Zach followed Jade as she raced to the elevator. “No biggie. Have the professor call me if he needs anything.”
“I will. Thanks for setting it up so fast.” Jade tapped the side of her leg, willing the elevator to speed up.
“When do you plan to see the professor?”
“I’ll drop it off tomorrow morning on my way in.”
“What’s his favorite?”
“Favorite? Oh, my dad… chocolate Grand Marnier coffeecake.” Jade barely got the words out before the elevator arrived.
As soon as the doors opened to the parking garage, Jade raced to her car, shoved the laptop and purse onto the seat next to her, fumbled getting the key into the ignition, threw the car into reverse, and took off. Turning onto Third Avenue brought her to a dead halt. Dammit. Traffic was a nightmare this time of evening.
Jade glanced at the clock. It would be a miracle if she made it on time. There was no way she could miss getting Dad’s favorite cake. She already felt guilty enough that she’d stayed in California on her breaks just so she didn’t have to deal with Gran. Wrecking Dad’s birthday too? Unacceptable.
HE MUTTERED A CURSE. The computer was gone. Last night, the laptop had been sitting in the computer room on the workbench. The crypto-lock on the door had been the only thing standing between him and what he needed. He’d tried every four-digit combination he could think of to no avail and had studied the keypad looking for signs of wear on the heavily used buttons. None had stood out. And now it was too late. I should have just broken the window.
The room wasn’t tied to an alarm system. It was unlikely anyone would have heard him break the window that late at night. Still, it would have raised suspicions this morning, and that he didn’t need right now.
He pulled his cell phone out of its holster. By the sixth ring he was about to hang up.
“Yeah?”
“I think Jade’s got the laptop.”
“What? Where is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Find out and call me back.” The line went dead.
He hustled back to his desk. Breathing hard, he looked around, grabbed a contract, and headed straight to Jade’s office. He needed an excuse to be in there if anyone caught him. After six p.m., the forty-second floor was quiet. To his good fortune, her office door was open.
Jade shouldn’t be so careless. Gloria always locked up when she left for the day.
He latched the door behind him. Her desk was void of any papers, and most of the drawers were locked. Jade wasn’t careless after all.
The unlocked middle drawer held pens, paper clips, and office supplies. He searched for a key… nothing. He pulled out a letter opener, tried to jimmy the locks on the drawers, but the blade of the opener was too thick to be effective. Out of desperation, he jiggled her mouse. The screen came alive and asked for a password. The desk calendar showed nothing.
Next, he stopped at Roz’s desk. There was no sign of a calendar, and the computer had been shut down. A noise came from around the corner. His breath hitched. Grabbing a sticky pad and a pen, he pretended he was writing a note.
He listened over his racing heart.
Finally, the footsteps sounded like they were heading to the break room. He set down the notepad. Time to get out of there.
Wait, what was that?
At this angle, he could faintly see that Roz had scribbled something on the notepad. He peeled off three pink pages, stuck them in his file, then headed back to his office. He turned on the desk lamp, tilted the paper in every direction, and still couldn’t read it. Resigned, he leaned back in his chair.
What am I going to do now? How am I going to get that laptop?
He remembered something his niece had shown him a few years back. He reached into his drawer for a pencil and lightly whisked the side of the pencil lead back and forth over the paper, taking care to ensure he didn’t press too hard. He wanted to reveal the writing beneath, not obscure it. Gradually, the letters came alive.
Who’s Macrina? He didn’t recall any employees with that name.
He typed “Macrina” into their enterprise system to see if it matched any customers or vendors. The search result came back empty. Then he typed the name and phone number into the Internet search engine. The browser spit out the name of a bakery near Elliot Bay.
He grabbed his cell phone and punched in the number he’d called earlier. “The laptop’s not in her office, I think she took it with her. She’s going to Macrina Bakery on First Avenue. She mentioned it’s her dad’s birthday. It closes at six-thirty.”
“She’s probably gone by now.”
“We have to get the laptop. Maybe she’ll go to her parents, or we can try to get it from her house.”
“I’ll figure something out. I’m five minutes away from the bakery. This is only a temporary measure. You need to take care of this situation permanently.” The phone went dead.
He hadn’t counted on IT having an extra laptop handy. Once they retrieved the one Jade had, he could stall buying more. He hadn’t anticipated her reacting so quickly. He’d have to cut back on his take of the profit, so that the company started showing steadier progress. Then maybe Jade would back off. If not, he’d have to send her a clear warning.
In the meantime, the professor was now a threat to his operation. He’d have to take care of him the same way he’d taken care of Arnie.
“Arnie, I’m telling you, there’s nothing to be worried about.” He cast the fishing line back into the water.
“You said we’d stop once we hit a million. That was four months ago.”
“I know, but I need more. This boat alone cost me a hundred grand.”
Arnie took a swig of the beer he held. “I thought we were supposed to put the money away and not spend it. You said it would raise suspicion.”
“I do have money put away, and the boat is in a dummy corporation’s name. I’m covering my tracks. I’m just telling you, I need more.”
“Well, you can’t have more,” Arnie said.
“I won’t risk losing everything.”
“If we go to jail, you’ll lose it all.”
His breath hitched. Was that a threat? “It sounds like you’re having a major case of cold feet.”
“We’re taking too much. The company is struggling, and it’s only a matter of time before the others find out why.”
He waved his hand in dismissal. “No one is going to find out. We’ve been doing this for years. No one even suspects.”
“I want out. I don’t want to do this anymore.”
His mouth went dry. Want out… where the hell had that come from? “We can’t let you out. You’re already involved.”
“I’m not asking. I’ve thought about this. I’m out, or I’m going to the police.”
The muscles in his chest tightened and his heart sped up to the point he thought he’d have a heart attack. It took all of his self-control not to pounce on Arnie.
He sucked in air, once, twice, three times. “Okay, we’ll come up with something. We’ll figure something out.”
“Thanks.” Arnie’s alarmed expression turned to relief. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul.”
“Want another one?”
Arnie glanced at his empty bottle. “Sure.”
He walked down to the galley and wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his T-shirt. His heart continued to thunder in his chest. What was he going to do? Even though he’d just taken it back, Arnie had threatened to go to the police.
Arnie wouldn’t do it really, would he? If he did, he’d go to jail, too. Wouldn’t he?
No, not if Arnie made a deal with the police.
He couldn’t allow that.
Without another thought, he reached for a bottle of beer and a crescent wrench.
IT IRKED HER TO NO END that she had to take care of this laptop. If he’d taken it last night, she wouldn’t be driving through this killer traffic right now. But no, he wouldn’t break the stupid glass.
What should have been a five-minute ride took over ten minutes. She wasn’t exactly sure what she was going to do.
It’s not like I had this planned.
She figured she’d watch for Jade, see if an opportunity presented itself. She hoped to catch her at the bakery. That would give her the best chance to get the laptop while Jade was busy.
She spotted Macrina Bakery and scanned the road for a black BMW. One was parked in front of a pizza joint.
Jade must have decided to pick up something to eat. Hopefully, she isn’t getting takeout.
She sped to the BMW. The navy blue of its paint became apparent the closer she got. It wasn’t Jade’s car.
I missed her.
She tugged her cell phone out of her purse to call for Jade’s address and hoped that’s where Jade was heading. Just as the phone rang, she hung up.
A black BMW was driving right toward her.
JADE PUNCHED THE GAS and turned right on to First Street, daring to go as fast as she could to find an open parking spot. She glanced at the clock. Only two minutes until the bakery closed. She cursed under her breath when an older couple walked across the street in front of her.
Could they go any slower?
Knowing she wasn’t going to make it, Jade grabbed her cell phone and the hot pink sticky note. Dialing the number, she hit the gas when the couple cleared the car and drove to the far end of the parking lot like a madwoman.
“Hello, hi, I’m here to pick up a cake. I’m pulling in right now. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” Jade pulled into the first spot she could find, grabbed her purse, and bolted out of the car. “It’s under the name Jade Buchanan. Thanks, I’ll be right there.”
SHE WATCHED JADE park and rush out of her car while talking on a cell phone. Cautiously, she drove past the black BMW. The door appeared to be unlocked.
Could I be that lucky? No, it was never that easy. She’d bet the laptop was in the trunk.
She parked in a spot four cars away, walked up to the BMW, and glanced around. No one seemed to be paying any attention. She peered in the window as she slipped past the right side of the car. Her heart leapt at the sight of the laptop in the front seat.
A man walked out of the bistro across the street. He lit up a cigarette then looked directly at her… or was he looking at the car?
Crap.
Jade’s door was unlocked. All she had to do was open it and take the laptop.
That man was still looking at her.
She smiled, walked around to the driver’s side door, reached into her purse as if to pull out keys, opened the door, and got in.
The man just stood there. He didn’t yell that someone was trying to steal the car and he didn’t run back into the restaurant to call the police.
Her eyes darted toward First Avenue, afraid Jade was going to walk around the corner any minute.
The bistro door opened and a woman said something to the man smoking the cigarette. He flicked his butt and disappeared through the door.
It was now or never. She grabbed the laptop bag and slipped out of the car.
Jade came around the corner.
She slowed to a brisk walk, looking down, careful not to attract Jade’s attention. As soon as she was in her car, she started breathing again.
She dialed her phone. “I got the laptop. Did you take care of the professor?”
“No, I’m on my way to do that now.”
CHAPTER 11
IT WAS EASY TO GET the professor’s home address from the purchase order Jade had set up to pay him. He took the Mercer Street exit off I-5. Once he located the professor’s house, he followed the GPS to the University of Washington.
A long winding stretch of road with water ditches and power poles was the perfect place to stage a car accident. The speed limit was thirty-five, but most cars were driving at least ten over. This was where he’d take care of the professor. Like with Arnie, only then it hadn’t been calculated. It’d been sheer opportunity.
“Here you go.” He’d returned to the deck of his boat and handed Arnie a beer. “Got a nibble yet?”
“I think so. I just felt a tug.”
He sat back and waited for the opportune moment, his heart pounding a mile a minute, the crescent wrench heavy in his back pocket under his shirt. What if Arnie fought back? They might both end up with wounds. Better not use the wrench. This needed to look like an accident.
“You all right? You don’t look so good,” Arnie said.
“It’s just hot, and you really surprised me telling me you wanted out.”
“Hey, no hard feelings, right? I’m just holding you to your word. You said we’d get out after a million.”
“You’re right. We should get out while the going’s good.”
Arnie’s fishing line bobbed a few times before going under. “I’ve got one,” Arnie said, excitement in his voice.
“Reel her in.” While Arnie was busy with the line, he checked for other boats in his binoculars.
“It’s a big one, and he’s fighting me hard. Hey—” Arnie jerked as he held out the net to him. “You scared me for a second.” Arnie leaned forward to net the Chinook.
He had to do it now. His heart was racing and blood was pounding in his ears. He gripped Arnie’s shoulders and shoved him overboard.
Arnie gasped as he resurfaced. “Hey, wait, what are you doing?”
His hands shook uncontrollably as he steered the boat away. “Sorry, Arnie. It’s your fault I had to do this. We had a deal. We were in this together. You shouldn’t have gone and made that threat.”
“I won’t say anything, I swear. Now throw me a life jacket.” Arnie swam toward the boat, his strokes labored and stiff from the frigid water of Puget Sound.
It was a good thing Arnie wasn’t thicker than a toothpick. He wouldn’t last long in these temperatures. Fifteen, twenty minutes tops. “You know, you’re right. We might be taking too much. Now that I have your share, I can back off so it looks like the company is doing better.”
“No, don’t do this, no!”
He didn’t look back. He wanted to remember Arnie alive.
His thoughts came back to the present. It hadn’t taken long to reach the University of Washington’s campus. He parked in the lot nearest PACCAR Hall, where according to the university’s website, the professor taught statistics for the evening MBA program. At nine-fifteen, students piled out of the classrooms and headed for their cars. He glanced at the printout of the professor’s picture he’d obtained from the web.
His eyes darted from person to person until there was no one left in the parking lot.
He slammed his hand against the steering wheel. If he didn’t get to the professor tonight, he’d have to do it in the morning before Jade met with him.
Just as he turned on the ignition to leave, he spotted a man coming out of the building with a woman. He held his breath and squinted. It was hard to see in the dusk. Was it… yes!
The professor stopped and talked to the woman by her minivan, then headed to a red sedan.
Pulling out after the professor, he was careful to keep two cars between them. He gripped the steering wheel to stop his hands from trembling. Fueled by adrenaline, his breathing and heart rate were doing double time.
When they took the exit off the freeway, by sheer luck he was right behind the red sedan. He stepped on the accelerator and passed the professor. The speedometer rose rapidly: forty, forty-five, fifty, fifty-five.
There’s my turn-around point.
He slammed on the brakes and fishtailed.
His car skidded to a stop and he took a deep breath.
With no time to spare, he turned around, stepped on the accelerator, and sped up to fifty on the wrong side of the road.
The red sedan closed in. The professor was fiddling with something on the dash.
Shit, look up, you son of a—
; At the last moment, the professor looked back at the road, eyes wide in horror, and then jerked the sedan to the right.
His front quarter panel hit the back of the red sedan. He gripped the SUV’s steering wheel tight as it swerved to the right, then the left, then the right again. Finally, he got it under control.
In the rearview mirror, the professor’s car veered into the ditch and slammed into a power pole.
He wiped sweat from his brow with his shirtsleeve and stomped on the gas. It didn’t matter whether the professor lived or died. It would take him a long time to recuperate from those injuries, if he recovered at all.
Jade was on her own.
IT SURPRISED JADE that she’d left her parents’ house after dark. She’d barely made it on time with the cake, and she hadn’t meant to stay so late. She was beyond exhausted, but spending time with her parents had really cheered her up. Dad had helped himself to two pieces of cake, and she was sure he’d sneak one for breakfast before Mom got up.
She hadn’t realized that with her gone and Gran’s passing, Mom and Dad no longer sat in the formal dining room and made big Sunday night dinners. Well, that was going to stop. Jade looked forward to starting the Sunday night dinner tradition again, even if it meant being a guinea pig for her mother’s cooking.
Jade had eventually broken down and told her parents about the financial issues at Synergy. It was odd Gran hadn’t mentioned anything to either of them. She must not have known.
Dad thought it was a good idea to get an objective opinion, and his support made her day. Stan’s constant objections to her ideas had been wearing her down. Tomorrow morning, she’d meet with Professor Murti. Jade hoped after the professor reviewed the data and looked at the trends, he would be able to answer her questions, or at least make recommendations that Stan couldn’t—or wouldn’t.
She grabbed her purse from the front seat, locked her condo for the night, and went straight to bed. Huge mistake after eating chocolate cake and drinking two glasses of wine. Even though she was exhausted, Jade couldn’t sleep. Something gnawed at her that she couldn’t put her finger on. She tossed and turned, trying not to wake her cat, Whiskers, sleeping next to her pillow. She couldn’t stop thinking about what her father had said.
Synergy: New Adult Romantic Suspense (U-District, #1) Page 8