“What does that have to do with Sandra Porter?”
Josh turned around. “Sutter thinks there’s a link between Porter’s death and the death of that artist.”
Laurel absorbed that news. “I see. Where are you going with this, Josh?”
“Where am I going? I’ll tell you where I’m going. I’m afraid Sutter will find a connection between the two deaths, and if he does, it could bring down my company.”
“I doubt that there’s a connection. Sandra never had any interest in art. But even if for some crazy reason the two deaths are linked, it will probably prove to be something involving drugs. It won’t have anything to do with Night Watch. Sandra wasn’t even working for you at the time of her death.”
“No, but it doesn’t mean that she wasn’t still ripping me off.”
Laurel watched him for a while. “You think this might be about the embezzlement that’s going on at Night Watch, don’t you?”
“More money went missing within the past twenty-four hours.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah.”
“I suppose that means that Sandra Porter wasn’t the embezzler, then.”
“Or it might mean that she had a partner who decided to cut her out of the deal.”
“How could that have anything to do with that dead artist?”
“I don’t know.” Josh turned around. “But if I don’t find whoever is bleeding me dry and shut down the embezzlement, I can forget going out for expansion capital. The rumors in the financial industry are getting stronger.”
“How is your investigation going?”
“Nowhere.”
“Josh, I’m so sorry. Maybe it’s time to bring in one of the big cybersecurity firms.”
“That would be the kiss of death. I’d become a laughingstock in the tech community.” Josh abruptly started toward the door. “I can’t stay here, not tonight. I need to clear my head and come up with a plan to find the embezzler.”
“Josh, wait—”
“I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” He ran his fingers through his hair, pulled on his jacket and opened the door. “Good-bye.”
He went outside, shutting the door behind him.
Laurel started to follow him but common sense made her change her mind. Josh did not like clinging women.
But she wanted Josh Preston. She wanted him very, very much. And back at the start he had wanted her badly enough to break his own rules about dating his employees. Someone or something had changed his mind.
The way Josh had looked at her just now gave her chills. She could almost read his mind. He was starting to wonder if she was the embezzler.
She thought about the scene with Kate Delbridge in the women’s restroom that day.
Delbridge was just a writer. Writers were a dime a dozen. The ability to produce chatty blogs and catchy posts was hardly rare. Anyone who could string two sentences together could create content. But writers did have one special skill—a good writer who also happened to be jealous might be able to spin a story that an anxious CEO who was being robbed by a clever embezzler would be all too willing to believe.
Maybe Delbridge had planted the seeds of doubt in Josh’s mind.
Laurel went back into the kitchen and poured herself a large glass of wine. She carried it into the living room and stood where Josh had stood earlier, looking out at the lights of Seattle on the far side of the lake.
She had worked too hard to get where she was. The brass ring was within reach. She would not allow a jealous woman to destroy her plans.
She took her time with the wine and contemplated the best way to get rid of Kate Delbridge.
CHAPTER 46
“I couldn’t help but notice that you didn’t put up much of a fight when Xavier announced that he was going to be your intern for a few days,” Virginia said.
She and Cabot were seated on the sofa in her living room, going through the photocopies of Abigail Watkins’s journal again in an attempt to glean some additional information. The pages were spread out across the coffee table.
Cabot did not look up from the time line of events that he was creating on his laptop.
“The way I see it, the kid earned the job by helping Anson figure out the code in your mom’s book.”
Virginia smiled. “You know what I think? I think you’re feeling sorry for Xavier. He’s drifting at the moment. He came looking for you because he needs an anchor.”
“If there’s an anchor involved, it’s Anson, not me. He’s the one keeping an eye on Xavier.”
“Still, you could have put Xavier on the next plane home. You didn’t do that.”
“Haven’t had time. Been a little busy lately.”
Virginia smiled and said nothing.
Cabot finally looked up, his eyes tightened a little at the corners. “Xavier can’t stay here in Seattle indefinitely.”
“But for now?”
“For now it’s okay as long as Anson is willing to watch him,” Cabot said.
His phone pinged before Virginia could say anything more on the subject. He glanced at the screen. A great stillness came over him for a split second. And then he was on his feet.
“It’s Kate Delbridge,” he said. “She says she needs to see us immediately.”
“Where? Her place?”
“No, she’s on the way to the airport.” Cabot picked up his holstered gun and headed for the front door. “Wants to talk to me. There’s an address. Looks like it’s a restaurant located a few blocks south of Pioneer Square.”
“The SoDo neighborhood?” Virginia leaped to her feet and hurried after him. “That’s mostly an industrial area. It will be practically deserted at this time of night.”
“I get the feeling she doesn’t want to be seen talking to me.”
“Us,” Virginia said. “I’m coming with you.”
Cabot paused at the door, his hand wrapped around the knob. “There’s no need.”
“Yes, there is. You’re the one who said I shouldn’t be alone until this thing is over.”
He groaned. “Yeah, I did say that.”
“There’s no time to call Anson and have him come babysit me. Besides, I’m your backup. We’re a team, remember?”
“Backup. Right.”
He didn’t sound thrilled, but he did sound resigned. He opened the door.
Virginia grabbed her handbag and followed him out into the hall.
CHAPTER 47
The restaurant was an aging fast-food establishment located between two warehouses. It was closed for the night. There was only a single vehicle in the parking lot. It was parked at the far end, its lights off.
“You know,” Virginia said, “I admit I’m new at the investigation business, but this does not look promising.”
“Speaking as someone who has had a little experience in the field, I can guarantee you that it doesn’t look good,” Cabot said.
He cruised slowly past the entrance and kept going.
Virginia glanced back at the lone car in the parking lot. “We’re not going to stop?”
“We’re definitely going to find out what’s going on, but the first rule in a situation like this is to control the meeting point,” Cabot said.
He turned the corner and eased his vehicle to the curb. Virginia realized they were now hidden behind the massive bulk of a warehouse.
Cabot took out his phone and called the most recent number. Kate answered immediately. He put the phone on speaker so that Virginia could hear everything.
“This is Sutter,” he said.
“I don’t see you,” Kate said, her voice tight and anxious. “Where are you? I told you, I’m on my way out of town. I can’t stay in Seattle. I think I’m in danger.”
“Listen closely,” Cabot said. “Drive your car out of the parking lot. Turn rig
ht at the end of the block. The SUV parked at the curb is mine. Drive past it. You’ll see a loading zone. Pull into it. Get out of the car and walk back toward me. I’ll meet you halfway.”
“Look, I don’t have time for games. I called you because I’ve got some information that may or may not be useful to you. Are you interested or not?”
“I’m interested but I’m sure you can understand that under the circumstances, I’m inclined to take precautions. The body count in this case is starting to climb. I’d rather not add to it. This meeting is your idea but we do it on my terms.”
There was a short hesitation. Then the soft, muffled sound of a car starting.
“All right,” Kate said. “I’m on my way. But no more games, understand?”
“No more games,” Cabot agreed.
He ended the connection.
“She certainly sounds scared,” Virginia said. “I notice you didn’t tell her that I’m here, too.”
“That’s because you’re my backup,” Cabot said.
“Oh, yeah. Right.”
“It’s always best if the person who arranges the meet doesn’t know there’s a backup.”
“Got it. But what does the backup do in this situation? I don’t even have a gun.”
“The backup gets into the driver’s seat and keeps the engine going in preparation for a fast takeoff in the event that something looks the least bit wrong.”
“In other words, I’m the wheelman. Wait. Make that wheelwoman.”
“Not sure that term is still in use, but yeah, that’s the general idea.”
“Doesn’t sound like much of a job for the backup person.”
Cabot did not take his eyes off the rearview mirror. “We all have a role to play.”
Virginia was about to argue the point but the sight of headlights coming slowly down the street behind them silenced her.
The vehicle drifted past the SUV and pulled into the loading zone. Virginia realized that the position put Kate’s vehicle squarely in the glare of a towering streetlight. That was not an accident, she decided. By forcing Kate to reposition her vehicle, Cabot had gained some control over the territory.
“She’s following instructions,” Cabot said. “That’s a good sign.”
There was a tense pause and then the headlights of the other car winked out. The driver’s-side door opened. Kate emerged. She was clearly illuminated in the glow of the streetlight.
Cabot cracked open his door and got out. “Remember the backup’s job.”
“I’m on it,” Virginia said.
Cabot closed the door.
Virginia scrambled into the driver’s seat and lowered the window so that she could overhear whatever Kate had to say to Cabot. She realized she was shivering ever so slightly. Adrenaline, she thought, not nerves. Okay, maybe it was nerves. But not an anxiety attack, so it was all good.
She watched Kate start walking quickly toward Cabot.
In the eerie silence of the almost deserted street she could hear Kate’s footsteps echoing faintly on the pavement.
Kate came to a halt at the edge of the ring of light cast by the streetlamp.
“Cabot Sutter?” she said uneasily. “Is that you?”
“Yes,” Cabot said. He was about twenty feet away, still in deep shadows. “That’s far enough. Why are you leaving town, Miss Delbridge?”
“Because I think someone is setting me up to take the fall for the embezzlement that’s going on at Night Watch. Look, I don’t have a lot of time. I think you need to take a close look at someone else in the company.”
“Got a name?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. That’s why I called—”
She broke off as the growl of a rapidly accelerating car engine shattered the unnatural stillness of the night.
Virginia automatically looked around, trying to see the other vehicle. For a beat she saw nothing. In the next instant, a car roared around the corner at the far end of the street and rocketed forward. The twin beams of the headlights lanced the darkness.
Virginia had a split second in which to realize that the oncoming vehicle was rushing forward in the wrong lane and that, if it did not change course, it would slam into Kate and Cabot.
Kate half turned to see what was happening behind her. She must have been stunned by the headlights because instead of trying to get out of the path of the oncoming vehicle, she froze.
“Kate,” Cabot shouted. “Move.”
He broke into a run, heading toward her.
Virginia did the only thing she could think of—she switched on the SUV’s powerful headlights, hoping to distract or even temporarily blind the driver of the speeding car. For good measure, she hit the horn.
The maneuver must have caught the driver of the oncoming car by surprise. Whoever was behind the wheel reacted instinctively, swerving out of the wrong lane and into the other one.
Cabot grabbed Kate’s arm and hauled her out of the street and around the rear of her vehicle.
The driver of the attacking car, having lost sight of the target, roared away down the street and kept going.
Virginia tried to get a look at the driver as the vehicle raced past, but all she could make out was a vague silhouette.
It took her a second to realize that whoever was behind the wheel was wearing a ski mask.
CHAPTER 48
“I think we can assume that was not a drunk driver,” Kate Delbridge said.
She was huddled in the rear of Cabot’s SUV. There was a tremor in her voice.
“Agreed,” Cabot said. He was back behind the wheel of the SUV. He had his phone in his hand. “I’m going to call the cops.”
“Wait, please.” Kate wrapped her arms around her midsection. She rocked slowly back and forth. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Kate appeared to be hovering on the edge of hysteria. Cabot looked at Virginia, trying to send a message. He knew she got it because she turned in her seat and looked at Kate.
“We can wait to notify the police, Kate,” Virginia said. “What was it you wanted to tell us?”
She kept her tone quiet but firm. Kate visibly steadied.
“I told you, there have been rumors about embezzlement circulating around Night Watch for weeks,” she got out in low tones. “A few days ago I found a large cash deposit in my bank account. I was sure it was a mistake. I called the bank. They looked into it and said it was a legitimate deposit. As far as they were concerned the money was mine. For a while I told myself I had just been on the lucky end of a banking error. I was sure the bank would figure it out sooner or later, so I was careful not to spend the money. But today it happened again.”
“There was another big cash deposit?” Virginia asked.
Kate nodded weakly. “I wasn’t stupid enough to believe I’d gotten lucky twice. Both deposits were sizable but under the limit that banks are required to report.”
“What, exactly, do you think is going on?” Cabot asked.
“I admit I’m not very tech savvy,” Kate said. “But I’m not as dumb as everyone at Night Watch seems to think. Someone is setting me up to take the fall for the embezzlement scheme.”
“If that’s the case, why try to kill you tonight?” Cabot asked.
Kate shook her head. “I don’t know. Probably because I made the appointment to talk to you. Someone is watching my every move. I have to get out of town.”
“Got any idea of who might want to use you for the fall guy?” Cabot asked.
Kate was silent for a few tense seconds.
“Maybe,” she said finally. She took a deep breath and seemed to regain some control. “But I have absolutely no proof.”
“Go on,” Virginia encouraged.
“When the rumors of embezzlement first started, I assumed it was someone in the accounting department or in IT. We all d
id. I mean, those people must know every possible way to skim money off the top, right? And they’re all pretty tech savvy, at least when it comes to dealing with money. After Sandra Porter was fired, we all thought it was because she was the embezzler and management had decided to let her go quietly. But today, when I realized that someone was trying to make it look like I was embezzling, I realized Sandra couldn’t have been the one stealing the money—or, at least, not the only one involved.”
“Who, then?” Virginia prompted.
“This is just a guess, you understand, but Laurel Jenner, the head of marketing, is really pissed at me.”
“Why?” Cabot asked.
Kate rocked a little in the seat. “I’m almost positive she’s sleeping with the boss, Josh Preston. And she knows that I know. I think she’s afraid I’ll ruin her cushy situation. Preston has made it clear that he doesn’t approve of workplace romances. Those things happen, but at Night Watch people get fired if the relationship becomes common knowledge.”
“So you think Jenner might be willing to murder you in order to keep you quiet?” Virginia asked.
“I just don’t know,” Kate whispered. “But if she’s using her relationship with Preston to get the kind of inside information she needs to steal from his company, and if she thought that rumors of the affair might put her scheme at risk—maybe. Like I said, it’s just a theory. I’ve got no proof. I can tell you one thing, though. Laurel has a gun.”
“How did you find out about the gun?” Cabot asked.
Kate grimaced. “She told me about it a few months ago. That was before she and Preston started their affair. Laurel and I were friends back in those days. She said she bought the gun because she’d just gone through a nasty divorce. She was afraid her ex might become a stalker. Look, I really have to get to the airport. My flight leaves in less than two hours.”
“Where will you go?” Virginia asked.
“Mexico,” Kate said. “When I was younger my family vacationed down there every year. I know my way around. Please, I’ve told you everything I know. I need to go now.”