Glow (Glimmer and Glow #2)(40)

“With what intent?”

“The obvious one, I think,” Rigo said with a bland glance. “I’ve never seen him behave in any aggressive manner toward her.”

“He’s a problem. More so because Alice refuses to see it,” Dylan mused. “She leaves herself wide open to him, and that kid is being poisoned by someone.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dylan scowled. They both knew to whom he referred. He hadn’t briefed Rigo or Peterson on the Alice Reed–Addie Durand connection. He’d only emphasized that Alice was important. Rigo and Peterson were also aware that Kehoe and his interactions with Alice were a prime object of interest for Dylan. He knew that the two men were probably frustrated by a lack of more solid information for their mission. The fact of the matter was, however, Dylan didn’t have a specific reason for suspicion when it came to Kehoe. True, Kehoe was generally known to be bitter and disapproving of Dylan’s position as CEO. But he wasn’t the only one who was a Fall dissenter at Durand. Universal popularity was rare for a person in a position like his. But Kehoe was also a top-level performer and leader for Durand Enterprises. Just because Kehoe wasn’t a cheerleader for Dylan was hardly damning evidence against him.

He hesitated to tell Rigo or Peterson that he’d given the two security operatives a mission mostly based on intuition and a hazy but powerful feeling of unease.

“Have you seen Schaefer with Kehoe much?” Dylan asked.

“I see him talking to Schaefer at times, but maybe only a little bit more than the other counselors.”

“Is Kehoe still giving Alice a hard time?”

“It’s more of a silent disapproval than anything too overt. He’s not as open and friendly with her as he is with the other counselors. He knows you’ve taken an interest in her.”

“Nobody ever accused Kehoe of not being intelligent. And after yesterday in the woods, he definitely suspects that you’ve been given the job of keeping an eye on Alice.”

“Yes.”

“It was inevitable. If he gives you a hard time again, please let me know.

“I can manage Kehoe.”

“Good. I realize it’s not an easy position I’ve put you and Josh in, having to report both to Kehoe and myself. Anything else about Kehoe?”

Rigo hesitated. “I catch him looking at Ms. Reed at times.”

Dylan narrowed his gaze. “Like Schaefer looks at her?”

“No. More like . . . he’s trying to figure something out about her or see some characteristic that’s invisible. He studies her.”

Dylan nodded slowly. “Yeah. I think I’ve caught him at it a time or two.”

“Sir, I’d like to suggest again that we consider phone surveillance.”

Dylan closed his eyes briefly at Rigo’s familiar urging. “I’m the CEO of Durand Enterprises, not the head of the FBI, Sal.”

“You’re the CEO of an extensive, privately held company. You have a right to know what’s happening in your domain.”

“You call it ‘right to know,’ but I call what you’re talking about corporate espionage. I have no grounds for ordering something like that at this point. The other problem with your argument is that I’m not worried about Durand Enterprises. I’m worried about Alice. And unfortunately, no one, including the sheriff of Morgantown, believes I have any solid grounds for being concerned about Sebastian Kehoe at this point. By all accounts, he’s an upstanding, respected citizen.” He noticed Sal’s upraised brows. “We’ll proceed with my plans for the present,” he said levelly. “Did you have any other observations?”

“Just one other thing. I noticed Sidney Gates talking very intently to her tonight at the cocktail party, but I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying. I do think Ms. Reed became . . . upset in a subdued kind of way at one point.”

“I noticed that, too,” Dylan said thoughtfully. He’d also wondered what his good friend had been saying to Alice when he noticed her stiff expression and tense posture. He exhaled. “Well, I think that’s it for now. Thank you for the briefing. I’ll see you out,” he said, starting to walk around his desk. He noticed Rigo’s hesitation and paused. Is there something else?” Dylan asked.

“I was just thinking it might be best to bring in two other people from Durand security for Ms. Reed’s night watch so they could have days off. I could recommend another good man.”

“That won’t be necessary. The fewer people involved in this the better. I don’t expect this situation of Alice sleeping beyond the security of Castle Durand to last for long,” Dylan said grimly.

“Of course, sir. And I can see myself out. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Dylan doubted very seriously it would be a good night. Certainly it’d be a sleepless one.

Several images flashed into his mind’s eye like a video clip: Alice’s pale, shocked face when he’d threatened to send Schaefer home, her determined refusal to meet his eyes as she left the house tonight. As she’d walked out, she’d been surrounded by Schaefer and her friends in what irritably struck Dylan as a protective cadre.

He recalled her disembodied whisper emanating from the darkness.

I remember Addie.