My lips parted, but after finding the hair in the brush, I wasn’t too surprised to hear about a woman. “What happened?”
“Mr. Matthews yelled for me to get out and come back the next day. I hurried away, and I didn’t see him again until two weeks later when I discovered his body. I found him when I showed up Tuesday morning, the seventeenth. I heard the medics say he’d passed away the night before judging by, um, rig-a-mort-or-something.” She released a loud breath; the sound crackled through the phone.
“What’d the woman look like?” I asked.
“Young. Brunette. Pretty. But I’d seen her before.”
I exchanged looks with Jake, hoping for an ID.
“Your father had me meet him at his office when he first interviewed and hired me for the cleaning position, and she was there. I believe the woman worked there.”
A pretty brunette from Matthews Tech. Had my father seriously been having an affair with Lauren Tate? God, no. I looked down at the floor, unable to think straight. I gripped my hair, pulling at it as he wrapped up the call.
“You okay?”
“I need to get out of here.” I tossed the key to Jake to lock up and hurried out of the place before my pain suffocated me.
Jake caught up with me outside the elevator. “Any idea who she was talking about?”
I cursed beneath my breath. “Lauren Tate.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he answered, a bit of Southern twang creeping into his voice.
We stepped into the elevator, and I pressed my hands to the mirrored back wall. “I wish I was kidding.”
“You think he was sleeping with her?”
“She was in his robe,” I said in a low voice while looking at Jake via the mirror. “God, the woman has come on to me, too.” Chills rushed up my spine.
“Wow. I guess you were right about her. Women don’t usually sleep with men three times their age unless they’re after something.”
“Yeah, and I’m thinking it wasn’t his money.” If only it were that simple. “I can’t confront her about it. It’ll just tip her and Declan off.”
“Try and relax. I know this is hard to deal with, but we’ll figure it out. I got your back.”
We re-approached the security desk, but the man we’d spoken to previously was gone. “Excuse me?” I asked the younger gentleman sitting behind the computer screen. “Where’s the guy who was here earlier?”
“He called me to come in for him. Said he wasn’t feeling well.” The younger guard straightened the lapels of his black jacket. “What can I do for you?”
I explained who I was and asked him for the visitor list. As he started tapping at the keys, I also asked if we could access video feeds of the cameras in the lobby.
“I’d have to talk to my supervisor, but I’m pretty sure that will require a warrant.”
Damn.
“That’s interesting,” the guard said, looking up at me.
“What?” I folded my arms and studied the man.
“The visitor list of your father’s is gone.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Connor
“When I get out of here, I’m calling up my old girlfriend and proposing.”
That’s what my friend Jim said during my third year in the Marines. We had been sitting inside a crumbled building in Baghdad, which had been severely destroyed at the height of the Iraq War. The barely-there scrap of a roof was the only thing protecting us from the harsh rays of the sun.
My team had been sent in for ground support during a CIA op, which involved taking down one of the ringleaders of al Qaeda. My buddy and I had remained on lookout a hundred meters away as the black boot operatives had charged the building.
“Really? Why?” I shut one eye and focused through my scope.
“Because I should never have let her go to begin with—she was the one. Second chances are far and few between,” he had answered. As I’d thought about what he’d said, my mind pulled up images of Olivia. For one long minute, a future with Olivia took root in my brain.
Then blood had sprayed my face.
I had pulled my friend against me and away from the window, holding my hand over his throat to stop the bleeding. When I’d realized there was no point, that he was gone, a fit of rage had consumed me. I grabbed my rifle and found the sniper peering out from a distant building.
Gunfire from inside the building that the CIA ops had entered popped loud in my ears as I shot the man. His body rocked back as my bullet smacked into his skull.
After the mission was complete, I went back for my friend. My body shook as I knelt over him. He’d never have his second chance, and I hadn’t thought it possible to have mine. I thought the world wasn’t big enough for Olivia and me to coexist.
But after being with Olivia again, I wondered if there’d ever be a world in which I could live without her.
“You find anything out?” Jake’s voice shattered the memories of the past.
I chucked my keys on the entrance table and joined him in the living room of my rental home. “Here.” I handed him a few files I had printed from my office computer and took a seat next to him on the couch.
He slipped his glasses on and flipped open the first manila folder before he shifted through the papers. “Financials?”
“As of last August, the company was in severe danger of either being bought out by a competitor or closing its doors. Declan and Lauren were correct when they told me the company would have been in serious trouble without the Saudi deal.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “The contract with the Saudis is directly with the Saudi Arabian government. It’s legit, but Declan helped Matthews Tech win the bid.”
“Which is corporate bribery—or espionage, if you will—but nothing earth-shattering.” Jake looked up from the file. “This fits with Konstantin’s MO.”
“What do you mean?”
“Konstantin preys on financially weak businesses. Reid Enterprises was on the brink of collapsing when Declan took over. Konstantin stepped in and helped out, but only because Declan had something he wanted. I’m sure Konstantin uses Declan’s clubs to launder money, sell drugs, and so forth. And the cargo shipments to and from the Middle East and abroad . . . Konstantin probably smuggles goods in them every once in a while,” Jake explained.
“You think they targeted Matthews Tech because it was failing? They saw an opportunity to get into bed with a weapons and defense manufacturer?”
Jake nodded. “They needed to offer your father something big.”
“There have also been ten sales transactions between Reid Enterprises and Matthews Tech,” I admitted. “The last four of the shipments correlate with Tyson’s flights abroad.” I stood up and gripped the back of my neck with both hands. “I’m just wondering how Konstantin or Declan discovered my father opened the box to begin with.”
“Andrei and Oleg were following him. Konstantin must have suspected something.”
“How do you know?”
“I was scrubbing traffic cam footage and spotted Andrei and Oleg just outside Capital James Bank the day your father died. See here.” He zoomed onto the video. I moved to the coffee table and leaned in toward the laptop. The same two men I’d seen at the gym were standing a few feet away from the bank entrance. “When your dad left the bank, they followed after him on foot. But I only have them on camera for about a block.”
A sharp pain pinched my core as I watched my dad on the last day he’d been alive. I stood erect and turned away from the screen, trying to force back the sudden emotions that choked me.
“Both Andrei and Oleg were released from jail a few weeks before this. Konstantin didn’t waste any time.” Jake stood up and folded his arms across his chest, his brown eyes on me.
“You think they killed my dad, or did Lauren? She would’ve had the easiest access to his pill bottles.” I still couldn’t believe I was having a conversation about who killed my father.
“I’d bet it was Andrei and Oleg. We need to
talk to the guard and access the video feeds from the lobby of your father’s home. I can’t get a warrant since this isn’t an official investigation. I’ll just have to access the security cameras the same way I did the bank and traffic cameras.”
“Which is how?”
“Illegally.”
“Takes being a criminal to catch one, huh?” I was surprised at my ability to joke at such a time. Then my thoughts shifted to Olivia. She was knee deep in all of this.
“What do you think we should do?” Jake walked over to the window and looked down onto the busy street, ten stories below.
“I’ll have Declan set up a meeting with his associates—Konstantin will be there—then we’ll get the safe deposit box open, and take them all down.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” He spun around to face me as he jabbed his hands through his dirty blonde hair.
My lips twitched, and I smiled. “I think I have an idea.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Olivia
I didn’t know for sure if Connor was coming to the club tonight, not until Declan had pulled me into his office.
I tapped my fingers on the bar and looked up at Bobby, who pressed his hands on the counter in front of me and angled his head to the side. “What’s up, Olivia? You haven’t been yourself lately.”
The understatement of the year. “I’m just stressed. Working a lot.” I averted my gaze to my hands. I had to raise my voice as the bass thumped louder.
Bobby reached across the bar and patted me on the shoulder. “You need to relieve some of that stress. Want to box tomorrow?”
Yes, but there was too much going on. “Customers,” I said while nodding my head toward the two glamazon women who’d bellied up to the bar.
Bobby shot me a half smile and went to take the women’s orders.
A new favorite song of mine blared through the speakers, and the remix had my shoulders instantly moving. The perfect tone of the man’s voice sailed through the air, and I closed my eyes, not even fighting the heat that spread through my body as it raised the memory of Connor and me in bed.
Music was one of the most powerful memory delivery systems, which is why, up until recently, I’d steered clear of any music that would remind me of Connor, of Jessie, the baby . . . of everything I’d lost. But maybe I had been wrong to avoid it. It made me feel like a shot of adrenaline was zipping from limb to limb, opening my body.
Connor and I had never done drugs. We knew people who took pills at clubs or raves, but Connor was more raw and potent than any small white tablet could ever be. “You’re my drug, Liv,” he had whispered into my ear when we were at a club, dancing alongside the Mediterranean in Barcelona. After our time in Italy, we’d extended the trip by a week to pop over to Spain. We even spent a few days in Ibiza. It had been the best two weeks of my life.
I opened my eyes when a pair of hands touched both my bare shoulders. A ribbon of silky heat rushed through my body at his touch. I knew those hands. I wanted them on me. Everywhere.
“Connor,” I said his name without turning around.
“How’d you know?”
I shut my eyes to his deep voice, remembering how he’d lain in my bed this morning. Exposed. So damn erotic. “How could I forget the way your hands feel on me?”
His warm breath was on my ear as he said, “Remember Ibiza?”
So the song had sent him up memory lane, as well. With my eyes still shut, I nodded. Unable to move. To breathe. A fire had started in my belly, and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to put it out.
We’d made love on the beach while the waves ate away at the sand.
I choked back the emotions that began to erode the happy memory—that was the night we’d gotten pregnant. I was almost positive. We hadn’t been safe that night.
I was pretty sure the same thought sped to his mind, because his hands slipped free from my shoulders. I opened my eyes and stood up, turning to face him.
His hands were tucked in the pockets of his black slacks, and his chest moved slowly beneath a dark T-shirt. “We need to talk, Olivia. But first, I need a word with Declan.”
Oh God, I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to stop him, but I knew what it would mean if I did. “He’s waiting for you,” I said, instead. “Come on.” I caught sight of Bobby stealing a glimpse of me, and I forced a smile.
“What time will you be done with work?”
“I can leave around one,” I answered as we made our way down the hall.
“We can leave together?”
I wondered what he wanted to talk about. Did he regret what we had done? I wanted to regret it, but I couldn’t bring myself to. The moments I’d spent in Connor’s arms had silenced the pain.
“Connor.” Declan popped out of his seat and motioned for us to enter. He was alone in his office, and I took notice of the fact that the two cages were missing. Did he finally decide to redecorate? Thank God.
Connor looked at me for a brief second, and there was something in his eyes—distress, maybe? I shut the door and followed him in.
Declan was standing in front of his desk with his arm extended. “Good to see you. We finally ready to make things official between our two companies?”
Connor rubbed a hand over his cheek before reaching into his pocket. “Here.” He handed over a folded piece of paper.
That wasn’t the contract. What was it? A rubbery nervousness had taken hold of my legs. I sat in the chair near where Declan and Connor stood and pressed my hands atop the skirt of my cream-colored dress.
Declan touched the black stubble on his jaw and stared down at the image in his hand. “I don’t understand.” He looked over at Connor.
“That’s a shot of my father exiting the Capital James Bank in Manhattan. My father opened a safe deposit box the day he died.” Connor rubbed his hands together before folding his arms across his chest.
What was going on? I straightened in my seat, gripping the arms of the chair, trying to steel myself.
Declan cocked his head.
“I think my father had planned on going to the Feds or blackmailing you. He clearly never had the chance, since he died of a heart attack.”
Declan’s mouth opened, and then he snapped it shut. He turned and walked around to sit in his chair. “Why would your father go to the Feds?” he said at last. “Or blackmail me?”
Connor remained standing. “More than likely, he planned on blackmailing you for a better business deal. My dad was a bit of a prick. I looked into the company’s financials. You were right when you told me Mathews Tech was in trouble. If Lauren hadn’t presented him with the Saudi opportunity—”
“Lauren? You’re kidding, right? The only reason your old man hired her was for what was beneath her skirt. I came to your father with the deal—she’s just benefiting from it.”
I tried not to appear too eager about the details of the exchange, but my surprise over Connor’s words had my eyes widening. I released my grip on the chair when I realized my knuckles were whitening.
“Okay, well, fine—had you not brought the deal to Matthews Tech, the doors would be closed now. But I’m guessing the way the contract was secured was illegal. And not just in a corporate bribery sort of way.”
Declan’s lips pinched together as he placed his clasped hands on his desk.
“Which is why I believe my father planned on screwing you. Maybe he wanted to back out of the deal—hell, I don’t know his intentions, but I think that there’s something in that bank that could be detrimental to you.”
What was he getting at? My mind raced, seeking the insight that would keep me one step ahead.
“I don’t have access to the box—he didn’t leave me the key. Guess he didn’t trust me, either. I can have the court open it, though.” Connor’s arms remained crossed, his stance firm. “I’ll give you whatever is in that box once it’s opened. I don’t need to see it.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Declan was leaning back in hi
s chair now, his hands on his stomach. He didn’t look like he had a care in the world.
“I want to make this deal with a clean conscience. I don’t want any lies or secrets hanging in the air. But I would like to make money. A lot of it.”
“I thought you weren’t planning on staying in charge?” Declan challenged.
Connor shrugged. “What can I say? Being rich has rubbed off on me. I’m not in the mood to give it up, yet.”
Declan looked over at me, his dark eyes like knives. He didn’t say a word.
“If you have the paperwork, I’m ready to sign. But as I mentioned, I don’t want any secrets. I need to meet who I’m working with—really working with.”
“That can be arranged.” Declan’s eyes switched to thin slits as his attention shifted back to Connor. “Tomorrow night. I’ll let you know the location. But my associates will want proof of the weapon. Can you bring the prototype?”
Oh God, it was happening. The meeting. But I couldn’t end the operation yet—I needed to track an actual shipment of weapons. And, apparently, I needed to get my hands on the box at Capital James Bank.
Had Edward Matthews been murdered? Connor must be suspicious. How could he go through with this, especially knowing what he did?
“I’ll get it,” Connor coolly responded.
Declan was on his feet now. “Olivia, you can leave us alone for now.”
No!
I nodded, and my knees trembled as I stood. Connor faced me, the muscle in his jaw ticking. What was his game?
“Save me a dance?” Connor asked.
What? Was he kidding? “Sure,” I forced.
***
Connor
I searched the club for Olivia, but the bartender told me she was in her office. I went back down the hall I’d traveled before to get to Declan’s, and kept going until I found her room. Her door was open and she was sitting behind her desk, staring at her laptop.
“Connor.” She looked up from the screen, and her lips straightened. “Hi.”
I shut the door behind me and moved to her desk. Her office wasn’t nearly as large as Declan’s. It was minimalistic, with two floor lamps and two black leather chairs parked in front of her desk. One picture donned the wall behind her: the club’s logo, the phoenix rising from the flames.
Buried Lies Page 18
