Page 9 of Shattered Truth (Off The Grid: FBI #15)

Chapter Six

After getting in the car, Matt called Jason and related what he'd learned from Alanna Morris about Sabrina's connection to Landon Kenton's death at Westbridge University and a possible cover-up. When he finished the recap, he said, "Are you free to go to Adler and Briggs now?"

"Absolutely," Jason replied. "I'll meet you in the lobby of their building in fifteen minutes."

"See you then." Ending the call, he pulled away from the curb, joining the rush of traffic heading toward Century City, where Sabrina's law firm was located.

When he walked into the gleaming lobby of the ten-story glass tower just before one, he found Jason waiting for him, and they headed to the top floor, where the law firm had its luxury office suite.

The elevator opened directly into the elegant reception area of Adler and Briggs.

Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, while the interior was appointed with expensive leather furniture, original artwork, and fresh flowers.

The receptionist, an impeccably dressed woman in her thirties, looked up from her computer with a polite but curious expression.

"Good afternoon. How may I help you?" she asked.

Matt stepped forward, showing his badge. "I'm Agent Lawson with the FBI, and this is Agent Colter. We'd like to speak with Graham Adler about one of your employees, Sabrina Lin."

The woman's perfectly composed expression flickered with surprise.

"Oh. Sabrina. I just heard the terrible news.

I couldn't believe it." She licked her lips, her gaze somewhat nervous.

"Let me...let me check if Mr. Adler is available.

" She picked up her phone, speaking in low tones before hanging up.

Then she got to her feet and said, "Follow me. "

She led them down a quiet, elegant, thickly carpeted hallway before opening a heavy mahogany door and waving them inside.

Adler's corner office with a view of Century City was a testament to old money and Ivy League connections.

Diplomas from Harvard Law hung beside photographs of Adler with various politicians and business leaders.

But it was the collection of Westbridge University memorabilia that caught Matt's attention—a pennant, several photographs of campus events, and what looked like a framed invitation to an alumni gala.

Graham Adler came around his massive desk to greet them. He was exactly what Matt had expected: silver-haired, sharp brown eyes, with the confident bearing that came from never having to worry about money.

"Jason Colter. It's good to see you again," Graham said. "I wish it were under better circumstances."

"So do I. This is Agent Lawson," Jason said.

Graham gave him a nod. "Please have a seat.

" He gestured to the leather chairs facing his desk.

"I was shocked by the news of Sabrina's death.

What a terrible tragedy," he added as he sat down behind his desk.

"Such a bright young woman, with her entire future ahead of her. " He paused. "How can I help you?"

Adler's expression was appropriately grave, but Matt noticed the way his eyes remained calculating, assessing. "What was Sabrina working on?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. Would you like me to call in her supervisor?" Adler leaned back in his chair, the picture of cooperation. "Lindsay can give you more specifics about Sabrina's current projects. I can't imagine they would have any relevance to Sabrina's death. Do you believe there's some connection?"

"We're looking into every part of her life," he replied.

Adler pressed a button on his phone. "Lindsay? Could you come to my office, please?"

As they waited for Lindsay, Matt's gaze wandered to the Westbridge photographs. "Did you graduate from Westbridge, Mr. Adler?"

"I did my undergrad there. Back then, they didn't have a law school, so I went to Harvard. The more recent photos are from my son Henry's time at Westbridge. He did both undergrad and law school at Westbridge and joined our firm two years ago. I believe you've met Henry, Jason."

"Yes. At a family golf tournament about ten years ago. Henry was a good golfer, following in your footsteps."

"He has always tried to do that," Graham said. "He thinks he's better than me now, but he's not. Are you coming to Valmont on Sunday for the charity tournament?"

"I might try to get out there."

"You should be playing. Your father won it twice."

"I did not follow in my father's footsteps when it came to golf."

"Only to the FBI."

Jason nodded. "True."

The door opened, and a woman in her forties made her way to the desk. She was tall and very thin, with short black hair and pale skin.

"This is Lindsay Kellerman," Adler explained as Lindsay stood next to the desk, looking uncomfortable. "She was Sabrina's supervisor. Agents Colter and Lawson would like to know exactly what projects and accounts Sabrina was handling, Lindsay."

Lindsay cleared her throat. "First of all, I'm shocked and saddened by Sabrina's death.

She was more than a colleague—she was a friend.

As for her assignments, she's been working on several client matters, routine due diligence research for IPO filings and patents, mostly.

She's very thorough, detail-oriented, and good at her job. "

"Which clients?" he asked.

Lindsay glanced at Graham, who answered for her. "I'm afraid we can't divulge that. Client confidentiality, you understand."

"We're not asking for privileged information. If whatever Sabrina was working on got her killed, it's in your firm's best interest to be forthcoming."

"I understand. But I can't imagine her work would have put her in danger. She was a second-year associate. She didn't run cases. Nor was she client-facing. Unless you have a court order, that information will stay confidential to protect our clients."

Graham was polite but firm, and Matt wasn't surprised by his stance.

He decided to change tactics. Clearly, Graham and Lindsay had been expecting a question about client work, but they might not be expecting the next one.

"Your son, Henry, went to Westbridge. Was he there when a student died? I believe his name was Landon Kenton."

The sudden flare in Graham's eyes told him exactly what he wanted to know. The determination was still there, but the calm had vanished.

"Yes, I am aware of that sad occurrence," he replied.

"Henry was in the same fraternity as Landon.

I believe his death was an accident. Too much drinking.

It's unfortunately not a rare occurrence with college kids these days.

" Graham's voice carried just the right note of sympathy, but he couldn't help noticing the way Graham's fingers drummed against his desk before he realized the nervous gesture and stilled them.

He turned to Lindsay. "Did you go to Westbridge as well?"

She immediately shook her head. "No, I didn't."

"But Sabrina did."

"Yes," she replied, looking like she wanted to say more but then decided against it.

"Is there anything else you can tell us about Sabrina's last few days?" he asked. "Was she acting differently? Was she getting calls at work? Did she mention any problems in her life?"

Lindsay cleared her throat once more. "As a matter of fact, she did.

I noticed she was stressed last week, so I asked her if she wanted to talk about anything.

She said a guy she met on a dating app was harassing her and wouldn't take no for an answer.

I'm wondering now if he…if he was the one who killed her.

" She drew in a breath at the end of her statement, a statement that felt far too rehearsed.

"Did she give you this man's name?" he asked.

"No. I wish I'd asked for more information, but honestly, as soon as she said it, she clammed up. She told me to forget she'd said anything."

"What about the dating app?" Jason asked. "Do you know which one she was on?"

"I'm not sure. I think she was on several of them. We didn't talk that much about our personal lives. I was her supervisor. We had some distance between us."

"I thought you just said she was a friend," he reminded her.

"She was a friend, but we didn't talk about men that much," she hastily amended.

"Was there anyone else here she would have confided in?" he asked.

"We're not a particularly social office. We're all focused on work."

"I'll need a list of people Sabrina might have been close to," Jason said. "I'd like to talk to them."

Lindsay glanced at Graham again, who gave a nod. Then she said, "Of course. I'll write down their names. Should I do that now?"

"Why don't you show us Sabrina's desk?" Jason suggested. "Then we'll get the list from you."

"All right," Lindsay said, moving toward the door.

"Thank you for your time, Graham," Jason said as he got to his feet.

"I wish I could be more helpful, Jason," Adler replied. "Let's play golf sometime. I'd like to catch up."

"Sounds good."

Matt simply gave Graham Adler a nod before following Jason and Lindsay out of the office. He'd dealt with enough CEOs to know when to keep his mouth shut. Graham Adler already had his back up, especially since he'd mentioned Landon Kenton.

Lindsay led them to an open area filled with cubicles and smaller offices. "Sabrina worked here," she said, stopping at a neat desk near the windows.

Her workspace was immaculate, only a coffee mug proclaiming a distaste for Mondays sitting next to a dark computer.

"Our HR department secured her workspace this morning, as is standard procedure," Lindsay said.

"All company-related items were boxed up and packed away.

The only personal item was that mug. I don't think she ever drank out of it.

She always brought a thermos from home."

"Are you sure Sabrina never mentioned the name of the guy who was bothering her?" he asked, now that they were not under Graham's watchful gaze.

"She didn't, I'm sorry."