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“I’ll see you then. Bring a few things. You may need to stay in Seattle for a night or two.”
Detective Rivers sounded weird. I took a deep breath and calmed. I didn’t do anything wrong. I wasn’t part of the investigation. Fuck. My career could not be in worse shape, and the shame of it clawed up my throat. What now?
I took a quick shower and packed an overnight bag, my head swimming. I called Finn and told him to tell Mom and Dad. He said they could handle these last days of the festival without me. I said not to worry even though I was worried. Something wasn’t right.
Jo was working, so I texted, trying to keep it light. After the festival, she had a few days off, and I hoped I would be back to spend them with her, mostly in bed.
Me:Hey, Sweetness. I’m headed back to Seattle for a couple of days. That investigation is closing, and they need me in town. I’m not sure how accessible I will be, so I’ll check in when I can. I miss your face.
I wanted to tell her I loved her. I knew it that night in her apartment, and the feeling was stronger every day. But saying it the first time in a text was not the move. I called my lawyer on the drive, went over everything again while my mind buzzed, and asked him to meet me. He had guided me through the past conversations with the investigators. His specialty was tech and intellectual property. He wasn’t a defense attorney, and I was praying I didn’t need one.
“Mr. Bakker. Thank you for coming in.” Detective Rivers greeted me with a serious look after we’d left our cell phones with security. She was probably in her late thirties, with long blond hair and glowing skin. In another life, I would have thought she was hot. Since she was kinda scaring me right now, I didn’t know what to think.
“You remember Len Travolo, my attorney.” I motioned to the well-dressed man next to me.
“Of course. Right this way. Coffee?”
Detective Rivers led us to an interior room with pale walls and bright lights, like in one of those cop shows. This wasn’t where I gave my statement before.
Another cop, a man, joined us.
“What is this about?” Len asked. “My client has already given a statement about the possible infringement.”
“I’m Detective Billings. I work with Detective Rivers,” the new cop said. “I believe she told you the investigation expanded.”
“Yes, my client was aware it expanded but wasn’t given any details.”
“We have a few questions based on information we uncovered. I don’t have your original statement here, Mr. Bakker. When was the first time you said you met Cole Dennent?”
I paused. Shit. I told them in my original statement that I couldn’t remember when I met him. That I had seen him around, but I had not actually talked to him until a few months ago when I found out he was the CEO on my deal at AppLake.
I cleared my throat. “I said in my statement I couldn’t remember, but I have since remembered I met Cole at a party in Silicon Valley.”
Detective Rivers shifted in her seat as Billings continued. “Why didn’t you tell Detective Rivers about the party originally?”
“I forgot about it. It was two years ago, and I only talked to Cole briefly that day.
“What made you remember it now?” He cocked his head to the side.
“I was talking to a friend. I realized she had been at the party also.”
“Why was she there?” Detective Billings asked.
“She was with the caterer.”
Billings sat forward. “And how do you know her?”
“She’s my girlfriend. Not then, now. I didn’t remember seeing her at the party. We met again in January. We became friends. She and I were talking one night, and she mentioned being a caterer in Silicon Valley.”
I looked at Len. He could probably read my mind. It wasn’t a secret what went on in the Valley with the bros and those parties.
“It turns out she catered the same one I attended. She reminded me I saw her briefly when I was leaving and that Cole had been there. She was unpacking her work van and talking to a girl. The girl was a little shaken up and asked me for a ride.”
“This girl, did you know her?”
“I met her and her friend the night before. Her friend fell by the pool, and I found her a Band-aid and antibiotic. Her friend thanked me, and they both gave me a hug, I think. That was it until the next day.”
“She asked you for a ride. And then what happened?”
