The Puzzle

Chapter 124

James, Hawk, and Angie were hunched over a small table in the dingy, low-end motel room. The curtains were drawn tight with what little light the room saw coming from a lamp in the corner. Sitting on the table in front of them was Angie's thumb drive. In true fashion, it was the size of a postage stamp.

"Okay," Hawk said softly. "Lay it out for us, from the beginning. Angie, give us all of it."

Angie took a huge, chest-filling breath. She looked wrung out, with dark circles under her eyes. "It started about a week after you disappeared, Mr. Watson. Elena showed up at the office with a whole team of lawyers. She claimed she had evidence that you stole her research."

James clenched his fists. "That's absurd. I've never stolen so much as a paper clip in my life."

"I know," Angie echoed. "But she was so convincing. She had documents, e-mails, everything. The board was in a panic. Nobody knew what to believe."

Hawk pushed his body upright. "And that's when this Shadow Council g