he said pulling the device out of the mainframe server and slipped it into his pocket. They left the server room and returned to their separate work stations. Maria busied herself for an hour then left her desk to contact Special Agent Baker with the updated plan. She passed through security, exited the building and went to her car to call.
"Baker?"
"Sanchez here. Richards is onboard with the transfer at lunch today. He was instructed to call them from a phone they provided him for the drop location. He knows that Sandy is safe and wants us to pick up his wife, Linda as soon as it's clear there or at noon when he leaves for the drop and then take her to Sandy."
"If they maintain surveillance there through the drop, we'd need to take them first. Either way, I'll set that up."
"Apparently, Richards did not tell his wife about Sandy's abduction or that he was being pressured here."
"He can't call to tell her, we couldn't get close enough to sweep his home. We'll get it done. I'd prefer a kicking and screaming wife was not involved, but we'll have the agents call Chief Walker to put Sandy on the phone."
"One more thing; and this could be critical. You'll need to have the whole bureau following these guys because what's on that device is bogus software. Traceable to the source, but won't make McBride happy. It's got to be first touch then cuffs," Sanchez told him.
"There is no need to validate immediately as he doesn't have Sandy to release and believes Richards wouldn't risk her life with less than what he demanded. We'll be there the moment McBride's henchmen hand him that device."
"I'd better get back; it's already 10:30. I can tell him you've got Linda covered?"
"Actually, that makes sense, plan for the worst. Wait in the car, I'll get right back to you with a status there." He disconnected the call and contacted his agents at the Richards' home. They informed him that McBride's team had just left. He told them what to do with Linda Richards and gave them Chief Walker's number to ease the transition. Then he called Sanchez back.
"All's clear there, McBride's guys just took off. If it was to grab food or pee they will come back to an empty house."
"Thanks, that will be good news for him. He's stable but still worried."
"Sanchez, after the handoff, stay with him at Branson until I give you the call we're done."
"Yes Sir, I'll be here." She put her phone away and went back inside Branson Systems.
Sanchez joined Richards in the elevator at 11:50, to beat the crowd at noon. "I'll stay in the lobby, like I'm waiting for friends to come get me for lunch. You get back here as soon as you're able to. Whatever you do, keep them convinced that you are in fear for your daughter's life."
"Thanks to you, that will be harder than it would have been."
The doors opened on the ground floor and without a word Sanchez went to a lobby sofa and sat down. Richards greeted the guard and walked to his car. He sat in the driver's seat and pulled the cell phone from the glove department. Following a deep breath he hit the speed dial button.
"Mr. Richards, do you have our package?" It was a woman's voice which caught him off guard.
"Yes. I want to talk with Sandy, hear her voice."
"In time, Mr. Richards."
"Where am I going, let's get this over with. I need her back?"
"Driving all over town, what a hassle for all of us. We've made it real simple for you, Mr. Richards. Our friend that joined you for a chat at the golf course, you remember him don't you?"
"Of course!"
"Well, he left you something under your front seat. Pull it out, Mr. Richards." He reached under the seat and found a metal box about the size of a box of Cracker Jacks. "Have you found our little gift?"
"Yes, it's here."
"That's good, Mr. Richards. Now set it on the passenger's seat beside you. Then remove the cover on the device with our data and plug it into that box beside you."
"What is it, a data checker?"
"No, Mr. Richards. It's simply a transmitter that will take the data you downloaded and send it to us. Easy and thoughtful of us don't you think? No running all over town and we can release dear Sandy that much sooner as well. Just plug it in please, Mr. Richards."
Don knew this was a turning point. There would be no physical device in their hands to entrap them. They would dump the design software and be instantly alerted something was wrong. His wife and daughter were safe, but that was temporary. Would his family be looking over their shoulders if he just walked away from his car, leaving them free to retaliate?
Chapter 24
Henry McBride sat behind the steering wheel of his white Lexus SUV with Brittney Scott in the passenger seat beside him. They were parked in a lot three blocks from Branson Systems and the receiver was in the backseat ready to accept the data from the transmitter setting beside Don Richards in his car. Henry watched the smile grow on her face, not sensing it was a smile from being moments away from the prize, but a sense of power she felt, a cruel and wicked power as if the real pleasure for her was in tormenting Mr. Richards. Selling information had always been for McBride about the easy money, lives were surely interrupted, but never lost, never left resting on the bottom of a reservoir, before.
Brittney brought the phone up from her lap and spoke, "Just plug the device into the transmitter, Mr. Richards, and we can give Sandy her freedom. You do want that, don't you, Mr. Richards? Or were you hoping to assist in launching Sandy's career in video porn?"
Anger flashed in Don Richards' mind. He knew his daughter was safely beyond their control, but this arrogant and cocky bitch hit a nerve deep inside him, like an evil queen watching in delight as the blade dropped separating heads from bodies, an ultimate display of power. He would not give her that moment, although he knew being frightened, scared for his daughter, was the role he should play here, he would wipe that smug smile off her face.
"Can the crap, bitch! You're not here to make movies and I've committed a felony with what I hold in my hand for my daughter's life. Just talking to Sandy is no longer enough. I need to see she's alive and well, only then will I hand this device to one of your goons!"
Brittney pressed the mute button on her phone. "Shit, this is not going as planned!"
"You could have backed off with the bullshit, Brit. Bidding on that software has already hit five mil." He looked around the lot they were parked in and noticed the city park a block away. "A wig and different clothes, at a distance across that park, you could be Sandy."
"I don't like it, something's not right, Henry. He should buckle with the threat to his daughter."
"I think you can take some credit there, cocky bitch fits! Have him wait in his car next to the swings in that park, two hours from now. I'm no
t ready to let five mil slip through my fingers."
"Our fingers. Don't you mean slip through our fingers, Henry?"
"Yeah, our fingers. If you'll start becoming more of the solution than the problem."
"I didn't kill her! You can't put Sandy's death on me," Brittney shouted.
"Her captors were highly recommended, you said, by whom, Bozo the clown? I never should have trusted you with getting our Arizona guys lined up."
She looked at him wanting to lash out, but took a deep breath and pressed the mute button. "There's a park at Grove and Wilson Streets. Two o'clock park by the swings. Make no mistake, Mr. Richards; come alone, there will be a gun in your daughter's side." She pressed end call and Henry started his SUV and drove out of the lot.
Don Richards put the phone back in the glove compartment of his car, locked the doors and walked back to the lobby of Branson Systems. Special Agent Maria Sanchez caught his quick silent glance and paused a moment before getting up to follow him down the hall on the first floor, past the elevators. She saw a door open at the end of the hall and looked inside. He waved her in and she entered closing the door behind her. The room was filled with office supplies, and three janitorial carts were lining one wall.
"What happened?"
"They'd left a transmitter in my car. The file would have had no physical trace. I told them; actually it was a woman on the phone. She pissed me off, talking about Sandy in a porn video, knowing that vision would find raw nerves, a father's worst nightmare. I told her that I wanted to see Sandy before I handed the device off to them."
"Brittney Scott, we had agents observing them in his SUV, but couldn't hear. She agreed to that?"
"I'm to be in the city park on Grove and Wilson at two o'clock, parked by the swings."
"That was quick thinking, Mr. Richards. I'll call it in."
"If it's all the same to you, call me Don. Is my wife, Linda with Sandy?"
"She's en route to the hospital where Sandy was taken. Our agents are discussing a safe place for them to wait this out. I only wish that we had more time to put an agent in your place for the handoff."
Watson Manor My Journey Home (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 4) Page 13