Page 119 of Never Forget

“Bullshit,” I mutter. “Francis knows there’s no official office in Raleigh.”

“I didn’t know,” Kathy says in a small voice. “I promise I didn’t know. The investigation seemed legitimate. We even had the FBI come through and ask us questions and look through our access records.”

“We believe you,” I tell her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Francis manipulated you. And my guess is he’s manipulating the others, too. What I can’t figure out is why anyone at the label would give him access to anything.”

“He doesn’t work for the label that I know of,” Kathy says. “He gets his orders directly from X Media Corp. As far as I’m aware, they made him our point of contact because he’s familiar with the inner workings of the label. We were told he was there to help us transition, but from the beginning it has felt like he was there for something else. I thought maybe it had to do with the investigation, so I just went along with it.”

“This special projects consulting… is it a temporary position?”

“No, I was hired as a permanent employee. My company treated it like a promotion. I work for the label, but I still answer to management at X Media Corp. as well.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I’m not saying this is what’s happening, but in my experience, integration teams are a common corporate development strategy for big changes in a company.”

“Like?”

“Like expansions, mergers, or acquisitions.”

THIRTY-ONE

SCOTT

“Is the time on that correct?” I ask, pointing to a large wall clock and taking my phone out to double check the time.

No messages. But I’m running out of time. It’s almost nine already, and I don’t know anything more than I did earlier. Nothing substantial anyway. No confessions.

I’ve heard stories about his time as Lest Is Moore’s manager, both good and bad. I told him a little about my past. All a bunch of bullshit small talk to get him to open up to me, but he’s too smart for me to force the topic.

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Francis smirks.

“Yeah it does. Thanks for this. Not just buying me dinner, but… I dunno. I think I’ve been so deep in everybody else’s shit I forgot I’m a person too.”

“That life will do it to ya,” he says. “Do you think you’re ready for a different type of position?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think you’d like to continue traveling and guarding over-hyped celebrities while they puke behind the stage? Or do you think you might want a more stable position, maybe as head of security?”

“Oh,” I chuckle. “Well, I went from being a bouncer to this, and I haven’t been doing it that long. So I think I have a while to go before I can start thinking that big. I thought about looking for a position in a luxury building or something, like an upgraded bouncer. The traveling jobs pay better, though.”

Francis gives me an assessing look and sucks his teeth. “Sometimes who you know is more important than experience.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to say that when this is said and done, how would you feel about taking a position as head of security?

My brow furrows and I sit up a little straighter. “Where?”

“Just imagine how good it would feel to walk back in that building after they fired you and take what you deserve? To look Cory in his face and tell him you’re his boss now. To be the one to personally escort Blake Holland out of the building after watching his smug ass get handed his walking papers?”

“Definitely nice to fantasize about whenever I get twitchy.”

“It’s not a fantasy, Scott. I can help make it happen.”

My head drops to the side, studying him from a new angle. “Are you going to elaborate, or is this another one of your vague statements?” I smile good naturedly, so he doesn’t feel like I’m complaining.

Francis bites his bottom lip and looks around, as if anyone nearby might be listening. Then bends forward, his forearms on the table, hands clasped similarly to how Blake does when he’s having a serious conversation.