Grimm: A Novel In The Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Series (The Temple Chronicles Book 3) (29 page)

In one night, my whole world had collapsed. Every pillar that supported me shattered.

My own power was useless.

My friends were just as useless to defend themselves and had almost died trying.

I had unknowingly given a bus pass to history’s baddest exterminators to come to St. Louis. And they were hungry to make up for lost time.

And my company…

I shook my head, glancing down at my phone. No missed calls. I angrily typed a text, demanding a response.

Now
. Things needed to be done immediately if I stood a chance of surviving this.

Jacob had planned well. I just didn’t know how he could have accomplished it. He had been locked away for centuries and had no idea how the world worked these days. I wouldn’t have expected it of even the savviest of corporate lawyers – of which I had numerous on retainer, and not one had answered my calls – let alone a centuries old assassin. It was almost worth an ovation, if I hadn’t been on the receiving end.

I entered the office to find the television blaring, and my friends staring at the screen with ashen faces.

“In a late press release this evening, Nate Temple took to the camera to inform St. Louis of his resignation from Temple Industries.” They played a clip of me standing there, in front of a gaggle of reporters, announcing my resignation, and then leaving with an insolent grin. Which was impossible. The reporter continued. “The stock value crashed as a result. This all happened in the hours leading up to the closing bell, allowing time for the stock to drop lower than it ever has since it’s Initial Public Offering. Temple Industries is the largest employer of our city, and one of the larger technology companies in the world. Following the death of the founders, Nate Temple’s parents, the company has struggled to find its way. Some say as a direct result of an absentee owner. A meeting was held this afternoon with the Board of Directors and Nate Temple to discuss the sale of the company to a German firm. Nate Temple later informed the media, who had been anxiously waiting outside the hotel, that the company was not for sale. Then he left without another word.

“Police were called to assist several injured reporters at the scene of what appears to have been a gunfight. Nate Temple could not be reached regarding the obvious violence, and speculation abounds as to who caused the injuries. Sources report that Nate Temple did leave with a gunshot wound. Details are being investigated at this time and we will inform you of any updates regarding the attack and the future of Temple Industries.” Venom was thick in the reporter’s voice. I had heard this already, but I wasn’t sure if all of my friends had.

The television suddenly elicited an eruption of sparks and the screen cracked in half.

My friends turned to face me, eyes questioning. Alucard watched me, face blank. Ashley looked livid, but not at me. She had been in the meeting after all. She knew it to be a lie.

“Nate…” Gunnar began.

I held up a finger. “It’s a lie. All of it.”

Ashley watched me, brain practically buzzing with questions. “I’ve been with you all day. I am almost one hundred percent certain that this isn’t possible. No offense.” She answered my glare, speaking clinically. “Which means that this is corporate espionage, but who could have duplicated your every mannerism? I mean, that is
you
, Nate.” She whispered. She began thumbing through her phone after a short vibration on the device.

I sighed, sitting down. “I have no idea. But to be honest, none of that matters. Stock values have plummeted. It almost doesn’t matter now. Sure, we can fight it, saying it was fraudulent, and we will be in court for
years
. We will win, but will the company recover? Will anyone trust us long enough for the company to stay afloat?” I shook my head. “This almost
forces
us to sell in order to keep the doors open. I haven’t been able to reach anyone, and you think my phone would be blowing up.”

Ashley looked at me sharply. I nodded. “Which basically proves that this was set up by an insider. But who? And how are the Grimms involved? This is sophisticated stuff.”

“We will be able to follow the money, sic a pack of angry lawyers at them. If it was an insider, someone had to profit off of it.” I nodded, waving a hand to my previous point. “It looks like I’m going to have a busy day tomorrow.”

“We all are. This was intentional. To keep me distracted. I just don’t know why. We are obviously outclassed, why kick me while I’m down?”

Alucard piped up. “Because it’s fun to dominate a victim.”

We all turned to him, and Gunnar’s hands rippled to claws. Alucard held out a placating hand. “I’m just telling the truth. I know a bit of how this works. I survived the vampire courts and excelled. You don’t do that by collecting stamps. This is a calm, calculated full frontal attack from multiple directions. It was cleverly done. You can trace the money, sure, but Nate’s point stands. Does that matter for tomorrow?” He shrugged. “I’m no CEO, but I think everyone is going to be very busy tomorrow. Lots of phone calls. Emails. Texts. Meetings. Then more meetings about
other
meetings. Bureaucracy. Busywork. Which will keep our hero occupied while something
else
happens.”

I nodded, tipping an imaginary hat. “Regardless, we need to hit the hay. I had a run in with Jacob.” The room erupted. Misha grasped Tory protectively, even though she didn’t really need protection. She was tough cookies. I told them about my talk.

“So he’s going to let us know when we are going to die. That’s… nice of him.” Tory muttered, squeezing Misha’s hand comfortingly. Misha looked as if she were in the middle of a war. Right here, right now. With enemies just around the corner. I was very glad Tory was trying to subtly calm her down.

I answered Tory. “He could have been lying, and a swarm of Grimms could already be outside my gates waiting to kill us all.” My gaze settled on Misha, who nodded her approval. The room grew tense then. “But I don’t think that’s the case. He could have killed me tonight.” I said softly.

Indie sobbed softly.

I regained my composure. “But he didn’t. Which was a mistake. Now I’m ready for him. War Council time.” I growled, motioning for them to gather round. I had some things to tell them, and we had some planning to do. I wasn’t going down without a fight.

Hungry smiles met my words, and even if they didn’t believe we stood a chance, at least they heard that it was going to be the most fun a failure ever had. Alucard laughed a few times, shaking his head in astonishment. Misha and Tory would return to Raego’s compound to give him a heads up. Because now more than ever, I needed to be sure that my insurance policy remained safe.

Also, Misha’s daughters were with Raego, and the impending doom of battle had kicked on her Mom gene, flooding her with the need to protect her family at all costs.

I smiled, shooed them away with a last hug for each, and then the rest of us got ready to go back to bed. We needed our beauty sleep for tomorrow.

I did make sure to activate the
Guardians
before I followed Indie to our bedroom. I set them up to attack and destroy any living being attached to a Grimm’s amulet. Which should be a nice surprise if Jacob thought to come back tonight.

I dreamt about Jacob’s screams as a pack of
Guardians
tore him to shreds.

It was like a lullaby. A fairy tale.

Chapter 29

T
his is bad, Nate.” I sipped my coffee, listening to Turner Locke, my lawyer, prepare to lay it out for me. I feared the worst, but knew it would be even worse than that.

“Proceed.” I answered in a clipped voice, still unsatisfied with his response that he had been up all night putting out what fires he could, making phone calls, speaking with the mayor in my defense.

“As you surmised, several significant profits were made before closing bell.” His voice trailed off. I waited. “Is there anything you want to tell me, Nate? You know I’m on your side, right? Anything we discuss is confidential.”

I sighed. Sure, I could just tell him that a supernatural hit squad had physically attacked me outside the hotel after the meeting, and then again outside a brownstone near Ballpark Village. And then that this same group had hired my long-lost twin brother to do an official Press Release in order to announce my official resignation from Temple Industries. I could also just ask him to lock me up in a straightjacket now. Because he was a Regular. He
was
savvy to the world of magic, having worked for my father for years, but the story sounded far-fetched even to me. And I was the freaking
victim
.

“Nothing that would make a difference. Let’s just say I was targeted.”

The line was silent for a time. Then Turner began. “Documentation shows that you purchased one thousand married-put option contracts on Temple Industries stock, with the right to sell at five dollars below the previous day’s closing value. Three months ago. The expiration date for these puts was tomorrow, but you exercised them yesterday, making you even richer than you already were. In an order of magnitude, thanks to the crash.”

I dropped the coffee, causing Indie to gasp.

My vision flared blue, and the window exploded outwards. As did part of the wall.

“Nate?” Turner shouted into my ear. Indie had jumped to her feet with a shout and was now watching me as if having never seen me before. Her eyes darted from the explosion to me as if waiting for Grimms to appear out of the woodwork. Seeing me motionless seemed to calm her after a few seconds. Gunnar bounded into the room, already in his wolf form, Alucard hot on his heels. They swept outside into the frigid morning air, ready for war.

Still, I didn’t move.

“
What
?” I whispered into the phone. Gunnar and Alucard reappeared, staring at me wild-eyed. I heard Indie speaking with them but didn’t hear the words. A dull vibration filled my ears. I realized it was Turner talking.

“…what just happened? Is everything all right? Nate?” He sounded frantic.

“I… yes. Everything is… fine over here. Talk to me, Turner. I didn’t have any put options on my stock. None. This was a setup.”

“Well, I’m almost not sure it matters at this point.” He responded after a beat. “Wait, you’re on the news again. Let me catch this. I’ll call you right back.”

He hung up without waiting for an answer.

I pointed my remote at the TV and everyone turned to watch.

The reporter was animated.

“This just in. Nate Temple has confirmed that his Press Release yesterday where he resigned from Temple Industries was some sort of prank. No further comment was given by Temple. New sources report that Master Temple sold options on his stocks, earning him a significant profit from the crash caused by his Press Release. The Board of Directors has stepped forth, issuing a unanimous statement voting Nate Temple out of the company for his reckless behavior. Ashley Belmont, CEO of Temple Industries, has not responded to numerous calls and it has come to the attention of our reporters that her stock portfolio also realized a substantial gain from the false press release, proving she was complicit in the fraud. Nate Temple has declined further comment on the matter, but effective immediately, he is no longer owner of Temple Industries. Having sold his majority share in the company, he is now only a minority owner, holding only 426 shares.” I tuned out the rest of the report as the number struck a cord.

It was the exact number of years the Grimms had been imprisoned.

My phone vibrated. It was Turner.

“I couldn’t have done this, Turner. Trust me. I haven’t spoken to my broker in months.”

“That was when the puts were ordered. The exact day you last spoke with him. It’s all been recorded, and the broker has already met with the FBI.” I blinked.

“Ashley has been with me. I know she isn’t involved in this either.” I tried to protect her a bit.

“Her puts were purchased at the same time as yours. Same day, in fact.” Turner replied almost sadly. “And she’s not answering her phone.”

“That’s… that’s not possible. I saw her make over a dozen calls last night. She has been all
over
this.”

“No one has heard from Ashley since the meeting with the German company. Tickets overseas were reported to the media. Even footage of her boarding the plane immediately after your Meeting.”

That just wasn’t… I growled to Gunnar. “Go. Get. Ashley.
Now
.” I snarled. Gunnar didn’t even respond, his giant werewolf form disappearing in a blink. I had seen her only fifteen minutes ago. And she had practically been stuck to my hip since the meeting. What the hell was going on?

“Nate, as your lawyer, you need to be up front with me.” He began.

I didn’t let him continue. “Listen closely, Turner. You worked for my father for years. You know how important Temple Industries is to me. And was to him. I would
never
…” I calmed my tone, realizing I was shouting. I took a breath. “I would never do such a thing. It’s a setup.” I whispered.

“I’m going to be honest with you, Nate. Your actions to date haven’t been particularly flattering when it comes to company loyalty. You’ve professed to me personally that you leave it all to your employees. The Press Release from the Board Meeting even has audio sound bites of you stating this very thing. Among other, more incriminating statements – not even counting the video footage of you – that are going to take me months to argue-”