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February 2023
Monday — 3:11pm
Theelevatordoorsslowlyopened, revealing a metal sign that displayed which offices were located on the fourteenth floor of the building. To the left was Rhodes Capital LLC, a hedge fund for high-net-worth individuals. To the right were the offices of S&E Investigations, Inc. Maybe five percent of the floor’s space consisted of a small hallway located near the hedge fund that contained two designated public restrooms and a small supply closet for the custodian service.
Brook had already removed her leather gloves while waiting for the elevator in the main lobby. She’d even had time to check her email on her phone on the ride up, and she’d been pleased to see that Harden had sent her the official government consulting agreement with the agreed upon terms from their previous conversation. She’d thrown a figure out during their morning call, and he hadn’t given her any type of pushback on the amount. Whether it was due to his remorse for how her time at the Bureau had come to an end or simply a good business decision, only time would tell.
Harden had mentioned those with higher headquarters were paying attention to S&E’s closure rate. It was possible that the firm would become a preferred subcontractor with a line-item purchase contract.
Her steps faltered outside the double glass door entrance, but she covered her response by pausing in front of the biometric scanner. She leaned forward, allowing the device to scan her iris. The additional security measure had been installed for several reasons. One of which was Jacob, but most of it came down to their line of work and the identities of who they pursued on a daily basis. By the time that the locks had disengaged, Brook had herself emotionally ready for the inevitable confrontation with General Graham Elliott.
“Good morning,” Brook greeted as she walked across the marble floor. “I thought you were in Somalia consulting with UN Peacekeeping Forces this week.”
Kate Lin, the firm’s current receptionist and administrative assistant, was nowhere to be found. If she’d been at her desk, Brook wouldn’t have had to use the biometric scanner. Kate had the authorization and ability to buzz individuals through the entrance with a mere press of a button. She could also have been a buffer for what was sure to be a tense exchange.
“And I believed that you were going to remain in the city this weekend, but I guess we were both misinformed.”
Graham was dressed in his usual business attire. The tailored Italian suit had been customized for him personally. The white dress shirt had been starched to perfection, and there wasn’t a scuff to be found on his black leather dress shoes.
While he came from money, his assertive manner came from his military service. More specifically, a retired Commanding General Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) after serving thirty-one years in the Corps, and one who now worked as a private contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense dealing with high intensity conflict in volatile regions throughout the world.
He also happened to be her silent business partner at S&E Investigations.
Possibly something more when it came to their personal lives, but she wasn’t willing to put a label on anything quite yet. Complicated didn’t begin to describe what had grown between them.
Brook refused to be baited into an argument this afternoon.
While she accepted that they’d grown closer over the past few months, it wasn’t his place to monitor her every move. To give herself additional time to figure out how to respond, she walked across her office to the antique coatrack that she’d positioned in the corner. The oak wood was the only piece of furniture that stood out, but that was due to the modern décor that she’d purposefully chosen for their offices.
She’d wanted floor-to-ceiling glass walls installed so that she could monitor the comings and goings of the main entrance. It was the sole reason that she’d chosen the first office directly across from the front door. Her location allowed her a clear view of the reception area, as well as the open space near the elevators.
“I understand your reasoning for wanting your father’s funeral private, but you didn’t need to move the date up by a week,” Graham said as he joined her in her office. “You could have simply been upfront with the team…and me.”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but is what the General just said true?”
Brook turned after hanging up her dress coat to find Bobby “Bit” Nowacki standing in the doorway. He was only in his early twenties, but his expressions sometimes reminded her of a teenager. He had blond hair that always had the appearance of being greasy, but that was more due to him going months in between haircuts. Right now, his blond strands were chin level, but one wouldn’t notice that right off hand. He wore a knitted grey cap most of the time, courtesy of his sister. While she’d knitted hats of other colors, the grey one had been her first and his favorite.
“I thought you were flying back home this weekend to make arrangements for the service, Boss. We were all supposed to go together next weekend.” Bit glanced down at his long-sleeved t-shirt that sported a Marvel character on the front of it before meeting her gaze. “I even bought a suit. A nice one.”
“There was a slight change in plans,” Brook explained as she shot Graham a sideways look of annoyance. She’d planned to tell the team today that there was no need for them to fly out to Illinois. It would have just been a waste of time and money. “I decided since I was already there to go ahead and hold a private ceremony. It wasn’t long, a minister was available, and now my father is buried next to my mother. It’s good that it worked out this way. We have an active case, and we’re going to need all hands-on deck here in the city.”
Brook set her brown leather bag in her chair. She instinctively leaned down and turned on her space heater. The usual steps of her daily routine chased away her previous anxiety.
“Bit, would you please give us a moment?” Graham asked quietly, not giving the young man much of a choice but to retreat down the hallway. Graham slowly closed the door until it latched before making his way back to the middle of her office. “I’m flying out tonight. Late. Kate filled me in on the case that you caught this morning, but I was still hoping that you could accompany me to the airport. There’s something that I would like to discuss with you, and I’d rather not do it here at the office.”
Brook had fully expected some type of lecture for handling her father’s affairs in private. Graham had even arranged to have next weekend cleared from his calendar to join her in Illinois. He hadn’t hovered over her upon hearing the news of her father’s death, but he’d let her know on a couple of occasions that he was available should she need to talk with someone. He’d dealt with the situation perfectly.
Truthfully, there hadn’t been much to say about the simple burial ceremony.
Her father had suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. His passing wasn’t unexpected, especially given the fact that he’d been on hospice since December. The reality of the situation was that she’d lost her father many years ago, even prior to his diagnosis. She’d lost her father the day that Chief Conway had told them that Jacob had killed Pamala Murray, Sally Pearson, and possibly numerous other young women. She’d lost him the day that he’d discovered his only son was a psychopathic serial murderer.
“Is everything alright?” Brook asked with concern as she rounded her desk to stand in front of Graham. She inwardly winced at her prompt inquiry. She’d withdrawn from him over the last week or two, and yet she was asking him to be upfront with her. It was hypocritical at best. Then again, he was the one who wished to speak with her. She didn’t give him time to answer. “Yes, I’ll drive with you to the airport. What time?”
“Twenty-one hundred hours. My driver and I will be out front of the building, and he’ll return you back to your condo or the office, whichever you wish.” Graham’s dark gaze dropped to her hands. She could only assume that he was checking to see if she was still wearing the ring that he’d given her at Christmastime. “I hope it helped you this weekend.”
Brook was dealing with enough remorse, but yet she sensed the weight of it even more upon hearing his statement. It hadn’t been her intention to hurt him. He’d noticed early on her habit of fidgeting while mulling over details of a case, and he’d gifted her a worry ring. He’d even referred to it as her harness.
A tether to reality when life became tainted with sin.
