Leaving Ashwood by Cynthia Kraack

Author:Cynthia Kraack
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.
Published: 2014-07-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

They disappeared behind a blank false wall. Terrell, Lao, and I turned away.

“Now what happens?” The threat against Milan surprised me. If it happened before, he never mentioned the risky side of his life.

Lao stopped for a communicator conversation. Terrell and I gave him space by walking to the first window. Once trees filled this area, but a security audit recommended returning to grass and low flowers. David had jokingly suggested a moat.

Minutes passed and I had the patience level of most executives. Lao held up a hand, signaling we should wait. I hoped he had permission to open the safe room. Terrell and I talked about Sadig and the regional security agent in the transport. I told him about the driver’s comments to Milan including his original delay about something wrong with the vehicle. We thought of Sadig’s wife and children. Finally Lao joined us.

“Tell me that was an all clear.” I said.

“No such luck.” Lao checked his communicator. “Bureau protocols need to be implemented. Security specialists should be in the courtyard by the time we get upstairs.” He glanced at his communicator. “Bureau staff are talking with Sadig’s family.”

Our former security chief’s wife, children, and mother were moving out of a small house on Ashwood. Their children would finish the quarter and regional competency exams in the estate school before they fully transferred to Minneapolis.

“I’ll visit them later this morning. Maybe we can be of help.” Used to problem solving, I moved to thoughts about extending their residence.

“Stay away.” The two words from Terrell came with a harsh warning. “That family was bitter about the dismissal. They say you didn’t respect Sadig’s corporate experience and wouldn’t listen to his ideas. In his brothers’ opinion, you were wrong to let him go.”

“I understand they only know Sadig’s side of the story, but surely his arrest with weapons on Ashwood’s property proved we’d made the right decision.”

Terrell looked forward, not at me, as he responded. “His brothers say Sadig accepted Ahlmet’s offer because he was desperate to make money to pay the kids’ tuition for private school in Minneapolis.” He cleared his throat. “Something showed up in an employment check. Nothing related to Ashwood, but bad.”

“We scrubbed every part of his background before Ashwood hired him,” Lao interjected. “He had a clear record and solid recommendations. He was hacked.”

“Shit.” My response wasn’t subtle. Three people were dead because of malicious data, probably a scribbler paid by Ahlmet who would be stepping back into his lab with the full protection of corporate investors or the U.S. military within a few hours. “Can you find out more, Lao? I’m not sure what I want to do with the information, but I’d like to know.”

“We really did do a thorough screening routine before hiring him.” Lao answered.

“I’m curious who might have wanted to trash Sadig’s future. Maybe they’re connected to the transport explosion.” Milan’s cautions about the power of Ahlmet’s supporters didn’t stop me from wanting to know the extent of the scientist’s transgressions.

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