Chapter 22
22
W ith Marco gone, Theresa admitted, only to herself, that she felt uneasy. Things were heating up and with the go-ahead to begin publishing her stories, things would surely get more dangerous. Until they couldn't. If that was a thing. Maybe once all was exposed, they'd kill her for exposing them. They wouldn't care about saving her or their reputations, those would be tarnished anyway.
She shook her head to give the negative thoughts a shove out and began to focus on the task at hand. Her phone vibrated and she halted for a moment, then remembered it was the phone Mitch had given her and they didn't have that number.
"Hello."
Marco's husky voice filled her ear. "Hey, there. I'm just checking in to make sure you're okay."
She let out a sigh. "Hi. I'm good. Just thinking the worst."
"Don't do that. You need to keep your head on straight. Stay clear on the task and be aware. Though you're safe there. You have more security than the local jail."
She chuckled. "That's comforting."
He laughed and she closed her eyes to imagine what he looked like laughing. She could see his face. His beautiful smile. She'd watched him at work for six months and regretted how things were. Now they'd moved into a new phase, and she wanted to play this out.
She sat at her computer and pulled open the ledgers she'd scanned in. They used codes for where the money came from. She had a code sheet Mercury had helped her put together. She pulled up her code sheet and started color-coding the ledgers, giving each code its own color.
After an hour, she rotated her neck to relieve the stiffness in it. She stood and stretched then carried her now cold coffee cup to the kitchen. She dumped the cold coffee and rinsed her cup.
She turned to see the coffee pot had turned off. Touching the outside of the pot, she realized it had turned off a while ago.
She took a deep breath, opened the refrigerator, and found bottles of water on the door shelf. She pulled a bottle out and twisted the cap. Taking a long drink she set it on the counter and replaced the cap. Marco had mail sitting at the edge of the counter and she noted his address. What caught her attention was the zip code.
Her heart sped up and she hurried to her computer and looked at the code she and Mercury knew were attorneys working for the Celtics. She scanned the list of attorneys and found one that stopped her heart mid-beat.
She picked up her phone with shaking fingers and tapped on Marco's number.
He answered, "Hey, there, beautiful."
She chuckled. "Hey, handsome. I have a question."
"Let me have it."
"Do you happen to know if all of the extended zip codes in town are the same?"
"Hmm. Not something I ever researched fully, but I think the last four digits are specific to a building, a group of apartments, or a post office box. It helps in mapping an area for postal delivery. Why this very random question?"
"I think I have the last part of the code figured out."
"Honey, what code?"
She swallowed. "The codes in the ledgers. Mercury and I weren't sure what those codes meant. But I just saw your mail on the counter and figured it out. It's zip codes. That's how they coded where their money came from."
"Okay."
"Marco, is there a way you can find out what the extended zip code is for the attorney's office?"
He was quiet for a moment, then responded. "Yes. I'll call you when I have it."
"Be careful..." The call had ended before she managed to get the words out of her mouth.
She took a deep breath, more excited now that she'd figured it out. At least she was pretty sure. She then set up a new spreadsheet on her computer and added a column for location. She'd then drill this down further to identify exactly which buildings in their respective states and cities the money came from.
She quickly put her spreadsheet together, eager to ferret out the mysteries in her story so she could change it to add the addresses and people. If she was calling people out, she would do it fully and completely.
An explosion nearby shook the building. Theresa slipped off her chair the force was so great. She looked around and saw the bright orange flickers outside the living room window. She crawled to the window; not sure she should show herself.
She peered at the corner of the window and found the vehicle that Mitch had loaned her engulfed in flames. Sirens grew louder and people began standing in the parking lot staring at the burning vehicle.
Theresa gasped and dropped to the corner of the room. It was hard to catch her breath. They knew she was here. They'd found her. How did they know she was here? Her mind raced. Who knew she was here? Mitch knew. Marco knew. Jace and Margo knew. The police knew.
She closed her eyes and practiced deep breathing for only a moment. She didn't have a vehicle to escape with. Marco was gone with his. She was a sitting duck here.
Panic rose again and tears poured from her eyes. She was going to die tonight. Taking a final deep breath, she crawled from the window to the short hallway that led to her bedroom. She pulled her weapon and holster from her purse. She belted her holster on and loaded the full magazine into her 9mm. She may go out, but she would go out fighting. She'd riddle anyone with holes who tried coming in to get her.
She inhaled deeply and ran to her computer, staying as far from the window as possible. She checked the time. It was five-forty p.m. Her second report had been posted forty minutes ago. They acted fast.
As she saved her data on her computer, her fingers shook furiously. She logged out of her encrypted files and closed the lid on her laptop. She pulled it from the table and slid it under the stove. For however long it would be hidden, they wouldn't be able to destroy her files.
She swallowed as she heard footsteps in the hallway. Pulling her gun from its holster, she racked the slide to insert a bullet in the chamber and pulled her hands close to her body, her gun facing out. She was ready.
"Theresa?" She heard a male voice call out. She sucked in a breath.
"Theresa, it's me. Marco. I'm coming in."
She heard the key in the lock, but her brain wasn't registering everything correctly. The door pushed open and she took a deep breath.
"Theresa. I'm coming in."
Marco stepped into the living room and her heartbeat increased as if she had run a marathon.
"Put the gun down, baby." His voice was soothing. He stared at her and she finally registered it was him. She swallowed the knot in her throat and lowered her weapon.
Marco stepped inside and locked the door. She holstered her weapon, and he rushed to her and pulled her tightly into his arms.
"Thank God you're alright."