Page 23 of The Perfect Crime

“That’s an option too,” she conceded reluctantly.“Let’s go up.”

They walked up the steps toward the giant tower near the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Vine St., stepping over multiple Hollywood Walk of Fame stars.Jessie's nostrils were hit by the scent of waffles emanating from the breakfast place adjacent to the tower.Something about it soothed her ever so slightly, and she found that her body, which had been squeezed into one big clench, relaxed a little.

When they reached the security desk, Ryan showed his badge.The guard behind the desk squinted at it.After several seconds, she seemed satisfied.

“Would you like me to call up first to let them know you’re coming?”she asked.

“Actually, I’d rather you not,” Ryan said.

“All right,” the woman said, clearly not interested in pursuing the issue.“Hold on, I have to swipe my card to give you access to the elevator.”

She walked over with them, peeking at Jessie intermittently.

“I’m sorry, but you look really familiar,” she said.“ Are you an actress or something?”

“I’m flattered, but no,” Jessie said, not indicating where else the guard might recognize her from, “but I do get that from time to time.I guess I look like someone.”

The guard seemed unconvinced by her answer but let it go.She swiped her card and pushed the button for the 26thfloor.

“Have fun,” she said as the doors closed.

The comment sounded ominous to Jessie.After all, they were headed to meet with a potential double murderer.

“You’re not going to punch the guy the moment that we see him, are you?”Ryan half-teased as the elevator shot up with the speed of an amusement park ride.

“I’ll do my best not to,” she said, before sticking her tongue out at him.

He smiled.She reluctantly did, too.They were okay for now.

The doors opened, and they headed down to the end of the hall.Jessie noted that not only was there a security camera above the door to Forester Holdings, but the door itself was made of reinforced metal, with a card swipe sensor and an intercom to the right of it.She wondered why the company required such involved security measures.Ryan buzzed the intercom.

“How may I help you?”asked a disinterested female voice.

“LAPD,” Ryan said, holding up his badge and ID to the overhead camera.“We need to speak with Mr.Forrester.”

“Do you have an appointment?”the voice asked.

“We don’t,” Ryan said calmly.“Did I mention that we’re with the police?”

“One moment please,” the voice said.After more like twenty seconds, there was a buzz, accompanied by the words, “come in.”

Ryan opened the door for Jessie.When they stepped inside, she was surprised by how small the space was.They were in a tiny waiting room with just two chairs and no table.The receptionist, a young, brown-haired woman with haggard eyes, sat at a glassed-in window that looked to be bulletproof.They approached it.

“Thank you,” Ryan said.“Where is Mr.Forrester?”

“He’s just finishing up a call with the East Coast,” the young woman said.“But I have the office manager coming up front to take you back.He’ll be here in a moment.”

They didn’t even bother sitting down.After less than a minute, the door to the right of the reception window opened to reveal a young man, likely no older than twenty-five.He was wearing an expensive suit, and his black hair was slicked back.His brown eyes were red-rimmed, and his rough shave suggested he’d hurried through the job.

“I’m Paul Slause,” he said expending his hand and shaking both of theirs vigorously.“I’m the junior vice-president here at Forrester.”

“I thought you were the office manager,” Ryan said.

"That too," Slause said."We're a small shop, so everyone wears multiple hats.Clea at the desk there is the receptionist and the human resources manager.Can I take you back?"

They nodded, and he held the door open for them.Going back appeared to be a quick process as the hallway was only about fifteen feet long with just three doors.There was an office to the right, one to the left, and one at the back, with the wordsDaniel Forrester, President and CEO, emblazoned on a gold nameplate attached to the door.

“May I inquire as to what this is in reference to?”Slause asked as they approached the door.“We don’t typically get visits from law enforcement.”

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