May and Commander Horner sat at the kitchen table as May took him through everything that had occurred, step by step.  Horner listened, quietly, intently, never changing expression. He noted that she kept checking her cell for calls or texts. She impressed the commander with her recall and detailed explanation. As nervous as she was, she clearly articulated the events that occurred concisely. Ray made coffee, poured three cups and joined them at the table. Horner loaded down his coffee with sugar and cream.

“Officer Singer asked me a great question; why didn’t they take me?” she concluded. “It’s me they want out of the way.”

Horner sipped his coffee, “They need you to pull off this sale,” he said. “They are sending you a message.  Play ball or Jessup dies.”

“Why hasn’t anyone said anything?” she asked. “There was no call, no note, no communication, other than the BS note.”

“They’ve communicated plenty,” Horner said. “You say this meeting with Phillips is at five o’clock tomorrow evening?”

“That’s right,” May said.

“This is another intimidation tactic,” he said. “You won’t sleep a wink tonight. They want you tired, scared and worried to death when you meet with Phillips. Sometime tomorrow, perhaps in the morning at the office, they’ll contact you some way or another, probably by phone. They’ll deliver the message more directly.”

“And what is the message?” Ray asked.

“Simple. They’ll want May to sign a letter of intent to sell the company,” Horner said. “That’s what this has been about from the beginning.”

“You said they’d contact her by phone,” Ray continued. “Why not leave a note?”

“This note that Jessup allegedly wrote, it’s all part of an elaborate plan,” the commander replied. “This character Marbury, he’s a crafty one. He’s pulled this off in a manner that neutralized the police. Even when you file a missing person’s report, they police won’t check into it for twenty-four hours. Your meeting will be over long before then and whatever they intend to do with Jessup will also be done.”

“I’m not following you,” May said.

“They intend to kill Jessup either way,” Horner said. “They have no choice.  If all goes as they plan, you will sign a letter of intent tomorrow. Within a day or two the police will find Jessup’s body in his car in a ditch somewhere. He will appear to have died of a heart attack as the note suggests.”

“Won’t that be obvious?”

Horner shrugged, “Not really. The police have a note where he allegedly says he is ill and heading to the hospital. They will certainly be suspicious but it’s doubtful they will prove anything. There are ways to induce a heart attack without detection and Jorge Jessup has a heart condition already.”

“He does?”

Horner nodded, “It’s why the Navy released him from active duty.  The condition is well-managed but there are never guarantees.”

“How would Marbury know that?” Ray asked.  “Doesn’t the Navy protect that information?”

“They do,” Horner answered. “Marbury didn’t get the information that way. Jessup has ongoing treatment, which means he is being treated here in Oceanside. My guess is Marbury used leverage to find out about his heart condition through Jessup’s medical records in Oceanside.”

“So, they will kill him regardless what happens tomorrow,” May exclaimed.

“Not if I find him first,” Horner said.

“Can you do it?” she asked.

“I will do it,” he replied. “They will contact you tomorrow. It will most likely be on the phone, perhaps early when you get into the office. They will not leave a note—that’s evidence.”

“Why do you believe he’s not already dead?” Ray asked.

“Insurance,” the commander replied. “They will keep him alive until this meeting is over.”

“Even if you find him, how will you save him?”

“You leave that part to me, Miss Major. I’m a SEAL and a commander in the US Navy. I have a resource or two of my own. Jessup is a close friend and former SEAL. We take care of our own. I will find him. You need to take care of your business.”

“Jessup was coaching me on how to handle Phillips,” she said. “He’s not here. What do I do?”

Horner showed the slightest hint of a smile, “From everything I’ve seen, you’re a smart woman who suffers from a lack of self-confidence. I’ve been dealing with people all my life, Miss Major. You have what it takes. Excuse the expression, but man up on this when you deal with Phillips. You can do it.”

“I can’t do it, you’re wrong,” she said. “I can’t face this guy and his team of lawyers alone.”

“You can and you must,” Horner said. “Jessup risked his life for you. It’s possible he will lose his life for you. He believed in your cause and he believed in you. Don’t sit there and tell me you can’t do it.”

May sniffled, “I’ll try.”

“When they call you,” Horner continued, “they will try to intimidate you.  You take a position and stick with it. You can do this.”

“Ok,” she said, through tears.

“When Marbury’s man contacts you, I want you to pretend to play along. This next part is very important. Whatever they ask you to do, tell them you’ll do it, but only under one condition.”

“What condition is that?”

“Tell them you want to speak with him on the phone fifteen minutes before the meeting. Tell them you want to hear his voice. They will try to talk you out of it. They’ll threaten you with many demands. Do… not… falter. Tell them you want to hear his voice at four-forty-five or there is no deal. Period. No matter what they say. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“This is the best way to guarantee he stays alive until I get to him.”

“What if they don’t do it?” she asked.

“They will. I promise.”

“So… in the worst-case scenario, if you don’t find him, what do I do?” May asked.

“You do not sell,” Horner replied, flatly.

“But they’ll kill him,” she argued.

“Miss Major, they will kill him, regardless. Don’t give them what they want. It would make his death meaningless.”

“But if I sell, isn’t there a chance that…”

“No… there isn’t,” Horner interrupted. “You must trust me on this. They cannot allow Jessup to live under any circumstances.”

“But you’ll find him,” Ray interjected.

“I like my chances,” he replied. “This is not my first rodeo.”

“I’m so worried,” she said. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Miss Major, we have one big advantage. It’s all we have. We need to play it to its fullest.”

“What advantage is that?”

“Me,” he said. “They have no idea I’m here. They know the police won’t file a report for twenty-four hours. They believe no one is looking right now. We must exploit that. From that standpoint, they’ll be relaxed. You need to remain calm and stick with the plan.”

“I will.”

“Miss Major, there is one other item,” Horner said.

“What?”

“You said your father died of a heart attack…”

“Yes.”

“And there was an autopsy?”

“Yes. They found nothing unusual,” May said.

“Commander, do you suspect foul play?” Ray asked.

“From this letter, it’s obvious to me they intend to kill Jessup and make it look like a heart attack,” Horner said. “Your father died unexpectedly from a heart attack. I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Jesus!” May exclaimed.

“This is a matter for another time,” Horner said, standing. He reached into his pocket and handed May and Ray a business card. “Let’s exchange cell numbers. This is my personal cell. Call me when they’ve contacted you tomorrow.”

“Where are you going?” May asked.

“I’m putting wheels in motion,” he said. “When I find Jessup, I will need a quick plan to extract him.”