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Chapter Nine
Brooklyn Sloane
January 2022
Tuesday — 8:47am
"Isthereanyparticularreason that you haven't answered any of my calls?"
Brook had already known that Graham was in the office, though not because he couldn't gain access to the offices of S&E Investigations. Bit had made sure to record a picture of Graham's iris yesterday. No, the reason behind her knowledge was that Theo had been on his way out for a three-day trip to speak with the men subsequently incarcerated for crimes they hadn't committed. The two men's voices had carried into the kitchen, where Brook had been pouring cream into her coffee.
She'd conducted their morning debriefing early so that Theo could get a head start on his travels. They'd agreed to loop him in for the morning meetings through video connection for the remainder of the week.
Bit had installed a next-generation communications applications on Theo's phone with a preset time sequenced 128-bit encryption key to maintain the security of the connection. Bit had taken her directive to maintain the highest level of confidentiality for the company's data and voice communications, both inside and outside of the office. He'd also ordered new encrypted combination 5G/Satellite phones for everyone in the group. They were simply waiting for the government contractor who provided the innocuous looking phones to verify the approval of the company's purchase order with the NSA prior to delivery. Everyone's assignments had been updated and verified in person, and now her own plate was brimming over with tasks that wouldn't get done if there were continuous interruptions.
"I've had a busy morning."
Brook didn't add on that her schedule was jam-packed with interviews regarding his daughter's murder. She had a ton of calls lined up, as well, not to mention the meeting that she had scheduled in short order. The biting words were on the end of her tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to be the cause of another chink in his armor.
She hadn't bothered to look over her shoulder, but she didn't have to see him in order to know that his jaw was clenched. He had the bad habit of gritting his teeth when he was on edge. It wasn't a tell that he liked to show, but her situation had him doing it more and more lately.
Once again, she refrained from stating the obvious—he could have gone another route in solving his daughter's murder. He didn't need her, no matter that he had convinced himself otherwise.
"I don't like to be blindsided, Brook."
"Are you referring to the lead regarding Lori Snyder? Theo is on his way right now to speak with Bobby Anderson. I heard the two of you out in the hallway just now, so I know that you've been filled in on how Lori might actually have been the unsub's initial choice of victim." Brook secured the small cap back onto the cream. She opened the refrigerator and tucked the carton onto the top shelf before closing the door. "As I already mentioned, I have a meeting with Agent Tonkel momentarily. I think it best that you are not here for that."
Brook made sure that she didn't seem too rushed in wanting Graham to vacate the area. In less than ten minutes, Agent Tonkel would be arriving, and it was a matter of setting the right tone for the upcoming meeting that Graham not be in the immediate vicinity.
"I wouldn't be here at all if you'd answered my calls and messages."
Brook placed the carafe of coffee that she'd made onto a tray with two coffee mugs. One of the mugs was empty, which was for Agent Tonkel. These small tasks were taking time out of her day, and she found herself rethinking her stance on putting off hiring a receptionist. Then again, after speaking with the press last night, Brook wasn't so certain she'd find someone of high enough quality willing to fill the position. Most receptionists didn't require a carry permit.
"Theo did fill me in on the theory that Lori might have been first on this bastard's radar. While I'm pleased that there is progress in the case already, I'm here because of what you said to the media last night."
Graham paused, which told her that he wasn't going to finish his speech that he'd rehearsed regarding her decision. Brook sighed in resignation as she picked up the tray to carry back to her office, not wanting to get into the reasons why she had stoked the fires in the manner that she had.
"Tell me that you weren't serious. Tell me that you aren't going to give an in-depth interview to Jennifer Madsen, especially after the lengths I went to in order to get her to back off the story in the first place." Graham purposefully didn't move out of the doorframe of the kitchen, though he did take the tray from her. "It's not like you to make rash decisions. There is still time to fix this."
Jennifer Madsen was a reporter who had begun to figure out that Brooklyn Sloane hadn't come into existence until after 2006. She'd begun investigating and would have eventually figured things out, but Graham had stepped in and taken care of things. Little had either of them known at the time that Special Agent Houser had planned to out her to the public anyway.
"There's nothing to fix." Brook reclaimed the tray and gave Graham a pointed look that basically articulated her desire for him to move. "I gave the press something to fixate on so that I can get back to business. All I did last night was give them a timeframe for when my interview would take place. And yes, I've already touched base with Jennifer. She's willing to do the interview on my terms when I'm ready. Did you see any press presence this morning, besides a reporter or two who simply wanted a photograph to go with their six paragraphs on page twelve below the fold? They, too, will get tired and eventually find someone else to focus on. And before you go down that road, the answer is no. I don't need nor want twenty-four-hour protection."
"I'd be protecting my investment, now wouldn't I?"
Graham held her gaze as if they were in battle, although technically they were on the same side. He wanted to handle the situation differently, but she was the one who got to call the shots right now. Being ignored wasn't in his nature.
"You would also be throwing away the only opportunity that I have in order to control the narrative," Brook replied honestly, baring herself to him just a little. He was older than her by roughly twenty-two years, yet even she could sense that they had an odd connection. It wasn't something that she would ever pursue, but it was there all the same. "You want your daughter's murderer put behind bars. I get that, Graham. I do. So let me handle my personal life the way I see fit so that I can do the job you hired me to do."
"Um, is now a bad time?"
Graham's jawline clenched once more, most likely to refrain from his ingrained habit of barking back at an insubordinate junior officer. It was usually difficult for someone to leave their long-established past behind them.
"No, Bit." Brook raised an eyebrow, waiting for Graham to move from the doorway. He took a step back, forcing Bit to do the same. Both men waited for her to walk in the direction of her office. "Did you find something?"
"Well, Sylvie is on the phone, and I thought you should know something before your scheduled meeting with your NCIS agent." Bit shifted forward at a faster speed so that he could walk side by side with Brook. "Lori's mother is an artist."
Brook glanced at Bit, not understanding the direction that Bit was taking this conversation. She made sure to scan the area outside the glass doors for any sign that Agent Tonkel had arrived early, but the space was clear. She'd left her office door open, so she walked right in and set the tray down on the glass coffee table.
