Chapter 20 - The End

We let Diego keep the tape off of his mouth, Stephan remained bound. Junior and his partner entered the condo following the recent call I had made and explained the situation. There was a smile on his face, "I knew you were innocent," he said as he extended his hand.

I took it and shook it hard, emphasizing my respect and thanks for his in return. "No hard feelings, Mr. Scott?" he asked.

"No worries," I responded. "It has been a really long day. Can you take these unwanted guests to your place? You can ask me everything you need tomorrow. Right now I need a Bud and some time to unwind."

The senior partner of the police tag team said "That's fine. Normally this condo would be a crime scene, but the homicides took place on the beach and at the station, that's where we will get the evidence. We won't mess with your place, you have put up with enough for one day," he said as he went to Stephan to replace the taped hands with cuffs. "We'll take these guys off your hands now. Please stop by the station in the morning to give your statement."

"Will do," I said as I followed them to the door.

"You throw a mean party," said Jake. "I'm gonna take off if you don't mind."

Andrea spoke up, "thanks Jake." She hugged him and held on for what seemed like five minutes, but was more like fifteen seconds. After the embrace he reached out and shook my hand.

"Thanks man, you literally saved our lives," I said. He broke the shake nodded that 'no problem' gesture, then parted company through the door.

Andy and I walked in silence to the sofa and sat in un-choreographed unison. The silence was deafening as we both looked out on the moonlit surf.

"You okay?” I finally asked breaking the standoff.
“Yeah, I guess,” she replied. “The past few hours were a whirlwind.”
“I know what you mean.” I looked up at the clock – it was 9:15. “The last fifteen hours have seemed like a decade. I’m just happy to be at home, not in jail, or dead.” I looked at my fingers, I was happy to have those as well, but didn’t want to bring up the threat from Stephan. “You want a Bud?”

“I thought you would never ask.”

I got up and walked to the fridge, opened the door and grabbed two longnecks, which I set on the counter, twisted the tops off and tossed in the trash. Then grabbed the two by the necks and returned to Andrea. I offered her one, we clanged bottles, “cheers,” I said.
“Cheers,” she replied. I sat back down beside her and chugged about a third of the bottle. As it went down, an uncontrollable burp came up. Andrea laughed. I turned a bit red, and then joined in laughter. We couldn’t stop. I never thought I would laugh again. It was like we were stoned on weed, we were laughing at nothing, but it felt good to laugh. It was a sign that all was good. We would survive this day to remember forever. Another shared event between Andy and myself.

If I had to think about it hard, she was my best friend. True, she is my boss, but my best friend as well. The timing could not be better – or worse for that matter for what came next.

“Do you find me attractive?” she asked.

I looked at her – deep into her eyes. I saw something that was not there before. There was strength; there always was strength in Andy’s eyes. But this time there was vulnerability too. I had never seen that in her eyes before. Was she vulnerable in anticipation of my answer, or was it from the terrifying events of the day? I was not certain. What I was sure of is that the answer was ‘yes’. I did find her attractive in a way I had not seen before. She was always my boss, a ‘Plain Jane’ executive. A woman trying to be a man in a man’s world. Of coarse she lacked the typical feminine attractiveness of the women I dated. Was that a bad thing I wondered?

“Yes,” I answered after considerable thought.
“That took you a long time,” she replied sounding hurt.
“Andrea. Today you are a different person to me. We have experienced life and death situations. Sure we have faced monetary issues before. Stockholder dissatisfaction. SEC compliance. Sarbanes Oxley. But never death. This changes everything. I thought that the looks of a woman like Rachel, was what I desired. Now it is repulsive to me. That type of woman in my life, died on the beach. I no longer seek the polished, made up, surgically enhanced Barbie Doll. What I want is something real. A strong woman, who is my equal, superior even. A woman like you. Do I find you attractive? Absolutely.”

This time she looked into my eyes. I could see that she was touched by what I had said, and was looking to ensure I was sincere. Eyes don’t lie. People lie, but eyes are pure. Then she broke the gaze and lifted the neck of the Bud to her lips, tilted up and downed half the beer. Up came a burp that rivaled mine. The laughter resumed.

The End.

Chapter 19 - The Interrogation

We watched as Stephan and Diego wriggled about trying in vane to free themselves. That was fine since it wore them down further. The loss of blood from the bullet holes in their knees would hasten the fatigue. I did not appreciate the blood on my carpet, but it was much more tolerable since it was theirs and not Andy's or mine.

Jake stood there about six-two, 230 pounds of solid rock. Jake's smooth, bald head added to the menacing presence of this experienced black soldier. His arms were folded and prepared to inflict more pain if required. The police issue 38 had been returned to his holster, which was part of his uniform.

I approached Diego, and with one motion removed the tape from his mouth, taking as much outer skin and nubs as the adhesive would tear. He yelled something in Spanish. As a kid I never saw the point in learning Spanish at school and opted for French, the language of love. In the new millennium, I regretted that decision as the United States rapidly became a bi-lingual nation. I knew that his words held no interest for me right now, and I would get the answers needed in English.

I left the tape on Stephan's face. He would be of no use, He could have been killed for all I cared, but I would not have wanted to be the one ordering the death. He was the brains, and Diego the brawn. The big dumb ones are much easier to get to slip up than the cunning types. "Did Carlos send you here?" I asked.

Diego looked surprised that I knew Carlos' name, and it was a guess, albeit educated. The one thing Pete the Dwarf knew was that Carlos, the Dade County councilman was the man Rachel was married to. These thugs were definitely from an international community, and Miami was the closest. "Carlos Encinosa," I clarified.

Diego looked towards Stephan whose eyes could have thrown daggers back at his partner, the weaker mental link of this duo. I looked to Jake "turn him away," I said, indicating Stephan with my eyes. He complied.

Andrea had found a dining chair and moved it to the far back of great room. She sat and watched. Her back was to the wall to ensure no surprises from behind. She was obviously uncomfortable with observing. I thought about offering her the opportunity for a shower, but that would probably make her feel more vulnerable, and she would not want to be alone. She had abdicated her fate to being present for the interrogation.

"I'm waiting for your answer," I said to Diego.
"I don't know who you are talking about," he said unconvincingly.
"Rachel's husband. The councilman. I am sure you have heard of him," I said.
"Sure, sure, I know who he is, and I have seen her on T.V. with him, but I don't know him," he tried to deceive.
"Then who sent you?" I asked.
"Um, ah. I don't know."

Jake stepped over and kicked his left knee, which was already soaked in crimson ooze, which turned purple from the blend with blue jeans.

"Oh Fuck!" Diego screamed.
"Do you remember now!" I asked.
"Fuck you!"

Jake kicked the right knee, to which Diego ranted and screamed in Spanish. Not knowing a word, I had now idea if he was cursing or begging for mercy.

"We can do this all night, and you will certainly be paralyzed when we are finished," I said, having now idea if he would or not.

"Okay, okay, I tell you," he acquiesced.

At this news, Stephan began wriggling around, making the dining chair dance from leg to leg. Jake always knew what to do in these situations. He casually sauntered to Stephan while removing his pistol and introduced the butt of the firearm to Stephan's cranium, instantly rendering him unconscious.

"He won't hear you now. Talk," I demanded.
"Carlos sent us here."
"Why?"
"That bitch invested money from his last campaign in your company and lost half. She was supposed to build it back up before the new campaign which starts in a few weeks, but that never happened. We followed her up here when she left after a fight with Carlos and saw what happened to her on the beach. Stephan got your tag number and the boss hatched the plan this morning."

"That's it?" I asked.
Diego looked sincere, flexed his lips, raised his brow and said,"Yep."
"You saw that she had the gun on me?"
"Uh Huh."
"You saw her shoot herself?"
"We were in the dunes man, we heard everything," Diego confessed. "You calling the cops?" he asked.
"I have no choice. Will you tell them what you just told me?" I asked, hoping that there was some glimmer of compassion and the ability for this apparent life criminal to do the right thing.
"If I can make a plea, and they toast that German bastard. You got some balls for a suit. I like that."
"Thanks," I said to the backhanded compliment.

"My knees is fuckin' killing me man. You think you can call an ambulance now. Your phone's in that case over there." Diego pointed with his eyes over to the Tumi brief case next to the chair facing the television.
"Yeah," I said halfway to the phone, my beloved Berry, my lifeline.

Chapter 18 - Jake Arrives

I felt the vibration of the Blackberry between my thighs and removed it to read the message.

Jake wrote:

Boss,

I am in the parking lot. See you soon.

Jake

"Was that Jake?" asked Andrea.
"Yeah. He's in the parking lot." My heart began to race as I informed her. It was showtime and we would either be in a much better position or a much worse one in about ten minutes. I looked towards the great room and heard no discussion. The soccer game must have been over by now. I looked up at the clock. 6:47. I didn't hear the Hispanic voice of Diego or Nordic accent of Stephan. What I heard was the pentamic voice of a newscaster. The network news was on its last fifteen minutes. I could tell there was no accent, yet the muffling effect of the glass doors made the words incoherent.

I wondered if the events in Flagler Beach were on the local, or even national network news. I had made the local news when we went public, but were to small to make national syndication. Would today's tragedy trump my previous localized fame with national infamy. "Death on the Beach - CFO kills motorist on the beach after raping her." Not exactly the type of headline one cuts out for a scrapbook.

Andrea was looking to me with a concerned expression. She was catatonic. Neither of us spoke as we waited for Jake, we were petrified like wood frozen in time and fossilized. I felt her staring at me as I stared past her through the glass doors to see what would come next and be prepared. If she did not see as well, we would both be at a disadvantage. "Come around and pretend to read what I have written," I said.

Andrea came around to my side of the desk, and under the guise of reading the press release, her eyes darted above the monitor periodically. All was still and silent save for the muffled newscast.

"Do you think Jake is on the roof?" asked Andrea.

I looked up at the clock. 6:56. Nine minutes had passed. "Could be?"

"How long will it take him to break through the skylight?" she asked.

I pondered this question. I didn't give Jake any specific directions since he was the professional at this stuff. I like to delegate and hoped he would devise a way to do it quietly to keep the element of surprise.

The vibration between my legs came again. I raised the Berry hiding it behind the monitor of the VAIO. Anxiety and tension rose for both of us as I pressed the button to read the newest message from Jake.

on the roof. skylight removed. lay on the floor to avoid stray bullets.

Andy looked at me, and I her. Without a sound we both slid under the desk and laid facing the glass doors. "I know you want to see as much as I do, but we would probably be safer against the east wall."

We both slithered east, Andy rested against the wall, and I spooned her, trying to block any stray projectiles that might come our way. The closet was directly above the study but I never heard Jake's entrance into the condo. Although pals for years, I had never been this close to Andrea or thought of her in a sexual way. I suddenly found myself strangely aroused. Maybe it was the fear, or my need to feel close to someone as I face the reality of dying,or simply the intoxicating combination of her fading fragrance. Then came the muted sound of silenced gunfire.

Clearly Jake must have put a silencer on his firearm since the audibility was far less than an air powered BB gun. I heard four pops in all. Then a great deal of cursing in what sounded like foreign dialect. Jake must have taken them by surprise since we didn't hear any return shots. Then I heard Jake's voice. He was commanding them, but I could not make out the words clearly. Finally all was silent. No cursing. No commands. No screaming. It was eerily silent.

Could Jake have slit their throats I wondered. I asked him to keep them alive. I un-spooned from Andrea and rose to my feet slowly as Jake removed the straight back chair from below the door handles and he entered the study.

"Good afternoon Ma'am." he said as he barged past me and offered Andrea a hand to rise up. "Thanks Jake," she replied.

"Sir," he said as a greeting to me, and extended his hand. I took it to shake, then he started maneuvering his large black calloused hand to embrace thumbs, then break away and finish with a closed fist thump, which I missed as any nerd would. He smiled, as did Andy at my expense for the un-rehearsed, clumsy geek handshake misfire. I felt like I was in high school again. I wanted so much to forget those days of social inadequacy. My revenge the career, the girls, the money. His revenge the ability to still thump the nerd after all these years.

After the embarrassment and release of adrenaline to my stomach, which mixed with the remains of the pizza, I felt overwhelmingly sick. "How are my guests?" I asked, hoping the answer was not "dead."

"Follow me," responded Jake as a proud artist would lead one to his loft of paintings. I followed and Andy reluctantly trailed behind. She had not witnessed the gore that I had on that hot July day and was therefore not indoctrinated to the sight of blood and death. She grabbed my hand from behind and held tight as a mother in a deliver room might hold her partner's, squeezing all the blood from his hand.

There was the fine performance art of Jake the Marine. Either Jake found the duct tape used on Andrea several hours before, or he brought his own. Either way, Stephan and Diego were both bound to dining chairs with the silver tape. Mouths bound as well, thus accounting for the silence despite the pain they must have felt from their knees that were obviously penetrated with bullets. The blood oozing through their jeans barely noticeable as the dark rock-washed jeans just seemed darker at the knees than other parts. Possibly closer to a hue of purple as the red mixed with blue denim.

"Just like you said Boss. Shoot them in the knees and keep them alive. They are all yours," offered Jake.

"Perfect," I replied. Although I did not care for having these thugs still in my house, this arrangement in role reversal was certainly a welcomed turn of events.

Chapter 17 - Early Retirement

I felt mildly sick after three slices of pizza, Andrea choked down two and could do no more. We ate in silence as we both digested the events of the day and deep in thought of the events yet to come. We would occasionally look up from our feast of food and thoughts. Sometimes an uncomfortable smile would break our lips. Not because we were scared to death. It was one of those encouraging smiles that would let the other person know that all would be okay, when in fact you were more worried than they were.

The remaining pizza carnage sat in the box, some remaining crusts, leaked cheese, and greased, which was enhanced by the painstaking ritual that Andy did by letting every drop of grease ooze off the point of her slice. I could look at it no more. I took the last gulp of Coke, then moved the box to the corner of the Pergo floor where it would do no harm and be out of the way. I leaned under the desk to toss my can in the trash and remembered the spare Blackberry between my thighs. I lifted it up, this time more daringly above the desk.

I looked up at the clock 5:19.

"You gonna email Jake?" asked Andrea.
"Yeah," I replied, then typed:

Jake, what's your status?
I set the Berry back between my thighs, I would feel it vibrate when he responded. "Andy, we should start working on the press release. It help abate Stephan when he comes around after dinner. And it will distract us while we wait for Jake."

"Good idea," she responded.

I opened a Word doc on my laptop prepared to start typing in the fashion I had done many times before with Andy and I working the delicate weaving of words to encourage investment in Nextec. Although she is the CEO and hired me long after her business started, I was with her before we went public. That was the reason she hired me. I had apprenticed as a Controller under another CFO that took a local medical supply company public and learned how the process worked. Andrea needed a CFO with this experience, but one who would be young enough to not demand a seven figure starting salary. At the time I was yet to earn six figures and jumped at the chance to break that threshold.

"Okay lady, we need a tag line to work towards. Our stock was trading at $35.25 at the Friday close. I have no idea what it closed at today since we have been locked up here, but imagine it is within a buck. We need it to soar five dollars in fifteen minutes at the bell tomorrow morning, so this must be an earth shattering press release," I said.

"How about 'former Microsoft CFO to replace Randall Scott, who took an unexpected early retirement package.'" joked Andrea.
"Should I be looking for a new job?" I half joked back.
"I dunno," said Andy,"do you think you will be able to show up for work anytime soon?"

I wanted to laugh but couldn't. I actually freaked. I was alive for now, and that was good, but. But what about the deaths of Rachel, Jerry, and Pete. Was I to end up in jail? Flee the country? Regardless, if Nextec was to survive, I had no choice. "I will resign Andy," I said with sorrow and conviction.

"What?" she responded. "I was just kidding," she backpedaled.

"I have no choice Andy, the company cannot survive the news that will be released about the murders surrounding me. Even though I am innocent, the stock price will plummet and I have a fiduciary responsibility to our stockholders. I will need some significant cash for my defence, so please make the severance sweet."

"Randy," she said in her CEO, I am the Boss way. "You cannot resign."
"It's early retirement," I said consigned to the fact that it is the only option.
"Make it noted that I protest this decision,"
"Duly noted Madam CEO."
"Five Million," stated Andy as if at an auction.
"What?" I questioned.
"Your severance. Five Million," she repeated.
"But..."
"There will be no negotiation," she stated.

"Yes Ma'am," I acquiesced, although I suspected I only needed half of that for defense. She knew that after the dust settled, whether found guilty or innocent, I could no longer have the earning capacity that I do now. Any company that I applied to for a job would perform due diligence on my back ground. Especially if a public company with Sarbanes Oxley and all that crap bestowed by the Enron fiasco. This would be added to my nest egg and stock options. Actually with the paid for condo and Porsche, I could retire and write books. This may not be all that bad.

The joke is now reality. "Fortune 100 CFO to replace Randall Scott who has taken early retirement from Nextec."

Chapter 16 - Dinner

I popped a can of Coke for Andrea and it foamed over to the desk. "Shit!" I exclaimed. The thug left no napkins, and I was not about to ask. I mopped it up with the lower half of my shirt, then passed it to Andrea, who quickly took a gulp. She had already torn off a piece of hot pizza, and leaned over the box so that the cheese would not ooze to the floor. Andrea made the usual stupid looking face people do when the slice was too hot to put in one's mouth, and the desperate -- usually unsuccessful attempt to eat it while not burning the roof of one's mouth. I sat back decidedly determined to wait for the pizza to cool and the Coke to de-fizz before opening.

I did not want to engage her in conversation while she tried to finish that dangerously fateful first bite. I looked past he at the clock on the wall over the french doors. It was 4:47, only fifteen minutes had passed since emailing Jake. Jake's entrance and moves were passing through my head as I tried to envision the confrontation. Would he be successful? Would he come through the front door? Would he climb the balconies and come from the beach side? Maybe I could email him a good approach if I could think of one.

"You eating?" asked Andrea, clearly surviving the first bite.
"I'm not hungry anymore."
"You mean you don't want to burn your mouth," she replied.
"Something like that," I said distantly as my thought remained on the point of entry.
"What are you so preoccupied with Randall?"
"Jake's entrance. Maybe we can email a plan to him. He has never been here, and I'm not sure that blasting through the front door is the most productive," I replied.

Andrea deferred the second bite she was about to eat and set the slice back down in the grease laden box. I saw the imaginary smoke from her head as she joined me in strategic thought. "Aren't we on the top floor?" she asked.

"Yes."
"Is there a way into your condo from the roof?" Andrea inquired.

I sat and thought. My eyes shifted around as I thought. I always forget the direction one's eyes drift when creating -- or remembering. I think it is to the left when factual and the right when fabricating or editing. I realized my eyes were going left, then right, which means I was processing facts I knew, and creating things I did not. The creation of something that did not exist could get Jake and us killed. I had to be very deliberate in understanding the proper entrance.

"Randy?"

I hate when she does that, breaking my thought. "What?"

"Is there a way in from above?"
"I am thinking, gimme a minute."

Okay, the roof is flat, I know that. A rubber ply, tar and pebble roof. All of the air conditioner condensers are up there. What else? It seemed impenetrable. I had been up there one time when there was a leak and the roofer showed me where it was. I was so pissed at the time. Think Randall. Think.

Bubble. Plexiglas bubble. A skylight. I thought. Were my eyes darting left or right. Eyes left on the skylight. Eyes right on where it was in my apartment. My closet! Holy crap it is in the closet upstairs. How perfect is that? I never realized that is why there was always light in the closet during the day. I never even thought of it, but it must be. Then again how stupid was that architect? If it leaked, there would go ones wardrobe. I don't care, right then I loved that stupid architect. A small smile came to my face.

"Randy?"

There it was again, Andrea wanting to enter my thoughts. I guess I couldn't blame her. "I have it," I responded.

"Really?" she said with hope.
"There is a skylight to my closet upstairs. There is a service stairwell to the roof on the other end of the building. Jake has to breach that door, then climb to the roof. He could then navigate all the way to the south end and look for the opaque Plexiglas bubble. Smash it, then enter from my closet. He could move down the stairs, gun drawn, then pop a couple knees. I need Stephan and Diego alive to interrogate."

"You're scaring me Randall."
"I'm scaring myself." I pulled out the Berry and started to type the plan to Jake. I finished and pressed send. Then waited. I looked at the clock -- 5:01. We both sat quietly. 5:05. Then it came. "10-4."

I sighed. Andrea did as well. "Let's eat," I said as I popped the top to my Coke. The pizza would clearly be benignly cold by now.

Chapter 15 - Recap for Andrea

"Let me see what you sent," instructed Andrea.

I looked over to see that Stephan was still watching the soccer match then slowly lifted the bulky old Blackberry from between my thighs and passed it over the desk. Andy took it, and with a few clicks was reading the message I sent to Jake. I had not had the time to explain to Andy what happened, and wasn't sure if I would tell her all the gory details, but I knew the conversation had to come sooner or later, so I decided it would be now.

"Andy, I need to tell you what happened today so you will understand what we must do," I said.

She passed the Berry back to me and I returned it to its resting place between my thighs. It was set to vibrate, so I could feel if Jake emailed me without alerting our captures. "I'm listening," Andy replied softly.

"It all started early today, barely over twelve hours ago. I was heading to work along A1A. This car came up from behind and rammed me off the road. When I got out, I was met with a gun and instructed to go to the beach. It was Rachel, a woman from my past, and she performed falacio while holding me at gunpoint." I can't believe I used the word falacio, but I wanted to keep the conversation clinical. Andy's eyes and mine never left each others and I was looking for some sort of sarcasm in them, there was none.

"You were raped?" she asked.
"Yes."
"I am so sorry for you, that must have been horrible," she said genuinely.
"It was," I responded. Andy had a way of being the most empathetic person just when you needed it. I knew that ninety nine percent of people to whom I would tell this story would make a snide remark, but not Andy.

"It gets worse," I continued. "Then she took the gun and turned it on herself and somehow gets my hand on it before she pulls the trigger. She died and I was in shock when the police arrive from the abandoned cars on the highway."

"You weren't by the cars?" she asked.

"No, I had been led down the dune to the beach before she took me. The police thought the events were the other way around, that I raped her then killed my victim. It is all really starting to get fuzzy. I guess my brain is trying to forget the incident. It all seems so strange that I could convince myself the roles reversed."

"Did they?" asked Andy. I sensed she would be there for me if it had been the other way around.
"No." I replied, as I stared my perceived truth into her eyes.
"I believe you,"she said. Her comment was not required, but certainly welcome.
"What happened next?"she asked, knowing there had to have been more that led us to this point.
"I was arrested and used my one call to contact Jerry. He came with a defense layer from Miami."
"Our Jerry?" she asked.
"Yes."
"How did the lawyer from Miami get here?"
"Private jet. He flew into St. Augustine Airport. Anyway, they both came to the Flagler County jail to defend me when our friends here, Stephan and Diego barge in, blow away Jerry and the attorney from Miami, then take me with them. They had me call you from the car. The rest is history."

"Jerry's dead?" she asked. Andy's voice cracked with a bit of shock, but there was no time for tears.
"Yes."
"Pretty fucked up day," quipped Andy. I don't think I have ever heard her use that word before.
"Yes it is, but it gets worse."
"How can it get worse?"
"First of all these guys work for someone who wants me to do something to make our stock price elevate at the bell?
"What?" she said raising her voice with a squeak. I looked to the great room to see if it disturbed Stephan -- it didn't.
"Five bucks a share."
"How do they expect you to do that?" she said lowering her voice back to a whisper and leaning closer.
"I dunno. Can't be done."
"No shit," Andy cursed again, this event has obviously transformed her.
"What happens if the stock doesn't go up?
"We get to see Jerry again."
"Damn," Andy said as she tried to get her mind around this.
"Right now it is all up to Jake. There is no way that we can write a press release, or make calls to analysts that could raise the price more than fifty cents -- at best."
"I know," resigned Andrea.

Just then the doorbell rang. Andy turned around to look. Stephan gave us a glare from the foyer as he passed the study door to open the front door. It was Diego with two Dominos boxes and a six pack of Coke on top, cans sweating from the humidity. Pizza. My stomach growled as if on cue. Andy heard it, looked back at me and broke a small smile. It was the first I had seen from her today. I smiled back. It always amazes me how bodily function sounds could evoke humor in children and adults alike.

Stephan removed the chair from under the door handles and opened the study door. He handed Andy one of the boxes, then broke out two of the cans from the plastic restraint, and piled them on top. She balanced them and turned around to set dinner on the desk. Pizza boxes and coke cans were no strangers to my desk. "You start writing?" asked Stephan grumpily.

"Not yet," I replied.
"Why not?" he asked.
"We're brainstorming. We have to come up with something believable that could raise the price to where you want."
"Eat, then start writing. My boss want to see a first draft by nine."
"Okay," I replied.
"He slammed the door and replaced the chair under the handles."

I watched as he and Diego disappeared to the dining table. I then returned my eyes to Andrea. She had already opened the pizza box.

"Pop the Coke tops. Let's eat," she instructed.

Chapter 14 - The Spare

I saw Nord sit back down in the great room through the glass doors and heard the soccer game doors come back on. Soccer always puts me to sleep, much like golf. I suspect this would not be the case for my uninvited guest.

"How will we get out of here?" Asked Andrea.

I looked at her, actually stared at her blankly. I had no answers. I was trying to think of a way, but was drawing a blank.

"Randy?"
"Yes," I responded, breaking the trans.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"I'm thinking," I replied, somewhat agitated that she was breaking my thought. I should have been more kind, I was about to destroy her company - unintentionally.

I wondered if they looked through my file cabinet that contained spare parts. In that drawer among all the clutter of wires was my old Blackberry 7290. I hoped it still had a charge. I couldn't cancel the phone yet, there were still six months left on the contract. It sits in the drawer with an active sims card. I didn't bother to ask Andrea if she had her Berry on her since she clearly didn't have her purse. That's where she always kept her phone.

"Andy, turn around and watch for Nord."
"Who?" She replied.
"The Swede."
"His name's not Nord. It's Stephan, at least that's what Diego called him," she informed me.
"Watch for him."
"Okay," she complied with a bit of deflation from my demand.

I found the spare and discreetly turned it on, while hiding it in my lap. There was a charge but not much. I slid it between my thighs.

"Andy, you can turn around now." I was once again facing Stephan and he was clearly preoccupied with the soccer game. My boss did as I requested.

"What were you doing Randy?" asked Andrea.
"I found my old Berry. We need to decide who to email that would respond right away and could get help."

Andrea seemed deep in thought. "Jake in security," she replied quickly.
"Yes," I agreed. Jake was an ex-marine who served in Desert Storm. He was in charge of the office security and spent most of his day at his desk since there were rarely any security issues for our company. It was nonetheless a necessary position for a public company of our size. Jake was a one man squad who was very soft spoken. He didn't have to yell because his two hundred, twenty pound body of pure muscle spoke for itself. "What's Jake's last name?"

"Jenkins,"she replied immediately. Andrea seemed to know the first and last name of every employee in the company, all seven hundred of them. I lifted the Berry out from between my thighs but still contained it under the desk. I typed quickly to JJenkins.

"Jake,

Andrea and I are in trouble at my condo. You can find the address and map in your Outlook. There is a six foot, hundred ninety pound Swede, and a six foot four, two hundred fifty pound Hispanic guy that are holding us captive. They have guns and are experienced in precise targeting.

Please come alone and do not call the police. Andrea and I are in the study to the left of the front door.

The Hispanic is out right now, but will be back by the time you get here. The Swede is in the great room on a chair to the right of the foyer. Take your blackberry in case I have to provide more information.

Keep them alive but they need to be incapacitated. Please reply ASAP."

I pushed send.

"You ask him to come?" inquired Andrea.
"Yes. If he can leave right away it should take about two hours at this time of day," I replied.
"Do you think that's soon enough?"
"We have until the morning, but I suspect Stephan will want to see us start to write something, so we will must at least start the press release."
"What are you talking about Randy?"

Just then I got the reply email from Jake. It was simple. "10-4." No names, no signature, just the icon for "received the orders and will carry out." Jake was exactly what we needed.