Free The Target by L.J. Sellers

“Miss, you have to leave the building now.”
    “I know. I thought I saw someone running this way and it worried me.” Dallas smiled and let him rush her out the front door. Her co-workers stared and whispered comments to each other. Hopefully, they thought she was just a newbie who hadn’t been able to find her way out. If anyone asked, she would tell them she’d been stuck in the bathroom with a personal emergency. She’d originally planned to simply stay inside. This little public display was embarrassing and possibly detrimental to her operation. Still, the event had been educational, and she had to report to River.
    The big question was: Should she tell Grissom what she’d witnessed? The risk in reporting the incident was to make herself look suspicious for not leaving the building during a fire alarm. But telling Grissom could earn the CEO’s trust and affection, which could be leveraged into information.
    After they were allowed back into the building, she headed straight for Grissom’s office. His assistant looked surprised to see her. “Do you need help?”
    “I need to see Mr. Grissom.”
    “He’s with Cheryl Decker right now, and they’re not very happy. I would come back some other time.”
    The voices on the other side of the wall grew loud for a moment, then softened. Dallas hesitated. Giving bad news at a bad time could backfire. But it was good that Decker was in there too, so she didn’t find out later and feel betrayed. The longer Dallas waited, the worse it looked for her. “This is important. I have to see him now.” She stepped to the inner door and knocked loudly.
    After a pause, Grissom jerked open the door. “I said no interruptions.” His face softened when he realized she wasn’t his assistant. “Jace, can this wait?”
    “I don’t think so. I saw something during the fire alarm that you need to know about.”
    His body stiffened. “Come in.” His eyes probed her with a worried look. “Should Cheryl stay?”
    Did he mistrust his partner? Or want to hide information from her? “Yes, I think so.” Dallas smiled at her boss, who looked distressed.
    “Have a seat.”
    They all perched on the edge of their chairs, the tension palpable. Dallas launched in. “When the alarm went off, I headed down the stairs, then decided to go back for my purse.” She gave a sheepish look. “I know I shouldn’t have, but my keys and my credit card…” She trailed off purposefully, because it was natural, and glanced back and forth between the two. She was an expert storyteller. “Then when I was in my office, I started having horrible painful cramps.” She cast her eyes down. “I couldn’t function for a minute. When I went out in the hall again, I saw someone go into Mr. Grissom’s office. It clearly wasn’t you, and it concerned me.”
    “Who was it?” Grissom’s voice was tight.
    “I haven’t met everyone yet, but I don’t think it was an employee. He wore jeans, a baseball cap, and had a beard.” She focused on Grissom again. “It seemed wrong for him to be there, so I stepped into your outer office to see what he was doing. I think he copied files from your computer.” She wouldn’t mention chasing after him unless someone brought it up.
    Decker cut in. “Give us more description.”
    “About five-eight, I think, and lean. I couldn’t see his hair or eyes, so I didn’t get a good look at him. Plus, the alarm was ringing, so I was a little rattled.” She made her face look apologetic.
    “Please don’t tell anyone else about this. I don’t want the employees to worry.” Grissom stood, his mouth a tight line. “Let me walk you out.”
    In the hall, he stood close and squeezed both her shoulders. “Thank you for telling us. I’m so grateful, I’d like to buy you a drink after work. Dinner if you have time. Strictly professional.”
    Yeah, right.
That wasn’t what she’d heard, but it was an opportunity to gather intel. “The drink sounds