We have to turn around!” Judith released her seat belt and shot to her feet, then thought about what she was doing. She could contact the captain through the handpiece she held a moment ago. That was one of the reasons it was there. She reseated herself and reached for the phone.
A hand stopped her.
“Wait,” Luke said. “Tell me what happened.”
“I have to tell the pilot to turn us around.”
“In a second; first tell me what happened.”
Judith felt fury rise in her. She didn’t like explaining herself under normal conditions; stress made her all the more obstinate. She jerked her hand away. “I’m telling you something’s wrong.”
“I’m not arguing with you. I’m trying to understand.”
She clenched her jaw then let it relax. Reason pushed and shoved against the fear that clouded her judgment. “I heard something. A loud pop, then Terri screamed.”
“A loud pop? Like a gunshot?” Luke leaned forward.
“No. It sounded electrical, like a short in the phone.”
Luke pressed her. “What kind of scream?”
“What do you mean what kind of scream? How many screams are there?”
“Come on, you know the answer to that. There are scores of screams. Did she scream like something surprised her or like someone with a bloody axe just walked in the room?”
Judith thought, the sound of Terri’s voice still ricocheting in her mind. “Surprise, I guess.”
“Not terror, but surprise?”
“I guess. I don’t know. How am I supposed to know the difference?”
“Okay, something startled her but didn’t terrorize her. That’s good.” Luke’s eyes darted from side to side and his brow furrowed.
“We don’t know that. I’m guessing.” Judith reached for the phone again, picked up the handset but didn’t dial. “You don’t think we should turn around?”
“No. It would be counterproductive for us and for the Puppeteer.”
“Why should I care? If Terri’s in danger, I should be there.”
“Really. Let’s see: if we turn around, we could be back on the ground in thirty or forty minutes assuming we can land right away. By the time you get to the car and drive to your office another twenty or thirty minutes will have elapsed. Figure an hour.”
“If that’s what it takes.”
“I can understand the desire to go back, Judith, but have you thought that you might be doing her a greater disservice than aid?”
Judith tilted her head. “A disservice?”
“Yes. What just happened? You called your office, you connected, and then something happened on the other end. Part of our marching orders was not to contact others. This guy means business. I doubt he’s going to tolerate much rebellion on our part.” He leaned back. “Remember I said that he might have your offices bugged or your phones tapped. You told me he knew what your office looked like. Someone must have spent some time in there and they may have planted spy cameras, listening devices, and who knows what else.”
Judith reset the phone. “How could he know … You mean that he or one of his minions was listening in when I called and did something?”
“Exactly. I’m guessing they planted a device in the phone to deliver a shock, or sound, or even destroy the electronics of the phone. It could be one of a hundred things.”
“But why?”
“To keep you incognito. Most likely it was a message to you. Who knows what the next message will be like? It could be worse.”
“And so by going back, you’re saying I could be further endangering Terri?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“But you’re just speculating.” The fury roiled in Judith.
“That’s true. I could be all wet. Are you willing to take the chance that I’m wrong?”
Judith thought for a moment, letting her gaze roam out the window. She felt so alone, her mind as inconsequential as the few gossamer strips of clouds beneath them.
“No.”
Terri examined her left hand. It bore a red stripe across the palm. For a moment she thought she saw a blister rising, but none appeared. Her left ear hurt, her knees felt weak, and her stomach flopped like a fish on a wood dock.
“Are you okay?” Marlin reentered the office through the same door he had fled a few seconds before.
“I … think so. I feel a little funny. Maybe I should see a doctor.”
“Of course, of course. Was that Judith on the phone?”
“What?”
“Focus, girl. Was that Judith on the phone?”
Terri wondered how long the jail sentence was for stabbing an obnoxious clown with a letter opener. For a few seconds, Terri was ready to pay the price. “Yes.”
“What did she say?”
“Nothing. Well, nothing I could hear.” She looked at the pieces of the phone on her desk. “How can a phone fracture like that?”
“I don’t know. Are you sure she didn’t say anything?”
Terri reached for the letter opener with her undamaged right hand, took it, then used it to push the phone’s receiver toward Marlin. “Here. Why don’t you call her yourself?”
Marlin looked at the phone. “No, thanks.”
Terri put down the letter opener and opened her handbag. She removed a compact and popped it open, using the mirror to look at her ear. Other than a slight reddening, it seemed fine. Returning the compact, she examined her hand. The red mark was already fading and would probably be gone by the time she could be seen by a doctor at any urgent care.
She looked at Marlin.
Marlin looked at her.
Finally, Terri spoke. “We should do something. I’m calling the police.”
“For a technical failure?”
“Technical failure? Look, I’m a little too rattled to play good-employee-bad-boss. So get as angry as you like, but this is not technical failure. When was the last time you heard of a phone zapping its user and blowing itself apart?”
“It didn’t really blow up. It just sort of fell to pieces.”
“With all due respect, Mr. Find, you didn’t stay around long enough to see what happened. It went off and you disappeared.”
“A reflex action. You’d have done the same.”
She moved into Judith’s office, Marlin close behind. “Call it what you will, it was abnormal. I’m calling the police.”
“We don’t need the negative publicity. I forbid you to call.”
She stopped at Judith’s desk and looked at the phone. She hesitated. She looked up in time to see Marlin smile.
“I see you’re coming around. Do not make that call.”
“I’m not coming around.” She walked past him, through her office, and to the elevator. She punched the call button.
“What are you doing?”
“I think I’ll use the pay phone in the lobby. Whoever rigged my phone may have rigged Judith … Ms. Find’s.”
Marlin seized her arm. It felt like a vise had closed on her flesh. She refused to wince or reveal any sign of pain.
“Let go of me or the phone will not be the only thing lying in pieces up here.”
“You think I’m afraid of you?” He laughed.
“Can you say assault and battery? If you fear bad press about the police investigating my phone, imagine what the press will do with a story about the senior VP of Find, Inc., abusing a female employee. It might even have an effect on stock prices. Who knows?”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“Try me.”
The elevator arrived. Terri stared into the cold eyes of Marlin. He relented, releasing her. Without a word she stepped into the elevator and let its doors shut. The look on Marlin’s face chilled her.
As the elevator descended, a wave of nausea rolled through her. She had never stood up to someone as rich and powerful as Marlin Find. In truth, she had parroted what she had seen Judith do a few times. Courage was not her strong suit.
She thought of the phone.
She thought of Judith’s call.
Soon a blizzard of fear drove the nausea away.
Terri began to cry.