AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Change of plan. I’m not going anywhere,” Marco growled. “Joe, stay here and keep your eyes open. Benny, we’re going back to Steadman’s office. Bring your laptop.”
Ignoring Benny’s surprised look, Marco climbed quickly from the Subaru and marched across the street. Hurrying after him, Benny caught up just as Marco charged through the building’s front door.
“What’s happening?” Benny asked, following him into the empty office.
“More than I’m seeing,” Marco replied brusquely, retrieving the flash drive from his pocket. “Put your laptop on the desk and power it up.”
“It’s just sleeping,” Benny replied, quickly depositing the computer in front of Marco and raising the lid.
Pushing the stick into the USB port, he scowled up at the camera, then let out a frustrated grunt.
“Fuck, it’s encrypted!”
“I can unlock it,” Benny said confidently, “but I’ll need to take it back to the compound.”
“How long will it take?”
“That depends, but probably not more than an hour or two.”
“Go. Text me when you’ve cracked it.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Benny replied, removing the flash drive and closing his computer, then pausing, he added, “Has something else happened?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Marco said vaguely. “I’ll fill you in later.”
As Benny picked up his machine and left the room, Marco moved to the window, flicked up the blinds, and watched him walk swiftly across the street to the Subaru. The moment it pulled away from the curb, he stepped to the middle of the empty space and stared up at the camera.
“Steadman, pay attention. If you’re not here in five minutes I’m leaving, and there will be no meeting, not tomorrow, not ever. This is your only chance to speak to me, and it has to be in person.”
Turning around, he meandered into the darkroom, pulled out his phone and set it to record. Carefully putting it back in his pocket, he lifted one of the trays once used to hold the developing chemicals and carried it into the empty office.
“I figured,” he grunted, seeing a thin layer of dust.
“Hello, Marco.”
Turning around, Marco scrutinized the detective walking toward him. Though his physique and brownish hair gave him the appearance of a man much younger than his sixty-five years, Max Steadman’s eyes reflected experience and wisdom.
“That was quick,” Marco remarked, placing the tray on the desk, “but I assume you were still in the building.”
“I wish this was under different circumstances,” Max said, extending his hand, “but I’m still very pleased to meet you.”
Though hesitating for a moment, Marco accepted the invitation.
“I suppose I should call you Max, since you’ve decided to call me Marco.”
“I mean no disrespect,” Max said quickly. “It’s just—well—I must be honest. I met you when you were just a boy, maybe four or five years old. Twice actually.”
Marco’s eyes narrowed. “You said you knew my father but you weren’t friends. I can’t imagine him taking me to meet anyone who wasn’t a friend.”
“To say we weren’t friends may have been slightly misleading,” Max admitted, “and yes, please feel free to call me Max.”
“I’ll get right to the point,” Marco began, continuing to keep his guard up. “You know I’ve seen the photograph, and I’ll be viewing whatever’s on that flash drive very soon. I suspect it will be just as damning as the picture, so why the hell did you give it to Steph? Surely you must realize the danger you’ve placed her in. The Zeppelins ripped her apartment apart. Do they know she has it and what might be on it?”
“You’re a smart guy,” Max said calmly, moving slowly across to the window and looking through the blinds down to the street. “Probably as smart as your old man, but you’re completely wrong about this.”
“Seems pretty straightforward to me. What am I missing?”
“Number one, I didn’t give Steph anything,” Max exclaimed, moving his eyes back to meet Marco’s angry stare. “On the contrary, I’ve done everything in my power to keep her away from you and the Zeppelins. Unfortunately she’s a very stubborn young woman. Number two, I was the one who ransacked her apartment. Besides looking for the flash drive and picture, I was hoping to scare her enough to make her back off.”
