Free Run: A Novel by Andrew Grant

trouble?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Don’t you have anti-virus software?” Wagner asked.
    “Of course I do.”
    “Then why didn’t it pick up this spyware?”
    “It must be something new. The hackers are always one step ahead.”
    “And the hackers with their new virus picked you, even though no one knew you were working on this product? Not even your wife?”
    “You must be in a tough business.” Hayes rolled her eyes. “Competing with clairvoyants.”
    “If I had all the answers, I wouldn’t need you guys. Look, I thought you were supposed to investigate, and find out this stuff. Not just dump it back on the victim and start making insinuations.”
    “Insinuations?” Hayes repeated. “I don’t think so. Back to the kitchen, Marc, where we can sit. I want more coffee, and you need to hear some home truths.”
    WAGNER TOOK A MUG
this time, but she still declined to join Hayes and me at the table.
    “You know when we first got here, we told you we were here to help?” Hayes pulled her hair back and tucked it behind her ears. “Well, I’ve listened to the story you’ve spun, and honestly? It’s up to you to help yourself.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “Why did you call us, Marc?” Wagner asked. “I want the truth.”
    “The break-in. The thefts. Why—?”
    “Filing bogus reports.” Hayes shook her head. “Wasting police time. These are serious things. If that’s what you’re doing here, Marc, you’re going to bring a lot of heat down on yourself.”
    “Wait a minute. You think I’m making this up? Because I closed my own front door? And used my computer? Seriously?”
    “There’s no smoke without fire, Marc.” Wagner looked smug. “Ever heard that? Well, we have a different version. Do you know how ours goes?”
    I didn’t respond.
    “What we say is, there’s no tequila without bullshit.” She crossed to the garbage can and pulled out last night’s empty Patrón bottle. “Someone laid this soldier to rest. You? Last night? On your own?”
    “How did you …” Then it dawned on me that leaving a pair ofdetectives unsupervised in the house while I changed my clothes hadn’t been the wisest thing to do. “Forget that. Yes. I had a drink last night. But not the whole bottle. It was already three-quarters empty.”
    “Any witnesses to that?”
    Carolyn might have confirmed that the bottle had been opened, if I’d known where to find her. But it was fifteen hours since I’d seen her. And she might also have mentioned it was considerably more than a quarter full when she last set eyes on it.
    I shook my head.
    “Anyone see you working on your new program?” Wagner asked. “Or with these memory sticks?”
    A couple of people did know about the memory sticks, obviously. But asking them would hardly be in my best interests, given how I came by the contents.
    I shook my head again.
    “I don’t know what your deal is.” Hayes paused. “Maybe you’re trying to scam your insurance? Or maybe you’re late with some work deadline, and you figure you can dodge a bullet by claiming your computer’s been messed with? But whatever it is—and I honestly don’t care—it’s not going to fly. You’re better off getting in front of it now. Trust me. Just tell us.”
    “Once this goes to paperwork, our hands’ll be tied.” Wagner leaned in close and a chunky silver necklace jolted loose from the collar of her blouse, its stylized “J” swinging toward me like a tiny scimitar. “There’ll be zero wiggle room. It’ll generate a ton of trouble, and that trouble will all land on you. Whatever kind of mess you’re already in, you’ll make it a hundred times worse.”
    “Is that what you want? Or would you prefer to be sensible?” Hayes didn’t make it sound like a question.
    Alarm bells were ringing in my head. These two thought I was lying. If I took back what I’d said—which actually would be a lie—they’d take it as proof. They said they’d turn a blind eye, but