Here’s a chapter from my latest Nostalgia City mystery, Dark Ride Deception.

Max Maxwell, the CEO of Nostalgia City theme park, is holding an emergency meeting to discuss park secrets for new ride technology that have been stolen. The scientist who created the technology is missing.    

Chapter 7

     Maxwell roamed the conference room. Lyle often thought of him as an energetic, impulsive teenager housed in a short, wiry 75-year-old body. Or was he older? “When did we discover the hack?” Max said looking at Owings.

The senior vice president sounded matter-of-fact: “We went through the logs and access files Friday,” he said. “It’s routine. But after we found discrepancies, we reviewed all our systems over the weekend and we knew something was wrong.”

“Sort of an understatement, isn’t it Kerry?” Maxwell said. “We’ve spent millions on these plans already. Millions. We created programs, engineering studies, simulations, drawings, models. Yup, something is wrong all right.”

Lyle glanced at the woman seated across from him. Somewhere in her early forties, she parted her hair in the middle and it hung ragged on the sides. Jane Fonda in the ’70s? Or maybe something new. She sighed and lowered her head as Maxwell spoke. Was she to blame?

“I contacted the FBI,” Howard said. “Agents who specialize in economic espionage and computer crimes are coming out.”

“That’s fine Howard, but we have other problems too, don’t we? Our patents.”

Max looked at a man in a dark tailored suit and charcoal tie who could either be the park’s chief legal counsel or a mortician. “Usually we file for protection as we go along,” the man said, “and we have done this for some initial elements of the project we’re calling PDE. But there are issues.

“First, artificial intelligence is a complex and evolving element of the law. It’s not like seeking a patent for a new type of can opener. And software is challenging, too. If it’s tied to particular apparatuses or engineering creations, obtaining a patent is not as problematic. But we’re not just seeking a patent for a specific ride, are we?”

“So much for the jargon,” Max said. “Are you saying you couldn’t do it?”

“Of course not, but work on the project slowed for a while, and then it received a top priority. The innovation continued yet the legal department did not receive enough information, things we need to draft patent applications.”

“Max,” Owings said, “as you know, PDE was not finished. We were getting close, but there are a few challenges left and now we’re—”

“So you’re both saying our ass is hanging out. Our secrets are gone, and we don’t even have the ideas patented.” Max’s stare, always penetrating, seemed to bore through Owings and the attorney. Lyle wondered if they might soon be looking for work.

“You two get together. Get as much detail into patent applications as you can. Do it yesterday. And I want a progress report in three days. Understood?”

Owings and the attorney exchanged glances. Perhaps they could carpool to the unemployment office.

“So much for patent protection,” Maxwell said. “That brings us to our computer genius, Tom Wyrick.” Max stood at the side of the room opposite where Lyle sat. “We have indications he is responsible, and now he’s disappeared? Not a coincidence, is it?” He moved to the front of the room. “Anyone have more information?”

Except for Owings, the people around the table seemed to be examining the far end of the room.

“I know Tom was the big brain behind this. Can we reproduce the project without him? Don’t we have any details saved in the patent work?” He looked at Owings, whose mouth turned down in an almost imperceptible frown.

“That’s what I thought,” Max groaned. “Here’s where Lyle comes in. Used to be a Phoenix homicide cop. Solved lots of cases.”

Lyle could see where this was going. “But now I drive a—”

“Lyle works in the park,” Maxwell said. “Transportation. But he’s helped us out before. Some of you probably know this. Saved our bacon. Lyle’s going to find Wyrick. Did he steal the secrets? Something happen to him? Maybe he’ll just walk in the door tomorrow. Ha. We need to find out—now.”

“Did we contact the sheriff?” Lyle said.

“Due time,” Maxwell said. “Now Howard, when the FBI gets here…”

Lyle tuned him out momentarily. So this was why Howard dragged him down here on his day off. Max is scared. Could one guy create a new type of ride technology, then steal it? Could missing the latest whizbang jeopardize the future of the park? No more cab driving? Yeah, he’d helped the park out of trouble before, but as a result, he’d also been visited with the same anxiety that ultimately pushed him out of police work. So now he was back to detective mode? It would have been nice for Max to ask him first. And why didn’t he call the sheriff?

“As you know, Kerry,” Maxwell concluded, “I have an idea who might be responsible for this. It’s not just Tom Wyrick. So we talk to the FBI, right Howard?”

Maxwell looked at his watch and nodded in Lyle’s direction before starting for the door. “I want you all to give Lyle your cooperation. Tell him about Tom, the projects he was working on and the plans we think he took. Anything he wants.”

“Ah, Mr. Maxwell,” said the woman opposite Lyle. “There’s a matter of confidentiality. Do you—”

“Mr. Maxwell,” Howard cut in. “I think Ms. Pitts is talking about an NDA. We can take care of it.”

——–

If you want to read the rest of the book, it’s available here:

Amazon US

Barnes and Noble

Amazon Canada 

I’m working on the next Nostalgia City mystery. It will be available later this year.