Chapter 12
Cameron
By the following afternoon, we aren’t any closer to busting into the USB. Beckett, Liam and I are in the office while Riley and Lacey are binging home improvement shows in the living room. She’s not going back to work at Barringtons until the danger swirling around her is eliminated.
Her job isn’t at risk. Yet. Hell, even her company’s top management agrees that another crime associated with their bespoke and designer menswear store isn’t good for business.
“Damn it. I’ve got two more tries before this fucking POS self-destructs.” Liam pushes away from his desk and crosses his arms, his brow furrowed with frustration. “Whoever designed this knew their stuff.”
“So did the people who tampered with the security cameras in the parking garage,” Beckett says grimly. “We need to know what’s on that USB.”
I glance down the hallway and into the living room where Lacey and Riley are sitting on the couch, their legs tucked underneath them with blankets on their laps. She’s finally relaxing again, thanks to her friend’s arrival, but I’ve got to burst that temporary bubble.
“Lacey knows something,” I say. “Otherwise, Adrian wouldn’t have given her the USB.”
Liam stands. “She’s our only hope at this point.”
“Yeah. Let’s see if she can shake anything loose now that she’s had a decent night’s sleep and time to chill with Riley.”
I exit the home office and make my way toward the living room with my team members. When we enter the space, Lacey gives me a questioning look when she locks her gaze onto mine. “Still no closer?” she asks, picking up the remote control to pause the show.
“No. And we’ve only got two more attempts before the USB self-destructs whatever files are on it.
” I sink into the chair next to the couch and lean onto my knees, clasping my hands.
“Is there anything random, any casual reference, remark or information Adrian shared with you before he gave you the USB?”
She purses her lips and a line forms between her brows as she thinks.
“Adrian mentioned Julian was dating the Stratford Industries new owner. Whitney Stratford.” Lacey sits straighter and whips out her new cell phone.
After a few seconds, she reads a headline.
“Whitney Stratford Takes Helm of Stratford Industries.”
“Okay. How is that important?” I ask.
She shoots me a triumphant smile. “Julian Vale, CFO of Stratford Industries is her fiancé. I remember Adrian telling me he was surprised when he found out his boss was dating her. Then her parents died in a freak private jet crash. They got engaged after the funeral.”
Riley sets her water bottle down. “I remember reading about that in some online tabloid. You think Julian might be connected to Adrian’s murder?”
“I don’t know,” Lacey says. “But if he is…”
“Then Whitney could be in danger too,” I say. “We’ll let Detective Reynolds in on that bit of info after we confirm the connection.”
“That’s all great to know, but it still doesn’t get us into the USB,” Liam says, rubbing his temple. “Unless Vale’s name gives you a sudden burst of inspiration for the password.”
She stands and paces, chewing her lip, then stops abruptly. “Adrian was pragmatic, geeky to a fault,” she says, her voice resolute. “He might have used something that tied to the engagement date or death of Whitney’s parents.”
I join her and without thinking take her hand in mine. “You’re onto something,” I say. “Liam, let’s try again.”
He nods. “Good thinking, Lacey. We’ve got a place to start.”
We all go to the home office and Liam sits in front of the desk, starts tapping the keyboard. “Okay. First, the Stratfords died March 15th last year. We could try that first with a name. But whose?”
“I say go with Whitney’s,” Lacey says, her voice tinged with excitement, hope.
“Okay, here goes nothing.” Liam types, and we all crowd around him, waiting. Anticipating.
But the screen flashes red. “No dice.”
“Shoot.” Lacey’s hand gets hot, clammy in mine. “We only have one more chance. Or else it’s all over. And Adrian will have died for nothing.”
“You’ve got this, babe,” I say, reassuring her, gently squeezing her hand. “Remember, he trusted you.”
“Okay. If it is a date combined with a name, how about the date of the engagement with her name or…” she stops talking and her fingers tingle in mine like they’re on fire. “Or what if it’s the wedding date? They got engaged pretty quick after that freak accident.”
“Checking the internet now,” Liam says. “Shit. It’s this Saturday. April 19 and there’s more. They’re going on an exclusive, private sailing honeymoon the next day. According to the interview I’m reading right now, Whitney is terrified of flying because of her parents’ sudden deaths.”
“Fucking convenient,” I say.
“Yeah,” Liam says. “Well? What do you say we try the wedding date with the bride’s name?”
“Too easy.” Lacey leans forward. “But I bet if you use her middle name, that might work.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because Rose is Whitney’s middle name,” she says, pointing to the engagement announcement on the screen. “Anyone remember the Titanic movie?”
“Sure. Who could forget that old blockbuster?”
“Not Adrian. He’s a sentimental geek, remember? We watched that movie a couple of times when he still lived in my apartment complex,” she says. “I bet he tied the Titanic’s main character to Whitney. Try it. Try the wedding date with her middle name.”
Lacey’s voice is excited, hopeful. I feel the energy zipping through her skin and into mine. “Do it,” I encourage my teammate.
Liam enters the date and her middle name. The screen flickers, then opens. “We’re in,” he announces, his voice triumphant.
“Oh my god. I did it. I figured it out.” Lacey links her fingers tighter in mine and turns to me, her gaze grateful, happy. Filled with something more. Heat and fire. “I didn’t let Adrian down.”
Electricity bolts through me straight down to my balls. Everything about Lacey makes me want to lay claim to every inch of her body all over again.
“You did great, babe.” My voice cracks a little. Fuck. I sound like I’m a kid on his first date. So, I clear my throat before I talk again. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks,” she whispers and it’s like there isn’t anyone else in the room but us.
“Holy shit,” Liam says, interrupting our little moment, busting that bubble once more. “This isn’t just corporate bookkeeping. These are payouts to shell companies. Huge sums of money.”
“Adrian must have discovered the files accidentally,” Lacey says. “No way would he be involved in something criminal.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Beckett interjects. “We’ll know that soon enough.”
Another force punches adrenaline into my nerves.
She’s in way over her head. And whatever happens or doesn’t happen between us, I will protect her.
“In the meantime, we just have to keep you out of danger and prevent another potential murder,” I say grimly as the contents of the USB load onto the screen- a series of encrypted files and folders with labels directly linking Adrian’s boss to the company. “And time is running out.”
Not just for the bride-to-be. But for me. Because the closer we get to getting Lacey back to her real life, the closer I get to leaving for my next assignment. I read the text I got from Beckett earlier about the training center. Maybe I should consider his offer more seriously.
Because now I’m second-guessing why I would ever want to leave.