Chapter Forty

Jack Angelhart

Jack used his connections to push the link between what happened with Logan and Jennifer on Sunday in Paradise Valley to what happened to Tess and Luisa last night.

Phoenix PD Detectives Lopez and Capelle were the lead investigators, but the Phoenix Fire Arson Investigation unit were in charge of the structure. They hadn't issued an official report, but determined arson because accelerant had been detected.

Jack knew Detective Wendy Lopez—she'd been a senior detective before he got his shield. She was fifty, smart, sassy, and had raised three boys. Two were in college, one in the police academy. Her husband taught high school math and coached football, and when they socialized, he and Jack could talk for hours about sports.

She'd wanted him to come to the station to chat, but he knew better—he said he couldn't leave his office and she agreed to meet him. He wasn't concerned about any liability or crime on his part, but he didn't want to see former friends and colleagues. No one had an issue with him, but his father's crime hung over him and he didn't want to field questions.

After small talk to catch up and introductions to Detective Capelle who Jack didn't know, Jack gave Wendy as much detail into their investigation as he could and explained why Tess and Luisa were there after hours. There was no reason to hold anything back, especially since he'd already talked to Ron Tucker and told him about Logan Monroe's involvement.

"Someone tried to kill my sisters," Jack said when he was done. "They were drugged before the fire started."

"A nitrogen canister was found on the fourth floor," Wendy said.

"The same thing happened to Monroe and White on Sunday. You can compare the canisters. This time, the guy sets a fire? If my sisters had been unconscious, they could have been killed." The thought made his stomach churn.

"Slow down. I'm not saying you're wrong, only that we don't have all the facts yet. I talked to both Luisa and Tess, got their statements, talked to the security guard. What I want to know is more about this Jennifer White. No one can find her. That seems suspicious, don't you think? She called out sick this week and now no one can reach her."

Jack collected his thoughts. He was still emotional over Tess and Lu's near miss.

"No," Jack said flatly. "I'm more worried for her safety."

"You need to see it from my perspective. I spoke to Mr. Tucker this morning. He corroborated everything you just told me about your investigation into Jennifer White."

Carefully, Jack said, "Yes, we have evidence that she downloaded proprietary software, but we haven't determined what she intended to do with it. Our investigation has led us to believe that Jennifer became suspicious of code written into the company financial software and was trying to back-trace the source."

"But she was the individual who broke company policy."

"Yes, but only because she uncovered a larger crime." Jack hoped he wasn't overstepping here. He trusted Logan's assessment, but maybe he was wrong to do so without more evidence.

"That's really not for me to say—that's up to Mr. Tucker and his company on how he wants to handle his employees. But someone set this fire, and Jennifer White is the only person we haven't spoken with."

"Wendy, I'm not going to tell you how to do your job—"

"But, you're going to tell me how to do my job."

"Someone erased the files from Desert West before we got there. Luisa said it would only delay the inevitable, that the archive is off-site. Jennifer is a computer expert, so she would know that."

"Yet, this has bought her time to disappear."

"After what happened Sunday, she's scared."

"According to Officer Cameron, she left the hospital against staff recommendation. In fact, she slipped out without telling anyone. You haven't spoken to her, so you don't really know what's in her head."

Jack understood Wendy's strategy, and he would have approached the case the same way. Jennifer had a lot of explaining to do, but he was certain there was a lot more to this than even they had figured out.

"We're looking for her," Jack said.

"Call me if you find her first."

He wasn't going to find her because he wasn't looking—Margo was. But Wendy didn't have to know that. Jack wasn't a good liar, so he stuck to what he could back up.

"What do you think is going on here, Mr. Angelhart?" Capelle asked his first question. Still green behind the ears, Jack doubted he had more than a year with his shield, and he was too young to have spent more than a couple years in uniform.

"I can't say."

"Can't or won't?"

Jack didn't like the confrontational tone of Wendy's partner. He preferred Wendy's straightforward approach.

"You've spoken to all the employees?" Jack said.

"Yes, in person or by phone. We asked them to come down to the station to give a formal statement about where they were last night, when they left the office, if they saw anyone suspicious. So far everyone has cooperated. Except Jennifer White."

Jack had an idea he needed to pursue, but without Wendy and Capelle hounding him. "If I find her, I'll tell her to contact you. Fair?"

"If she fled the scene to avoid prosecution, don't help her," Wendy said. "You were a great cop, Jack, and you're a solid PI. Don't jeopardize your license."

"That threat is not warranted," he said, angry.

"Didn't mean it as a threat," she said. "Truce."

He didn't acknowledge her olive branch. "Are we done?"

"Sure."

He stood. "I'll walk you out."

"What do you know about Logan Monroe's relationship with Jennifer White?" Capelle asked without getting up.

"She used to intern for him, and he recommended her for the position at Desert West."

"Don't you think it's odd that they were meeting at a vacant house?"

"No."

"I do."

Jack shrugged.

"Monroe gave a statement to Officer Cameron that Jennifer asked to meet with him for advice about a computer code," Wendy said. "Do you think that was the code she illegally downloaded from Desert West?"

Jack didn't respond.

"Look, corporate espionage is way out of my wheelhouse," Wendy continued. "But arson and attempted murder? That's what I care about. Like you said, someone tried to kill your sisters—or, someone didn't know they were inside and set the fire in order to destroy evidence of a crime."

"I'm sure you'll find out who did it," Jack said, "with all the security cameras in the building."

"That's the thing—the cameras were wiped out shortly before the fire started. We have no idea who might have been on the fourth floor, or how they left the building. The security guard didn't see anyone, but he left his post to help your sisters. Anyone could have walked out through the front before Fire got there—or drove out the garage."

Jack had another idea. He needed them to leave so he could do his job.

"Well, you know what you're doing, Wendy. I won't keep you."

She motioned for Capelle to get up, and they started to leave. Wendy looked back at Jack and said, "Always good to see you, Jack. Wish you were still on the force."

"Thanks. Best to Mike and the boys."

She tipped an imaginary hat and walked out.

Jack called Margo as soon as they left the building. "Two detectives want to talk to Logan about Jennifer White. I don't think he's a good liar."

"Probably about as good as you. But we'll be out of here in ten."

"What are you doing?"

"We got Jennifer to reach out. Talking to her now. More later."

She hung up before Jack could ask her more.

He was thinking about the security cameras that went out, and the structure of Desert West. Someone had set the fire hours after the building was empty, except for the guard, Tess, and Luisa. That meant they were on the fourth floor before the building was closed.

They may have disabled the security cameras when they came down, but what about when they went up?

He called Luisa as he jumped into his truck. "Sis, I need your expertise. Meet me at Desert West."