Dead in a Week (Forensic Instincts 7)

A hand was immediately raised, and Jim Baskin, one of Vance’s senior executives, spoke directly to his boss, rather than to Simone.

“I’ll be blunt,” he said, “and ask what every person in this room wants to know. It’s no secret that when McKinsey consultants like Ms. Martin come in, twenty percent of the employees lose their jobs. Is that what’s going on here?”

Vance stepped up to the mike. “I really appreciate that honest and difficult question, Jim. And I’m going to give you an equally honest answer. No one is going to lose their job as a result of Ms. Martin’s efforts. Let me repeat what I just said: No one is going to lose their job. Our goal here is to focus on identifying the inefficiencies and disconnects. There may be some changes in responsibilities, but all in the spirit of getting better.”

Simone spoke up, reclaiming the position of power that Vance had hired her for. “I, too, am glad you said out loud what was on everyone’s mind. And Mr. Pennington, I appreciate your candor in articulating the company’s intent here.”

She could actually feel the tension abate, allowing her to continue freely.

“Given the size of this organization, I’ll be talking to each senior area manager. Those managers will be consulting with their teams. We’d like to make this entire process happen in two days, so I’ve broken up the next two days into forty-eight one-hour time slots. Please choose a time slot. I’ll meet with you before work, during work, or after work to accommodate you.”

Vance added, “And to kick off this process, I’ll take the first slot available right after this meeting.”

Simone penciled that in, then passed the sheet on to the twenty managers.

Phase one was underway.

* * *

Vance shut the door behind the last retreating employee and turned to face Simone.

“We barely had time to talk before the meeting,” he said. “And we have only an hour now. So I’ll get straight to it. I need a more thorough update than ‘everything is in motion.’”

“And I plan to give you one,” Simone replied. “I waited until after the meeting so I could include my assessments when I filled you in.” She glanced down at her watch, her delicate brows drawing together. “I’ll be thorough but brief. You must take off for Lake Tahoe by lunchtime.”

“Agreed. But I also must know what’s going on with the hunt for my daughter.”

“To begin with, a European tactical team has been formed and is already on the move.” Simone chose her words carefully—not too much, not too little. “They’re following solid leads that will tell them where Lauren has been taken. They’ll act accordingly. Aidan met with them while he was in Munich. He’ll have more details for you. His flight is scheduled to arrive in San Francisco this evening, after which, he’ll catch a quick flight to Reno and head straight to Lake Tahoe so he can bring you up to speed.”

“Isn’t that risky?” Vance asked nervously. “We know the kidnappers are watching my every move. Won’t they spot Aidan showing up at my hotel?”

A small smile curved Simone’s lips. “Aidan has a way of remaining invisible. So he’ll be the one making all the necessary commutes between here and Tahoe when face-to-face meetings outside the office are necessary. I’ll be available by phone or videoconference, as well. You know where to find me. I’ll be a fixture at NanoUSA.”

Vance nodded, absorbing Simone’s detailed report even as his mind was fixed on results.

His next question came as no surprise.

“Is your tactical team close to finding Lauren?”

“I don’t know their current status,” Simone answered honestly. “But if they’re not now, they will be. We’re all aware that the clock is ticking. And you should be aware that our team doesn’t fail.”

“I pray you’re right.”

“I am. But while our tactical team is carrying out its overseas assignment, you and I have our work cut out for us right here. We have two days. When I’m finished talking to all the members of your staff, I’ll have a clear picture of their level of integrity—where it comes to you and to the company. I’ll need to expand that exploration further, to the senior leadership outside the manufacturing division. Can you get me on their calendars?”

“Of course,” Vance replied. “I’ll handle it myself. Although Ethan Gallagher, my personal assistant, could probably make it happen as fast as I can. He has a hotline to the PAs of all NanoUSA’s top brass. He also knows me, my schedule, and my projects inside out.”

“I’m sure he does or he wouldn’t be your PA. Obviously, I’ll want to talk to him, as well as the PAs of all the high-level executives—beginning with Robert Maxwell’s. I assume he or she is exceptional?”

“She,” Vance supplied. “Zoe Pearson. She’s not just exceptional, she’s indispensable. I don’t think there’s anything that woman can’t do. Robert jokes that she’s his unofficial CEO. I’ll set up meetings for you with her, with Ethan, and of course, with the senior executives you’ve asked to speak with.”

“Good,” Simone responded. “Because those execs are internal customers of the outputs and services that your department provides and have important perspectives on the winners and losers. That info is essential to me. There’s no question that, given how your technology threatens the Chinese electronics industry, Chinese agents have made multiple attempts to influence and infiltrate your company at this crucial time. The fact that your daughter was kidnapped is an indication that they were unsuccessful in their recruiting efforts or their successful recruiting efforts were stopped by the rigorous security measures your company has in place.”

“Which leads us back to your theory that there’s a mole inside our company and that ferreting him or her out could be crucial to finding the animals who have Lauren.”

“Exactly.” Simone nodded. “We suspect the kidnappers are European, not Chinese, for obvious reasons. A Chinese kidnapper in Munich, Germany, would stand out more. So my guess is that the Chinese are pulling the strings. They might be working with a mole in your company, but my experience tells me that they hired others to do the kidnapping for them.”

Vance rubbed a palm over his jaw. “There are so many moving parts and so little I can do, other than lining up your meetings. What else?”