Murder Inc.: A Sci-fi Thriller: Book 1 (17 page)

Tabby leaned forward in her chair, perusing her almost empty message list. She had never been so up-to-date. Charlie hadn’t been passing much work over of late. It worried her. He hadn’t been himself, especially in the last few days. He was distracted, always deep in thought, and he’d asked her a number of odd questions. She thought about his suggestion for her to take some time off. She supposed that had its benefits, but wouldn’t leave him alone. It was as though he needed her there for support.

She sensed it went beyond Charlie, too. Tom Bright hadn’t been around either, and Tabby couldn’t suppress her disappointment. Ever since Charlie had pointed out Tom’s apparent interest, he had taken on a greater fascination. Perhaps he wasn’t out of her reach after all. But the developments in their behavior had pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind. The prime concern was helping Charlie through this difficult period.

Her implant buzzed and Tabby answered. Her college friend, Keisha Templeton, greeted her. They had roomed for two years and stayed in touch since graduation. They had drinks monthly, and managed a vacation every two years or so.

“So what are your plans for the weekend?” Keisha asked.

“Ah, not sure yet. I might have a quiet one. Stay home.”

“You’re a bore. Not like your father.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw him going into Ginger’s restaurant.”

Tabby sat forward. “
The
Ginger’s?”

“Yeah. I’m sure it was him.”

“I doubt it. What would he be doing there? It’s such an exclusive place.”

“He’s cut his hair short all over and was wearing that blue sports jacket he always wore.”

“He did cut his hair short. And he still has the jacket.”

They chatted for a while thereafter, but Tabby couldn’t focus. Why had her father been at the most exclusive restaurant in New York? It was reserved for the wealthy, famous, and connected; he was none of those things. It added to her thinking about the person at the cemetery taking photos. Was it of her, or her father? Tabby had concluded it was probably a case of mistaken identity, but this latest piece of information made her wonder. How much did she actually know about her father’s activities?

She swiped the screen and connected to her father’s profile. A picture of him appeared, taken many years ago when he’d worked for the government. Tabby smiled as she always did when seeing the photo. Sandy hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, only a hint of the lines on his face that would one day be. And the smile, big and beaming, showing flashy white teeth. Her mother hadn’t yet died, and the happiness in her father’s features was as palpable as the bright sunlight.

It connected, and a blue hologram appeared hovering above the desk via a small lens in the top of the computer screen. It struck Tabby with an unavoidable sadness. Even with the blue lines and shades of the hologram she could identify his sallow look.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Hello, Tabitha.”

“Where are you?”

“At home. Waiting for my pill delivery. Have you ordered them?”

“I did. Yesterday. They shouldn’t be long.”

“Did you find out anything about that photographer on Monday evening?”

“No, not yet. It had actually slipped my mind. I meant to ask—”

“Slip your mind? What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing, Dad.” She massaged her forehead where a headache had developed, recalling what Keisha had told her. “Listen, were you at Ginger’s restaurant recently?”

“Ginger’s, Ginger’s. Nope. Don’t know the place. Where is it?”

“Do you still have that blue sports jacket?”

He considered this. “I got rid of it a few years back.”

“Dad, I want you to tell me—”

A woman in a full suit strode past the desk. At first, Tabby didn’t realize it was the one with Jennings the previous week. She shot Tabby a frown, then marched towards the double door entrance to Charlie’s office. It slid open, and she disappeared inside.

Her father was talking. Tabby had tuned out, watching the doors close.

“Dad, I have to go. I’ll call you later. Love you.” She shoved her seat backwards, stood, and approached the doors. They opened and she stepped through.

The woman sat behind Charlie’s desk, swiping away at the screen.

“Excuse me,” Tabby said, trying not to reflect her anger. “Can I help you?”

The woman continued working. “No. I won’t be long.”

“Does Mr. Billings know you’re in here working at his desk?”

“No, he doesn’t. And he won’t. I’m part of the security team. We’re running some checks. All standard stuff.”

“I’ll be letting Mr. Billings know.” Finally, the woman stopped swiping over the screen. “I strongly advise you not to do that.” Tabby stared for a long moment, considering a response. “If you read the confidentiality clause in your contract, you’ll know that from time to time you will be required to keep work related matters private and confidential. This is one of those times.” The woman returned to her work.

Tabby walked back to her desk. She debated calling Charlie, despite the warning, but before deciding, the woman walked out of the office and past her without a word. Tabby didn’t even know her name.

Thirty seconds after the woman had disappeared Tabby stood from her seat and scurried along the hallway in the direction of the elevators. She was gone. Tabby raced back and went into Charlie’s office.

Nothing appeared to have been moved. The screen was dark. Tabby touched it. Nothing happened. Two tablets recharged on his desk, under which his chair floated. Charlie’s ‘Bot was attached to its charging unit in the corner. She circled, searching for more signs of damage, but found none.

Back at her workstation, Tabby’s internal phone rang. She answered.

“Tabby, it’s Charlie. I need—”

“Charlie? Where are you? You need to get back here now.”

“What? Why?”

She fell into the chair. “Remember that woman I told you about last week, the one that was with Jennings, in your office?” He did. “Well, she was just back. In your office. On her own.” Tabby told him what she had said.

“I know you’re looking out for me, Tab, but maybe she is part of Jennings’ security checks. To be honest, I’ve got nothing to hide, so I’m not worried.”

“Yeah but there’s something wrong with her, Charlie. She just…” She couldn’t place the description.

“Let me speak to Jennings when he’s back in the office, okay? I’ve got bigger problems though, and I need your help.”

“Of course.”

“Samantha was supposed to land tonight, but she’s been delayed. She has to stay at her conference in Washington for another two nights.”

“You sound panicked.”

“I am. She was supposed to be home
today.
”

“Now who’s overreacting?” A long moment of silence followed. “Sorry.”

“There’s stuff happening I can’t tell you about. Just trust me, this is a bad thing. Samantha should have been back by now. That’s how it was meant to go. Things have changed though, and I can’t help but worry.”

“I understand you can’t tell me, but how can I help?”

“I need you to call up to Bryan Fox’s office and get me an appointment. Today. As soon as possible.”

“Bryan Fox? The CEO?”

“Yeah. I know it’s a lot to ask, Tabby, but I need this. More than you will ever know. If you get me an appointment, I promise I won’t forget it.”

“Is… everything okay, Charlie? I mean,
really
okay?” A tightness formed in her chest. For a second, she held her breath, wondering whether she wanted to know. “Charlie? You there?”

“Sorry. Just got lost for a moment.”

“I mean it, Charlie. If there’s
anything
you need me to do, I’m here.”

“No, but thank you. Just get me that meeting as soon as you can. I’d be grateful for that.”

“Consider it done.”

Jennings fell into his chair and pulled himself into his desk. He fumbled with the lid on the Scotch bottle and splashed it into a glass, then tossed it back and repeated. The first threads of composure since Tom’s appearance at Fullerton’s bar crept in. It had been close;
so close,
one movement away from changing the game. But what if he’d managed to slip the poison into Fox’s drink? The old man would have gone down in the bar and there probably would have been an investigation. Fox’s supporters at the office and on the board would have rallied, knowing something wasn’t right. The more he thought about it, the more he reasoned Tom’s appearance had been a good thing.

Except now it had created another potential problem. Had Tom observed his hand linger over Fox’s glass? He had never expected Tom to appear. That had been one from left field. He needed to remember that; expect the unexpected. If Tom saw, Jennings would need to get rid of him. No, he wasn’t going there yet. He needed him after Fox was gone. But he would have to confront Tom. There was no other way—he needed to know what Tom saw. He couldn’t sit and wait until something happened.

Jennings strolled along the hallway towards Tom’s office on the other side of the floor. He had to handle this carefully. Tom was a powerful ally, assuming he wasn’t on Fox’s side. Tom was sensible and smart and a good balance for Jennings’ own faults, but he was also sharp and calculating. Did Jennings trust him? He had always been a big supporter of Fox. Jennings would test his loyalty.

Tom was leaving his office as Jennings approached. “Hey, Robert. What’s up?”

Jennings pushed into the doorway. Tom stopped. “You got a moment, Tom?”

Tom backtracked into the room and Jennings followed. The office was large—not the size of Jennings or Fox’s though—offices, like suit colors, were issued on a hierarchical basis. Tom was in the senior group but didn’t have the same level of seniority or authority as Jennings.

Tom took one of the leather seats in front of his desk and signaled for Jennings to take the other.

“Sorry we didn’t get to chat much at the bar,” Jennings began. “I had an urgent appointment.”

“No problem,” Tom said. “We didn’t hang around long.”

“Nice place. You been there before?”

“Once or twice.” Tom remained smiling, as though he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Too dark for me.” Jennings smiled. It felt unnatural. “I prefer bright places like this.” He swung his arm around in an arc.

Tom chuckled. “I know what you mean. Took me a while to adjust after the brightness outside. I saw spots the whole time.”

Bingo.
Exactly what he wanted to hear. Tom hadn’t noticed him preparing to spike Fox’s drink. And knowing Tom, he would have called him on it by now. “Listen, have you noticed anything strange about Bryan lately?”

Tom’s brow creased slightly. “How do you mean?”

“Well, he asked me to meet him there for one. How many years have we been working together? This place has always been fine for meetings.”

“I think he likes the anonymity and style of it. He’s suited to that era.”

“He is,” Jennings said sitting forward. “I just worry about him. It’s probably the stress of the board’s demands.” Tom’s eyes widened. “Has he mentioned that to you?”

“No.”

Jennings glanced around. “Well, I don’t mind saying, because I trust you completely. I can, can’t I, Tom?” Tom pinched his face as if to say ‘of course’. Jennings continued. “The board has given Fox an ultimatum. Either he turns the revenue crisis around, or he’ll be gone.”

“Gone? They’d really get rid of him?”

Jennings shrugged. “I don’t know. But he has been acting a little off. I mean, calling a meeting at a public bar in that dive of an area? Risking our lives out there?” Tom looked down. “I’m worried for him. He’s reaching a point in his career where he should be slowing down, enjoying life more. He even talked of retirement a few years ago.”

“How long has he got? To meet the board’s demands?”

“They gave him a few months. That was a week ago, though.”

“Now that you mention it, he has been acting a little strange.”

“Like how?”

“Disinterested. When I first started working here, he was so enthusiastic and hungry. If he’d been given an ultimatum like that then, he would have been all over it.”

“I’m worried about him,” Jennings said. He let the thought linger, watching Tom’s expression as he considered the idea. “And to be honest, I’m worried about the company too.”

“What for?”

“We’re in trouble, Tom. Our revenues are down. The board is scrutinizing our performance. Fox. You. Me. They’ve given Fox a timeframe to fix it, but what if he can’t? Does that reflect badly on all of us?”

“I never considered at it that way.”

“It’s something we need to consider. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to lose what I’ve worked hard to attain.”

“Me neither.”

“And if Fox is removed, I don’t want them bringing some dictator in from the outside who’ll ruin the way we operate.”

“That’s a very good point.”

“I’ve worked here for nearly twenty years. Fox has been a good CEO in that time. I don’t want some foreigner coming in and changing everything around. I won’t deal well with that.”

Tom sat forward. “Hang on. Wouldn’t you take over from Fox if he were removed? I mean, you’re his deputy.”

Jennings made a noise blowing air. “You think? That would be… incredible.” He peered off out the window into the distance. “I mean, I don’t think it would be me, but imagine it was?” He looked directly at Tom. “I’d want you as my number two, Tom. If that were to ever happen.”

Tom beamed. “Wow. Number two? Second in charge?”

Jennings nodded. Good reaction. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Oh yeah.” He glanced away, as if embarrassed.

“Well, rest assured; if it ever did, that’s how
I
would play it.”

This time, Tom peered out the window, smiling. Jennings knew he had him.