Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
TODAY
A s far as Olive was concerned, Bennett was still her main suspect.
She was especially intrigued by the man she’d seen him meeting yesterday.
She needed to focus most of her efforts on him right now.
When she came in this morning, she hid two of the mini cameras Tevin had given her in her office.
But when she went out to use the bathroom, she also placed a camera on a decorative painting of Chicago located across the hall from Bennett’s office. The camera was small—the size of a pencil eraser—and white so it blended in with the wall. No one should see it.
Olive wanted to know whenever Bennett came and went.
She’d also placed a hidden microphone on a couple of desks in the administrative area so she could listen to the assistants talk. Sometimes, the assistants knew more than anyone—and were up on more of the gossip. Sometimes that gossip might contain a tidbit of truth.
Back in her office, Olive pulled up the camera feed on her computer and made it a smaller window on the top of her screen.
As she kept an eye on Bennett’s movements, she caught up on some correspondence.
Two hours later, Bennett stepped from his office. Based on his coat and the way he locked his door behind him, he was leaving the building.
Was he going to meet with that man again? If he was, this time, she needed to be close so she could hear exactly what the two of them were discussing.
She quickly pulled on her own coat. Then she rushed from her office, told Bree she had to step out for a moment, and then she followed Bennett. He’d already entered the elevator. She watched the numbers atop the metal doors to see what floor he would stop at.
The first floor—just as she’d guessed.
She hopped on the next elevator and willed it to move faster—which, of course, it didn’t.
Once on the first floor, she hurried toward the exit.
Before she reached it, the hair on her neck rose.
Someone was watching her, she realized.
Did that mean someone was onto her?
Dread filled her gut. It was a distinct possibility.
Jason appeared beside her. “Going somewhere?”
Olive released the breath from her lungs.
It had been Jason. Jason had been watching her.
However, if he was the killer, then maybe that realization shouldn’t make her feel any better.
She threw a quick glance at him and kept walking, knowing that every second counted. “You waiting for me?”
“No, but I had a feeling you wouldn’t stay put for long.” He fell into step beside her, his coat already on.
She didn’t have time to argue with him. Instead, she kept walking at a brisk pace.
“So where are we going?” Jason asked as they stepped outside.
Olive glanced up and down the sidewalks, trying to catch a glimpse of Bennett’s camel-colored wool coat.
She finally spotted him to her left and turned that way.
Jason followed her gaze. “You’re tailing Bennett?”
“Do you have to ask so many questions?” She slid on her sunglasses.
“It’s kind of my job.”
She scowled. “All I’m trying to do is mine also.”
“I thought you were trying to find breaches in the company’s intellectual security?”
Her muscles tightened with irritation. “I am. One way I’m doing that is by keeping an eye on people who might have a reason to get their hands on classified information. I’m paid to find the breaches and the potential breaches, and that’s what I’m doing.”
“I admire your dedication.” He stuffed his hands into his black leather jacket.
Thankfully, throngs of people were outside on the sidewalks now. They would help Olive blend in a little more easily.
But that would be harder with Jason by her side. His tall frame was hard to miss.
However, Olive knew he wouldn’t listen to that right now. For that reason, she kept walking.
Bennett rounded the corner, walking as if on a mission. He hadn’t even bothered to pick up his car.
The crowds continued to swell on the sidewalks, probably headed toward a few popular restaurants in the area.
Olive watched as Bennett slipped into a store.
“What’s your call?” Jason asked.
Her eyebrows flicked up. She hadn’t expected him to ask her to make the call. She figured he’d insert his own opinions.
“Right now, I say we play it by ear,” she murmured. “Let’s see if we can tell who he’s meeting.”
“Maybe he’s onto us. Maybe he knows he’s being followed.”
“I suppose that’s always a possibility. But let’s hope not.” Olive didn’t bother to tell Jason that if Bennett had discovered they were following him, it was most likely because Jason had been spotted. He stuck out far more than she did.
Pointing fingers wouldn’t help the situation right now.
As they neared the store where Bennett had disappeared, she saw it was a men’s clothing store.
Had Bennett simply slipped out of work to do some shopping? It seemed unlikely, especially considering everything that was going on. He didn’t seem like the type to engage in retail therapy.
However, if he was taking his lunch break to shop, then he was doing nothing wrong.
She paused near the large display window and casually leaned against it. Jason stood close.
“Nice,” he murmured. “Trying to blend into the public?”
She gave him a look. “I am. Though it might be easier if you weren’t here talking to me right now.”
Olive had told herself she wasn’t going to bring that up, but since Jason wouldn’t leave . . .
His gaze flickered to the store and then back to her. “What do you think he’s doing in there?”
“He could be buying some new clothes for a nice dinner out with his significant other, for all I know.” However, Olive knew the man wasn’t married. Not anymore. He’d been divorced twice.
Best she could tell, Bennett wasn’t seriously dating anyone, though he often had a different date at his side at various events. He had no problem finding women to accompany him places, and those women were usually younger and extremely attractive.
Money could buy you a lot of things, but when it came to money buying people, you usually got what you asked for.
“But you clearly suspect he’s up to something,” Jason clarified.
“Maybe the better question is: Why don’t you seem surprised by any of this?”
“I’ve been keeping my eye on Bennett for a while.” Jason peered through the window.
Surprise washed through her.
At least they were on the same page.
Then again, they’d always been a good team.
The thought caused a lump to form in her throat.
“Do you see him?” she asked.
He peered over her shoulder. “I don’t. For all we know, he could have slipped out the back door and gone somewhere else.”
Olive’s jaw tightened. She’d thought of that too. “Maybe we should go inside.”
“We could just play it off,” Jason suggested. “I could say I asked you to come with me to find a new suit.”
She supposed that cover story could make sense.
And if Bennett was somehow trying to give them the slip, Olive wanted to know.
Every minute counted right now.
Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Jason opened the door, and she stepped inside ahead of him.
As soon as she did, a shadow appeared beside her.
Then a deep voice asked, “Why are you following me?”