Page 77 of Sunset Cove
When he stopped talking, Steel spoke. “Why wasn’t I told any of this?”
“I tried, sir. When I brought up my concerns to the CEO, I was locked out of the building. Now the FBI is looking for me.”
“The FBI?” Steel stood again, pacing.
There it was.
“Everything I do is above board,” Steel said. “Everything. Why is the FBI involved? Is the SureFired team involved in fraud?”
“Not yet, sir. They didn’t like what I had to say, so they claimed I was selling proprietary information to China.”
Steel rolled his eyes. “Even the Chinese wouldn’t pay as much for this company as I’m paying.”
“SureFired needed to get ahead of this,” Chip said. “They needed to leave you holding the bag.”
Steel crossed his arms and faced Chip. “How do I know that you’re not trying to buy the company out from under me?”
Chip laughed, loudly. “I’m broke, Steel. I work at a hotel. I have no interest in buying the company. I just don’t want to see that headline about the little girl who didn’t make it out in time – because her parents trusted SureFired.”
Steel cringed. “What a nightmare.”
“Yeah.”
He leaned down to talk at the cell phone. “Marty, is there anyone I can talk to who can confirm this?”
“And clear your name?” added Chip.
There was a pause before Marty spoke. “I think so, yes. Talk to Courtney Holmes – she’s the CEO’s secretary. She can’t afford to lose her job, but if you promise to protect her, she might tell you everything. She has access to all of the emails, the meetings – everything.”
Steel’s face lit up. Chip knew it was only because he could see the dollar signs, the discount he was about to get, but it didn’t matter. He was on the case.
“Thanks for seeing me, Steel.” Chip stood, shaking his hand. “I should be getting back.”
“Hey, I’ll have to visit you sometime,” Steel said brightly, his mood again buoyant.
“Yeah,” Chip replied. He knew it would never happen. If all went well, he’d never have to see Steel Montgomery again. “I’d be happy to host you…on a non-smoky day.”
Steel laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Same old Chip.”
