Page 33 of Fearless Encounter

As they walked down the hallway, Gabriel took in the framed patents and awards lining the walls, a testament to Capstone’s success in the cybersecurity industry. The receptionist opened a door to a spacious corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

Dwaine Schwartz stood up from behind his desk, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a commanding presence. He extended his hand to shake theirs. “Mr. Durand, Detective Stewart, thank you for coming.”

“Thank you for seeing us, Mr. Schwartz,” Gabriel said as they took seats in front of the desk.

“Please, call me Dwaine. I understand you’re investigating Meghan Reid’s disappearance. She’s one of our most valuable employees, and we’re all very concerned about her wellbeing.”

Abe leaned forward. “Can you tell us more about her role at Capstone and any projects she was working on that might be relevant?”

Dwaine clasped his hands together on the desk. “Meghan is our head of research and a brilliant cryptographer. She’s been instrumental in developing our latest encryption software, which is set to revolutionize the industry. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the product, I’m unable to share more details with you.”

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Could someone be targeting her because of this technology?”

“I’ve considered that. It’s possible,” Dwaine said. “Our competitors would love to get their hands on our proprietary algorithms. But we have strict security protocols in place to prevent leaks.”

“We’ve heard rumors on the dark web about the potential sale of advanced encryption software,” Gabriel said. “Could there be a connection?”

Dwaine frowned. “I certainly hope not. That would be devastating. But I’ve worked with my team for many years. I can’t fathom such a betrayal.”

Abe asked, “Who else works closely with Meghan on this project?”

“Her team consists of Luis Valdez, our cybersecurity expert, and Daniel Fontenot, the manager responsible for our marketing strategies. They both have impeccable records with Capstone.”

“We’d like to speak to each of them, if we may,” Abe said with authority.

Gabriel watched as Dwaine picked up the phone and requested Luis Valdez to join them in the office. A few minutes later, a knock on the door announced Luis’s arrival. He entered the room, a man in his early thirties with a serious demeanor.

After introductions, Abe asked, “Mr. Valdez, we understand you worked closely with Meghan Reid. Did you notice anything unusual about her behavior in the weeks leading up to her abduction?”

Luis thought for a moment before responding. “Now that you mention it, yes. A few weeks ago, Meghan seemed more pressured or concerned about something. I asked her if everything was all right, but she brushed it off, saying it was nothing.”

Gabriel leaned forward, his interest piqued. “Did you notice anything else out of the ordinary?”

“I saw her on a couple of phone calls, looking worried,” Luis said. “At first, I assumed it might be personal issues or maybe she was dating someone. But knowing Meghan, that wasn’t likely. She’s always been focused on her work.”

Dwaine looked at Abe. “Detective Stewart, do you believe Meghan was targeted because of her knowledge of our upcoming release?”

“It’s a possibility we can’t rule out. If someone wanted to sell your new technology, it would make sense to silence the creator.”

Gabriel’s mind raced with the implications. If Meghan’s abduction was connected to her work, it meant they were dealing with a highly sophisticated and determined criminal. He exchanged a glance with Abe, both realizing the gravity of the situation.

Gabriel posed a few more questions to Luis, since his expertise in cybersecurity might give him insights into a possible leak or theft of sensitive data. But that didn’t prove fruitful. The security officer assured them that security hadbeen tight. If there had been any indication of vulnerabilities, he would have reported that immediately.

Luis was thanked for his help then left the room. If security was as locked down as indicated, then a weakness from inside the company could be the issue. Unless Luis was hiding something, and it was too soon to rule anything out.

After being summoned, Daniel Fontenot entered the room. Following his introduction, he proceeded to describe that he was in charge of bringing Capstone’s products to market. He exuded an air of confidence bordering on arrogance. Despite his seemingly normal demeanor, Gabriel sensed the narcissism in Daniel’s behavior. That alone wasn’t sufficient to incriminate him. For all Gabriel knew, that was the personality required for his job.

Abe took the lead in questioning Daniel. “Mr. Fontenot, we understand you worked closely with Dr. Meghan Reid on the new encryption software project. Being that involved, can you share any insight you have about the abduction?”

Daniel leaned back in his chair, his expression a mix of concern and nervousness. “As the head of product management, I’m responsible for developing strategies to bring our new products to market successfully. Meghan’s expertise is crucial to the project’s success, and her abduction has undoubtedly put us all on edge.”

That wasn’t much of an answer, but more of a dodge of the question. Gabriel noticed a subtle shift in Daniel’s tone when he said, “If someone as brilliant and well protected as Meghan can be targeted, it raises questions about the safety of every employee at Capstone Security. I can’t help but wonder if any of us are truly secure.”

The statement hung in the air, and Gabriel exchanged a glance with Abe. Daniel’s words seemed to imply a deeper concern, perhaps even a hint of fear for his own wellbeing. And once again, his reply was not an answer but more of a diversion.

Daniel then added, almost as an afterthought, “Of course, with such a groundbreaking product on the horizon, the potential profits are immense. As the CEO, Dwaine undoubtedly has the most to lose if a successful launch of our software is sabotaged.”

The passive-aggressive nature of Daniel’s comment was not lost on Gabriel. It was a clever way to plant suspicion on Dwaine without directly accusing him of any wrongdoing. Gabriel still considered all employees potential suspects until proven otherwise. In investigations, it was vital not to make assumptions. But Gabriel’s gut told him there was more behind Daniel’s jab at his CEO, and he intended to discover what that was.

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