Misdirection (Pros and Cons Mysteries #1)

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

O live’s heart lurched into her throat.

She looked up and saw Bennett standing beside her.

He’d just been waiting for her to step inside, hadn’t he? He’d known he was being followed.

It wasn’t every day she was taken by surprise. Her instincts were usually better. But being around Jason had thrown her off her game.

“What’s going on, Bennett?” Jason stepped forward as if he needed to protect Olive.

She appreciated the gesture, though it was unnecessary.

“Can’t a man go shopping on his break?” Irritation glimmered in Bennett’s gaze. “I know everyone is on edge after what happened to Ryan, but really . . .”

Olive glanced around the store, which smelled of linen and shoe polish. Several other customers milled around, and the two employees on the clock were occupied with them.

This conversation appeared to be private.

She glanced back at Bennett. “Are you sure you’re coming in here to shop for a suit? I thought your taste was a little more refined than this. Besides, this place caters to an older crowd. Your flavor of the month probably appreciates a more youthful appearance.”

His eyebrows barely flickered up as he registered surprise at her words.

She’d caught him.

Yet Bennett had also caught her.

“You followed me yesterday, and you’re following me today.” He stared her dead in the eye. “Why?”

She wanted to use her cover story, to deny his words. But she knew there was no need. She’d been spotted following him today, and Bennett had clearly seen her yesterday somehow also.

But she was good at her job. Good at not being spotted.

So how had he seen her?

“I want to know what you’re up to at Conglomerate.” Olive decided to go with the truth.

“What I’m up to?” His eyebrows rose as his eyes widened. “How about we start with the fact that you’re going to ruin everything.”

“How am I going to ruin anything?” Olive pointed at herself. “I’m merely doing my job and asking questions.”

“You and I both know there are rumors that certain technology developed by Conglomerate could be sold on the black market before it gets to our US buyers,” Bennett said.

Her heart leapt into her throat. She didn’t know if she should acknowledge his statement or not. That information was top secret.

Did Bennett suspect she was undercover? Or did he simply think she was doing her job—the job she’d been hired to do at Conglomerate?

She wasn’t sure.

“How am I going to ruin anything by following you?” Olive peered up at him, watching his every expression.

“Because I’m meeting with one of my contacts,” Bennett said. “And if he sees you following me then he’s going to think something’s up.”

“What are you talking about?” Jason bristled. “What kind of contact are you meeting?”

Bennett scowled. “What I’m telling you is that the US Attorney General’s office approached me about somebody potentially selling our products to overseas enemies. I’m trying to figure out who might be responsible, and if my contact sees me with you then this whole operation could be a bust.”

Olive’s mind reeled.

Was Bennett telling the truth? It all sounded so far-fetched.

Yet if anybody knew the truth about her, they would also think her job was far-fetched. But certainly Aegis’ government contact would have told them if the US Attorney General was also involved.

Except Olive knew the various branches of government didn’t always communicate with each other.

She would need to talk to Rex about this. Maybe he knew more, though she doubted it. He would have told her if he knew other people were investigating the same case.

“Now, can the two of you trust that I’m just trying to look out for the best interests of our country?” Bennett’s eyes shot fire as he looked between Olive and Jason.

“You have to understand that your story sounds outlandish,” Jason said.

“I know.” Bennett’s nostrils flared. “Believe me, I never wanted to be in this position.”

Olive knew what that probably meant.

The US Attorney General had dug up some dirt on him and was now using that as leverage to get this information.

“Do you know who might be responsible for possibly selling this information?” Olive asked.

He didn’t instantly dismiss her question—which meant maybe he’d answer.

She held her breath as she waited.