Page 102 of Misdirection

“Be careful,” Tevin warned her.

“Don’t worry, I will.”

Olive was more determined now than ever.

She had to track down these answers before it was too late.

Still seated at her desk, Olive texted Jason:

Any updates?

Not yet. I’ll let you know when I hear from her.

She’s a Russian operative, Jason.

There was a pause. Three dots indicated he was typing something. Then they disappeared, only to appear again a few seconds later.

Finally, she read:

I’ll be careful.

Some of Jason’s hurt had no doubt turned into anger. The progression made sense. There were different phases of every emotion and situation.

Olive put her phone away and sighed.

She would walk down to Claudine’s office.

The woman should be in soon, and Olive needed answers.

She told Bree where she was going before heading down one floor and then walking down the corridor where Claudine’s office was located.

She nodded to several people as she passed.

It was strange to think that people here at the company had no idea what might be happening right under their noses. Theyhad no idea that one of the products they were developing could be used against all of them.

How nice it must be sometimes just to be clueless and naive. But Olive didn’t have that privilege.

She paused in front of Claudine’s doorway and saw the woman had just arrived and was taking off her coat.

Claudine glanced up at Olive as if startled, her hand flying over her heart. “Ms. Whiten . . . I didn’t hear you there.”

“Sorry.” Olive stepped through the doorway. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I guess I’m just jumpy.” She fanned her face.

Did that jumpiness have anything to do with the fact Claudine was somehow involved in trying to sell this information? Olive had a feeling the answer was yes.

“I need a moment of your time,” Olive told her.

Without invitation she took another step inside and closed the door.

Claudine’s eyes widened with concern. “What’s going on?”

“Sit down.” Olive nodded to her chair.

A tremor captured Claudine’s muscles, but she did as Olive said.

Olive took another rolling chair and scooted it in front of Claudine. She didn’t want a desk between them. A desk would make Claudine feel more protected, safer.

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