Vital Harvest: Target Under Cover Book 3

© Copyright 2013 Cecelia S. Davis.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

isbn: 978-1-4907-0516-3 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-0515-6 (e)

Trafford rev. 07/08/2013

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Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Characters

Dedication

The entire series is dedicated to the men and women who are loyal to this country, protecting those who govern it even at the risk of losing his or her own life.

Acknowledgement

Thanks to all the firemen, police officers, doctors and nurses for their help while working on this series. Thanks to one very special lady who assured me of how true the information in the manuscripts of this series is.

"There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end, it leads to death."

Proverbs 14:12

Chapter One

D aniel Franklyn, CEO of Winston Electronics, sat at his desk, opened his drawer and took out the company checkbook. One more subtraction from the company bank account and he would be set for life. He smiled as he thought about the way he had fooled all of his employees, including his secretary.

Daniel got up from his chair, went to the floor-to-ceiling window in his office and looked out. He jumped back as someone appeared in front of him.

That’s impossible, he muttered. No one could be outside these windows 20 stories up.

Still, he had seen something. Cautiously, he approached the window again. Just as I thought, he said. Nothing.

The figure appeared before him again. This time Daniel didn’t jump back even though the sight of the figure unnerved him. He studied the figure and realized it was his reflection. He laughed at himself for panicking. Suddenly, the figure laughed at him. He jumped back, wheezing, and grabbed an inhaler from his pocket.

Daniel Franklyn, the reflection muttered. What are you about to get yourself into?

Leave me alone, he heard himself say.

He walked to the sink above the mini bar and washed his face vigorously. Looking into the mirror, he was startled when, again, his reflection came to life—laughing. His hand shook as he poured himself a strong drink. He couldn’t help but look into the mirror again. A man in his early 60’s, dark hair that was turning gray around the edges stared back at him. He noticed the eyes and remembered as a child he could never get by with any wrong-doing. His eyes always gave him away—the way they were doing right now—dark, sad eyes. He ignored it.

Daniel Franklyn had inherited Winston Electronics from his father, Daniel M. Franklyn, Sr., who got it from his father-in-law, Charles F. Winston. Daniel, Sr. had instructed his son to treat the people in the company well and they would be loyal employees. However, when the Wall Street Journal started showing a decline in success, Daniel Franklyn panicked. A severe case of asthma began ruling his life after his father died five years previous. He wanted to get out of the business and leave the state of Kansas altogether. Knowing his father would turn over in his grave if he knew what was happening, Daniel began taking money from the employees’ 401ks and savings accounts they had with the company. He had switched a large portion of the insurance payments as well to a special bank account in Switzerland. It added up to over $500,000. He had enough money to retire comfortably in Brazil.

He shook himself trying to dispel the fog settling over him and looked into the mirror. For the third time, his reflection came to life, causing him to jump. He began gasping for air and grabbed the inhaler from his pocket. This time the active reflection stayed, taunting him.

Come on, Danny Boy, the figure said.

Daniel Franklyn hated the childhood pet name given him by his father.

Make that trip to Switzerland, and transfer the money to Brazil. More than $500,000 is waiting. Just take care of that one minor detail and leave town.

What minor detail? Daniel asked. I planned everything to a T.

You know what I mean. What about Gary Simms? You planned to leave the whole mess to him. Then when the funds are discovered missing, it could fall on his shoulders. Did the figure have to remind him of that at this time? There’s only one way to get rid of that problem.

Murder? No! He couldn’t. Don’t even think that word, Daniel told himself.

The reflection spoke again, smiling. You’ve already embezzled half a million dollars. You may as well go all the way. You can’t stop now. Like you said, you’ve planned everything to a T.

Yes, Daniel was going to leave the company to his most trusted employee, Gary Simms. The burden could fall on him and Daniel Franklyn would be long gone. One thing he had not counted on; Gary had suffered a stroke. Now the insurance would be expected to provide for his care and there was none. When that bit of information came out, Winston Electronics would go under and he would spend the rest of his days in prison. He couldn’t let that happen. The inner com came to life and he grabbed his chest, startled.

Daniel, you’ve got to calm down, he chided himself.

I’ll be leaving now, Mr. Franklyn, the receptionist said.

He looked at the large clock on the wall opposite his desk. It was 5:30. Fine, Martha. Have a good evening. I’ll lock up.

An hour later, Daniel was sitting in a bar on 85th and Prospect. His dark suit, white shirt and dark tie stuck out like a sore thumb. Some of the men in the bar wore bandanas on their heads; tattoos covered their arms. One had a tattoo around his neck. Most of them appeared to be in their 30’s or 40’s.

What’ll it be? the bartender asked.

Make it strong, Daniel replied. Double whiskey.

I haven’t seen you in here before, the bartender told him as he poured the drink.

I’ve never had a reason to be in here before, Daniel said gruffly.

The bartender set the drink before him. Daniel picked it up, looked into the glass, sniffed it and made a face before gulping it down.

What seems to be the problem? the bartender asked.

Daniel ordered another drink. The bartender looked past him. A man dressed in black leather nodded at the bartender. The bartender returned the nod, turned his back to the bar and slipped powder into the glass before pouring the drink.

Daniel spilled out everything that was on his mind. He couldn’t stop talking if he wanted to.

Give me your business card, the bartender told him. I can take care of that minor detail for you, no questions asked.

Daniel stared at him. You can? How?

Just leave everything to me. He wrote on the back of the card. LARGE PEST NEEDS EXTERMINATING.

I don’t need an exterminator. I don’t know what I need. Daniel paid for his drink and staggered out the door. He hailed a taxi. The next thing he knew, he was at home in front of