And yet…something about the man in the photograph struck Jason as off. False. A ringer.
The problem was, his memory of Kyser had faded over time, and looking at these images of Kyser-like guys wasn’t helping.
The bathroom door opened, and a gust of warm, soap-scented air wafted out.
“It’s all yours,” Sam said.
“Mm-hm.”
What was it that wasn’t right? Or was he imagining it? He went back to studying that too-big smile and those frightened eyes.
Frightened eyes…
“Something wrong?” Sam asked.
“Hm?”
What was the guy—Kyser?—so frightened of?
Jason looked closer, inspecting the people greeting Kyser. It was like examining all the figures in one of those crowded Italian Renaissance paintings. Like in Botticelli’s Spring or Raphael’s The School of Athens, sometimes you learned more about what was really going on by scrutinizing the supporting cast rather than the major players.
And those two unknown scientists greeting their colleague, Dr. Jeremy Kyser? One looked surprised. One looked confused.
They thought they knew you, but they don’t.
Jason went back to poring over Kyser’s expression.
And you know they don’t.
He jumped as Sam rested a hand on his bare shoulder. “You okay, West?”
Jason stared up at him.
Sam’s brows drew together. “Jason, what’s wrong?”
“It’s not him,” Jason said. “He wasn’t at the conference. That isn’t Jeremy Kyser.”
Chapter Twenty
Sam was still on the phone when Jason stepped out of the shower.
He nodded silently at Jason as Jason stood in the doorway, toweling his hair. “Okay, thanks, Jonnie.” He listened for a moment. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”
Sam clicked off. “According to Kyser’s PA—”
“Kyser has a personal assistant?”
“Yes. Kevin Anderson. According to A
nderson, Kyser most certainly did attend the conference in Toronto. He claims his boss is currently on vacation and out of the country.”
“Out of the country where?”
“Still traveling in Canada.”
“Then he should be able to be reached by phone, right? He should be able to answer a few questions?”
“You would think, but according to Anderson, the purpose of vacation is to not answer phones.”