Chapter 14 - Fire at Nolan Mechanical
Mark did not go alone.
Ruiz would not allow it.
By the time police reached Nolan Mechanical, smoke was already pushing from the rear loading bay.
Firefighters forced entry.
The server room had been doused with accelerant.
But the automatic suppression system had activated.
The servers were soaked.
Not destroyed.
Sam Ortega was found unconscious in his office.
Alive.
He had been struck from behind.
Security cameras showed the attacker wearing a hood.
But the figure limped slightly on the right leg.
Lucy watched the footage once.
“Pike.”
Ruiz frowned.
“He was discharged from the hospital into custody.”
“Check.”
They did.
Pike had been transported to a county medical unit.
At 11:40 p.m., a forged transfer order moved him to a private orthopedic facility.
He never arrived.
The signature authorizing the transfer belonged to a county administrator already named in Keller’s ledger.
Pike was loose.
And desperate.
Federal technicians recovered the company data.
They found enough to freeze seven shell-company accounts.
Victor’s money.
Diane’s money.
Pike’s money.
Two city officials’ money.
The network was collapsing.
That made Pike more dangerous.
At sunrise, Lucy received a call from an unknown number.
She answered.
Pike said, “You should have stayed missing.”
Ruiz signaled for the trace.
Lucy kept him talking.
“You should have chosen a different doctor.”
“Keller got sentimental.”
“You killed him?”
A pause.
Mark looked at Ruiz.
Pike laughed.
“Cars crash.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you get.”
Lucy’s voice hardened.
“What do you want?”
“The original ledger.”
“You burned the cabin.”
“I know Keller made another copy.”
“He did.”
Mark stared at her.
Lucy continued.
“And you’ll never find it.”
Pike’s breathing changed.
“Careful.”
“You threatened the wrong woman seven months ago.”
“No. I underestimated the wrong kid last night.”
Lucy’s face went white.
Mark stepped closer.
“What did you say?”
Pike hung up.
Ruiz looked at the trace.
“Cell tower near downtown.”
Mark’s phone rang immediately.
His sister.
Her voice was hysterical.
“Mark, Jack’s gone.”
The hallway tilted.
“What?”
“He said he was going downstairs for ice. The security officer is on the floor. Somebody hit him.”
Lucy grabbed Mark’s arm.
“No.”
Then Mark’s phone received a photo.
Jack sat in the back seat of a car.
Hands zip-tied.
Terrified but conscious.
A message beneath it read:
BRING THE LEDGER TO THE RESTAURANT.
COME ALONE.
— — —
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