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cautious. Hiding this under the ballpark bench left a couple of variables open. There would be a short time between when the package was left and we arrived, otherwise we might have seen who left it.”
    â€œAnd during those few minutes someone could have stumbled upon the envelope.” Judith thought for a moment. “He’s thought of everything. At least if someone had gotten hold of it, they wouldn’t be able to crack the password. Of course, now we have the same problem.”
    â€œIt would be something that we know,” Luke said. “Something that we could figure out but no one else could.” He rubbed his chin. “When you got your call, did the voice mention any names or numbers?”
    â€œNo … wait. Yes. A date. February 27.”
    â€œ2-2-7? What about a year?”
    â€œNo mention of a year.”
    â€œBut you know the year, don’t you?”
    Judith paused. Of course she knew the year of her secret. She would have preferred to have forgotten it, but that wasn’t going to happen. “1984.”
    â€œ2-2-7-1-9-8-4. No good. That’s seven numbers.”
    â€œDrop the nineteen.”
    â€œThen that leaves only five numbers. Well … maybe this way: 022784.” He entered the numbers. An error message told them the password was invalid.
    â€œWhat about you?” Judith gazed at Luke. “You said the caller knew your secret. Did he use a date with you?”
    â€œYes.” The admission came slowly. “May 30.”
    â€œTry it.”
    Luke combined the numbers and typed 530227. Again an error message.
    â€œWhat time did you get your call?” Judith pressed.
    â€œI don’t remember. Maybe 9:45, or something like that.”
    Judith thought. “Mine came a little earlier. About 9:30. Put my date first.”
    Again Luke’s fingers pressed keys: 227530. He hit the Enter key.
    The file opened.
    Judith’s phone rang.

five
    J udith almost came out of her seat. Her heart galloped. She let it ring two more times before she had calmedherself enough to look at the caller ID display. It was Terri’s office phone number. “My administrative assistant,” Judith explained and snapped open the phone. “Yes, Terri.”
    â€œYou’ve been avoiding me.”
    It wasn’t Terri. The voice belonged to Marlin Find, stepson and royal pain. “I’ve been busy.”
    â€œWith what? I called your cell phone earlier. I left a message for you to call me. You didn’t.”
    â€œSo you thought you’d use Terri’s phone?”
    â€œI figured you’d at least answer a call from her.”
    â€œWhat do you want, Marlin?”
    Judith caught Luke looking at her. She lowered her voice.
    â€œWe need to talk about the upcoming board meeting. Have you read my memos?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou haven’t responded.” His words were terse and bore an edge.
    â€œYou already know how I feel about your suggestions. You’re not ready.”
    â€œI’m more than ready.”
    â€œNot to be president of the firm. I’m keeping that job.” She turned in her seat so that her back was to Luke.
    â€œUnder my proposal, you’d still be chairman of the board and the public image of the company. I just want to take the burden of the day-to-day work off your shoulders.”
    Judith felt anger rising in her like magma in a volcano. “The answer is no.”
    â€œI have support on the board.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “It’s just a matter of time.”
    â€œWhen push comes to shove, your supporters will see what you’re really after and side with me.”
    â€œGee,
Mom
, you sound like you don’t trust me.”
    â€œTrust is earned, Marlin.”
    â€œWhen will you be back in the office?”
    â€œWhen I’m good and ready.” She hung up.
    â€œAh, family,” Luke said. “Warms the heart, doesn’t