Page 42 of Fatal Conspiracy

“Selina was a cop back in the day, and she’s good at talking the talk and walking the walk. She’s extremely skilled at drawing information from the cops by letting them think she is one.”

“That’s why they wanted to go to Superior this morning!” Derek exclaimed, smacking his hand to his forehead. “Well, at least it wasn’t a wasted trip.”

“I would say it’s a perfect crime, but there’s no such thing,” Alayah said, still typing away on the computer. “We all know that, but our hands are tied a little tighter because Virtual Scorpion didn’t hire us. Had they done that, we could access everything, but not when we’re trying to siphon information from other sources that are built to protect that information.”

“This might be one we have to let the cops solve, but I want my people cleared so we can leave,” Cal groused. “This has been an unmitigated disaster in multiple ways.”

Derek could understand why Cal felt that way. It was true for him as well in all but one way. One small but very significant way, and her name was Alayah.

Fingers tapping on the mouse pad, Alayah tipped her head side to side as though stretching her neck, but he’d seen her do this multiple times before and knew she wasthinking. “We’re missing something. Do we have Hugo’s autopsy report yet?”

Cal shook his head. “No, they had to run tox screens on him, so it takes longer. We know he died from antifreeze ingestion, but the cops want to know if there was anything else in his system.”

“I need to talk to Mina,” Alayah said, drumming her fingers on the bed.

Cal grabbed his phone and called Mina, going through their usual greeting before putting it on speakerphone. “What’s up?”

“We’re missing something with Josh’s financials. Did we check his personal finances or just Virtual Scorpion’s?” Alayah asked.

“They’re tied together,” Mina answered. “At least, from what we could find.”

“Would you check again?”

“What are you looking for?”

Derek wasn’t sure if she asked because she was skeptical or to gauge the situation.

“A reason why he’d need this app that Hugo was bringing to market. We know the business didn’t need capital, but there had to be a reason he wanted an app that, according to Derek, was far better than one he could develop himself.”

“You’re thinking blackmail?” Mina asked.

“That or a secret baby momma who was bleeding him dry to stay quiet about having his kid. I don’t know, but I know we’re missing something.”

“Okay, I trust you, Alayah. Give me some time. Whiskey, out.”

Alayah closed her laptop. “I wish there was more we could do, Cal. I feel as helpless as you do right now. Unfortunately, my options are limited with the equipment Ihave on the premises, so we have to depend on Secure Watch to help.”

Cal patted her back gently. “They will. If there’s something to find, they’ll find it. In the meantime, why don’t you get some rest—”

Whatever else he was going to say was interrupted by a knock on the door. Cal walked to it and checked the peephole before pulling it open. Derek recognized both men standing at the door. Ryland Frye, the defense attorney Cal had sent a few nights ago, stood beside Anthony Duffy, the attorney for Black Marlin Technologies. He stood slowly as the men walked into the room.

“Anthony? What are you doing here?”

“Mr. Duffy reached out to me to help him facilitate this meeting,” Ryland explained. “He has some interesting things to say that may change the picture here.”

“First of all, I want to say how sorry I am to hear about Hugo’s death. I know you two were close.”

“As were you,” Derek said with a nod. “I’m sure you were equally pained to lose a good friend.”

“He was a good friend, but as I was his attorney, I was privy to certain attorney-client privileges the rest of the board wasn’t. When I was notified of his death, I returned to Minneapolis immediately from my vacation to deal with the situation.”

“I still don’t understand why you’re here,” Derek said. “My involvement with Black Marlin Technologies ended with Hugo’s death. I assured Curtis I would turn in my badge upon my return. He already stripped me of my login rights, so I can’t access any company records.”

“I heard,” he said with an eye roll. “I spoke with the board and informed them that they must continue to run things as usual while I sorted out Hugo’s will. I assuredthem once that was done, we would get together to discuss our next steps. However, I already knew what Hugo’s will stated.”

“I’m confused,” Derek said, glancing between the lawyers. “If you already knew what the will said, why didn’t you tell the board? Again, my employment with Black Marlin ended with Hugo’s death.”

“Your employment, yes,” Anthony agreed. “However, you are Hugo’s sole beneficiary. You now own Black Marlin Technologies.”