Page 86 of Exposed

Simon blinked. “I have my emails to Ray.”

“How? They took your laptop.”

“I keep copies of my emails in the cloud.”

“You do?” Mary asked, surprised, and one look at Bennie’s expression told her that she felt the same way. They could havejust struck gold—or it could be a dry hole. “You have your emails?”

“Yes, I keep a copy of every email I have ever written or received. I like to keep a record, an archive. Those emails have so much valuable information. Sales, accounts, contacts, and quality issues like the ones we’re talking about. My work email is company property, so I don’t make a thing about it at work. I hardly ever consult it, but I like to know it’s there.”

“So how do we get it out of the cloud?” Mary spun her laptop around to face Simon. “You can access it from any laptop, can’t you? It’s stored in the ether.”

“True, but…” Simon hesitated. “I don’t remember the password. It’s been years since I’ve used it.”

“What are your go-to passwords?” Mary spun the laptop back. “Tell them to me. We can try a few.”

“No, it’s not a normal word like Rachel’s name or our first dog. I use a password generator. It’s nonsensical.”

“Do you have it stored anywhere, like in your phone? I have one of those virtual wallets with my passwords stored.” Mary didn’t add that she had it only because Anthony had made her.

“I take no chances because it’s the company phone. I don’t want them to know about it. I write my passwords down on a sheet of paper at home.”

“Have you even been home since yesterday?”

“No.” Simon raked back his hair. “I’ve been wanting to go home and see what the house looks like if they searched it, but I haven’t had a spare minute. It’s just been too busy to leave here, with everything that’s going on. Also I figured the cops impounded the car.”

Mary’s thoughts went into overdrive. “I’m assuming they searched your house. We should go check it out. Tell us where you keep your password, and we’ll go right away.”

“How does that work? Do they break in? Do they leave thedoor open?” Simon rubbed his face. “I’d call the neighbors but they’re on vacation. It’s that time of year.”

“It’s okay, we’re on it.” Mary touched his arm. “Your password is where?”

“I always keep it in the same place. You know my home office, on the first floor? Desk drawers on the left, the top one. It’s hidden in a Phillies schedule.”

Suddenly Feet looked up, his eyes welling again. “Mare, you want me to sign this power-of-attorney in case they take Simon away? Do you really think they’re gonna take him to jail?”

Mary touched his arm. “Feet, don’t get upset. I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“But you brought the papers. You want me to sign the papers. Bennie does and so does Simon. That means you all think he’s going to jail. The cops think he did it. His company thinks he did it. They think he killed his boss because he got fired.” Feet held the papers in the air, his lips starting to tremble. “They’re going to take my son away? They’re going to put him in jail for a murder he didn’t do? He didn’t do it!”

“Feet, no,” Mary said, trying to calm him.

“Dad, it’s okay.” Simon got up and went around Feet’s other side. “It’s just a formality. That’s what I was saying to you this morning. It’s like insurance. You get car insurance, it doesn’t mean you’re going to crash. It’s just in case.”

Just then, Bennie’s phone started ringing, and she checked the screen, looking at Mary. “It’s Nate.”

“Who’s Nate?” Simon asked, next to Feet.

“He’s the president of Dumbarton Industries, the parent company.”

“You mean he’s the big boss?” Feet’s lined face flushed with emotion. “Thecapo di tutto capi?”

“Excuse me.” Bennie rose, answering the call, “Nate, what is it?”

Suddenly Feet jumped out of his seat. The POA papersfluttered from his hand, and he lunged toward Bennie. “Gimme that phone!”

“Dad!” Simon shouted, going after him.

“Feet?” Mary called out, as Bennie whirled around in surprise and Feet grabbed the phone from her hand.