The Optogram Read online

  Dothan dashed into a market, bought a small bouquet of summer flowers, and purchased the last two Bavarian creams from the donut shop next door to Dunlevy. After several deep breaths, he pushed through the glass-paneled doors.

  Bekkii stood at the reception desk, smiling and cooing to a few of the German researchers, including the tall, pasty-faced clown from his first day. She caught sight of Dothan’s approach and her face reddened. After regaining her composure, Bekkii handed the group several information packets with a smile. As they walked away, she turned toward him and scowled.

  Here we go, he thought.

  With his hands behind his back, Dothan lowered his head and stared at the granite counter. “Bekkii,” he said, “please talk to me. I’m sorry for treating you the way I did. I was a complete ass.”

  She glared at him in silence.

  He pulled out the bright flowers from behind his back and extended them toward her. “I got these for you. I know they can’t make up for what I did, but I hope you’ll accept them, anyway.”

  With a stunned expression, Bekkii took the bouquet. As she inhaled the blooms, Dothan covered his face with his hand, squeezing his eyes tight. “I feel so terrible. I haven’t slept the last two nights since you left. Please give me another chance to show you I’m really not such a schmuck.”

  He removed his hand as a hard-won tear trickled down his cheek.

  “Oh no,” she whispered, “please don’t be upset. It’s fine, I forgive you.”

  “Would my promise to never be so stupid again and a couple of Bavarian creams make everything okay?” He lifted the sack of pastries toward her.

  Bekkii squealed with delight and took the bag. “You remembered!”

  He nodded. “Could we hook up for lunch sometime soon?”

  She grinned and cuddled the flowers. “I would love that. I guess I was acting a little psycho, too. I’m sorry. Let’s start over.”

  “Awesome,” he said with a wink. “See you later.”

  Bekkii giggled and nodded, waving to him as he walked toward the elevator.

  Piece of fucking cake, thought Dothan with an aura of self-satisfaction.

  As the doors closed, a distinct ping alerted him to the receipt of a text. He hurried to remove the phone from the backpack, otherwise he would lose the signal before arriving at the basement.

  Text from January Kinsie:

  I’m still on a high after our conversation. How about Saturday at Tarantellas on 5th at 3pm?

  If she was stoked, he was in the stratosphere. Everything about this day kept getting better.

  Reply from Dothan Knox:

  Can’t wait. See you then.

  He was still grinning as the doors opened to the basement.

  Agnes smiled as she passed the elevator. “Well, it seems someone has had a good morning. Let me guess. Something to do

  with your date?”

  “It wasn’t a date, but it went awesome,” he said. “I have to check my work stuff and I’ll tell you about it.” He sat at the plastic table and pulled up his desktop.

  Nilesh had written several emails to him, and he opened the first.

  Email From: Nilesh Sitram

  To: Dothan Knox

  Subject: Retinal Project

  Hey, Dothan.

  Thanks for the credentials into the server. I had a look at the code and documentation. I have to say, while it’s acceptable, I would have liked to see something more from you. Let’s set up a 1:1 for Friday at 3 to go over it all. Nilesh.

  What a crock of shit. He’s complaining because I followed their pathetic task list to the letter? Fine. Whatever.

  Dothan smacked the keyboard with the palm of his hand and leaned back in his chair.

  “What did that keyboard do to you?” asked Agnes.

  “It was just Nilesh complaining about my code, but we both know why it sucks balls…I mean, why it’s no good. Anyway, I met up with January Kinsie. She told me about her relationship with Sibella and some information on their jobs. It turns out that she worked for Conscentiam, and January was her boss.”

  Agnes seemed to freeze while pouring water into the coffee machine. “Conscentiam?”

  “Yeah, in the Acquisitions department.”

  “I see. Did she mention whether they worked under Joseph Harrington?”

  He shook his head. “Who’s Joseph Harrington?”

  Agnes hesitated. “He’s the head of the Acquisitions division. I’ve talked to his wife, Althea, now and then at church. That’s one messed-up marriage. He’s terrible to her, but it seems he holds all the money and she has nowhere to go. I offered to let her stay with me, after she came to church a couple of months ago with a whopper of a black eye, but she said it was impossible. Joseph Harrington is a monster. That’s what Conscentiam does. It chews you up and spits you out and we want no part of it.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Dothan rose from his chair and walked over to Agnes. She turned to face him as the ancient coffee maker whirred to life.

  “It means neither one of us should be messing with anyone in that company.”

  “I can’t see what they have to do with any of this. Sibella may have worked there, but her murder was just a rotten, random thing that happened.”

  “Maybe, but that bunch in Acquisitions are savvy and smart. Our goal is to protect ourselves and the software. We need to stay away from them while we search for that table. Speaking of that thing, did January know anything about it?”

  Dothan gave her a sheepish look.

  “You didn’t ask her, did you? Can’t you see she’s already got her claws into you? Listen to me, if you aren’t careful, you’ll be handing over everything to that piranha.”

  “That’s a pile of crap. This has nothing to do with January. She’s just a hardworking sales manager.”

  “Is she now?”

  “I’m serious. You’re wrong about her. She wants her friend’s murder solved, and she’s the only person who still stays on the detectives in order to keep this investigation alive. I might have forgotten about the table, but I did what we planned. I gave her my pitch, and she bought it, and by the end of our meeting, she asked me to help

  her solve Sibella’s murder.”

  Agnes handed a mug to Dothan. “I couldn’t remember if you said you liked two sugars or one, so I went for two.”

  Surprised by the gesture, he smiled and said, “Um, thanks? Two is cool. Anyway, you’re right that January’s charming and intelligent.”

  “They all are in that department.”

  He ignored the comment. “Think about it. With her connection to Conscentiam, when we get this murder sorted, I bet we could get them to take on my software and we could both walk away with a big pot of cash.”

  Agnes frowned. “Have you not heard a word I said? We don’t want to involve ourselves with anyone working for Conscentiam. I get you can’t wait to sing her love songs and recite the Kama Sutra, but you’re losing your perspective. Do not trust this woman with that software just because she has a pretty face.”

  He uttered a growl of frustration. “I heard you loud and clear. What do you think I’m trying to do here? She’s asked me to help her investigate the murder, and she’s our best lead into Sibella’s entire life. I wish you’d stop thinking I’m only in this to bang her.”

  “As long as we stick with our plan to find that table and prove it was the last thing Sibella saw as she flew to Heaven, then we’re on the same page. In the meantime, don’t show January that table, stay out of her bed and keep that software hidden.”

  “Have you considered we wouldn’t have to do any of this if we sold the software to Conscentiam ourselves? It might be less money, but it’s still a pile of cash for a lot less work.”

  “A pile of cash? Not a chance. They’ll pay you off in pennies, and, after y
ou’ve blown through every dime, you’ll realize what a dope you were to settle for so little. If we can prove your code displays the last image seen by a human being at the moment of death, we control the price. Just for once in your testosterone-laden youth, try to think with the brain in your head, not in your jeans.”

  “Damn, you’re obsessed with my sex life.”

  “The only sordid dalliances of yours that I have any interest in are the ones that could mess up our plans.”

  “Okay,” he said. “If you’re against selling the software at a bargain price, then I’m cool with that. I want to cash in on this as much as you do, but we won’t get there if we keep groping in the dark. If we’re going to nail this, we need to be more structured.

  “That’s a good thought. We should take what we already have and build on it. I’ll give Althea a call and see if she wants to meet. I’m sure she can tell us a good deal about Sibella. If I can arrange it, can you meet up on Saturday afternoon to speak with her?”

  “Yeah, but it can’t go past two. I’m seeing January again.” He smiled as he got on his knees with his hands in a prayerful pose. “If I’m allowed.”

  “Idiot,” said Agnes. She shook her head and returned to her desk.

  Dothan laughed and turned back to his workstation.

  He stared into the semi-darkness of the basement, distracted by visions of January’s beautiful face. Two more days and he would be with her again. The thought of it sent shivers throughout his body.

  Chapter Six

  Saturday announced its arrival by directing a harsh yellow sunbeam across Dothan’s tired eyes. With a scowl, he winced and crawled out of bed.

  Of all times my brain decides to go full throttle, he thought, why did it have to be last night?

  He rubbed his face and grabbed his work laptop to review the list of errors given to him by Nilesh. Their meeting on Friday had gone as he expected. Dothan offered a humble apology peppered with plausible excuses, and Nilesh smiled as he blended mild criticism with advice on how to get back on track.

  While the petty complaints regarding his slapdash code irritated him, Dothan still welcomed the mindless task. The minor changes should keep him busy and make the hours before he saw January less of an eternity.

  After completing the work, Dothan sent a quick email to Nilesh detailing his precise adherence to the list and willingness to work on a weekend.

  That ought to keep the little bastard happy.

  As a pot of strong coffee brewed, he exchanged his work laptop for his personal one and browsed to January’s social media. She had posted new images since his previous visit. His finger ran across the most provocative of the set, igniting his body with desire.

  Dothan closed the laptop cover. Whatever it took, January was ending up in bed with him. This was no longer a sexual game. It was a conquest.

  Dr. Terry had teased him for months, hinting at her longing for him. When he gave in to her unspoken demands, though, she destroyed his life.

  What psychiatrist wears skirts that short when they’re supposed to be healing a mind? That bitch was nothing but a fraud.

  No woman would ever have the upper hand with him again. Not even someone as extraordinary as January.

  After a hot shower, he shaved and inserted a pair of deep blue contact lenses. With his hair styled, Dothan pulled on his clothes and Chelsea boots. He checked his reflection and smiled.

  She’ll be begging for it before I pay for our meal.

  ***

  Annoyed by the long, hot bus ride and walk through the worst part of the International District, Dothan entered the hole-in-the-wall cafe where he was to meet Agnes. He tried not to gag from the heavy odor of bleach and grease as he scanned the tiny dining room.

  She leaned from a red leatherette booth and waved him over. His shoes stuck to the floor a little as he shimmied past the many small tables. He slid into the bench seat opposite of Agnes. She sat beside a thin, middle-aged woman whose head was lowered in a self-conscious attempt to hide an obvious black eye. Even through her pale foundation, it was clear from the swollen upper lid the injury was recent.

  Agnes smiled and introduced her to Dothan as Althea Harrington.

  “Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” he said, extending his hand.

  She ignored him and turned to Agnes. “Have you checked?”

  “It’s fine.” Agnes touched the woman’s hand. “I’m watching the door, and I can’t see anyone acting strange.”

  “I hope not,” she whispered. “He was furious the last time I left without his permission.”

  “So,” said Dothan, “I guess Agnes has told you we’re trying to work on Sibella Gale’s story.”

  Althea’s eyes narrowed. “She has, but I don’t see how I can help you. In my opinion, Sibella got what she had coming to her.”

  “Harsh,” he said. “In what way did she deserve to be murdered and left on a riverbank?”

  Agnes shot Dothan a warning glance.

  Althea lifted the edge of her lips in a sneering smile. “Because the petty bitch was nothing but a cheap junkie who slept with anything that came within five feet of her. Oh, I knew all about her, all right. She was one of the girls that arranged the parties for Joseph’s clients. Parties? They were nothing but orgies full of drugs and alcohol. I heard she liked to keep the sugar daddies for herself to fund her next fix. That girl had it coming, let me tell you. She just screwed the wrong man.”

  “Do you know the names of these men?” asked Agnes.

  “Yes, but I’m not risking a beating to share their personal details with you. Why don’t you two just leave this stuff with the police?”

  “We’re helping a friend,” said Dothan, ignoring Agnes, who scowled at him. “I did a little research before I came here. Back in the nineties, your husband went from an accounts manager to Vice President of Acquisitions and Intellectual Property at Conscentiam almost overnight. What did he do to shoot up through the corporate ladder that way?”

  “He pitched the idea of acquiring technology to the board, and they gave him ownership of it. I was his division head back then, and we made it one of most profitable sectors of the corporation. I retired a few years ago when it became too much for me. He has…” Her eyes closed for a moment and then opened, “younger people to take care of everything now.”

  “What about your husband and Sibella’s death? Where was he that night?”

  Agnes kicked him under the table.

  Althea flushed with anger. “Listen, you twerp, my husband might be a lot of things, but he’s no murderer. I’ll tell you the same thing I told the detectives. We spent the entire night at home, and I couldn’t forget it if I tried. I’ve got a dislocated jaw to remind me. As for Sibella, he didn’t like that girl. We don’t have a lot of conversations about his work, but that is one thing he made very clear. He said she was arrogant, greedy, and over ambitious. Ready to do anything to move forward, and I mean anything. He even considered firing her because of her antics. Get this through your head. Sibella Gale was nothing but a whore who lived for her next fix. It was only a matter of time before she ended up as she did.”

  “Look, I’m not accusing your husband,” he said. “I’m just asking questions. I’m sorry if what I said offended you. Just tell me to shut up if I say anything you don’t want to answer.” Dothan pulled out his phone and brought up the orange-tinted image of the table found in Sibella’s retinal scan. “Have you ever seen this?”

  Althea shook her head and turned to Agnes. “I have to go,” she said. “If I don’t turn my phone tracking back on in a few minutes, Joseph will know I’m up to something.”

  Irritated by her response, Dothan pushed his phone closer to the older woman. “Does it look familiar at all?”

  She stared at the picture for a moment. “No. I’ve never seen that before in my life.”

 
; Agnes stepped from the booth as Althea slid across the

  slick vinyl seat.

  “Thanks,” said Agnes. “I can’t tell you how much we appreciate you taking this risk. We won’t bother you about this again, but I hope you’ll always think of me if you need to talk about anything.”

  “I will.” She patted Agnes’s hand and smiled before turning to Dothan. “And you just need to stay out of things you don’t understand.”

  Agnes scanned the restaurant and nodded, and Althea Harrington put on an oversized pair of sunglasses, lowered her head and walked away.

  Dothan turned to Agnes, “What the hell was all that about? The same dude who beats the living shit out of her says Sibella’s a crack whore, and we’re supposed to believe it? Give me a fucking break. Oh, and don’t even try to tell me Althea didn’t know about that table.”

  “For heaven’s sake, watch your language,” said Agnes. “Althea knew both Sibella and January very well. She was the one who hired them both. Why wouldn’t she have conversations with her husband about them? I don’t agree with you about the table. She didn’t seem to recognize it at all.”

  “Bull. Did you see her face? I think she knows exactly where that table is, and she’s trying to protect that psycho husband of hers.” He glanced at his watch. “Gotta go.”

  Agnes frowned. “I wish you’d listen to me. I know it’s hopeless to say this again, but don’t get involved with that woman. She’ll eat you alive. No one gets to the level she’s reached in that corporation without someone else being gravel on her highway. Look at Althea.”

  “Thanks for the warning,” he said as he slid from the booth. He handed Agnes the cost of his coffee, but she declined. “See you later.”

  Dothan shuffled between the tables and ran onto the sidewalk, grateful to be out of the grimy atmosphere. He walked at a brisk pace to Fifth Avenue, making furtive glimpses at his appearance

  in passing windows.

  Tarantella’s Restaurant was a relief after the dingy cafe. The upscale Italian bistro had an air of a romantic hideaway and was a perfect setting for their first actual date. Everything was going to plan.