Dominic's lips tightened. "Samantha was concerned about an infrastructure project my company is breaking ground on next month. The region can be dangerous, but I have a security expert who will make sure our event is as safe as it can be."
"And would that expert be Max Malone?" Tyler interjected.
"Yes, it would," Dominic replied, not offering any further details.
"The man Samantha wanted to talk to," Tyler continued.
"Well, now that you mention the file, I'm thinking it's because she was worried about me, about the trip. There was an incident last year with my security in a different region of that country. We were ambushed, and two of my security guards were killed. That's why we moved the project to a different area."
"But Tajikistan is not that big," Tyler said. "Do you really think the danger is gone?"
"We will have more support this time."
"And that will be expensive," she said.
"It usually is," Dominic replied. "But this is an important project. It will change lives. It's an enormous investment for the company, but it will be worth it."
He sounded passionate, sincere, or he might just be a great salesperson.
"Do you have any leads at all into the bomber?" Dominic asked, changing the subject.
"Not at this time," she answered.
"That's disappointing. I've been racking my brain trying to think of who might have wanted to hurt Samantha. While we didn't talk that much about her current case, she mentioned that the accounting firm had clients tied to organized crime. One of those clients is Armen Petroysan, who owns a chain of automotive dealerships."
She nodded. Armen Petroysan had been on both the NYPD and the FBI's radar for years, but there had never been enough evidence to bring him in on anything. "That's interesting. We're still trying to get the case files from the DA's office."
"What's the problem? Do I need to make a call? I know the DA. I can put some pressure on him."
"They're going to release the files; it's just a process," she said. "And to be quite frank, we don't know if Samantha was the target or just in the wrong place at the wrong time, so we have to look at everything. But we appreciate the tip, and we will look into that case."
"Is that it?" Dominic asked as he rose, clearly ready to end the meeting.
"One more thing," she said as she got to her feet. "How long have you known Max Malone?"
"Max?" Dominic echoed, surprised by the question. "A long time. We went to boarding school together in the UK—Harrow. We were there for two years together."
She hadn't been expecting that answer. "I didn't realize you were friends."
"Well, we lost touch for a long time, but we've reconnected, and Max is very good at his job."
"Because of his CIA background?" Tyler asked.
Dominic's eyebrows rose slightly, as if he wasn't sure how to answer that question, but he said simply, "You'll have to talk to him about his background. Let me show you out."
They were at the door when Tyler paused, "Mr. Ashford, can you account for your whereabouts Monday morning between seven and nine a.m.?"
Dominic's expression turned stony. "You're asking me for an alibi for an explosion that almost killed a woman I care about?"
"Standard procedure in an investigation like this," Tyler said calmly.
"I was here." Dominic said tightly. "I had a conference call with investors in Dubai at eight a.m." The warmth drained from his demeanor. "My assistant and my security people can confirm that." He pointedly opened the door.
"Thank you for your time," she said, noting how quickly the door closed behind them.
When they got into the elevator, Tyler said, "What do you think?"
"He answered our questions. His emotions seemed appropriate."
