Page 65 of Carnal Risk

Quietly he got up and shut the door, locking it. He slid in front of his computer and took a deep breath. If there was nothing on it, he’d never tell her he’d seen the files. In good conscience, he’d have done the right thing, knowing that someone in his company had been trying to steal secrets.

He typed in his password and inserted the drive into the USB port. Searching in the finder, he clicked open the folders. Garrett swore as the files flashed across the screen. PFx Prototype. Detailed records of sample discoveries. Recent experiment logs. Chemical breakdowns. All highly confidential.

Evan and Chase had discovered the PFx Prototype during a recent deep sea dive. A highly classified project, the organic compound had been discovered deep within a hole, a shelf in the Caribbean. At the time they’d mailed the samples home, Chase and Evan had had no idea how important they’d be. It had only been after several months of chemical testing and brainstorming that they’d begun to develop practical applications for its use.

Evan had been analyzing and testing compositions in the hope of strengthening military fabrics, perhaps creating more lightweight protective skydiving gear, but more importantly, exoskeleton-like fabrics that could be worn on the battlefield. They were in the early stages of testing, getting ready to file for patents.

How Selby Reynolds could have gotten her hands on the information was beyond his comprehension. His heart pounded in his chest and he took a deep breath, attempting to calm his rage. Although he’d set up security for all his top level executives, his thoughts immediately went to Chase and he sent him a text, enforcing his order to stay home. Because of the circumstances surrounding Cormac’s death, he and Dean had instructed all key staff to telecommute until they’d reinforced security at Emerson.

Garrett slammed his laptop shut and removed the flash drive. He considered calling Dean, but he planned to confront Selby first. Storming out of his office, he found Lars and Selby in the living room, sitting on the sofa drinking coffee.

“What the hell is this?” he yelled at her, interrupting their conversation. “How could you do this?”

“Do what?” Selby asked. She set her mug on the table, her eyes darting to Lars.

“Calm down,” Lars told him. “What’s wrong with you?”

“This.” He held up the thumb drive and threw its crystal shell onto the table.

“What’s that?” Lars reached for it.

“Ask Selby. It belongs to her,” he said accusingly.

“I’ve never seen that before,” Selby began. She jumped to her feet. “What’s going on?”

“Lars got that from your apartment yesterday.”

“That’s not mine.”

“It’s just a pin.” Lars fingered the crystals.

“No, it’s a storage device. And do you know what was on it? Emerson files, that’s what.”

“I…no, that can’t be,” she stammered.

“You’re a liar,” he charged. “Evan’s data. It’s one of our projects. A top secret one, by the way. It’s all here.”

“No…you don’t understand. I got that from Evan. I mean Patrick. Oh my God.” Selby began to pace, holding her hand to her forehead. “He didn’t want me to steal. He was planting data on me.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Selby cringed as Garrett screamed at her. She’d never seen someone so angry. When Evan had taken her on a date, he’d come to her home. He’d offered her the gift but she’d turned it down. It had been her first clue that something had been off. Selby rubbed her forehead, trying to think of how he’d planted it in her apartment. Recalling his visit, she surmised that when he’d used the restroom, he must have hidden it in her armoire.

“Garrett. Please, listen to me. That night in Evan’s office. The reason I was holding the photograph. I knew him.” Selby’s stomach churned as she said the words. Garrett would never forgive her.

“You knew Evan?” Garrett slammed his fist down onto the granite countertop. Lars went to him but he held up his hands in a defensive posture. “Stay away. No. You’re lying. This can’t be true.” Garrett shook his head.

“I had no idea. I met him at the club. He told me his name was Patrick. We talked all night and then the next day he came and picked me up at my place. It was only one date. I swear it.”

“You went on a date?” Garrett’s voice boomed.

“Jesus Christ, why didn’t you say something?” Lars asked.

“Because it made no sense. I didn’t know where he worked. I literally met him twice,” Selby explained. “You’re the one who told me to go work for Emerson. I never once asked for that account.”

“Yeah, right,” Garrett commented.

“No, that part is true. I mean, I only had her come work for you because Evan died. Selby’s the best I’ve got.”