Page 60 of Choosing Stella

“I’d be disappointed if you made this too easy.”

“I can avoid that.”

“I believe you.”

By early afternoon, Stella’s color had returned.

She ate half a sandwich, drank enough water that I’d stopped watching the glass, and left the tarot deck wrapped on the far end of the table.

I’d spent the last hour reviewing what we knew, not what I suspected.

The abandoned unit proved Exchange security access, not a user.

The camera failures pointed to the same problem: somebody with access had interfered.

Volkov remained a serious suspect.

That wasn’t proof.

Stella stood near the industrial windows, facing the Mill District under a dull afternoon sky.

“The Halloween party is tomorrow.”

I raised my head from the table.

“What?”

“The Exchange Halloween bash.”

“I know what you meant. Why are you thinking about it?”

“Because whoever did this is connected to The Exchange.”

“Someone with access is connected to The Exchange.”

She turned.

“You’re going to make me say ‘allegedly’ after every sentence, aren’t you?”

“No. I’m going to keep you from building a plan around something we haven’t proved.”

“I already have a plan.”

I didn’t like the sound of that.

Stella came back to the table.

“The casino is open. They’re holding the event. It’ll be packed tomorrow night.”

“I’m aware.”

“Senior management will be there. Security will be everywhere.”

“Yes.”

“And if somebody inside that building wants me badly enough to send two men with a syringe, what do you think happens if I walk back through the front door?”

“No.”