Page 31 of Operation: Sharp Angel

“You mean their federal badges and the security you have in place to enter this building through the private parking garage?”

Shepherd nodded. “I am prepared to fully read you in, provided you sign our NDA.” He passed it across the table to her.

She took her time and read every word, unconcerned that the others sat, waiting. It was more strongly worded than any NDA she’d ever read or written. Federal prosecution would be the penalty for disclosing any information covered by the NDA, which was basically everything about Shepherd Security and the people associated with the organization.

When she gazed up from the paper and made eye contact with Shepherd, she nodded. “Obviously, I already know things about your organization that would be covered under this document.”

Shepherd nodded as well. “In order to properly protect you last night, you were exposed to classified information regarding this organization.”

Becca picked up the pen that had been provided and she signed the document. She fully understood the document and the ramifications of signing it. She slid it back across the table to Shepherd. “I thank you and your organization for accepting my case and for the assistance last night. And yes, I have many questions.”

“This agency is a hybrid. We have staff that carry federal credentials and badges and those who do not. We work federal, military, and civilian cases with all our assets. There is no segmentation of our cases or our staff,” Shepherd began.

Becca processed his words, wondering how that could be.

“We have a multi-tiered reporting structure to the military and federal authorities whose cases we work and who sanction our missions,” Shepherd continued. “What this means is that we take on jobs that other entities can’t or won’t. And we have a greater latitude in working those cases, which makes this agency more effective.”

The words military and federal were not lost on Becca. “Detective Davis told me the majority of your personnel are former military,” she said, suddenly wondering if former was the correct term.

“Yes, the majority of our staff came from military units, predominantly from the Special Forces. The training and skills possessed by Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Green Berets, Delta Force, and Marine Raiders make them ideal operatives of this agency.”

Operatives? Marine Raider? Her gaze went to Carter. He wasn’t just a Marine. He was a member of the elite Marine Raider unit. Jackson sat beside him. She wondered what unithe’d been in. Then her stare went back to Shepherd. “I have to wonder why you even bother with civilian cases.”

Again, Shepherd’s lips ticked up. “We evaluate the cases presented to decide if our special skills are required or if any run-of-the-mill detective or security agency can handle and resolve them. And of course, we reject any that are unfounded or would duplicate the efforts of local law enforcement. We are quite particular in regard to the cases we accept from civilians.”

“Then I am truly honored you took my case. After last night, I’m even more convinced that I’m right and my sister’s family was murdered by someone other than my brother-in-law. If the police reopen the case, will you please keep working it, too?”

“I already spoke with Detective Davis this morning. He has referred it back to the coroner with the new information from the crime scene report regarding the lack of GSR on Nick DeSoto. And he had some additional information for us. The tox screen had just come back. All four members of your sister’s family had lorazepam in their systems. With this news, he’s sure the case will be reopened.”

“Lorazepam?” Becca asked. “That’s a sedative?”

Brielle spoke up. “Yes. One could argue that Nick DeSoto sedated his family to make it easier to kill them, and that he took it himself as it is commonly prescribed for anxiety. But no one in that house had a prescription for it.”

“So that begs the question of who obtained it and fed it to that family,” Jackson said. “And how was it given to them?”

“Nicole fought. She ran. Whoever drugged her didn’t give her enough to put her to sleep,” Becca lamented.

“How fast does it work?” Tessman asked.

“Twenty to thirty minutes,” Brielle answered. “And it comes in tablets and liquid.”

“So, it could have been slipped into their food, and they may never have known,” Jackson said.

“Their dessert,” Becca said. “They usually had dessert right before the girls got ready for bed. That would explain why they were in their beds. They were sedated from it when they were shot.” This scenario would make her feel a little bit better. The girls could have been sound asleep and heard and saw nothing, hopefully felt nothing.

“There were no signs of torture on Nick or Nicole DeSoto,” Jackson reminded everyone. “If the intruders were looking for something, they surely would have left marks on them, trying to get it. This isn’t adding up.”

“No, it isn’t,” Shepherd agreed. “There’s something else going on. Becca, Tessman says you have information on Well-Life Pharmaceuticals related to your mother that hasn’t been disclosed to us or the police yet.”

“I didn’t think it was relevant,” she said. And she still didn’t. “But yes, my mother was one of three people who founded the company. You have no record of it, as she practiced under her maiden name. She was an MD and did cancer research before Well-Life was born.” She proceeded to go over the information and relationships at Well-Life Pharmaceuticals that she’d told Carter about the night before, plus the additional notes she’d made. “When she died, my brother-in-law should have gotten her position as head of research, but he didn’t.”

“Brielle, have the Digital Team take another run at Well-Life’s department structure and staff. We need the names of anyone Nick or Nicole DeSoto worked with directly. And see what you can dig up on the plane crash that killed Becca’s parents.” Then Shepherd’s glance shifted to Tessman and Jackson. “After she has something, badge your way in for a second visit. It’s unlikely you’ll get access to specific individuals but if you can get into talk with their head of HR and make a case for seeing the personnel files for both of them. I’ll work on getting you a court order.”

“I can help draft the probable cause justifications as well as the legal precedence for it, if you’d like,” Becca offered. “If your own in-house counsel doesn’t have time.”

Shepherd didn’t react or respond. He didn’t require such things. One phone call to one of his federal contacts and warrants magically appeared.

“Aren’t search warrants usually done on the prosecution or police side of the law?” Tessman asked.

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