Chapter 6 #3
They listened as the deputy shifted things around. “Got it.”
Veronica turned her gaze to the ocean, her heart in her throat despite Brayden’s reassurances. Beside her, Brayden might as well have been turned to stone, his focus on the attorney.
“Crate is documented. Location matches statement. Ready to open,” Morton said.
She heard more movement and some clicks that were probably latches flipping open. Then nothing more than a long silence.
“What is this, Vanbeck?” Deputy Morton bellowed as he walked back into the morning light. He held up an evidence bag full of small hardware. Nuts, bolts, washers, and more, from shiny and new to used and rusty.
Veronica didn’t dare look at Brayden. Items like that were exactly what her sister Natalie collected for her various mixed media sculptures and design.
“No sign of the high value goods you claim have been stolen.”
“We have a witness.”
Morton stepped forward. “And you will present your witness for another interview. Immediately.”
“Of course,” Vanbeck agreed absently. “Where are the ECMs? Those modules are essential for our business here.”
The deputy shook the bag. “No idea. There’s no tech here. Just a crate full of junk.”
“No. That’s impossible!” The attorney broke Brayden’s rule and stormed into the shed to look for himself. “It was... it was supposed to be—”
“Supposed to be what, Mr. Vanbeck?” Veronica asked, her temper barely restrained. She didn’t know how Brayden had pulled this off, but she was forever grateful.
He touched her back now, reminding her to stand down. Losing it now could trash his plan.
“You seem remarkably well-informed about what was supposed to be in a private garden shed,” Caldwell observed. “We should discuss that.”
“No,” Vanbeck exited the shed, face pale and brow furrowed in confusion. “My information came solely from the statement.” His bravado and composure completely disintegrated. “I... I only meant the tipster was very specific—”
“The tipster was a liar,” Deputy Morton grumbled. He went back into the shed and dragged out the crate, a cloud of dust trailing him. He glared at Vanbeck. “This is a waste of time, and county resources. There are no high-value stolen goods here.”
“But they must have moved it!” Vanbeck accused. His gaze landed on Brayden. “The security consultant did this. He must’ve found the goods and moved them. Search his car! Search the house!”
“The warrant is specific to the garden shed based on your witness statement, Mr. Vanbeck,” Caldwell said.
“I suggest you leave now before you make things worse for yourself and your client.” Brayden’s small shift underscored the quiet promise of violence in his voice.
“Probably best to throw your weight around and pull any string you can find for some new ECMs. I hear those can take over a week to be replaced. That’ll really impede your construction milestones,” Brayden said.
Caldwell seemed to choke and cough before he turned to Veronica. “I guess you’ll get a break from the racket.”
“You won’t hear me complain about that.”
Furious, Vanbeck stormed off. Brayden pulled out his phone, using the app to be sure the man stayed well away from the house.
Deputy Morton tapped his hat to Veronica. “Our apologies for the disruption, Ms. Hargrave. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a good day.”
“Thank you.” Roni was relieved and grateful he’d handled things with such a calm professionalism.
“We’ll send over a copy of our official report,” Caldwell said. “If you choose to file a formal complaint regarding harassment, my office will accept the paperwork.”
“Thank you, Chief.” Veronica slid a glance toward Brayden. “I think we’ll do that.”
Within minutes, they were alone, the extra cars gone and the street still once more. With the construction site shut down, she could hear the nearby drumming of the ocean again. She turned to Brayden, the adrenaline still pumping through her veins. “You did it. Thank you.”
“We did it,” he murmured to the top of her head. “And they can’t even start up their equipment,” he chuckled. “Talk about a stunt backfiring.” He pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground as he kissed her—the triumph pulsing through her.
“We’ve won this round, Roni,” he continued, setting her on her feet once more.
“And we need to enjoy it even as we prepare for their next move. Vanbeck’s reaction tells me they’re desperate.
I’d like to know why. We’ll track down where those planted ECMs actually came from.
” He slipped his arm around her as they walked around the back of the house.
“Desperation can lead to dangerous decisions. We need to be ready.”
She had no idea what ready looked like, but she’d follow his lead. “In the meantime, let’s have breakfast before my first client. We can even make extra for whoever will be covering the house.”
Brayden agreed with a chuckle. “Jess told me it’ll be Trent.”
“That makes it easy,” she smiled, feeling so much happier than an hour ago. “Thanks to Natalie, he’s family now. I’ll put some oatmeal raisin cookies in the oven while we eat.”