"Don't look down," Hardy had said as the SDV eased into the center of the intersection, and we moved up. Despite Hardy's warning, I looked down. For a dizzying few moments, we were on a platform that hovered a floor above the one we'd been on. The platform slowly turned. "Outrageous, huh?"
I didn't respond. Speed was one thing, heights quite another. Give me Gerry's bike ride any day. When we stopped moving, we shot down a corridor much like the one we'd sped through below.
"We switched routes," Hardy explained. "That's one of the ingenious ways it's possible to cover the span of a city with fast delivery and to send bots where they're needed. The tubes above us operate much like the pneumatic tubes used at the drive-up banking stope, except these can be rerouted too."
"Hardy, you promised to answer my questions. Who has abducted Jessica, and how did they do it?"
"Her car is in the lot at the Visitor Center. I heard you asking Frank and Jack if they'd heard from her since she went to meet with the construction foreman. I'm guessing Sedgy grabbed her after she returned."
"That makes sense, sort of. Did Anastasia get away from Sedgy?"
"Tidbit couldn't tell me much. Although he was able to communicate that there was trouble. He brought the pets to me, which I believe was his way of telling me Jessica was snatched from your suite."
"Why didn't Felix alert me or call security?"
"Jessica will have to tell us that. If she was in the suite and Sedgy knocked on the door, she should have been warned that an unauthorized visitor was at the door. Maybe she thought it was you and opened it before the warning, or he grabbed her in the hallway, as she entered the suite, and he abducted her then."
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To one of the townhome projects that's nearing completion," Hardy replied. "I've been monitoring communications today. Once I had the door to the safety hub unlock, getting them out was a matter of brute force, they didn't need me. I caught that video Max sent to you after the phone call from Bobby."
"If you were able to use the call to identify the location, why didn't you send Jack to get Max?" I asked.
"It isn't quite that simple. Bobby was on the golf course when I intercepted his call. I tapped into his phone, and he was relieved to hear from me. Bobby's scared that he's going to end up like his friend Kenny. He doesn't believe he's ever going to see the money. I agree. The best outcome Bobby can hope for is that Cramer Sedgwick takes the money and runs. I told him that."
"Like Jack's going to allow that to happen. They'll have a tracker on the money, which is the reason he so quickly agreed to pay the ransom."
"The worst-case for Bobby is that Sedgwick shoots him and Max before he retrieves the money. If Jessica's with them, she's a goner too."
"What do you mean if she's in there? You're not sure she's in the panic room with Bobby and Max?"
"Aha! You figured that out from Max's message, didn't you? Good for you!"
"Oh, please," I said. "I can only guess Max recorded that message while the bald-faced liar was out of the room, or the 'aforemantioned' Sedgy would have 'bushwhacked' Max for trying to give so much information away."
"Bobby told me he and Max were sometimes in the panic room alone. I told Bobby to get back to there and tell Sedgwick that he'd dropped his phone somewhere. I'm hoping Sedgy believed Bobby and is out looking for it. Bobby won't let anyone into the panic room except you—not even me—since Max trusts you with his life. Max has been working to convince Bobby he's being set up by Sedgy and whoever put him up to causing this mess."
"Does Bobby get it?"
"Enough to be worried that he's going to be shot. He also figures he's gone too far this time for his uncle Eric to bail him out. I doubt that means he believes Eric Sandler and Sidney Lamont were behind Sedgwick's ill-fated plan to disrupt Max's meeting with the investors today."
"Do you have any evidence to back that up?" I asked, hoping he did.
"Nothing I can use in a court of law," Hardy replied, raising one eyebrow. Then he grinned. "I told you I was monitoring people today. The phone calls I have will be enough to convict them in Max's Marley World court. My grandfather will be disappointed by Sid. He won't be happy about Charlie's condition either."
"Your grandfather?" I gasped! Suddenly, Sid's behavior made more sense. "Those rats! They knew Max was going to put you in the line of succession."
"Eventually—with your help. At twenty-two, I have lots to learn and not just about the company. He planned to ask you to be my mentor and to agree to do more than that if the courtiers acted before I was ready to assume the throne. This sounds Shakespearean, doesn't it?"
"You've got that right. Max almost waited too long," I murmured, hoping we still had time. Then, I smiled. "A grandson! I want to hear the rest of that story. Let's get Max and Jessica back safely, then you can tell me. We'll do more storytelling to the police and determine appropriate consequences for traitors right under our noses!"
"I couldn't have said it better," Hardy responded.
"Are you sure we're going to the right location and not walking into a trap?"
"I'm sure about the location because I checked it out. There wasn't much background behind Max, but the designer who used that putrid color on the wall behind him should be fired. With that carpet, it's 'gauche,' as Linda would say. Anyway, it wasn't too hard to figure out where that color was being used, and it matches the location Bobby gave me—not that they mention it was used in a panic room."
"Why does Bobby trust you?" I asked.
"We're two of a kind, except that I had support and encouragement, and Bobby lived around deadbeats and cutthroats."
"I'm sure your success is about more than that, Hardy. Jack told me you worked like a dog today to help people."
"I had good role models. A mother and grandmother who did all they could to take care of me."
"That's apparent from how much you've achieved at such a young age," I responded. "I'd love to meet them someday."
"My mother maybe, but my grandmother died recently. That's how I found out about Max."
"Found out what about Max?" I asked, as the SDV stopped.
"That's the rest of the story, right?" Hardy asked.
Thanks, Burly!" The SDV flashed its lights.
"It's your turn, Tidbit!" Tidbit slid out of the SDV, a panel slid open, and the bot zipped up a ramp.
Hardy turned on a device, and we were treated to a "bots-eye-view" of Tidbit's surroundings. As the bot turned one way and then the other, no one appeared to be present. I was a little disappointed not to see Jack's handsome, smiling face waiting to greet me.
"That must be the first floor of the townhouse," I muttered. "It doesn't appear as the cavalry has arrived."
"The signal from underground isn't always perfect. We can join Tidbit if you're ready to try to find Bobby. I have a good grasp on the floor plan. The panic room is off the master bedroom on the second floor. We can hide a tracker, or two, on the first floor that security will recognize. Once Bobby lets us into the panic room, we can't use our phones, and no I.D. signals can be detected. We'll be safe, though, until the good guys arrive." Hardy beamed a confidant smile at me.
"Let's go for it before that rat foreman returns. If Sedgwick's not around, I'll send a text to Jack and Frank before we shut the door. They can quit searching for Jessica and focus on us if they know she's safe too."
"Type it now and keep it short," Hardy insisted after considering my idea. As I did that, he continued watching the footage coming from Tidbit. As we slipped off the back of the SDV, I began to have misgivings.
We could always play another round of down the rabbit hole, with Tidbit at our side. Max needed us, and so did Jessica. Anastasia was peering at us. Miles and Ella were now standing with their front paws resting on the SDV.
"You all stay put! We'll be back soon," I said, giving them each a smooch. "Is the coast clear?"
"It would seem so," Hardy said, and the panel opened for us. Fortunately, it
was a gentle rise. For maybe the tenth time today, I said a silent thank you that I'd worn slacks and practical shoes as I followed Hardy into the townhouse. He immediately stashed the first tiny tracking device under the edge of the nearest side table.
As we crept up the stairs to the second floor, he placed another on the rail. We had almost reached the top when Anastasia almost knocked us down, woofing as she dashed ahead of us. We ran but could keep up with her or the Siamese cats running with her.
"So much for stealth," I said.
"Animals have a second sense when it comes to danger. I don't hear shouting or gunshots," Hardy added.
"Good grief! That's reassuring!" I cried, dashing past Hardy and toward the cat bellows and dog barks.
When we entered the enormous master bedroom, Anastasia was digging at the closet door. I slid it open, and she bounded into the room, sniffed her way around the entire edge of the room, stood perplexed, and then began digging at a spot near the back.
"Now what?" I asked. Hardy began quickly running his hands around the cedar wood paneling near where Anastasia was frantically digging. Hardy stopped, then did something with his handheld device that caused the panel to slide open. A steel door stood in front of us. I danced from one foot to the other as then tension mounted.
"Give me another few seconds," Hardy replied. "Did you send that text?"
"I did now," I said as I heard the familiar whoosh. In the chaos, I'd couldn't remember if I'd pushed send earlier or not.
Hardy punched in a code on a keypad next to the door. When the door opened, someone shoved Bobby our way. Hardy stepped aside, and Bobby crashed into me.
"How nice of you to come calling," Sid said.
"That's not a real gun, is it, Sid?" I asked as I held onto Bobby, who was trembling.
"Do you take me for a fool? This isn't going to end well unless they don't find any of you for a long, long time. Cramer is waiting in the garage with a van to take us all to a new location. Sid grabbed my phone and threw it inside the panic room. Jessica was tied up next to Max. She was quietly inching her way toward the door. Anastasia must have figured what she was trying to do, and, in a flash, Anastasia hurled herself toward the door to slam it shut.
The door smacked hard into Sid's shoulder. He cried out in pain, but his shoulder kept the door from shutting. Tidbit, who was at our feet, reached up with a metal appendage and squeezed the gun until it broke into pieces. With another appendage, Tidbit picked up the pieces and placed them into its bin like the garbage they were.
Sid yanked his shoulder loose and tried to shove his way past me. I grabbed him by the shirt collar and yanked him backward. He lost his balance and hit the floor hard, grunting as he landed on that shoulder. When he moved, Tidbit reached for him.
"What is taking so long? The cops are…" Sedgy had arrived. He, too, was carrying a gun and fired a shot at Tidbit, who spun around as part of an appendage flew in the opposite direction. Hardy and Bobby rushed toward Sedgwick as I dove for the floor to keep Sid from getting up. For once, I didn't mind the few extra pounds I'd put on in middle age. I hit his shoulder hard!
Cramer Sedgwick smiled as he took aim at Hardy. When he stepped forward, Miles and Ella pounced on him from the closet shelves. Bobby grabbed a hanger and smacked Sedgy's arm. The gun went flying, and Hardy picked it up. The foreman was trying to decide what to do next when a panel in the closet near the floor slid open. Spider bots scurried into the closet. Cramer tried to fight them off as they climbed all over him.
"Throw out your weapon, Cramer," Jack ordered. Hardy tossed the gun out of the closet. "Come out with your hands up!"
"Sorry, Jack, but Sedgy can't put his hands up. He's all tied up in knots over his misdeeds. When Jack, Frank, and the others with him peered into the closet, they were dumbfounded.
"I guess Gulliver's travels are over. The Lilliputians have him all tied up and tied down." Spider bots stood guard where Cramer Sedgwick was lying on the carpet. "Are you okay, Georgie?"
"I am, but I hope Sid isn't!" I replied, taking Jack's outstretched hand. When I was off the floor, it didn't take Jack a second to have his arms around me. I couldn't bear the anxious expression on Frank's face a second longer. "Jessica's in there and still kicking, so beware!"
"Jack, I'd like you to meet Max's grandson, Hardy Hart. The inspiration for the sudden need by Max's so-called friends to take control of Max Marley's empire." When I turned to face him, Hardy was cradling Tidbit in his arms.
"We were listening to everything that went on in here while we waited outside for Sedgwick to make a move," Frank said as he slipped past us and entered the code into the keypad. When the door opened, I heard Jessica say one word.
"Frank!"
"Anastasia wagged her tail wildly and came bounding from the panic room with a piece of rope dangling from her mouth. She appeared to have chewed clean through it. When she spotted Tidbit in Hardy's arms, Miles wailed, and Anastasia woofed.
Max followed Anastasia from the room, moving more slowly than he normally did. I hugged him and gingerly touching the bruises on Max's face.
"I'm so glad you're okay," I said, holding back tears. Max held onto me as a tear slid down his face.
"Thanks for saving my behind once again, you two," Max said.
"Is Tidbit okay?" Max asked as we watched Hardy examine the bot that was about the size of a large puppy. In response, Tidbit flashed its lights.
"I can restore the metal appendage, but what can I do to restore his faith in his creators?" Hardy asked.
"That's what all creatures ask about their creators, even when they have no words," Max replied. "Let Georgie take him to her suite and spend time with Miles, and Ella, and Anastasia. They can probably model how to respond better than anything you can communicate."
Then the most extraordinary thing happened. Tidbit reached up with the damaged appendage and brushed Hardy's face.
"If it's okay with you, Grandfather, Tidbit and I would like to go home with you. If anyone can show us how to bounce back, it's you."
"Splendid! That's the best idea yet," Max responded as his face lit up like the star on top of a Christmas tree.
18 An Anniversary to Remember
Sometimes, I believe Christmas inspires more gratitude than Thanksgiving. Or maybe it's that one holiday flows into another, building upon one another as the year comes to an end. Because it was also our first wedding anniversary, I couldn't ever remember being happier. When I said that to Jack, he held me close.
"That's because you have a heart of gold," Jack said with his nose buried in my hair. "I still growl a little at my coworkers who mock my good fortune in marrying you."
"They're just a little jealous that we have so many fabulous adventures in addition to being madly in love," I replied, placing kissed on his handsome cheek. He was dressed in his "James Bond" outfit, as he refers to his tux.
"Yes, but I find myself avoiding them, so I don't snarl at them!" I laughed.
"Fortunately for them, your snarl is worse than your bark or your bite! They can take it, or they wouldn't keep razzing you. I've seen you with them, and you all get along fine! In fact, I bet you'd give anything to be on our way for pizza and beer rather than shaking hands with Max's new investors and the mayor of Palm Springs."
"As usual, my love, you're right. Except that Larry's told me what's on the menu. Prime rib, au jus, herb roasted potatoes, and asparagus with hollandaise sauce. I hope the ceremonies don't go on too long, or I'll drool all over my tie."
"I don't mind a bit. Thanks for finding me and rescuing me," I said as I turned toward the mirror and put on the gorgeous ruby earrings Max had sent me.
"What are you saying? You, Jessica, and Hardy, with the help of the wonder-pets and daring bots, rescued yourselves. You subdued the bad guys, once again, by the time we found you."
"That's not what I mean. I mean rescued when I compare what my life was like two Christmases ago. I still consider it a miracle that you wandered into my lif
e, as you did, in the wake of a murder. How could so much good have come from such an awful situation?"
"I don't understand it, but I bet Max must be wondering the same thing. Who knew he had a grandson or that such good could be tied to so much trouble?" Jack asked as we checked ourselves in the mirror before snuggling the cats.
"Sid, apparently, although since he'd known for years that Max had a grandson. It's not clear Hardy would ever have known if his grandmother hadn't decided to tell him the truth about Max before she died."
Frank and Jessica were waiting when we stepped from our suite. Anastasia was with them. She bowed and woofed, seeming to understand this was a festive occasion.
"You put bows in her fur!" I said, clapping! "Do you want to go show Miles and Ella?"
"She's smart, isn't she?" Frank asked as Anastasia ran to our bedroom.
"Thank goodness," I replied. "Who knows what would have happened if she hadn't taken us straight to that closet?"
"I'm glad you got there before Sid could hurt Bobby," Jessica said as we left the suite. "He was blaming him for turning his idea of creating a disturbance into murder, kidnapping, and sabotage."
"He may not have intended to kill anyone, but he's going to pay the price for his part in this fiasco. In my book, he's the 'idiot-in-chief' for coming up with such a stunt!" I said, stamping my foot at what Sid's stunt had cost and the even greater cost that might have been.
"It's Christmas, Georgie," Jack reminded me. "Your favorite time of the year. Nobody's going to get away with a thing, although Bobby Bush might get a break because he decided which end was up."
"If that's what you call realizing you were the designated idiot by a bunch more senior crooks," I scoffed.
"He kept Sid and Cramer from doing their worst, sooner," Jessica added. "That earned him a few extra lumps. Besides, he's got enough information to clear up this case faster. That won't just save the courts time and money, and let Max put the whole mess behind him."
A Merry Christmas Anniversary Mystery Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery #9 (Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series) Page 16