Dead in a Week (Forensic Instincts 7)

“Thank you,” Robert said.

“It’s a fact, not a favor. Frankly, you make me sick,” she replied, leaving without a backward glance.

* * *

The Zermatt Group Offices

West 75th Street, Manhattan, New York

1 March

Thursday, 11:55 p.m. local time

Terri turned her attention to the large wall of computer displays in front of her. It was time to wrap up the one loose end that was still a thorn in her side: Xu Wei. While the evidence implicated everyone, the FBI had no jurisdiction in China, so to nail Xu’s ass to the wall, she needed to commit a crime in his name in China.

Resorting to her favorite game, Terri made a few tweaks and created Wheel of Fortune, the Macau edition. So instead of spinning for dollars, she was spinning for renminbi. When she didn’t like the amount the wheel stopped on, she rounded up generously. After three spins, she had the three amounts she was going to wire out of Xu Wei’s personal account and into the pockets of some crooked government officials. While corruption was nothing new, blatant greed and overt displays of corruption were not tolerated.

Terri made sure to make the bribes highly embarrassing to Communist Party officials, leaving them no choice but to take care of the problem.

She smiled at the thought of Xu Wei rotting in a Chinese jail.

30

Los Altos Hills, California

2 March

Friday, 9:45 p.m. local time

Lauren was out of the town car the instant it stopped in front of the brick staircase leading to her family’s house. Simultaneously, the front door burst open and Susan, Vance, and their two older children all raced out. Like a true mother, Susan was half a step ahead of the rest of the family, her arms outstretched as she hurried down the front steps to snatch her daughter in her arms.

“Lauren, oh, Lauren,” she sobbed, rocking her from side to side as if she were a small child. “Thank God. Oh, thank God. You’re home. You’re alive. You’re safe.”

“I’m okay, Mom—really I am.” Lauren’s choked-up words were meant to be reassuring, but she was clinging to her mother as tightly as her mother was clinging to her, and the aftermath of shaking and weeping began all over again. “I was so scared,” she whispered. “I thought they’d kill me. I never thought I’d see you again. I’d given up…” Her gaze met her father’s over her mother’s shoulder. Tears were seeping down his cheeks and he moved in, wrapping his arms around both his wife and his daughter and hugging them close.

“Baby…” he managed. “Welcome home.”

Lauren swallowed hard. “I never thought I’d hear those words, not ever. Thank you for sending Aidan and his team. They saved my life, Daddy. They were amazing.”

“I know.” Vance’s gaze flickered to the town car. Aidan was standing outside it, hip planted against the open rear door, genuine pleasure glinting in his eyes as he watched the joyous reunion.

By this time, Lauren’s two siblings had joined their parents, grabbing Lauren to kiss and hug her. They themselves were still in shock over the gruesome situation they’d only just learned about and were weak with relief that th

eir baby sister was home safe and sound.

Gently, Vance disengaged himself from the group, murmuring, “I need to talk to Aidan.” He kissed his daughter’s forehead. “You all go inside and get settled. Dr. Flecker will be here soon to check you out. I’ll be right in.” He waved away his daughter’s upcoming objection. “I know Aidan’s pilot has medical training from his army days and that he examined you and gave us a thumbs-up. I know that you’ve told me a half dozen times that you’re fine. But I need to hear it from our family physician.”

Lauren nodded, a new maturity and understanding underlying her response. She’d been through hell, but so had her parents. “Okay.”

Vance glanced at Susan, who was looking directly at Aidan and mouthing, Thank you. Bless you.

Aidan smiled, giving her a nod of understanding.

Vance watched his family escort Lauren inside. Then he walked over, pausing in front of Aidan as he struggled for the right words. “I don’t know how to express my gratitude. You did everything you said you’d do and more. Your team… your guidance… your skills… without them, Lauren wouldn’t be here. She wouldn’t be alive.”

“But she is,” Aidan replied.

“Yes, thank God.” Vance reached into his back pocket and extracted his checkbook and a pen. “I’ll write you whatever fee you name. There’s no amount too great for what you’ve given me.”