Page 30 of Operation: Sharp Angel

He sent Jackson and Brielle invitations to the meeting. He’d already spoken to them both that morning and given them a heads up that he was working on scheduling it and why. The revelation that her mother had been one of the founders and the chief research chemist at Well-Life still floored him. Jackson agreed with him that it was more than coincidence that both her mother and brother-in-law had what was described as the same moral compass and were risk adverse. And they were both dead. Moreover, the bit about her brother-in-law, that he should have gotten her mother’s position but didn’t, sent up red flags for Jackson.

Tessman trotted up the stairs to the ninth floor and was outside the door ten minutes later. He knocked once.

“Hi,” she said after she’d swung the door open. She stepped back, inviting him in.

“Hi, how’d you sleep last night?”

“Good, soundly all night. I think I slept the best I have since it happened,” she said.

He noticed that with this statement, her mood instantly changed, and she suddenly looked incredibly sad. She obviously tried to push it away. She clutched her hands together in front of herself. She always seemed so normal that he had to remind himself of the horrible loss she’d just suffered. He reached outand took hold of her hands. “Hey, I get it and it’s okay that you slept well. You were exhausted.”

“Thanks,” she said, taking a step far enough away to break the contact. “Would you like a cup of coffee?” she asked, motioning to the Keurig.

“No thank you. I’ve had a few cups already.” He noticed she had a half cup on the kitchen table with two muffin wrappers. “But don’t let me stop you from finishing yours.”

She retook her seat at the table. “Join me?” She motioned to one of the other chairs.

Tessman sat across from her, watching her school her sadness. She forced a pleasant expression. “We have a meeting with Shepherd in ten minutes. Will that work for you?” He noticed that not only was she dressed in a dark purple girly T-shirt and jeans, but her hair was brushed smooth, and she had a trace of makeup on. Besides the momentary sadness she’d allowed to escape, she looked rested, put together, and beautiful. He had to admit to himself that she impressed him. She was intelligent and was dealing with the murders of her family with courage and determination that the guilty would be found.

She took a big drink of her coffee. “Yes. Let me just finish this and brush my teeth.”

“His office is down on five. No rush.”

“So, I Googled him, Colonel Samual Shepherd, United States Army. It was hard to find information on him.”

“Yes, I’m sure he’s had most of it scrubbed,” Tessman said.

“What does that mean?”

“That most if not all of his career was classified top secret, so there should be no record of him or the work he’s done. And anything that managed to get out there about him, he would have made it disappear.”

“What should I expect during this meeting?”

“I’m sure he’ll ask you to sign the nondisclosure agreement. And we’ll recap everything that happened yesterday and where we are on the investigation.”

She nodded her head. “Okay.”

“Were you able to make notes of everything we talked about last night?”

“Yes, I have them here on my phone.” She tapped her iPhone, which sat on the table beside her. “I was also able to recall a few names of people at Well-Life that my mom had mentioned over the years. And I remembered that my brother-in-law went through my mom’s home office after the plane crash. He brought all her files into the office. So, I didn’t even see any work-related documents then. But seriously, Carter, do you really think my sister and her family’s murders were committed by someone at Well-Life or was related to anything at work?”

“Becca, it’s the only possible motive we have on our radar. And I want to warn you, Jackson and I are going to ask our boss that we look at the plane crash that killed your parents to be sure it was an accident and nothing suspicious.”

She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Her parents’ accident had been just that, an accident. No one had ever thought that it was anything but a tragic accident. “The NTSB did an investigation and found nothing suspicious.” Becca finished her coffee in one gulp and then stood. “I have to brush my teeth. I’ll be right out.”

He watched her enter the bathroom and close the door.

***

Becca would admit that she felt intimidated by Colonel Sam Shepherd. He was a tall man with broad shoulders, who wore a dress shirt better than anyone she knew. He looked solid and strong, and he threw off an air of authority that would make ajudge cower. She could easily envision him in a military dress uniform with many ribbons and medals.

She already sat at the conference table in his office with Carter, Jackson, and Brielle. She watched Shepherd finish what he was doing at his stand-up desk before he crossed the room and joined them at the conference table. He had a manilla folder in his hand. He’d introduced himself with a handshake when they’d entered his office, but had retreated back behind his desk for the last four minutes, typing on his computer keyboard. Becca assumed he was completing an email that he’d started before they’d entered.

“Thank you for your patience while I finished that,” he said. “Miss Elliot, Becca, I’m sure you understand confidentiality and promise it with your clients.”

Becca nodded. She eyed the folder. She’d bet anything a nondisclosure agreement was in it. “I do.” Her gaze flickered to Carter and then back to Colonel Shepherd. “Is that an NDA?”

The corner of Shepherd’s lips ticked up. “It is. Unless you have no questions regarding what you saw last night?”

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