by Kym Grosso
“What the?” Garrett held it to the sun, and wondered why Selby would have a data storage device that transformed into fine jewelry. Although pretty, it seemed impractical, especially for a no-nonsense person like her.
Recalling the day he’d found her in Evan’s office, he racked his brain, and couldn’t remember her wearing a brooch. It still didn’t make sense what she’d been doing there in the first place, but at the time, she’d convinced him that she was looking for Evan’s laptop. The more his thoughts swirled in doubt, the more his stomach clenched with the realization that Selby might have had an involvement with the murders.
She certainly possessed the intellectual capability to steal data. She’d already demonstrated her par none hacking skills, tunneling a path into Emerson. He shoved the suspicion to the back of his mind, but his instincts warned him to look at the disc. Don’t do it. It’s probably nothing more than family pictures, he told himself. He couldn’t believe, after everything they’d been through, that she’d betray him. Snooping through her personal files demonstrated a complete lack of faith in her, but given the murders and the compromised laptop, he was obsessed with discovering what was on the drive.
Quietly he got up and shut the door, locking it. He slid in front of his computer and took a deep breath. If there was nothing on it, he’d never tell her he’d seen the files. In good conscience, he’d have done the right thing, knowing that someone in his company had been trying to steal secrets.
He typed in his password and inserted the drive into the USB port. Searching in the finder, he clicked open the folders. Garrett swore as the files flashed across the screen. PFx Prototype. Detailed records of sample discoveries. Recent experiment logs. Chemical breakdowns. All highly confidential.
Evan and Chase had discovered the PFx Prototype during a recent deep sea dive. A highly classified project, the organic compound had been discovered deep within a hole, a shelf in the Caribbean. At the time they’d mailed the samples home, Chase and Evan had had no idea how important they’d be. It had only been after several months of chemical testing and brainstorming that they’d begun to develop practical applications for its use.
Evan had been analyzing and testing compositions in the hope of strengthening military fabrics, perhaps creating more lightweight protective skydiving gear, but more importantly, exoskeleton-like fabrics that could be worn on the battlefield. They were in the early stages of testing, getting ready to file for patents.
How Selby Reynolds could have gotten her hands on the information was beyond his comprehension. His heart pounded in his chest and he took a deep breath, attempting to calm his rage. Although he’d set up security for all his top level executives, his thoughts immediately went to Chase and he sent him a text, enforcing his order to stay home. Because of the circumstances surrounding Cormac’s death, he and Dean had instructed all key staff to telecommute until they’d reinforced security at Emerson.
Garrett slammed his laptop shut and removed the flash drive. He considered calling Dean, but he planned to confront Selby first. Storming out of his office, he found Lars and Selby in the living room, sitting on the sofa drinking coffee.
“What the hell is this?” he yelled at her, interrupting their conversation. “How could you do this?”
“Do what?” Selby asked. She set her mug on the table, her eyes darting to Lars.
“Calm down,” Lars told him. “What’s wrong with you?”
“This.” He held up the thumb drive and threw its crystal shell onto the table.
“What’s that?” Lars reached for it.
“Ask Selby. It belongs to her,” he said accusingly.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Selby began. She jumped to her feet. “What’s going on?”
“Lars got that from your apartment yesterday.”
“That’s not mine.”
“It’s just a pin.” Lars fingered the crystals.
“No, it’s a storage device. And do you know what was on it? Emerson files, that’s what.”
“I…no, that can’t be,” she stammered.
“You’re a liar,” he charged. “Evan’s data. It’s one of our projects. A top secret one, by the way. It’s all here.”
“No…you don’t understand. I got that from Evan. I mean Patrick. Oh my God.” Selby began to pace, holding her hand to her forehead. “He didn’t want me to steal. He was planting data on me.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Selby cringed as Garrett screamed at her. She’d never seen someone so angry. When Evan had taken her on a date, he’d come to her home. He’d offered her the gift but she’d turned it down. It had been her first clue that something had been off. Selby rubbed her forehead, trying to think of how he’d planted it in her apartment. Recalling his visit, she surmised that when he’d used the restroom, he must have hidden it in her armoire.
“Garrett. Please, listen to me. That night in Evan’s office. The reason I was holding the photograph. I knew him.” Selby’s stomach churned as she said the words. Garrett would never forgive her.
“You knew Evan?” Garrett slammed his fist down onto the granite countertop. Lars went to him but he held up his hands in a defensive posture. “Stay away. No. You’re lying. This can’t be true.” Garrett shook his head.
“I had no idea. I met him at the club. He told me his name was Patrick. We talked all night and then the next day he came and picked me up at my place. It was only one date. I swear it.”
“You went on a date?” Garrett’s voice boomed.
“Jesus Christ, why didn’t you say something?” Lars asked.
“Because it made no sense. I didn’t know where he worked. I literally met him twice,” Selby explained. “You’re the one who told me to go work for Emerson. I never once asked for that account.”
“Yeah, right,” Garrett commented.
“No, that part is true. I mean, I only had her come work for you because Evan died. Selby’s the best I’ve got.”
“Oh she’s the best all right. She stole top secret information. Do you realize that you can go to jail for this?”
“Now hold on a second,” Lars interrupted.
“No, Lars. I didn’t do anything wrong. This is the exact reason why I didn’t tell you.” Selby faced Garrett and pulled her robe protectively around her. “That night in his office. The picture. I recognized him, all right. But you have to look at this from my perspective. The reason I didn’t tell you is because he was asking me things…things that someone asks when they are trying to get me to hack for them. It’s not the first time. I know how this works.”
“I bet you do.”
“Would you shut the hell up and give her a chance to explain?” Lars yelled.
“Lars knows. He doesn’t hack as much but he knows. You’re at a party. People start asking you this or that…how you can get into things. It’s always something small. They have a parking ticket they want to go away. They joke about changing a grade. It’s never funny, though, because what they are asking for…indirectly, is for me to do something illegal. This was what Patrick was doing that night. I got up and left the table and never saw him again. It was over a month ago.”
“Okay, let’s assume any of this fantasy you have going is true. Why didn’t you say something? Two people have been murdered and you said nothing.”
“I tried to tell you last night. You didn’t want to talk about it.”
“You could have told me before then. Besides, I’m not buyin’ what you’re sellin’.”
“You know what? If you don’t believe me, go ahead and pull the security video. Where’s my cell phone?” Selby scanned the room and went over to where she’d laid it next to the refrigerator. “Just wait.” She ran her finger across its screen and flashed it to them. “March eleventh. That’s the night we met at the club. March twelfth. That’s the night we went out to dinner. Carlinos Café. Go ahead, check the security footage.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My build
ing records everything. They store them up for a year. At least they were supposed to, before they got disabled. As for the restaurant, I’m sure you can track down city cameras, maybe the restaurant even has them. He paid for dinner. He paid at the club. Check his bank records.” As Selby said the words, she remembered that he’d charged the expense. “But why?”
“Why what?”
“If he was trying to hide, to conceal his identity, why pay with credit cards that could be traced? Maybe he used a stolen identity. I can search his laptop,” she suggested.
“No fucking way. You aren’t touching another damn thing in this house.” Garrett blew out a breath and crossed his arms. “I don’t want you anywhere near my data.”
“Garrett. Please. I’m telling you the truth. I had no idea he planted that drive at my place. I don’t know why he would give it to me, of all people. It doesn’t make sense,” she insisted. Selby went to reach for him, and Garrett backed away. As he glared at her, her heart shattered. He didn’t believe a word she’d said. No matter what they’d shared, none of it had meant a thing.
“Selby, I’m sorry. I just can’t be with someone who lies to me. You’ve got no fucking idea how much I want to believe you. What’s been happening between us, I thought we had something, but this?” He held up the drive. “I can’t believe you’d keep all this from me. I think maybe you and Lars need to move to the other wing of the house while I follow up on everything you’ve told me.”
“You don’t believe me,” she whispered. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she looked to him and then Lars. “I want you to know that I would never do this to you, do you hear me? This thing we have…it’s not just a thing. I care about you. Obviously a helluva a lot more than you do about me. You ask me to trust you…”
“But…” Garrett attempted to interrupt but she continued.
“No, you asked me to trust you. How many tests did I pass, Garrett? How many more tests do I need to pass before I’m worthy? I’ll never be good enough for you. I’m done. Go ahead and fucking tell Dean. Have him arrest me. But I did not do this. That little trinket you have there. Somewhere on it is Evan’s DNA. He did this. Not me,” Selby cried. She could feel her anxiety rising, her chest tightening as she realized the implications of what she was saying. Walking toward the bedroom, she grabbed her tote bag and then paused to add, “You know, it’s pretty ironic, isn’t it? You demand my trust. I give it to you, but when I ask for it in return, you don’t trust me.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” he yelled as she disappeared into the hallway.
Selby heard him call for her but she didn’t care. She darted into a guest bathroom. After dressing in a pair of jeans and t-shirt, she slipped on her sneakers and dug through the bag, praying she’d find her keys. At the very bottom, she fingered the tog. Relieved, she slung the tote over her shoulder and strode out toward the foyer.
“You can’t just go.” Lars rushed after her, grabbing her by the arm.
“Really? Says who? Are you going to call the police?” Selby scanned the room but Garrett was nowhere to be found.
“Of course not. Listen, Garrett’s just upset…everything that’s happened. You have to give him some time.”
“No, Lars. I don’t. You know…you were right about one thing. You said he was going to hurt me.” She swiped the back of her hand against her weeping eyes. “You were right. Just let me go.”
Selby tugged out of his grip and ran out the door. She struggled for breath as her anxiety attack mounted. Spotting her car, she ran to it and opened the door. She put her foot on the brake and pushed the on button, starting up the engine. As Lars approached, she locked the doors. He jiggled the handle, attempting to open it, but she put the car in gear. Holding up her hand to him, she slammed her foot on the gas and tore down the driveway.
Selby’s vision blurred as the panic set in, her heart palpitations beating out of control. Her hands began to shake, and she knew she could no longer drive. Her car veered off into a gully. She should move the vehicle, she knew, but it’d lodged deep into the earth. Chills broke across her skin and she began to gasp for air.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door, stumbling out into the grass. As the cars whizzed by, she fell onto the stones. As she lay on her back, she heaved for breath. The sweet tunnel of darkness claimed her and she surrendered to its will.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I don’t want to see him,” Selby told Lars.
It had been a week since he’d found and rescued her on the side of the road. Reluctantly she’d agreed to go to the emergency room, once again reminded of her weakness. Afterward, they’d returned to Lars’ home and she’d readily agreed to stay with him. Dean had warned that until the killer was caught, they were all in danger. Lars had suggested that she take on new clients to help her redirect her thoughts away from Garrett. She’d told him she’d consider it after the murderer was apprehended, suspecting that time was the only cure for her broken heart.
When Lars told her that her apartment had been restored, she thanked him, knowing that Garrett had been responsible. Within a day of the incident, Garrett and Lars had obtained security footage verifying Evan’s presence at the club and her apartment. Credit cards had been traced back to him, and she suspected Garrett would run DNA tests on the drive as well. Lars had believed in her innocence long before the evidence was presented, however, demonstrating what she’d always known about him; he was loyal. Her best friend, he’d stand by her side.
Garrett, on the other hand, hadn’t trusted her. He’d called several times, but she’d let it go to voicemail, the sound of his voice like a sledgehammer to her heart. Selby knew it had been a mistake to fall for him. She wished that it was just the sex that fueled her attraction, but she knew it was his heart, the person inside she’d grown to love.
As she sat on the chaise longue sunning herself, she sighed. She could hardly believe that she’d let herself be hurt by Garrett Emerson. She should have known it wouldn’t turn out well. She began to doubt what he’d told her about not dating many women, that perhaps all of it had been a ruse so he could sleep with her.
Having cried every day for a nearly a week, her eyes burned from the tears. Forcing her emotions away, she dragged her fingertip underneath her bottom lid and swiped away the moisture. She sat up straight and inhaled the sea air. Her attention went to the ocean. In the distance she caught the distinctive sight of dolphin fins curving through the waves. A couple of surfers sat on their boards, patiently waiting on waves. Reminded of her time with Seth and Garrett, she sighed and looked away.
Selby set her iPad on the table, shoved out of her chair and approached the pool. She gingerly stepped into the water. Its icy sting momentarily broke her thoughts about Garrett and she dove in head first, hoping to rinse away thoughts of him. She surfaced and swam to the far side of the infinity pool. As she gripped its edge, she contemplated her action, aware it was something she’d never have done before Garrett. In the past, her fear of heights and falling would have surpassed any logic that told her she was safe. But since meeting Garrett and pushing some of her own boundaries, she’d grown braver. If there was a silver lining to this whole experience it had been that she’d developed the courage to start living again.
Selby relaxed into the aquatic paradise, floating on her back. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, meditating to the sound of the breakers. The unmistakable sound of Garrett’s voice drew her attention and her eyes flew open. As she flipped over, treading water, she caught sight of him in the foyer. Her heart caught as he approached. Wearing a suit and tie, his commanding presence took her breath away. With his sunglasses on, she couldn’t see his eyes but felt the warmth of his stare as surely as she knew she was alive. Recalling how he’d treated her, anger surfaced. She swam to the perimeter, attempting to put as much distance between them as she could.
“You planning on jumping off that cliff?” he asked, a small crook in his smile.
“May
be I’m planning on pushing you,” she said. “You seem to enjoy hurling yourself off of high places.”
“We need to talk.” Garrett pushed his shades up onto his head, and she caught the flicker of sunlight in his brown eyes.
Selby’s stomach flipped as he came closer. Handsome and sophisticated, his charisma permeated through every pore of his body. Selby averted her gaze, praying that if she didn’t look at him, she wouldn’t cave to her desire to run into his arms. He’s hurt me. Called me a liar. There was no going back.
“Would you like to come over here, or would you like me to come to you?” he asked. “Because one way or another, this is happening.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. You have the flash drive. Lars told me you verified my story. And I quit.”
“There’s a murderer out there.”
“Yes, but I’m safe here. Again, we have nothing to talk about.”
“I guess I’m coming to you,” he said, walking toward the pool.
Selby watched in amazement as he removed his jacket and hung it over a chair.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Garrett unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his tanned muscular physique.
“It’s over. If you have questions about the data or how Evan used the laptop to get into Emerson and save it, Lars can explain it. I’m done.”
“Lars told me all about it. The data had been removed, hidden really. It had all been saved on the disc. We’re thinking he brought it to you because you were a friend of Lars. He’d investigated you. Knew you’d be able to help. It has to be an inside job.” Garrett kicked off his shoes and tugged off his socks.
“Why are you here, then?” Selby’s pulse raced as he took off his clothes. He was coming for her, she knew. Her heart couldn’t take another second of being broken. If he touched her…she’d lose it. “What are you doing?”
