Page 67 of Wine, Whiskey, & Lipstick 2

He laughed. “Steven had his hands in a lot of shit, and ultimately he got what he deserved.”

“So, you just had him killed? And the Attorney General? Whatever they were into, neither deserved to die!”

His eyes narrowed as he loosely clasped his hands together, “You think I had something to do with that?”

Dillyn was confused. “I don’t even know who you all are. But, if not you? Who?”

“I thought you would have figured it out by now. It wasn’t me or the people I work for.”

“Please stop talking in riddles and tell me what you want.”

“Turns out you are more valuable than we ever imagined.”

Dillyn wracked her brain. “I own an orchard. I help corporations investigate former colleagues for corporate espionage. I live a simple life. I have nothing of value. Everything Steven had of value is gone.”

Melvin laughed. “You sound like a broken record.”

Her father had been so quiet that Dillyn had almost forgotten he was around. She turned her head to take a really good look at him. Melvin was like the boogie man for as long as she could remember. The thought of him would make her stomach turn. However, today, he just looked like an old man who was weak and pathetic.

Dillyn returned her gaze back to the stranger, “You sent those messages to me.” She realized Melvin didn’t have the sense God gave a chicken. There was no way he would have sent them.

“Yes, I did.”

Dillyn responded, “I didn’t figure out whatever game is being played. So make it plain. Tell me why Steven was killed, and what do you want from me?”

He seemed to be mulling over her words until he finally spoke. “Everything is not what it seems. Steven was killed to get closer to you. Youarethe key.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. I’m the key? To what?”

“Who is Syntax?”

Dillyn went pale. “Syntax is a myth. He doesn’t exist.”

“He’s not a myth, and you know it.”

“No. I don’t.” Ben had told her that she had a terrible poker face. This situation called for her to play the role of her life. “Are you seriously telling me that I’m standing here because you want to know the identity of a hacker who could be anyone or even a group of people or no one?”

Melvin angrily interjected, releasing spittle as he spoke, “He exists!”

Dillyn snapped. “How would you know?! This is stupid.”

The man handed her a manilla folder, “Maybe I need to give you a show of good faith.”

Tentatively, Dillyn accepted it.

“Open it.” He demanded.

Dillyn did as she was told and pulled out the contents. Her eyes widened in shock as she read the first page of documents. She couldn’t believe what was staring her in the face. “Are you trying to tell me Steven arranged Melvin’s parole?”

“Yes. He somehow figured it out. That’s why he was killed.”

Dillyn glanced up. “This isn’t true.”

“Isn’t it?”

“No! It’s not. Why would he? There’s nothing to figure out!”

“Steven was a foreign asset.” He sighed as if Dillyn had disappointed him. “His assignment was to get to know you. Meeting you in college was not an accident. His job was to find out who the man behind the myth was. Somewhere down the line, he wanted out and decided to go rogue. That’s right around the time Steven had the vasectomy.”

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