Evelyn David - Sullivan Investigations 01 - Murder Off the Books by Evelyn David

heard the shooter took it lying on his back and pointing upwards.”
    “Shooter?”
    “Yeah. The cameraman…oh. You thought I meant…. No.” Lenore Adams’ secretary went back to her desk, crossed her arms over her chest, and stared at him. “Are you investigating the murder?”
    “Not exactly.” He tried the famous Sullivan smile on her. “I’m sorry I didn’t get your name earlier.”
    The girl’s green eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Julianna Jarrett. Everyone calls me JJ.”
    “Mac Sullivan.”
    “Yeah, you said.” She gave him a tight smile. “You know–earlier.”
    “Right.” Damn smile wasn’t worth the dental bills. The girl was looking at him like he was about to offer her candy to sit on his lap.
    “Did you know Vince Malwick?”
    “No.” JJ picked up a ballpoint pen, clicking the button in and out.
    “No?”
    She clicked the pen. “Not really.”
    “Mr. Malwick never came here to see Miss Adams? Never called?”
    Click. “He never came here, while I was working.” Click, click. “Uh, his secretary and that new guy called a lot. I spoke to them, but Malwick never came on the line until Lenore was on hold.”
    “You call your boss Lenore?”
    Click. “What else?” She stared at him.
    He didn’t know what else. He was wasting time. “Miss Adams still on the phone?”
    JJ looked at the lights on her desk phone. “Yeah.” Click. Click.
    Mac got to his feet and walked over to the lone outside window in the office. He was surprised to see the clock tower only a few hundred feet away. The winding halls on the second floor had turned him around, rendered him directionless.
    “Mr. Sullivan?”
    Mac turned to see a woman in her late thirties standing by JJ’s now empty desk. He hadn’t heard the girl leave.
    “I’m Lenore Adams.” The woman’s ash blonde hair brushed the lapels of her tight red designer suit. Her wide blue eyes sparkled with pleasure as she held out her hand to him.
    Mac gave her his ‘all business’ smile, while trying to avoid looking at the long legs revealed by the very short narrow skirt. This woman was trouble. Big trouble.
     
    ***
     
    Lenore Adams sat down at her desk and looked directly into his eyes. “How can I help you Mr. Sullivan?”
    “I’m working for Ganseco Insurance. Can you describe your involvement with the purchases for the college’s computer systems?”
    “Certainly. It’s part of my job to write the specs for the hardware and software that the college orders.”
    “Specs?”
    “For some departments, like the science programs, they know exactly what they need and I merely review their proposals and pass them along to be put out to bid. But for most of the humanities and the administration, I review what each office has and upgrade or replace as needed.”
    “And Malwick’s office was responsible for the bidding process?”
    “Yes, my job was to make sure that the companies understood what they were bidding on and then to check that what we received met the contract specs.”
    “And you worked directly with Malwick on this project?”
    Adams nodded. “For the first couple of years I did, but recently….”
    “Recently, what?”
    “Vince assigned one of his assistants to work with me.”
    “Who was that?” Mac asked.
    “Daniel Thayer.”
    “Did Thayer understand computers enough ….”
    “Absolutely. He was very techno-literate.”
    “What was Thayer like?” Mac probed.
    “What do you mean?” Adams asked, her eyes shifting to the gold watch on her left wrist.
    “Easy going? Intense? Smart?”
    “All of the above.”
    Mac made a note in his book, giving himself time to consider his next question. “Did you spend much time with him?”
    “The bidding process is fairly lengthy.”
    Mac pushed. “I meant outside of the office?”
    Her eyes widened. “What are you implying?”
    “Nothing.” Mac had the impression that she knew exactly what he was asking. She just didn’t want to answer him. “I’m just asking if