Page 70 of Death Wish

“Will you report this incident to him?”

“Should I?”

He shrugged.

“You’ll have to tell him something when Allison doesn’t show up for work.”

“Or me. I’m not leaving Allison alone.”

Time to push her coworkers a little more. “Beckett, do you think Griffin is responsible for what happened to Allison?” Simone asked. “If so, Jesse and his friend, Sawyer, can help you.”

He looked miserable. “I don’t think anyone can help me. All I care about is keeping Allison safe. She’s innocent. I don’t want her to suffer because she’s dating me.”

“You need help,” Jesse murmured. “Both of you. I think Allison’s poisoning was deliberate.”

Allison gasped. “What?”

“If I’m right, the people responsible won’t stop until you’re dead.”

“I don’t understand why anyone would want to kill me. I haven’t made enemies. You must be wrong.”

“He’s not,” Beckett said flatly.

“Explain,” Jesse demanded.

“It’s my fault.”

“How?” Allison clenched the blanket draped over her. “You have done nothing wrong.”

“You know, Allison.”

“You’re wasting time,” Sawyer snapped. “Do you want our help or not? If you don’t, we’ll leave you to face the enemy on your own.”

“They’re threatening Allison to keep you in line, aren’t they?” Simone said. No other explanation fit because she didn’t want to believe that Beckett was working for the wrong side.

Beckett gave a curt nod, his fingers threading through Allison’s. “How did you know, Simone?”

“I looked into your background. Nothing shows you would resort to serious criminal activity to get ahead. Changing a grade is child’s play compared to what you’re working on now.”

He stared. “You know about the project, don’t you?”

“Yeah, we do,” Jesse said.

“How? It’s classified, and I have told no one.” Beckett looked at each of them. “How do you know?”

“Anonymous source inside the company hired outside help to find and stop the program from being completed.”

Beckett and Allison exchanged glances. “We’re in over our heads,” he said finally, turning back to Jesse. “I didn’t know what they intended to do with the program. When I found out and wanted to quit, they threatened Allison. I didn’t think they’d follow through.”

“There’s a lot of money riding on this program,” Sawyer said. “They’re serious.”

Beckett closed his eyes a moment. “I wish Daley hadn’t assigned the program to me.”

“Is he the one coming after Allison?” Simone asked. She couldn’t see Daley doing his own dirty work.

“He’s behind it but I didn’t see him at the restaurant tonight. He couldn’t be the one who poisoned Allison.”

“But he has plenty of people who would take care of it for him,” Allison said. “What are we going to do?” she asked Jesse. “If you’re right, Daley won’t think twice about killing me or hurting Beckett to force him to finish the program.”

---