One Love (33 page)

“
Sure. But most of that
stuff they knew already. What they really wanted from me was local
information. A real ‘woman of the people’ kind of view.” Lanessa
had lost her uneasiness. Robyn stood behind both men sending her
subtle eye and hand signals.

“
What do you know about
their products?” Tate walked to the wall to examine her framed
degree in public policy.

“
Not much. Something to do
with components that can be used in computers. Of course even an
alarm clock has its own tiny computer these days.” Lanessa smiled
at them. “Big business.”

“
More than you know,”
Brandon said.

Tate cleared his throat. “so you’re
saying you don’t know much about their product or marketing
plans.”

“
I know some. They’ve got
customers in Asia, not doing so hot there these days though. And in
Eastern Europe if I recall.” Lanessa lifted a shoulder.

“
I see.” Tate made
notes.

“
Nice little business
rooting around for odd bits of information.” Brandon gazed at
her.

“
I like it.” Lanessa matched
his mild impertinence.

“
Funny thing is Paxton-Waite
has lots of smart people working for them. Why did they need you?”
Brandon said.

“
Their staff could only give
them numbers. I gave them information on how those numbers
translate into the local people, their culture and history. I spent
time in the towns and out in the rural areas. And I didn’t take a
clipboard and interrogate folks either.” Lanessa could see Robyn
gesturing wildly. She stopped when Brandon glanced back at
her.

“
Excuse me. Lanessa, Ms.
Magillacutty is on the line. Take it out here,” Robyn said. She
smiled at the two men.

“
Be right back.” Lanessa
darted past them before either could speak. She followed Robyn back
to the file room. “Who the heck is Ms. Magillacutty?”

“
It’s the best I could do
under pressure. I called the Commerce Department’s Dallas office.
They’re for real.” Robyn chewed her lower lip.

“
Do you have a double life
as a secret agent or something?” Lanessa shook her head in wonder.
“Okay, spill it.”

“
I went over the report on
Paxton-Waite, well not the whole thing,” she added when Lanessa’s
mouth flew open. “Just the part about shipping routes, barges and
such.”

“
Right.” Lanessa sat on the
edge of the table. “And Charles Metoyer got real interested in the
Commerce Committee, too.” She winced at the memory of Yasmin’s
fury. “The jerk has caused all kinds of trouble for me already. Now
this.”

“
Obviously you were right.
Paxton-Waite is up to something.” Robyn’s eyes were bright with
excitement.

“
Yeah, and they dragged me
into the dirt with ‘em.” Lanessa jerked a thumb in the direction of
her office. “Those guys are convinced I’m in on it.”

“
So what do we do next,
boss?” Robyn seemed anxious to become even more
involved.

“
What we did to get in this
mess, find out more information and hope it gets us out it.”
Lanessa swung the door open and walked back to her office. Robyn
followed.

“
Sorry for the delay.”
Lanessa sat at her desk again.

“
Funny, I didn’t hear the
phone ring,” Brandon said.

“
It didn’t,” Robyn answered
quickly. “I returned a call from Ms. Magillacutty and she needed
the information urgently.”

Lanessa smiled at them. “Now, back to
Paxton-Waite. Why don’t you guys just ask me what you really want
to know?” She looked at Brandon first then Tate. Brandon opened his
mouth to speak but Tate cut in.

“
It’s routine when
dual-technology is being sent out of the country.” Tate slipped the
note pad back in his pocket.

“
I answered your questions.
You could at least return the favor,” Lanessa said.

“
Did you really tell us
everything?” Brandon said.

“
Everything I know, yes. I’m
willing to cooperate if you just tell me how.”

“
Sure. You worked at the
legislature for years, your father has connections all over the
state and,” Brandon paused for effect.

“
So what?” Lanessa shrugged.
“Sorry, but you just listed the reasons why other companies have
used my services. And I didn’t get a visit from federal agents
those times. I still don’t see why my work for Paxton-Waite is any
different.”

Tate glanced at Brandon with more than
a little irritation. “Ed, go check in at the office for messages.”
His tone was commanding.

Brandon seemed about to protest until
he saw the look on Tate’s face. “Right,” was Brandon’s clipped
reply. He left the room with a distinctly sullen expression stamped
on his wide face.

“
Can we speak privately?”
Tate glanced at Robyn then back at Lanessa.

“
Robyn, you can go.” Lanessa
nodded to her.

Robyn stood in a far corner near the
Abita Springs water dispenser. “I’ll be close by if you need
anything.”

She frowned at Tate’s back as she
walked past him. With one last significant glance at Lanessa, she
left closing the door behind her.

“
Alone at last,” Lanessa
said in a dry voice. “Your partner wanted to whip out the handcuffs
I’ll bet.”

“
Ed can be impatient.” Tate
offered this as an explanation, not an apology.

“
That’s one way to describe
him. Not the word I had in mind though,” Lanessa

“
He’s committed to the job
of preventing technology from getting into the wrong hands.” Tate
settled back in the chair. “Which brings me back to Caine
Dawson.”

“
And dual use
technology.”

“
We think he’s positioned
himself to get computer hardware, among other things, to a dealer
who will sell them to restricted countries. This will be done
through a complex maze of transactions,” Tate said.

“
You mean they’ll be buried
under other sales and eventually wind up... where?” Lanessa tilted
her head to one side and gazed at him.

“
Syria then onto any number
of wealthy men who support terrorist activities. Pick a hot spot
and you’ll have a likely home for it.” Tate’s heavy eyebrows came
together.

“
Then it can end up back
here, such as the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York.”
Lanessa had not thought this far ahead before now.

“
Or one of our embassies
abroad. Think of what happened in Nigeria.” Tate’s somber face
matched his serious tone.

Lanessa thought of the horrible images
of innocent people buried underneath tons of rubble. She knew his
intent was to shock her into talking. Despite the obvious play to
her emotions, she decided to be more open.

“
Okay. It was a
straightforward job at first. I have the expertise and connections
to give them a full picture of Des Allemands. I could give them a
unique view. Distant enough to be objective, yet a native who could
talk to residents without making them nervous.”

“
I see.” Tate nodded. “So
that answers the question why they sought you out.”

“
Not entirely,” Lanessa
said. “Sure it was a legitimate contract. I’m a ‘three-fer’”. She
grinned at the baffled look Tate wore.

“
I don’t follow.”

Lanessa held up three fingers and
ticked them off as she spoke. “I’m black and a female, shows how
much they value diversity. And I’m a native with strong family
connections. Three for the price of one. So if they catch flack,
they can point to me.”

“
As proof of how sensitive
they are. Very clever.” Tate made notes.

“
I began to wonder about the
location. It’s out of the way,” Lanessa said. “Robyn pointed out it
was a good spot for shipping. Barges come up from Grand Isle
through Barataria Bay.”

“
And that answered your
questions.”

“
Not about why they were
secretive. Then I wondered if it was related to the environment. A
small group of determined residents in St. James Parish stopped a
multi-national company from building last year. But that turned
into a dead end, too.”

“
Why?” Tate said.

“
They’ve got all the
permits, nothing shady there. And the local residents haven’t
opposed it.” Lanessa sat forward.

“
I see.”

“
I earned my fee, but I
didn’t want to help them hurt the local people in
anyway.”

“
Commendable. You mentioned
having connections. Did you use them to help Paxton-Waite get
permits or deal with regulations?” Tate wore a blank
expression.

Lanessa gazed at him. He must think
she was stupid. No, that wasn’t it. Tate wanted her to know they
were considering her role in the scheme. She smiled at
him.

“
Caine Dawson and Ken
Hargrove didn’t need my help making connections. I completed the
report, period.” Lanessa stood up. “Now I have another
appointment.”

Tate was making notes. At her last
words, he stopped and looked at her. “You’re investigating
Paxton-Waite,” he said in a level-tone. “Why?”

Lanessa felt a jolt. His tone
suggested they were watching her as well as Dawson and Hargrove.
Yet she would not let him rattle her.

“
For my profile database in
case we do business in the future. I can show it to you.” She
pointed to the computer.

“
That’s okay.” Tate stood.
“We may need to talk with you again.”

“
No problem.” Lanessa gave
him a firm handshake. “Just give Robyn a call to set it
up.”

“
Of course.” Tate wore a
slight smile. “I hope we haven’t disrupted you day too
much.”

They walked out to find Brandon still
on the phone. Robyn was working at her desk but wore a frown of
distaste. She kept casting dark glances at him.

“
Good, girl. See you when I
get back to the office. Yeah, goodbye.” Brandon hung up the phone.
“So where are we?”

“
On your way out, I
believe,” Lanessa said in a light voice.

Tate wore a mild expression. “I’ve got
all we need for now.”

Brandon did not appear at all pleased
with this development, but merely pressed his lips together. He
shot a glance at Lanessa that communicated his suspicion of
her.

“
Goodbye,” Lanessa
said.

“
Goodbye. Thanks again.”
Tate’s tone was genuinely polite. He opened the office door and
waited for his partner to leave first.

“
Good thing I was out here.
That jerk Brandon looked like he wanted to plant a bug or two,”
Robyn said.

“
Hmm.” Lanessa leaned
against Robyn’s desk and stared at the door.

Robyn went to the door and peeped out.
Then she went to the window. “They’re leaving in a brown Chevy
Lumina. Let’s remember that in case they decide to follow
us.”

“
What?” Lanessa laughed out
loud. “Girl, please. This isn’t a James Bond movie. Not that
Brandon knows it.”

Robyn frowned. “What a
jerk.”

“
Yeah, he wanted to make me
nervous. I guess he thought it would make me give something away.”
Lanessa shook her head.

“
The quiet one, Tate, was
easier to take. What did he ask you?” Robyn walked back to
her.

“
He wanted to know how much
I’d helped them with my connections.” Lanessa turned that fact over
in her mind again. “I wonder if they’ve decided I’m in on whatever
it is Dawson is doing.”

“
Then let’s set them
straight!” Robyn puffed with outrage. “To think we pay taxes so
they can stroll in here and accuse us of being crooks. I’m going
to—“

“
Stop right there.” Lanessa
put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m the one they’ve got under a
microscope, so don’t you do anything.”

“
You need my help and you’re
going to get it.” She wore a stubborn look.

Lanessa sighed. “You’re not going to
listen if I tell you to stay out of this, are you?”

“
No.” Robyn crossed her
arms.

“
I really appreciate it,
but—“

“
Boss lady, we’re wasting
time.” Robyn went to her computer. “Now I’ve got a few
ideas.”

“
You’re the
best.”

“
Same to you.” Robyn grinned
at her. “Back to our buddies from the government.”

“
I got the feeling they’ve
been after Dawson for a long time,” Lanessa said.

“
Then why come here? If they
know so much, they could just go after him.” Robyn tapped on the
keyboard as she spoke. She logged onto the internet.

Lanessa had a flash of insight. “I’ll
bet they want to see if I’ll warn Dawson. Maybe they want me
to.”

“
To scare them I guess. But
then they’d stop what they’re doing.” Robyn looked at
her.

“
Or it could force them to
make a mistake.” Lanessa walked around the room as she spoke.
“Maybe they’ve already got a buyer pressuring them. Or maybe they
need the money.”