FIRE AND ICE by Julie Garwood Page B

or three threats at the very least. Agent MacAlister, if you push me one more time, I’m going to have to push you right back.”
    She didn’t turn around when she made the threat. Jack grinned. Sophie was turning out to be far more stubborn than he’d been told. He decided he would leave it to Alec to get her to cooperate.
    “Yes, there’s been more than one threat,” Bitterman said. “So far I’ve gotten three. The message was always the same. Your father took something of value from them, so they’re going to take something of value from him. Meaning you,” he added. He looked at Alec as he continued. “A couple of the callers used the same word: retribution. That was kind of odd, I thought. Real muffled voices, too, and all of them used the words ‘we’ and ‘them.’ That was odd, too, don’t you think?”
    “Why would they call you?” Sophie asked.
    “I guess the callers figured I’d make you give up your father.”
    “Sounds like the threats came from the same men,” Alec remarked.
    “A buddy at the phone company checked the source of the incoming calls,” Bitterman said. “They were made from public phones around town.”
    “How long has there been a price on Bobby Rose’s head?” Jack asked.
    Sophie whirled around. “What? There’s a price …”
    “The attorneys at the press conference said they’d put up a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of your father.”
    “Conviction for what?”
    “Stealing Kelly’s company retirement fund?” Bitterman suggested.
    “So he’s guilty until proven innocent? Is that how the system works?” Sophie blurted.
    “Do you think the reward is why the office was bugged?” Bitter-man asked.
    “Sure,” Jack said. “Think about it. This is a small neighborhood newspaper. How many enemies can you make writing articles about the pollen count? I know that sounds insulting, and I don’t mean it that way, sir. I’m just saying, you don’t tackle heavy political issues or—”
    Bitterman waved his hand. “I get what you’re saying, and I’m not taking offense. We are a small paper.”
    “But growing,” Sophie said defensively. “And some people want to read about the pollen count.”
    “A lot of people know Bobby’s daughter works here,” Alec pointed out. “Maybe they’re thinking she’ll talk to him on the phone or talk about him to you, sir.”
    “I want to find out exactly who’s listening in on my conversations,” Bitterman said. “There could be more of those things, couldn’t there?” he added, pointing to the bug Alec held in his hand. “And what about the phones? Do you think the phones are tapped? Damn it all, I want to know who’s behind this.”
    “We’ll get some techs in here—” Jack began.
    “No, no,” Bitterman interrupted. “I don’t want this to get out yet, not until we find out who the culprit is.”
    Before Alec could point out the obvious, that bugging an office was an illegal activity, Sophie said, “What about Gil? He’s a retiredpolice officer, Mr. Bitterman, and he does consulting work now. His specialty is security and finding bugs. He’d be perfect for this job.”
    “Sure, Gil could help,” Alec agreed. “You’ll have to pay him, but his fee is reasonable.”
    “I’ll pay anything,” Bitterman said. “Wait, I didn’t mean that. Don’t tell Gil I’ll pay anything. Could you get him on the phone now and ask him to get over here as soon as possible?”
    “Come on, Sophie, let’s get going,” Jack said.
    She led the way to her cubicle, then stood in the narrow corridor to wait while Jack searched for listening devices. He found one identical to the one in Bitterman’s office. It had also been attached next to the electrical plate.
    Gary came out of the lunch room eating a jam-filled croissant. He spotted Sophie and scurried over to her.
    “Why are you standing in the hall?”
    He didn’t give her time to answer. He saw Jack sitting at her desk going