Chemical Attraction (30 page)

Madeline smiled as Joe left. She didn’t outrank him. Joe’s boss had said that since Joe had the experience, the FBI would lead the investigation. Fine by her, she was only a scientist. But Joe had just given her an advantage over Rita’s attitude. Of course, Eva reveled in the idea. With her hands on her hips, Eva turned to face Rita.

“Dear,” Matt said, “I think it would be a good idea if you and Madeline checked out the CEO’s office, but it’s Madeline’s call. She’s in charge, after all.”

Smiling, both ladies nodded and started to leave for the other office across the hall.

“Rita, keep looking through those computer files,” Matt said, sorting through the file cabinet.

Rita nodded and slid the disc closer to her. Humming, she continued her search.

“I want a deal,” Kenny said to Joe, who sat across from him in the cafeteria.

“I don’t think so. You assaulted my partner and she’s already gotten your confession.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “And I already told you I would make you disappear for touching her. What kind of agent would I be if I didn’t follow through?”

Kenny sat up straighter and put his cuffed hands on the table. “I’ll give you more names.”

He motioned for paper and a pen. As Tim set a yellow legal notepad and pen in front of Kenny, Joe stood. “Write down everything. If I’m satisfied, we’ll talk again.”

“How do I know you won’t screw me over?” Kenny asked, picking up the pen.

“You don’t.” He walked away. “Ray, any info from the other employees?”

“Kenny told those shipping guys which boxes to pack into the truck. Their big bonuses kept their mouths shut until now.”

Suddenly, Bobby’s voice came over their headsets. “Team 1, this is Team 3 at the front entrance. We have a situation. Bill Bennett is demanding to speak with Team Leader.”

“Team 3, stand by. Team 6, have you searched his office?” Joe asked.

“No, we need keys to his files and computer code access,” Madeline replied.

“Team 3, escort CEO to his office on the third floor. Let him read the search warrant on the way,” Joe said.

Bill Bennett, Jr. and Bobby stood inside Bill’s office door. Bobby said nothing on the way. Seated in his executive chair, Madeline crossed her legs and swiveled slowly from side to side. She had clipped her badge to her outer tank top.

“What is the meaning of this, Dr. Pierce?” Bill asked, seeing only her in the room.

“That’s exactly what I’d like to know, Bill.”

“Get out of my chair.”

“This was your father’s chair and you don’t deserve to sit in it. He would be very disappointed in you.” She calmly folded her hands on her lap.

“You have no idea what I’m doing for this company. We’re about to be on the map worldwide!” he yelled.

“Yeah, on the map to destroy the company your father worked so hard to create.” She stretched back farther in the chair. Bill stalked around the desk and yanked her out. She twisted his arm so quickly behind his back that he gasped. “You are under arrest for assaulting a Homeland Security agent.”

She didn’t want to say it—technically she wasn’t one anymore—but Bill had given her no choice. Joe was going to enjoy giving her shit about it. She pushed him toward Bobby, who raised his eyebrow with a smirk. It was the first sign of life she had seen in him.

As Bobby handcuffed him and read him his rights, Joe walked into the room and grinned. “Nicely done, Agent Pierce. You haven’t forgotten your training.”

Matt entered the room behind Joe. “Bobby, take him down to our station. Put him in the interrogation room until we can talk to him properly.”

“I demand to know what’s going on!” Bill yelled as Bobby yanked him out of the office.

“You are in no position to demand anything,” Madeline replied, tapping off her ear com.

“You sure know how to push people’s buttons and piss them off. Are you taking lessons from my sister?”

Eva entered the room and pressed on his stitches. “Take that back, Joey.”

Joe tapped his ear com. “Good work, teams. Let’s finish looking for the meth materials and go home.” He turned off his com. “Where’s Rita?”

“I saw her leave with Bobby,” Eva said. “I think she took your disc. What’s going on?”

“Later,” he replied, leaving the room.

Matt and his officers took Kenny and the rest of the shipping guys down to the city station for formal questioning. Joe supervised the confiscation of items from the offices. He sent a team to go through the Materials Management department and shipping for the meth materials. They had a rental truck to haul everything back to Detroit. She and Eva observed the agents.

“Eva, I still want to look around the fourth floor. Although I don’t think I’ll find those vials there,” she said.

“How are we going to get through the security doors?”

Madeline held up Bill’s ID badge and key card. She had taken them from his jacket pocket when she twisted his arm around. “I’m starting to get the hang this agent stuff.”

“You should consider being Joe’s partner.”

She double-checked to make sure her headset was off. “Can work and play mix?”

“It has so far.” Eva pressed the fourth floor button in the elevator while Madeline slipped Bill’s passkey into the slot for admittance. “My brother needs an equal.”

“I do love him, but we haven’t known each other for very long.”

“Do you believe in the chemistry of love at first sight?” Eva asked.

They stepped onto the fourth floor. It didn’t look any different from the others, except it was divided in half by one main corridor. It had a strange feel to it she couldn’t quite place.

“Last month I would have said no, but I did feel attracted to him instantly at the banquet. That kiss on the dance floor jolted me awake.”

Eva smiled. “That’s how it was with Matt. Taylor will tell you the same thing about Stuart.” She pushed on the first door. They stood inside with mouths open. “Wow, what are they doing up here? Is this a sterile room?”

Blinding bright white paint covered the walls, ceiling, floors, tables, stools, and even the windows. If it weren’t for the equipment on the tables, the room would have messed with their depth perception.

“It seems to be, but I don’t see any sterile suits.” Madeline carefully walked to the equipment. “Until we know what this is, don’t touch anything.” Looking closer, she broke her rule and picked up a palm-sized box with a dial and switch. She slowly turned the dial. “This is an ultrasound machine … there are hundreds. Let’s get Joe up here to see these,” she said, feeling queasy.

Eva touched her headset. “Team 1, this is Team 6.” She paused. “Team 1, please respond.”

She touched hers and repeated the same thing with no answer. “What’s going on? I’m feeling a bit panicked. How about you?”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Eva said, backing out of the room.

Madeline slipped a box into her purse on the way out. “This whole floor is eerie.”

As the elevator doors opened on the first floor, Joe and five agents aimed their weapons at them. Both women jumped back against the wall.

“Where the hell have you been and why didn’t you answer me?” Joe yelled as the team lowered their guns.

“What are you talking about? We tried to call you and you didn’t answer,” Madeline said, finally feeling her heart rate slow. “We used Bill’s pass key to check out the fourth floor. Is there something wrong with our headsets?” She tested hers without a problem.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going up there? And where’s your escort?” He folded his arms. The other agents took a step back as Joe heated up.

Madeline ignored his anger. “We need to show you what we found. You may want to bring a few of your guys.”

Joe told three of the guys to guard the elevator door. She and Eva let Joe, Tim, and Ray step out first.

“Doesn’t it feel creepy?” Madeline asked.

“It’s dead quiet,” Joe replied. That was it. They heard none of the usual building sounds like the air conditioning, buzzing, or the settling. He tapped his headset. “Why won’t these work up here?”

“Joe, I need to show you something,” Madeline said. Tim and Ray walked down the hall. Eva followed them while she opened the right side laboratory, letting Joe enter first.

“Whoa, that’s weird. Why all the white?” Joe asked.

Madeline closed the door behind her. “We don’t know, but look at these. Do they look familiar?”

“It looks like that machine I used on Ernie, only smaller.”

“Yeah, it is, and there are hundreds.” She began to feel the beginnings of panic again from the implications.

“Wait a minute. If that nano-drug is used on animals outside the lab, then this device can control them instead of lugging around that huge ultrasound machine. This is a weapon, not medicine, isn’t it?”

Covering her mouth with both hands, she nodded.

“Let’s go. We need to talk to Mr. Bennett.” They left quickly. Eva and his agents rushed after them. Stepping off the elevator on the first floor, Joe asked, “Could you hear any of our conversation?”

“None, the coms went dead,” Gene said, staring at their stunned expressions.

Joe hit his ear. “Is everything packed and ready to go?”

“Yes, sir, we’re waiting for further instructions,” a voice replied over the com.

Joe’s cell rang. He looked at his Caller ID. “Shit, I need to take this. You three return to the front desk with June. Then we’ll decide who goes back to Detroit and who stays.” Tim and Ray remained with Eva and Madeline. They stared at him as he stepped away. With a sigh, he answered his phone.

“Agent Roberts, I have a complaint against you that requires immediate attention,” FBI Division Director Peter Bingaman said.

“Is this an official complaint, sir?” He knew he’d have to deal with this soon, but hadn’t expected to in the middle of a bust.

“Yes, it is.”

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she worked so quickly.”

“You know what this is about?” his boss asked.

“Yes, sir. Agent McMillan has a DVD of what looks like inappropriate behavior.”

“Can you explain this to me, Agent Roberts? This isn’t like you, Joe. What’s going on over there?”

“Have you seen it?” he asked.

“No, not yet, are you denying her allegations?”

“Sir, it was part of our cover for me to get into the building and a specific department with many security cameras. When you review the disc, look past the obvious to see what we’re actually doing, which is making copies of shipping manifests.”

“Why would Agent McMillan file a complaint?”

“Sir, you know why. Her behavior is what is inappropriate on this case. She is blackmailing your agents to get her way. I understood you couldn’t do anything before. It’s formal now and I want to counter with my own complaint. I am sick of her blatant disregard for the FBI and what it stands for because of who she knows.” His voice echoed down the hallway.

The director sighed. “Joe, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes, sir. I’m not the only one she’s tried to blackmail for favors.” He looked at his nodding agents.

“All right, I’ll take care of it personally. She’ll be flying the agents back when you’re done?”

“Sir, I would like to keep two agents and send the rest back to supervise the review of our evidence. I have a few loose ends yet. You’ll have my full report in the next few days.”

“Fine, say nothing until I review the DVD. I will then let her know of your complaint.”

“Thank you, sir,” he replied.

“By the way, Agent Roberts, we took down thirty-two distribution centers today from your previous information. Great work. And don’t worry about Rita. I have a feeling she’ll be joining John Betts in Idaho soon.”

“All teams report to the front entrance.” Joe turned to Tim and Ray. “Do you want to go or stay?”

“Stay,” they said.

“Good, and not a word about my phone call. Let her ring her own neck.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” Tim replied, grinning.

With the group assembled, Joe wanted the equipment removed from the fourth floor. He asked three volunteers to drive the truck back to Detroit. All seven would rather drive than fly with Rita. Finally, he told Team 4 to take the truck. The rest would fly and prepare for the evidence. Satisfied with the details, he motioned for Tim and Ray.

“Take Eva back to Sylvia’s place. Get some rest. Agent Pierce and I will join Chief Connor for the interrogations at his station.” Dismissing them, he saw Madeline talking to his Team 4.

“I appreciate your help, guys. I was impressed with your teamwork,” she said as they grinned at her like a bunch of idiots.

“Thank you, Agent Pierce,” Gene said. “We enjoyed your hospitality and sing-along last night. That was a lot of fun.”

“Don’t quit your day jobs,” Joe said, stepping closer to Madeline. “I heard you sing and it was out of tune.”

“Joe, it’s not about that,” Madeline replied. “It’s about having fun.”

“Yeah, Joe, lighten up,” Jerry replied. “Agent Pierce, we’d work with you anytime.”