Page 13 of Tracking Payton
“As easy as I thought it would. Now, where is it?” His hawk eyes lasered in on the envelope on her desk.
He moved toward it, but Payton stood and blocked him.
“Move.” One word. One command.
He should know by now, she didn’t take orders very well. Least of all from Mr. high and Mighty.
“Do you know what’s on that drive?” she asked instead, refusing to budge.
“None of your business.”
“My father’s attempted murder isn’t any of my business?” She quirked an eyebrow, daring him to contradict her.
Alex rolled his eyes. “That’s a little drastic, don’t you think?”
Both eyebrows shot up. “No, I saw the scene, Alex.”
“Then you know it’s being ruled as an accident.” Alex started to look uncomfortable. His stiff posture, stooping. “Is that why you’re here? Stealing information, hoping the police will take over the case because you can’t get the government to do what you want?”
“Believe what you want.” She didn’t want to reveal that she was a detective. At this point, she didn’t know who to trust. Instinct told her she could trust Alex, but he was being a prick so she kept quiet. “It doesn’t change the fact that someone tried to kill my father and now he’s missing.”
“You’re the only one that seems to think that. The police ruled it as an accident. They don’t have time or resources to go on a witch hunt.”
“Know so much about the police force, do you?” She crossed her arms over her chest so she didn’t do something foolish, like punch him in his egotistical face. How dare he think he knew more about the police than her? Of course, she hadn’t told him what she did for a living. The main advantage of being a woman in a man’s world was the element of surprise. No one ever suspected much of her. She used it to her benefit.Just like now.
“I know more than you. I also know how the government works. Bullying them won’t produce results.”
Condescending jerk. “They are covering up something.”
“And how have you come to that conclusion?” There was humor in his voice, like he was just playing along to entertain her.
“Forget it.” She shook her head sadly and stepped away to gather her things. “Dad was wrong about you. I really can’t trust you.” Picking up the envelope and letter, she walked away and tossed the flash drive at him as she passed.
Payton was done with Alex. She wasn’t going to bother trying to explain to him when he was never willing to listen to her. Why she thought he could change over the years, she didn’t know. He hadn’t been helpful when they were younger, and he wasn’t being helpful now. She had her own leads to follow.
“Payton,” Alex called out to her softly, but she refused to stop. Refused to turn around. She couldn’t look at him right now. So she ignored him and kept walking, holding the envelope to her chest like a shield to protect her from the world. Right now it felt like her versus the world. Colin was coming down the hall as she passed. He looked just as disheveled as Alex had. Obviously not as easy as Alex had played it.
“Payton.” He nodded at her, giving her a wan smile.
“Colin.” She nodded and kept walking. She walked out of the front door and almost bumped into one of her father’s colleagues and her friend.
“Simon, what are you doing here?” She hadn’t meant to sound rude, but she didn’t understand why he’d be here at her workplace.
Major Simon Diesel had worked in her father’s building for the past five years. He worked with her father’s department, though not directly under her father. He was a frequent visitor at her father’s house. Her father was Simon’s role model and had taken him under his wing. Payton had always gotten along well with him. He didn’t have a wife or children that Payton knew of. He was as much a workaholic as her father, and they shared a love of computers.
Simon was in his late thirties. He was just a few inches shorter than her with thick dark brown hair and brown eyes. He had a warm smile and a fun personality. She hadn’t seen much of him lately due to her schedule and her dad’s.
“When I heard about your father, I had to find you and pay my respects. I’m so sorry for your loss.” He reached a hand out to touch her arm, but she recoiled back at his words.
“Respects?” she asked puzzled.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Of his passing. We’ll all miss him. He was an integrated part of the base.” He squeezed her arm in a comforting gesture.
That was twice now someone thought her father was dead instead of just injured. “I appreciate that, Simon, but my father’s not dead, only missing.”
“Of course.” Simon cleared his throat looking uncomfortable. “Don’t lose that confidence. He plays an important role around here. We’d been lost without him.”
“Thank you.”
