Page 87 of Ivory Obsession

“I didn’t...” My voice trailed off, and I took a deep breath. “I didn’t have anything to do with it. I lost my ID.”

“Did you report that?”

“No,” I said. I noticed Edward Rodriguez sitting next to the detective, scribbling his own notes. “I mean, what for? That seemed pointless, and I was busy with other things.”

The detective’s gaze narrowed, his lips forming a thin line. “Dr. Bentley, negligence in reporting lost items, especially ID cards that provide access to secure areas,” he gestured towards the lab’s entrance, “is taken very seriously here. It is tantamount to breaching security protocols.”

“I understand that now,” I replied, fighting the lump in my throat. “But it was an oversight on my part, not a deliberate act of sabotage.”

“Dr. Bentley, your lost ID card could have potentially allowed unauthorized access to the building and its sensitive information,” Rodriguez helpfully said.

I felt a lump forming in my throat. Sarah’s face flashed before my eyes—the sweet receptionist who always let me in without a question. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I thought about what she would think of me now.

“Explain your activities on the night of the breach. October 3rd,” Rodriguez demanded, the hard edge in his voice slicing through the tense air like a scalpel.

Who was he to ask me for an explanation?

“Well, I don’t know exactly, but I think I was at home,” I replied. “Can I check my calendar?”

“Go ahead,” the detective said, the corners of his mouth twitching ever so slightly. I could feel his gaze boring into me as I fumbled with my phone, pulling up my calendar.

“I was... at home,” I affirmed, pointing to the date on the screen. “All night.”

“And can anyone verify this?” He asked, his tone implying skepticism.

“No. I live alone,” I confessed, feeling once again like a cornered animal.

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before jotting something down in his notepad. “Interesting,” he muttered under his breath.

“Explain this to me. Why would I steal my own data?” I said, straightening my back.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out, Dr. Bentley,” Rodriguez replied, his tone devoid of any sympathy. His eyes never left mine, their icy blue stare probing for any hint of deceit.

“Well, I can assure you I wouldn’t jeopardize my own research,” I said, forcing myself to hold his gaze steadily.

“You’d be surprised what people are capable of when money’s involved,” he countered, his voice filled with derision. “A scientist like you could make a fortune selling the kind of information we keep in those labs.”

“I’m not a corporate spy,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. “I haven’t stolen anything and I haven’t sold anything.”

“If you tell us who you’re working with—“

“I told you, I’m not—“ My protest was cut short as the door to the boardroom swung open. “Do I need a lawyer?”

The detective cleared his throat. “I don’t know, Dr. Bentley. Do you need a lawyer?”

I shook my head. “I have work to do. Can I leave?”

The detective considered that for a second.

“Yes. Dr. Bentley, you’re free to go. But be aware that we’re not done here,” the detective finally said, closing his notebook with a snap that echoed off the sterile walls of the conference room. I blinked, the abrupt shift catching me off guard. My legs, numb from sitting too long, protested as I stood up.

I walked down the corridor, my shoes clicking on the linoleum in a steady rhythm. With each step, I felt a layer of suspicion peeling away, but it was like shedding one cloak only to find another, heavier one underneath. I knew how these things went; the questioning might be over, but the real scrutiny had just begun.

I remained in the crosshairs, and somewhere out there, hidden in the city’s vast underbelly, the real culprit lurked, watching...waiting. And despite the detectives’ grilling, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Dante

Iflicked the dimmer switch, and the room darkened like a shroud settling over the dead. The Raven’s Nest was Caruso territory, but tonight it was the stage for my play, and I had to nail every act. Unease crawled under my skin, an unwelcome guest at this gathering of wolves. This was a ballsy move. Maybe even a crazy one.

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