Free Likely Suspects by G.K. Parks

unfortunately was sipping. I continued to stare at Martin. Was he really this good at manipulation? After Mark recovered from his sputtering coughs, he turned to us.
    “Anything you want to tell me, Marty?” he asked.
    “You mean besides the fact the whole undercover security idea we agreed was a very bad idea still got enacted?” I offered, and began to recount how, despite my protestations, Martin still implemented his covert plan with me being the undercover security in spite of my positively overt position at his company, but Martin shushed me.
    “Seemed like a good idea at th e time,” he insisted.
    “Too late to back out now,” Mark reluct antly agreed. “But really, Alex, I thought you had much better taste in men than this.”
    “What can I say? I must be slumming it with millionaire CEOs.” I smiled winningly at Martin. “Darling, if you expect to keep me happy, I could use some diamonds. They are a girl’s best friend.” Mark chuckled, and Martin rolled his eyes.
    “Guess we should probably be on a first name basis,” Martin replied coolly. My diamond comment must have struck a nerve, and I acquiesced begrudgingly but only for use in public. The last time I had referred to him as James, he had staged a fake robbery.
    “Ok ay, so I guess I’ll grab some stuff and settle in at your place,” I suggested. We locked up the offices, and the three of us headed downstairs.
    Police officers were stationed in the lobby , along with MT security personnel. Outside was roped off with crime scene tape, and there were still a lot of investigators working the scene. O’Connell was standing outside, talking to someone from the bomb squad. I glanced at him as we walked around the crime tape to the parking garage.
    “I’ll take Marty home,” Mark said as we got closer to the garage. There was also an obvious police presence here. “Gather your things and meet us there.” I agreed, and we went our separate ways. Roommates are always so much fun, I thought wryly.

Nine
     
     
     
     
    I was walking around my apartment. The drive home had been peaceful, but I was beginning to think this was the worst idea I ever had. Back out now, the voice in my head kept repeating. I did my best to ignore it and instead grabbed my go bag, which was already full of a weekend’s worth of supplies. Something I learned at the OIO, you could be whisked off at a moment’s notice, so always be prepared. I pulled out a suitcase and began to put more practical items inside: work clothes, a hairdryer, make-up, a side arm, and box of bullets. Then I unplugged the unnecessary appliances and adjusted the air conditioner, put a timer on the light in the living room, and picked up my gym bag.
    With my three bags in hand , I left my apartment for what I hoped would only be a few days. Realistically, I knew it would be a few weeks, at the very least. Our leads in the case were nonexistent. It was time we started overturning different stones or maybe just breaking a few until some answers appeared.
    I drove to Martin’s, enjoying the last few minutes of solitude. Arriving at his compound, I was once again amazed at its magnitude and architectural design. It was a large estate on the outskirts of the city, secluded from passersby and traffic by a hidden private road that led to a long driveway. The building itself was four stories; the bottom consisted of a completely finished garage that resembled an expensive car dealership’s showroom. Everything was password and key code access only. I dialed Martin’s cell phone.
    “I’m ou tside,” I said when he answered. “Can you buzz me in or something?” I needed to further analyze all of his home security measures, but first, I had to get into the house.
    “Su re, south side garage?” I glanced at the electronic compass on my dash.
    “ I think so.” There was a possibility I was directionally challenged.
    “Okay, be there in a minute. ”
    The garage door opened , and I was waved in by