Page 103 of Misdirection

Olive needed the woman to feel vulnerable.

For that matter, she had to do whatever it took to get answers.

CHAPTER 44

“What’s going on?” Claudine’s voice shook as she asked the question.

Olive didn’t break eye contact with the woman. “As you know, I’m an information security analyst who’s been brought in to objectively look at the company’s procedures and potential risks.”

“Yes, that’s what I heard.” She nodded a little too quickly.

“In the course of my investigation, I’ve stumbled on several things that have made me pause. Some of those involve you.”

Claudine laughed nervously. “I don’t see how that’s possible. I’m just an IT specialist.”

“Don’t discount yourself,” Olive told her. “Your charisma will get you many things. You have a very convincing way about you.”

She chuckled nervously again. “I don’t know about that.”

“I do.” Olive leaned closer to the woman, locking her down with her gaze. “So why don’t you tell me why you’ve been talking to Alex Kellogg? And don’t try to lie to me. I know there’s more to this story than you want to let on.”

Claudine ran her hands over her face. “Ms. Whiten, I don’t know?—”

“Save the act. We’re beyond excuses. I have evidence. Phone calls.”

Her cheeks flushed. “I think you’re reading more into this than you should.”

“You told Alex not to come into the office the day Beau was killed. Why?”

Surprise flashed through Claudine’s eyes. She opened her mouth, and Olive knew she was about to deny the words.

“Don’t lie, Claudine. You and I both know what the stakes are in this—life or death. You need to tell me everything before this gets worse for you.”

“I didn’t want to do it!” Claudine buried her face in her hands.

Olive’s breath caught. Was this it? The moment Claudine confessed? “Didn’t want to do what?”

She was so close to finding answers right now, and she really hoped Claudine didn’t get cold feet.

“They threatened me,” she announced.

“Who threatened you?” Olive had a vague idea what Claudine would probably say, but she needed to hear Claudine’s confirmation.

“I don’t know who exactly. This person was nameless and used some type of voice modification when he called. He sent me a picture of my mom. She’s in a care facility because she has Parkinson’s. The caller said he’d hurt my mom if I didn’t do exactly what he asked of me.”

That fit with what Olive already knew. It was a dirty move, but it didn’t surprise her.

“What did they tell you to do?” she asked.

“To cozy up to Alex and convince him to not come in to work on the day Beau died. I had no idea what was going to happen. It was a strange request. I just thought . . . well, I don’t know what I thought.”

Olive remembered that Alex had also been threatened. Why both of them? It didn’t make sense, but she would think about that later.

“Did you do it?” Olive stared at Claudine as she waited for the answer.

“I tried to convince him, but it didn’t work. Alex refused. Except . . . then he didn’t show up that day after all.”

Olive nodded. “Has this man contacted you again?”

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