Page 36 of The Hate We Breathe
Donovan stiffens. “What?”
“It’s a yes or no question, Mr. Donovan.”
“He’s… he’s my best friend. We’re business partners.” His answer gives me what I’m looking for, but not in the way I’m sure he expected. His lack of an answer is an answer in of itself. His words say one thing, but his tone is hesitant, unsure.
“You must have considered his involvement in the last several months,” I say. “You’ve been locked up here and he’s been out there.”Does he know that Morpheus is dead?I’d say no considering he’d used the present tense when talking about the man. My fingers clench into fists between my spread legs.
It doesn’t escape my memory to know that this man is the reason Morpheus got so close to Juliet, why he was able to take advantage of her, hurt her for so long. My jaw begins to ache with how hard I’m gritting my teeth, and it takes considerable effort for me to loosen it.
Donovan doesn’t speak for several long moments. Then, in a small voice, he says, “There’s no proof.”
“But youdosuspect.”
“Yes, damn you—of course, I do! What else was I supposed to think?” Donovan snaps, lifting his head and glaring at me as his eyes turn glassy—as if he’s near tears. “He was the only other one who had the same access as I did to the company’s financials.”
“What would be his motivation?” Instead of telling him about Morpheus’ death, I continue on with my line of questioning, hoping that his lack of knowledge might lead to some actual breakthroughs.
“I don’t fucking know!” Donovan scrubs both of his hands down his face and then back up. He shoves them into the slightly shaggy locks of his dark hair and grips tight. His skin pulls taut with the action and his eyes glance wildly around the room—from me to the floor to the ceiling to the wall to the floor again. “I don’t know,” he repeats the words, the second time coming out in a whisper.
My eyes move to the cell door that I locked behind me. I shouldn’t stay for much longer. No doubt the other guards will be bringing inmates back so that they can get Donovan for his own breakfast. I need to wrap this up.
“What about your wife?”
“Denise?” Allen Donovan lifts his head again, dropping his hands to his lap.
“Did she have access to the business?”
“She had some access,” he admits, “but not as much as Morpheus or me. She isn’t… Denise is a socialite. Not abusinesswoman. She does charity auctions and goes shopping in Europe. She doesn’t even know what a retirement plan is.”
I suspect that Denise Donovan knows far more than her husband believes—if that video of her means she’s still alive.
“Do you believe your wife and Morpheus would have worked together?”
For the first time, Donovan answers with confidence. He snorts. “Not a chance. They didn’t get along.”
“No?” I tilt my head to the side. “Why was that?”
“I don’t know.” Donovan waves a hand at me. “She could never stand the man. I suspected they’d dated before me and he broke things off. Regardless, it wasn’t really an issue. She didn’t see him much and rarely came to the offices.” Dull blue eyes scan me. “Why are you asking me all of this anyway?Whoare you?”
“I’m no one you need to know, Mr. Donovan.” If he gets out of this, too, it’ll be better if he doesn’t know. The last time I’d come for him, he hadn’t seen my face. He doesn’t need to know that the hacker named the 5C0RP10N and his daughter’s future husband are one and the same.
“But—”
“If you wish to be found innocent of your charges, I suggest you keep this meeting to yourself,” I warn him as I get to my feet.
His gaze follows the movement and he moves to stand as if it’s what he’s used to, but I put a hand out to stop him. “Is there anything else I should know before I leave you?” I ask, curious to see how he’ll respond.
Allen looks down to the concrete floor for several seconds. When he looks back at me, his eyes are determined. “If you’re trying to prove my innocence, then you should look into the financials. I-I tried hiring someone, a hacker?—”
I cut him off with a shake of my head. “What else?”
He grits his teeth as if being interrupted is annoying to him, not something he’s used to. I honestly couldn’t care less abouthis sensitive feelings. This man failed to protect what is most important—my girl. He doesn’t have my respect.
“Records,” Allen says. “There has to be a record. Denise had access to all of our home accounts, but we kept business and home accounts completely separate. They said that the embezzlement began a few years ago.”
The words spark a thought. Juliet’s issues with Morpheus had started a few years ago as well. The possibility that he was behind the embezzlement is becoming more and more likely. The only issue now, however, is finding a way to prove it and to get Allen Donovan declared innocent of the charges. That’s going to take more financial discovery and hacking.
I head for the door, unlocking the bars and letting it swing wide as I take my exit. “Thank you, Mr. Donovan. I’ll be in touch.”
