Page 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

S eth leaned against the wall across from the auditorium to watch the shareholders of Topher Robotics enter for the emergency meeting. He reminded himself for the umpteenth time to not make this more than it was—a request by Jetta’s mom to keep an eye on her daughter. Jetta acquiesced because she didn’t want to upset her mother. While Jetta hadn’t told him that in so many words, he had read between the lines of her texts to decipher the real reason for her request.

Jetta had promised to keep him updated via text on the proceedings behind the soon-to-be closed doors. Meanwhile, he observed those entering and prayed for Jetta’s safety and the resolution of the case. Even though what they didn’t know seemed huge, other pieces had begun to fall into place. Emily’s revelation that Gene was behind her abduction had raised even more questions, and Seth had done further digging into the middle Topher sibling’s life.

From company photographs, he surmised Gene usually took a back seat to his more outgoing brother and sister because Gene was never in the action but always on the fringes of those photos. The police indicated they would be investigating Emily’s assertion of Gene’s involvement in her kidnapping, but Seth itched to confront the man himself.

His phone buzzed.

Still waiting on the Tophers. Mood is uneasy. Scuttlebutt is board decision wasn’t unanimous.

Thx. Stay safe.

A group of people approached, and Seth recognized the Topher siblings. He stepped behind a leafy tree in a huge pot to avoid being seen. He didn’t want questions as to why he was lurking in the hallway outside a closed-door shareholders meeting.

Tophers arriving now.

After the doors closed behind the Tophers and their entourage, Seth glanced around the now-empty corridor. Maybe he could slip inside the room without anyone noticing, as he didn’t want to miss the action. But every door he tried was locked, even the side doors. So much for that bright idea.

He returned to his corner behind the large plant and sat cross-legged on the carpet, then maneuvered the pot a little to shield his hiding place. He didn’t want anyone disturbing him or asking him to leave the hallway. His phone buzzed in silent mode.

Meeting underway. Board voted against the merger.

Any idea how close was the vote?

Someone behind me said it was very close.

A divided board meant Ryan Topher didn’t have as much control over the company as he projected during their morning interview and photo session. The trio of dots indicated Jetta was adding more.

A shareholder stood to ask who controls Peter Topher’s shares, since he’s in the hospital. Apparently, Ryan doesn’t.

Who does?

Yasmine.

Seth sent a shocked face emoji at that response.

How did that go over?

There’s a lot of shouting. Wait, Ryan’s managed to calm everyone down. They’re calling for a vote.

Seth waited, but Jetta stayed silent for about fifteen minutes, presumably while they voted.

We have a break while they tally the votes. I’m heading to the bathroom.

People exited, and he craned his neck to see Jetta, spotting her hustling to the restrooms to the left of where he sat, still hidden by the green plant. Other people milled about on their phones. Yasmine Topher strode out and headed toward him, pausing on the other side of the plant in the small alcove.

Another text buzzed in, this time from Leslie, his FinCEN contact.

Just a heads-up we have confirmation about Gene’s involvement in Emily Ainsley’s kidnapping. We’ve passed that along to the local police.

Good. Anything new about who was behind the embezzlement?

A little progress. Still sorting through everything.

Appreciate you letting me know.

Leslie sent him a thumbs-up emoji. Seth quickly updated Jetta with Leslie’s info. Then the hairs on the back of his neck prickled, but before he could look over his shoulder, something hard and round pressed in between his shoulder blades.

“Hand me your phone, and no funny business. This is a gun against your back.” The conversational tone to the man’s voice chilled Seth more than the weapon’s proximity to his heart.

He held up his phone. A gloved hand took it.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. When everyone returns to the auditorium, you’re going to slowly get to your feet. Then we’ll take a walk together.”

Seth noticed people streaming back through the double doors. The results must be in, much faster than he’d anticipated.

To his right, Yasmine stepped out of the alcove and paused, her head down over her phone but her back now to the auditorium. “I’ll get the girl.”

Then she left, leaving Seth stunned—and fearing for Jetta’s life. Dear God, please keep her safe! The prayer looped over and over as people left the area to return to the meeting.

When the doors closed, the man prodded him with the gun. “Let’s go. Nice and slow, big guy.”

Seth rose to his feet, his mind racing with the revelation of Yasmine’s involvement. Was she the secret embezzler? He had read something about embezzling being a pink crime, one mostly perpetrated by women, but nothing seemed to point to the youngest Topher’s guilt, probably because she’d cleverly directed it to Jay Ainsley instead.

“Walk to the left toward the far exit.” The man moved slightly behind him on his left, the gun now against his side.

Seth noted which door and moved through the now-empty corridor. He tried to remember from their brief tour if the company had security cameras, but even if they did, he doubted footage of his abduction would be made available to the authorities. They made it outside without seeing anyone, further lowering his chances of being found. A black SUV with tinted windows and Maryland plates pulled up to the curb.

“In the back.”

Seth opened the door and slid inside. The man stood in the open doorway, his gun trained on Seth while the male driver twisted in his seat.

“Hold out your wrists.”

Seth did as the driver instructed. He kept his face blank as the man zip-tied his wrists together. Tight. Once secured, the driver turned back to face the windshield. Seth didn’t see the blow coming from the side in time to move. The crack of a gun butt against his temple sent him sideways and into darkness. His last conscious thought was another half-formed prayer for Jetta’s safety.

* * *

The room buzzed with anticipation as those who had left during the break returned to their seats. Jetta shifted in the padded theater-style chair, trying to get comfortable. The baby kicked his displeasure at her movement—or maybe he too was tired of all this sitting. She decided standing in the back would be preferable to feeling like a whale stuffed into a sardine can. She offered excuses as she made her way from the middle of the row to the aisle. Once against the back wall, she sent another text to Seth.

Vote results are in.

No response. She frowned but maybe he was on another call. Ryan stood at the podium and brought the meeting back to order. He called on one of the board members to read the results of the vote.

“The vote on whether to accept Maxwell Technology’s takeover bid carries, with a margin of 432 to 412.”

The room erupted in cheers and boos. Jetta texted Seth the results. Nothing from him. She slipped through one of the doors and into the corridor. Detective Harwell, along with several uniformed police officers, approached her.

“Ms. Ainsley, I didn’t realize you would be here.” Detective Harwell paused before her.

“I didn’t either, but apparently my father passed along his shares of the company to me in the months before his death.” She craned her neck around the man to see if Seth was in his spot by the potted tree. Then the significance of the police presence registered. “Are you here to arrest Gene Topher for kidnapping my mom?”

“We will be in touch once we have more information.” The detective’s noncommittal answer seemed to indicate she’d guessed right.

“Ms. Ainsley?”

As the police contingent headed into the auditorium, Jetta turned to see a young woman dressed in a business suit. “Yes?”

“Mr. Whitman asked me to give this to you.” She handed Jetta a piece of paper, then walked away.

Jetta unfolded the paper.

Jetta,

I know who’s behind the embezzlement. Meet me outside through the doors to your left.

Seth

She frowned. Why write her a note when he could text her? She sent him a series of question marks as a text, then waited but received no reply. She didn’t like this, not at all. Every instinct screamed this was a setup. She hesitated, her desire to know the truth about the embezzlement warring with her caution. Spinning on her heel, she’d taken three steps toward the designated door when she halted. Everything she knew about Seth told her he wouldn’t ignore her texts unless he was unable to answer. She tried calling his phone. It rang several times before rolling to voicemail. She disconnected without leaving a message.

Tapping her phone against her leg, she pivoted until she spotted the potted tree. She would check over there first, then decide whether to comply with the note’s instruction. Once at the tree, she studied the carpet around it. Nothing. Using the wall for leverage, she crouched to peer into the pot. Dead leaves littered the soil. Someone really needed to take better care of the live plants.

Jetta plunged her hand into the leaves, feeling her way around the trunk. She brushed against a hard object with her fingers. After tugging it out, she stared at the phone covered in dirt. Sinking onto her knees, she blew the debris away and flipped the phone over to access the card holder. As she’d expected, the credit card she pulled out had the name Seth Whitman on the front.

Someone had taken Seth.

She struggled to her feet and stumbled against the wall.

“Are you okay?”

Jetta met the worried gaze of an older man, his graying hair and glasses giving him a fatherly appearance. “A little off balance, that’s all.” Then she added, “I need to find someone in the auditorium, but still feel a bit unsteady. Would you mind walking with me there?”

“Happy to help.” He held out his elbow in a courtly gesture, and she gratefully took his arm. Together, they made their way back to the auditorium.

Once inside, she scanned the room and spotted the police near the front. “I need to speak with one of the officers.”

The man nodded and walked her to the small cluster of uniformed officers standing a little behind the detective, who stood talking with the Topher siblings.

Jetta didn’t bother trying to get Harwell’s attention but instead thanked her escort before tapping the arm of the closest officer. “Hi. I’m Jetta Ainsley.”

“Emily Ainsley’s daughter, right?” The young Hispanic officer whose nameplate read P. Rodriguez shifted his focus to her. “How can I help you?”

“I think Seth Whitman’s been kidnapped.” Jetta explained about the note and finding Seth’s phone in the potted tree. He listened intently.

“Give me a minute.” Officer Rodriguez stepped over to the detective and whispered in his ear. Detective Harwell looked at Jetta, then at the three Topher siblings. He said something to the officer, who returned to Jetta.

“If you’ll come with me, please?” The officer took her elbow in his hand.

Jetta walked with Officer Rodriguez out of the auditorium, but the cop didn’t stop there. He continued to the outside door, his fingers biting into her arm.

“Hey, you’re hurting me.” She tugged, but he only gripped her tighter.

He shoved her through the door and into the darkness. Too late, Jetta realized this was the direction the note told her to go. At the curb, a black SUV idled.

She spun, her movement breaking Officer Rodriguez’s hold, and dashed for the door, but the cop caught her in two strides. “Let’s not do anything foolish, Ms. Ainsley.” His punishing grip on her upper arm made her swallow a cry of pain as he forced her toward the waiting vehicle.

Jetta opened her mouth, intending to yell for help, but Rodriguez hissed in her ear, “If you scream, your boyfriend will die.”

She shut her mouth as another cramp hit her midsection, making her stumble. Rodriguez heaved her upright, cursing as he bore more of her weight. She shot a prayer heavenward for her safety and for Seth’s—and that whoever was behind this would be caught.

The cop yanked open the back door and manhandled her into the vehicle and onto someone lying across the seat. The door slammed shut and the car sped away before she could get her bearings, sending her sprawling across the other person.

She somehow managed to push to a seated position. The light from passing street lamps illuminated her backseat companion’s still form. It was a man with muscular arms and torso. She touched the side of his head, and her fingers came away sticky. The man groaned, relief pouring over her Seth wasn’t dead.