Page 41 of Boss

Chapter 9

Present –

The detective tapped his pen on the desk. Tap-tap-tap-tip-tap-tap it went. The repetitive beat was like a hammer to her skull. Kassidy dropped her face into her hands. She tried to concentrate on breathing. There were different truths to the story, hers, Tarek’s, the Marshalls, and Daniel. Which one would paint her less guilty? Which one should she tell? She glanced up at the detective. He was focused on writing on his little notepad. The other detective stood in the corner propped up by his shoulder.

“So you were working to get information on Tarek Marshall, and his dirty business deals of his family?” Detective Grason asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“And you went to Deadhorse to meet with people about a new contract?” The detective asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“What were the names of these people?”

She knew she couldn’t dare give the truthful answer. “I don’t know their names. I wasn’t included in that meeting. I told you was I kept in a room away from the discussions.”

“The name Yegor Kovalevsky ring a bell?”

She shook her head no.

“This meeting happened before Tarek Marshall kidnapped you? Six months ago. And you don’t remember names, places, dates?”

“I’m sorry. I’m tired, I haven’t slept. Can I have a glass of water please?” Kassidy asked.

The detective in the corner left the room. She cleared her throat. Detective Grason stared at her as if he expected her lies to continue. Kassidy knew she had to give these officers something. Men were dead. But what could she say that would keep her from ending up the same way?

“After four months me and Mr. Marshall were no longer seeing each other. He ended things. I was just an employee. A Program Manager.”

“But you said you were a... ah,” The detective flipped through his notes. “You said you were a solution architect.”

“I was promoted into another department away from Mr. Marshall,” Kassidy said.

“Just like that, he dumps you?”

“It’s how he is, what he does. He makes decisions, just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “It’s not... uncommon for men like him.”

“I think the dead bodies we have say different,” Detective Grason said. “I think that was pre-meditated.”

“How? We didn’t create the storm that trapped us there. We didn’t force that man to drive all those miles to come kill us. Any of it. I didn’t do that. I... he... we didn’t do it.”

Detective Carter returned with a paper cup of water. She accepted it and drank the water down with two swallows. She was so eternally thirsty she almost asked for another. She could tell the kindness from the detectives came at a price. Quid pro quo.

“Continue,” Grason prodded.

She wiped at her tears. When she saw her hand was shaking she put it back down on her lap. She was mentally stronger until she saw Tarek strapped to that chair like that. The only thing that she could truly see were his eyes. And there was so much rage in his eyes it rocked her to her core. Every time she thought of what happened at the ranch, she felt the urge to scream bubble up to her throat. She kept sucking in deep breaths.

“Tell it again. Tell me what you did for Tarek Marshall. Tell me why you were kidnapped. Tell me why he killed those men?” Grason slammed his fist down on the table. “More importantly, I want you to tell me who Yegor Kovalevsky is to the Marshalls.”

“I...”

“You’re in a lot of trouble Kassandra. Do you understand? So far you haven’t given us anything to explain what we found at that ranch. I can’t help you if you aren’t honest with me.”

Kassidy nodded. “I know. I know. I’ll tell you what I know, I swear.”

14.

Six Months After Deadhorse Alaska -

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