Page 79 of Misdirection

“I agree.” She leaned back in her seat. But she was nowhere close to relaxing. They still had too much to do, too much information to find out.

She glanced at the GPS screen. They were only two miles from Alex’s place now.

Olive couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say.

Just as they pulled up to Alex’s house—a red-brick ranch in a typical middle-class neighborhood—the front door opened.

Alex stepped out, a duffle bag on his shoulder.

When he saw Jason’s SUV in front of his property, his eyes widened. He started to turn and head back inside.

As Jason put the SUV into Park, Olive quickly put her window down and offered a friendly wave. “Alex, it’s just me. Olive Whiten from Conglomerate.”

She hoped her words might put him more at ease, but he still appeared terrified with his wide eyes and stiff body.

Before Alex could flee—which he looked poised to do—they climbed out. Jason took Loki from the back seat, and the dog walked beside him to the front porch.

Alex still stood on his front steps, but he seemed to relax slightly at the sight of the dog.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you guys here.” Alex glanced behind them as if looking for someone else to show up.

“Going somewhere?” Jason stepped closer.

“To the gym.” His voice cracked as he said the words.

“We need to talk,” Jason said.

“Oh yeah?” Alex shoved his hands in his pockets, most likely to conceal the trembling there. “About what?”

“Do you mind if we go inside?” Olive nodded at the door behind him.

“You guys are making me nervous.”

“Funny because you looked nervous even before we pulled into your driveway,” Jason said.

Alex opened his mouth as if to refute those words, but then closed it again. “I’m not in the mood to talk right now. It’s been a long day, and I really just want to work out.”

“We won’t take long.” Olive took his arm and led him back inside.

She expected him to dig in his heels, but he didn’t.

They all stepped into a small formal living room just inside the front door and sat down. But Alex didn’t relax.

Instead, he sat on the edge of his striped sofa and glanced at them. “What’s this about?”

“We need to know about your relationship with Claudine,” Jason said.

Alex let out a stiff laugh. “Relationship? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“We know you’ve been talking to each other on the phone,” Olive said. “I can only assume those conversations were romantic and not professional.”

His cheeks reddened. “Claudine and I have flirted, but that’s it. We’re just friends.”

“Alex . . .” Olive tilted her head. “We need to know the truth.”

“I’m telling you the truth.” His voice rose defensively.

“I think you know more.” Jason locked him down with his gaze.

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