Heroes and Thieves

Heroes and thieves at my door
And I can't seem to tell them apart anymore
Just when I figured itout
Darling it's you I'm without

 

“What’s the matter, boss?” Sean looked up from his desk. Noting the expression on Trixie’s face as she stood at the door of his office door he dropped his pen and stood up.

“We’ve missed something.” She swallowed, her throat tightening. “Get Freeman and meet me in the conference room. We need to look at that list more closely.”

Within ten minutes, the team had assembled in their self-named war room and Amy Freeman had called up the list of names they’d reviewed only last week.

Trixie stared at the list of names, unable to shake the feeling that she had missed an important link in the research.

• Allison R. Beckhart
• Katherine Buchanan
• Tiffany C. Eaton
• Margaret K. Gaitley
• Tinsley M. Gaitley
• Olivia King Hoffman
• Margaret King
• Tamera Langham
• Elizabeth Patterson
• Evelyn E. Steward
<
• Melissa Thornhill
• Emily C. Williams

After a couple of minutes of long silence, Sean cleared his throat. “Are you going to tell us what you discovered at lunch with Maggie King?”

Trixie shook her head, as if returning to the present moment. “Yes, but it’s more than that. There are more connections for Freeman to input into our case file. First, Tiffany Eaton. We’ve never considered her as important to this case, right?”

“Correct. She’s 35 years old, spent some time in Paris writing her current best-seller, Bachelor Number One. She’s self-employed and currently dating Richard Hoffman of Fireking.” Amy recited the basic facts. “She likes to party and be seen. She probably makes an appearance in Page Six or the Squawker at least once a week.”

“How far back did you go on her?” Trixie asked.

“Not far, just to make sure her time in Paris was as it seemed.”

“You didn’t go back before Paris?”

“No. Why, what did I miss?”

“She was married to Ted Kent, one of the founders of B3 Software,” Trixie explained. “Her nickname was Fannie. She may have had an affair with Madji and left about five years ago.”

The stunned look on Sean’s face was enough for Trixie to continue. “It’s worse. Tinsley Gaitley, currently residing in Paris, was the reason for the break-up of the marriage between Maggie King and Richard Hoffman.”

“Paris again …” Sean muttered. “What’s the deal with Paris?”

“The city or the socialite?” Trixie asked. “Buffy Patterson was there last year as well, not to mention her fiancée, Jared Somer works out of his company’s Paris office. Something tells me this isn’t a coincidence.”

Amy’s fingers flew over her keyboard as she hurried to input the names and connections in her database. “Do you have dates?” she asked Trixie.

Trixie pulled out her PDA and looked at the notes she had made earlier. Giving a small sigh, she called out the dates. “There’s more,” she said as Amy hit the last keystroke.

“What?”

“What’s the background on Madji? Charlie told me last night that Madji hasn’t been married that long, despite having three kids.”

Amy’s fingers flew over the keyboard as she called up Madji’s profile. She nodded. “That’s correct. Our data shows he married and became a father of three on the same date almost three years ago. His wife was a widow.”

“How did he meet her?” Trixie asked, looking at the list.

Amy and Sean both shook their heads, but it was Sean who reminded her of why they hadn’t conducted a more in-depth background check. “We didn’t dig very far on Madji, boss. You indicated to us that Reid trusted him and his team implicitly. Something about them starting the company with him and eating ramen noodles …”

Trixie jumped up. “That’s it! That’s what’s wrong. Ohmigod, where is it? It’s here somewhere, in my report, back when I had the exit interview with Reid after his security review.” Trixie fumbled through her PDA for a few minutes. Then, swearing under her breath, she jumped up and dashed out to her office. She returned with her laptop, and sat it on the conference table.

“That’s where I’ve gone wrong,” she moaned as her fingers flew over the keyboard. “Madji and Chris, they didn’t start B3 with Reid. It was Ted and Chris. I remember it from my exit interview with Reid. When we were discussing how he trusts all his employees. The three he mentioned were Ted, Chris, and Madji. Later when we were talking about his project code-named ORCHID it was Madji who said he was part of the start-up. Of course, Reid was there ….” Trixie leaned back in her chair, frustration branded on her face as she blew out an exasperated breath. “And I can’t exactly ask him about it right now.”

Sean leaned forward. “You can’t ask Reid. You don’t want to ask Madji. What about this Ted guy? Or Chris? Can’t you talk to them?”

Trixie nodded. “That’s a good point, Barnes. With Reid taking care of the personal upheaval in his life, exactly who is taking care of B3 Software while he’s absent?” She reached for the phone and started dialing. Within five minutes she had the information she needed, scribbled some notes on a pad in front of her, and disconnected the line.

“According to Janiece, we’d need to talk with either Chris or Ted. Apparently, both of them are empowered to run B3 in Reid’s absence. In the meantime, you get every detail you can get for me on Tiffany Eaton, Tinsley Gaitley, and Madji. Oh, and while you’re at it, include Buffy Patterson. I don’t like this Paris connection. Not one little bit.”

 

 

Trixie and Sean made their way to the top floor of B3 software. Reid’s executive suite was eerily quiet; the normal hubbub of activity had been quieted after the death of their founder’s wife. The lights in Reid’s office were on, but the door was shut and Janiece was manning her station.

“Hello, Beatrix,” she greeted Trixie; her normal ebullient tone was quiet and formal. “You wanted to talk to Chris and Ted?”

Trixie nodded. “Janiece, I … , we … , um …” she stopped and pushed a hand through her curls and expelled a lungful of air in frustration. “There’s not going to be a good time for this, but this isn’t a really bad time, is it?”

Janiece bit her lip to stop the onset of quivering. The unexpected death of Allison Beckhart in such a brutal manner had shocked the company and rattled the employees. “The timing is as good as it will get for a while. Go on in, they’re expecting you. Just knock before you push the door open so you don’t startle them. They’re really concentrating on what absolutely must be done right now.”

Trixie and Sean crossed the short expanse of walkway in only a few steps. Trixie led the way and knocked twice before pushing open the door. She could already see Ted and Chris working through the frosted glass-fronted door.

“Good afternoon,” she said, entering the room. “I apologize for the intrusion right now, but there are some things that I really need to discuss with both of you.”

Ted and Chris both welcomed Trixie inside, and she introduced Sean to them as her associate. Within a few minutes, they had settled around Reid’s glass-topped conference table, coffee in front of them.

“First, some of these questions, they may sound a little crazy, but I really need you both to be completely honest with me. It’s no secret that Allison Beckhart was murdered. Reid believes it has something to do with the hacking that occurred here at B3 late last month. We agree with him.” Trixie paused, watching for a reaction from either of them. Noting their impassive faces she continued. “Did Reid mention to either of you that he suspected Allison had hacked the system?”

Chris and Ted shared a look. Ted nodded at Chris and she answered the question.

“He didn’t have to tell me. I already knew,” she said quietly. “But I have a feeling you might have figured that out already.”

Leaning forward, Trixie held Chris’s gaze. “Yes. There’s no way that you wouldn’t have been able to figure out what’s going on. From everything I’ve seen or been told, the two of you, along with Reid, could probably bring this world to a complete technological halt if you put your minds to it.”

Chris gave a sad smile. “Now that’s a scary thought. But we like to use our powers for good, not evil.”

Ted gave a small smile before Chris continued.

“We’ve had some good times in the past fifteen years. We’ve also developed some great products.” She leaned her head to one side and studied the pair sitting in front of her. “Why are you here? You already know Allison broke into the system. You didn’t need me to confirm it.”

“Is it possible that someone else could’ve done it, using Allison’s login credentials?” Trixie asked.

Chris raised her eyebrows but didn’t appear to take umbrage at Trixie’s blunt question. “Yes, as a matter of fact anyone could’ve done it, if they had Allison’s password. A few of us could have reset her password and made the changes – me for one. So could Reid and maybe Madji.” She turned to look at Ted. “Do you still have privileges after the security overhaul?”

“Not completely,” he admitted. “But my restrictions were only added to the finance piece of the business. I could’ve done it. Andy wouldn’t have the privileges anymore, though. I’m not sure about Ian.” He shook his head. “Why? Do you think one of us did it to make it look like Allison did it?”

“It’s possible,” Sean admitted. “Everyone seems to believe it’s possible. What we need to find out is why.”

“Why would one of us want to frame Allison?” Chris asked. “She didn’t interfere in the day-to-day operations of the company. In fact, she rarely came into the office at all after Robbie was born.”

Trixie had reached the end of her patience. “Look you have to know. If anyone at the company knows, it’s one of you.” She slapped her hands on the table and then pointed at each of them in turn. “There aren’t a lot of choices here. One, Allison did it. Two, Reid or Madji did it.” Trixie counted the options on her fingers as she spoke. “Or three, one of you two did it. Now spill it … did someone change Allison’s credentials and use her login to hack the system?”

When silence greeted her outburst, Trixie stood and motioned for Sean to follow her. “Let’s go. They don’t care if Reid goes to prison.”

“Wait!” Ted spoke up. “What do you mean, Reid’s going to prison?”

Trixie glared. “It should have been obvious from the start that Reid is the NYPD’s number one suspect. We’re working to clear him. Apparently you think he did it.”

“There’s no way in the world that Reid Beckhart killed his wife.” Chris spoke slowly. “Heaven knows; the man was besotted with her.” She sighed and leaned back in her chair, giving Trixie a miserable look. “Allison’s credentials were unchanged. She hacked into B3 herself or gave her password to someone else.”

“Are you certain?” Trixie demanded.

Chris nodded. “Unfortunately, I’m positive. Reid asked me himself and I showed him the code. He knew she did it. But, Beatrix –”, she leaned forward to catch Trixie’s eye. “I know he didn’t kill her over that. He just wanted to know why.”

“Do you know why?”

Chris shook her head.

“Do you know any reason anyone would have to blackmail Allison?”

Chris and Ted exchanged bewildered looks. Ted answered for both of them.

“Blackmail Allison? For what?”

“That’s what we want to know. She must have had a secret. Something she kept from Reid.” Trixie looked back and forth between the two of them. Dismay settled like a lead weight in her stomach at their blank faces.

“Allison was crazy about Reid,” Ted shot a look at Chris. “He felt the same way about her. I can’t think of anything they ever disagreed about.”

“Except money,” Chris spoke up as she settled back into her chair. “Allison couldn’t understand why Reid wouldn’t touch her money. Ever. Even after B3 became so successful, he continued to make sure her funds were isolated from the family budget. He allowed her to set up a trust for the kids, but he wouldn’t touch a penny. He acted like it was poison. It infuriated her.”

“How do you know?” Sean asked.

Ted laughed. “Everyone knew. They fought about it every time we needed to raise capital for the company. The first time, when we started B3, up until the expansion into the Asian markets. She would offer financial support, he would refuse it, and they would fight.”

“But he never took the money,” Chris added. Both agents detected the look of pride in her eyes at Reid’s refusal to use his wife’s money. “The Rockefellers were the reason for his determination to make it on his own. They told Allison he wanted her so he could get his hands on her fortune. Nothing was further from the truth.”

“Will he get her money now?” Trixie asked.

Chris shrugged and looked at Ted. He frowned but answered. “It’s possible, but I guarantee you, he won’t take it. He’ll tie it up in trusts for the kids or maybe give it all away.”

“It seems like a long time to hold a grudge against your in-laws,” Sean remarked. “Couldn’t the family let it slide after the kids came along?”

“Not a chance,” Ted answered, an almost cheerful tone in his voice. “Unless they were willing to apologize for calling him a money grubbing sonovabitch.”

“It sounds like you agree with Reid,” Sean remarked.

“Can’t say that I disagree with him,” Ted replied. He leaned forward. “I’ve got plenty of experience with in-laws. Reid’s are … well, were, particularly nasty back when he dated Allison. I don’t think any of us who were friends with Reid would disagree that he managed to win himself a couple of the worst.”

“Except for the sister,” Chris spoke up. “Allison’s sister stood up for him. Probably more than Allison did at the time.”

“Yeah, she did,” Ted agreed. “Now, is that all you needed to know?”

“Just a couple of questions,” Trixie started slowly. “Both Reid and Madji mentioned you had named one of your code-word development projects Orchid,” Trixie stated. “Do you mind telling me why?”

Chris frowned. “I’m not sure. We go through the alphabet, you know, like the hurricanes and storms. It was my turn, and …” she stopped suddenly, her frown deepened.

“Actually,” she said slowly. “Now that you mention it, I started to name the project OSCAR. I even had a name for it, Online System Collaboration something or other, then I, uh, changed my mind.”

Trixie frowned. “Are you sure?”

Chris seemed offended by the question. “Of course I’m sure. It’s my project. I even have a little image of Oscar-the-Grouch embedded in my code from the day that I started to work. Later, when I changed it, I added an image of an Orchid.”

Ted snorted and shook his head.

Chris’s head snapped around as she glared at Ted. “Do you have a problem with that, Ted? Because, believe it or not, I can prove it. The code files are date stamped.”

“Whoa!” Ted raised both hands as if to ward off the anger that seemed to be brewing. “I just never realized you were, so, um, whimsical.”

“Can you show us the code?” Trixie asked. She desperately needed to verify what Chris had told them.

Chris frowned. “Not without getting Reid’s approval. He’s pretty strict about the research projects.”

“Are you sure you don’t remember why it changed?” Sean pressed.

“I just changed my mind,” Chris insisted. “It happens sometimes.”

“More like all the time,” Ted muttered, rolling his eyes.

Chris simply glared at him. “It’s a woman’s prerogative, you know!”

“One you’ve never been shy about using,” he retorted. “You only change your mind several times a day, just like this issue we’ve been discussing. You’ve been all over the map on the right action to take with this customer. We both know my suggestion is correct. Now quit beating around the bush. Reid would’ve decided and moved on hours ago.”

“You don’t know what Reid would’ve decided,” Chris sniffed. “I’m just not comfortable giving in like this. You’re always saying the customer is always right, but I happen to think they are dead wrong.”

“Of course, they’re wrong!” Ted gritted his teeth and glared at Chris. “Once again you’ve missed the whole point. If we give them this concession, they’ll admit they’re wrong and we can move on. Haven’t you heard a word that I said when I explained the situation?”

“Um, excuse me.” Trixie waved her right hand. “We were talking about the name for your ORCHID project.”

Chris turned and glared. “You were talking about the name for Orchid. We were talking about B3. Really, I’ve told you that I don’t remember. I just changed my mind. Now Ted and I really need to get this customer situation resolved this afternoon. Is that all you needed?”

It was far from all. However, Trixie realized that Chris and Ted had pressing work matters to take care of. She asked a simple question. “One last question, please. Who founded B3? What does the name mean?”

“Oh, please,” Chris started. “That’s in every press release we put out. B is Reid Beckhart. The three are Ted here,” she gave a brief nod in Ted’s direction, “me and Madji.”

“When Reid told me about it, he only mentioned you and Ted,” Trixie explained. Why would he leave out Madji? And what about Andy?”

“Because Madji came later, after we could afford to pay him a little something. Andy is strictly the business guy. “Mr. Finance” we use to call him back in the day. He was always the one telling us what we could and couldn’t afford. He’d get so irritated with Reid when he’d ignore him and go on and do something Andy said we couldn’t afford.”

“Like what?” Sean asked.

“Like hire me,” Chris interjected. “But I was willing to work for stock. So was Madji for a while. Andy just didn’t give Reid enough credit for creativity.” She stood up. “Is that all?”

Trixie recognized the dismissal and realized that was all she’d get out of the two of them for now. She stood up. “That’s all. If you happen to remember what sparked the change of name, I’d appreciate a phone call.” She held out a business card. “In the meantime, good luck with your customer.”

Sean glanced at Trixie, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod. He stood and followed her. Once the two of them were out of the room, Trixie looked at Sean and shook her head. “Not here.”

The two were silent until they were out on the street. Sean looked at Trixie. “Those two are meant for each other. Did you feel the tension in that room?”

“Yeah,” Trixie shook her head. “I see what Reid meant about Chris and Ted. I wish we could find out more about his ex-wives.”

“We can,” Sean pointed out. “We just need to do the research.”

“We might as well,” Trixie groaned. “We’re not going to get very far on B3 until after Allison’s memorial. I’m not even going to try.”