Colin

Nothing happened the whole rest of the weekend. I had expected Sandy to make some kind of contact with me or Alicia, shedding some light on why she was at the Hope Digital office on Saturday. Apparently this criminal mastermind was going to keep his cards close to his chest.

The one bright spot of the whole ordeal was seeing Alicia again. I was still in awe that she would fix her own toilet. I could just picture her washing her hands for a full minute afterwards. When it came to Alicia, nothing about her should be surprising.

I was sitting at my desk Monday morning at headquarters, when I got my wish of being contacted. Sandy's name and number flashed up on my phone. "Hello Mrs. Lee. I was wondering when you would contact me."

"Then you know why I'm calling Mr. Evans."

"I do. Whoever it is you're working for wants the software."

An audible sigh could be heard through the phone. "That's right. I'm to collect it from you tonight."

"Why you? Why not have this coward meet me face to face? Cut out all the cloak and daggers."

"He won't reveal his identity."

"But you know who he is."

The phone crackled. "Yes."

"Don't trust this guy Sandy," I said, dropping all the pretenses. "If you know who he is, there is a good chance he won't let you go alive."

"As long as my family is safe, it's a chance I'll have to take." She let out a haggard breath. "If you involve the police, there is planted evidence at Alicia's office that will incriminate both of you in that you were going to sell the software to a foreign party."

I hung my head. So that's what Sandy had been doing. But Rowan had done a sweep of the office and didn't find anything. How could she have possibly hidden incriminating evidence that well?

"I'm sorry Mr. Evans."

The thing was, I knew she meant it. I could hear the heartbreak in her voice. I sent up a quick prayer. Lord, how can I help her? "There has to be a better way."

"Bring the software and it will be done. One way or another."

"It's never that easy." I wished I had learned that earlier. My whole life I had gone believing that A plus B equaled C. But God was opening up my eyes to things I never would have seen before. How I had treated my employees, how I treated Alicia. And I thought it was all okay, that it was justified. How wrong I was.

"We'll figure something out, Sandy." I refused to give up just yet. If God can save a soul as battered and broken as mine, He can solve this dilemma. "We don't have to let this guy win."

Sandy didn't respond right away but I could hear the odd sniffle. "High park, midnight. The circle with the maple leaf." Then the line went dead.

I squeezed the phone before tossing it onto my desk. I really couldn't blame Sandy. She was scared for her family and this guy was good at staying two steps ahead. Not to mention keeping his hands from getting dirty. And now Alicia was involved. If we failed in our attempt to beat this guy at his own game, she got caught in the fallout.

How did he know of my relationship with Alicia anyway? Sandy? It was possible, though I didn't think Sandy would give information willingly. Only what the guy required. It could just be that he had been watching more closely than we thought. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how I felt about Alicia. I'm pretty sure the whole office knew.

Still...what if it was someone we knew? I shivered as a chill ran through me.

I would need to call Rowan to update him on the situation. I'm sure he'd have a whole task force ready to follow me to the park. I would be implicit that he was not to apprehend Sandy or interfere in any way. I may be willing to sacrifice my company and livelihood, but I would not sacrifice Alicia's. This criminal knew exactly what he was doing.

I stood up from my desk and looked out through the pane glass windows onto Toronto. There had to be a way out of this. Not only could it be disastrous if my software fell into the wrong hands, but I really did believe that Sandy would not survive once she gave him what he wanted. She was the one link that could connect him back to us. There was no way he would take that chance.

I pressed my forehead against the cool glass. Help me Lord, what do I do?

Help Sandy.

I almost laughed at the words. That's exactly what I was trying to do. And it didn't help that Sandy wasn't willing to accept my aid. She wasn't willing to take the risk.

Wait...what if we could remove the risk? Then Sandy might just be willing. It could be a long shot, but it was our best bet. I reached back for my phone.

+++

The park was still and quiet as I trudged on the paved path. I had my jacket flicked up to cover my face to ward off the cold. Mist puffed out with every breath. With summer coming to its close, the nights were beginning to turn cool.

I glanced around at the trees and shrubbery, seeing if I could spot Rowan or any of his men. But it was too hard to see beyond the lights that illuminated the path. Putting my hand in my pocket, I wrapped it around the USB stick that sat in there. If things didn't go as planned, I would hand off the software.

As I approached the giant maple leaf that was made up of various flowers, I could just make out a lone figure. If this didn't work, all hell could break loose.

Making my way closer, Sandy's features became more clear. Even in the waning light, I could see how pale her face was. I wondered when the last time she had eaten something.

"Mr. Evans," she said, "Did you bring the software?"

"Straight to the point I see." Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the USB. Sandy stepped forward to take it but I held it back. "Hear me out first. I have a proposition for you."

Sandy shook her head vigorously. "I don't have time. I'm to drop it off immediately. If I'm so much as late by one minute, there will be consequences."

"What if I told you I could remove the threat of those consequences? Right now."

Sandy hesitated, though her eyes were wary. "Whatever it is you have planned, it won't work. He plans for every contingency. I won't risk my family Mr. Evans."

"I have your family."

Her mouth dropped open in shock. "What?"

"They're outside the park right now, waiting for you. Rowan organized a safe house through an old military friend of his. I don't even know where it is."

Tears filled up Sandy's eyes, as she looked beyond me, as if trying to catch a glimpse. "How do I know you're not lying? You have no reason to do this for me."

I tried to hide my flinch at her comment. She was right, she had no reason to trust me. "I've come to realize that I had a part to play in getting you in this situation. If I had been a better boss, or even just a better person, you would have come to me instead of agreeing to help this maniac." It was hard to admit my shortcomings out loud but I knew it needed to be done. "I'm sorry Sandy. Sorry that I wasn't there for you. Even after everything you've done, I want to give you another chance. Just like the grace God had extended to me, I want to now extend it to you."

Sandy's shoulders began to tremble. I took a tentative step forward and when she didn't shy away, I reached out for her hand. "It's all over Sandy. Let's get you back where you belong."

I wrap my arm around her shoulder and lead her to where the car was waiting. "You can have your job back too if you want."

That brought a laugh out of Sandy, mixed in with the sobs. "I don't know how to thank you."

"Rowan will be waiting for us. You need to tell us everything about this guy. Once he is caught and behind bars, then it will be safe for your family to come out of hiding."

Sandy nodded. "I'll tell you everything I know Mr. Evans."

I gave her shoulder a small squeeze. "Thank you. And please, call me Colin."

When we came out of the park together, I spotted Rowan put his hand up to his ear and say something into the comm. Probably telling his men to step down.

"Mrs. Lee," Rowan greeted. "Your family is waiting. I just need you to answer a few questions first."

"I understand," Sandy said.

Already I could see a change in her demeanor. Color tinged her cheeks and her eyes held something that wasn't there before. And I realized it was hope.

We learned that the drop off was to be right outside Pearson Airport just before one a.m.

"He's going to take the software and run." I had the sudden urge to spit at the cowardliness of the man.

"We can alert the airport and flag his passport," Rowan said. "He won't get far this time."

"What about the evidence?" I asked Sandy. "Rowan didn't find anything at Alicia's office."

Sandy gave a sheepish smile. "It's a flashdrive but in the form of a pen. I left it sitting right on top of her desk."

Rowan cursed under his breath. I couldn't help but smile at his discomfort. He hated being bested.

"Hidden in plain sight," I said with a smirk. "We need to get you to your family. I'm sure you're eager to see them. Rowan and I got to catch this guy once and for all."

"You'll be staying put this time sir," Rowan said pointing a figure at me. "This time it's too dangerous."

"If we're going to do this without the police, then you're going to need me. He'll flee before you even get close. No, it's best that I go, distract him and then you nab him."

Rowan gave me a look that said he did not approve but even he couldn't fault my logic. He glanced at his watch. "We have less than thirty minutes to make the drop off. Not enough time to get to Hope Digital to retrieve the evidence."

"I'll call Alicia on the way. She should be made aware anyway." I turned back to Sandy. "Last question before you go. Who is the one responsible for all of this?"

Sandy pressed her lips together. "You know him Colin. It's Patrick Kinesman."