Mind Games by TJ Moore Read Free Book Online Page B

designs for years now. If it weren’t for me, you would have dealt with more robberies at more of the branches. But you haven’t. Up to this point, the systems have worked. Now, you can’t tell me it’s the security systems that failed because they are flawless.”
    “But you aren’t flawless, Jen.”
    “I understand that, George. But you and I both know it’s not just the technology. The guards probably slipped up.”
    “Oh, the guards? Is that it?”
    “You can’t put all the blame on me. Let’s watch the tapes, then we’ll know for sure.”
    “We can’t.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “The break-ins disabled the security cameras.”
    “But that’s impossible.”
    “Apparently not. So, unlike the break-in at the Chicago branch, there’s no footage to review. We’re in the dark. These men are still out there. It seems the security systems were weaker than we thought.”
    “Don’t say that. Don’t say they’re weak because they’re not. There must have been something else.”
    “So, you can’t explain what happened tonight?”
    “No more than you can, but the systems must have worked at some point, otherwise I’d still be asleep right now.”
    “They almost got in front of the vault before tripping the alarm. The vault, Jennifer. We’re not talking about the parking lot, the lobby, or the offices. No, they jumped over all those hurtles and almost made it to the main event!” George paced in anger. “This is unacceptable, Frost.”
    “Look, sir,” Jen said, “The fact is they didn’t get into the vault. They must have periodically disabled the other layers of security.”
    “Listen, Frost.” Mr. Stevens faced Jen and squared up his shoulders. “You have forty-eight hours to fix this system.” Then he turned from and began walking down the hallway away from her. “If you don’t deliver in two days, don’t bother coming back to work.”
     
     
     
    When Jen returned home, she wanted to collapse in bed.
    But instead, she brewed a pot of black coffee and unrolled a new set of blueprints.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

EVIDENCE
    As dawn brok e , Cameron awoke alone in bed and rushed to the Fourth Precinct downtown.
    He downloaded the files from the Stefani murder case, and as the pictures loaded on the screen, he was surprised how much the underground explorations felt like a bad dream.
    Vince approached him with sour breath. “Did you get any sleep after that freaky funhouse, Junior?”
    The bags under Cameron’s eyes spoke for him.
    Amy joined them and watched over Cameron’s shoulder. “I’m looking forward to getting the ballistics report back from the lab.”
    Cameron tapped his screen. “So, what was with that computer system in the maze?”
    Amy rubbed her eyes. “The tech team is going back this morning to check the hard drives.”
    Vince chomped on a toaster pastry. A glob of strawberry icing landed on his shirt. “That property is a night crawler’s goldmine. I bet we could sell tickets to that place as a haunted house for Halloween.”
    “That’s a horrible idea, Vince,” Amy said.
    “Amy, one of these days, I’m gonna teach you to have some fun.”
    Cameron snickered. “That’ll be the day.”
    “Yeah, I’ll invite you to one of my blowout parties and you can wear the keg backpack and fill drinks.”
    Amy raised her eyebrows. “Assuming you have friends, Vince.”
    “ Ohhhhh. Burrrrn . ” Cameron gave Amy a high five.
    “Ha. Ha. Very funny. I dare you guys to come hang out with me sometime – and not around a crime scene.”
    Cameron lifted his hands. “If we did hang out with you outside of work, it would soo n becom e a crime scene. Just sayin’.”
    “Hey, good one,” Amy said, “Especially with how tired we all are.”
    “Yeah, Vince,” Cameron said. “Amy and I think you’re all talk.”
    Vince narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying I didn’t complete the three rack of ribs contest at the Smokey Oak? Is that what you’re saying? Because I had