by Ty Patterson
Letwoski’s eyebrows rose. ‘You’re the first to draw that analogy. I’m impressed. Almost everyone goes blank when I mention the research areas.’
We aren’t just pretty faces. Meghan bit her tongue to contain her words and let Beth take the lead.
‘Ant Man is fiction,’ Letwoski continued, ‘however there are some parallels. If we can predict the behavior of subatomic particles, the future is limitless. Quantum computing, underground radar, new positioning systems that replace the traditional GPS.’
‘The second part of our research was in human machine interaction. We’re talking about a different kind of robotics here. This isn’t just about voice command machines; it’s about machine assisted decision making.…’ he trailed off.
‘This is where listeners’ eyes glaze over,’ he laughed. ‘You ladies seem to be paying attention.’
‘We’ve a coworker, sir, who’s a science nut. She makes sure we stay on top of stuff,’ Beth admitted with a smile.
‘You said was, sir. Is the research program over?’
‘Yeah. Early this year. You know this was a DoD funded program, right?’
The twins nodded.
‘The way that works, universities have to submit their outlines to the DoD and a lengthy qualification program kicks in. There’s a shortlist, and more qualification criteria are applied. I won’t bore you with the details, but we came out on top.’
‘I put together the research team and since this is an area of particular interest to the military, we had to obtain security clearances. Our research program was for four years, but Cali’s loss impacted us and we were delayed.’
He spoke at length about the program, how they worked, how they vetted their findings, and the various presentations to the military.
He leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head. ‘In February, we had our final submissions, several discussions with the DoD, and closed the program.’
He pointed out to several bound volumes, high up in a cabinet, the size of telephone directories. ‘That’s the finished product, the de-classified one.’
‘Weren’t there six on your team, sir?’ Beth asked him.
‘Initially, and when Cali disappeared, we continued with five. Finding a replacement, getting him or her security cleared, would’ve been a hassle.’
He frowned. ‘Nope, that’s wrong. Darn it, I keep forgetting about Lian. Lian Cheng Vaughn. She went to California, before Cali’s disappearance. We continued with four.’
That tallies with what we know. They completed the research with a team of four, and the prof. Meghan mused, glanced at Beth, and got a blink in return. She’s on the same page.
‘You can read each other’s minds?’ Letwoski asked after observing the silent interchange.
‘That’s Hollywood stuff, sir. We usually know what the other is thinking, but reading the other’s mind.’ Her brown hair flew silkily as she shook her head.
‘Where are they now? Your team?’
‘Hmm, let’s see.’ The professor leaned forward and steepled his fingers. ‘Lian, as I said is in California. In Palo Alto, working for some semiconductor firm.’
He turned to his laptop and opened a file. ‘Gary is right here, in New York. He’s with some research outfit. Melinda is in Texas. Curt, he’s still in the university. He’s on another research program. Dirk’s with Microsoft in Seattle.’
He gave them the addresses and contact details for the researchers and walked them out.
His face was troubled as he stood at the door of his office. ‘I hope you find her, or what happened to her. She was the smartest of the lot. Lian and she.’
The sisters regrouped in a deli near the university and when Beth returned with two coffee mugs, compared notes.
‘All those addresses and phone numbers match the ones we have. Also match the ones in the NYPD file,’ Beth mumbled around a mouthful of brownie, as she tapped keys on her tablet.
‘Which address is the closest to us?’
‘Curt Tiemann’s, over on West 96th Street.’
‘He’s the boyfriend, isn’t he?’
‘Yeah.’ Beth looked up and narrowed her eyes at her sister. ‘You aren’t paying attention. What’s on your mind?’
‘The professor seemed to remember everything, despite the program having ended.’
‘He didn’t remember the addresses or the phone numbers.’
‘He did know everything else.’
‘So?’
‘So, I don’t know.’ Meghan sighed in frustration. ‘We have never come across a case like this. A woman gone missing for years. No clues. Nothing. We’re coming in cold.’
‘But why do you suspect Letwoski?’
‘I don’t.’ Meghan snapped in irritation. She paused, rolled her shoulders and held a hand up in apology. ‘I’m not suspecting anyone. I was just wondering how it was that he remembered every detail.’
‘The cops dug into him and the researchers. They found nothing,’ Beth reminded her.
‘I know. But they didn’t ask the military.’
Beth’s eyes widened. ‘You mean–’
‘I mean, it’s time to talk to General Klouse.’
General Daniel Klouse was the National Security Advisor and was one of the few people in the country who knew of the Agency’s existence. He not only knew of its work, he regarded it as vital to the nation’s security.
He was a close friend to Clare and had a fond regard for Zeb.
The general, in his late sixties, had never married; his work was his life. He was staunchly apolitical and his blunt talk had won him the respect of politicians from both parties.
He had met Zeb’s crew several times, and, on meeting the twins, had taken them under his wing. They were the daughters he never had. He flew down to New York every year and did his best to persuade them to move to Washington DC and work with him.
He returned each time, happy, but with a polite rejection.
Meghan glanced at her watch, it was just past noon. The general would likely be busy in meetings.
He always has time for us.
She rose, left a tip on the table, and went to their SUV, Beth following her. She punched in the general’s cell number and waited for the call to go through.
It’ll vibrate thrice. Time for the general to glance at it and decide whether to take the call.
‘Y’all changed your minds? Want to join me?’ the general growled when he answered.
‘No, sir,’ Meghan couldn’t keep the smile from her voice. ‘You’ll just have to keep trying.'
‘I’ll never stop. Zeb doesn’t value you.’ His voice softened. ‘How can I help?’
Meghan briefed him swiftly and waited while the general processed it.
‘You want me to make some calls and find out the DoD’s opinion on Letwoski?’
‘And the others too, sir.’
‘Will do. Stay tuned.’
‘We aren’t far from Tiemann’s apartment. Why don’t we check it out?’ Beth asked when the call had disconnected.
‘He’ll be at the university.’
‘All the more reason to look at it.’
Meghan hung a left and then a right and shot forward on Columbus Avenue, lit her flasher and took a right and headed down West 96th Street.
Tiemann’s apartment block was similar to Cali’s except that it was smaller. It had ten stories and didn’t have a gated entrance, nor did it have a concierge.
The elevator doors required a key code, however another student punched in the code and reddened when Beth gave him the full wattage smile.
Tiemann’s apartment was on the sixth floor, at one end of a narrow hallway. There were three other apartments on the floor. Two facing the elevator, another at the opposite end of the hallway.
The hallway had grey carpeting, faded and worn out. It had a single light and smelled of cigarettes and reefers.
Meghan went to Tiemann’s door, pressed her ear against it and shook her head silently at Beth. It se
emed to be empty.
There wasn’t anything else to observe in the hallway and after a few more minutes, Beth buzzed the elevator.
It arrived with an almost silent whoosh. The doors opened.
Beth stepped inside.
Meghan had one foot inside when a door opened behind her.
She felt the rush of air on her neck and instinctively crouched and started dropping.
Her move was too late.
An arm cut across her face and applied a choke hold.
Chapter Eight
In the fleeting second before the hold tightened, Meghan saw Beth’s panicked face, her fingers jabbing at buttons, as the doors shut and the elevator moved down.
She felt hot breath on her hair as the arm crushed her neck and another arm captured her free hand.
Doors!
She lunged off the floor, letting her assailant take her weight. He stumbled. She ignored it.
She planted her feet on the metal sliding doors and shoved back. Hard.
The attacker let out a surprised yell and lost his balance and fell. His hold loosened. Meghan landed on top of him, whirled, and jabbed a sharp elbow in his sternum.
She followed up with a blow to his chin and then grabbed his head and smashed it on the carpet.
The attacker groaned and went limp.
She rose off him and turned swiftly as footsteps rushed on the stairwell.
A Glock poked around first, and then Beth’s eyes appeared at floor level.
I’m okay; Meghan gestured and motioned her to the open apartment door. Tiemann’s.
Beth nodded and moved swiftly, keeping the fallen man between her and Meghan.
She peered cautiously around the open door. It seemed empty. She heard rustling behind her and risked a quick glance.
Meghan was securing the prone man with plastic ties. She waited for her sister to finish and join her.
Beth darted inside the apartment, Meghan at her rear, both of them armed, alert, prepared.
Untidy living room. Narrow hallway.
Beth snapped her head round an open door.
Empty room. Filled with cartons and files.
Another room. Kitchen.
A closed door. No movement from inside. No sign of life.
She fell to the floor, her elbows planted on the floor, the Glock steady.
Meghan slammed the door open with her left hand. Beth peered around quickly.
A bedroom. Unmade bed. Open window. Empty.
She rose, headed down the hallway and came to the last room. It had its door open. A light breeze wafted through.
She lunged inside the door, Megan covered her.
Empty. A desk. A chair. A lamp. Shelving. Files. Computer.
It was a study.
She relaxed and looked fully at her sister. ‘You’re okay?’
‘Yeah,’ Meghan replied and rubbed absently at her throat. ‘He caught me by surprise, but he didn’t do any damage.’
‘Is he Tiemann?’
‘Let’s ask him.’
The attacker was groaning softly when they returned to the hallway. It was still empty except for the three of them. No apartment doors had opened; no person had poked a head out. No alarm had been raised.
Meghan stood in front of the man and studied him. Dark, long hair. Stubble. Grey eyes. Strong features. Big build, most of it muscle.
He was as tall as them, dressed in faded jeans and a white T-shirt. His eyes took in the sisters and he cursed them softly.
Meghan ignored him, holstered her gun, and drew out her phone. She scrolled through several images before she came to one. She compared it to the attacker and showed it to Beth.
Their attacker was Curt Tiemann. Cali’s boyfriend.
She crouched and slapped him lightly.
‘Why did you attack us?’
Tiemann groaned in reply. Beth sighed and the sisters haul-dragged him to his apartment and flung him on a couch.
He sprawled in a daze, his hands secured in front of his body, and grimaced as he twisted his head left and right.
He raised his T-shirt with his bound hands and peered at his abdomen. The skin had reddened and looked angry where Meghan’s elbow had landed. He looked up and bit back an angry outburst when he felt two pairs of green eyes looking at him coolly.
‘We’re waiting,’ Meghan reminded him.
‘Maybe we should rough him up a little more. Like softening him up, you know. I’ll go, this time.’ Beth drawled.
‘Nope,’ Meghan admonished her. ‘We can call the cops, however.’
‘Did he call the cops? No, Mr. Football Player took it on himself to attack us. Who knows what else he was planning?’
‘You think he was planning more? Like rape.’
‘Of course! Look at him.’
Tiemann found his voice. ‘I wasn’t planning to–’
‘That’s what they all say,’ Beth cut him off witheringly.
They studied him while Meghan toyed with her phone.
Tiemann seemed to gather his nerve and made another attempt. ‘Can I speak?’
‘He wants to speak,’ Meghan relayed to her sister.
‘Did we stop him?’
‘I thought you were them,’ Tiemann croaked through a dry throat.
Beth went to the kitchen, filled a glass with water and handed it to him. He held it awkwardly, emptied it, and handed it back.
‘Who’s them?’ Meghan asked him.
Tiemann hesitated a moment and caved when Beth returned to the living room and drilled him with her eyes.
‘A street gang. Drugs. I buy from them occasionally. I’m behind in my payments.’
‘You think we look like gangbangers?’ Meghan gave him an incredulous look.
‘I didn’t know how you looked. All I could see were your backs. I heard you at the door. They’ve used that tactic before to draw me out.’
He fell silent and watched Beth go to his bedroom.
They heard her rummaging and she returned shortly with a handful of baggies.
‘I guess he’s telling the truth.’
‘Why would you attack them, though?’ Meghan didn’t relent.
‘Because they threatened me. Said if I didn’t pay, the next time they came, they would hurt me. I haven’t put together the payment yet.’
Meghan considered him for a moment, her face giving nothing away. We know he doesn’t have a criminal record. Maybe he’s telling the truth.
She drew out a Buck knife from a sheath on her hip, ignored his widening eyes, and slashed his ties.
‘Spill,’ she ordered.
Tiemann spilled.
He talked about how his powder consumption gave him the bright idea; becoming a supplier to a small group in the university. His suppliers were a street gang. He met them outside study hours, stocked up, and resold to his clientele.
There weren’t many of his customers, about twenty-five, however they were regular users and paid promptly. The gang had roughed him up, lightly, the first time he was behind in his payments. He was behind now and knew they would be more violent.
‘How long have you been doing this?’ Meghan asked him, no emotion in her voice or face.
‘Several years now.’
‘Was Cali a user?’
He shook his head vigorously and groaned when it hurt. ‘No. She didn’t touch the stuff. We shared a reefer once in a while, but that was it.’
‘She came with you on your deals?’
Tiemann frowned as he tried to remember. ‘Maybe a time or two. She didn’t meet the gang and they didn’t see her. She waited a couple of streets away.’
‘Where do you meet them?’
Tiemann mentioned a street corner, a block away. Meghan knew the neighborhood; it had offices and would be sparsely populated in the evenings.
‘This gang’s part of a bigger one?’
‘I wouldn’t know. All I know, or care about, is they have good powder.’ He eyed the baggies in Beth’s hands. ‘Can I have tho
se back?’
Beth tossed them at him, one at a time, and when he’d finished stuffing them in his pockets, Meghan resumed.
‘Did you supply to any others in your research team?’
Tiemann stopped and looked at them carefully, confidence returning to his voice and in his posture. ‘What’s this about? Who are you?’
‘I’m Meghan. That’s Beth. We’re looking into Cali’s disappearance.’
Tiemann ran a hand through his dark hair and frowned. ‘The cops did that. Didn’t get anywhere. Why do you think you’ll do better?’
Meghan ignored his question. ‘Did you supply to anyone in Letwoski’s research group?’
‘Gary, Mel. They weren’t regular. They would use once in three or four months.’
‘What happened that night?’
‘Babe,’ he rose from the couch and advanced towards Meghan. ‘I’ve told this a million times now. Go ask the cops.’
Meghan didn’t move back. Babe. Only Beth has the right to call me that. Her expression didn’t change.
Something in her eyes made Tiemann pause. He swore softly, sank into the couch, and repeated his story.
It was practiced, the words coming easily. It was something he had narrated several times.
There wasn’t much for him to tell.
Cali had called him before she set out from the lab, said she was coming over. She never came over. Tiemann had taken a snort while waiting and had drifted off to sleep.
He remembered when he woke in the morning, and called Cali’s roommate and the alarm was raised.
‘Doesn’t look like you cared for her a lot,’ Beth called out from the rear of the room.
Tiemann flushed a dull red. ‘We were friends. We slept together a few times. It’s not as if we were in love. Heck, she was closer to Lian than she was to me.’
‘They were good friends?’ Meghan seized on his comment. That didn’t come up in any police file.
‘Very,’ Tiemann snorted. ‘She and Lian even went a few times to California, and stayed in Lian’s home.’
‘Where is it? You have the address?’
Tiemann shook his head. ‘Cali was close to her. Not I.’
They asked him more questions, however it was clear he didn’t have anything more to share.