Page 52 of Misdirection

The clerk then personally delivered the information to the exec. When the executive was finished with the information, they placed the documents in a bag that was then picked up by the same employee.

The information was then destroyed in a special shredder to ensure no one could piece the documents back together. If the information wasn’t returned, an investigation was launched, and that executive would either be fired or face other consequences.

So there was no reason for an executive like Bennett to go into the SCI corridor.

Unless he wanted to do something without being seen.

Olive’s heart pounded harder as she considered all the possibilities.

She paused at the doorway, allowing ample time to pass. Then she cracked the door open and peered out.

Bennett stood near the door leading to the locked classified files. The desk where Alex Kellogg, the record’s clerk, usually sat was empty. Only Bennett was in here.

He had his name badge raised to scan.

Before Olive could figure out what to do next, her phone buzzed again.

Irritation clawed at her. Was this Jason again?

But when she looked at the screen, she saw it was Duncan. She couldn’t very well ignore a call from her boss.

Instead, she let the door close behind her as she stepped back into the stairwell. Then she cleared her throat and answered. “This is Olive.”

“Olive . . . I need you in the conference room,” Duncan stated. “Now.”

Her heart leapt into her throat. Whatever he wanted to talk to her about, it sounded serious.

Had something else happened? Had someone discovered her real purpose here?

Olive didn’t know. But a tremor captured her muscles as she considered the possibilities of what this meeting might mean.

CHAPTER 21

Olive slipped her shoes back on and then hurried up the stairs.

She glanced at her phone again, briefly considering calling Jason back before meeting Duncan. But she didn’t. Not now. That would have to wait until later.

Instead, she ran a hand through her hair and sucked in a breath, composing herself before stepping back onto the fourth floor.

A few other people also headed toward the conference room.

She frowned.

Apparently, Duncan didn’t want to meet only with her. So what was this about?

As she passed another hallway, someone fell into step beside her.

From the corner of her eye, she saw it was Jason.

“I tried to call you,” he said quietly.

“I was busy doing something and couldn’t answer.”

“It was important.”

“What was so important?” The two of them continued walking side-by-side without making eye contact.

“I wanted to let you know that?—”

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