collapsed by now, but the fear and the energy fueled by the caffeine kept us on the edge of our seats.
“Who ordered your security system?” Em stared ahead, watching some spot on the far wall.
“Synco Systems.” What was she thinking?
“Why?”
“Because they wanted to upgrade. Wanted a better-” and then I remembered. In my first conversation with Sarah, she’d mentioned that a new client had demanded that Synco Systems put in a new system. “It was one of their clients.”
“Any idea who?”
I thought about it for a minute. A new client had told them they wanted Synco to install a better security. Presumably to make sure no one broke into the plant and stole that client’s software secrets. “I do remember. I think she said it was the government.”
“Our government?”
“Yeah. I’m sure of it. She said someone associated with the United States government made the request.”
“The government wanted a new security system installed at S.S. to protect the security system that was being designed for them.”
“Sounds convoluted, but yes. That’s what she said.”
James spoke up. “The security software package that Synco is working on right now is for the Department of Defense, right?”
“It is. Sarah said it’s a secret, but she’s under the impression that the Department of Defense is the client.”
“So, we can assume that the Department of Defense is responsible for your big sale, Skip.” Em smiled at me, stood up, and walked to the window. “Did you guys have renters’ insurance?” She tapped on the plywood.
“No.”
“Just wondered.” She paced with a nervous energy. “Do you remember what we talked about yesterday at lunch?”
Could that have been just yesterday? A lot had happened since then.
“Going back to a starting point? Well, we started when Skip sold the job. But now we know that it goes back a little further. It starts when the Department of Defense asked for a new security system to be installed at Synco Systems.”
“Why does it start there?” James had a cynical tone to his voice.
“Because they were afraid someone would break in and steal the plans for this sophisticated software program that is being installed on their computers.”
“Makes sense.” I nodded.
“The Department of Defense is making sure that their new security system is secure.”
“And? You’re just going around in circles.” James was frustrated. Late hours, caffeine, and a headache usually do that to him.
“It’s all right there. The murder of the vice president, Carol Conroy’s paranoia, even Sarah’s relationship with Sandy Conroy. I can feel it.”
“But you can’t tell us what it is?”
“Feng’s part of it. That conversation you recorded this afternoon. We need a couple more pieces of the puzzle. That’s all.”
“Where are we going to get them?” I had no idea where she was going with this.
“Anybody ready for bed?” James jumped to his feet.
“I couldn’t sleep if I tried.” Em kept pacing in the small room.
“Then let’s go back to Synco.”
“Right now?” I couldn’t imagine what he planned on doing.
“Right now. Skip, you’ve got the temporary code, and at this moment the motion detectors and security devices aren’t hooked up. We’ll never have a better chance to walk in and check out Conroy’s and Feng’s offices.”
“For God’s sake, James, we’ve already broken some sort of law. I almost got myself arrested tonight and-”
“That’s the point, amigo. You didn’t. What you almost got tonight was killed. We can walk into those offices and go through files, paperwork, and whatever else we want to look into. Let’s find out why someone tried to kill us. There are no detectors to stop us. After tomorrow, all those security devices will be hooked up and nobody will be able to get in. Am I right?”
“You’re right.”
“And Skip, there’s something else.”
“What’s that?”
“We can get into Sandy Conroy’s computer.”
“We can?”
“Don’t you remember, compadre? We’ve got the code from our little smoke detector spy on the ceiling.”
He was right again.
“Em?”
“What are you going to do if you get caught?”
“I tell them that we couldn’t sleep.” Caught up in the spirit of the caper, I continued. “I came in to make sure that everything was ready for tomorrow’s hookup.” I figured it might have a chance.
“You know that will never stand up.” Em set her empty coffee cup on the kitchen counter.
“You keep a lookout at the entrance and it won’t have to.” There were two ways in. The main entrance was the only one that was ever used. The rear entrance would only be used for an emergency.
“I know this is one of the worst ideas you guys have ever had.” She brushed her blonde hair off her face. “And you’ve had some really bad ideas.”
“But?” I watched her walking from one end of the room to the other. About nine medium steps.
“Em?” James drained his coffee.
“But I’m going to go along with you.”
“Because you want to help us? Because you and I have a relationship, and you’re sticking by me?”
“Because somebody took a shot at me, Skip, and I am pissed.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
J ames reached behind the driver’s seat and pulled out a rolled mat. “My friends, I will magically transform this vehicle.”
“We could use a little magic tonight.” I watched as he waved the rolled vinyl above his head.
“Watch as the old box truck, magically becomes-” James turned his back to us, unrolled the vinyl, and placed it against the driver’s door, “The Water Connection Plumbers.”
“The Water Connection?” We could barely read the sign in the dim light of the parking lot.
“What is a plumber responsible for? Water in. Water out. Therefore, The Water Connection. The Water Connection Plumbers.” I had to admit, the name worked. I just hoped he’d checked the Yellow Pages to make sure there wasn’t another Water Connection.
“Guy I know from Cap’n Crab printed them up for us. Pretty cool, eh.”
“Problem is, James, you don’t know one end of a wrench from the other.”
I could see him smile. Someone had then taken the letters and intertwined a silver W, C, and P. It actually did look pretty cool. What bothered me the most was the phone number, displayed in a putrid yellow.
“Skip, that’s your number.” Em looked puzzled.
“If someone calls to check up on us, it can’t be a fake number.” James had thought it all out. “They’ve got to believe we’re a real plumbing company. If we’re out on a surveillance call, all you’ve got to do is answer your cell with ‘Water Connection.’”