Page 16 of When You're Gone

"A little more upmarket fromthe mill," Finn muttered, peering around at the minimalist decor of LucasHenshaw's corporate headquarters. “Pendergast said Henshaw was successful, butI didn't think this successful.”

"That wouldn’t be hard,"Amelia agreed, her tone dry as they approached the reception desk. “But there’smoney here, and where there’s money, there’s motive.”

"Detective Wright andInspector Winters to see Mr. Henshaw’s representative," Finn announced tothe young woman tapping away at a keyboard behind the desk. She glanced up, hereyes flicking between them before nodding towards the corridor to their left.

"Second door. His executiveassistant, Ms. Corbin, will meet you there."

"Thank you," Amelia saidwith a polite smile, leading the way.

The door to Henshaw's officeclicked open before they could knock, revealing a woman in her thirties,impeccably dressed, her face set in a professional mask.

"Ms. Corbin?" Finn asked,extending a hand.

"Indeed. You're here about Mr.Henshaw's... unfortunate demise?"

"Right in one," Finnreplied, catching the brief flicker of distress crossing her features. Ameliadove straight in.

"Ms. Corbin, do you happen toknow if Mr. Henshaw had any enemies or anyone who might have wanted to harmhim?" Amelia inquired, her gaze steady.

Ms. Corbin paused for a moment,considering the question carefully. "No one specific comes to mind,Detective. Mr. Henshaw was a prominent figure in the business community, andone doesn't rise to his level without stepping on a few toes along the way,"she replied with a hint of somber reflection.

Finn interjected, "Was Mr.Henshaw known for being particularly competitive with other businesses?"

Ms. Corbin hesitated briefly beforeresponding, "It's possible that he may have pushed boundaries at times.Success in this world often demands such actions."

Amelia pressed further, hercuriosity piqued. "What do you mean by 'pushing boundaries'? Could youelaborate on that?"

A guarded expression crossed Ms.Corbin's face as she maintained her professional demeanor. "I'm afraid Ican't divulge much more on internal company matters beyond stating thatcompetition in our industry can be fierce."

Finn observed Ms. Corbin's reactionkeenly, noting the subtle shift in her demeanor as he decided to delve into amore specific line of questioning.

"Ms. Corbin, are you aware ofa particular item Mr. Henshaw purchased recently? A... 'difference engine,' ifthat rings any bells?" Finn inquired, watching for any flicker ofrecognition in her eyes.

Ms. Corbin's composure waveredslightly at the mention of the difference engine, a hint of defensivenesscreeping into her tone. "Detective, I'm afraid I can't discuss Mr.Henshaw's private projects or acquisitions," she replied, her voice firm butbetraying a trace of unease.

A small grin played on Finn's lipsas he leaned back slightly in his chair. "Ah, so there is indeed a projectrevolving around the difference engine?" Finn prodded gently, observinghow Ms. Corbin's facade faltered for a split second.

Ms. Corbin stumbled over her wordsmomentarily, regaining her professional poise as she denied any knowledge ofsuch a project. "I… I quite… I quite assure you, Detective Wright, Mr.Henshaw's focus was primarily on the company's technological advancements andbusiness strategies," she stated firmly, though a subtle tension lingeredin the air between them.

Amelia's gaze sharpened, a glint ofsteel in her eyes as she leaned in slightly towards Ms. Corbin. "Ms.Corbin, we appreciate your cooperation thus far. However, if we suspect anyobstruction in our investigation, we won't hesitate to bring you in forquestioning," she stated firmly but with a calculated edge.

Ms. Corbin's composed facadecracked ever so slightly at the implied threat. Lowering her voice, she metAmelia's unwavering stare and asked, "What do you want to know?" Hertone held a mix of wariness and guarded curiosity, hinting at hidden layersbeneath her professional demeanor.

Finn observed the subtle power playbetween the two women, his detective instincts on high alert as he noted theshift in dynamics. It was a delicate dance of words and intentions, each movecalculated to reveal just enough without giving away too much.

Amelia's next question hung in theair like a silent challenge, her voice cool and measured. "Tell us aboutMr. Henshaw's interest in Victorian technology.”

Ms. Corbin hesitated, her gazedarting to the now-closed office door. "I'm not privy to all the details.Lucas—Mr. Henshaw—was very secretive about it. Said it was going to change thetech world. Most of us were skeptical."

"Seems like a lot of secretsfor an open-plan office," Finn quipped, but his eyes were serious. Henoticed the tension in Ms. Corbin's posture, the way her fingers played withthe pen in her hand.

Ms. Corbin stood up and walkedtowards another door. “Whatever he was working on, Lucas spent hours inhere," she said, finally opening the door to let them into the innersanctum of Lucas Henshaw. "Alone, mostly. I don't think anyone truly knewwhat he was onto."

The office was a shrine tocontemporary design, sleek lines, and muted colors; a large desk dominated thespace, surrounded by various digital screens. Yet, there was an absence, asense of something hidden beneath the surface.

"Old books and diagrams, isthat right?" Amelia pressed, her keen eyes scanning the room as if shecould conjure the secrets from the walls themselves.

"Yes, quite the departure fromhis usual work," Ms. Corbin confessed. "He had a safe where he keptthings... away from prying eyes."

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