Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Z
By sunrise, Narelli had received medical treatment and investigators had taken her account of the diner confrontation.
Meredith remained with her.
Roman stayed close, though he was careful not to interfere with the investigation.
At 6:12, Calvin called.
“Isabel Flores is safe.”
Narelli gripped Roman's sleeve when he repeated the words.
“Where?”
“At her apartment. Two officers confirmed it.”
Narelli closed her eyes.
“Thank God.”
Calvin continued.
“But there's a problem.”
Roman moved away from the table.
“What?”
“Someone entered Isabel's building last night using a maintenance access code. Security footage shows a man in a baseball cap stopping outside her apartment.”
“Did he enter?”
“No. He left when another tenant came upstairs.”
Roman looked toward Narelli.
The threat had been real.
Peter Doss remained hospitalized under police supervision.
His identification listed him as a private investigator.
His license had expired.
His phone contained photographs of Roman's headquarters, Narelli's apartment, and several Kinsley vehicles.
Investigators had grounds to pursue more than a diner assault.
But the photograph of Julian was missing.
So was any clear indication of who had hired Doss.
At eight, Roman called an emergency meeting of his senior leadership team.
He didn't attend in person.
He joined from Meredith's office.
On the screen appeared the familiar faces of executives who had worked beside him for years.
Among them was Graham Pike, his chief operating officer.
Graham was forty-six, polished, charming, and responsible for coordinating the company's most valuable port contracts.
“Roman,” Graham said, “we were expecting you at headquarters.”
“Plans changed.”
“Everything all right?”
“No.”
The room fell silent.
Roman watched each face.
“I've received credible information that someone has been using company funds and confidential operational records without authorization.”
Graham frowned.
“That's a serious accusation.”
“It's a serious situation.”
Roman continued.
“Effective immediately, an outside forensic accounting firm will review historical vendor payments and current access controls.”
The chief financial officer nodded.
Graham did not.
“Is this necessary?”
Roman looked directly at him.
“Very.”
After the meeting, Narelli sat beside the office window, holding a paper cup of tea.
Roman approached.
“You should be resting.”
She gave him a tired look.
“You should be sleeping.”
“Neither of us seems particularly talented at following instructions.”
She almost smiled.
Then her expression changed.
“Roman?”
“Yes?”
“There's something I haven't told you.”
He sat opposite her.
She looked at her hands.
“Three years ago, Elliot Vane offered me a promotion.”
Roman frowned.
“Elliot was already retired.”
“I know.”
“What promotion?”
“He said there were people who would pay me more to manage your calendar privately.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“Who?”
“He never named them.”
“Why didn't you report it?”
“I did.”
Roman stared.
“To whom?”
“Graham Pike.”
The room became very quiet.
Narelli looked up.
“He told me Elliot was confused. He said not to embarrass an old man.”
Roman remembered Graham's face during the meeting.
The hesitation.
The questions.
The way he'd seemed more concerned about the audit than the threat.
Roman stood.
“Calvin.”
His security coordinator appeared in the doorway.
“Boss?”
“Pull Graham Pike's access history.”
Calvin nodded.
“And Roman?”
“Yes?”
Calvin hesitated.
“Someone used an executive credential to enter your office at 8:58 this morning.”
Roman glanced at the clock.
May you like
Nine-oh-two.
The exact time Narelli had warned him not to be there.
