“Excuse me. I didn’t know you were busy,” he said to Geneva.
“What is it, Carl?” she asked.
He looked acutely uncomfortable, then finally spoke. “There’s...a body. I have no instructions, no information regarding this man.”
Geneva frowned. “I wasn’t expecting a delivery.”
“It’s not a delivery. I walked in, and he was on the table.”
Brett pushed past him and hurried back to the employees-only area, then burst into the embalming room.
The man on the table appeared to be in his forties, medium height and a medium build. His looks suggested he was Hispanic.
Diego, Geneva and Carl had followed Brett.
Geneva let out a scream.
He turned to look at her, certain that he was about to learn that this was the man who had approached her—the man who had demanded her key.
He was also, Brett was certain from the pictures he had seen, Jose Acervo, the man who had hired Pierre and Antoine, and been responsible for Antoine’s death. Twice.
Jose Acervo, a known associate of Anthony Barillo—and not the man Brett had seen with Barillo.
“Mrs. Diaz,” Brett said, about to ask, though he was certain of the answer.
He didn’t get a chance to voice the question, because Geneva Diaz slumped to the floor.
Diego instantly hunkered down by her and looked up at Brett. “No pun intended, but it appears that Mrs. Diaz has fainted dead away.”
*
Lara wasn’t sure why she felt as confident of her own safety as she did. Of course, by midmorning the place was bustling. It was Saturday, which meant it was a great day for parents to spend time in the sun with their children.
Every swim and encounter was booked. Adrianna’s theory was that they were especially busy because Sunday would be totally devoted to the military and Just Say Thanks.
Whatever the reason for the crowds, Lara wasn’t the least bit concerned about walking around the place. She decided “safety in numbers” was a reality, not just a cliché.
She was able to put yesterday’s threat out of her mind because she was certain that whatever cowardly creep had put that doll on her desk couldn’t possibly have anything to do with Sea Life, other than having bought a ticket. Yes, whoever he was, he’d found his way to her office, but it wasn’t that difficult. The building was clearly marked as being for employees only, and her name was on her office door.
As she walked around the facility, she was pleased with the way everything for the following day seemed to be falling into place. Several reporters would be on hand, they’d received a nice response from the local community and every one of their military guests had been slotted into the schedule for their experience of choice.
With everything going so well, she decided to take a walk down to the educational building and have a chat with Dr. Amory about what she’d seen at lunch the other day.
When she arrived, classes were underway. Cathy and Myles were talking to a room full of people of all ages, from grandparents to toddlers.
Myles waved to her but continued speaking as she smiled and walked by.
Nelson Amory left the public programs to his staff so he could focus on his research. He was undeniably brilliant, so it was undoubtedly a much better use of his time.
He looked up the minute she walked into his office and flushed. Was he feeling guilty? Or had she only imagined his momentary look of unease?
He smiled and said, “Hello. What can I help you with today, Miss Media? Looking for news for your next press release?”
“Oh, no, I’m not here to grill you,” she said. She pulled up a chair and sat down in front of his desk. “Honestly? I came here because I’m worried.”
“Worried?” he asked quickly.
She nodded gravely.
Could he have been the one to put the savaged doll on her desk?
“About what?” he prompted her.
“You were at lunch with some heavy hitters the other day.”
He shook his head. “Yes, some of our top sponsors. Why should that worry you? I don’t owe you an explanation, Lara. You’re the new kid on the block here, you know.”
She nodded. “I do know. And you’ve all been wonderful to me. I just wanted to ask you to tell Grady if you’re considering leaving. To give him time to find someone else.”
He looked down, as if his papers were more important than her presence. Then he said quietly, “Don’t worry, I’m not leaving.”
Lara leaned forward. “Did one of them offer you a job?” She spoke lightly, but she was serious, and she was sure he knew it.
He leaned back. “Taggerly,” he admitted. “He wants to develop a protocol for testing a new category of drugs.”
“But your specialty is marine mammals. How would you...?”