Synergy: New Adult Romantic Suspense (U-District, #1) (36 page)

“Do you think he’s the only one?”

Neal wanted to say yes. “No. Timothy Hartwick has motive, just because you’re a young inexperienced CEO coming in and turning his stable world upside down. Donald Haley wasn’t on the management team when you fired Stan Templeman, although Haley did benefit from it, and you said he had administrator access as well, so he had the means to do it.”

“Yes, Stan had Zachary set up the admin rights the same way they were set up on the old system.”

“Templeman has plenty of motive. You fired him, and I’m sure he was angry when Gloria didn’t name him CEO. When I talked to him, Templeman indicated that he wanted what Gloria wanted, but the other employees I’ve talked to said that he still expected to continue to run the company. He also had the means to commit the crime: admin access and the knowledge to pull off such a financial coup.” Neal paused. “However, all appearances indicated he and Gloria were really close, so I believe his pain over her death is genuine, at least.”

“Yes, they were good friends.”

Neal leaned back in his seat.
Jade doesn’t know?
He found that interesting. “Your grandmother and Stan had been seeing each other romantically for the past ten years.”

Jade shook her head. “What? He’s lying. She would have told me.”

“I believe it’s true, Jade.” He noted the fact that she wasn’t aware in his mental notebook. He’d have to ask her parents if they knew.

“One other thing. Was your grandmother allergic to anything?”

“Yes, peanuts. She almost died from eating them when she was six or seven years old. She went into anaphylactic shock, and her heart gave out. Luckily, a doctor was at the birthday party and knew how to resuscitate her. She’d told this story often.”

“Was she allergic to almonds too?”

“No, the way she explained it to me is peanuts are a legume that grows in the ground, and nuts grow on trees. She was allergic to the mold, not the protein. Why do you ask?”

“I noticed she had an EpiPen in her purse. Did she drink almond lattes often? There was an empty one in her trash can.”

“Every day. They were her favorite. There’s no chance of being allergic because the syrup is made with artificial ingredients. She was very careful what she ate. She’d often refuse food because of it, and she got her lattes only at the coffee shop down the street.”

He’d have to check out the coffee shop. If someone was willing to kill Thompson and run the professor off the road, even go as far as to attack Jade, it seemed highly likely Gloria’s death might not have been from natural causes. Templeman hadn’t said goodbye to Gloria because he had expected her to have at least another year, which would explain why she was at work instead of on her deathbed.

Jade’s thoughts seemed to take her somewhere far away. He hated reminding her of Gloria’s death. He stood to leave. “I’ll let you know if I find out anything more. Where does Mr. Radisson sit?”

“He’s down the hall to your right.”

“I just want to ask him a few questions. It’s nothing to worry about. By the way, we’re done with your condo. You can go back anytime, but I recommend you don’t go alone until we get this solved.”

“I’d like to pick up more clothes. I’m going to stay with my parents until you figure out who is trying to hurt me.”

“It shouldn’t be much longer, now that we have the motive behind it. I can go over to your place while you’re picking up a few things, if you want?”

“Yes, I’d feel safer if you were there.” She paused and swallowed. “I appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”

“It’s my job.”

“I’m pretty sure getting frantic phone calls in the middle of the night isn’t part of your job description.” The lines that appeared around her eyes told him her smile was genuine.

“You can call me anytime.” He hadn’t been able to help Gloria, but he’d do whatever it took to help Jade—or die trying.

NOT BOTHERING TO CHECK
with the executive assistant, Neal knocked on Radisson’s office door and walked in without an invitation. He wanted to catch the man’s initial reaction. Neat stacks of papers and labeled folders sat on his desk.

“Detective.” Radisson didn’t flinch, but his pupils contracted in surprise. He finished writing something on what appeared to be a contract and then placed it upside down on his desk.

Hiding something?
Neal didn’t sit so he could stay on higher ground. “You like turtles?”

Radisson glanced at the picture on his desk. “My niece drew it for me. I hope you have good news?”

“Afraid not.”

“I don’t buy that the robbery isn’t related to the attack on Jade.”

“Neither do I.”

“Good. Is there something you need from me?” Radisson asked.

“Jade mentioned that you carry a silver dollar in your pocket.”

Radisson’s eyebrows drew together. “I do.”

“Can I see it?”

“I don’t have it. It’s missing.”

“Where did you lose it?”

“I don’t know, Detective. The last place I recall having it was here at work. The only time I take it out of my pocket is to put it on my nightstand.”

“When was the last time you were in Jade’s apartment?”

Radisson leaned forward in his chair and his eyes narrowed. “Is this about the robbery?”

Neal didn’t bother to answer.

“The last time I was at Jade’s was on Sunday night.”

“Have you spent any time in her bedroom?”

Heat flared in Radisson’s eyes and he stood so that they were at eye level. “That’s none of your damn business.”

Neal noted Radisson’s agitation. Could be he had something to hide, or it could be he didn’t like answering personal questions about Jade. “Answer the question now, Mr. Radisson, or you can answer it in
my
office.”

Radisson’s hand balled into a fist. “No. I’ve never been in Jade’s bedroom.”

He couldn’t decide if he liked Radisson, who seemed protective of Jade and concerned about her honor, or if he despised him for manipulating her. “Where were you around eleven-forty p.m. on Thursday night?”

“Am I under arrest?”

“Should you be?”

Radisson shoved his hands in his pockets. “I was at home waiting for Jade to call when her flight got in.”

“Did she ever call?” Neal knew that she hadn’t.

Radisson’s jaw clenched. “No. Her house was being robbed.”

So far, no body language signaling deceit. Neal watched for facial twitching, pupil dilation, and rapid eye blinking. Even the most sophisticated liars had some kind of tell. “Was Ms. Ballinger at home with you?”

“She was at the hospital.”

“So you were home alone?”

“Yes,” Radisson said curtly.

Once again, convenient alibi, no one to corroborate or deny it.

Radisson glanced at his watch. “Is there anything else? I have a meeting in a few minutes.”

“Just one more thing. Would you mind stopping by the police station to give us your fingerprints?”

“Not at all, Detective. I have nothing to hide. I’m assuming you found my fingerprints all over her place.”

Neal thanked Radisson for his cooperation. So far, he wasn’t getting a clear signal about the man either way. But he did know this: if Radisson wasn’t involved, someone was going to a lot of trouble to frame him.

IT KILLED JADE
to know that Neal had just questioned Bryce. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. Five people had admin access. Five people could have cancelled the laptop order.

But who knew about the laptop?
The only two people she had mentioned it to were Zach and Bryce.
Does anyone else know?

Jade picked up the phone and dialed Zach’s number.

No answer.

When he didn’t pick up, she tried the server room.

Still no answer.

She quickly sent an email asking him to contact her right away, it was important. Zach usually responded within minutes.

Nothing.

She tried his cell phone and left an urgent message for him to call her back. Finally, she called her assistant. “Roz, can you find out where Zach is? I need to speak to him right away.”

“Shuah, no problem.”

As the minutes ticked by, Jade tapped her fingers on her desk.

If Zach had told anyone else about the laptop, they could be responsible. No wait, it would have to be one of the five who had admin access. That narrowed it down considerably. She prayed Zach had mentioned it to one of the five suspects. As long as it wasn’t Bryce.

Could Zach have done this?
No, she couldn’t even go there in her head, but that might be a mistake. Jade picked up the phone on the first ring.

“Boss, Timothy said Zachary left in a hurry, said it was an emergency.”

“An emergency. Is he okay?”

“Dunno, that’s all anyone knows.”

“Did you try his parents?”

“Yeah, no one answered.”

“Okay, thanks.” Jade hung up.

Why would Zach leave so suddenly, saying it was an emergency?
Could he be the one?
No, he was helping her, wasn’t he?
What if he’s lying, what if there was someone else on the admin list?
Or maybe, someone figured out he knew too much and they got to him? Jade agonized over each possibility. She couldn’t come to grips with Zach being responsible for stealing from her any more than it could be Bryce.

Still, she’d call Neal and report it. Zach might be in danger.

HE’D JUST BEEN BUMPED TO THE TOP
of the suspect list. Bryce ended the meeting early. He couldn’t think about work right now. It was no coincidence that the detective had asked about his silver dollar. There could be only one reason: it must have been found at Jade’s after the break-in, most likely in her bedroom. Bryce couldn’t recall dropping the coin at her place. And even if he had, how had it ended up in her bedroom?

Jade knew more than she was telling him; he could feel it. Why didn’t she trust him?

Because up to this point he hadn’t given her a reason to, that’s why. He shouldn’t have held back; he should have told her he loved her.

There had been fear in her eyes when he’d touched her in her office. She’d pulled away, for only an instant, then restrained herself and tried to hide it from him. He couldn’t blame her; he’d certainly given her reason to think he could hurt her, after what he’d done to Steve, after he’d forced himself on her in his office.

He needed to talk to her, to make her understand he would never hurt her. He could protect her, if only she would let him.

SPOOKED WASN’T A STRONG
ENOUGH WORD
to describe how Jade felt when she walked into her condo for the first time since the robbery. Black or white fingerprint powder covered every touchable surface. Contents of drawers and closets were strewn everywhere. Her place looked worse than it had after the robbery. Jade went straight to her closet to pull out what she needed.

She grabbed her suitcase and shoved clothes into it, wanting to get the heck out of there. It would have been best to wait for Neal to arrive, but she’d talked herself into coming inside anyway. Neal wouldn’t always be there to watch over her, and she didn’t want to be spooked out of her own home—even though she was.