The Carolina Coup: Another Rwandan Genocide? (The Jeannine Ryan Series Book 4) Read Free

off the door to loading dock AA.  Irv is on guard there.  Divert any incoming to dock BB.  The chief is on the way.”
    He turned to Harry.
    “And keep your eyes on the monitors.  If my butt gets busted, I’ll see that yours does too.”
    Bob stormed into his cubbyhole of an office and slammed the door, rather tried to, but the pneumatic door-closer resisted and jammed his wrist.  He winced.  Tonight nothing was right.
***
    Hugh Byrd, chief of security for the Torbee Building, bulled an angry path through the guards at the gate.  He found Bob in the security center.
    “Give me the list of all who were on the third floor during this mess.”
    Bob hit print on the computer and handed the list to Hugh.
    “There are four, all with high clearance.  They were all in their offices.  You think it was an inside job?”
    Hugh frowned.  How dumb can this guy be?   He crossed out one name on the list, and handed the paper back to Bob.
    “Seal the offices of these three and bring them to the conference room on two.  Hold them there until I call you.”
    Hugh pointed to the name he had crossed off.
    “I’ll talk to Mr. Hamm myself.”
    Bob left.  Hugh Byrd punched his cell phone.
    “Tom, I’m in the security center.  Meet me in room 310 right away.  We have a problem.  His name is ‘William Hamm.’”
***
******

Chapter 2
Wednesday, August 15
    In room 310, Hugh Byrd went directly to the safe.  He rotated the knob and pulled the door open.
    Empty!
    That was no surprise.  When he had seen Hamm’s name on the list of late workers, Hugh had guessed what happened. Somehow Hamm had found that damned decrypted memo.
    Hugh went to the desk and pushed a button.  The surveillance video from the covert camera revealed the shadowy figure of a man standing at the safe.
    A knock interrupted the viewing.  He opened the door to his aide, Tom Holder.  Tom looked at the video.
    “Not enough light.  Too bad you can’t make out his face.”
    “No matter, I know who it is.”
    Tom saw that the safe was empty.
    “Damn!  You mean he took everything?  We’re screwed.”
    Hugh nodded.  Tom’s eyes ranged from one side of the room to the other, as if expecting a third presence.
    “Tom, calm down.  There’s no way the documents have left the building.  And without them the guy has nothing.  Besides, he’s still here.  Where’s your Glock?”
    Tom produced the weapon from under his jacket.
    “Good, chamber a round but keep your weapon out of sight.  Follow me.  We’re going to visit ‘Mr. Hamm.’  His office is on this floor.”
    Hugh locked the door.
    Tom, Glock ready, followed him down the hallway.
***
    But “Mr. Hamm” was not in his office.  Hugh dialed the guard at the gate.
    “This is Byrd, did William Hamm, ID #A17-1663, leave the grounds.”
    “Yes Sir, a half hour ago.”
    “Driving?”
    “No Sir, he said his car wouldn’t start.  He was walking, went in the direction of the 7-Eleven down the road.  We’re searching all cars like you said.  Maybe he saw how long it takes.  Anyway his car is still in the lot.  I can see it from here.”
    “Did he have anything with him.  A package, a briefcase, anything?”
    “No Sir, I patted him down myself.   I have my orders.  But he had a Beretta, and a permit.  That’s about it.”
    “All right.  Put a guard on his car.  We’ll take it apart if we have to.  I’ll come down to meet you in five minutes.”
    Hugh turned to Tom Holder.
    “If he hid those documents in his office, find them.  Trash the place if you have to, but find them.  They must be on the grounds.  I’m going downstairs to search Hamm’s car.”
***
    The dumpster truck arrived on time at the 7-Eleven where the driver habitually took a morning coffee. William Hamm was waiting.
    He spoke to the driver.  His price was high, one hundred dollars, but after a few minutes, Hamm had the canvas briefcase in his hand.  Included in the price was a ride in the truck as far as