Traveling Bug Read online

  Traveling Bug

  by Edna Curry

  Copyright 2000

  55,356 words

  ________________________________________

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  This is a work of fiction. All names in this story are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental.

  No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the author, except for short excerpts for reviews.

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  Traveling Bug

  By Edna Curry

  Chapter 1

  1983

  Jeff Banning stood at the Minneapolis airport window, dreading to meet his father’s plane from Milwaukee. Two years ago, he’d quarreled with his father and left his family’s computer firm to become a tour guide.

  He paid little attention to the noise around him and his dark brows dipped in a worried frown.

  What is Dad up to? Why the secrecy? The urgent message left on his answering machine last night had raised more questions than it answered. “I’ll be in town tomorrow for a computer trade show,” his father had said. “We must talk business immediately. Say nothing to anyone, and meet my plane.”

  So, here Jeff was. Wary and resentful, but here. He’d talk business, because he had a large financial interest in Banning Corporation. But he was not getting personally involved.

  Jeff watched his father emerge and walk toward him. Vince looked tired and strained, his iron-gray hair in array as though he’d been running his fingers through it.

  They gruffly greeted each other and Jeff reached for his father’s carry-on. Falling in with the moving crowd, they walked down the concourse toward the parking lot.

  “Did you bring any other luggage?”

  Vince shook his head. “Just this one bag. I’ll only be here for two days. My assistants brought everything for the booth at the trade show. They’ll have it all set up.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  A curvaceous, young redhead cut in front of them, hurried through the door to the street.

  “Quite a figure,” Vince said.

  Jeff glanced over to see his father watching the girl swing her lithe body into a waiting taxi and give the driver a wide smile for his help. "Still an eye for the ladies, I see," he said dryly.

  "Now, let's not start on that old subject," Vince warned as they reached Jeff’s white Mercedes. Jeff unlocked the car with his remote and put the case inside. "I thought we agreed last time not to discuss my new marriage. Getting along will take some serious effort from both of us."

  "Sorry." Damn. Jeff walked around his car and got in. Why can't I keep my big mouth shut? I promised not to mention our quarrel over his marriage to Janet.

  Jeff met his father's gaze, feeling remorseful. "It just slipped out." He had his father’s stubborn streak, and hadn’t spoken to him more than a few times since that bitter quarrel. Jeff’s mother had died a slow, painful death. A short time later, Vince Banning had brought home Janet, one of his work associates, announcing they’d been married. Jeff sighed, remembering the pain and feelings of betrayal that announcement had caused him. Jeff and his father had said hurtful words then, that were hard to forgive and forget.

  After that, he’d been unable to stand working in the same office with his father and Janet. Too loyal to help their competitors, he’d opted for a change of career.

  Vince looked unconvinced at his apology. "I didn't object when you left our firm to become a travel guide, because I knew you needed time to adjust to your mother's death, and all the changes. Besides, I thought the traveling would be good experience for you."

  Jeff ran a frustrated hand through his hair and nodded. "I know. I guess I didn’t deal with your remarriage very well." That was as close to an apology as he could manage. The emotional events that had separated them had left scars that still hurt when touched.

  "That was two years ago, Jeff. Let's try to put it behind us. Now, I have something far more serious to worry about than resurrecting old battles. As I told you on the phone last night, both our futures may be at stake."

  Jeff stared at his father, then started the car and followed the arrows out of the parking ramp to the street. Thankfully, there was little traffic this late, so he could concentrate on what his father was telling him as he headed toward Vince's hotel.

  "What’s going on back at Banning?"

  "Pirates." Vince spat the word out contemptuously. "Our new software is being stolen over the internet through our web site almost as soon as we develop it. Without the income from the retail sales of it, we'll soon be in big financial trouble."

  Jeff frowned. “Someone inside the company would have to be sending it out, wouldn’t they?”

  “Exactly. Our security is too tight for them to carry CDs out, so they’ve managed to get it out this way.”

  “What about our security ID trail? Can’t you trace who was on-line at the time or who downloaded it?”

  Vince’s mouth twisted mirthlessly. “We tried that. No go. Whoever is doing it evidently knows how to remove that information.”

  Jeff whistled. “So, he has to be well versed in our system.”

  “Exactly,” Vince repeated, his face morose.

  "But who? I thought you had most of the same trustworthy crew?"

  "I wish I knew. We have some new employees since you left. Several of the older guys and I have figured out how it's being done. Now, I need a plan to stop it and fast. I don't know who else I can trust for this job. I must have a solution soon. That's why I need you.”

  “How about Bill? He’s good.”

  His father shook his head. “I can't have someone working on it at Banning. Everyone knows what everyone else is up to immediately. Even my best and oldest programmers might let slip that they were working overtime on a special project, and the cat would be out of the bag."

  A leaden knot formed in Jeff’s stomach. He could feel himself being sucked back in. He loved programming and knew, someday, he’d return to it, but not yet. The pain of working with his father and Janet after their betrayal of his mother was too fresh. "But, Dad, I've just gotten started here. I can't leave, now."

  "I don't want you to leave, or come back to Milwaukee. At least not right now. I can slip away to consult with you here. My office wouldn't even know when I’m out of town. I often take an afternoon off. Flying here and returning by the next morning won’t even be noticed."

  "Yes, I suppose that’ll work."

  "You moved your computer to your apartment here, didn't you? It's all set up, ready to go?"

  "Of course. I still spend a lot of time at the keyboard. But this is no small assignment...."

  Vince touched his arm. "Don't you understand? Banning Corporation could go bankrupt if I don't find a way to stop this drain. We’d lose everything your mother and I worked for years to build, and you too, Jeff. Don't forget the years of work you contributed yourself.”

  Jeff swallowed and nodded. All through college, he’d spent every spare minute with his nose in a manual or his eyes glued to a screen. It had always been more important to him than running around. "Yes, but...." The air crackled with tension as their eyes met.

  Vince’s voice
softened. "Do this for me, Son. You're the best programmer I know, and I've got to have the best for this."

  Jeff let out his breath. All things considered, he was the most logical person to do this. "Okay." Some of his bitterness eased with that decision. Jeff watched the tension ease from his father’s face and knew he’d made the right one.

  "Good. Let me register at the hotel and drop off my bag. Then I'll fill you in on what we've found so far, and what Joe and Bill think you might be able to do."

  "And of course, you brought it all with you." It was a statement, not a question, because Jeff already knew the answer. He groaned, then grinned at his father, some of their old camaraderie resurfacing. They both knew Jeff wouldn't be able to resist this challenge.

  "What I didn't bring has been shipped and should arrive at your apartment in the morning. Okay? We'll put on the coffeepot and work for a few hours."

  "Tonight? How about in the morning?"

  Vince shook his head. "I'm due at the show in the morning and both days will be very busy ones. I've got to fly back for an important dinner meeting in Milwaukee after that."

  "And, besides, I might change my mind?" Jeff glanced at his father. He had a feeling his father's tight schedule was planned to rush him into a commitment. But it didn't matter. If his father needed his help badly enough to put aside the hard feelings that had separated them, the least he could do was meet him half-way. He had believed in Banning Corporation enough to sink a lot of his own money into it, as well as his inheritance from his mother, which had been a considerable chunk of cash. Dad knows I have good reason to help him win this one.

  "I recognize that excited gleam in your eye. You can't resist a programming puzzle, or a good battle." Vince tossed him a relieved grin.

  "How do you know I wasn't thinking of some woman?"

  His father grinned at him. "I know you.”

  At Jeff’s apartment, Vince looked around the sparsely furnished room approvingly. “Nice place, Jeff. Glad you’re getting settled okay.” Sitting on the brown leather sofa, he spread the papers he’d brought with him over the coffee table.

  Jeff made coffee. Then they spent several hours going over the details of how, where and when each bit of evidence revealing the pirating had turned up.

  At last Jeff stood up and stretched. "You've got to get some sleep. I'll drive you back to your hotel."

  "I suppose.”

  They walked out to the car and Jeff pulled out into the late-night traffic.

  "We’ll need a reason to be suddenly calling each other. We must have complete secrecy on this. I don't know who at Banning Corporation might have remembered where you moved or if I was followed today."

  "Followed? Dad, you're being melodramatic."

  Vince shook his gray head, a sober look on his face. "I mean it. Promise you won't discuss this. With anyone."

  "Of course." Jeff stared at his father, wondering if the financial pressures were getting to him. He certainly looked tired and older. On the other hand, there was a lot of money involved. This could become very nasty. A chill slid down his spine. Was his father in danger?

  His father’s face lit up with inspiration. "I’ve got an idea. Banning has a good-sized travel budget. We need to try a new travel agency for our annual trip anyway. Why not yours?"

  Jeff chewed his lip thoughtfully, then nodded. "I agree -- scheduling a Banning employees trip with Special Tours would make a good cover. Can Banning afford that trip for everyone this year?"

  Vince shrugged wearily. "Not really. Though we've always taken the Banning top brass on a nice vacation as their yearly bonus. I think we have to keep everything as close to normal as possible. Rumors of financial problems would cost us much more in lost business than the trip."

  Jeff nodded as he stopped in front of the hotel. "I suppose you're right about that. Okay. You call my boss, Alice, and schedule it, but tell her you want me to be in charge of the trip. That should do it.”

  “Thanks, Son. I knew I could count on you.”

  “Take care. I'll be in touch."

  ***

  Shivering, Diane Foerman walked quickly toward the Minneapolis travel agency where she worked, ignoring the noisy bustle of traffic beside her. Although rain was predicted, the morning was beautiful, but chilly for late September in Minnesota, and she wished she’d worn something heavier than her red raincoat.

  Yesterday, she’d been away on a day tour, so she was anxious for her co-workers to arrive. She hoped that today might be her day...the day she might at last get the promotion she’d been working toward: to be assigned as tour guide for the dream trips to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Venezuela, or Mexico. It had been rumored for a week that their bosses would make a decision soon. Diane knew she was the best candidate in their office for that position.

  The new office building that housed Special Tours was a building like many others around it, thirty stories high with sleek horizontal lines. The windows in the slits between the black and gray granite stripes looked like eyes squinting with disaster.

  She was a little early since she'd had to drop her car off for repairs and take the bus from the repair shop.

  Diane hummed to herself as she made coffee. Inhaling the delicious aroma, she enjoyed a cup alone in the strangely quiet break room.

  Two co-workers, Sally, a short, chubby girl with distinctive freckles, and Carla, a lean, angular blonde, arrived with their lively chatter.

  Carla poured herself a cup of coffee. "Did you hear, Diane?"

  "Hear what?" Diane asked, her stomach feeling suddenly queasy. She knew Carla could only mean one thing. The job she’d been hoping for had been filled...and since she was the last to know, it had, of course, gone to someone else.

  "They're bringing in a guy from the Milwaukee office to be the new Foreign Tours guide. I hear he's rich and a real hunk, too!"

  Sally met Diane's gaze sympathetically. Sally knew how hard Diane had worked for this promotion, and how much she’d been counting on it. Diane looked away and managed to mumble something appropriate. Carla didn't notice, and went right on enthusing about this new guy, Jeff Banning.

  Diane picked up her coffee and excused herself, returning to the office area with its rows of desks.

  Sipping the coffee, she stood at the window. Her life had suddenly turned as gray as the clouds that were so appropriately moving across the sky to spoil the beautiful fall morning. She’d gotten her hopes up for nothing. Alice had sounded so positive in her interview, too.

  How like the head office, to bring in an outsider. Would she ever get to take any real trips as a bona fide travel guide, or was she destined to spend years here, mailing brochures and taking reservations? Rich and a real hunk, too. Another self-centered playboy like her ex-fiancé? Geez, how she hated men like that.

  Suddenly everyone in the sixth-floor suite snapped to attention and moved to their desks. Diane looked up to see that their boss, Alice Cortell, had arrived.

  Alice hung up her coat, and checked her perfectly coifed, silver hair in the closet mirror. With a smile and friendly good morning to everyone, she walked to her glassed-in office at one end of the large room.

  Diane had just settled down at her computer when Alice came over to her carrying two big stacks of brightly colored vacation folders.

  She gave Diane a smile and dropped the folders on her desk with a loud smack. "These finally arrived from the printer, Diane. Please send them out immediately. They're well behind schedule already. Wheeling Wholesale has been on the phone to me three times this week about them. This is their first trip outside the United States, and their retailers are really excited."

  "Of course." Diane struggled to keep resentment out of her voice and even managed a weak smile.

  "Here's the mailing list. Be sure to include the notice about the deadline for cancellations. And this address list," she handed Diane another, "is for the seating assignments for the banker's convention next month. You filled out the seating assignment cards on Friday, did
n't you?"

  "Yes, I've finished them except for printing the labels."

  "Oh, there's Jeff, now. Jeff, come here a minute!" she called.

  Diane's gaze swept the six-foot, lean, yet muscular man as he walked towards her. He had rugged features, and could be considered attractive, though she wouldn't call him handsome. Early thirties, she judged. So, he’s the one who got the job I worked so hard for. Automatically, she shook his proffered hand.

  "Diane, I'd like you to meet the new tour guide who is joining our office, Jeff Banning. Jeff, this is Diane Foerman. You two will be working together on tours. Well, I'll leave you to get acquainted." Smiling brightly at them, Alice patted her hairdo and went back to her own office.

  Warm brown eyes met hers as Diane scrutinized Jeff’s strong features beneath curly brown hair. Her disobedient heart speeded to a fast tattoo, and she seemed to have lost control of her breathing.

  He grinned at her in a friendly way. His eyes showed a real interest in her, unaware of the way he had dashed her dreams by coming to Minneapolis.

  She chalked up her wild reaction to him as anger. Then she realized she was still holding the hand he’d extended when Alice had introduced them. Quickly, she dropped it.

  "So, you're Diane. Alice told me all about you." he said softly. "I'm sure we'll get along fine."

  His pleasant, deep voice had a trace of accent she couldn't quite place. But the admiring male assessment she saw on his face as his eyes traveled over her was all too familiar, and it brought out the ice in Diane. Get along fine indeed. Not likely. He reminded her far too much of Cory, another rich playboy she wished she could forget. She’d learned her lesson with that kind of man. She might have to work with him, but that was as far as it would go, and she didn't have to like it.

  "So nice to meet you, Mr. Banning," she said coolly. "I hope Alice didn't tell you everything. She does get carried away at times."

  "She didn't tell me nearly enough. I'm looking forward to lunch. Alice says everyone in our department is going to a restaurant together today."