Chapter 16

 

“Please come in,” Lena replied, her voice slightly hoarse from crying. “I’m sorry for…” She trailed off, not exactly sure why she was apologizing.

“Not at all, ma’am. I understand it’s a difficult time. Personally though, I’d like to apologize for not making it here yesterday as I’d hoped. There were a few time-sensitive matters I needed to address in relation to the case.”

“I understand. Please have a seat,” she gestured to one of the empty chairs. Officer Wilcox returned to his hallway post and closed the door while Wyatt and Logan remained standing just inside the room. Owen was still next to her on the bed, and he took her hand in his, offering silent encouragement.

Lena took a brief moment to assess Agent Ramsey’s appearance, and she knew immediately why Logan had deemed him trustworthy. While Valerie’s commendation had certainly carried weight, one could not be in the same room with Agent Ramsey and not feel the overwhelming presence of order and bureaucracy. He was like a walking advertisement for the federal government, from his solid black suit and tie, to his freshly-shined dress shoes. His dark hair had been groomed and trimmed with more care than Logan’s had been the day he’d finished boot camp. This was a man who did everything by the book.

“Thank you,” Ramsey replied as he sat down. “Now, in the hopes of saving us all some time, can I safely assume that you’re aware of the reports made by Mr. Langford and Mr. James?”

“Yes. Cook and Wyatt too. I think we’re all on the same page. Right?” Lena asked, glancing between her friend and fiancé. They each nodded.

“Good. I’ll still want to go over everything step by step with you, but I’d like to get a few things out of the way first. Do you have any questions for me before we begin?”

“How close are you to having enough evidence to make an arrest?”

“I’m optimistic we’ll have something concrete relatively soon. Our forensic unit was able to confirm that the explosion was caused by a bomb of some sort, and our team is in the process of reconstructing the blast in order to determine precisely how the bomb was made.”

“Reconstructing? What good will that do?” Owen frowned in confusion.

“Ideally, it would give us information we could then cross-reference with other cases, other bombings. It could lead us to the person who built the bomb.”

“Do you have a lead on who it could be?” Logan spoke up. “And what about Phelps’ cell phone? He was using it right before the explosion.”

“We checked his records, but there was no suspicious activity. If he did trigger the bomb, it was likely a burner phone he was using. As for the bomb-maker, I have my suspicions, but I’d rather wait for the lab to confirm them. Tracking this guy down could solve this case as well as others, not to mention save a lot of lives in the future if we can put him behind bars.

“We’ve also made a preliminary determination that your suspicion of embezzlement is valid,” Ramsey continued, “and we’re working to gather hard evidence there as well. We’ve been in touch with your employee Mr. Yates. He gave us a thorough explanation of the data he recovered regarding Mr. Phelps’ fraudulent activities, and he’s given us electronic copies of the information he deemed to be red flags. I want to personally assure you that any proprietary information we obtain as evidence will be kept confidential.”

“I appreciate that,” Lena replied. “At the moment, however, that’s the least of my concerns. I’ve been going through the files he’s decrypted so far, and I haven’t seen anything I would object to the FBI seeing. I just want Phelps caught.”

“As do we. Mr. Yates called me early this morning to suggest we talk to a Mr. Wesley Porter. Are you familiar with him?”

“Yeah, he works in the IT Department... What does Wes have to do with any of this?” Lena frowned.

“Mr. Yates gave us evidence that implicated Mr. Porter as a possible accomplice in the embezzlement. We attempted to question him this morning, but so far he hasn’t said anything beyond requesting a lawyer.”

Lena met Owen’s gaze with wide eyes. Wes had always been friendly toward her, and the idea that he might’ve been helping Phelps in any way was disturbing. Owen was only slightly less surprised by the revelation. He’d assumed that Wes was merely a creep who liked to stare at Lena’s chest but was otherwise harmless. He’d never gotten a duplicitous vibe from the man, and although they’d discussed the possibility of someone in IT helping Phelps cover his tracks, Wes wouldn’t have been Owen’s first suspect.

“What evidence was there?” Lena asked, still stunned.

“I’m afraid the technicalities are a bit beyond my purview, ma’am. You’d probably be better off speaking to Mr. Yates about it directly.”

“I understand,” she nodded. “My next question has to do with Phelps himself. I know you said you had an agent tailing him…?”

“Two agents at all times, ma’am, ready to make the arrest as soon as we have enough hard evidence to get a warrant.”

“But what if he tries to run before that happens?” Owen interjected.

“Then we’ll apprehend him and arrest him on suspicion.”

“And why can’t you just do that now?” he pressed. Ramsey took a brief moment to phrase his reply.

“Since Mr. Phelps is who he is, a judge would probably grant him bail. If we don’t have enough evidence to press formal charges, arresting him prematurely could cause problems later on. The case will go more smoothly if the initial arrest is a solid one. If the Bureau looks like we’re fumbling at any point, a good attorney might be able to get the whole thing thrown out. And I assume that Mr. Phelps has very good attorneys.”

As much as they hated it, both Owen and Lena understood his logic. Lena looked dejected, and Ramsey gave her a compassionate smile.

“Try to stay optimistic, Ms. Gardner,” he advised. “We’ll get the evidence we need. And in any case, I don’t personally think Mr. Phelps is going to run. If he were in that frame of mind, he’d have done it already. He’s overconfident, and that works in our favor.”

Everyone tried to take Ramsey’s encouragement to heart, but no one could ignore the fact that Phelps’ overconfidence made him dangerous. A chill seemed to descend over the room, and Lena changed the subject quickly, bringing up the idea of a press conference.

“I agree that a press release would be wise, ma’am. The Bureau’s media liaison will be releasing something soon as well, so I’ll have her coordinate with your PR department.”

“Good. The person she’ll need to speak with is Denise McMillan. She’s working on a statement that Owen will deliver, and we were hoping the image of him next to someone from the FBI might help ease the public’s concerns and put some of the rumors to rest.”

Agent Ramsey took his leave shortly thereafter, reminding them to contact him with any new developments and promising to keep them updated. Once the door had shut behind him, Logan detached himself from the wall and broke the silence he’d kept for the majority of Ramsey’s visit.

“I think he’s right about Phelps. If the prick was going to run, he’d have done it already. He must think he can weather this.”

“More than that,” Owen shook his head in disgust. “He’s dead set on finishing what he started.” Lena felt another chill descend through her body.

“It’s not just me, Owen. There’s every chance he’ll come after you too. Maybe I should just fire him. At least then he wouldn’t be in the building with you all day.”

“Not yet,” Logan disagreed. “We have the advantage right now, and it needs to stay that way. We need him to think he has a chance at getting what he wants.” Wyatt nodded mutely in agreement behind him.

“And what if he plants a bomb at GC next time?! How many innocent people could lose their lives if something like that happened?” Lena demanded, wincing a little at the pain raising her voice had caused her. Her broken bones were aching, and her throat was still raw from smoke damage and the tears she had shed earlier. Owen brought a finger to her lips to quiet her.

"We won't let him do that. Even at GC, we have eyes on him, either through the surveillance feeds or in person through someone on the security staff."

"Maybe, but it's not like we can tell them what to watch for. We don't even know which of them are trustworthy and which are reporting back to the bastard. You know they can't all be clean."

"Still," he hedged. "Phelps cares more about getting control of that company than anything else. I don't think he's going to start shit there. And with so many eyes on him, he's not going to be skulking around any more dark alleys."

“It would be good if he did, actually,” Logan thought aloud. When their expressions questioned his sanity, he clarified, “I meant it would be good if he tried to buy another bomb. The FBI would have just cause to arrest him, and he’d lead them straight to the bomb-maker they’re after. Unfortunately, I don’t think Phelps is that stupid. Confident, yes, but not reckless. There’s no way he doesn’t know he’s a suspect. That he’s being watched.”

They all lapsed into silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts until Owen glanced at the clock and sighed ruefully.

“I need to head back to work, baby. I want you to rest this afternoon, alright? That’s an order,” he teased.

“I think you’ve forgotten who signs your paychecks, Mr. Langford,” Lena smiled back weakly.

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss her goodbye, and Logan crossed the room to place a gentle kiss on her bandaged forehead.

“See ya, Squeak.”

The men filed out of the room, and Wyatt resumed his place outside the door. On the way to the elevator, Owen stopped at the nurse’s station and advised them that Lena was in need of more pain management. Logan shook his head, grinning smugly.

“What?”

“You. Trying to manage her. It’s a rookie move, and she’ll make you pay for it when she’s on her feet again,” Logan warned. Owen merely chuckled.

“I look forward to it.”

 

 

Wednesday

 

When Lena had awoken from her medicated nap the previous afternoon, she’d been surprised by the appearance of multiple flower arrangements decorating her room. Her doctor had advised limiting the number of visitors as much as possible in the hope of minimizing her risk of infection, but apparently that hadn’t stopped anyone from sending condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery. Owen had explained that the flowers in her room were actually only a fraction of what had been sent. The majority had been delivered directly to GC. They’d come from clients, employees, some of her college professors, and some local politicians. Even a couple of the news outlets were represented, most likely in an attempt to improve their chances for an interview once she was sufficiently recovered.

The press had been moderately respectful, but Owen had noticed a few reporters following him back and forth between GC and the hospital. They weren’t obtrusive, but the media was definitely still speculating about the situation. Everyone was hopeful that today’s press conference would dispel some of the wilder rumors that had been circulating.

The door to her room opened to reveal Wyatt, and Lena noted with curiosity that his face was slightly flushed.

“Ms. McMillan to see you, ma’am.”

“Yes, I’m expecting her. Thank you.”

Wyatt stood aside for Denise to enter the room. Lena smiled in welcome and didn’t miss the way Denise’s eyes seemed glued to her favorite bodyguard. She glanced back at him more than once as she crossed the room to the chair next to Lena’s bed. Wyatt looked mildly embarrassed as he closed the door. She’s barking up the wrong tree, Lena chuckled inwardly.

“Ms. Gardner, it’s very good to see you looking so well. We’ve all been praying for you, and I’d like to personally extend my sympathies for your loss. Your father was a wonderful man.”

“Yes, he was. Thank you,” Lena replied, her voice a little weaker than she’d have liked. She knew that accepting condolences was something she would have to get used to, but she hoped it would get easier as time went on. “You wanted to talk about the press conference?”

“Yes, ma’am. I did speak to someone at the FBI in order to corroborate our statements, and Mr. Langford approved the language this morning. However, there’s a portion of the statement regarding Mr. Gardner that he thought you might like to see beforehand.”

“Okay…?”

Lena’s forehead wrinkled in confusion as she accepted the printed document from Denise and began to read. The statement was concise and professional. It had been carefully worded to give a general recapitulation of the events without getting into specifics that could undermine the ongoing investigation. When she reached a highlighted section, she felt her throat begin to tighten. Denise had taken the opportunity to say a few kind words about Nate. It wasn’t a eulogy, per se, but it was genuine and highly complimentary.

“Are you asking if I approve of the language or…?”

“Mr. Langford was concerned that the press conference might not be an appropriate time to pay tribute to Mr. Gardner, even briefly, and he wanted your take on the matter. I only put it in because… Well, I was given to understand that a funeral or memorial service might not be possible for some time.”

Lena nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat with some difficulty.

“I think it’s perfect. You didn’t ramble on about his life’s achievements, and I think it would be wrong not to pay any sort of tribute at all. Even if that’s not the original purpose of the statement. Leave it exactly as it is, please. And thank you… for your sentiments.”

“Of course, Ms. Gardner. The local networks and affiliates have us going live at one p.m., and I’m told the national networks will show the footage on their evening segments. Is there anything else I can do for you, ma’am?”

“No, thank you. You’ve handled all of this very well. I’m sure my dad would appreciate everything you’ve done. We’re very lucky to have you aboard,” Lena replied with a sad smile.

After Denise left, Lena was forced to endure another round of bloodwork and burn care, and by the time the hospital staff left her alone again, it was nearly time for the press conference. She turned the TV on to one of the local news stations and caught the end of the midday report. The anchors were discussing a new chain of restaurants that had recently opened in Seattle and a charitable fundraising event being conducted at one of the local public schools. Listening to them talk about something so normal and mundane made Lena feel a bit odd. It seemed strange that others’ lives could go on as usual when her own life had been thrown into chaos.

The news anchors ended the midday broadcast with a segue to the press conference, and the image on the screen changed to show a familiar face. Lena smiled in spite of her heavy heart. It’s really unfair for anyone to look that good on TV. She wouldn’t be surprised if Owen Langford fan clubs started popping up all over the internet after this, and he would end up being followed by paparazzi instead of actual reporters. She didn’t have the energy to concern herself with it at the moment, however. One headache at a time.

Lena listened attentively as Owen gave the statement she’d read earlier that morning. He reported that her condition was stable and improving, and he announced her position as the sole owner and head of Gardner Components. Owen went on to explain that Lena would be assuming her duties as CEO as soon as she was physically able to do so but had named him as acting CEO in the interim. He referred to himself as her fiancé and stated that both he and Lena were determined that business would go on without interruption.

They’d agreed that he shouldn’t take questions from the press this time, but the various reporters shouted them at him anyway. The FBI liaison stepped up to the podium and gave a very brief statement, divulging only minimal information in regard to the investigation. The text of her announcement was mostly a repeat of what the FBI had already released. She explained that the Bureau was working in conjunction with the Seattle Police Department and that the cause of the explosion was still under investigation. She also assured everyone that the FBI did not believe there was any further threat to the community and made a point to acknowledge that all involved parties were cooperating with the investigation. A cacophony of shouting followed her speech as well, but the woman didn’t acknowledge it.

“They don’t give much away, do they?” a male voice asked from her doorway.

Lena hadn’t heard the door open, but she knew Wyatt wouldn’t have granted access to a stranger. The newcomer had kind eyes and dark hair with flecks of gray. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t quite place him.

“I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

“My apologies,” the man smiled, crossing the room to shake her hand. “Dr. David Maitland. I stopped by briefly over the weekend and spoke to your fiancé, but you weren’t available at the time. Perhaps he mentioned me?”

“He might have. The last few days have been…”

“I understand. Do you mind if I sit?” Maitland asked politely, and Lena shook her head. She glanced back at the TV and was momentarily disappointed that she’d missed Owen’s exit. The network had gone to a commercial, and she turned the TV off in resignation before turning her attention back to her visitor.

“Is there something I can do for you?”

“Well, I’m rather hoping I can do something for you. I’m a certified grief counselor, and the hospital assigned me to your case. You’re under no obligation to speak with me, of course. It’s just something they offer everyone in your situation.”

“Oh…” Lena fumbled for the right response. She didn’t want to be rude.

“You don’t need to do anything right this minute,” Maitland assured her, sensing her discomfort. “I just wanted to introduce myself to you properly. The hospital requires that I reach out to you directly, rather than simply through a family member. I can leave my contact information for you in the event that you decide you’re ready to talk to someone.”

Lena watched him place a business card on the bedside table with conflicting emotions. She had hated shrinks since childhood, but she wasn't an idiot. She knew she needed help to process everything that had happened. Bottling up her grief and guilt over her mother's death for so many years had been a mistake that had cost her dearly. Lena couldn’t help but think of her fiancé and how grounded he was, how competent. If ever there were a poster boy for the benefits of psychotherapy, it was Owen. If he could overcome the horrors of his childhood, then surely there was still some hope for her. She had to be strong enough to move on from this disaster.

“I will definitely be seeking counseling,” Lena said hesitantly. “I’m not ready to address it yet, but… when I am, I’ll call you.” Maitland smiled warmly.

“That sounds great, Ms. Gardner. Is it alright if I follow up with you in a few weeks’ time?”

“I’m sure you’ll hear from me before then, but yes, that’s fine. Thank you.”

Lena watched the door close behind him, and she was left alone with her thoughts once more. She felt an unexpected shift in her emotions, and it took her a moment to identify the change. There was just a fraction of contentment, of accomplishment. It wasn’t pride, far from it.

It was resolve. To allow herself to crumble beneath the destruction Jeffrey Phelps had brought into her life would be inexcusable. Whether it be a fight to bring him to justice or a battle waged within her own mind, she would not let him win.