Access Denied

By Jim Daddio

Marcus Salisbury is the owner of Micro Ware, a company that distributes personal computers. He is wealthy beyond description but he wants more. He wants to introduce his own personal computer and he would do whatever it took to make that happen including stealing trade secrets and even committing murder.

 

Tyler McRenoylds owns his own company specializing in mergers and acquisitions. When he works with Marcus on a deal, he meets Marcus' personal assistant, Lynn Blakely a torrid love affair begins and soon they are married.

 

After a series of events, Marcus' empire begins to tumble. At the same time Tyler finds himself in the middle of a feud between Lynn and her daughter, Shelly. When Lynn, is found dead the question remains: Who killed her? Was it Marcus, Tyler or was it her own daughter?

 

In a dramatic conclusion Marcus is in hiding, Shelly has disappeared and Tyler is hiding out in Mexico. As he tries to make it across the border a wild shootout takes place.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
• Release date: Mar 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781955784641

Book preview

CHAPTER

ONE

He raised slowly from the uncomfortable thin mattress and slid his tired legs over the small, soiled bed. He slumped over and placed his face in his hands. He began to shake uncontrollably as the tears flowed from his red eyes. His head ached as his mind tried to unscramble all that had happened to him during the past year. It wasn't that long ago he was on top of the world with power and money. Now he was alone. Alone in a small, dark motel room somewhere in Mexico, trying to understand who he was and how he let everything go astray. He rose from the bed and slammed his fist into his hands. Oh God, he yelled aloud, how could I have fallen into the trap? How could I let myself do what I did?

He walked around the room like a man trapped in a cage. He paid little attention to the heavy rain as it pelted the old building. He knew nothing of the swollen rivers and muddy banks caused by three days of a heavy downpour that had left parts of the Mexican Baja flooded or destroyed. He heard nothing about the roads that were washed away or the homes that literally floated down the raging rivers.

He stumbled around the room, looking for his bottle of tequila. He spotted the bottle lying on the dirty, moldy carpet. He grabbed the half-empty bottle and took a long swig. He made a face and shook his head. He repeated the motion. He took a deep breath, took one last swig, and tossed the empty bottle on the unmade bed. He rubbed his hands through his hair and grabbed the back of his neck.

A plan. I need a plan, he thought. I need money. My broker has it all. All my millions. How can I get him to get it to me? I know the police are watching. Waiting for me to make a move. Who can I trust? I have plenty of money in the bank, but I know they're watching the bank, too. I have to get out of here. I must get across the border. But how? I know they will be checking. My picture has been in every newspaper and TV news show in the country. I got to find a way. I can't be captured.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and closed his eyes. He could feel his mouth trembling. His mind was running wild with thoughts. He began to recall what happened on that cool night. He could see the events that happened so clearly. As if they happened yesterday. He saw himself drive up the deserted street. He had been driving for what seemed like hours. He could see himself stepping calmly out of the car. He ambled up to the front door of the house. He had a key. He opened the door and slipped inside. He knew no one saw him. It was past midnight, and the street was dark and empty.

He saw himself standing at the base of the long, winding stairs that led to the second floor. He hesitated. He could feel his heart pounding. He could almost hear it as it beat rapidly in his aching chest. He knew he had to do this. He knew she had to be silenced. She had gone too far. She had almost ruined his life. He had to destroy hers.

He walked up the steps. He kept thinking of all the things she had done over the past few weeks. It was like a nightmare. She had destroyed or tried to destroy everything he had worked so hard to accomplish.

He saw it again. He saw himself strangling her. He looked down at his hands. They were twisting and turning as the sweat poured down his face. He made strange faces as he pulled and tugged, simulating every motion. His eyes opened wider, and his anger showed through his strained jaw. He was feeling the same feelings. He could see the life drift out of her body. He could see her twisted face. Her bulging eyes. He could see her dead. He could see it happen again.

His body shook for a second, then he collapsed limp on the bed. He lay still, trying to catch his breath. Suddenly, he sprang up. He tried to walk, but his legs were weak and limp. He could hardly move. He knew he could think better when he walked.

He took small steps, staggering aimlessly around the room, asking himself over and talking aloud. "What made me go over the edge and fall into the darkness of insanity? Why was I so easily seduced into the world of the computer game? A game that quickly turned into a nightmare that led to greed, power….and murder. What caused me to go totally out of control?

He sat back down on the edge of the bed and began to recall what had happened to him. His mind drifted back. Back to a year earlier. He closed his eyes. It all came back to him.

CHAPTER

TWO

The door to the conference room opened and Tyler McRenoylds, a tall slender man in the early forties, walked into the room. He was over six feet tall, with dark hair, touched with a small amount of silver. His double-breasted dark blue suit, white shirt and red flowered tie made him look taller. He smiled and placed his briefcase on the long, rich mahogany table.

Ladies and gentlemen, sorry I'm late, but the copy machine stuck. Actually, all I have to do is look at a copier and it gets jammed.

A few people in the group smiled.

He studied the group assembled around the table. There was the president of Softdisc, Andrew Fon, A young man from Taiwan, who came to the United States a few years earlier and started a software company for personal computers. The company developed and marketed a software program that made it easy for computers to do graphics and animation. The company had realized record sales but had let expenses get out of control and now found itself in poor financial condition. Next to him was his marketing director, a woman he’d just met that morning, who was well dressed. Although he had only talked to her on the phone, he was impressed with her style and the marketing programs she had produced. Absent were the vice president of sales and the general manager. Andrew had fired them both a few days earlier.

Across the table was Marcus Salisbury, president and founder of MicroWare, the largest distributor of software programs and hardware products in the computer industry. Next to Marcus was his personal assistant, Lynn Blakely, a lady he had talked to on the phone but had never met. She was very attractive, with short blonde hair and bright white teeth. Her smile was infectious. When he talked to her, she appeared articulate, bright, and helpful.

In seven years, Marcus Salisbury had taken MicroWare from start-up to over ten billion dollars in sales. After he took the company public, his personal wealth exceeded one hundred million dollars. You wouldn't know it by looking at him. His hair was short, but uncombed. His suit was wrinkled and his tie out of style. His shoes were unpolished and his large eyeglasses slid down his nose. He was what they called a computer nerd. But he didn't care what they called him. All he cared about was making money. And he was one of the best in the computer industry at doing that.

Tyler McRenoylds had worked with Marcus before and knew he was very good at studying the financial conditions of companies in the computer field and knowing if they had a chance to succeed. He had brought several other companies in the past, and it was Tyler's job to look for buyers for companies in financial trouble. He was a broker for broke companies.

Tyler had begun specializing in the computer field about three years earlier. The personal computer industry had become a multi-billion industry and with companies like Intel, IBM, Compaq, Apple and Microsoft making billions. He knew there were hundreds of smaller companies in the industry with outstanding products, but lacked capital, and were ripe for mergers or buy-outs. He had researched many of these companies and had some success in the past few years either finding investors or buyers for these type companies.

Recently, he left the firm of Piedmont Capital and started his own company. This was his first deal on his own. And by the time the day was over, he would have over six million in commissions. He knew it was all his. He didn't have to share it with anybody.

There were also several lawyers and accountants from both parties at the table. He knew none of these men personally.

He took a deep breath and said, For those of you who I haven't met, my name is Tyler McReynolds. He nodded his head, as he looked everybody in the eye, one by one. And I have a copy of the documents for everyone here.

He slid the stack of paper down the table, and everyone took a copy. Tyler looked at Andrew as he studied the first page. The first page was key. The rest of the ten pages were a bunch of legal mumble jumble. Tyler knew Andrew was aware of the deal, but he also knew when the final deal was presented, and the seller, who was about to lose the company he started and lived with over the years, could became sentimental and want to stop the deal. Tyler had seen it before.

Andrew threw the papers on the table. Looks like I lose all control, he snapped.

Marcus Salisbury sat up erect in his chair. Not really. By making you vice-president in charge of engineering, you have total control of product upgrades and the introduction of new products.

You forget, I designed, developed and wrote every code for both Amniclip and Graphics Draw…and…

Andrew, Tyler interrupted, I didn’t forget. Everybody here knows that. Your company, without a doubt, has the finest graphics and animation programs in the industry. What we’re trying to do is two things, one, make you rich and secondly, give your product the world-wide name and distribution that it deserves. You walk away with five million in cash, plus over fifty thousand shares of MicroWare. Which I remind you is selling today at thirty. That's another one point five million.

It isn't the money I'm talking about. It's about losing control over what I've accomplished and struggled with for many years. This is my baby…my life.

Marcus leaned over and said, grabbing Andrew’s arm, Andrew, I understand. When Tyler brought me the deal, I was ecstatic. I love your programs. But you lost feeling somewhere along the way. It takes more than just a good product. It takes money to advertise. It takes money to make sure every value-added reseller in the world has it and the product will sell through their inventory. The days of building a better mousetrap and have people come running to your door is over. Besides having a good product, you must have end user demand and a place they can buy it easily and at a good price. This is what will happen when you become a part of MicroWare. Believe me.

Andrew slumped further in this chair. Becoming an instant millionaire was not important to him. Losing control was. But he knew he had no other choice. Part of the deal was that MicroWare would pay off his debts. And he knew he had millions in debt. It was either sell or file for bankruptcy. He had too much pride to do that.

Andrew, Tyler said, you are a gentleman and a credit to this industry. This is a fair and honest deal. There is no shame in selling to MicroWare and becoming a vice-president of engineering. You will be doing what you do best; engineering products.

Lynn Blakely sat quietly, taking notes. She was impressed with the manner in which Tyler spoke and carried himself. He was the kind of man she always looked up to. Men who were strong and well spoken. Tall men who dressed well and took control. She had talked with him before, but this was the first time she saw him in action. She liked what she saw.

She laughed to herself as she felt a little twitch in her stomach. She was horny and began imagining his arms around her and his lips against hers. She shook her head and snapped out of her trance. He was probably married. All the good ones were.

Andrew looked at his attorneys. They nodded. He took a pen from inside his suit jacket and slowly signed the document. He slid the papers over to Marcus. Marcus quickly signed it and dropped the pen on the desk.

Please sign two more copies, Tyler said.

Andrew obliged and stood up. He shook his new boss's hand and turned toward the two large, closed doors. What time should I be at work, boss? he asked, sounding sarcastic.

Take two weeks off, Marcus replied. Call me when you return. Enjoy your money. You earned it.

Andrew didn't reply. He opened the door and proceeded to walk down the long hallway.

Well, Tyler, Marcus said, looks like a little celebration is in store. How about coming over to my house around seven? We'll pop some bubbly and have a nice dinner.

Sounds good.

The rest of the people exited the room. Tyler grabbed Marcus's arm and whispered, Lynn, your assistant, did you invite her?

Oh...Tyler, you son-of-a-gun you...I'll make sure she's there. A very lovely lady. Divorced. Would you believe she has an eighteen-year-old daughter? She was married at sixteen. Knocked up, he whispered. Stop by my office. He winked and walked away.

CHAPTER

THREE

Lynn drove north on the freeway toward her condominium in Del Mar, California. As she crept along in the snarling traffic, she began to think about what had happened today. She thought about Tyler McRenoylds, the business broker. She liked his looks. She liked his warm smile and neat appearance. He wasn't overly handsome, but his body seemed firm and athletic. She figured him to be around forty. She liked his style.

Looks aren’t everything. I mean, he wasn't what you would call ugly. Just not great looking. But very neat and distinguished looking.

That's it, she yelled out loud, distinguished looking.

She blushed as she looked at the person in the car to her left.

She also thought about her boss, Marcus Salisbury. He had been so good to her over the past few years. First promoting her to administrative assistant and then promoting her to his special assistant. He also gave her a large increase in pay, bringing her salary to over fifty thousand a year.

She had to admit to herself, things had gone great for her and her daughter, Shelly, during the past few years. It didn’t seem that long ago that she moved with her husband and daughter from Popular Bluff, Arkansas to San Diego, California.

The ten years had passed quickly. The first few years were rough as her husband bounced from job to job. Lynn had found a job as a receptionist with MicroWare, a small electronics distributor. As the company expanded and began distributing computer products, she began receiving promotion after promotion. Soon the company was a world-wide industry leader, and she found herself an administrative assistant to the president. Two weeks after she was promoted to special assistant to the president, she filed for divorce. She was tired of paying for her lazy husband's drinking problem. After the divorce was final, he left, and she never heard from him again. It didn't bother Shelly. He wasn't her real father. Truth was Shelly didn't know her real father and never pressed the issue. She told Shelly her father had been killed years ago when she was just a baby. She never knew she was a bastard daughter.

There must have been an accident, she thought, as she sat in the stalled traffic. As she sat there alone in the car, she began thinking back to sixteen years earlier when her family left Popular Bluff and headed to Chicago to find a better life. She had just turned sixteen.

Lynn Blakely had a hard time making friends at her new school. She dressed different and was called Ozark by the kids. She was thin, with short brown hair and had braces on her teeth. She didn't wear make-up and seldom smiled. She spent most of her junior year alone and miserable. Toward the end of the school year, she had her braces removed and dyed her hair blonde. That seemed to help. She had become friends with a boy in her homeroom. It was her first real friend. He was shy, but nice. He played on the baseball team and after school, she would go and watch him play. One day he asked her to the movies. She accepted.

They saw each other every night in the Spring. Lynn liked being with him. He listened to her and held her hand. He made her feel very warm and comfortable. One night, he kissed her on the lips. She had kissed boys before back in Popular Bluff, but this was different. He kissed her again and again. Harder and harder. Even putting his tongue deep into her mouth. She responded.

One night, as they stood by a pond close to her house, he began kissing her and holding her tight against his body. She could feel his hardness rubbing up against her. Although Lynn had never had sex before, she was well educated about intercourse and ejaculations and things like that.

One day back in Popular Bluff, when she was thirteen, her neighbor and close friend, Jonny Goodman asked her if she would rub his thing. She laughed and asked him if he wanted her to jack him off. He became frightened at her direct approach and ran home. A few days later, he came back and asked her again. She was curious to see what a hard penis looked like, so she said yes. He was nervous as he pulled down his pants. Lynn looked at his small erection, thought it was no big deal, and began rubbing it. He exploded in twenty seconds. Soon, other boys came around and she became known as the jack off queen. It was said around school that she could make a guy cum in five seconds. She liked the fact the boys got so much excitement out of having their hard penises rubbed. It didn't mean anything to her, so she kept on doing it.

Now, as her new boyfriend kept pressing his body closer to hers and moving up and down, she wondered if he too wanted a hand job. She pulled back and looked at the excited boy. You want me to rub you off? she asked.

Huh? he asked, looking surprised.

You know. Rub your hard-on, so you'll cum.

Jesus, I guess...I mean, you will!

Sure, if you want me to.

He unzipped his jeans and slid his underpants to his knees. His hard-on stood erect as he shivered in the cool air.

Lynn took a hold of his enlarged penis and soon realized it was larger than anything she had felt before. She looked down and sighed as she began to stroke him.

Oh...oh...oh my... he mumbled.

This okay.

Oh yes...oh God. Faster. Faster.

Lynn turned to the side and wrapped her hand around the stiff shaft and began moving up and down as fast as she could. She stroked faster and faster, almost losing her balance. The excited boy arched his back and let out a scream as the seamen squirted thorough the air and landed on the ground. Some spilled out over her hands as the spent boy dropped to his knees.

Man, oh, man, he said, breathing heavily, that was some feeling. I've never shot off like that before. Must have squirted ten feet. Some motion you got there, Lynn.

Just as long as you liked it.

Liked it? He laughed. Wait ten minutes and you can do it again.

He was right. In ten minutes, he was hard, and Lynn rubbed him again. This time it took a little longer for him to explode, but when he did, he let out a scream that scared Lynn half to death. She couldn't tell if he was in pain or in ecstasy. She didn't care.

After, they sat on the bank of the pond in silence. Finally, the boy turned toward Lynn. You ever do it? You know...screw?

No. You?

Once. Last year. On summer vacation. I don't think I was any good. I put it in for a few seconds and bam it was over. I think the girl was a little disappointed. You don't mind me talking like this, do you?

No. It's okay. I'm not too experienced in sex.

I don't know, he laughed, you sure knew how to jack me off. God! You were really good.

She didn't respond.

Ever think about doing it? he asked.

No, she answered quickly, then paused and said, Well, sometimes.

Tell me about it, he said, acting surprised. I mean...you seem so sure of yourself...you know...when you were rubbing me.

Doesn't mean that much to me. As long as you liked it.

I liked it all right, the boy responded, but I thought, well, maybe we could try doing it. You know…

Do it?

Yeah, you know, make love sometime.

The words hit Lynn hard. The term make love was not what the boys back in Popular Bluff called it. Maybe she would try it. Try making love.

It was on a rainy Sunday afternoon, at his parent’s house, that Lynn and her boyfriend decided to have sex. They were both nervous as they slowly undressed themselves. Lynn lay on her back as the shy boy lowered his body on top of hers. His penis was hard, and the tip was red. He reached down and lifted her buttocks in the air and began to move his hardness toward her vagina.

A thing...a thing, she whispered.

What? he asked.

A rubber, you said...

Hell, he said as he rolled over and began to open the package. Lynn watched as he fumbled and tried to slip the rubber out of the moist seal and slide it on his hard on. It slipped off and fell on the floor. He reached down, picked it up, and tried again. His penis began to get soft.

Look at the damn thing. It's going down. Rub it Lynn. Get it hard again. Fucking rubber... shit.

Lynn stroked him, and the swelling returned. This time, he rolled over and quickly inserted himself inside her. He began to move up and down. At first, she felt some pain, but soon she began to like the feeling of his hardness inside her. She began to respond to his movement and started to rotate with him. The more she rotated her hips, the faster he moved. His head was buried in her shoulder as he continued to move up and down.

Oh…Lynn… Oh...man...oh man...this is...oh great... oh...

Lynn wrapped her legs around his waist and threw her arms around his neck. She was moving faster. She began feeling something deep inside her stomach and began breathing faster. She rocked back and forth and held on tightly.

This is it. I'm coming! he yelled, Yes...now...oh man…oh man...I'm coming.

Lynn could feel the warm sperm as it penetrated deep inside her. It felt like a stream of hot water was shot inside her. She closed her eyes and squeezed tight. She had a feeling she wasn't sure what it was. She had a feeling very deep inside her. She knew she wanted that feeling again. And she got it all right. The two young lovers made love every day. Sometimes twice a day. She couldn't get enough of him.

It was during the first few days of summer vacation that Lynn woke up sick. She would spend the better half of the morning in the bathroom. She didn't know what was wrong with her. Her mother did. She was pregnant.

On a warm sunny afternoon, her mother packed a suitcase, grabbed Lynn and headed back to Popular Bluff. Her father had just been promoted to a high-level management position and her parents didn't want the news of their pregnant sixteen-year-old daughter to create a problem.

Her mother wanted her to have an abortion, but Lynn fought hard to have the baby. She stayed out of school that year and had the baby seven months later. Several weeks after the baby was born, her mother went back to Chicago, and she and the baby moved in with her aunt. She was old and practically senile and paid little attention to Lynn and her baby daughter, Shelly.

The next few years were a sad and lonely time for Lynn. Her mother seldom came back or even called. Her father never once talked to her. She didn't have a problem with clothes or food because her aunt gave her the money she needed. It was just her and her daughter, Shelly.

Lynn was proud of her baby girl. She was healthy, strong, and beautiful. She loved to take Shelly for walks on cool evenings down the quiet tree-lined streets. One evening in the fall, as the Arkansas countryside was ablaze with colors of crimson, orange and yellow, she saw an old boyfriend of hers from high school. He had just returned from the Navy and had heard that Lynn Blakely had returned from Chicago and had a baby. He was totally caught off guard when he saw her. By this time, Lynn had matured into a pretty girl with a firm figure. He had always liked Lynn and would always recall the times she used to jack him off. He immediately asked her for a date. It was the first she had been asked out on a date in three years. She accepted without hesitation.

After they had dated for a few months, they had sex. He loved the energy that Lynn put forth during their lovemaking sessions. He decided to ask her to marry him and move to San Diego. Again, she said yes without hesitation. Three days later, Lynn and her three-year-old daughter left Popular Bluff with Donald Carpenter and headed for Las Vegas. They were married on a Sunday and were in San Diego the following day to start a new life. She didn't even take the time to tell her parents.

At first, everything went well for Lynn and her daughter. Donald loved them both and treated them with respect. He had been stationed in San Diego when he was in the Navy and liked the area so much that he always wanted to return.

Lynn was so excited to be leaving Popular Bluff with a man who loved and cared for her and her daughter that she paid little attention to how he was going to support them. She soon found out he had no particular skills and bounced from job to job. He barely made enough money to pay the bills.

At first, Lynn didn't mind living in the small trailer in El Cajon, a town East of San Diego. She knew it would only be temporary. Until things got better. But things never got better. Donald went months without work and began drinking and staying away for days.

As soon as Shelly went into the first grade, Lynn found a job with MicroWare. As the company grew, she began to get promoted into better positions. The situation with Donald was getting worse, so she divorced him. It was time to change her life, and a time she would rather forget.

Now, as she sat there thinking, she felt good about how her life had turned out.

Shelly had grown into a stunning, lovely teenager. She had just turned eighteen and was about to graduate from high school. She had been accepted into San Diego State University and was going to study Ocean and Marine Biology. She loved the water and was an experienced scuba diver and surfer. She was also a drop-dead beauty, with long blonde hair and bright green eyes. She had won every local beauty contest and came in third to Miss California. She was told by the officials that she would probably be the winner after a few years in college. She had received numerous offers to model everything from make-up to bathing suits. None of this fazed her. She showed little interest in pursuing any type of modeling or acting career. She had made up her mind to do what she wanted to do. She loved hanging at the beach. She loved surfing and water sports. She would hop in