Page 34 of Requiem & Reverie

“Are you here for the lecture?” she asks with a bright smile.

The dip of her gaze is the reason I wear a suit. It stirs curious glances, and I can only imagine what she’s thinking right now.

“I’d like you to direct me to someone I can speak with regarding a donation.”

Her brows wing up as if her suspicions have been greeted with an unexpected surprise. The tattoo on my neck and the scar on my face probably had me pegged as a criminal. “Sure! One moment.” She dials an extension on the phone, smiling up at me. “Mister Cross? A gentleman is here to discuss donations. Sure.” The smile doesn’t wane when she hangs up the phone. “Right down the hall. His is the office to the left.”

“Thank you.” I offer a wink, and she lowers her gaze again, her cheeks flush.

Down the hall, I follow her directions to the office on the left and knock before entering.

“Come in!” The voice on the other side of the door sharpens, when I crack it open and step inside.

An older guy with graying hair, slightly smaller than me, pushes up from his chair and offers a handshake.

“Byron Cross. I’m the director here at the Conservatory and Nature Center. I understand you’re interested in making a donation.”

Returning his handshake, I smile. “Rhett Voss. That’s correct.” I fall back into the chair behind me and twine my fingers together. “Perhaps a significant donation, depending on the information you provide.”

“That’s wonderful.” He also takes a seat and gathers up papers from his desk, pushing them aside. “We have some paperwork we’ll have you fill out. Some details we’ll collect, and a brief interview. I can call Marissa in right now.”

“Before you do that … there is a catch.”

Byron pauses and eases back into his chair. “I see. What … kind of catch?”

“I’m looking for someone that may work here. He’d be about mid-forties, six foot, or so. Might go by the name of Carl. If you have a list of employees, I could start there.”

The dip of his brows tells me exactly what I suspected when I walked through the door: he doesn’t plan to tell me anything. “Mister Voss, there are well over two hundred employees here, if we include academic staff— few of which, would fit the rather vague description you’ve provided. Regardless, I’m not willing to divulge any information, particularly as I have no idea what you intend to do with it.”

If he did, he surely wouldn’t give me the information.

“He’s a relative I’ve lost touch with over the years, and I’ve been trying to track him down, is all.”

Back in New York, had this guy been a means of getting to one of my targets, he’d already be laid out on a slab of concrete, begging me to take whatever names he could throw out. That’s the problem with trying to be civilized. Takes far more patience than I have.

“You’re welcome to have a look around. We offer that to all of our potential donors, but I’m not providing any information on whomever you stumble upon. That’s between you and the individual.”

Head cocked to the side, I sigh and lean forward. “Look, Byron. This man is dangerous. There’s reason to believe he might have some connection to the recent abductions. Perhaps you’ve heard another went missing this morning?”

“I’m sorry, are you with the police?”

“I’m a private investigator.”

“Do you have ID?”

“Would you recognize proper identification for a private investigator, if you saw one?”

He rolls his shoulders back and clears his throat. “Probably not.”

“Then, I don’t see the point. Particularly if you’re not willing to answer my questions, anyway.”

“Mister Voss, I’ve given you permission to search our grounds. Outside of that, I’m afraid I’m no help.”

Exhaling an exasperated breath, I nod and push up from the chair. He’s given me what I want at this point, which is clearance to look around and gather information on my own. “Thank you,” I say on my way to the door.

“Uh … Mister Voss … regarding the significant donation?”

Hand on the doorknob, I shrug. “It was a bribe, Byron. I would’ve been happy to pay whatever it took to get the information I’m looking for. But since that’s not happening, I’m afraid it’ll be limited to the thirty bucks I paid in parking, and the additional twenty-five you’re going to charge me for entry.” Opening the door a crack, I offer a salute on my way out. “Have a nice day.”