out there, it sure gives your lawyer ammunition for reasonable doubt.”
“I'm a doctor with access to drugs and compounds,” Natasha said.
“But they haven't accused you of anything. Just me,” Ward said.
“I'll call Gene,” Ward told them. “He'll know what we should do, legally speaking, and he can call the FBI and explain it to them. He can probably get them to come out here.”
“And we can see if someone has figured out our alarm system's code,” Ward said. “It's a top-of- the- line system and we always arm it when we leave, and at night when we settle in. With all the home invasions around, I figured that because people might think Natasha keeps drugs here they might come to find them.”
“Has it gone off recently?” Todd asked.
“No. A few times when we first got it and made stupid mistakes. Not in three or four years, though.”
“There should be a record of entries. Even if he entered your code, or somehow added his own, the entries should have registered with the monitoring service,” Todd said. “Get me their information and I'll get the log and we can see if it was disarmed when you weren't here. Go ahead and call Duncan.”
Ward reached for the portable phone.
“I'll sweep the house for bugs,” Todd said, standing. “I carry some sweeping equipment in the truck that'll tell me if there's anything here. And I'll take pictures of the hide and what he left there. And if you'll empty some water bottles and get a funnel if you have one, I can collect the samples.”
“But wine bottles have corks,” Leslie said.
“A syringe would take care of that,” Todd told her bluntly “We'll know if there's anything in them later today. A toxicology screen doesn't take long, and I'll get it rushed.”
Ward dialed Gene.
“I was just about to call you,” Gene said, by way of answering.
“You need to come to the house right now,” Ward told him.
“What's up?” Gene asked.
Ward said, “We should talk face- to- face.”
“Give me fifteen minutes.”
THIRTY-NINE
Ward accompanied Todd Hartman as he swept the house and collected three small listening devices from the kitchen, den, and dining area. Someone had been in the house. Todd placed the bugs into a foam- lined envelope.
“These are high- quality bugs-minis that transmit to a receiver. The range is limited to two or three hundred yards at the most. He can place a gatherer inside that zone, and from that device he can transmit anywhere. He's definitely been listening to your conversations.”
Todd collected the wine bottles, orange juice containers, and Scotch bottles. He lifted one of the unopened orange juice cartons and, turning it upside down, squeezed it. A tiny stream of orange liquid arced across the room. Someone had been in the house.
“You were right, Todd, he used a syringe,” Leslie said.
“Who used a syringe?” Gene asked as he walked into the room, redfaced. After Natasha told him what they'd figured out, Gene accompanied Todd out to the hide. He studied the binoculars, the sharpening stone, and the carvings. Ward saw Gene open his phone and make a call. After five minutes in the heat, they went back inside.
“Todd has pictures of everything so we have a record,” Ward said.
“We need to give the remaining liquids to the FBI, but I agree that Todd should definitely have his samples checked. Not that I don't trust the FBI, but they haven't given us any reason to. Lander Electric wouldn't do this,” Gene said conclusively.
“The Dibbles are behind this,” Ward said. “It's the only thing that makes sense. If not Flash, then Trey is behind it. I know it in my bones.”
“I talked to Flash,” Gene said. “He said the last offer is still on the table unchanged. Doesn't seem like he's taking advantage of this.”
“That was nice of him,” Natasha said angrily. She wasn't ready to let a Dibble off the hook.
“Don't you think you could cut him some slack?” Gene said. “If he'd been involved, do you think he would keep his offer firm? Ward, as your attorney and friend, I'd advise you to consider his offer. Who knows what else might happen that would negatively affect the company's value.”
“Gene, I'm surprised at you,” Natasha said. “Haven't you considered that it may be the best way for Flash to distance himself from the dirty tricks? Maybe he knows Trey is responsible and wants to protect him. He knows any damage to the company's reputation won't last once Ward is out of the picture.”
Ward stared at his wife as if seeing her for the first time. He had long ago accepted the fact that Natasha was a lot smarter and more perceptive than he was. The knowledge that she was ready to fight the world at his side warmed him and steeled his resolve.
“You ready to let Lander Electric off the hook? They could be behind this. They could have hired this stalker, or investigator-no offense to your profession, Todd-or whatever he is,” Gene said.
“Maybe they are responsible,” Natasha acknowledged, “but I can't see where the virus, or Ward's innocence or guilt, would affect our wrongful death case.”
Ward smiled quietly at her use of the word “our.”
Gene said, “Unless they think a jury will believe that a man who can get off looking at naked children is the sort of nut who would kill his own son so he could collect insurance, which there wasn't any, or sue them because of it.” Hearing Gene say that gave Ward a hot, hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. And it pissed him off. And someone had been in the house. And that terrified Ward McCarty more than he could possibly have imagined.
FORTY
Todd went to his truck and returned holding two cell phones. “I have these for you to use. They're encrypted, so Gene and I can call you and you can call us without worrying about being monitored. The numbers are on the labels on the backs. When this is over, you can go back to using your lines. These'll work with your chargers.”
Ward and Natasha took the cell phones and looked at the numbers on the backs of the units.
Gene came into the room and said, “What other brand of shit are we going to step into?”
Ward was thinking about Alice Palmer. The girl could certainly add gasoline to the fire that appeared to be no more than coals, and if she went to the federal prosecutor, he might use her as additional proof of Ward's sexual interest in youngsters. Ward was about to mention her to Gene when Natasha did. “Todd, tell Gene about Alice Palmer,” she said. “And the missing car.”
“Who?” Gene asked.
“I'll let Todd tell you,” Ward said.
After Todd ran it all down, he played the tape of his conversation with Alice for Gene. The lawyer shook his head and said, “For pity's sake, can it get any worse? You should have told me this earlier, a lot earlier.”
“Isn't that the truth,” Natasha said. She was staring out the window.
“I figured Todd could handle it. So far he's batting a thousand.”
“It's under control,” Todd added evenly.
Natasha said, “I guess that hole out there explains why I felt like I was being watched. Sunday I thought I saw something move out there in the shadows. Jesus, I thought it was an animal.”
“Do you have a gun in the house?” Todd asked.
“Of course not.” Natasha was incredulous. “Why would we own a gun?”
“Well,” Todd said, “whatever was out in that hole is the best reason I can think of.”
“Ward? With a gun!” Gene said, laughing out loud. “I doubt he knows which end the bullets come out
