Chapter Eleven #2
Everyone in the room that knew Melissa murmured their agreement.
Sarah disagreed. “I wouldn’t dismiss her. The woman figured out a way to get a seat on the board.”
Nick looked at Alex. “She has a point.”
“Melissa was at the office today and in the board meeting when we got the call.”
“And our caller knew the bomb wasn’t real. We can’t eliminate anyone at Stone Enterprises today. In fact, an employee ... or board member had direct access to the garage. And likely wouldn’t have been questioned if they’d been seen,” Fitzpatrick said.
“But the cameras were tampered with, right?” Max asked.
“Right.”
Max shook his head. “According to the housekeeper here, Melissa didn’t have the technical skills to turn on Netflix, let alone manipulate video footage on a security tape.”
Alex pointed at Max. “Exactly.”
“Did anyone see Melissa after the building was evacuated?” Owens asked.
Alex shook her head.
“It was chaos. I only remember seeing one person from the board right outside the building, but they didn’t stick around.”
Owens sat forward in his seat. “You mentioned Floyd Gatlin.”
“He doesn’t like us ... and we don’t like him,” Alex said point-blank.
“Why does he still work for you, then?” Owens asked.
Alex noticed Hawk’s attention intensify.
“He does his job,” Chase said. “But that’s not the only reason.”
“I’d say there are two reasons why he is still there. Chase and I have been trying to keep the upset at Stone Enterprises to a minimum this year. And dismissing the vice president without solid grounds opens us up for a suit.”
“Then there is the desire to keep your enemies close to see what they’re doing,” Piper added.
“You do feel he’s an enemy?” Fitzpatrick asked.
Chase nodded. “But he did stick around today. In fact, he appeared more humble than I’ve ever seen him, and concerned. Maybe even a little scared.”
“I have to agree,” Alex added.
“Who else?”
“Paul Yarros was our most vocal member on the board. The man didn’t agree with any of our decisions,” Alex said.
“He is the one that sold his shares to Melissa. At the same time, he bought a hotel chain that we were passing on.”
“Is this hotel competition?” Owens asked.
Alex scoffed.
“Not to sound pompous, but no,” Chase told him.
“Anyone else?”
Alex couldn’t think of anyone.
The others shook their heads.
Owens removed a cell phone from his pocket. “Maybe the caller will spark something.”
He set the phone on the table.
Alex moved closer.
Owens pressed play.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“There’s a bomb in the Stone Enterprises headquarters. Don’t bother with security footage. I’ve taken care of that.”
Alex shook her head and placed the glass of wine on the table.
“There’s a bomb?” the operator asked.
“More than one Stone belongs in the family plot.”
“Where is the b—”
“Tick, tock. Tick, tock.”
That voice . . . it was . . .
“Where—”
Alex’s hands started to shake.
“Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Any death is on her hands. Evacuate the building. Let her know I’m watching.”
The call disconnected.
Alex’s hand moved to her throat.
Everyone’s eyes were on her.
Kit lifted his head, and a low growl escaped his gut.
“The caller sounded like you,” Piper whispered.
“Exactly like you,” Chase said.
Kit let out a bark.
Alex looked over at Hawk. “How is that possible?”
“AI,” Hawk said slowly.
“But my voice.”
Owens put his phone away. “You said yourself that you’ve had your share of the media recording you. Artificial Intelligence has quickly become a scammer’s wet dream. If a computer has enough recordings of a person, they can type in what they want to hear, and someone else’s voice speaks it.”
Hawk broke his eye contact with her. “The caller never answered a question.”
“Right,” Fitzpatrick said.
“What does that mean?” Alex asked.
“It means the caller may not have been on the line. They could have recorded that, anticipating what the 911 operator was going to do and say. Leaving a brief pause that makes you think someone is there, but they aren’t.”
“And the call came from inside the building?” Chase asked.
“Or a recording from inside. That’s going to take time to figure out,” Owens told Alex. “We’re focusing on the bag under your car.”
“We’d like to talk with your Human Resources Department on Monday. Learn if there are any newly let-go employees. Talk to your Maintenance Department, learn who was on-site that normally wouldn’t be. Electric company, repairmen,” Fitzpatrick informed them.
“Of course. We’ll cooperate in any way we can,” Chase told them.
Alex walked back over to the wall of windows.
The backyard was illuminated by the lit pathways and sconces on the walls.
Her eyes caught on a tree where the trunk was bright and the branches had an orange glow.
Her eyes saw the landscape, but her head was still in the conversation.
“When will we be able to get back into the building? Our employees will want to retrieve their cars ... their things. I’m sure I’m not the only one that left their purse behind. ”
“By morning.”
“We’ll need to coordinate this,” Piper said. “We don’t need someone going around stealing purses.”
“We have security cameras,” Chase said.
“Lot of good those did,” Alex scoffed.
Fitzpatrick and Owens both stood.
The others followed.
Piper took a sleeping Hailey from Nick’s arms. “I’ll put her down.”
Alex stood rooted in place while the authorities said their goodbyes and left.
Nick moved to Alex’s side and slid an arm over her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
Their eyes met briefly. “Yeah.”
“Alex . . .”
“I’m fine.”