“Gentlemen, what’s this about?”The woman made a show of tossing her hair to clip on an earring.“I was just about to head out the door for work.Is this something that can wait?”
“I’m afraid it’s not.”Jude studied her expression.
Layla McGovern jerked her head back in surprise, like she wasn’t used to being told no.
“Well,” she breathed in a haughty tone.“All right then.I’ll let my assistant know to cancel some of my earlier appointments.I’m very busy and this is a disruption to my day.”
“We understand, Mrs.McGovern, but our business is pressing.”
She nodded, released a dramatic sigh, and shot off a quick text.“I can give you about thirty minutes.”
He could feel the mental eye rolls from his agents and dove right into questioning.
“Do you know a man by the name of Felix Caster?”He didn’t care so much about what she said, but how she said it.
Layla leaned back on the vintage love seat she’d occupied and draped her arms, braced along the back of the seat, like she didn’t have a care in the world.“No.That name’s not familiar to me.”
“Last night, half a million dollars was deposited into Felix Caster’s bank account.Half of the payment he received for the contracted killing of a man brought in for questioning.”
“Ridiculous.What does this have to do with me?”
“Caster also shot one of our agents who is now in critical condition,” Jude said leaning forward.
Her eyes darted to the side, and she licked her lips.“I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m afraid you’re wasting your time talking to me, when you could be out solving a crime.”
“Could you tell us why you also deposited 2.5 million dollars into the same account that paid Felix Caster?”He held her gaze, waiting for her answer.
More uncertainty flashed through her eyes, but it was quickly snuffed out, and she retained the bored appearance of a woman whose time and money were being compromised.
“Gentlemen, when you run a multi-billion-dollar empire, I’m afraid 2.5 million dollars is merely pocket change.My company funds thousands of projects, organizations, and other start-ups throughout the country.I could hardly keep track of where such a small amount would end up.”
“Do you have any children?”Ross asked.
“No.”She waved them off.“I hardly have time for myself, let alone children.”
“With all the money your company brings in, you’d certainly be able to hire a nanny or two,” Cameron added.
“Could and would are two different things, gentlemen.I hope you find what you’re looking for, but right now I need to get into the office.I’ll walk you out.”She stood and held out an arm, gesturing for them to walk toward the exit.
The men stood up and followed Mrs.McGovern down the hall.As they walked, Jude noticed Cameron glancing into a room off the foyer.He paused and leaned casually against the doorframe.“If you don’t have kids,” Cameron asked.“Why buy the expensive rocker?”
The woman turned slowly, a flash of panic briefly overtaking her face.“A friend’s baby shower.”
“Don’t most people wrap the box and let the parents-to-be deal with the setup?”Ross interjected.
“I’m not most people, and I would hardly give a gift that someone would have to assemble themselves.That’s in poor taste.”
At the same time, the woman’s husband came back into the room looking distraught.“Our lawyer is on their way, Layla.You don’t have to answer any more questions.”
“I don’t and I won’t, because I’m going to be late for a board meeting.Why don’t you gentlemen see yourselves out.”
Jude, Ross, and Cameron exchanged a look and quickly left the building.Their ability to communicate without words had come from years of working together in the field.The men exited the gated urban community and parked just outside the gates.It didn’t take long for Layla to come tearing out of the same gates in a sleek Maserati.
“Follow her,” Jude said, and Ross started the engine, easing out into traffic.They were only on the road for ten minutes when it became apparent, she wasn’t headed to her office building.
“Get Agent Levine on the phone,” Jude told Cameron.“If she’s going where I think she is, we’re going to need agents in position.”
Cameron nodded and lifted his phone to his ear.They sped through the city streets, putting just enough distance between themselves and the woman in the Maserati.The last thing they wanted to do was raise her suspicions.As they drove, the high-rises tapered off, and soon they began to see residential homes, each one spaced farther than the last.
