Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
A million excuses went through Olive’s head—things she’d say to explain her presence here.
She had to make her reason believable. That was key.
She held her breath, words playing on the tip of her tongue.
Then the shadow disappeared.
She released the breath she’d been holding.
She needed to get out of here before she tested her luck.
She quickly left the office, closing the door behind her and nodding to Wanda to let her know she was done.
But as Olive walked down the hallway, she couldn’t help but feel as if eyes were watching her every move.
Was Jason in his office, surrounded by surveillance cameras, and keeping an eye on her? Was he so suspicious of her that he’d do that?
Another complication she didn’t need.
She wanted to glance behind her. But she didn’t. Small details mattered. She couldn’t give any indications that might make someone suspicious.
Instead, she glanced at her watch. She could officially leave the office at three. The company had flex hours, and she’d come in early.
Normally, Olive tried to stay later. But considering Beau’s death and the fact she needed to meet with Jason tonight, leaving early seemed like a good idea.
She went to her office—which was plain other than her desk, computer, and a photo of her in St. Thomas—and grabbed her purse.
Before leaving, she sent Tevin another text, letting him know she was headed his way. Then she hurried to the parking garage.
She bypassed her Mercedes and instead headed toward a gray delivery van parked in the back corner of the second level.
The vehicle was designed to look like the vehicles used by a popular online retailer. Since those vans were always seen all over the city, they easily blended in. No one ever thought twice about seeing them on the street.
Tevin even had a matching uniform and several delivery boxes he could use when necessary for his cover.
Olive made sure no one was watching as she climbed into the back.
Tevin sat in the back, an entire operation center complete with three computers and five monitors surrounding him. Three different drones sat on shelves near the ceiling in case they were ever needed.
Once, he’d used a drone to deliver a package. It had seemed like a cutting-edge home delivery. In reality, he’d delivered intel to her, but no one had thought twice of it. He also used the drones to get the lay of the land in certain situations and to spy on people at other times.
They’d turned out to be very handy.
The man, in his early thirties, was tall and lanky with curly, dark hair and dark-framed glasses. He wasn’t the stereotypical computer nerd. He loved working out, running marathons, and listening to hip-hop. He was smart as a whip and knew how to get around a computer operating system better than a seasoned surgeon knew the human body.
Throughout their years of working together, he’d almost become like a brother to Olive.
“An ex, huh? That was unexpected.” Tevin held out a bag of walnuts and offered her one.
Olive politely declined. Maybe if they weren’t dill pickle flavored, she would eat one.
Tevin loved all things dill pickle flavored. And old Bruce Lee movies. And his mother—in a good way, Olive supposed. She found his dedication and daily phone calls to the woman endearing.
He also believed that systems were in place for a reason, and he often theorized that there was nothing a spreadsheet or a drone wouldn’t fix.
“I don’t know what’s going on at Conglomerate, but the stakes are rising.” She ran a hand over her hair. “I’m afraid my cover might be blown.”
A frown tugged at his lips. “Let’s hope not. I’m not sure how this detail got past us. Jason’s name was on the spreadsheet the team and I went over.”
“I’m not sure how it slipped by either.”
“We’ll figure that out. In the meantime, Rex wants to talk to you.” Tevin hit a key on his computer, and her boss’s face filled the screen.
Olive braced herself for whatever he had to say.
Rex Blackwood was in his early forties with tanned skin and blond hair. People often compared him to a Ken doll. He looked the part of a successful CEO, but he remained a mystery to everyone at the company. No one knew much about him, but everyone respected him, nonetheless.
He looked out for the people working under him, paid them nice bonuses at Christmas, and always remembered birthdays. No one knew if he was married. Where he lived. What his life was like outside of work.
His gaze was intense as he stared at them through the computer screen. A wall of bookcases stretched behind him, indicating he was in his office. All his favorite authors were there: Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Daniel Silva.
“Olive . . . Tevin has kept me abreast of everything going on,” Rex started. “Do you have any insights?”
“Not yet.” Olive slipped off her earrings.
She’d never been much of an earring girl, but she wore them because they fit the persona she needed to create while working at Conglomerate: high-powered, well-educated, elite.
She’d mastered several accents. Knew how to change her makeup to fit her persona. Knew how to perfect wearing a wig. She could even take on different personalities. This position called for her to be both friendly and aloof.
“Beau dealt with project development,” she continued. “His job was pretty cut-and-dried. He did have access to certain confidential data but, as far as I can tell, he hasn’t traveled overseas recently or received any large payouts.”
“I’ve done some research into Beau also.” Tevin hit some more keys on his laptop. “He was originally from Maine. Graduated at the top of his class. Was offered a job with four other Fortune 500 companies, but he ultimately chose Conglomerate. He basically put his entire life on hold so he could focus on his job. No wife, kids, or even girlfriends. He lived to do his work.”
Olive could relate. Her entire life revolved around her job also.
“If all that is true, then his work is probably what got him killed,” Olive said. “Do you think his death is connected with what’s going on at Conglomerate? Maybe he found out something someone didn’t want him to know.”
“It makes the most sense, given the stakes.” Rex’s voice maintained a dead-serious tone.
She turned to Tevin. “There’s only one way in and out of that hallway, and there’s a security camera above it. If we can check who accessed that corridor, then we’ll know who the killer is. Maybe this assignment will be finished before it ever truly started.”
“I was actually able to find the security footage you need.” Tevin continued looking at his computer screen, his fingers tapping away.
Olive wasn’t surprised that he’d thought ahead to do that.
“Here’s where things get really interesting.” Tevin pulled a video up on the screen. “I’m sending this over so you can watch it also, Rex.”
“I see it,” Rex confirmed.
Olive leaned closer for a better look, not wanting to miss anything.
“You can see it right here that Beau entered the hallway at approximate 11:18.”
Olive watched as Beau slipped inside the doorway. He didn’t glance around as if nervous. He simply scanned his key tag and stepped inside like it was another ordinary day at the office.
“Who came in after him?” Olive asked.
“That’s the weird thing.” Tevin glanced at her. “You did.”
Olive’s eyebrows flew up. “That can’t be right. He was dead when I found him.”
“I know.” Tevin grabbed another walnut and popped it in his mouth, eating them like some people ate popcorn. “But according to the security camera footage, no one else came in after him.”
She pressed her eyes closed.
She knew she was innocent. Tevin and Rex knew she was innocent. But when the police checked that footage, would they believe she had nothing to do with Beau’s death? Or would they think she was guilty?
Olive shifted in her seat. “The only other thing that makes sense is that someone was already in the SCI corridor, and Beau happened upon them. But still . . . this person would have to leave and that would be caught on video.”
“True,” Rex muttered.
“Who went into the corridor before him?” Olive glanced at Tevin.
“That’s the other weird thing.” Tevin pushed his glasses higher on his nose. “No one went in before him.”
She swung her head back and forth in disbelief. “How is that even possible?”
“I’m not sure.” He stared at the screen and frowned. “Maybe this footage was manipulated.”
“If so, someone would have had to act quickly,” Olive said. “Beau had only been dead less than an hour when I found him.”
“There are people out there with the skills to manipulate video and quickly,” Rex said. “Tevin, for example.”
“I, of course, did not manipulate any videos from Conglomerate. I’m working on confirming that this one has been altered and trying to uncover the actual footage.”
“Make that your first priority,” Rex said.
Olive looked back at Rex on the screen. “Do you think I’ve been made?”
“I don’t know. But this deal is supposed to go down Friday. We don’t have much time to find answers. And we definitely don’t have enough time to get someone else in at the company to replace you.”
Olive ran her tongue across her teeth as she thought through his statement. “I don’t like everything going on right now.”
“Me neither.” Rex stared at her through the screen, his eyes practically burning lasers into her. “But if anyone can do this, it’s you.”
She appreciated his faith in her. But she still didn’t like this. There were too many complications for her comfort.
“We also have another problem,” she stated. “As I’m sure Tevin told you, one of my ex-boyfriends just happens to be head of security at Conglomerate.”
Rex muttered something under his breath. “How did this slip by?”
Tevin visibly tensed. “I’m not sure. Conglomerate has more than four thousand employees. We mostly vetted upper-level management and people we thought Olive would be in direct contact with.”
Rex stared at her through the computer screen. “Do you have a handle on this, Olive?”
The truth was, she wasn’t sure. But instead of telling Rex that, she gave him a confident nod.
She had the ability to convince people of things—not only their clients but also her coworkers at times. Another trait she’d learned from her dad.
“Jason won’t be a problem,” she assured him.
Olive desperately hoped those words were true.