Page 64 of Misdirection

“Why would you think it’s Claudine?” Jason asked. “She doesn’t even have security clearance.”

“In a passing conversation I had with someone, I discovered that Claudine worked cyber security for a different company before coming to Conglomerate. That was what originally put her on my radar.”

Nowthatwas interesting, Olive mused. That detail hadn’t popped up in any of her searches. Then again, they hadn’t really looked into any of the IT people. They’d assumed the culprit had top-level security clearance.

“I was able to get her phone records,” Bennett continued. “It turns out she talked to Alex Kellogg, the records clerk, a few times on the phone right before Beau’s murder.”

An image of the fortyish man fluttered through her mind. His receding hairline, light brown hair, oversized glasses, and oval face.

Anticipation flared to life inside Olive, but she tamped it down. She needed more information before she drew any conclusions.

“Maybe she was just flirting with him,” Olive suggested. “She is a bit of a flirt. Did you talk to Alex about it?”

Bennett nodded. “I mentioned to him once that I had a niece he should meet. I really don’t have a niece, but I wanted to feel him out and get his reaction to dating somebody else.”

“And?”

“He seemed interested, which made me think that Claudine wasn’t calling him to be romantic.”

Jason lifted his shoulder in a skeptical shrug. “That’s a little flimsy. Is that all you’re going on?”

“No, of course not.” Bennett looked insulted at the insinuation.

If Claudine was a computer whiz, then maybe shewasthe one behind this potential illegal sale, Olive mused. It was an idea worth exploring.

“There’s one other thing,” Bennett told them. “I believe whoever is behind this wants to get their hands on the new smart dust we’re developing.”

That had been Olive’s impression also, a forgone conclusion.

“I know smart dust is a huge advancement.” Olive tried to read Bennett’s face.

There was something he wasn’t saying. She hoped he would continue, that he would explain.

“What most people don’t know is that this isn’t just any kind of smart dust.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “This smart dust also has the means of transporting deadly pathogens . . . and if it gets in the wrong hands, then life as we know it could be in severe jeopardy.”

Olive and Jason left Bennett in the clothing store and headed back to the office.

Her mind still spun, and she could tell Jason’s did as well.

They had a lot to digest after talking to Bennett.

Why hadn’t anyone told her just what this smart dust was capable of doing?

According to Bennett, the dust Conglomerate had developed took everything to the next level. It had the ability to contain deadly pathogens. And since the dust had the ability to be used in a highly discreet manner, it was difficult to both detect and contain. That meant the particles could allow potential attackers to spread pathogens widely and without raising suspicion.

Not only that, but the smart dust could be programmed to target specific locations or individuals based on environmental cues like proximity or presence of a certain biomarker.

The thought was truly chilling.

“So what do you think?” Olive finally asked Jason as they strolled down the busy sidewalk.

Jason let out a long breath and edged closer to her as a group of eager tourists clamored past. “I’m not sure what to think. Bennett might have a point. Alex and Claudine have definitely raised some red flags.”

“But there are still some things we’ll need to work out. For example, we know Alex didn’t come in the day Beau was murdered.”

“That’s what Alex told us,” Jason corrected. “It’s possible he came in, even though he was officially off the clock.”

Good point. “Is there a way to check security footage to see who came in that day? We have to scan our badges before coming into the office, so there should be a record.”

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