Page 3 of Fatal Conspiracy

She slipped her hand into his to offer a firm handshake, even though his hand easily swallowed hers. “Cal is around here somewhere. I came in looking for coffee so I can keep my eyes open for the next few hours.”

“That’s in the room across the hall,” he said, pointing to his left after he dropped her hand. He couldn’t help but think she had great energy, and he would love to get to know her better. Too bad he was leaving. “Secure Watch,” he said, reading her badge. “Is that a super-secret spy organization?”

Alayah’s laughter filled the room, making him smile. He’d expected tinkling bells but got a lilting hee-haw that ended in a giggle. “It wouldn’t be very super-secret spyish of me to walk around wearing my name on my chest, would it?”

“True, true,” he agreed, still grinning. “I’m kidding, though. I’ve heard nothing but good things about your company. In fact, I was relieved to hear Secure One and Secure Watch would be here protecting the conference.”

“We were a last-minute addition, but I assure you, we’ll do everything possible to ensure the conference goes off without a hitch. To that end, I’d better return to my station and prepare for sound check.”

He bowed and stepped out of the way of the door. “It was nice to meet you, Alayah from Secure Watch. Don’t forget the coffee. You’ll need it if you’re forced to sit through my boss’s speech.”

She laughed again, which was precisely what he wanted. “I used to work in Silicon Valley, so I’m quite familiar with your boss’s penchant for long-winded discourse. Come to think of it, maybe I’ll get a pot and a straw.”

He smiled at the image it evoked. “It would save you a trip at hour two of his presentation.” Alayah grimaced, and he laughed. “I’m kidding. He should wrap it up in an hour and fifty-seven minutes. There’s a reason I’m leaving for a little R and R the moment he takes the stage. I’ve heard him speak no less than two hundred times, so I think I’ll pass on this one.”

“Can’t blame you there,” she agreed. “Besides, there’s no better place than Duluth for some R and R.”

That was one thing they both agreed on. “Have you seen someone named Cal Newfellow? That’s who I’m supposed to find.”

“Cal should be along any minute. You can’t miss him. He’s wearing a Secure One shirt, a name badge, and is sporting some fancy apparatus.” She waggled the fingers on her right hand and then left the room.

He stared after her, still wearing a goofy grin. What an unexpected bright spot she was on this day! A man walked through the door, but Derek didn’t need to see his shirt to know Cal Newfellow had arrived. When he extended his right hand, he indeed wore a fancy prosthesis to replace his missing fingers.

“You must be Derek,” he said. “I’m Cal Newfellow.”

Derek shook his hand with a nod. “I am, and it’s very nice to meet you. They told me you would be the one to take Hugo’s things to the stage.”

“Yes, I’m happy to get it set up while you attend to your boss,” Cal agreed, accepting the water bottle and other supplies he handed off.

“I appreciate it. I’m needed backstage but let me know if you have any questions.”

Cal held up the bottle with a smile. “In my old job, I drove diplomats through the streets of Kabul during air raids.”

“So, you’re saying you can handle a water bottle without question. Probably a fair assessment,” he said, laughing at himself. “It seems I’ve put my foot in it several times in the last few minutes.”

“Assumed Alayah was a lost child?” Cal asked, still not cracking a smile.

“Yep,” he admitted. “In fairness, she had her back turned to me when I walked in.” Cal was about to say something else when Derek’s name was called over the loudspeaker, asking him to return to the back of the stage. “Looks like Hugo’s patience has run out. Thanks for your help, Cal.” He waved and beat it out of Dodge before he put his other foot in his mouth.

In record time, he was standing backstage in front of his boss. “I think you should stay for the conference,” Hugo Victor said as he fixed his tie. “What if the office needs something and I’m unavailable?”

Biting back the sigh on the tip of his tongue, Derek reminded himself that Hugo cared about his business and struggled to hand off the reins to others. “The board is extremely capable and can certainly hold down the fort until you can be reached.” Derek handed over the headpiece microphone Hugo would need to wear on stage for his talk.

“True,” Hugo muttered, shaking his head as he put the microphone on and waited for Derek to tape it discreetly to his temple. “But what do I do if you’re not here and I need something?”

“I don’t know, Hugo,” Derek said, stopping the impending eye roll at the last minute. “But you’re the head of Black Marlin Technologies, so I hope that you can work the problem to find a solution. I’ve been your right hand for quite a few years. I’m confident you will survive without me for a few days. If an emergency arises and you must return to the office before the end of the conference. You know my number.” He tipped Hugo’s face to the side. “Have I said how much I don’t like how discolored your skin is? You need to see a doctor about this, Hugo.”

His boss just waved him away, his opinion about seeing a doctor for his recent unusual symptoms already well known by his assistant. Unfortunately, Derek worried there was a very real problem that he was ignoring. Hugo had been suffering from nausea and skin discoloration for over a month but kept saying it was just stress.

Stress was the very reason why Derek was leaving the convention and heading to his cabin on the lake. Hugo had become increasingly dependent on him to do even the most basic tasks, which put unrelenting stress on his shoulders in a way he hadn’t signed up for when he took the job. While he appreciated everything Hugo had done for him over the years, it had become clear to him that he couldn’t continue to live this way.

Hired initially as an app designer, Derek had impressed Hugo with his organizational and problem-solving skills. When Hugo’s previous assistant left to find greener pastures, he’d asked Derek to take the job. Thinking it could only help him take the next step up the ladder, Derek had jumped at the chance, but it would have been better to look before he leaped. Now, he was essentially holding the handof a fully grown man who would no longer do basic tasks for himself.

“You’ll at least stay for my speech, right?” Hugo asked as though he needed Derek’s approval for everything he did.

With a smile on his face to hide his bald-faced lie, he nodded. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, but I’ll leave before you take questions, so don’t look for me afterward. I’ll already be gone.”

“Sure, sure. You deserve a vacation. What’s it been now?” he asked, as though Derek was supposed to lie about the fact that it had been over three years, so he did.