Page 23 of Dragon's Desire

"When the fuck did I say that? I have no doubt about what you want to do here. All I'm saying is others might. Instead of wasting time trying to get them to trust you, we can get to the actual investigating part of this investigation."

"What has you so convinced they didn't hand these things out to Legermain?"

Peter laughed, "You really think a guy like Gil Xander would give this guy branded tech?"

"I didn't say that. We could end up talking to someone in the company who did."

"Well, if you get that feeling, then we can just play good witch, bad witch hunter. Just let me start."

"Fine," Kiercy said, throwing up her hands.

When they came up to the front desk, a trim-looking guy in a dark suit looked them up and down. The suit jacket was loose enough to almost hide the shoulder holster he was wearing. That and the earpiece he wore was enough to show that they at least had the appearance of good security here. Whether or not it was true was yet to be seen.

Even though the gentleman carried a gun, he had an excellent customer service smile as he said, "Welcome to Xander Technologies. How can I help you?"

"I'm here to see whoever it is that's responsible for keeping things like this locked up," Peter answered, dropping the night vision goggles on the desk.

The security guard raised an eyebrow.

"Where did you get this?"

"Off a guy frying people's brains with a magic rock. Now you can either directly me kindly to whoever is in charge, or we can go to the press with the fact that Xander Tech hands their equipment out to psychopaths."

"Please have a seat, and I'll make some calls," the security guard said.

They took their seats in the lobby, but Peter didn't take his eyes off the security guard.

"Good with people." Kiercy snorted derisively.

"I got things moving, didn't I?"

After what looked like several phone calls by the security guard, he waved them over as another guy, dressed in the same type of suit, but built like a linebacker, came out of the security office.

"Arnold Bryce is the head of that division. His office is on the fifth floor. Gary will escort you."

Having Gary in the elevator with them made it feel like a tight fit. But if this guy was meant to intimidate him, it wasn't working. When they got to the fifth floor, they were directed to the front desk. A petite blond picked up the phone and said, "Mr. Bryce, the agents from PEACE are here."

The door behind her opened, and an almost deathly pale white man opened the door.

"Come in, agents. Rose, please bring these agents some coffee."

"I'm fine," Kiercy said.

"Black as the Devil's heart and sweet as a stolen kiss," Peter said.

Rose raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Black. Three sugars," he clarified.

Rose disappeared, and Mr. Bryce waved them in.

Kiercy rolled her eyes. As they walked into Bryce’s office, she whispered, "What makes you think they won't try to poison you?"

"See, I knew you cared."

"Yeah, about the amount of paperwork I'd have to do if you died on duty right next to me."

"Well, if I do, then it confirms your suspicions."

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