Page 54 of Corrupt Game

“Do we know anything more about her than we do now?”

Rossi shook his head.

“It’s almost like she’s a ghost.” Rossi crossed his arms. “I’ve only found small amounts of information. There’s less on her than a few CIA agents I’ve run backgrounds on.”

“That just means I have to get her to open up to me. She doesn’t trust me yet, but I think a change of pace might be needed. We’ll work this week and then take her to my condo on Friday night. A reward of sorts.” I smiled. “It might be just the thing to shake things up a bit.”

“You’re the boss.”

“Yes, yes, I am.” I leaned back, satisfied that I had a few extra tricks up my sleeve.

“First, we’ll see what she can do with her master’s degree. If she’s as talented as I think she is, we might have to hire her long term after her year is up.”

“You really have fallen for her haven’t you?” Rossi eyed me with concern. “We could go ahead and turn her loose. You haven’t put in too much effort, yet.”

“No, you’re right. She intrigues me. I want to see how it all ends. Peel through all the layers until I get to her juicy center.”

“That could be taken so many ways.” He grinned. “Just let me know how far you need them peeled back.”

“I appreciate that, but I think I’ll be doing the peeling all by myself.”

“Very well, sir. I simply offered.” He headed out the door but turned back. “Be careful. I think there’s something else she wants besides a job.”

“Noted,” I answered in a dismissive tone.

Collette had broken my control, and I needed to get it back. Rossi knowing was one thing, but if I could be read that easily, then my enemies might find the chink in my armor.

She was going to be my downfall. I was looking forward to her giving it a try.

(ingrid scene)

A phone call interrupted my thoughts.

“They have the gun.” It was all that was spoken in a whispered voice. I hung up without uttering a single word.

“Rossi,” I yelled with a quick look at the screen.

We got into the limo and headed into town.

It was still early in the evening, but I needed to meet this Ingrid woman.

She had pieces to the puzzle that would help me. I just knew it.

The coffee shop was an anonymous place that was safe for me to be seen in public with her.

“Hello, are you Mr. Holdt?” A tall slender woman in her fifties stood and held out her hand.

“Yes.” I shook her hand and motioned to the table she had been sitting at.

“You asked for this meeting. What can I help you with?”

“It’s come to my attention that you found the gun that was used to kill Andrew Simpson. Do you have any leads on the killer?”

Her head jerked up.

“Why would you want to know about that?”

“Andrew was someone important to me. I want to find his killer.” I placed a hand over hers.

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