Stagehand: S1 Episode 4

Keith and I left the scene like we found it: the two kidnappers dead on the floor, their shotgun up against the wall, and the rope used to tie up Carl Timmons sprawled out on the floor. We tipped off local law enforcement and were gone before they arrived, leaving no trace we were ever there. Of course, if they happen to stumble upon the missing CISO that was once tied up with the rope, and track it back to me, I’d happily answer their questions.

But right now, I’ve got questions of my own.

Did the kidnappers get into bed with someone they couldn’t handle? Or did someone find out about their asinine plan, and take advantage? Who else knew about Carl Timmons’ kidnapping? What did they have to gain? I run through every scenario in my head.

“Timmons did it,” Frenchie says, in our boardroom back at Stagehand. “He’s waxing poetic on how Carl Timmons killed the two hackers, or at the very least was in on his own kidnapping.” With Frenchie, most people are guilty until proven innocent, but I’m not convinced, and neither is John.

“Carl Timmons is a member of the Huntington Golf Club,” John counters. He’s been looking into Timmons since Palmer hired us. “He’s an avid sailor, when he has the time.” He shows us a picture of Timmons on his sailboat. Keith looks at the boat, then at me, “He named it Carl’s Boat.” I nod, doesn’t exactly yell “trained assassin.”

I’d be going in with one other Marine, a guy who called himself ‘D.’ He told us it stood for ‘death.’

John continues the slideshow through Carl’s various social clubs, his monthly visits to his lone aunt in Sunnyvale, and his donations to various causes that help orphans around the world. Then, he pulls up a video. “What fresh hell is this?” Frenchie asks right before John presses play on a YouTube tutorial entitled “PRIVACY HACKS WITH CARL!!”

The video is as nerdy as you’d suspect, and frankly, very helpful. John turns from the video featuring Carl enthusiastically walking viewers through a new privacy app, looks at Frenchie, and says,

“He wears a bowtie for Christ’s sake.”

Frenchie, without skipping a beat, responds, “so does Tucker Carlson.”

I look over at Keith. I can tell by his face we’re in agreement. Carl Timmons might be lonely, but he doesn’t look like any killer we’ve ever seen. He doesn’t have the eyes.

The Marines suspected a US Ambassador was being held in a Hezbollah holdout tucked away in the Northern Plains. After recon, we knew it was too big of a risk to send in a whole squad. I’d be going in with one other Marine, a guy who called himself “D.” He told us it stood for “death.” I know, a little on the nose, but it’s the Marines, not Broadway.

In war, cocky will get you killed fast, but fear, even quicker. Before we busted into the place, I could tell D thought he was better. Not just better than me, but better than all this: smarter, faster, more efficient with a gun, or a knife. He busted down the door. Shots fired from the corner behind me, and I sunk a bullet into whoever was shooting. D looked over at me and said, “Next one’s mine.”

It’s in the eyes.

Lincoln Palmer is waiting for me in my office, his lap-dog lawyer by his side. Next to him is the CEO of Illuminating Solutions, Laureen Hansen. She introduces herself. Her handshake’s firm, her eyes, steadfast. If she’s been shaken by the kidnapping of her Chief Information Security Officer, it doesn’t show.

“Mr. Sullivan.” I wince, “‘Sully,’ ma’am.” She looks back at me, “Fine, but don’t call me ‘ma’am.'”

“Deal.” Before she can speak further, Lincoln Palmer interjects with his agenda.

“Ms. Hansen came to me with some interesting information.” Hansen takes a seat on the leather couch, Palmer and his attorney follow, and so do I, behind my desk. “Since the situation’s become more…complicated,” yeah it has, I think to myself – two dead guys and a CISO who has seemingly vanished, “Laureen and I were discussing how to best mitigate a PR nightmare, and – ” Laureen could see where Palmer’s line of bullshit was heading so she stopped him before he could finish his thought.

“Before we move forward, I’d like to be crystal clear with you Sully, like I’ve been with our majority shareholder here. When Mr. Palmer told me he’d hired you to find Carl, I trusted that Carl’s safety was ensured by the safety of Illuminating Solutions. I’m beginning to think that might not be the case.”

Shots fired from the corner behind me, and I sunk a bullet into whoever was shooting. D looked over at me and said, ‘Next one’s mine.’

Palmer placed a comforting hand on Laureen’s shoulder and interjected, “Sully, I’ve assured her that as long as the company is secured, Carl’s life is still of value. Isn’t that the case?” Lincoln Palmer’s my client but clearly Hansen’s the one in charge right now. Again, it’s in the eyes.

“As a majority shareholder, Mr. Palmer’s concern is his investment in Illuminating Solutions, but as CEO, my primary concern right now, is for my employee. You have until Monday. That’s four days to bring Carl back. If you’re unable to find him and bring him back, I’m going to the FBI. I don’t care about the press, a PR nightmare, a financial catastrophe. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am, I mean, yes, Ms. Hansen.” Then, also out of habit, and because I believe it to be true, I added, “we’ll find him.” I then look over at Lincoln Palmer and see a strange but familiar look in his eyes.

– – –

We reconvene in John’s office. Keith sits on the couch, silent and stoic. Frenchie leans against the back wall, spitting Skoal tobacco juice into a Red Bull can. I am sitting at John’s desk, looking at his computer screen, which he’s turned around for all of us to see. He’s been scouring video footage from the surrounding neighborhoods where Carl was kept, and pouring over emails, chats, and internet searches of our dead kidnappers. It was a call to an old Marine buddy who’s now piloting private planes out of San Jose that gave us what we needed. John pulls up the image on his computer.

The image shows three men, hats on and heads down like they knew where the CCTV cameras were positioned. Everyone in John’s office can see the face of the man walking in front of the three others. His face is clearly visible because he’s not trained to know where the cameras are. It’s Carl Timmons. Keith asks where the flight is headed.

Carl Timmons might be lonely, but he doesn’t look like any killer we’ve ever seen. He doesn’t have the eyes.

John turns around. “One way to St. Petersburg, Russia, Buddy. Left approximately one hour after our little hacker friends were taken out.”

I examine the photo more closely, focusing on Carl’s expression and body language. There’s only so much you can tell from a photo, but I had to ask the question, “Does he look to you like a guy that’s scared for his life?”

John, Frenchie, and Keith all look at the image of Carl Timmons. Frenchie is the first to reply,

“Told you he was in on it.”