“Riley,” Bethany said when he answered. “How are you holding up, kid?”
“I think I’m all right,” he said. “How’s the ranch?”
“It’s beautiful, as always,” she told him. “And I wanted to let you know, we may have found something you need to see. There was a safe in your grandfather’s study. I’m sure you knew about it.”
“Yeah, he kept a few things in there.”
Bethany laughed. “A few things, yes. Well, he must have added quite a few things since the last time you were here. But that’s not what’s important. What is important is that he left a list for the lawyers about what was in the safe.”
“And?”
“And there is a laptop currently unaccounted for.”
Riley leaned over his desk, frowning. “A laptop? What the hell was on it?”
“That, I’m afraid, I can’t tell you,” she said. “But I thought you should know that the last person in the house—besides the housekeeper and your grandfather—was that Chandler woman. The redhead who looks like a cheap hooker.”
Riley choked on a laugh. “Thanks, Aunt Bethany. That helps answer a few questions.”
“And, I’m sure, gives you a few more.”
They chatted for a few more minutes about the plans they had for the ranch and the possibility converting it into a bed and breakfast. It was something their brother had wanted to do with his sisters long ago, before his business took off. Riley wished them luck and made sure she knew to call him if they needed a handyman. He might not be able to do anything too well, but he could find a good contractor or two. He hung up a few minutes later, then paged Ben to meet him in his office. His grandfather kept a laptop at the ranch. He knew that man almost better than anyone else.
“You called,” Ben said when he knocked.
“Yeah, I need you to try and track something for me.”
“That sounds exciting. Just add it to the rest of the spy skills I’m suddenly acquiring.”
“You want a raise?”
Ben shrugged. “Wouldn’t complain. What do you need?”
He told Ben about the laptop missing from the safe and how Chandler was apparently the last person there. If anyone took it, it would’ve been her. The question was, what was on it that she wanted so badly? Ben tapped his pen on the desk as he listened.
“You think your grandfather…what, kept company secrets on it?”
“No,” Riley said as he paced around his office. “I think as much as the man trusted me, he had his ways of keeping track of what was going on at this company.”
Ben stopped his tapping. “Like a backdoor into the network?”
“Why not? He built this company. He was brilliant, so why not create his own backdoor to spy on his grandson and make sure he doesn’t drive it all into the ground?” Riley asked with a twitch of a smile. Trust the old man to say one thing and then do another, just to make sure his grandson was still doing what was right. “We need to see if there is any trace in the system of such an intrusion.”’
“He would’ve covered his tracks pretty well, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Riley started to thank him when they both heard Linda’s voice rise outside his office. He hurried to open the door, Ben right behind him, to find Diane Chandler standing there, wearing red stilettos, a short black skirt, and a red top with a plunging neckline. She slammed her hands down onto the desk just as Linda hopped up from her chair, looking ready to hit the woman.
“What are you doing here, Ms. Chandler?” Riley said calmly as he motioned for Ben to grab Linda before she hauled off and threw something at the redhead. “I do not believe we have an appointment.”
“No, we do not, but as I was trying to tell your hard-of-hearing assistant,” Diane snapped, “I need to speak with you about our deal.”
“What deal?”
“Oh, sweetie,” she said, stepping towards him and running her fingers down his chest. “You know exactly what deal I’m talking about.”
Riley gritted his teeth and grabbed her hand, preventing it from going any lower. “I have never, nor will I ever, make a deal with you, Ms. Chandler. Now, you will please remove yourself from my presence or I will have security do it for you. Again.”
“You don’t have much time left.”
“I have plenty, and who says I need a whole two months?”
Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around. “No, you couldn’t have found one yet.” He didn’t answer, didn’t say a word. Instead, he motioned for Linda to call security, and a few minutes later, two guards appeared on either side of her. “This is not over. I’ll be back the second you call me to save what you hold dear.”