"Even as smart as he was?" Jude asked.

Luke smirked as he realized Jude was prodding him. "h.e.l.l, Engineering at MIT? Everyone was smart." Sobering, he said, "At a place like that, no one is a big fish anymore. Just all little fishes swimming in a great, big, f.u.c.king pond!"

The others laughed at Luke's college description before turning their attention back to his findings.

"At MIT he seemed to find his stride and, I've got to tell you, a university can be a mecca for someone like Eli...h.e.l.l, for someone like me."

The other Saints looked up and Luke sighed, rubbing his forehead. He battled how much to tell them...how could they possibly understand? But then he realized that the ten of them around the table had become a family, of sorts. As much as he knew about them, he also had to admit he had given them precious little of himself.

Leaning back in his chair, he pinned them with his stare. "Guys, I'm not going to insult you by a.s.suming your childhood or young adulthood was easy...I know it wasn't for all of you. But as you stepped into manhood, it surely hasn't escaped your notice that most of you are big men, made even more powerful by your sports, exercise, or even former jobs. And this may sound weird coming from another guy, but not one of you is hard on the eyes and back before you found your special someone, our trips to Chuck's typically ended with the majority of you finding your evening spent with a hot girl on your lap and probably later in your bed."

At that, Bart, the most notorious, former chick-magnet of them all, had the good grace to blush. "d.a.m.n man, you know how to lay it on the line!"

"Just keeping it real, bro," Luke laughed. Sobering, he continued, "And you were probably that way in high school and college, if I had to guess. But in high school, for someone like Eli...and well, even me...whose social skills did not involve knowing how to converse with a girl, it was easier to throw myself in with the smart nerds. Now, college became a different thing for me. I was in the martial arts club sports and ran with the MIT running club as well as being an engineering student. Built the body up and finally managed to learn how to talk to girls. Sort of," he joked with a shrug.

"And you're saying that Eli didn't have anything else to fall back on?" Cam asked.

"Not from what I can tell. He threw himself into his cla.s.ses, although he made a couple of friends. But even in that world of academia, he didn't step outside of his small group very much. He continued to be mostly a loner with just a few friends."

"And those friends?" Jack prompted.

"It appears he was closest to a group of three others. Tim Kelly, Hai Zhou, and Charlotte Trivett. From what I've been able to discover, those four met in a group project and remained friends. I've discerned that Tim Kelly is married with three kids, lives in Boston and works for an international accounting firm as a software designer. Hai Zhou went to California for about three years after graduating from MIT and then returned to China. I haven't had time to get a lock on Charlotte yet, but it looks like she lived in the northern part of Virginia, near the Maryland line."

"And Eli?"

"Eli took a job, similar to Tim's, in Baltimore and worked there for six months. Then he quit and, according to his tax records, he worked for himself. He never incorporated or set up his own business, but instead began to take private software design orders. From what I can tell, a company would contract him to work on a software project from home, he would design it, and then get paid. And paid well, I might add."

Monty's head jerked up. "You mean he just worked from home without any of the protections of having his own business? Why would he not set up an LLC or some business license?"

Shrugging, Luke answered, "From what I can tell from his bank and investment accounts, he was making serious bucks doing what he was doing, so it may have never entered his mind. h.e.l.l, he got paid and his bank account shows it."

Jack leaned back again, rubbing his hand over his face and asked, "Why do I get the feeling that you're going to tell us this guy left very little for us to go on?"

"One of his specialties was encryption and I'm having a devil of a time breaking it. So far, I can find out a few of the businesses that hired him and I'm not coming up with much in the way of who would want him dead."

"What about his friends?" Patrick asked, hoping for a chance to interview. The newest Saint had recently joined after his tour of duty with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

"From what I can tell...he doesn't have any." Seeing the incredulous looks shot his way, he threw up his hands in defense. "Guys, I'm telling you this man had almost no virtual footprint. His encryption is brilliant." Shaking his head, Luke sighed heavily. "If he wasn't dead, I'd be trying to find him just so I could see if I could get him to work for us!"

"So we've got nothing?" Jack clarified, his piercing gaze staying on Luke, never having seen his computer expert so frustrated.

"Well, here's what I can get my hands on," Luke continued. "I can find a few of his contracts, I can see what he worked on up until about nine months ago. I can tell that he maintained a bit of communication with Tim Kelly and Charlotte Trivett. Tim, we can talk to. Charlotte, I haven't checked into yet, but plan on doing so this afternoon. I know the intel is there, I just have to discover it."

The group, almost in unison, leaned back in their chairs, the information swirling in their minds.

"Okay," Jack began, "I want Luke to dig more on Charlotte and see if there's anything on Hai from the time he left MIT, including what he worked on in California before going back to China. Once he's got that we'll go to Boston to check with Tim."

Most of the other Saints filed out of the room, their own a.s.signments to accomplish. Marc and Jack moved to the equipment room to check on their weapons and ammunition. Luke sighed as his eyes traveled to his special coffee maker sitting neglected on the counter. Grimacing he rubbed his chest before turning back to his keyboard.

Time to get back to work and find out what the h.e.l.l Eli Frederick was involved in...what he was hiding...and what his friends knew about him.

Chapter 6.

Shoving his chair back in frustration, Luke stalked into his kitchen, his glower only pacified when he remembered his trip to the grocery store before he came home. Throwing a frozen pizza into the oven, he frowned at the timer on the stove as he watched the minutes slowly click by.

How the h.e.l.l can anyone disappear? Luke had spent the past four hours attempting to find Charlotte, but could not connect her to anything recent. He knew Hai would be difficult so he saved him for last, but he a.s.sumed she would be easy to investigate.

Pulling the hot pizza out, steam rising from the melted cheese, he slid it onto a large plate and moved back to his computers. Plopping down, he stared at the notes he had taken. Charlotte Trivett was the only child of divorced parents. He determined her father left when she was only four and married another woman, having nothing to do with his ex-wife or daughter after that. Her mother worked in a grocery store during the day and as a waitress at night.

Charlotte's academic records revealed what he had already a.s.sumed by her admission to MIT. She was brilliant, a.n.a.lytical, and appeared to be a loner. Her high school yearbook yielded no pictures of her, not even in the math or science clubs. She had attended a posh private school on an academic scholarship. With her mom working as a waitress, I'll bet she was shunned by the little princesses there. Her social media footprint was scant at best.

One year younger than Eli, she would have started after Luke graduated, so he knew their paths did not cross. Sighing as he continued to peruse his notes, he continued to find little about her other than school records. Just like high school, she was not in clubs or a sorority. She worked in the Engineering library for work-study to a.s.sist with costs. Her mother died during Charlotte's junior year of college, leaving her very much alone. Most of her education was financed with financial need and student loans, which she paid off within two years of graduating.

Where the h.e.l.l did you get the money to pay back your loans? She would have graduated about the time that Eli began taking private jobs. I wonder? Quickly pulling up a comparison of both Eli and Charlotte's bank accounts, he discovered the connection he had been searching for. Bingo! They both made large deposits about the same time. Not every time, but almost sixty percent were on the same day.

So you were working privately also...and often on the same projects as Eli. Feeling as though he finally made a modic.u.m of progress, he smiled as he leaned back in his seat. His grin left his face as he glanced to the side and viewed his cold pizza. Sighing heavily, he decided to forgo the microwave and chomped down on the congealed cheese sitting on top of the slice.

By midnight, his frustration reached an all-time high once more. Charlotte Trivett disappeared at the same time Eli Frederick went missing. She was gone. Completely and totally off the grid. Her email, social media, and phone had been disconnected and discontinued. Groaning, he began to fear the worst. Did she die too? Is her body going to wash up on a sh.o.r.e?

Deciding to call it a night, he shoved in the last piece of pizza and stood to take the plate back to the kitchen. Before he turned off his computer, it pinged with an incoming message.

Hard at work?

Attempting not to choke as he swallowed a large bite quickly, he sat up straight. Starting a new case. How are you? Do you need my help?

Not yet.

A pause settled in as Luke tried to decide what else to say. Before he had a chance to attempt wittiness, his friend commented.

Be careful what you seek. You may not like the answers.

Once more astonished that this person could tell what he was doing, he typed, Why will I not like the answers?

He waited, his heart pounding faster with each pa.s.sing second. His gaze never left his screen, as though staring would make the person respond quicker. Finally the ping sounded again.

You want to find someone but to do so may not give you the satisfaction you seek.

Luke's brow furrowed as he realized this person knew he was searching for Eli's friend Charlotte. Unable to decipher their intent he sat for a moment, his fingers twitching over the keys. I really want to meet you. I want to know how you operate.

Then I would lose my edge...it's what I have going for me. I'm like a shadow on the wall.

Grinning, Luke realized this was more than he normally received from his cyber friend. I got a question.

Sure you can ask...I might not answer.

Chuckling, his fingers poised over the keys wondering if he was about to mess up their unusual partnership. Oh, h.e.l.l, go for it! Any chance you will tell me your name?

A long pause had Luke rethinking about asking. d.a.m.n, I shouldn't have pushed. Just as he was about to type an apology for asking, a response came back.

Charlie.

Stunned that he received an answer, Luke typed, Promise me you will contact me when you need a.s.sistance.

Luke waited impatiently to see if there was more coming. The silence became deafening as his computer sat blank...waiting. Suddenly another ping.

I promise.

Knowing no more was forthcoming, Luke took a swig of beer. As he sat pondering the case and the cyber friend, whose name offered no insight on whether they were male or female, he realized that with each of the friend's contacts with him, they had offered insight, a.s.sistance. But this time, they only offered a warning.

Bolting upright, nearly knocking over his beer, he realized, they can see what I'm working on and are warning me away. That means I'm on the right track. Eli and Charlotte did work together and whatever frightened Eli into contacting the FBI, she must know about it also. And my cyber-friend, Charlie, must know about it as well. I wonder if Charlie is investigating Eli and Charlotte too?

By the time Luke finished his diatribe with the Saints the next day, they understood his frustration.

"I don't know how anyone disappears," Chad acknowledged. "You'd think there'd be something...anything to follow."

"Her money was moved to an offsh.o.r.e account and with the encryption she either knew or learned from Eli, she's hiding the use of any credit cards or bank withdrawals that I can find. No address. No social media. The last picture I've got of her is from her driver's license."

Flashing it on the screen, they all observed the elusive Charlotte Trivett. Dark brown hair, pulled back in a ponytail, wire-frame gla.s.ses, MIT t-shirt. Not smiling. Luke had stared at the picture on his computer screen the evening before for a long time, but until he saw it enlarged on the wall screen, he did not see anything familiar. Now something niggled his mind...as though he had seen her before.

"She...she looks..." he stammered, gathering the attention of the others around the table, then shook his head, a blush creeping up his face. "Never mind," he mumbled. Sitting up straighter, he confessed, "There's more. My mystery contact appears to know something about this case. They sent me a warning message."

"A warning?" Blaise asked, his large body leaning forward, pinning his gaze onto Luke. The other Saints mimicked Blaise's posture as they bristled at the idea of a warning.

Ignoring the others, Luke settled his gaze on Jack, and asked, "Boss, I'd like permission to pursue this person in hopes that they can lead us to information about Eli's death or Charlotte's whereabouts."

Rubbing his beard thoughtfully, Jack asked, "What do you think this person is up to?"

"I don't know. Up till now, I saw them as someone who was...well, to be honest, someone who was like what we know Eli was. A computer genius. Probably worked alone...possibly from home. Someone who stumbled across me and has lived a bit vicariously through us. They've never steered me wrong, nor given me incorrect information or direction." Leaning back, blowing out a frustrated breath, he added, "And I always hoped they were not involved in anything illegal."

"And now?" Bart prompted.

"Now? I don't know...but to warn me about my searches into Eli and his friends, makes me think that they already know something. And they finally gave me a name." He paused for a moment, then added, "Charlie."

Nodding, Jack agreed to Luke's request, but with a stipulation. "Pursue this guy, but I want you to meet with Tim Kelly this evening. Marc'll fly you and Patrick up to Boston. Monty, you take point with Lin w.a.n.g. We need her on our side to make our lives easier and, Monty, you've got the finesse and the Bureau know-how to try to make that happen."

"I'll try, boss, but she's a tough nut to crack. Not sure how successful I'll be."

Luke looked over to Marc and asked, "When do we leave?"

"You and Patrick can meet at my house in about two hours and I'll drive us to the Charlestown airport. I've got my Cessna there."

With that, the Saints dispersed, Luke's thoughts on finding out more about his cyber-contact instead of the upcoming meeting with Tim Kelly to determine, if Eli's former friend would have any information. As he walked up the stairs, he stumbled as the thought hit him...Unless Tim also knows Charlie!

Flying was not his favorite way to travel. Luke's stomach bounced along with the tires of the small plane as Marc touched down in Boston. Trying to still his quivering stomach, he alighted from the aircraft, hoping his face was not as green as he felt. Jack had arranged the meeting and Tim surprised them when he suggested they meet at his house. Patrick drove the rental car into the suburbs of Boston, easily navigating the rush-hour traffic.

Arriving at a two-story, brick Colonial in an upscale, older neighborhood with stately trees in each yard, they stepped up to the bright red front door.

It swung open by a small child whose grin peeked up at them in curiosity. "Hi!" she squeaked. "Are you here for my daddy?"

Patrick, at ease with small children, immediately squatted down to be on her level. "We're here to see Tim Kelly. Is that your dad?"

Her smile widened, but before she could answer, a man stepped into view, his smile matching his daughter's. "Gentlemen, come in, come in. I'm Tim and this tyke is Sarah."

Luke noted the tasteful, expensive furniture and decorations as they made their way into the living room. He had investigated Tim and knew that he had secured a job with a large corporation after graduating from MIT and Tim's salary easily afforded him the luxuries Luke was eyeing.

A stately brunette walked into the living room, greeting the Saints, and was introduced as Lisa, Tim's wife. She brought gla.s.ses of iced tea on a tray with cookies and set it on the coffee table. Smiling her goodbye, she shooed the little girl out of the room after reminding Tim that they were off to pick up the boys from soccer.

Luke watched as Tim's eyes followed his wife until she was out of sight. Giving himself a mental shake, he brought his mind back to the matter at hand.

"So," Tim began, taking a sip and then setting his gla.s.s down again. "I understand you want to talk about Eli Frederick." He smiled and said, "I haven't heard from Eli in a long time."

Luke's gaze shot up quickly to Tim before darting to Marc and Patrick. Clearing his throat, he said, "Um...Mr. Kelly, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but we're investigating his...his murder."

At those words, Tim's eyes bugged, his Adam's apple moving up and down quickly as he choked on the cookie he had taken a bite from. "Murdered? What...I mean...I...what?"

"We a.s.sumed the FBI had informed you...but then...have you not been interviewed by the FBI?"

"FBI? No, why would I?" His friendly smile was now replaced with one of shock and irritation. "What's going on?"

"Eli Frederick had been missing for about five months and last month his body was found. The FBI is investigating but has asked us to a.s.sist in gathering background information on him." The partial truth slipped easily from Luke's lips as he watched Tim's reaction.

Tim sat silent, blinking rapidly several times. "I...I had no idea," he finally said, after a long minute of silence. Dropping his chin to his chest, he looked at his hands, now clasped in his lap. Sighing heavily, he said, "Jesus, Eli...h.e.l.l, man."

Giving Tim a moment to grapple with the news, Marc asked, "What can you tell us about him?"

Leaning back, Tim gave a rueful grin. "Honestly, Eli and I haven't been in contact much since graduating five years ago. We shared occasional emails and the requisite holiday card, but," throwing his hands up slightly, "he was always an odd bird."

"Odd?" Luke prodded.

"You know the image that the outside world has of engineers? That we have no social skills, only knowing machines but not people? Well, that stereotype fit Eli to a T."

Luke appreciated what Tim was referring to. He felt at times as though he understood computers better than people but, because he was athletic, he forced himself away from his computers and interacted with others. And, working for the CIA and then the Saints, certainly got me out of the house and around people. He wondered, not for the first time, if he had stayed at home and worked free-lance for himself, if he would have been like Eli. Tim's reminiscing cut into Luke's thoughts, and he had to take a moment to catch up on what Tim was saying.

"We met soph.o.m.ore year when we had a group project to work on. Everyone in the cla.s.s quickly formed groups and there were just a handful of us losers who didn't know anyone else, so we got together." Chuckling, he added, "Turned out to be the best thing ever."

"How so?" Patrick queried.