5. Dax
DAX
The first two interviews were boring as fuck, and I knew right away they had no clue what the hell Diego was really up to.
The third man to enter the room had me sitting up and ignoring the game of hangman that Cam was playing on his phone.
I couldn’t put my finger on why this guy seemed to catch my attention, but he did.
Nothing about him seemed odd. He was middle-age, dressed in business casual, and his hair was styled in a traditional tighter on the sides swept back on the top.
Everything about him screamed normal. Maybe that’s what was so telling, he didn’t allow himself to draw attention in any way to the point his suit was a medium shade of gray that seemed to blend in with the monochromatic setting of the interview room.
Tommaso had two of his men we’d met when planning things at his house asking the questions. It seems they were going off a predetermined list, and while they were good questions, they didn’t really draw out the answers Tommaso was looking for. When the man sat down, they started with the basics.
“Can you please tell us your name, position, and how long you’ve been with the company?” Charles asked.
“Certainly,” the man said with a kind smile and a nod of his head.
“My name is Ken Scott. I’ve worked for the De León Corporation for ten years.
I started as an entry-level employee and worked my way up to management two years ago.
Mainly, I work with the shipping department on the customer service side of things.
If there’s any trouble, they reach out to us and are directed to my people.
Because we work with many international companies, we have people on call twenty-four-seven.
I only work during the day, but on the rare occasion, I’ve been called in for something at odd hours. ”
Charles just nodded and continued with the rest of the questions, not at all concerned with what just happened. “Too much,” I muttered.
“What was that, little demon?” Void asked, looking up from the YouTube video he was watching.
Narrowing my eyes, I watched the man work through the questions without even fidgeting once.
“He’s too perfect. No one would be able to sit that calmly while they’re being questioned by someone who just took over the company.
Not to mention he gave away far too much information.
People who are afraid of what’s going on would just answer what was asked for fear of giving something away. ”
Cam got to his feet with a predatory grace as he was now fully focused on the man being questioned. “You’re right, beautiful, there’s something just wrong about him. Everything feels fake like he’s acting out a role but with a brilliant performance.”
“I’m going in there. Those two have no idea they’re getting played,” I announced and headed for the door, but a hand shot out and pulled me back onto Void’s lap.
“Little demon, if you think you’re going in there without us, I’d think again,” Void warned.
Wriggling, I sat up and looked at him. “If we all go in there, it will make it obvious we know something’s off. On the other hand, if it’s just me, he’ll think I’m an additional interviewer. Both of you can see me through the window, and I doubt it’s bulletproof.”
Both my guys stared at me, but finally, Void relented and allowed me to get up. “Let’s not forget I’m also fully armed to deal with whatever might go down.”
“Beautiful, please don’t go for the usual piss-the-man-off-until-he-cracks method. I think he’s going to be a tough nut to crack, and it might take a little more honey than spice,” Cam advised.
I nodded, letting him know I heard him then left the room.
On a table set up outside the interview room, there was a clipboard with forms and a pen next to it.
Grabbing it, I flipped the papers over so it looked like plain white sheets for me to take notes on.
Taking a deep breath, I yanked open the door and rushed in, then paused.
“Shit, was I that late you already started?” I asked, frantically searching around for a chair.
Heading for the spare hidden in the corner, I grabbed it, dragged it over to the table, and plonked down next to Daniel. I set down the clipboard, pulled the cap off my pen, and poised myself to be able to write.
“So incredibly sorry to be running behind. Would you mind telling me your name?” I asked the man across from me.
“Kent Scott, and—”
“I’m sorry, did you say Ken or Kent? I swear my brain was left behind in my bed when I got up this morning.” I chuckled as I caught the slip.
“Ken, my first name is Ken,” he said, his tone sounding mildly irritated.
“Perfect, thank you, we are still working on finding the employee files. Seems this place isn’t as organized as we had hoped. When were you hired? This will give us a place to start looking once we find the files,” I rambled then gave him a bright smile.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” Ken asked.
“Oh, who I am doesn’t matter. I’m just a consultant,” I answered, waving off his concern. “So how long have you been with the company?”
Ken sighed, and for the first time, shifted in his chair. “Eleven. No, sorry, not until next month. It’s been ten years, and I started at an entry-level position until two years ago when I became part of management. I head the—”
“That’s all I need,” I told him, cutting him off once again. “It’s obvious that you’re in management, and we’re only interviewing those in such a position, so no need to share that with us.”
Daniel and Charles took turns going back and forth with questions while I jotted down random things at various times, making contemplative noises just to make Ken feel uncomfortable.
When I was quite certain this was all an act and everything that came out of Ken’s mouth was a lie, I set down my pen, laced my hands in front of me, and leaned forward.
“Now Ken, or is it Kent?” I questioned, making his eyes widen ever so slightly. “My bet is it’s neither of those but something close so it’s not too far from your real name. Help you to remember it better and respond faster when at least the first part of the name is right.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” Ken spluttered, trying to act indignant.
Nodding my head, I smiled. “Good, very good. You know I have a friend, scratch that, he’s more like a father-in-law now, I suppose. He’s a world-class con man, and he’s taught me a lot about reading people. You want to know what I see when I read you?” I inquired.
Ken scowled. “This is utter nonsense. Who the hell are you?”
“As I said, who I am isn’t important. No, the person who should be answering that question is you. Tell me, and be honest, or you’re not going to like where this is headed. Tell me who you really are,” I ordered.
“I’ve already told you who I am, not to mention I told them all this before you joined us. What in the world makes you believe I’m anything other than what I’ve claimed to be?” Ken snapped, his tone holding genuine irritation and the beginning of anger.
Turning to the other two men, I cocked my head. “You don’t happen to have any zip ties on you, do you?”
Not answering with words, Charlie pulled out a few from his pocket and handed them over. I got up and so did Daniel, who placed both hands on Ken’s shoulders, holding him in place as I grabbed one wrist and strapped it to the armrest. Figuring out what we were doing, Ken started to thrash.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Do you have any idea who I am?” he demanded.
I looked him in the eye as I cinched the other wrist to the chair. “Of course I do. You told me already. Problem is I don’t believe you, and by your response just now, I think I’m right not to trust a word out of your lying mouth.”
“You have no right to do this to me,” Ken snapped.
Sitting on the table, I rested my elbows on my knees then perched my chin in my hands so I was at eye level with him.
“Actually, that’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been given all the authority I need to wipe this floor with your ass if I so choose.
The new boss you have and I happen to be pretty good friends, and he asked me to take a look at some of his people.
See, he doesn’t think everyone is going to play nice in the new sandbox, and I have to agree with him. ”
Ken narrowed his eyes at me, taking in my appearance as if he was finally paying attention to the real stakes happening in this room.
His calculating eyes landed on my ring the guys gave me that was the same as my calling card when I laid claim to a kill.
Ken’s eyes went wide for a moment, then his whole persona fell away, and he turned emotionless as if he was an Etch A Sketch someone cleared off.
“Now we’re talkin’,” I muttered. “So are you going to tell me who you really are? Or do we need to do this the messy way? My money is on you making me torture you to get what I want.” Tapping my chin, I debated whether it was okay for me to do that here or if I should get him someplace more equipped to deal with that type of thing.
It seems my choice was made for me when there was a knock on the door, and I saw Cam’s face in the window holding up a phone.
“Looks like you’ve been saved by a phone call. Sit tight, Kenny boy,” I said, hopping off the table and giving him a few heavy-handed smacks on the cheek. “He goes nowhere,” I ordered the two men looking at me in amazement, then nodded.
Stepping out, Cam handed me his phone, and I saw it was Wes. “Yo, what’s up, super sleuth?”
There was a pause on the other line. “Who put you in such a good mood?”
“Oh, you know I get like this before I have to torture someone. This guy is gonna be fun too. I think he’s a professional,” I shared.
“Funny you should say that…” Wes hedged. “You have time to come up to the top floor and look at something?”
“Will it help me with what I’m dealing with?” I questioned.
“You could say that,” Wes answered noncommittally.