Page 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

“J etta?”

She opened her eyes a crack, her body not ready to leave the warm embrace of sleep. “What?”

“A Fairfax County detective is here to talk with you.” Seth held a cup of something hot and steaming under her nose. She sniffed in the welcome aroma of hot chocolate. If she couldn’t have caffeine from coffee, at least she could drink hot chocolate.

She pushed to a seated position and brushed her hair off her cheek. “Give me a minute,” she said to the man wearing rumpled khakis and a wrinkled button-down shirt.

“Take your time.” He flipped pages in a small notebook while she tried to blink the last vestiges of sleep from her brain.

It wasn’t going well, but the hot chocolate would help. She reached for the cup, and Seth handed it over. The first sip was heavenly. “Hmm. Where did you find this?”

“A Cuppa Joe via DoorDash.” He held up his own insulated paper cup. “I knew they opened at four for the shift change crowd, so I put in the order.”

She’d slept for nearly three hours, but her body craved even more. “Any news on my mom?”

“She was taken for the X-ray about half an hour ago, so we should hear how she’s doing soon.” Seth resettled in his chair, his five o’clock shadow now more like a scruffy beard.

The desire to run her fingers over his jawline had her raising her hand, but she covered the gesture by shoving it through her own tangled locks. She must look a mess, but she couldn’t care less. More sips of the deliciously creamy cocoa gave her brain enough of a kick she thought she could carry on a reasonable conversation. “I’m ready.”

“I’m Detective Mason Harwell, assisting with the investigation into your mother’s kidnapping.” The older man tapped his pen against the notebook. “There’s not much to report about your mom’s abduction. We did request the security camera footage from the data center, but that will take some time. Forensics is sifting through all the trash we collected, but most of it appears to have been there for weeks, if not months.”

“Maybe Mom will remember something useful.” Jetta drank more hot chocolate.

A nurse came over to them. “Ms. Ainsley? Your mother’s back from X-ray.”

“Okay.” Jetta rocked in her seat, careful not to spill her drink, to build a little momentum to stand. Who knew being pregnant would make simple things like rising from a seated position difficult?

“Is Mrs. Ainsley able to answer some questions?” Detective Harwell stood as well.

“I think so,” the nurse said. “Follow me.”

Seth hung back. “I’ll check in with Brogan while you two talk to Emily.”

Disappointment he wouldn’t be by her side made Jetta almost ask him to come with her, but she held her tongue. His presence beside her would only fuel her mother’s determination to play matchmaker between them. Better to not encourage Mom to see a future where Jetta most certainly did not, despite her growing affection for Seth.

“After you.” The detective gestured for Jetta to go first, then fell into step behind her. Soon, they arrived at her mother’s cubicle. Mom had her eyes closed when they entered but opened them when Jetta touched her arm.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Her mother’s voice was stronger than before, and Jetta hoped that meant she’d gotten a little sleep too.

“Hi, Mom.” She introduced the detective. “He has a few questions for you, if you feel up to it.”

Mom nodded.

“Walk me through what happened yesterday.” Detective Harwell settled into one of the plastic chairs with his notebook open.

“I’d gone to the bathroom in my room. When I came out, two men dressed in scrubs with facemasks and gloves grabbed me. One of them said if I squealed, they would hurt Jetta.”

Jetta covered her mouth with her hand to hold back a cry as her mother detailed the men bundling her out of a back door of the building, across the grass, and through the hedge to a waiting van.

“We found your slipper by the hedge,” Jetta interjected when her mother paused to sip some water. “That’s how we knew someone must have taken you, as you couldn’t have walked that far on your own.”

“They kind of half carried me, and I remember deliberately kicking it off to leave behind a clue.” Mom gazed at Jetta. “I knew you’d find it and realize something had happened to me.”

The detective cleared his throat. “What happened next?”

Her mother continued her tale, and Jetta shuddered as she listened to what her mother had gone through—being stuffed into the van and driven for hours before she was deposited into a room with only a mattress on the floor.

“Any idea as to why they kidnapped you? There was never any hint of ransom,” Detective Harwell said.

“I don’t think it was about money, or at least, it wasn’t about getting money specifically for my return.” Emily’s brow wrinkled as if she was trying to puzzle something out. “Jetta, did you tell him about your father and the embezzlement?”

“No, but I did mention it to the officers I spoke with at the rehab center.” Jetta sketched the basic outline of the original case and what they had done so far to try to uncover the truth after her mother had received the envelope. “We have a lot of pieces but haven’t been able to put together a full picture.”

Detective Harwell jotted down notes, then refocused on the recent kidnapping. “Why do you think the accusations against your husband and your kidnapping are connected?”

“Because someone came in—disguised with a ski mask and wearing gloves too—to ask me about Topher Robotics and some secret project called Vie.” Mom shivered. “The person wasn’t happy when I said I had no idea what they were talking about. But the person knew all about my trying to clear Jay’s name of the embezzlement charge.”

Jetta crossed her arms, resting them on top of her rounded belly. “Why would they think you knew about the project?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea.” Her mother sighed. “Then the two men who’d taken me returned last night, grabbed me, and left me in the cemetery. I never saw the other person again.”

Detective Harwell asked more questions, but her mother didn’t have more to add to her original recollection. He stood. “Thank you for your time, and I hope you’ll recover from your ordeal.” He handed Jetta his business card, then addressed Mom. “Please call me if you recall anything else.”

Her mother thanked the detective. As he left, the doctor returned. “Mrs. Ainsley, good news. Your recent excursion didn’t damage your leg. The bones are still healing nicely.”

“I sense a but coming,” her mother said.

The doctor laughed. “But since we also had your chest x-rayed, we found a small white spot on your lungs, which indicates you have an infection, probably pneumonia. So we’d like to keep you for a day to get some antibiotics going through an IV.”

She coughed. “Now that you mention it, I have felt more congested and some pain when breathing, but not all the time.”

“We caught it early, so with the antibiotics, you’ll be feeling better soon.” He touched her mother’s hand. “A nurse will be by to let you know when we have a room ready for you upstairs.”

After he left, Jetta scooted her chair closer and took her mother’s hand between both of hers. “I’m sorry, Mom. I know you want to go home, and not be in a hospital again.”

“But I won’t be going home, will I?” Mom sighed. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but change is hard.”

“Saying goodbye to the house you lived in for so long must be difficult too.” Jetta drew in a breath. “May I pray for you?”

“That would be wonderful.” Emily closed her eyes, and Jetta did the same. Then she lifted up her mother before the Lord, praising God for her safe return and asking for her healing. She closed with a petition that they would clear Jay’s name as well.

“Amen,” Mom echoed when Jetta finished. “Thank you, my dear.”

Jetta smiled. “Of course. It’s nice to share faith with you.”

“I shouldn’t have strayed after your father died, but God has brought me back into his fold.” Mom coughed, reminding Jetta of her mother’s fragile health.

The nurse whisked back the curtain. “Mrs. Ainsley, they’re ready to move you to your room.”

Jetta rose to move out of the way as the nurse began unhooking the medical equipment. An orderly came in and raised the siderails on the bed.

The nurse turned to Jetta. “You can check in at the front desk in about half an hour to get the room number.”

Dismissed, Jetta returned to the waiting room. Seth sat, elbows on knees, his attention fixed on his smartphone. She paused to study him, admiring the way his long-sleeved t-shirt conformed to his impressive arm muscles. Long legs encased in faded blue jeans put him over six feet tall, a nice contrast to her own five feet, six inches. His rumpled brown hair and growing beard added to his overall physical appeal. Then there was their kiss. The kiss had rocked her to her toes. Even the baby had seemed to leap for joy at the contact.

But while she admitted to being attracted to the outward package, it was the inner man who tugged at her own heart. She’d seen his gentle nature, his kindness, his compassion, his willingness to help. All of those attributes made him irresistible, but resist him she must, although not for her own sake but for his. He might say now he wouldn’t mind raising another man’s child, but when he heard the rest of the story, he might change his mind. She thought too highly of him to ever tie him to her and the baby, no matter what her heart had begun to tell her.

* * *

Seth shut his vehicle door and shouldered his camera bag before walking toward Topher Robotics. He hoped the early morning run with Bingley, plus the gallons of coffee he had consumed, would keep him alert during their interview with Ryan Topher.

As he held the door for a pair of women exiting the building, he prayed once more for Jetta, who he’d left resting with Bingley. She’d been cool toward him, expressing thanks for taking Bingley out but not trying to engage in conversation beyond the essentials. Maybe it was because they both were exhausted after being in the hospital with Emily, but somehow, he thought it was due to her having second thoughts about a relationship with him that went beyond friendship.

With an effort, he shook off his thoughts of Jetta to focus on the upcoming interview. He entered the building and spotted Brogan chatting on his cell by a group of club chairs to the right of the reception area. He dumped his camera bag onto the low table and removed the digital camera, looping the strap over his head. While he waited for Brogan to finish his call, he snapped a few pics of the lobby.

“Ready?” Brogan pocketed his phone. “We’re right on time.”

“Let’s do this.” Seth slung the bag on his shoulder, then followed Brogan to greet the receptionist, who verified their appointment, gave them visitor badges, then called Ryan Topher’s assistant.

“Ms. Stanhope will be down in a few minutes.” The receptionist smiled, then answered the ringing phone.

Brogan and Seth stepped to the left of the desk to wait closer to the bank of elevators. “Any updates on Mrs. Ainsley or the kidnappers?”

“Not since I texted you what Jetta said her mother relayed.” Seth raised his camera to capture a wall of water glowing from the sunlight pouring in through the floor to ceiling windows. He probably wouldn’t use it for the story, but it would make a nice addition to his personal portfolio.

“Hmm, yes. I did some digging this morning to see what I could find on Vie, and the rumor mill has been rampart with whether Topher actually has such a wearable device or if he’s fanning the flames to stave off Maxwell Technology’s bid.”

The elevator doors swished open, and a middle-aged woman wearing low heels and a no-nonsense expression headed their way. “Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Whitmore, I’m Mae Stanhope, Mr. Topher’s executive assistant. If you’ll come this way, Mr. Topher is expecting you.”

Inside the car, Ms. Stanhope pressed the top floor, number fourteen.

“Have you worked for Mr. Topher long?” Brogan smiled at the woman.

“I’ve been his secretary since he became CEO.”

“How long have you been with the company?”

“Twenty-six years.” Ms. Stanhope shifted from one foot to another, then back again.

A potentially nervous response to Brogan’s innocuous query. Interesting. Seth studied her from his position in the corner of the elevator while Brogan asked a few general questions about the company. The woman wore her graying brown hair in a low bun at the nape of her neck. Silver hoop earrings adorned her ears, and she wore a plain gold band on her left ring finger. The collar of her suit jacket showed some wear around the edges, and the plum color of the outfit appeared a little faded as if from frequent washes. Not a woman with expensive tastes, at least in clothes and jewelry.

The soft ding of the elevator indicated their arrival on the fourteenth floor. Ms. Stanhope stepped out and turned to the right, hurrying a little bit as if she couldn’t wait to get away from them. Even more interesting. She stopped in front of a door at the far end and pushed it open without knocking. Inside, a small anteroom held a desk with a name plate reading “Mae Stanhope,” plus a bank of filing cabinets against one wall.

Ms. Stanhope rapped on the closed door at a right angle to her desk, then entered. “Mr. Topher? Mr. Gilmore and Mr. Whitman are here.”

She turned to Seth and Brogan. “Mr. Topher will see you.” She stepped back to allow them to enter the room.

Brogan went first and Seth followed him inside the spacious corner room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Thick drapes in muted shades of burgundy stood open on the west-facing wall of the office but closed on the east-facing wall, likely to block out the morning sun. As Seth had expected, the room had the decor of a successful businessman, with expensive furniture and objects d’art.

Ryan Topher rose from behind a massive antique partners desk, his hand outstretched to greet Brogan, then Seth. “Do you want any coffee or water before we get started?”

Neither one did, so the CEO gestured toward a leather loveseat and two matching club chairs grouped in one corner. Seth figured the man was trying for a more informal approach to what he thought would be a puff piece.

“Mr. Topher, thank you for agreeing to meet with us today.” Brogan pulled out his notebook and pen.

“Please, call me Ryan.” The man smiled, but Seth detected concern behind the expression in the way his mouth tightened at the corners.

“Will your siblings be joining us?”

At Brogan’s question, Ryan frowned. “I thought this was a profile of me.”

“It is,” Seth interjected, holding up his camera, “but we wanted some pictures of the three of you for the story.”

His explanation relaxed the frown lines on Ryan’s face. “I’ll ask Mae to have them come by toward the end of our time.” He uncrossed his legs as if preparing to step out to chat with his assistant, but Seth stood.

“I’m happy to relay that to Ms. Stanhope while I ask her about potential places for the photographs.” Seth glanced around the space. “Your office is too bright with the morning sun, even with the curtains drawn. I’ll take a few photos here, but I think another location, maybe in one of your labs, might be more interesting.”

Ryan considered his request, then nodded. “Mae’s been with the company for years, so she’ll know which spots might work.”

“Thank you.” Seth left Brogan to interview Ryan. Outside, Ms. Stanhope sat typing on her keyboard. “Ms. Stanhope?”

“Yes?” She removed her reading glasses.

“I’d like to photograph Mr. Topher with his siblings at the end of the interview. He said you could let them know?” He smiled and leaned closer. “I was also hoping you could show me some good spots around the building for taking pictures. You must know all the places with natural light and interesting backgrounds.”

She seemed to thaw a little at his compliment. “I’ll let Ms. Yasmine and Mr. Gene know about the photograph, then show you a couple of spots that might work.”

He waited while she sent the emails, then followed her back to the elevator. She took him not to the ground floor, but the fifth. “Right this way.” She moved to the left down a short hallway, then used a keycard to access a locked door.

Inside, Seth stepped into large open space. Skylights and large windows on three sides let in tons of natural light. The open floor plan held not cubicles but workstations where people wearing white lab coats worked on various mechanical objects. A low hum of activity filled the space. “The robotics department, I presume?”

“This is where the magic happens.” Ms. Stanhope’s words might have been flippant, but Seth interpreted them as sincere based on the woman’s rapt expression.

“It’s rather amazing.” He lifted his camera and snapped some photos, capturing the sense of accomplishment in the room. “This does have great natural light but it’s a bit too busy for a group shot of the siblings.”

“I have a few other places in mind too.” She motioned him to follow her. Back in the elevator, she punched the ground floor. “We have a garden between the buildings that might work for what you have in mind.”

“Great.” Seth let a few moments of silence build before adding, “I appreciate you taking me around to these spots.”

“You’re welcome.” Some of the stiffness left her shoulders.

“Given how long you’ve been with the company, you must have known the founder, Peter Topher.”

To his surprise, Ms. Stanhope sniffed as if fighting back tears. “I can’t believe he’s in the hospital.”

“Hospital?”

“He had a heart attack last night, or at least that’s what the doctors suspect. His wife found him slumped over his desk this morning.”

“I hope he recovers.” The timing of the elder Topher’s health crisis seemed a little too good to be true, but perhaps the man had a tricky heart. “Had he experienced heart trouble before?”

“Oh, my goodness, no. The man’s always been as healthy as a horse.” The doors slid open, and she led the way to a side door around the corner from the elevators. “Everyone’s shocked by the suddenness of this attack.”

Once she unlocked the door with her key card, Seth held the door open for her. “I imagine so.”

The sun shone on a well-tended garden, highlighting trees beginning to turn from green to gold, orange, and red. Fall mums added splashes of color to the flowerbeds while evergreen bushes, trimmed into submission, provided a backdrop. Wooden benches set back from the gravel pathways added to the charm of the space. “What a lovely oasis.”

“This was the senior Mr. Topher’s idea. He wanted to create beauty in the midst of all the brick and mortar of the buildings.”

“I’d say he succeeded.” Seth wandered around to scope out possible places for the photos. He found several areas he thought would work as backgrounds for the sibling photos. “I think this will work nicely for the pictures of the three Tophers.”

“Very well.” She checked her watch bracelet. “Mr. Topher can only spare an hour, so I’ll have Ms. Yasmine and Mr. Gene come here at ten-forty-five. Will that give you enough time?”

Fifteen minutes would be tight, but he could make it work. “Sure. I’ll go back and snap a few while Brogan wraps up his interview.”

Seth and Ms. Stanhope returned to Ryan’s office, where Seth rejoined Brogan in Ryan’s office to take some photos while Brogan finished his interview. He concentrated on capturing Ryan, tuning out his answers to Brogan’s questions as he worked. All too soon, Ms. Stanhope came back in to remind them of the time.

Brogan gathered his phone and notebook, Seth his camera and bag, then the four of them went back downstairs and out to the garden. Seth had Ryan sit on one of the benches for some solo pics while they waited for his siblings. Brogan asked a few additional questions to wrap up his interview.

Then an attractive woman, who Seth recognized as Yasmine Topher, appeared, wearing a dark-blue skirt suit and a white blouse. “Why on earth didn’t you cancel this, Ryan?” Yasmine glared at Seth, then Brogan. “We have the emergency board meeting at eleven-thirty because of Dad being unresponsive in the hospital.”

“Dad always put this company first, so I thought I would honor him by doing the same,” Ryan retorted with an edge to his voice as if warning his sister to be careful with her words.

“Since when do you care about the company?” Gene Topher strolled up in his own dark suit.

“I care, which is why I’m fighting to keep it in the family,” Ryan hissed between his teeth.

Seth stepped in before the siblings came to physical blows. “Gene, would you please join your brother on the bench? Yasmine, stand behind your brothers.” Seth situated the two brothers so that Yasmine was framed in the middle.

As he snapped a series of photos, Brogan asked Gene and Yasmine a few questions about Ryan’s leadership over the years. From their replies, Seth gathered the trio didn’t see eye-to-eye on how Ryan was running the company.

“I thought this was a profile of Ryan.” Yasmine followed Seth’s instructions to lay a hand on each brother’s shoulder.

“It was, but with the hostile takeover bid by Maxwell Industries, it has become a bigger story.” Brogan shrugged as if he had no control over that.

Seth rearranged the siblings several times, snapping photos while Brogan continued with his questions. Finally, Ms. Stanhope cleared her throat. “Mr. Topher, it’s eleven.”

Ryan stood. “That’s all the time we have for you today.”

Seth stepped over to where he’d laid his camera bag as Brogan thanked Ryan for his time.

As Ryan, Yasmine, and Gene headed for the door together, Brogan tossed out, “Oh, one more question, if you don’t mind.”

The siblings turned in unison, Ryan raising an eyebrow.

“Why are Yasmine and Gene conspiring with Maxwell Technology on the hostile takeover of Topher Robotics?”