Honestly, she didn’t understand that mindset and never would. Did Harvey truly not grasp he almost had a police investigation land in his lap along with terrible publicity because of his secretiveness? It was just a dumb merchandise order, for God’s sake!
“Ms. Simmons?”
She looked up.
“I said do you have everything you need?” Charles asked.
“Oh. Right.” Felicity shouldered her bag. “You’ve been very helpful. Thank you for your time.” Her hand formed a fist around the little white cat. She glanced down at it. “It’s been…informative.”
“You’re most welcome.” He followed her eye to the cat. “They did do a good job, don’t you think? Look, I know Harvey’s gambling big. I’m not sure even I’d have the balls to do what he’s doing. But at least it’s not cheap crap they’re making for him.”
“One thing we agree on,” Felicity said as she pocketed the cat, “is that nothing about this exercise has been cheap.”
* * *
Felicity slid into the back seat of her car. “Living Ruff, thanks,” she told Amir, then tapped out an email to her chief of staff.
Scott, find someone local in one of our newspaper bureaus in China to confirm a landslide hit a factory in Shenzhen within the past six months. Shenzhen Industries. Send me details ASAP.
Of course, Charles’s news article showing devastating photos of the landslide seemed convincing enough, but it never hurt to check. She didn’t read Chinese, after all.
Are you free? Felicity texted Cooper next. I have an update.
She had a brief flicker of doubt that maybe Charles was right and it wasn’t her place to spread Harvey’s secret purchases all over his office before he was ready to share. Maybe she should hold off telling Cooper. Even if her lover was discreet, it really wasn’t Cooper’s business to know, was it?
It’ll have to wait till end of day. Miles behind on clinic hours after being kicked out of office ystdy. Have dogs cats and gerbils wall 2 wall
Gerbils? Felicity shuddered.
Later, Felicity agreed in reply, relieved the decision was out of her hands. Btw is Harvey in?
No. Offsite all day. Tomorrow he’s in again.
Thanks.
Felicity glanced at her driver. “Change of plans. Take me home, please, Amir.”
“Yes, Ms. Simmons.” He gently applied pressure to the gas pedal and meandered them off in a new direction at his usual tortoise speed.
She had a brief fantasy of stretching over and stomping the gas for him.
Felicity’s phone rang, and she glanced down, seeing her boss’s name. “Elena?” she answered.
“Felicity, did you contact Jocelyn Mathers yet about transitioning her to the Bartell Corp masthead of her choosing?”
“No, I’ve been busy with Living Ruff. If it’s urgent, I’d be happy to—”
“Not necessary. I’d like to be the one to do it. I just wanted to see if you’d approached her yet. She’ll be a valuable asset.”
“Okay,” Felicity said. “I’ll take contacting her off my to-do list.”
“Yes. How’s it going? Do you have the case solved yet?”
“I think I’m close,” Felicity said. “I’ve made good progress. I just talked to Harvey Clifford’s brother-in-law today, and he was a lot more forthcoming than Harvey.” She dug her hand in her pocket, and it bumped against the white cat. “It should be case closed, except that one thing doesn’t add up. I was supplied a document that helped me in my investigation, and I can’t work out who sent it. Or how they managed it. Or why.”
“The plot thickens,” Elena said in a droll tone.
“Yes, well, if by thickens you mean frustrates, then it does.” Felicity pursed her lips. “So although I have a lot of answers, I keep feeling there’s more going on and it’s right in front of me, but I can’t quite see it.”
