Nico
Monday morning. My office at Rossi Industries. Ten AM.
I barely slept last night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face. Tear-stained. Broken. Telling me about the man who destroyed her career because she had the audacity to say no.
Dr. Lawrence Kendrick.
Through the glass wall of my office, I can see Bree at her desk. She’s focused on her computer. but she looks tired.
I reach for the smart glass control panel and press the button. The transparent walls cloud to opaque white.
Larissa arrives first. Sharp gray suit, hair pulled back, already in lawyer mode.
Callahan follows three minutes later. He’s in his usual plainclothes detail uniform. There’s nothing casual about his posture. Former Secret Service guys never really turn off.
Callahan closes the door behind him.
I study them a moment. Larissa has her tablet out. She’s already prepared something. Callahan’s posture is different than usual, more protective than tactical.
“Before we begin,” I say. “This conversation doesn’t leave this room.”
Larissa sets down her tablet. “I found three firms that specialize in Title IX institutional investigations. Sentinel Strategic Intelligence has the strongest track record for university misconduct cases.” She pauses. “I assume this involves someone at Columbia?”
She talked to Callahan.
I nod. “It does.”
Callahan shifts in his seat. “Preliminary background on Dr. Kendrick shows a clean public record. Tenure track since 2015, full professor 2018. Published author. Sits on several nonprofit boards. Married. No criminal history, no civil suits. But that’s just the surface.”
My jaw tightens. “I need deeper than surface. I need to know if there are patterns of harassment. Inappropriate behavior between a teacher and his students. And I need it done quietly enough that he doesn’t know anyone’s looking until it’s too late. Hire a PI if you have to. Multiple PIs. At my expense.”
“Sentinel uses their own investigators.” Larissa’s expression shifts from professional to concerned. “But sir, institutional investigations of this nature... they’re difficult to keep contained once they start. Especially if there are multiple victims. People talk.”
“Then we move fast,” I counter.
She still seems hesitant.
“Look.” I force myself to keep my voice level. “This fucker destroyed a woman’s career because she said no to him. I need to know if he’s done thisbefore. And I need it done quietly. That’s all there is to it.”
Callahan’s jaw tightens. He has daughters. I knew he’d understand.
“Does this woman know you’re pursuing this?” Larissa asks carefully.
I meet her eyes. “No. And she won’t. Not until it’s done.”
“Nico.” Larissa uses my first name, which she almost never does. “If this is someone close to you, acting without her consent could seriously damage that relationship. Trust is difficult to rebuild once broken.”
I think about Bree’s face last night. The way she made me promise not to do anything. The way I lied to her without hesitation. But then I think of how broken she was, and my resolve only hardens.
That fucker is going to pay.
“I’m aware of the risks,” I reply.
“And you want to proceed anyway?” Larissa presses.
“Absolutely,” I say firmly.
