Devon ignored the for now which she wasn’t quite certain how to interpret and smiled, relieved that he wasn’t angry. “Thank you for at least trying to understand, Geoff.
“And for safety’s sake,” she added. “I’m going to call Mom and ask if she’ll keep the children for a couple more days.”
Devon and Geoff spent a good portion of the remainder of the day cleaning the remnants of the black powder out of his office and going through the drawers and files for anything that might help them solve the dilemma facing them. “Maybe we should start with the computer backups,” Devon said as she opened the door of his credenza to reveal a shoe box containing some disks.
Geoff frowned as he considered it. “Is that all of them? I seem to remember that box looked fuller when we were going through this office last.”
Devon shook her head. “I don’t know. It might be a bit emptier than it used to be, but I couldn’t swear to it. It’s possible that some of them were stolen last night if he had put them in his pocket or something I know he wasn’t carrying anything in his hands when he left though—except the gun.”
“Okay. Well, I should be able to tell if there’s anything missing when I start working with them.”
Thursday morning at seven-thirty. Geoff and Devon pulled into the parking lot at Future-Tech Devon had insisted that they begin their search for answers together this morning despite the fact that she had an appointment with a client at ten-thirty.
There weren’t many vehicles on the lot yet, which was the way he’d calculated it. This company might be his, these employees his. but he remembered nothing concerned with either the company or its people, and it was amazingly difficult to walk into a corporation and try to resume your position as its executive officer in those conditions He’d felt his self-confidence slipping yesterday when he was here, not to mention his paranoia returning. Surprising questions had begun to occur to him
Had he ever had a conflict with any of his employees that would have prompted them to seek revenge by attempting to undermine his company and his integrity? Would somebody here remember something, perhaps inconsequential to them, that would help him to explain to himself and to Devon what had gone on in their final months together? How would he know what questions to ask in order to find out?
For the present, however, he was going to content himself with getting to know the company itself again. He wanted to meet his assistant manager, Danson Hart, who’d kept the company afloat for two years And he wanted to meet Russell Manning, the second partner he’d taken in order to get Future-Tech off the ground seven years ago “Tell me about Russell Manning,” he said to Devon as they got out of the vehicle. “How did we meet?”
Devon looked at him. “You used to work for Russell at his software design corporation in Vancouver, Delta Systems When you were looking for backers to begin Future-Tech he didn’t hesitate. He said he knew your capabilities, and he knew that any venture you committed yourself to would succeed. So, he purchased a fifteen percent interest in your company.”
“Did he take an active role in the company?”
She shook her head. “Not when you were here But after... well, when it was necessary, Russell aided Danson with corporate decisions. Dad just handled any legal affairs since he didn’t know much about the day-to-day operations”
Geoff nodded. Both Hart and Manning had been in Vancouver on business yesterday when Devon had reintroduced him to the company, so he hadn’t yet met them.
Devon. He cast a sidelong look at her as they approached the two-story, unassuming brick building that housed Future-Tech, and he found his thoughts turning back rather than forward. Back to the previous evening, to Devon. God, he wanted her. It had been pure hell, sitting across the dinner table from her knowing that he couldn’t touch her. That she wasn’t yet his. That he didn’t have the right to make love to her, to care for her. But it was the kind of hell he would gladly endure again and again if that was what was necessary to work out the problems that faced them.
He couldn’t seem to stop looking at her. Oh, he knew on a perfectly intellectual level that she was not the most beautiful woman in the world. But on a gut instinct level, there was something about her that made her seem to outshine any other woman. It also made him want to kill anyone who tried to hurt her. This protectiveness, this urge to shield a woman, was new to him. At least as far as he could remember, it was.
His gaze dropped to her long, slender jean-clad legs. He wanted those legs wrapped around him, dammit! He wanted the right to hold her in his arms and never let her go. He wanted...her, in every way.
Did he love her? It was too soon to tell But he definitely cared for her a great deal, and he’d already fallen in love with his two children. They were beautiful kids.
Removing the coded card that Devon had arranged for him to have from his pocket, Geoff swiped it and entered the security number. When the locking mechanism flashed a green light, he opened the door, allowing Devon to precede him, and they entered the building One flight of stairs went up from the entrance, while another went down. They went up.
As they walked along a wide corridor, bright with fluorescent lighting, Geoff studied the production floor on the lower level through the windows on his left There were a couple of people down there, getting organized for the day’s work no doubt, but the floor was only partially illuminated and still quiet. The offices on his right were also dark and quiet. His own office was through the reception area at the end of the corridor Looking beyond it now, he hesitated as he saw light spilling from his office doorway.
“Who would be in my office at this hour?” he asked Devon quietly.
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Danson or Russell maybe.”
“Stay here,” Geoff directed. Seeing the obstinate set to her chin that meant she was about to argue, he added, “Just in case Please.”
She nodded as he left her to slowly approach the door of his office A man, his back to him, was stooped over an open file drawer. He wore khaki trousers, a plaid shirt, and brown loafers. Saying nothing, Geoff leaned against the door frame to observe
The man removed a file, rifled through it, replaced it haphazardly in the tightly packed file drawer, and then pulled another, repeating the procedure. Finally after repeating this procedure at least three times, he removed what looked like a multiple page document from the file in his hand, scanned it, nodded, closed the file drawer and turned toward the door. He jumped visibly when he spied Geoff standing there. Guilt or surprise?
Chapter 12
“Geoff!” he said a second later. “I’d heard you were back. It’s good to see you. How are you?” He was lean, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a fair complexion.
“Fine,” Geoff said, not moving from his leaning position. He sensed Devon approaching now. Did she recognize the voice?
There was a moment of tension, and then the man said, “Oh, right. I guess you don’t know me. I’m Danson Hart, your assistant manager.” He hesitated and then stepped forward to offer his hand.
At that, Geoff shifted and shook hands. “Pleased to meet you.”
Danson caught sight of Devon then, and smiled. “Hi, Devon.”
Geoff nodded to the paper in Danson’s left hand. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
He nodded. “Yeah, it’s just a contract that was misfiled. I’m afraid it may take me a while to get used to working out of my office again. For administration purposes, it was easier to work out of yours while you were, um, gone. I hope you don’t mind.”
Geoff shook his head. “No, of course not.”
Danson seemed to relax slightly. “Good. Well, I better get back to my office then. I have a meeting to prepare for.”
“Problems?” Geoff asked.
Danson nodded. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. Dacc Alarm Systems says they were shorted on the last shipment we sent them.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
He shook his head. “I think you’d bette
r take a few days to get back into the swing of things around here before I start dumping problems on you.” He headed for the door and then stopped. “Let me know if you have any questions. I’m usually around.”
Geoff nodded. “Thanks. Will Russell be in today?”
“He still works primarily out of Delta Systems, you know, but I think he was planning on coming into town today to meet with you. He’ll probably be here around ten-thirty or a little later.”
“Good. Thanks.”
“No problem. See you later, Devon.”
“See you, Danson,” Devon returned. The thick carpeting in the outer office rendered Danson’s retreating steps soundless.
Geoff studied his office. It had a gray carpet—the kind that had a low pile and stood up to heavy traffic—on a thick underpad that cushioned the feet when you walked. The white walls were adorned with two Bateman prints, an artistic-looking wreath fashioned from dried grasses and flowers, and a brass pendulum-style clock. A large window on the wall opposite the door ensured that the room received an abundance of natural daylight despite the fact that the slats on the venetian blinds were angled to keep out direct sunlight.
Nothing looked familiar.
“Do you like it?” Devon asked.
Geoff nodded. “It’s nice. Why? Did you decorate it?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Geoff moved across the room to the oak desk, with its attached computer stand, and seated himself in a high-backed leather chair. The desk faced the doorway, ensuring that anyone entering the office was immediately visible to whomever sat there. Two chairs sat angled before the desk. Next to the door, a rather grand fan-leafed palm arranged next to a plump leather sofa that extended along that wall granted an ambience of refinement to the office. It was certainly more welcoming than most offices that he’d seen.
He looked at her now. “What do you think we should do first?”
“Why don’t you go through the desk while I go through the credenza,” she suggested. “If I find anything I don’t understand, I’ll ask you about it. Okay? Then, if there’s time before I have to leave, we’ll go through the filing cabinet together. I’ll leave the computer stuff to you.”
Geoff glanced at the stand to his right It held both a personal computer and a networked terminal that would tie into the company’s computer. “Sounds reasonable to me.”
“If you find anything interesting after I leave this morning, you can tell me about it when we meet for lunch.”
Geoff nodded. “Sure.” Feeling as though he was trespassing on someone else’s personal property, he opened the desk and began examining the contents.
Geoff had just begun sorting through his desk when the woman who’d been introduced to him yesterday as his secretary poked her head around the corner. She was a brunette with hazel eyes, about twenty-three years old by his estimate “Good morning, Mr. Grayson. Mrs. Grayson.”
He nodded and echoed Devon’s good-morning. “Stephanie, right?”
“That’s me,” she said with a grin. “Do you want coffee?”
“That would be nice. Thanks.”
Gradually, as employees arrived, he heard more and more noise coming from the outer offices, people greeting each other or carrying on conversations, but he ignored it. He felt too disconnected yet from everyone here to try to join them in their discussions.
With the exception of Stephanie who came in occasionally to file something, or put a memo into his basket, or offer them another cup of coffee, everyone pretty much left him alone, too.
Since the credenza was primarily a repository for books, manuals of every description, and blank business forms such as purchase orders, inquisitions, fax sheets, letterhead, and so on, Devon had moved to the file cabinet “Well,” she said some time later, “there is some interesting paperwork in here, but I haven’t come across anything that looks like it will help us.” She dusted her hands off on her jeans. “It looks like some of these files haven’t been touched since you last occupied this office” She checked her watch “Well, I’d better get going I’ll call a cab to take me to the body shop so that I can pick up the Jeep.”
Geoff nodded absently as he studied the pages of an old datebook he’d found “Okay I’ll see you for lunch then”
By eleven. he’d finished exploring every piece of paper in his desk, and was just considering moving to the filing cabinet to take up where Devon had left off when a knock abruptly sounded
“May I come in?” a male voice asked.
Geoff looked up to see a tall, barrel-chested, silver-haired gentleman dressed in a blue business suit standing in his doorway. Was this Russell Manning? “Of course Come in,” he said
The man smiled and came toward him with arms outstretched. Before Geoff knew what had happened he found himself enveloped in a hearty, backslapping, bear hug. “Geoff,” the man rumbled in a deep voice, “it sure is good to have you back ”
“I appreciate that.” Geoff returned the hug a little awkwardly. When the man released him, he said, “And you must be ..Russell, right?”
The man’s blue-eyed gaze sharpened a bit and he gave Geoff an assessing look before responding “Sorry This is a bit disconcerting. Yes. I’m Russell Manning Did Devon tell you anything about me and our association?”
Geoff nodded “Some. Would you like to sit down?”
With a nod and a weary sigh, Russell sat in one of the chairs before Geoff’s desk “Well, I’m glad Devon told you something at least I’d hate to have to start from scratch ”
“Would you like some coffee?” When Russell nodded in the affirmative, Geoff paged Stephanie to request a couple of fresh cups and then considered the man before him who apparently had been a close friend. “What can you tell me about the six months before my accident?”
“You don’t waste any time, do you?”
“Is there something else you wanted to talk about?”
Manning shook his head. “I just wanted to welcome you back and bring you up to date on things Let’s see. .the last six months.”
At that moment Stephanie brought their coffee and set it on the desk. “Anything else I can get you?” she asked
“No thanks, dear,” Russell responded “But close the door on your way out if you don’t mind.”
As the door closed behind Stephanie, Geoff made a mental note of the fact that Russell felt comfortable taking charge of the staff at Future-Tech. It signalled that his direction had undoubtedly been pretty much hands-on during Geoff’s absence, despite his rather small stake in the company. Since Geoff didn’t know enough about the way his company had been run in his absence to decide if that was good or bad, he reserved judgement and simply waited for Russell to get around to responding to his question.
Russell sipped his coffee. “All I know about the time before you disappeared is what you told me, and you weren’t always particularly communicative during that period. You never are when something’s bothering you.”
Geoff nodded. “Fair enough What did I tell you?”
Russell shrugged “You said that Spencer had come to you with suspicions regarding the alarm systems leaving here with problems.”
“Spencer had come to me?” Geoff raised an eyebrow. “That hardly seems the action of a man who was sabotaging systems, does it?”
Russell shrugged. “It’s hard to say. He could very well have been erecting a smoke screen to give himself time to clean up the mess he’d made.” He frowned. “When he came to you he said he wanted to hire an independent investigator because he was beginning to have some difficulties with some of his clients. Who knows if the investigator would have been legit or not?”
Geoff met Russell’s gaze. “And this investigator was never hired?”
Russ shook his head. “Nope. You asked him to give you some time to look into it on your own. He probably thought that if he’d refused it would have looked bad.”
Geoff raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?”
Manning nodded “Yep. That’s pretty much
all you told me.”
“And did I find anything?”
“Not that you told me about, and I think you would have told me. There wasn’t much we didn’t talk about.”
“Did you know Spencer well?”
Manning’s eyebrows arched. “Of course I knew him well. He worked for me at one time, too, you know. In fact, I believe you two first became acquainted at Delta Systems. Frankly, I wouldn’t have believed that Spence was capable of something like this if I hadn’t seen the proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“Proof that he altered the systems and sold those back-door codes to someone.”
“So he wasn’t directly involved in the thefts then?”
Russ shook his head. “No. But there was a rather substantial cash deposit made to his personal account just before you and he disappeared.”
“Interesting,” Geoff mused as his frown of concentration deepened. The more he heard about Spencer, the more he realized that all the evidence against his friend had been circumstantial. Could someone have been framing his brother-in-law? But who? And why? More importantly, what had he, himself, discovered in the course of his unofficial investigation? Had he and Spencer been planning to discuss his findings when their plane went down?
Suddenly everything within Geoff went still. Devon’s presumption the night he’d received that threatening note, that his disappearance had not been an accident, no longer seemed so unbelievable. If he had found something, and whoever was responsible had suspected he had, what would they have done to keep from being discovered? Was it possible that they might have sabotaged a plane? Could it be that the accident that had robbed Geoff of so much was no accident at all?
But for that to be true, the person responsible would have to be someone fairly close to him. Someone who would have known his plans and schedule. Perhaps even a friend, or rather someone who pretended to be. Jesus’ He stared speculatively at the man sitting across from him. Russell Manning, a friend and colleague, a former mentor. And then, he mentally dismissed his suspicion. Although his amnesia made it easy to suspect virtually anyone because he didn’t know these people, he couldn’t allow himself to give in to paranoia. What he needed to do was to retrace the steps he’d taken more than two years ago. He needed to rediscover what he’d learned then. He needed to remember, dammit!
A Season Of Miracles Page 19