Strike Me Down - Mindy Mejia Page 0,60

the wives all acted like this was strictly a hand-holding, back-patting occasion. The partners were moving ahead as though it was an unfortunate, although not unplanned-for, business predicament. Everyone seemed to have been given a guide in pointless etiquette except Nora, but they didn’t know what she did. They hadn’t seen Corbett with Logan. If anyone was going to find out the truth, it had to be her.

Before she could figure out how to do that, she got a call from her team with an update on their progress.

The account information Aaden had given to Magers in the email wasn’t a normal bank account. It was an online platform, an account designed specifically to transfer money internationally. In the last few years, these kinds of web companies had popped up with increasing popularity, offering customers lower fees and less red tape to send money abroad. With a few pieces of identifying information and no oversight at all, anyone could get an account and routing number with all the appearance of a legitimate business. Even though it was exactly what she’d expected, Nora felt her stomach drop.

“Have you confirmed the account details?”

“We sent a request, but haven’t received an answer yet, and with the holiday tomorrow …” Her analyst trailed off. Neither of them said it aloud. The day after the Fourth of July was Friday, their deadline. They couldn’t wait around for a confirmation on an account they both knew was going to be empty. The money was gone.

“Where’s Logan?”

Logan was the unknown variable, the last still-conscious person who might be able to link all of this together. And this time, when Nora talked to her, she wouldn’t be distracted by red carpets or empty cubicles.

“She hasn’t been in the office. No one’s seen her since yesterday.”

Nora told the analyst to wrap up for the day as the nurse pulled the needle out, and then stared at her phone as the screen went dark. The phone—Corbett had been checking his phone outside the stadium. And Katie had said he’d received a call from someone before he’d left the tournament. Maybe she could piece together more of the night from his phone records.

When Nora got back to the ICU waiting room, she went straight to Katie and asked to see Corbett’s phone. Katie motioned to the duffel bag where the kids’ toys and games still sat untouched. Nora dug around until she found the evidence bag from the detectives, and then plugged the phone into her own charger, waiting for it to come to life and hoping Katie knew her husband’s password.

Corbett’s wallet was still in the bag, too. Nora hesitated and then glanced around the waiting room, making sure no one was watching.

Keeping the wallet inside the cover of the duffel bag, she flipped it open and looked through its contents. Credit cards, insurance information, an old lottery ticket, a few pictures. It felt wrong, sifting through his most private things, and she wasn’t even sure what she was looking for.

“Nora.” Someone called her from across the room and she startled, closing the wallet and stuffing it away.

“Just a second.” Guilt flooded her as she pushed the duffel bag off her lap, feeling like the worst friend in the world. Then something caught her eye.

The tag affixed to the inside of the bag was barely visible, but she could make out a few faded letters someone had printed over the care instructions. “WAR”

She reached into the bag and stretched out the tag until the entire word came into view.

WARSAME

*NOTICE FROM STRIKE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM*

July 3, 2019

A story aired tonight on the Twin Cities NBC affiliate network about a serious accident outside U.S. Bank Stadium. On the evening of July 2nd, a man attending the opening night of Strike Down was struck by a car in a seeming hit-and-run. Emergency services immediately brought him to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition. Any information about the accident, which occurred around 11:00 p.m. on July 2nd in the area of 4th Avenue and 3rd Street, should be reported to the Minneapolis police. We are deeply saddened by the event and ask our community of fighters and fans to help identify anyone involved. Strike has engaged extra security and police to help direct crowds tonight and for the rest of the tournament.

Now back to the MAIN EVENT!!

GREGG

“WHAT THE hell was it doing in a subscriber email?” I demanded.

C.J., the Marketing Director who was long past done with this conversation, folded her