Page 30 of Just Hide

Cami nodded. "I really think that we'll find something," she said. "It seems to be the logical place."

"Okay," Connor said. "Let's take a drive there and see if we can make some headway."

***

Cami felt relieved to have left the crime scene, but she knew that a bigger challenge lay ahead as they pulled up outside the offices of Wave Management.

The building was a sparkling white, three-story setup. Shiny and new, in a recently refurbished part of town, it was certainly an impressive sight. There was no shortage of money in this establishment, and Cami guessed that with facial recognition being such a hot topic, they must be doing exceptionally well.

Cami and Connor walked up to the main entrance, surrounded by leafy plants and trickling fountains, and headed inside. There, the reception area was vast, white floored, with mirrored walls and greenery that gave it a lush feel, more like a hotel than a business premises.

Before they went inside, they had to turn their faces to a camera. Then the turnstile door moved to allow them in.

A young man, dressed in a smartly pressed suit, with a short, immaculately trimmed beard, had activated the door, Cami saw. He welcomed them from behind the lobby desk.

“Afternoon. How can I help?”

"FBI," Connor said, showing his badge. "It's in connection with the serial murders. We're seeking information and need to speak to your CEO."

Cami felt glad they were starting right at the top. But of course, a lot rested on how cooperative this CEO was. The young man got on the phone, and within a minute, he nodded.

"Marius Diederick says that Wave Management is all about fighting crime, and he will see you," he said. "He's in a meeting, but he's excusing himself from it to speak to you. I’m going to log you as guests, which will allow you to access the conference rooms and also the elevator if you need to."

He led them up a flight of stairs to a double door marked with the company logo. The man opened the door and ushered them into a bright, modern boardroom with a large window overlooking the city.

A moment later, there were footsteps outside, and Marius Diederick walked in.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and a strong jaw. His blonde hair was slicked back, and his eyes were a startling sky blue. He had an air of authority about himand a piercing air of intelligence.

Looking at him, Cami knew that a year ago, she'd have longed to be in his shoes, the owner of an ultra-successful tech firm, with money rolling in and the world at her feet.

Now, she wasn't so sure anymore.

"I'm Marius Diederick," he said. “I understand you need information?”

"FBI Agent Connor and Cami Lark," Connor introduced them. "It's in connection with the serial murders. We believe that your software may have been used to pinpoint victims."

Marius frowned. Now, Cami could see he didn't like the direction this was taking.

"My software? We’re very strict about its use. Our clients only have access to their own records. Here, at head office, is the only place where all the data is available.”

Connor nodded. "That's what's making us think it's possibly someone right here. An employee of your firm."

Marius’s eyebrows rose incredulously.

Cami knew, in her gut, that this wasn't going to go well, that this powerful man would protect his business and make life difficult for them. That she'd need to use stealth yet again, and that this time, she might not be so lucky.

Then Marius took a deep breath. She might have expected the worst, but what he said next shocked her.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Alright," Marius said, and he glanced at Cami as well as at Connor, with an assessing gaze that surprised her. Normally, as Connor’s second in command, she was mostly invisible, and he was the go-to person. She waited for Marius to continue, now feeling more hopeful that this might give them a break.

"Let's assume you're correct and someone within the company is using this software to target victims. I'm not going to deny it because our software is the best. We're streets ahead of everyone else, we've turned down four serious offers to buy us out, and that's just this month. And, of course, as you probably know, we have a huge pool of faces in our archives.”

Cami nodded.

“So yes, I guess we have to accept that if we hired a psychopath without knowing it, they might misuse it." Marius sighed.

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