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“Did you?” Shaut said. “But you kept telling me that buying the plans was the only solution.”
“I know how important it was to you. I thought if I could make it work, that you would be pleased.”
“You hear that!” Shaut boasted. “This is the kind of people I hire. He put in extra time on his own to make me happy.”
“But how did Max get it to work?” Williams said as he walked to one of the oblong crystals and looked at it carefully.
“He attached a foot pedal and some kind of little box about the size of a pack of gum,” Pro said.
Brent frowned. “It must have contained a computer chip and the necessary software to run the machine. That was my problem, getting the prisms to spin at the right speed and in the right directions.”
“How did he know what would work with what you built?” Chu asked.
Williams shrugged. “He must have snuck in here to see what I’d come up with.” He turned to Pro and Chu, his eyes wide. “That means he’s been here—more than once.”
“I’m lucky I wasn’t murdered in my sleep!” Shaut blurted.
Brent Williams looked at the detectives angrily. “You must make sure Mister Shaut is protected.”
“I intend to,” Pro said. “I will be by his side for the rest of the day and will personally escort him to the theater.”
“Just you?” Williams sneered.
“Officers Bailey and Barker will be posted here until we return from the show tonight.”
“And after that?” Williams insisted.
“After that, we will see,” Pro said. “There is an APB out on Max and he could be picked up at any minute.”
“Hmph!” Williams grunted. “But not by you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Pro growled.
“Nothing that isn’t obvious,” Williams said, chin held high. “You’ve had several opportunities to capture Marvell, and yet each time he slips through your fingers.”
“So what?”
“It seems that the person helping him get away is none other than his own daughter who happens to be a detective at NYPD.” Williams stepped closer. “I heard he got out of a holding cell at your precinct.”
Pro’s back straightened, and she seemed to become taller next to the man. Though they were both five-eleven, Pro seemed to grow and tower over him as her cheeks grew flushed.
“I would never help a prisoner escape,” Pro hissed with vehemence.
“But you have to admit,” Shaut said, and leaned against the table saw, “he always seems to escape when you’re nearby.”
Pro crossed her arms. ”Are you suggesting—”
Shaut stood and raised his hands defensively. “It’s just weird, that’s all. You say you recognized the mirror cabinet. Why didn’t you know what it was earlier, when you could’ve caught the guy?”
“He has a point, detective.” Brent smirked.
“Nevertheless,” Chu said, “Detective Thompson is assigned to Mister Shaut as your protection, and Officers Bailey and Barker will remain here to watch the residence.” He stepped toward the door. “What time do you go to the theater, Mister Shaut?”
“6:00 PM,” Shaut replied.
“Good. I will return then.” Chu gave a nod to Pro, who
was still actively working to control her temper, and went out the door.
