Page 54 of Misdirection

“What about the video footage from the SCI corridor?” Robin asked. “Was it tampered with?”

Growing worry captured each executive’s voice as more information was revealed.

“That’s what we believe,” Duncan said. “But we’re still looking into it. Obviously, this investigation spans beyond the staff here at Conglomerate. The local police are also involved, and Jason will be working with them as they try to piece together exactly what may have happened.”

Olive’s mind continued to whirl.

She didn’t believe for a minute that Ryan had killed himself. No, she believed either the buyer or the seller was actively eliminating any threats.

She glanced across the table at Bennett. He stared at the wall in front of him, his face emotionless.

She remembered his secret meeting in the market. The receipts in his desk. The burner phone in his drawer.

Just where was he yesterday when Ryan disappeared?

CHAPTER 22

As Duncan concluded the meeting, he instructed everyone on how to respond if people in the office talked about Ryan. News hadn’t spread yet, but it would.

He wanted all upper-level management to keep a cool head and remind everyone that safety protocols were in place. Everyone at the company should be secure. He wanted leadership to remind employees that both Beau’s and Ryan’s deaths had been isolated incidents.

But were they?

Part of Olive didn’t feel comfortable telling people that. The truth was, they should all be on guard and keep their eyes open for any suspicious activity.

As soon as the meeting ended, Jason leaned toward Olive. “You and I need to talk.”

She nodded in agreement. Even though part of her didn’t want to trust Jason—especially not after seeing that video—another part of her couldn’t believe he’d killed Beau.

Still, she’d need to remain cautious in any interactions with him. It was only smart.

“Meet me in the copy room,” he whispered.

She spoke with Duncan for a moment.

As soon as she could, she slipped away to meet Jason.

As she stepped into the small copy room, the scent of toner, dust particles, and ozone hit her, along with a blast of warmth from the machines.

Then she saw Jason standing against the wall, his strong arms folded over his broad chest.

Her heart leapt into her throat.

She didn’t want to have this reaction to him.

But even after all these years, something about him made her come alive. She wanted nothing more than to lean closer. To soak in the scent of his cologne. To touch his cheek where the shadow of a beard had begun to appear.

His gaze locked on hers and warning etched his voice as he said, “You need to be careful.”

Olive crossed her arms, determined to put space between herself and Jason. “You don’t think Ryan committed suicide either, do you?”

“No, I don’t. I didn’t care for Ryan. I thought he was arrogant and cocky. But I also don’t see him as the type to panic like this. He was more the type who would try everything within his power to cover up something.”

“I agree.”Or are you saying this because you don’t want people to know you went down that corridor? That you were traveling overseas to meet with someone under the guise of vacationing with your brother?

Olive had so many thoughts.

She cleared her throat before asking, “Do you think someone here at the company did this?”

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