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It had now started to rain, a nonstop, cold spatter that gusted sideways at them as the wind picked up.
As they headed up the gray, paved path to the steel-shuttered entrance door, Cami couldn't help feeling just a little intimidated by the setup. There were ranks of cameras in place. The entire building was surrounded by them. No way could anyone get to Global Security unobserved, and it made Cami wonder why they had gone to such extremes. This was, after all, a neighborhood security company. It wasn't like they were guarding a vault of state secrets, diamonds, or uranium.
Was Scott just trying to prove how top of mind security was? Or was he a paranoid, psychopathic person who had cheated his partner and who might also be a killer?
Cami knew which way her thoughts were veering, but she now knew equally that Connor would reprimand her if she started jumping to conclusions.
Inside, two young security guards manned a gray reception console. They looked like carbon copies of each other. Both were grim-faced, short-haired, and wearing gray jackets with the red Global Security logo on the chest.
"FBI Agent Connor," her partner and supervisor introduced himself. "We're here to see Scott Ledger."
"Mr. Ledger is in a meeting," the closer of the guards said, his face impassive.
Cami waited expectantly for Connor to do what he did best. "That meeting needs to wrap up, now. We are investigating a series of murders. We have urgent questions for him."
"Show me your ID," the guard said. Connor handed it over, and the man examined it carefully and then photographed it.
"I'll call him," the guard then said, picking up the phone and speaking into it rapidly.
There was a short silence. The guard was listening. A man's voice on the other end was speaking, but they were too far away to hear what he was saying, and the guard's face was impassive.
"Yes, sir. Right away, sir." The guard hung up.
"Go into the boardroom," he said, gesturing to a corridor to the right of the lobby. "Third door on your right."
Cami and Connor walked down the corridor. The place was all grays and steel.It was like a prison, she thought, suddenly. A prison with vivid red detailing.
When they opened the boardroom door, Cami saw to her surprise that there were three people already present inside, seated around the long, steel gray table, all clustered at one end of it with laptops open.
She guessed that the man who looked in their direction and then immediately stood up must be Scott Ledger himself. He was tall, tanned, and looked to be in his forties. He had dark hair, cut very short, and piercing blue eyes. He was dressed in a sharp business suit, charcoal colored, with a dull red shirt.
"I'm Scott Ledger," he said. "I understand your unannounced visit is because you have some questions?"
His tone rang with arrogance, and Cami found herself instantly bristling. This guy was seriously getting her back up. Of course, Connor remained calm, outwardly at least. Surely, he must be getting inwardly mad, Cami wondered.
"That's correct. There have been two serious crimes in the area."
"There's a lot of serious crime in the area. Our clients are increasing their security precautions. Business has never been better," Scott said, smoothing the lapels of his suit.
He wouldn't have committed these murders to try and drum up business for his own company,Cami wondered, feeling horrified by the thought.Would he?
"Can we speak in private?" Connor asked, with a glance at the other two men. Looking at them, Cami noticed that they hadn't moved from their seats. One wore a pale gray suit, the other a jet black suit. Both looked to be in their thirties, and had neat hairstyles, pale faces, and eager expressions.
Cami suddenly wondered if they might be lawyers or bankers. His next words proved her right.
"Unfortunately not."
"Why's that?"
"I happen to be in a meeting with two of my legal team," Scott said. "They're from Darley, West, and Robinson, which as you know is one of the top firms in Boston. Since these two lawyers are here, and since it's my policy never to answer sensitive questions without legal representation, they can stay."
Now, Cami thought that Connor looked seriously annoyed, but she knew that there was nothing he could do. Unfortunately, Scott had the right to have a lawyer—or two—present when he was being questioned by law enforcement.
But Scott wasn't done. Now, this company owner, who Cami was regarding as more obnoxious by the minute, was looking in her direction. As his dark gaze drilled into her, she felt strangely uncomfortable.
"Who's this?" he asked.
"Cami Lark," Connor replied.
