Page 65 of Misdirection

“I can check. We didn’t specifically look to see if Alex came in. We had no reason to until now.”

“So let’s say that is what happened.” Olive slowed her steps, the scent of hot dogs from a nearby food cart teasing her. “Somehow Claudine got Alex to come into the office and give her access to the SCI corridor. Then he left. Maybe because he didn’t want to be caught. Or maybe for another reason.”

“Then when she got in, she went to take something.”

“If that was the case, then Claudine somehow managed to bring a gun in with her,” Olive said. “Do you think she’s smart enough to make a ghost gun that can get through security?”

He pressed his lips together before grimly shaking his head. “I don’t really know, to be honest. Of course, ghost guns have been a concern of ours since those kinds of weapons have been on the rise. If Claudine was creative—and convincing—enough, there’s always a possibility that someone could have let her in through a back door. That’s always a concern as well.”

“That would mean someone else knows what happened or was helping her,” Olive said.

“Maybe Alex.”

Olive and Jason reached the Conglomerate building and paused, turning toward each other.

Her lungs froze as she glanced up at him.

Why did he have to be so handsome? Why did his gaze seem to read into her soul like that? And why did their paths have to cross again?

Seeing him had only made things more complicated—for her heart, at least.

She drew in a breath and tried to turn her thoughts back to the case. “Looks like we have some work to do.”

“Yes, we do.” He continued to stare at her and frowned. “Though I don’t like the idea of you getting involved with this. It’s one thing if you’re looking for potential data breaches, but it’s another thing if you are trying to track down a killer. You could get hurt.”

The sincerity in his voice made a knot lodge in her throat. “I’ll be careful. I’m always very careful.”

“Yes, I remember that time you planned a surprise party for Sabrina Novak. You made sure every last detail was covered so Sabrina wouldn’t find out.”

Sabrina had been Olive’s best friend back in Texas. “And I was successful. She didn’t have a clue.”

“In fact, she was so clueless that she freaked out and ran away. We had to convince her to come back and enjoy her own party.”

“Maybe I should have predicted a little better how much she hated being center of attention.” She shrugged. “Live and learn, I suppose.”

The two of them shared a laugh as they were momentarily swept back in time.

But then Olive’s smile faded. There was no need to revisit the past. She could never return there, and pretending like she could only brought her more pain as she remembered her losses.

Jason cleared his throat and shifted. “If you need me for anything at any time, you give me a call. Promise?”

Olive glanced at his outstretched pinky.

Then a smile curled her lips.

She hooked her pinky onto his and nodded. “It’s a deal.”

Their gazes caught another moment.

Then the sparkle left Jason’s eyes, and he took a step back as if snapping out of whatever spell had transpired between them. “I should get back to work before people start asking questions about me.”

A lump formed in Olive’s throat at his words.

People werealreadyasking questions about him.

And not just any people.

But her.Olivewas the one asking those questions.

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