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  Myra sighed as she packed up her knitting. “I tried that, but they get their nails caught in the stitches because they’re too loose or something. Let’s not talk about this anymore, all right?”

  “What do you want to talk about, Myra? Christmas?”

  Myra let loose with another long sigh. “It is fast approaching. We could get in the car and drive to Yoko’s nursery and pick up the Christmas wreaths that she’s holding for us. I’m not sure anyone will be joining us this year, and I guess that’s why I didn’t really make any plans for a party or a get-together. It might be just you and me. How sad is that, my friend? And we have to help Nellie with Elias. We promised. It’s just one Christmas, Annie. Elias has to come first.”

  “I haven’t heard from anyone in quite a while; well, there was that disastrous luncheon, but no one has called to check in. It’s like we’re forgotten. I don’t like the feeling, Myra. You’re absolutely right about Nellie and Elias—they have to come first. Nellie didn’t say it out loud, but I don’t believe she thinks that Elias will be around for another Christmas.”

  Myra fingered her pearls, which adorned her neck, her lifeline to life. “I don’t either, but there’s not much we can do about that. I suppose we could go to Vegas, so you can stir up some trouble. But even that has lost its allure.”

  “Myra, look at me. What’s your feeling on our going to the FBI and asking them to initiate a search for Charles? I’ll even throw Fergus into the mix if we can make it work for us. The papers have been full lately about Jack Sparrow taking over the directorship of the Bureau. Of course, that would have to wait till January if he takes office, which I’m sure will come to pass. That would still mean from now to then, we are sitting here doing absolutely nothing.”

  “Okay, we’ll think about it. Get dressed, and let’s go to see Yoko. She might have some kind of news. We could even pop in at Nikki’s firm to see how she and Alexis are doing. What do you say?”

  “I say let’s go. I’m driving because I want to get us there today, not tonight, the way you drive.”

  “You’re such a critic, Annie, but I love you anyway.”

  Chapter 4

  Jack Emery, his mood buoyant after his patch-up session with his wife, was staring off into space. They were out of the woods, he was sure of it. Nikki had been so contrite, so loving, so willing to make amends for the months of misery she’d caused him. Life was looking better than it had in months. And soon it would get even better once his little group embarked on young Dennis’s plan. Win-win.

  Cyrus heaved himself up and raced from the office. Jack looked at the clock on the wall. He’d called a meeting late last night, sending out texts to the guys to report in no later than ten. It sounded from where he was sitting that the guys had all arrived at the same time. He knew that Abner was already here since he’d noticed the red light over the computer door when he’d come in. Cyrus had verified it by sniffing the door and offering up a bark of agreement.

  Dennis’s exuberance was infectious as he slapped down six copies of the Post. Jack whistled when he scanned the article. Abner, who had exited his lair, grinned from ear to ear. “They are toast! By they I mean Sandford and Marks. I’ve been hacking for forty-eight hours, and it’s mind-boggling what I came up with and downright scary the lengths those two have gone to attempting to hide their assets. But I found them!”

  Cyrus barked shrilly, then threw his head back and howled. He loved it when his friends got excited; he would bark and they’d all give him a treat to show their appreciation. Today was no exception. One by one, the guys handed out the treats they now knew to carry with them. Cyrus was officially one of them and in excellent standing.

  “Are we gonna love your findings?” Espinosa asked.

  “Absolutely. Stealing it is another matter entirely,” Abner said happily. “Here’s the thing: Lionel Marks was accessing some of his accounts while I was in full hack mode, and the dumb schmuck didn’t even know it. I’m thinking I need to do something to . . . ah . . . maybe freeze his monies. I’m also thinking he might be thinking about a hasty exit sometime soon.”

  Dennis’s eyes grew round. “You can do that?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Abner drawled.

  “But what if you get caught? That’s illegal,” Dennis said in a jittery voice.

  “Rule Number 3, kid,” Espinosa said.

  “What’s Rule Number 3?”

  “Same as Rule Number 2,” Ted said.

  Dennis was getting more jittery by the moment. “What’s Rule Number 2?”

  “Same as Rule Number 1,” Harry snapped.

  “And what’s that?” Dennis demanded, his face beet red.

  “Rule Number 1 is the same as Rule Number 2 and Rule Number 3. We do whatever it takes. End. Fini. ¿Comprende ?”

  “Okay, got it. Whatever it takes. Okay. Okay.”

  “Can we move on here now?” Ted asked. “I want to know about Sandford.”

  “The guy is too cocky in my opinion even to think he could be tied to the real estate in SE. You want me to knock him down a peg or two?”

  “Not yet, Abner. I think we should keep our eye on Marks. Ted, you’re going to continue this daily, right, make a series out of it?”

  “You bet. I can feel a Pulitzer all the way down my spine. Dennis and I have our next installment about ready to go. We just need to tweak it. What’s with this meeting anyway?”

  “Some assignments. Ted, I want you and Espinosa to go to Middleburg and talk to Mrs. Sandford. I saw in the home style section yesterday that she left their government house to get her farmhouse ready for the holidays. She always wins some kind of prize for her decorations according to the local paper in Middleburg. I want you to take a lot of pictures and try to come up with our snatch and grab when the time is right. We need to get this set up, start a countdown so we wind it up by Christmas. We need to have a clear slate come January 2, so we can take on Nikki’s class-action cases. You okay with that, Ted?”

  “What about me?” Dennis howled.

  “You, my friend, are going back to SE and make more friends. Convince Luther to get the other gang leaders to come into the fold. I want you to assure all those tenants that their lives are going to take on a whole new meaning starting right now. We need order, not chaos. Delegate but oversee. Talk to the pastor at the church where they worship. He’s going to be your best ally. I know this is going to sound frivolous, but I want you to arrange for a bang-up Christmas, with toys for the kids, Christmas trees for everyone, those red Christmas flowers, whatever they’re called, for the pastor’s church, the whole ball of wax. Spare no expense. If Abner is right, we need to put some of Sandford and Marks’s money to good use before we steal it. I’m sure the women will be more than happy to volunteer.”

  “Okay,” Dennis said agreeably.

  “Harry, you want to volunteer for anything, or do you need to get back to the dojo?”

  Harry laughed. “My midshipmen are due at noon, so no, I really don’t have any free time today. You need me tonight, I’m all yours. I stopped by the nursery just to throw Suliman for a loop, and guess who was there? Myra and Annie. We waved, but that was it.”

  “Is this your ‘pink day’ for the midshipmen?” Jack grinned.

  “Uh-huh. Call me if you need me.”

  “What are you going to do, Jack?” Abner asked.

  “Careful with your tails today, guys. Me, I’m going to Lionel Marks’s office and pretend to be a property owner who wants to rent out a whole block of investment condominiums. I need to take this guy’s measure.”

  Dennis looked at Jack, his eyes full of questions. “What about your tail? Do you want him to know where you’re going? What about Ted and Espinosa? I understand they can follow me because it’s already out there and in the paper. Do we want them to know what we’re doing and where we’re going? They might not figure it out, but when they report to Maggie, she will for sure.”

  “I’ll lose him, no problem.” Jack looked at Ted.
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  “We’ll go back to the paper and sign out a vehicle from the motor pool. Dennis can take the van. It’s doable.”

  “Well, now that we have it settled, let’s hit the road,” Jack said, packing up his briefcase. “Abner, are you staying?”

  “I am. My tail must be bored out of his mind. I haven’t left this building in seventy-two hours. Can’t imagine what his report reads.”

  “Check in every couple of hours,” Jack reminded everyone. The guys nodded and left until it was just Jack, Abner, and Cyrus. Abner moved off, Jack calling over his shoulder to remind him to water the stupid banana tree. Cyrus barked long and loud to show what he thought of the stupid banana tree that needed watering.

  If Maggie had been anywhere else but behind her desk with the half glass wall that made her visible to the reporters seated at their desks and cubbies, she would have pitched a fit and stomped on the investigative reports she was reading. She might as well have been reading a child’s textbook. There was nothing in any of the reports. Zip. Nada. Zilch. How was it possible that six grown men hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary in three days? With the exception of the exposé in SE Washington. How?

  Maggie scanned the reports again, hoping she’d find something she’d missed the other three times she’d read through them line by line, word by word. Jack Emery got a haircut. Big deal. Showed no signs he was aware of being followed. Harry Wong beats to his own drummer, is in another world. Picks up daughter, goes home, stops by nursery to see wife, goes back to dojo. Dennis, Ted, and Espinosa were all linked into one report. It was a detailed one about the tenants and what had gone down in SE Washington. Well, she already knew that. What she didn’t know then but knew now was that Dennis had stopped at a Cole Haan store and bought a pricey pair of snow boots. She also now knew they had dined the previous night on Japanese hibachi in Crystal City. Another big deal.

  Abner Tookus was a different story simply because there was no story. He’d entered the BOLO Building and never left. Maggie wrinkled her nose. Seventy-two hours inside one building. Knowing Abner, that had to mean he was working on something so red-hot he couldn’t leave. Still, seventy-two hours was a lot of time not to at least stick your nose outside the door. No food deliveries were detected. The bottom line read: “Target possibly dead inside.” Maggie whooped in disgust.

  Maggie craned her neck to look around her desk to see if her office door was closed. It was. She picked up the phone and started calling the detectives one by one. She started with Allison Murdock, Ted, Espinosa, and Dennis’s tail. She wanted to scream when she heard the detective say Ted and Espinosa were inside the Post building, and Dennis had left in the van. A second-tier newbie was following Dennis, and it appeared he was en route to SE Washington. Alone.

  “So, what you’re telling me is you lost Ted and Espinosa. I thought you were a professional,” Maggie shrilled.

  “No, ma’am, that’s not what I’m saying. What I am telling you is that Mr. Robinson and Mr. Espinosa are inside the Post building. They did not leave is what I’m telling you. I am sitting in the garage, and neither one of their personal vehicles has moved. They are inside the building.”

  Maggie gritted her teeth. “No, they are not here. What they did was go to the motor pool, sign out another car, and leave. You allowed that to happen. Get your butt over to the motor pool and see what car they signed out. Not that it’s going to do us any good now. When they bring it back, find out how many miles they traveled. That’s all logged in when you sign out one of the Post’s vehicles. Are you getting it now, Miss Murdock? They made you! They know you’ve been following them, and they evaded you. Now do something!” she screamed.

  Next, she called Mike Suliman, Harry’s tail, and asked for an update.

  “He’s at the dojo, Miss Spritzer. A busload of midshipmen from Annapolis just arrived, so I guess he has a class. He is inside.” Maggie’s comment was to stay on him.

  Her next call was to Jack Emery’s tail, an older man named Clyde Evers. He sounded frazzled. “You lost him, didn’t you?” Maggie said through clenched teeth.

  “Yes, ma’am, I did. It was traffic. I don’t think he knows he’s being followed. In fact, I’m almost sure of it. I had to pull over for a fire engine, the light turned red for me, but he went through on the yellow and was gone. He was at the BOLO Building for about an hour, then left with a big old dog. For whatever this is worth, there is a group of Asian men installing a rather high-tech iron fence at the entrance and exit to the alley. Two other shopkeepers will be using it along with the tenants of the BOLO Building. The only thing I can do now is go back to the BOLO Building and stake it out.”

  Maggie was seething. She made no comment as she broke the connection. She tried to calm herself down by taking deep breaths before she called Neil Parsons, the tail assigned to Abner Tookus.

  Parsons sounded bored when he clicked on his cell phone. “No sign of activity, Miss Spritzer. I think the man’s dead inside. The building has been under surveillance for the last seventy-two hours, and he has not left the premises. Nor have there been any food deliveries, strangers visiting, nothing. It’s quiet. Workmen are installing what looks like an iron gate at the entrance and at the exit to the alley. Five other males appeared and stayed for about an hour, then left separately. Check with the other operatives on their whereabouts.”

  Maggie bit down on her lower lip. “Stay on it and let me know when he leaves, and I can guarantee you that Mr. Tookus is not dead. There is a kitchen in the building as well as a shower. I’m sure there is a sofa or a cot also. Don’t let him out of your sight if he leaves.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  They know. Sure as I’m sitting here in my office, those guys know they have tails on them. “I know it, I know it, I know it!” Maggie muttered over and over to herself. She banged on her desktop, but all that produced was a pain in her hand that made her bite her tongue to keep from crying out. “Now what do I do?”

  Chapter 5

  Ted Robinson looked at the beat-up car he would be driving to Middleburg. No GPS. Crank windows. He hoped the heater worked. He looked at Espinosa and shrugged. “Hey, it has wheels and will get us there. At least I hope so. It’s only forty-five miles or so to Middleburg. With luck, we should make it in about an hour. Punch it in on that supersmart phone of yours and just read me the directions. Keep an eye out to make sure we really did shake our tail.”

  Ted sailed up the ramp and roared out of the garage, stunned at the power under the hood of the car he was driving. As far as he could tell, no one was following him. He paid attention to traffic while he listened to Espinosa fire off directions for fifteen minutes before he settled down for the stretch of highway that would take him to the Sandford family farm.

  “What’s our plan, Ted? Do we even have a plan?”

  Ted grinned. “Sort of. More or less. Key in the local newspapers in Middleburg. I think it’s the Middleburg Life that caters to the Sandfords and their Christmas decorations. Mrs. Sandford wins every year. I’m thinking we can bluff our way through something there. We might have to convince Maggie to let us run some fluff pieces to make it legit. We might need to be extra charming, so work on that, Espinosa.”

  Espinosa grunted something that sounded like I’m always charming, to which Ted muttered something that sounded like, in your dreams.

  They rode in silence for a few moments, Ted’s eyes on the road and on his rearview mirror, Espinosa’s eyes on the screen of his smartphone.

  “Two weeks till Christmas! Hard to believe. Are you planning on buying Alexis a Christmas present?”

  Espinosa stopped what he was doing and looked over at Ted. “Is that a trick question? She dumped me. Why would I buy her a present? Are you buying Maggie one?” he asked snidely.

  “As a matter of fact, I am. I’m buying her a banana tree. What do you think of that?”

  “I think you’re nuts is what I think. At this time last year, we were already invited out to Myra’s for Chri
stmas. I didn’t get an invitation or a call, did you?”

  “Nope. I’m thinking it’s just going to be me, you, and Minnie and Mickey this year,” Ted said, referring to his two cats. “I’ll cook if you want to come over. I’m going to pick up my Christmas tree this weekend. Want to help me decorate it on Sunday?”

  “Sure. Okay, here we go, five miles as the crow flies, you make a right on Stallion Road, you follow that for two miles, then that should take us to a private road called Sandford Farm Lane, which will take us to the front door. I sure as hell hope this works, but I doubt that it will. I have not read one pleasant thing about that woman.”

  “The woman hasn’t been born yet who doesn’t or won’t react to flattery. I learned that from Maggie. We pour on the charm, tell her she’ll be on the front page of the Lifestyle section. That’s big time.”

  The duo had ridden in silence for another ten minutes when Espinosa said, “Slow down. See that prancing stallion on the side? Make a right. We’re almost there.”

  “Do you think they have any kind of security out here?” Ted asked.

  Espinosa shrugged. “The lieutenant governor travels with a carful, but I think I heard a while back or read somewhere that out here in the boonies, he’s just another farm owner, and there’s no need. That might have changed since I heard that.”

  “The only time you need security is when you’re doing something wrong. Don’t go jumping down my throat, it’s just my opinion,” Ted said as he maneuvered the motor-pool car over the rough shale road. He could hear the rocks bouncing off his fenders, and the sound irritated him.

  “So far so good,” Espinosa said, peering out the side windows, then the back. “I don’t see anyone. That’s the house up ahead. I guess you just drive up to the front, and we walk to the front door and ring the bell. How cool is that?”

  “Way too easy, especially after our headlines this morning. I was expecting everything to be battened down.”