Page 88 of You'll Never Find Me

Carefully, Jack said, “Yes, we have evidence that she downloaded proprietary software, but we haven’t determined what she intended to do with it. Our investigation has led us to believe that Jennifer became suspicious of code written into the company financial software and was trying to back-trace the source.”

“But she was the individual who broke company policy.”

“Yes, but only because she uncovered a larger crime.” Jack hoped he wasn’t overstepping here. He trusted Logan’s assessment, but maybe he was wrong to do so without more evidence.

“That’s really not for me to say—that’s up to Mr. Tucker and his company on how he wants to handle his employees. But someone set this fire, and Jennifer White is the only person we haven’t spoken with.”

“Wendy, I’m not going to tell you how to do your job—”

“But, you’re going to tell me how to do my job.”

“Someone erased the files from Desert West before we got there. Luisa said it would only delay the inevitable, that the archive is off-site. Jennifer is a computer expert, so she would know that.”

“Yet, this has bought her time to disappear.”

“After what happened Sunday, she’s scared.”

“According to Officer Cameron, she left the hospital against staff recommendation. In fact, she slipped out without telling anyone. You haven’t spoken to her, so you don’t really know what’s in her head.”

Jack understood Wendy’s strategy, and he would have approached the case the same way. Jennifer had a lot of explaining to do, but he was certain there was a lot more to this than even they had figured out.

“We’re looking for her,” Jack said.

“Call me if you find her first.”

He wasn’t going to find her because he wasn’t looking—Margo was. But Wendy didn’t have to know that. Jack wasn’t a good liar, so he stuck to what he could back up.

“What do you think is going on here, Mr. Angelhart?” Capelle asked his first question. Still green behind the ears, Jack doubted he had more than a year with his shield, and he was too young to have spent more than a couple years in uniform.

“I can’t say.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

Jack didn’t like the confrontational tone of Wendy’s partner. He preferred Wendy’s straightforward approach.

“You’ve spoken to all the employees?” Jack said.

“Yes, in person or by phone. We asked them to come down to the station to give a formal statement about where they were last night, when they left the office, if they saw anyone suspicious. So far everyone has cooperated. Except Jennifer White.”

Jack had an idea he needed to pursue, but without Wendy and Capelle hounding him. “If I find her, I’ll tell her to contact you. Fair?”

“If she fled the scene to avoid prosecution, don’t help her,” Wendy said. “You were a great cop, Jack, and you’re a solid PI. Don’t jeopardize your license.”

“That threat is not warranted,” he said, angry.

“Didn’t mean it as a threat,” she said. “Truce.”

He didn’t acknowledge her olive branch. “Are we done?”

“Sure.”

He stood. “I’ll walk you out.”

“What do you know about Logan Monroe’s relationship with Jennifer White?” Capelle asked without getting up.

“She used to intern for him, and he recommended her for the position at Desert West.”

“Don’t you think it’s odd that they were meeting at a vacant house?”