Misdirection (Pros and Cons Mysteries #1)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

O live waited for Bennett to continue.

Even if he did know who was responsible for Beau’s murder, would he share? She had no idea, but she continued to hope.

Bennett glanced around to make sure no one was listening. Then he turned back toward her and Jason, stepping closer. “I have to admit that I wondered at first if Ryan was responsible.”

“You don’t think that now?” Jason asked. “Do you believe Ryan killed himself because of what he did—as the suicide note supposedly said?”

Bennett’s jaw twitched. “No, I don’t believe it. Ryan had just booked a vacation to Hawaii two days ago. Why would he book a vacation if he thought he might kill himself?”

Valid point.

“So who do you think is responsible?” Olive’s heart thrummed in her ears as she waited for his response.

Bennett hesitated again. “I shouldn’t tell you this. But you are head of security, Jason, and, Olive, you were hired to find any potential security challenges within the intellectual arenas. So I suppose if there’s anyone I should tell, it would be the two of you.”

She waited, giving Bennett a moment to build the courage to speak.

Then all at once he blurted, “I’m leaning toward Claudine Marshall.”

Olive’s eyes widened. Claudine hadn’t even been on her radar.

The woman was very nosy and chatty. But a killer? That conclusion seemed like a stretch.

Why in the world was she Bennett’s number one suspect?

“Why would you think it’s Claudine?” Jason asked. “She doesn’t even have security clearance.”

“In a passing conversation I had with someone, I discovered that Claudine worked cyber security for a different company before coming to Conglomerate. That was what originally put her on my radar.”

Now that was interesting, Olive mused. That detail hadn’t popped up in any of her searches. Then again, they hadn’t really looked into any of the IT people. They’d assumed the culprit had top-level security clearance.

“I was able to get her phone records,” Bennett continued. “It turns out she talked to Alex Kellogg, the records clerk, a few times on the phone right before Beau’s murder.”

An image of the fortyish man fluttered through her mind. His receding hairline, light brown hair, oversized glasses, and oval face.

Anticipation flared to life inside Olive, but she tamped it down. She needed more information before she drew any conclusions.

“Maybe she was just flirting with him,” Olive suggested. “She is a bit of a flirt. Did you talk to Alex about it?”

Bennett nodded. “I mentioned to him once that I had a niece he should meet. I really don’t have a niece, but I wanted to feel him out and get his reaction to dating somebody else.”

“And?”

“He seemed interested, which made me think that Claudine wasn’t calling him to be romantic.”

Jason lifted his shoulder in a skeptical shrug. “That’s a little flimsy. Is that all you’re going on?”

“No, of course not.” Bennett looked insulted at the insinuation.

If Claudine was a computer whiz, then maybe she was the one behind this potential illegal sale, Olive mused. It was an idea worth exploring.

“There’s one other thing,” Bennett told them. “I believe whoever is behind this wants to get their hands on the new smart dust we’re developing.”

That had been Olive’s impression also, a forgone conclusion.

“I know smart dust is a huge advancement.” Olive tried to read Bennett’s face.

There was something he wasn’t saying. She hoped he would continue, that he would explain.

“What most people don’t know is that this isn’t just any kind of smart dust.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “This smart dust also has the means of transporting deadly pathogens . . . and if it gets in the wrong hands, then life as we know it could be in severe jeopardy.”

Olive and Jason left Bennett in the clothing store and headed back to the office.

Her mind still spun, and she could tell Jason’s did as well.

They had a lot to digest after talking to Bennett.

Why hadn’t anyone told her just what this smart dust was capable of doing?

According to Bennett, the dust Conglomerate had developed took everything to the next level. It had the ability to contain deadly pathogens. And since the dust had the ability to be used in a highly discreet manner, it was difficult to both detect and contain. That meant the particles could allow potential attackers to spread pathogens widely and without raising suspicion.

Not only that, but the smart dust could be programmed to target specific locations or individuals based on environmental cues like proximity or presence of a certain biomarker.

The thought was truly chilling.

“So what do you think?” Olive finally asked Jason as they strolled down the busy sidewalk.

Jason let out a long breath and edged closer to her as a group of eager tourists clamored past. “I’m not sure what to think. Bennett might have a point. Alex and Claudine have definitely raised some red flags.”

“But there are still some things we’ll need to work out. For example, we know Alex didn’t come in the day Beau was murdered.”

“That’s what Alex told us,” Jason corrected. “It’s possible he came in, even though he was officially off the clock.”

Good point. “Is there a way to check security footage to see who came in that day? We have to scan our badges before coming into the office, so there should be a record.”

“I can check. We didn’t specifically look to see if Alex came in. We had no reason to until now.”

“So let’s say that is what happened.” Olive slowed her steps, the scent of hot dogs from a nearby food cart teasing her. “Somehow Claudine got Alex to come into the office and give her access to the SCI corridor. Then he left. Maybe because he didn’t want to be caught. Or maybe for another reason.”

“Then when she got in, she went to take something.”

“If that was the case, then Claudine somehow managed to bring a gun in with her,” Olive said. “Do you think she’s smart enough to make a ghost gun that can get through security?”

He pressed his lips together before grimly shaking his head. “I don’t really know, to be honest. Of course, ghost guns have been a concern of ours since those kinds of weapons have been on the rise. If Claudine was creative—and convincing—enough, there’s always a possibility that someone could have let her in through a back door. That’s always a concern as well.”

“That would mean someone else knows what happened or was helping her,” Olive said.

“Maybe Alex.”

Olive and Jason reached the Conglomerate building and paused, turning toward each other.

Her lungs froze as she glanced up at him.

Why did he have to be so handsome? Why did his gaze seem to read into her soul like that? And why did their paths have to cross again?

Seeing him had only made things more complicated—for her heart, at least.

She drew in a breath and tried to turn her thoughts back to the case. “Looks like we have some work to do.”

“Yes, we do.” He continued to stare at her and frowned. “Though I don’t like the idea of you getting involved with this. It’s one thing if you’re looking for potential data breaches, but it’s another thing if you are trying to track down a killer. You could get hurt.”

The sincerity in his voice made a knot lodge in her throat. “I’ll be careful. I’m always very careful.”

“Yes, I remember that time you planned a surprise party for Sabrina Novak. You made sure every last detail was covered so Sabrina wouldn’t find out.”

Sabrina had been Olive’s best friend back in Texas. “And I was successful. She didn’t have a clue.”

“In fact, she was so clueless that she freaked out and ran away. We had to convince her to come back and enjoy her own party.”

“Maybe I should have predicted a little better how much she hated being center of attention.” She shrugged. “Live and learn, I suppose.”

The two of them shared a laugh as they were momentarily swept back in time.

But then Olive’s smile faded. There was no need to revisit the past. She could never return there, and pretending like she could only brought her more pain as she remembered her losses.

Jason cleared his throat and shifted. “If you need me for anything at any time, you give me a call. Promise?”

Olive glanced at his outstretched pinky.

Then a smile curled her lips.

She hooked her pinky onto his and nodded. “It’s a deal.”

Their gazes caught another moment.

Then the sparkle left Jason’s eyes, and he took a step back as if snapping out of whatever spell had transpired between them. “I should get back to work before people start asking questions about me.”

A lump formed in Olive’s throat at his words.

People were already asking questions about him.

And not just any people.

But her. Olive was the one asking those questions.

However, she still wasn’t ready to tell him that yet.

She needed more time first . . . more time to uncover the truth.