Page 12 of Misdirection

She was one of the administrative assistants in the area. She must have just stepped out of the bathroom around the corner.

Wanda observed Olive coolly before saying, “Mr. Artfield isn’t in right now.”

Olive forced a smile. “I know. He asked me to drop something off for him.”

Her gaze remained cold. “I see.”

When Wanda continued to stare at her, remaining in place, Olive knew she needed to pivot her strategy. “Would you feel more comfortable if you went into his office instead of me?”

Wanda’s chilly expression broke, and she blinked rapidly as if surprised by the suggestion. She’d been expecting an argument, hadn’t she?

“Oh, no,” Wanda said. “Of course not. I just don’t normally let people go into Mr. Artfield’s office if he isn’t in there.”

“That’s understandable. But he’s going to need this confidential report when he gets back.” Olive held out the folder. “Would you like to do the honors?”

She hesitated another moment before shaking her head. “No, no. You go right ahead. I’ll let him know you left it there.”

“No need. Mr. Artfield asked me to do it. People should do what they say they’re going to do, and it shouldn’t be a surprise to those they’re working for. Don’t you agree?”

“Of course.” Wanda’s eyes sparkled as if she’d just found a kindred spirit.

Which was exactly what Olive wanted.

Olive gave her a nod before stepping into the office. She plucked a piece of paper from the folder and left it on the desk.

Snooping around would be riskier with Wanda nearby.

Olive glanced at the window on the door. No one was there.

She quickly scanned his desk. Then, angling her body to conceal her actions, she slid a drawer open.

Her breath caught.

Was that a burner phone? It was. Several receipts had also been stuffed in the drawer.

She grabbed one. Before unfolding it, she glanced at the door again.

The coast still appeared clear. But she didn’t have much time.

It was for a restaurant on the other side of town. The time stamp indicated he’d gone there two days ago at 11:13 in the evening.

Kind of strange, but maybe not.

She closed the drawer and scanned the rest of his office.

Her gaze stopped on a picture of Bennett with a man she’d never seen before. She quickly took a picture of the photo on her cell phone, just in case that man proved to be significant later.

Her time was up, she realized. If she stayed in here much longer, Wanda would become suspicious.

But as a shadow crossed the doorway, she wondered if she’d waited too late.

CHAPTER 4

Amillion excuses went through Olive’s head—things she’d say to explain her presence here.

She had to make her reason believable. That was key.

She held her breath, words playing on the tip of her tongue.

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