Game On (4 page)

“Maybe you should hire a better tech guy.”

“Elizabeth—that's my assistant—says he's one of the best.”

“Why do you think they're doing it?”

“I'm not sure. That's why I need you. To find out what's going on. To find out who's behind it and how serious it is.”

“Why do you call it a game?”

At least Nikki was listening to him, acting as if she believed him. Maybe he still could convince her to accept his job offer. He shrugged. “For lack of a better word. But I can tell you one thing—it's not very fun.”

“I think you're overreacting.” She smiled at him—the fake one. “It really does sound like a prank. Send the stuff back, cancel your credit cards, and don't use the internet to buy things anymore. Problem solved.”

“Once would be a prank, but this keeps happening over and over. It's been going on for months. Who knows what they'll do next?”

“I understand how this could be a problem, but I'm not getting why you need me specifically. There are plenty of other capable investigators who can help you. Especially one that focuses on cybercrimes.”

“You're good at what you do.” He knew that because he'd kept track of her over the years. Just in case she needed him.

“I might be good, but you can afford the best. I have no idea why you think I'm the only one who can help you.” Nikki met his gaze. Her tone was serious when she spoke. “I don't have time for this, Lucas. Tell me the truth now or leave.”

He rubbed his eyes and then looked at her. The moment of truth had arrived. Should he tell her that his friends thought he was imagining the whole thing? That they thought he'd suffered some sort of breakdown. Nothing else seemed to be working. He might as well tell her the truth. “Because I need you to prove I'm not losing my mind.”

4

Losing his mind.

Nikki processed his words. Her gaze roved around her office, looking for a hidden camera. Was she the one being pranked? After all, she couldn't have imagined Lucas McMann sitting in her office, let alone dropping that kind of bombshell. His announcement was just shocking enough to make her too curious for her own good. “Why would you think that?”

“Because everyone thinks I'm…” He leaned forward, his voice anxious. “My friends think I'm imagining it, but they're wrong. You have to believe me, Nikki. This is really happening to me. It's not a figment of my imagination.”

If his friends were right, it was more serious than an overactive imagination. “Why would your friends not believe you?”

He sat quietly for a moment.

She wasn't sure if he would answer or if he was gathering his thoughts.

Finally, he answered. “They think it's some sort of delayed reaction to my wife's murder.”

In her shock and anger, she'd forgotten about that. It had happened more than a year before and been on every news station in the South for several weeks. A robbery gone wrong at a convenience store. The suspects had never been found or arrested. “I'm very sorry about your wife, Lucas.”

He gave her a grim smile. “Thanks. They think I need to see a psychiatrist.”

Things clicked into place. “Because you might have PTSD or something like that.” Now she was beginning to understand. Were his friends right?

He nodded but said nothing.

“I take it you don't want to see one.”

“I don't need a doctor. I need this sick game to be over.”

Nikki replayed their conversation. He did sound paranoid. His friends knew him better than she did. Her anger turned to compassion as she looked at Lucas. This was a man in pain. A man who needed help, but what kind of help?

Her kind or a doctor's kind?

“Sometimes people around us can see things we can't see ourselves.” She held up her camera. “Sort of like this camera. One of the reasons I always use this is it can pick up details we don't notice at the time. So when I have a job, I trust it to pick up things I might not see at the time. A psychiatrist can do the same thing. They can help us see things clearer. Things we may not notice. There's no shame in seeing a doctor, Lucas.”

“I know that. And when my wife was murdered, I did see someone. And it was very helpful. More of a spiritual counselor, but don't you see? Without proof, how could the doctor not diagnose me with some sort of paranoia?” Frustration leaked out with each word. “There's no way I can get a fair evaluation if I don't have proof.”

And if he had proof, then he wouldn't need a doctor.

His convoluted reasoning made sense, sort of. Nikki prided herself on her ability to read people. But she was having trouble with this situation. “Maybe you should listen to your friends. I'm sure they care about you. Sometimes we have to trust someone else instead of ourselves.”

“I don't disagree with that. In fact, that's the reason I'm thinking about running for senator. It's the right time, according to my advisors. It's not something I would choose for myself right now. But I've learned to listen to other people.”

He sounded so reasonable.

“But in this situation, I'm right and they're wrong. If I wasn't living it, I'd believe it was a breakdown too. What I need is for you to prove that this…this game is real, and then find out who's behind it so I can put a stop to it.”

“But what if it's not real?”

“But it is.”

Their gazes met.

“And I know you can prove it.” He was firm.

“What if I prove the opposite? Then what?”

“That won't happen. This is not a figment of my imagination.”

This conversation seemed to be getting them nowhere. She wasn't even sure why she was sitting here listening to him. And yet she was.

“Don't you understand? These people are playing mind games. Trying to make me think I'm paranoid. Trying to make me think I'm doing things and not remembering it. Trying to make me think I'm unstable, not fit to be a senator.”

His cell phone rang.

He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen. “It's my assistant.” He swirled around in his chair. “Hello, Elizabeth.”

A loud voice came from the phone, but Nikki couldn't make out the words.

“Calm down, Elizabeth. I know, but it couldn't be helped.” He stood up and walked outside to finish the call.

Nikki stared at the yellow sticky note. The last thing she needed was to be involved with Lucas McMann. But it didn't seem right to turn her back on him, even though he'd done that once to her at a time when she'd really needed him. Forgiving him wasn't really the point. If he really was the victim of some weird internet stalking game, it needed to be stopped. Not just for Lucas. Who knew how many other victims might be out there?

Lucas walked back in. “Sorry about that. My assistant wasn't too happy. I left without telling her.”

“I'm still not getting why you're here. You must have lots of people who could help you.”

“I suppose. But in the world of politics it's not always easy to know who to trust. Everyone has an agenda.”

How did he know he could trust her? The old Nikki would have taken this opportunity to exact revenge. The new Nikki hoped she was a better person, but the old Nikki might rise up at any minute. “And you think you can trust me?”

“I'm sure of it.”

She stared at the word stuck to her screen. OK, she'd been nice and listened. She'd given sincere condolences about his wife. The woman didn't deserve to die in such a way. No one did. That should be good enough.
Right, God?
“I'm not the right person for this job. I think you should listen to your friends.”

“You think I'm crazy too.” He straightened up and stared at her.

“I didn't say that.”

“You don't have to. I've seen that look and heard that tone of voice every time I tell people.”

“I'm not saying it's not real. I'm only saying you need to accept the possibility—”

“Never mind. I thought you could help me. Guess I was wrong.” Instead of sounding angry, he sounded defeated. “My apologies for interrupting your day. There's only one thing left to do. I concede. They win. I lose.”

“What does that mean? Exactly how will you concede when you don't know who's responsible?”

“I won't run for Senate and no more politics. Period. I'm done. That's probably what they want anyway. Then hopefully all of this will stop. I'll go find a mountaintop to live on. Away from people and their cameras. I'm not being passive-aggressive either.” He gave her a hard look. “I cannot fight them alone, I cannot get anyone to believe me, and therefore, the only way to end their game is to concede. It has to stop. And let us pray they don't do this to other people too.”

Since Nikki had known Lucas McMann, his only goal was to become President of the USA. Everything in his life was done according to his plan—well, his father's plan for him. There'd never been one misstep. Except his wife's untimely death.

“Sit down, Lucas.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. She didn't want to send him a mixed message, but—her cell phone rang.

It was from her sister, but a text accompanied the call with
911
in it. Their code for an emergency.

“I have to take this call.”

He nodded.

“Hey, Bethany.”

“She's done it again.”

“What's she done this time?”

“We had an argument last night, and she ran away. I thought she was in school all day. Who knows where she is? When she didn't come home, I started calling her friends. That's when I found out she didn't go to school. No one has any idea where she is. And I don't either.” A sob echoed. “I'm so worried.”

“Did you call her cell phone?”

“She's refusing to answer or maybe something happened to her and she can't.”

“Nothing happened to her. I'm sure she's just fine.” Of course Cassie wasn't answering her phone. Kids were usually fearful after a big argument and feeling as if their parents and the world were against them. “What was the argument about?”

“A boy.”

“Of course.”

Lucas was watching her.

She should have asked him to leave while she talked with Bethany. She didn't want him to know anything about Cassie. Too late now.

“Maybe she'll answer if you call her,” Bethany said.

“I'll try that as soon as we get off the phone.”

“I'll hang up right now. Then call me back.”

“Will do.” Nikki scrolled through the names on her cell phone. She looked at Lucas. “Family problems.”

“We all have those, don't we? Is there anything I can do?”

Nikki shook her head as she pressed call. It rang until it went to voice mail. On her third try, she left Cassie a very pointed message to call her mother. Then she called Bethany back. “She didn't answer my call either. Did you call the police?”

“No, I don't want to get her in trouble. If I call the police, they might put her in juvie. They threatened to last time.”

She hated giving advice about Cassie to her sister. “Neither do I, but it might be time for her to face the consequences of her actions. Instead of letting her get away with all this nonsense.”

“I know. That's what Ray tells me all the time. But…” Her voice trailed off. “Maybe we should tell her the truth.”

It wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation, but there was no way she was having it in front of Lucas. “I can't really discuss this right now. I'm with a client.”

It didn't stop Bethany. “She must suspect something. It has to be the reason why she's so unhappy.”

“She's not unhappy—she's a teenager.”

“I don't know, Nikki. It seemed like the right thing back then, but…”

“No buts. We'll talk about this later.”

“But—” Bethany sniffled.

“But nothing.” Nikki squeezed her eyes shut. “I'll try calling her again. And if she doesn't answer, I'll see if I can get a location on her phone from a friend. If we don't know where she is by morning, I'll fly home.”

“You would do that?”

“Of course. I love her too.” There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment. Nikki could practically read her sister's mind.

“I didn't mean it like that.” Bethany's voice was quiet. “Thanks, Nikki. I don't know what I'd do without you, even though you're the little sister.”

“We're family. Call me if you hear from her. I don't care what time it is, OK? But right now, I have to go. I'm with a…a client.” She ended the call.

“So you'll take the job?” Lucas looked hopeful for the first time since he'd told her everything.

“Why would you think that?”

“You told your sister you were with a client.”

“I misspoke.”

“Kinda figured that. But I figured it couldn't hurt to try. So what's wrong?”

“My niece took a vacation without telling her parents.”

“How old is she?”

She did not want to discuss Cassie with Lucas. “She's a teenager.”

“So you'll go back to Maiden to look for her.”

“It seems so. If she doesn't show up by morning.”

“I can fly you back.”

“I can handle this.”

“I know you can, but I can get you there a lot quicker.” He smiled and held his hands up in surrender. “No strings attached. I promise.”

She'd do everything in her power to keep Cassie safe. Including a quick, silent prayer. But accepting his help could put Cassie in more jeopardy than ever.

She stood up. “Thanks, but no thanks, Lucas. And now I've got things to do. I don't mean to be rude, but…” Nikki picked up her camera and then held the door open for Lucas to leave.

A sad look crossed his face, but he nodded. “Thanks for listening anyway. Come on, I can get you to Maiden in record time. I flew down here, so my plane's at the airport. No strings attached, I promise. I'll find another way to deal with my own problems.” As he walked out the door, he touched her arm.