Chapter 22
“Wait, isn’t he the guy we saw yesterday?
The one talking to the commissioner who almost caught us?
” Esmie gripped the couch, glancing in Samson’s direction.
His eyebrows shot up, returning her worried expression.
Was it coincidence, only hours ago Chad showed them a video of Tyler giving him purple glass from who knows when and now he winds up dead? Leo turned around and nodded.
“This isn’t good.” Samson’s deep smooth voice expressed all of their thoughts. He frowned just as Leo did. A moment later both of their cell phones rang.
“Crap. It’s work.” Leo glanced at Samson who nodded in agreement. Leo grabbed the phone and went to his room, closing the door behind him. Samson strode to the shower room and closed the door. Esmie was left to go back to the kitchen and finish cooking dinner while she waited for them to exit.
The food was done and plated before Leo emerged, his brow furrowed. Now Esmie understood why he had fine lines under his eyes as he rubbed them again with his fingers.
“Everything okay?” Esmie gingerly stepped forward, worried her brother would fracture from the stress he must be carrying by the way his shoulders slumped.
“No. It was an emergency meeting call. We had to verbally agree not to discuss the matters of the case or anything we knew about the CEO, even something as trivial as what his favorite coffee is. Tomorrow morning, we will have a full debriefing at seven. They’ll probably privately interview us as well, which will be more like an interrogation.
We need to be in the office by no later than six-thirty to avoid the press.
” He glanced at her and groaned. “And the cream didn’t work on your face. I’m sorry.”
Esmie touched her face. She tried not to appear disappointed. Leo had enough on his plate. “No worries. You’ll figure it out.”
Samson exited the shower, facing them with the same grim expression as Leon’s. “I’m guessing we got the same phone call.”
“Verbal acknowledgements with a debriefing in the morning at seven?”
“Yup.”
“Why don’t we sit down to eat dinner and talk after.” Esmie pointed at the square wooden dining table shoved against the wall next to the kitchen. They sat and Samson’s eyes lit up when he took a bite. Esmie hid her grin and averted her eyes so he wouldn’t know she was enjoying watching him eat.
“This tastes just like home, Quita. Mamá taught you well,” Leo said after devouring his plate.
“Abuela and Mamá taught me well,” Esmie quipped, causing both men to laugh.
“That was the best meal I’ve had in a long time.” Samson sat back rubbing his belly. “Maybe ever. My mom was a great cook, but she didn’t have the resources you guys have here.”
“Buen provecho,” Esmie said as she stood to clear the plates.
Samson leapt up from his seat so fast his chair clattered backward to the floor.
Leo stifled a laugh while Samson reached forward, blocking Esmie’s attempt, then grabbed her plate and made his way to the kitchen.
Leo followed, putting his dish in the sink for Samson to wash, then grabbed a towel to dry before putting the dishes way.
Esmie grabbed a wipe from Leo’s outstretched hand and cleaned the table while they washed and dried.
Once finished, Leo pulled out a tablet then sat on the couch facing the tv.
He touched a button along the side, and a slim keyboard slid out from the bottom of the tablet.
The keyboard made small clicking noises as he typed.
“It’s a long shot but I’m going to see if I can find anything about the…
incident. In fact, we don’t even know if it’s a murder or not.
He could have died from natural causes.”
“All the way by Nightcrawler at the outskirts of downtown? I don’t know much about the guy, but I know someone of his caliber would not be caught there unless he was dead.
He would be in his high rise or the Genetronetics TMC headquarters in the middle of downtown where all the high rollers live.
I would bet money he was murdered.” Samson plopped down on the couch next to Leo, glancing over the side to see what he was doing.
Esmie sat on the loveseat, curling her legs underneath her.
Esmie wanted to advise her brother not to take Samson’s bet. She had a sneaky suspicion Samson was right, especially with what they had seen on Chad’s phone.
“While I would double down on your bet, you never know what can come up. Genetronetics TMC has dealings all over the city. Their reach can be felt in every corner of Andloor, and I wouldn’t doubt he had connections near Nightcrawler for either personal or professional reasons.
Again, we could be looking at a simple heart attack or something more sinister. ” Leo squinted at the screen.
Samson caught Esmie’s eye. She mouthed the word “Chad”.
He shook his head. “Later”, he mouthed back.
Esmie pointed to herself, her eyes wide, hoping he understood what she meant.
He smirked and shrugged his shoulders. She shook her finger at him.
Samson winked at her, then stared back at Leo’s screen, pointing out areas he wanted Leo to investigate.
He wouldn’t tell Leo she went with him to see Chad, not after he told her to keep it a secret.
She would have to trust Samson to fill her brother in on what happened.
Until then, Esmie was stuck watching the guys work. She itched to help but this was outside of her realm. Pulling out her phone, she texted the one person she knew who could help answer her questions.
“Hey Mindy, miss me yet?”
It could be a long shot as she wasn’t sure if Mindy was available to talk.
Being the resident popular girl at Brookshire State University meant she could be at any or all parties held throughout the week.
Esmie hoped Mindy would at least entertain her.
A few moments later she saw the three dots, indicating Mindy was responding.
“Sup stranger. Still under house arrest? The parents made me stay home. Can you come over?”
“Sorry, I wish I could. I’m still at my brother’s. I’ve been visiting places here for internships and what not.”
“Oh, I forgot about the internship stuff. My parents already set me up at Genetronetics in their department for next year, so I don’t need to worry about finding one. How is your brother’s place by the way? You didn’t say anything about it in the group text. Have you visited anywhere downtown?”
“It’s…nice. A lot smaller than I thought it would be, but he does have a decent view. I’ve only been able to visit The Bodega. I wish I could do some more sightseeing but with schoolwork, and Mamá being super strict, I can’t do much.”
“Well, that sucks. I thought you would have been to The Plaza. It’s the hottest place in downtown Andloor with the best high-end shops.
All the celebrities and millionaires live there.
It’s the prettiest part of Andloor. You really should visit since Genetronetics is located there and you could do a tour.
Never know, you might snag an internship with them. ”
“Girl, you know only family of Genetronetics employees get internships.”
“No, other people can get it too. Granted it’s a lot harder, okay, practically impossible, but you know with your accolades you could get in. Especially with my parents’ recommendation.”
“We’ll see. I’ll talk to Leo. Speaking of Genetronetics, did you see the news?”
“Oh my gosh, yes, it’s super annoying. The CEO dies and I’m not allowed to go anywhere because the parents are afraid I’ll get bombarded by news outlets. I’m missing a frat party right now!”
Mindy would be more upset about missing out on her social life than another person’s life being snuffed out. Instead of pointing out Mindy’s lack of priorities, and empathy, Esmie decided to steer the conversation back to where she originally intended.
“Isn’t it crazy his body was found by Nightcrawler? Do you think it’s a coincidence?”
“Coincidence? No. He always visited over there. I overheard my mom gossiping with a colleague and apparently there was some call girl he liked to visit nearby. He was into some shady stuff.”
“What kind of shady stuff?”
“Typical high roller stuff: illegal gambling, call girls, drugs. Rumor is it started in college because of his friend Stanley. He’s the president of Genetronetics.
Tyler tried to get away from it, and did for a while, but then because of the stress went back.
People say, including my parents, that he was the original one who helped Andloor Capitol find glass.
Apparently, he was some kind of kid genius and they took advantage of him which is why he started Genetronetics to get back at them.
Again, all rumors, but I wouldn’t doubt it. ”
“Sounds like he could have been murdered for being involved in those types of dealings.”
“Oh no doubt, at least my parents think so. They were furious because he had been counseled to keep a low profile with the work they were doing with Andloor Capitol. Pretty boy didn’t listen and now ends up dead.
Now everyone at Genetronetics is scrambling to figure out the latest project he was working on.
It was supposed to be the next big innovation for Genetronetics, setting them up to be the primary contractor to Andloor Capitol for some type of weapons thing.
I didn’t hear all the details because I trying to head to a party, which got cancelled from all this. ”
“What weapons thing? Does it have to do with glass?”
“Not sure. I just know my parents have been in meetings all evening. The only thing I overheard was they needed to gain access to his files and were trying to figure out how when they realized his phone and tablet are missing. The police are looking for them now but if they don’t find them, then Genetronetics could lose this contract.
Everyone is in panic mode, including my parents. ”
“Wow, your parents are going through a lot.”
“You can say that again. Apparently, someone found the body a few minutes after it happened and had a reporter on scene ten minutes after that. It’s a PR nightmare my mom is dealing with.
They have been more aggravating than usual because of all this.
Most of the time, they leave me be, but lately they have been all up in my business and haven’t let me go out since we went to Nightcrawler. ”
“Hopefully they get answers soon.”
“Yeah, if only so I can have my freedom back. I have to go. Mom wants me off the phone. I can’t even entertain myself!
This sucks. Anyway, let me know when you’re back in Brookshire.
I might not be able to go out, but you could come over.
I’ll sneak a text to Tessa in the meantime, but I think she’s on lockdown too. ”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks, later.”
Samson and Leo were still wrapped up in whatever was on Leo’s computer. Esmie cleared her throat and they both glanced up in unison.
“I just spoke with Mindy, and I’m certain the Genetronetics CEO was murdered, and I think it has something to do with helping Andloor Capitol get weapons.” Esmie recounted her conversation with Mindy.
Leo’s eyes scrunched up. “What weapon does Andloor Capitol need? And what does it have to do with glass?”
“A super soldier.” Samson’s lips formed a line.
“A what?” Esmie and Leo asked in unison.
“Genetronetics is using glass to make super soldiers for Andloor Capitol.”