Free Dangerous Secrets by Moira Callahan Page A

hopefully there is something on there that identifies the
man behind her attack and maybe tells us why this all happened.”
    David was nodding. After a moment his face fell. “I
did have one like that,” he said with an apologetic look to them both. “But
after opening it I realized it wasn’t mine so I gave it to Marcel to ship back
for me.”
    “Marcel does the accounting and such for the
restaurant,” Mallory told him quietly. “He also handles all the returns or
shipping we have to go out. Documents and forms and whatnot.”
    “That’s right,” David said. “I can’t promise that
he still has it, but I know he was behind and I told him to only do it when he
had time. With our year end coming up at Carmela’s, he’s been busy with all the
paperwork for the government and such. He likely hasn’t done anything with it
yet.”
    “Would you mind terribly calling him, David?”
Mallory asked. “I know it’s late but this could be important to solving this
whole mess and it would take a load off my mind to know it was in the authorities hands.”
    “I’ll call him right now,” David said as he patted
his pockets. “As soon as I remember where I left my phone,” he muttered. After
a moment he snapped his fingers and went to the jacket over the back of a
chair. Rooting through the pockets he came up with the phone.
    “What are the odds Marcel still has the package?”
Trent asked Mallory quietly as David made his call.
    Shrugging, she looked up at him. “David is right, Marcel’s always run fairly ragged any time it comes
around to year end. At least, last year he was, and I know he was building to
it this year. I’d say relatively good . Especially
since David just considered it a mistaken shipment, it wouldn’t register high
on his level of importance to attend to immediately.”
    Trent hoped she was right. They needed to find the
damned thing and sooner, rather than later.
    David came back with a big smile on his face.
“Marcel still has it and is very happy to turn it over to you so you can get it
to the authorities. He said that you should stop by his place and he’ll get it
to you right now, tonight.”
    “That’s wonderful,” Mallory said. Moving to her
boss she gave him a hug. “Thank you, David.”
    The older man blushed and shrugged. “I just hope
that the bastard that hurt you is caught and pays.”
    “Believe me, I do, too,” she said with a smile.
    After David gave them the address, they stayed a
couple more minutes to chat and then left.
    In the truck, Trent shot Vincent a look. “Jackpot.” All he had to say to have the other man letting
out a relieved breath and grinning.

 
    Chapter Eleven
     
    Once they’d gotten the package from Marcel, they
returned to Mallory’s apartment. With beers in hand for the guys, and a soda in her own, they all were now peering into the box at the
hard drive. It really didn’t look all that important. Mallory knew that first
impressions could be very deceiving.
    Vincent had it in hand and was peering at a set of
numbers on the side. “I don’t know, bro. This thing is
fairly old, technology-wise.”
    Trent took it from him and peered at it. “Yeah, but
in theory the guys at the office should be able to get into it and take a
look.”
    “In theory,” Vincent allowed.
    Passing it back over to the other man, Trent sat
back on the couch. “Take it to them and tell them it’s top priority. We need to know what’s on there. I’m betting that it not only
incriminates Mal’s attacker, but someone else.”
    “Gut feeling?” Vincent asked him.
    “Yeah,” Trent said with a slow nod.
    “Well, then,” Vincent said. Tipping his bottle up,
he finished off his beer and set the empty on the table. Picking up the drive,
he stood and headed for the door. “I’ll call you as soon as I have anything
from the geeks.”
    “Thanks, man,” Trent said, before locking up behind
him and arming Mallory’s new alarm.
    “Do you think they’ll find