Page 85 of Ride the Lightning

“That’s just the tip of the tragic iceberg,” Jonah said, holding Avery tighter.

“We don’t need to talk about it,” Avery said. “Let’s get dried off so we can eat pizza, drink cream soda, and watch our movie.”

“Can we finish the picnic in my bed? It would be more comfortable.”

“Absolutely.”

He’d chosen the movieBlackhatbecause it was about a convicted hacker who had to work with authorities to save the day. Jonah’s favorite part was listening to Avery pick the technical stuff apart.

“I thought you’d just enjoy watching Chris Hemsworth,” Jonah said playfully.

“He’s okay,” Avery said with a shrug.

Jonah fell asleep before Chris could save the day. When he awoke hours later, Avery was sitting up beside him in bed, typing away on a laptop Jonah had never seen at the office before.

“What are you doing?” Jonah asked groggily.

Avery smiled sheepishly. “Online banking.”

“Uh-huh. Are you having any luck?”

Avery grimaced, and Jonah knew he wasn’t going to like what he had to say. “Initially, I thought I hit the jackpot. I’m surprised I didn’t wake you up when I fist-pumped the air in victory. Once I started digging deeper, a troubling pattern emerged.”

Jonah sat up and looked at him. “What is it?”

“I traced the listening and tracking devices to Trexler,” Avery said somberly.

“Okay. What’s the bad news?”

“They were signed out at times he wasn’t in the office. I think someone is framing Trexler to be the fall guy for whatever they’re planning for you.”

Avery’s ominous words made Jonah shiver. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive,” Avery replied. “Things were slow and dull when you were gone, which gave me plenty of time for office gossip. When I see his assistant cubicle hopping for the latest scoops, I know Trexler is out of the office. Trexler ducked out early, and he wasn’t the only one who got a head start on their weekend.”

“Who?” Jonah asked.

“Trexler left at twelve, and Desiree followed at twelve thirty, so there were tons of nooner jokes.” But Avery wasn’t laughing, and neither was Jonah. “Anyway, look at the time Trexler supposedly signed for the listening and tracking devices.” Avery turned the laptop for him to see it.

“Fourteen thirty,” Jonah said. Trexler couldn’t have signed for them at two thirty if he left at noon. “Are you sure he didn’t come back?”

“Positive,” Avery said. “And it gets worse.”

How could it get worse?“Go on,” Jonah said.

Avery turned the laptop around and started typing. “Do you remember me telling you Trexler used his remote laptop to change your clearance access?”

“Yes.”

“Except Trexler reported his laptop stolen the prior week,” Avery said.

Jonah’s heart sunk. “I was certain Trexler was the one behind it all.” This was why investigators couldn’t afford to put all their eggs in one suspect’s basket. He’d been blinded by his dislike of his supervisor and allowed it to poison his investigation. Jonah had made it personal.

Avery turned the laptop toward him again. “I found the incident report in Trexler’s outgoing email. He claimed he left it in his car overnight and must’ve forgotten to lock the doors. With enough time, I could probably track its location if it hasn’t been destroyed.”

“You can try. If we find the laptop, we’ll find who’s behind it all,” Jonah absently said as he stared off into space.

Avery slipped his fingers between Jonah’s. “What are you thinking?”