Misdirection (Pros and Cons Mysteries #1)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

T evin dropped Olive at her car, and she drove back to her apartment.

She’d just put in a microwave dinner—not the best choice, but it was what was available—when a knock sounded at the door.

Why did people keep stopping by without an invitation? This was not typical of her life.

She pressed start on the microwave and listened to it hum before walking toward the door.

She peered through the peephole and sucked in a breath.

It was Jason, and he held something in his hands.

She opened the door and threw him a questioning look.

He held up the paper bag. “Chicken tenders and fries. Are they still your favorite?”

She didn’t want to smile, but she did anyway. She’d gone through a period where she was totally obsessed with chicken tenders and fries, especially with different dipping sauces. Her favorites had always been the honey barbecue and bang bang.

Olive led him inside and locked the door behind him. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

Jason went straight to her kitchen table and began to pull out the paper containers with the food inside. “I know.”

“I’m actually surprised you were able to leave Ryan’s place already.”

He shrugged. “There wasn’t much I could share with the police except that I went by to check on Ryan, only to find his house ransacked.”

“Makes sense.” Olive nodded slowly. “And you didn’t have to go back to the office or go see Adriana?”

Olive probably shouldn’t ask about Adriana, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. She was curious about the woman. Olive had even thought about Googling her but hadn’t done so.

“Adriana’s working out of town this week. And I still might go back into the office after we talk.”

The microwave beeped, indicating her meatloaf and mashed potatoes were ready.

She opened the door, mostly so the appliance would stop beeping, and nearly burned her fingers as she pulled out the steaming container.

“A microwave dinner?” Jason raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like you. You wrote a whole paper in high school about how microwaves were killing us.”

She shrugged. “Sometimes convenience wins out and teenage ideals don’t feel realistic. Besides, I was starving, and this was fast.”

Olive was surprised he’d remembered that. But she had indeed written that paper. Microwaves: The Death of the American Family.

She hid a smile at the memory. For a while, she’d flipped out every time her mom had tried to warm up any food in the appliance.

“Well, at least you have chicken tenders now.” Jason nodded at the food between them.

Olive had to admit they sounded much more appealing than mass-produced meatloaf.

She closed the microwave door, grabbed two glasses of water, and then sat at the kitchen table. She peeked at the tenders in the cardboard container, inhaling the fried, salty scent.

Her stomach grumbled. “I have to say, those do look good.”

“They’re the best in town. Even won a few competitions. Foodies everywhere rush to Chicago just to try them.”

“Then I should try them also.” She picked one up and tore a piece off before dipping it into some ranch sauce that Jason had already opened.

He watched as she popped the piece in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

Then she nodded with approval. “These are excellent.”

He grinned. “I thought you’d like them.”

They ate for a few minutes in silence.

Then Olive slowed down for long enough to take a sip of her water. As she set her glass back on the table, she asked, “Any updates? What did the police say?”

“All I got from them was that no one could find Ryan. But they’re looking into things. No answers yet.”

“That’s unfortunate.” Olive’s frown was sincere. She’d been suspicious of the man, but she didn’t wish him any harm. “I hope he’s okay.”

“Me too.” Jason paused and gave her a look. “Now your turn. Why don’t you tell me why you were really looking into Ryan?”

Her breath caught. “I’m just doing my job and making sure everyone who works at the company is aboveboard. Ryan asked if he could speak with me, and when he didn’t show up, I became concerned.”

“I’m just doing my job as well. Except there’s a personal aspect involved. Duncan is a friend of mine, you know.”

She twisted her neck as she gazed at him, unsure where he was going with this. “Okay . . . how do the two of you know each other?”

“I served in the army with his brother. I pulled his brother from the battlefield after IEDs exploded there. It’s how I injured my shoulder.”

“I see.”

“I take my job seriously. Though my primary responsibility is to keep anyone threatening out of the building and address any security issues that arise, I’m deeply invested in the company and the people there. Duncan keeps me apprised of any possible security threats.”

Did that mean Jason knew about the possible illegal sale that might take place?

She didn’t ask.

“As he should.” She paused. “But I’m still not sure where you’re going with this. Are you still implying that I’m a security threat?”

His gaze darkened. “Some of these problems didn’t arise until you started.”

She practically snorted. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I thought so too. But I can’t help but feel like you’re keeping secrets from me.” His gaze burned into her. “What are you hiding, Ollie?”

She made sure to keep eye contact with him, to not show even a moment of doubt. If so, Jason would pounce on it. “If I’m given clearance to tell you anything, then I will. Until then, I think you and I both know how this works. Some secrets aren’t meant to be shared because they’re not supposed to be public knowledge. I’m paid to keep my silence on certain things.”

Jason stared at her, questions still in his gaze. Was that a touch of respect also? Or was he just annoyed?

Olive wasn’t sure.

But the best lies contain hints of the truth—and her words had mostly been true.

Much like her life.

Jason stayed until they finished eating. They made small talk, but it felt awkward. Olive was almost glad when he left. Because she really needed to clear her head. She had too many thoughts running through her mind right now.

This assignment might prove to be one of her most challenging ones. That was only in part because of Jason. It was also the stakes involved. They were high. If Olive failed to get what she needed then she wouldn’t be the only one affected.

She changed into some sweats and a T-shirt and then sat on her couch. She stared out the window at the lights of downtown Chicago. She often thought about how differently her life could have turned out.

What if her family had never moved from Texas? What if she’d refused to go? Would her protests have changed anything?

Probably not. But just one change in their trajectory could have potentially prevented her family from dying.

Or what if Olive hadn’t snuck out that night? She wasn’t naive enough to think that she could have personally protected her family and that they’d all still be alive. No, she knew good and well that if she’d been home that night she’d also be dead right now.

She’d spent so much time trying to find answers only to come up against dead ends. At times, she was tempted just to give up. But she couldn’t do that.

For the sake of her family, she had to figure out who’d done this to them. And she would find out, even if it took her until her final breath.

Her life was never supposed to turn out normal. Though she’d dreamed about an ordinary life at one time, she’d realized getting married, settling down, and having kids with a normal job, a normal life wasn’t in her plans. She’d come to accept that. At least she was working a job that brought her fulfillment.

There was just one thing she wished she could change—the fight she’d had with her parents the night she’d sneaked out.

It still hurt her to know that the last words she’d spoken to them were angry and used to accuse them of being hypocrites.

The logical part of her knew her words were partly true. Her parents said one thing but acted in another way. But that wasn’t the way she wanted to leave things. Everyone was a hypocrite in their own way—the teacher who chastised kids about drinking energy drinks while downing multiple cups of coffee herself. The parents who told their children to pick up after themselves while leaving their own bedroom messy. The friend who preached the virtues of self-control to an overweight friend while going on spending sprees.

If Olive’s dad truly had been a con man, had her mom known? Had she helped him perpetuate his lies? Or had she been a victim too?

Olive couldn’t assume anything. There was still so much she didn’t know. But the fact she didn’t know if she could trust her own parents created major issues in her own life.

The truth had been bound to come out sooner or later. Even if she’d settled down with Jason and had a normal life, she wouldn’t have been able to escape from her past. She would still have the trust issues she had now.

Her phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. It was Tevin.

She answered, putting the phone on speaker.

If he was calling at this hour then he must have an update for her.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

“Olive, I’ve got something I need to tell you.”

She didn’t like the sound of his voice, the tension she heard crackling in between his words. “What’s going on?”

“I was able to unsplice some of that video from when Beau was killed.”

She sat up straighter. Tevin had her full attention now. “And?”

“It turns out someone did head down that hallway between the time Beau entered the corridor and when you entered.”

This was the information Olive had been waiting for. “Who?”

“I’m sure you’re not going to want to hear this, but?—”

“Just tell me. Don’t keep me in suspense.”

Tevin paused another moment before saying, “Jason. Jason Stewart went down the hallway after Beau.”