Illusion (Billionaire in Disguise 2)

“Because that’s how water usually gets on a ship.”

“Now hold on a second,” I said. “Sam isn’t responsible for this. She was with me the whole damn time on the deck of the boat, preparing to watch the fireworks. If there was a bomb planted or detonated, it wasn’t by her. Not by a long shot.”

“She could have planted it before the two of you got on the ship,” Agent Jones said.

“So could you have, by that reasoning,” Sam said. “And if you’re really trying to pin this on me, then hear this. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to kill Derek. I’ve been in his home, in his office, in his bed

. If I wanted him dead, he would’ve already been dead.”

“It’s interesting you’d frame this in a way so you could talk about yourself as the killer,” Agent Jones said. “Is that kind of talk easy for you?”

“She’s right. She’s had plenty of moments, and if you want to travel down this insane rabbit hole further, allow me to assist. When these threats that led to this moment first started happening, there was no way for her to predict I would need her help. There was no way for her to anticipate I would hire her to protect me.”

“Someone could’ve bribed her once you hired her. That kind of stuff happens all the time,” Agent Smith said.

“Well, it didn’t happen,” I said. “But if you’re still questioning us, it means you’ve got something on her that makes her look guilty. So what is it?”

Sam shot me a hot look as the two agents sat back and grinned.

“I see you enjoy your police procedurals, Mr. Steele. Fine. Here’s Miss Williams’ connection. Your former head of security, Mr. Steele, was in cahoots with Jacob.”

“What?” Sam asked.

“No, he wasn’t,” I said. “I would’ve known about that.”

“He was. It was confirmed last night. Jacob was paying him a very nice kickback to turn his head whenever Jacob made his way onto your property. Griggs was the one feeding Jacob your personal schedule. And now that we’ve caught him in his own web of lies, Griggs has made the decision to testify against Jacob in exchange for a reduced sentence,” Agent Jones said.

“And don’t you think it’s a little weird that Griggs suggested Miss William’s firm for hiring?” Agent Smith asked.

“Now wait just a second. I’ve worked hard for my reputation. I’ve got contacts and reputations all across the world, which is more than the two of you can say for yourselves. Why would I throw all of that away in the blink of an eye to plant a bomb? Why would I come out of the woodworks now and jeopardize everything I’ve worked for my entire life?” Sam asked.

“I find it interesting that, according to our sources, you’re the best in the business but didn’t see Jacob coming. And, by the look on your face, you still didn’t know about Griggs,” Agent Smith said.

“So how can I be a part of this if I didn’t know about Griggs?” Sam asked.

“Simple. Jacob’s paying you as well, and he didn’t fill you in on the information,” Agent Jones said.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked.

Everyone turned their heads to look at me as I stood from my seat.

“You mean to tell me my best friend and the former head of my security were compromised? And I didn’t know about it?” I asked.

“Sounds like a question for your ... uncompromised expert here,” Agent Smith said.

“I should have known this was going on,” I said as I turned to Sam. “Why didn’t you know?”

“Nothing in his background showed anything. Nothing in his bank accounts showed anything. Jacob could have paid him afterward, after he was fired to make sure we didn’t catch anything,” Sam said.

“So you mean to tell me my best friend went from a man who couldn’t get out of a locked down building to a man who has orchestrated some mastermind of a plan?” I asked.

“Derek, this is what they want. They want us to turn on one another, and you’re playing right into their hand,” she said.

“He’s on high alert. You know, like an expert should be,” Agent Jones said. “Miss Williams, you’re the only person who was on that yacht that night who can’t be accounted for. You had personal access to the yacht, but you have no alibi.”

“I already told you. I was at home preparing for the evening,” Sam said.

“And you have no one to corroborate that story,” Agent Smith said. “So you can see how things are getting a little hairy.”