AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My algorithm found some anomalies in the vector efficacy dataset. Data points that seem to be altered to appear as random poor results. But they aren’t random enough.”
He frowned. “Not random enough. What does that even mean?”
“A person trying to create randomness will almost always create a pattern that onlyseemsrandom. True randomness is hard to fake. I was going to compare the data on the server to the raw data on the equipment hard drive.”
“Oh.”
She grimaced. “But we do have a problem. You’re right. Technically, I’m not supposed to be down here. And the access logs don’t show any trace of me. So…”
“You came in with me then,” he stated firmly.
She shook her head. “The elevator camera will debunk that pretty quickly.” She paused. “But maybe it can tell us who killed Laura. Are there more cameras down here?”
“Just at the entrance.” Cole grabbed the phone and dialed security. Joey quickly pulled up to the closest computer and accessed the security server information. She glanced at the door every few minutes, sure the police were going to barge in any minute and arrest both of them.
She found her ghost access record and updated it to show her normal access badge, adding a temporary authorization for B2 to her ITS badge access permissions. “If anyone asks, I was invited to this meeting you had with Laura, got it?”
Cole looked up from the phone. “Of course. Seven o’clock.”
She smiled tightly, grateful he was willing to go with it. “And you authorized a temporary access for my badge.”
He raised an eyebrow. “How else could I invite you to a meeting down here?” He paused and held her gaze. “It’s going to be okay,” he said with a solemn look.
She nodded, strangely comforted by his words. Despite everything—all her prejudices and suspicions—she believed him.
Someone must have answered the phone because he turned slightly and began speaking. The cool, detached CEO she knew was back. Yet again, Joey wrestled with the idea of who the real Cole Kensington was. The man in tears over his friend? Or the man sending bribes to a federal judge? The one ruthlessly firing two-hundred people to earn an extra buck?
“Tommy, I’m glad you answered. We’ve got a major situation. I need you to get back here now.” He paused, then continued. “I know, and I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Laura’s been murdered, Tommy. In the lab.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
Cole watchedas the crime scene techs dropped his Brioni suit into an evidence bag. He now sported a spare T-shirt and shorts from Tommy’s gym locker.
“Walk me through what happened again,” the detective instructed. “You came out of the elevator and…”
Cole sighed. This was at least the fourth time he’d recounted the evening's events. The detective asked a few questions, ones Cole was certain he’d already mentioned.
“And this other woman…” The detective looked at his notes. “Josephina?”
Cole nodded. “We had a meeting with Laura scheduled at seven. Joey arrived a few minutes after I did. We heard a door close. I’m pretty sure it was the stairwell. We both took off after whoever it was. When we got up to the ground floor, he shot at us in the alley before we came back inside.”
“And you have no idea why someone would kill Ms. Conwell?” The detective’s question was laced with skepticism and assumptions.
Cole searched the room until they landed on Joey. She sat at one of the desks on the far side, away from Laura’s office, another officer questioning her.
“No, I don’t. Everyone loved Laura. She’s been the director of this lab for fifteen years.”
“Were the two of you romantically involved?”
Cole reared back. “What? No. Laura was my friend and employee. That is all. She loved her husband!”
“That must have made you angry? Her devotion to another man?”
He struggled to maintain his composure. “This is ridiculous. How many times do I have to tell you, there was nothing between Laura and myself? Look, Officer—”
“Detective,” the man corrected him.
Cole pressed his lips together in frustration. “My apologies. Detective,” he conceded. “It’s awfully late. My security team will get you whatever you need as far as camera footage and security logs. But it’s been a long day, and Laura was a very close friend. And I’d like to leave now.”
