Chapter 27

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

Maddie waited in the lobby for Josh to return.

It was the best way to meet up with him. If she waited in her suite, she might not hear him enter his room next door.

Besides, she was restless. She couldn't go back to her room and just stare at the walls.

As she sat on a leather couch, she played with ideas on how to bring up the subject with Josh about his late-night outing on the night Jared died. There didn't seem to be a way to do it naturally. Every scenario she brainstormed sounded accusatory.

She needed to think of something, however. She needed answers.

Finally, a group of golfers returned from their day on the greens.

Maddie searched the faces as they filed back into the resort.

Josh wasn't with them.

Maddie pressed her lips into a grim line. Where was he?

Her shoulders loosened when she saw Brody step inside instead. He spotted her and smiled.

She had to admit that he didn't look like himself in his khaki shorts and pale green polo shirt. He seemed more like a T-shirt and flip-flops kind of guy. More the high adventure sport type than the type to enjoy a slow, leisurely game of golf.

She remembered the conversation they'd started yesterday. She still wanted to finish what she'd been telling him. But privacy was everything, and she hadn't had the right opportunity.

Brody strode toward her and paused. "If you're looking for Josh, he stayed back talking to a couple of the guys who golfed with us."

"I understand. Did you have fun?"

He shrugged. "I've never been much of a golfer, but it wasn't bad. The course was beautiful."

"Everything around here is beautiful." Maddie's gaze drifted behind him, and her breath caught.

Robert Shields stepped inside. One of the people on her list. One of the men on Josh's list.

"What are we watching?" Brody whispered beside her.

She raised her finger, indicating he should wait a minute.

Robert paused and scanned the lobby before his gaze stopped on William Wright, the head of technology.

He headed toward the man, but William didn't appear to see him. He glanced at his watch before turning and walking away.

Robert trailed him.

"Still no explanation?" Brody followed her gaze.

"I'm going to sound crazy." Maddie's voice cracked as if to emphasize her statement.

"I'm used to crazy. What's going on?" His voice sounded sincere, like he meant the words and wasn't judging her.

"I suspect that man might be a corporate spy." She nodded at Robert.

Brody's eyes widened. "What? I was just golfing with him. Seems like a pretty happy-go-lucky guy."

"I told you it was going to sound crazy. But I've been trying to figure out what's going on. I still think the detective thinks I killed Jared?—"

"You started saying that the other day. But we didn't have the chance to finish that conversation. Why would the detective think that?"

She kept her gaze on Robert still, not wanting to lose him. "Because I talked to Jared for five seconds at the airport. Because he was seen arguing with someone on the beach before he died. Because the person he was arguing with returned to the same wing where I'm staying."

Brody pursed his lips skeptically. "That evidence is flimsy at best."

"I agree. But I still think Detective Kalani has his sights set on me. He's talked to me several times since Jared died."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Brody watched Robert as he disappeared down the hallway. "You really think Robert could be responsible for Jared's death? All because he could be a corporate spy?"

"This new product Benchmark is about to launch is high-value and the information on it is highly classified. Josh is worried that someone—a corporate spy—may work at Benchmark or might be the plus one of someone here."

Brody tilted his head in surprise. "That's serious."

Maddie twisted her lips together, hoping she didn't regret sharing as much as she did. After all, what if Brody was the spy?

She had a hard time seeing it. But any spy worth his or her weight would be able to disguise who they really were.

"So what are you thinking about doing?" Brody studied her face, something brewing in his mind—maybe concern. Maybe curiosity. Maybe the impulse that he should run away from her and her crazy ideas.

She expected a reprimand or scolding from him. His reaction was a pleasant surprise.

"I'm going to follow him," Maddie announced.

Brody's eyebrows climbed higher. "Doing some investigating of your own?"

"I am."

"I know you told me some of that stuff yesterday about what's going on. But investigating could be dangerous, Maddie." His voice held an underlying warning.

"I know. But so is going to prison for a crime I didn't commit."

"I can't argue with that." He paused. "You mind if I come along?"

Maddie's initial thought was to say no. But Brody could be an asset. He knew what he was doing, and a second set of eyes could only benefit her.

"As long as you can be subtle," she told him.

Amusement danced in his eyes. "Subtle is my middle name."

"Then yes, come with me. Let's see where this guy is heading."

Maddie and Brody trailed Robert as Robert trailed William.

They tried to look casual, like two people talking and enjoying the resort. But Maddie never took her eyes off Robert. The man was clearly on a mission.

"So why Robert?" Brody whispered. "Who exactly is this guy?"

"He's dating creative director Greta Ericson."

"And . . ."

"And given his past work history, we believe he might have a motive for trying to steal information from the company." They bypassed a family headed toward the pool area with innertubes and towels.

"Why Robert?"

"He had a brief stint with Apple, but then he abruptly left the company three years ago. His girlfriend before Greta also worked for a tech company—one that went under last year. He checks a lot of boxes."

"I guess he does."

As William stopped to talk to someone outside of the fitness center, Robert paused also. He stared at William as if gathering his courage.

Maddie and Brody paused near a corner to see what was going to happen.

The next moment, Robert sucked in a deep breath before striding toward William. Robert glanced around as he got closer, almost as if double-checking to make sure no one else was around.

What exactly was about to go down?

"Excuse me!" Robert called. "Can I have a moment of your time?"

William's eyes widened. "What's this about?"

"It's about an offer I think you'll find hard to turn down."

Maddie exchanged a glance with Brody.

Maybe this was the lead she'd been searching for.