Chapter 10

An urgent knock at the door brought Sabrina prematurely running from her shower, dripping wet and hastily wrapped in a towel. The knocking continued, growing more and more loud and erratic, and didn't stop until she skidded to a halt in front of the door and threw it open.

Kelly and Jill stood outside grinning, both of their fists raised in the air. They had an annoying habit of knocking haphazardly at the same time on her door. For some reason or other they found it funny.

Sabrina shook her head, a half smile on her face despite herself.

"What are you two doing out of school?" she said, opening the door to let them in.

Jill flounced over to her bed and pulled a large manila envelope out of her purse. She slid the contents out on the bed, revealing the glossy 8x10 prints of the photos that she had taken last night.

"Already? "It's not even seven yet, nothing is open." Sabrina asked in amazement. "How did you do that so fast?"

"She has perfect teeth." Kelly said with a grin.

Jill flashed the perfect smile in question and demurely shrugged her shoulders. Sabrina and Kelly laughed and rolled their eyes.

Oh, Jill.

"So, I've already sent copies of these prints to Charlie. Maybe he can help identify the fat guy and whoever John is." Jill said in a business like voice, spreading out the photos. She lifted a close up of the fat man and frowned at it. "He wouldn't stop eating long enough for me to get a decent shot of his face. His mouth was either open or full of food the entire time."

Kelly sat down next to her on the bed and pulled Jill's arm toward her to get a better look. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Gosh, where does he put it?" she said dryly.

Sabrina and Jill giggled.

"That guy standing next to Rusty is Dale Warner." Sabrina said, pointing out the sleazy looking man.

Kelly grinned. "Rusty? Is that your pet name for Russell Piper? You come up with that all by yourself?" she asked with a teasing laugh.

Jill giggled. "That's Chubby's nickname for him, I think. He called him Rusty about three times as they were leaving. I don't think it was appreciated very much either."

Sabrina nodded. "I don't think anything Chubby does is appreciated by Rusty."

Kelly took a closer look at Warner's picture. "We'll, I've seen him around." she said, studying it carefully. "Not Chubby though."

Sabrina shook her head. "Yeah, me neither. Which makes me think that he works somewhere else. Maybe a rival company? This could be some kind of take down scheme that Adam somehow got wind of. Maybe they took him to prevent blackmail or exposure." she said. "We need to ask around, hopefully Charlie will call back sometime today with some answers."

Drops of water from her hair dripped onto the picture as she talked and Kelly and Jill giggled.

"I agree. But first, you need to get dressed, Lady Godiva." Jill said with an amused grin.

Sabrina looked down at her still towel-clad body. "Oh, yeah." she said sheepishly. "Give me a sec, here."

She disappeared into the bathroom, humming as she dressed and applied her makeup. While they waited, Kelly and Jill sorted through the remainder of the pictures, scanning them for anything that could help their case. The charts were the most interesting piece of the puzzle. They were much too far away to see any detail in the sheets, but they had to be a major key to unlocking this mystery and bringing Adam safely home.

Sabrina emerged from the bathroom, dressed for the day and sat down next to Jill to look at the pictures.

"You know, Warner said he couldn't leave the building with those charts." Sabrina said slowly.

Jill nodded. "Think they're still somewhere in the building?" she asked.

"Hidden, probably. But yeah. Definitely somewhere in the building."

Jill tapped the stack of photos on her knee to straighten them and slid them back into the envelope. "Well, I think we're on to something here. Which means I've exhausted my efforts at McGrugger's Sporting Goods and Supplies." she said, a slow grin breaking out over her face. "Looks like I'm going to have to resign."

Sabrina clucked her tongue in pity. "And you were so good at it." she said solemnly.

Jill shook her head sadly. "Well, when duty calls, sacrifices must be made." she lamented. She sighed as if reminiscing. "I'm just happy to be going out at the top of my game."

Sabrina groaned, plucked the envelope from her hand and swatted the top of her head with it, causing all three girls to burst into laughter.

"I'll tell them I'm quitting and then finish out the day." Jill said happily, through her giggles. "Then, tomorrow I can start being useful to you guys."

Kelly grinned at her. "Why start now?"

Jill snatched the envelope from Sabrina's hands and swatted Kelly over the head with it, again causing the girls to erupt into a fit of giggles. Finally, they got up, grabbed their things and made ready to leave for the day.

"Alright, Kell. How do you want to do this today?" Sabrina asked as they headed for the door.

Kelly gave her a cocky grin. "Divide and conquer, kiddo. I'll take Warner, you take Piper."

Sabrina nodded in agreement. Divide and conquer they would.

"And, why don't I fill in Fairbanks police with what we have so far. We don't have the same pull here as we do in L.A., but I'll try anyway. Joe will help me. I mean, we what we have is probably not enough for an arrest, but a heads up would be nice I'm sure." Jill added.

Sabrina opened the door and Kelly and Jill followed her out into the hallway. "That's a good idea, Jill." she said. She stopped and patted Jill on the back.

"Plus, they already know you."

Kelly tucked her clipboard under her arm and confidently walked up to Dale Warner's office. The door was slightly ajar, so she poked her head in, preparing to give a light knock to announce her presence. Warner was seated at his desk, leaning over and nearly out of sight. He was searching for something, mumbling to himself as he dug through the bottom drawer of his desk.

Kelly cleared her throat and tapped on the door. The startled man immediately popped up from behind his desk and Kelly was surprised to see that it wasn't Dale Warner at all.

Richard Mayhew had been rummaging through Warner's desk. Any remote idea that he was there legitimately was soon erased when he leaped to his feet and scrambled away from the desk, looking every bit as guilty as he was.

"Kelly." he said, his voice nervous and panicky. "Good to see you again. Dale stepped out for a minute, I'm just cleaning up for him." he lied.

Kelly smiled and nodded her head in understanding. The gesture was for his benefit. Any fool could see that he was lying and was anxious about being caught. Kelly gave her eyes a mental roll. Next, he would size her up with a few questions to see if she was planning on telling Warner what she had seen.

"So, what did you need Dale for?" he asked, leaning nonchalantly against the desk.

Kelly shrugged and smiled. "Just had a few questions." she said softly. "I can come back later."

Mayhew smiled back. "Oh, is it terribly important?" he asked innocently.

"No, not terribly." Kelly admitted, her smile unfaltering.

Mayhew nodded his head. "What else are you going to talk to him about, was that it?" he asked.

"That was it, Mr. Mayhew."

"I see." he said nervously. He glanced at his watch as if just remembering something important. "Well, I need to be going now." he said, pointing at his watch and then the door. Everything move he made looked nervous and forced. What was he up to?

Kelly smiled at him. "I'll tell Mr. Warner you were looking for him." she offered.

Mayhew paled. "Oh, no don't bother. I'll see him soon enough." he said quickly.

He followed her out the door and bid her a hasty and awkward farewell, before turning on his heel and walking away. Kelly watched him suspiciously as he walked down the hallway, his strides quick and eager to get away. Mayhew glanced nervously over his shoulder at her a few times as he walked and Kelly watched his retreating back until he disappeared around a corner.

Kelly scratched her head.

Interesting.

"Mr. Piper, I've been meaning to talk to you." Sabrina said smoothly as sidled up beside him in the staff lounge.

Piper started and eyed her warily, like a mouse would an approaching cat. "Yes, Ms. Duncan." he replied cautiously, distrust in his voice.

"Call me Sabrina, please." she said dismissively. She poured herself a cup of coffee, added sugar and stirred it slowly, purposely building tension. The more nervous he was the better.

"Sabrina, then." Piper said slowly, still wary as he watched her prepare her coffee. "What can I do for you."

"Oh, nothing, really." Sabrina said casually, her focus still on her coffee. "I want to talk about you." she said, drawing it out.

Piper looked confused. "Me?"

"Yes, you."

Sabrina took a sip of her coffee and turned to face him. "Do you realize that you're on a sinking ship, Russ." she asked. "You have to know this company is going under. What is a brilliant guy like you still doing here?"

Piper looked surprised and then narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What do you mean?"

Sabrina emitted a contemptuous little laugh. "That's why I was sent here. To see if I could figure out a way to save this company. That's what I do." she said. She raised an eyebrow at him. "That's what I'm good at."

Piper nodded. "And your verdict is-?"

"There's nothing to save it. Surely you knew that."

"Well, maybe we're having a bit of a dry spell what with all th-"

Sabrina cut him off. "C'mon, Rusty, you have to know it's only a matter of time."

Piper narrowed his eyes at her and crossed his arms in front of him. "Why are you concerned?"

"Maybe I have a job for someone with your brains?" she said casually. "Do you have anything lined up already?" she asked. This was the telling question she had been tiptoeing around. He could damn himself with his answer.

Piper gave her a cocky grin. "I won't be hurting when this company goes under. Let's just say that." He picked up his cup of coffee and tilted it towards Sabrina in a mock toast. "So thanks, but no thanks on the job offer, Sabrina. Enjoy your coffee."

He nodded his head at her and walked out of the lounge, whistling and sipping his coffee.

Sabrina watched him go and sipped her own coffee thoughtfully. She had been hoping to hear something like that. Whatever these men were up to, she was now positive that there was a great deal of money involved. Which left either blackmail or embezzlement as the motive for Adam's kidnapping. And due to the charts and graphs and Piper's job in finance, embezzlement was looking more and more like the culprit each minute.

"You look pensive."

Sabrina whirled around in surprise, sending hot coffee splashing over the side of her cup onto her hand and both her and Kelly's shoes. Despite spilling coffee on her, Sabrina was relived to see that it was her best friend standing behind her.

"Aw, Bri." Kelly sighed, looking down at the mess.

Sabrina quickly set her cup down and stuck her burned knuckles into her mouth. "Ow!" she hissed. "Sorry, Kell. You scared me."

Kelly laughed and picked up Sabrina's cup of coffee. "Maybe you should consider switching to decaf." she joked, taking a sip.

Sabrina wiped her hand on her pants and made a face. "Very funny."

Kelly smiled and took another gulp of coffee. "So, I saw Piper leaving just now. Did you get anything out of him?"

A group of laughing and gossiping women suddenly entered the room, making Sabrina and Kelly turn. Sabrina sighed in frustration at the sight of them. This place had become a hen house, and they couldn't talk in here anymore.

"Let's go to my office." she whispered. "Pretend you're interrogating me or something."

Kelly looked hurt. "I interview, not interrogate. Take an interest in what I do." she pouted.

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Oh, let's go. And give me back my coffee."

Kelly relinquished the coffee mug to Sabrina, and the two girls walked out of the lounge, largely unnoticed by the group of women. By all appearances, the two women were engaged in a business like conversation. Sabrina sipped her coffee and Kelly walked by her side, seemingly caught up in her every word, her pen scribbling madly over her clipboard as if she couldn't write down Sabrina's words fast enough.

"So, what did Rusty have to say?" Kelly asked quietly, still pretending to write.

"Get this." Sabrina answered her. "I pretended to offer him a job and he says that he isn't going to be hurting when the company goes under. Seemed pretty cocky."

Kelly raised her eyebrows. "So not only does he know for sure that it's going under, but Rusty's got options. I'm thinking embezzlement and Adam tried to blackmail."

Sabrina nodded her head. "That's exactly what I was thin-"

She suddenly paused, a look of absolute horror etched on her face.

Alarmed, Kelly stepped in front of her to protect her from anyone's line of vision. "What, Bri?" she whispered quickly.

Sabrina's face went pale. Her eyes darted around the sparsely populated hallway and spotting a broom closet, she grabbed Kelly's sleeve, yanked the door open and pulled her inside.

"Sabrina, what's wrong?" Kelly asked anxiously, fear in her voice.

"Kelly I messed up!" Sabrina whispered harshly, desperately clutching her friend's upper arm. "Kelly! I called him Rusty just now when we were talking!"

She sighed loudly in frustration and did her best to pace in the narrow closet.

Kelly's looked puzzled for a moment and then her green eyes widened in realization. "Do you think he noticed?" she asked.

Sabrina moaned into her hands. "I don't know, Kell. Damn it, what a stupid mistake!"

Kelly looked thoughtful. "Maybe he won't put it together. I bet plenty of people have called him that. Isn't that what junior high is for?" she added, trying to be helpful.

Sabrina cursed and rubbed her temples. "Yeah, maybe."

"It might still be ok, Bri. We'll just watch him. You knowing his nickname might not foul anything up." Kelly said. "He might just write it off as a coincidence."

"Oh, God. We'll see." Sabrina said, clearly angry with herself.

Kelly patted her shoulder. "It's ok, Bri. I'm sure it'll be fine. Look, let's get out of here before people get the wrong idea." she said nervously, glancing around the little closet with obvious discomfort.

Sabrina nodded and angrily berated herself in her head. She had pulled her claustrophobic friend into a tiny closet.

Strike two.

"Sorry, Kell. Go on out, I'll follow after a minute or so. Meet me at my office."

Kelly nodded and quickly and gratefully left the confining little closet.

Sabrina cursed again and buried her face in her hands. What a stupid, careless, unecessary mistake.

She could only pray that it wouldn't cost her anything.

Russell Piper watched from a distance as the Duncan woman crept from the broom closet she had pulled the journalist into just a few minutes ago. She nervously looked around over her shoulder before slipping all the way out, closing the door quietly behind her, and heading down the hallway with a purposeful stride.

Piper scowled at her back.

His full name was Russell Nelson Piper and his overweight associate had been calling him Rusty Nail, Rusty Pipe, and any other variation of the two since they were children.

And he absolutely hated it.

Had always hated it.

He didn't like the fat man anymore than he liked the nickname he had burdened him with since the fourth grade, he thought with disgust. The awful nickname that the Duncan woman had just so callously called him to his face.

Rusty.

So, Sabrina Duncan had been talking to big fat Jeremiah Buckley. Piper sneered at the thought. That was just the type of shady, underhanded move that Jerry Buckley was capable of. That was why she had approached him, he was sure of it. What had he told her already? How much did she know?

And most importantly, what had the woman told the pretty little journalist just now.

Piper glared at the hallway the woman had just walked down in disdain.

Well, if Buckley thought he could come away with more money by dragging Russell Nelson Piper's name through the mud, then he was wrong. Dead, dead wrong. Whatever sensationalized story the Duncan woman was cooking up with the young journalist would be put to a stop immediately. He would see to that right now.

Piper calmly walked back to his office, shut the door, and picked up the phone. He had never been a man that was squeamish about doing what had to be done and this time was no different. The journalist needed to be taken care of first. A leak in the media was the last thing he needed right now.

Then, Sabrina Duncan would be dealt with.

Piper punched the numbers out on the keypad slowly and deliberately. He had only dialed this number once before, but had committed it to memory. He leaned back in his chair as the phone rang on the other line, patiently examining his fingernails.

What was that saying?, he thought to himself as a cold, twisted smile spread across his face.

Stop the presses?

Yes. That was it.

Piper felt a jolt of excitment as his phone call was answered, ending the incessant ringing on the other line.

His cold smile grew wider.

This time it would be Russell Nelson Piper who would have the last laugh.