“What about them?” Jade glances down the hallway both ways to make sure no one is around. “Gray Malice isn’t a good man, and I believe he’s selling things he shouldn’t be to very bad people.” Her words shock me.
“That’s quite the accusation.” JM Technologies has government contracts, and the Lones do too, for that matter.
They might not be owned by the government, but they supply them with things no one else is supposed to be able to get their hands on. Things no one knows about. I had to take a polygraph and sign a million contracts once I’d agreed to this job because of things I might see or work on.
A decade ago, there were rumors that both Dr. Lone and John Malice supplied technology to Masan Inga to stop Reqathe from invading their country so that our government could stay out of it. All of a sudden, Masan Inga had everything he needed to protect and push back. It worked and the Reqathe retreated. All rumors, of course.
“I’m not talking about John Malice. It’s Gray, now that he’s taken over for his father.”
“Why are you telling me this? I’m going to be a low-level lab tech.” Even if this is true, what does she think I can do about it?
“Are you sure about that, Elsy? You might not remember me, but I was a grade behind you in school. Everyone knew you were Keaton’s girl. Everyone.”
“So? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Gray Malice hates the Lones.”
That’s news to me. I know they no longer partner on projects, but I didn’t know there was some kind of falling out. Ever since John Malice died, it’s been quiet from that family.
“How do you know that? How do you know any of this?”
“It’s my job to know things.”
“Elsy.” Keaton calls my name as he walks down the hallways toward me.
“I’ll be in touch. Eyes open, Elsy,” Jade whispers before she takes off. Keaton gives her a curious glance as she walks past him.
He doesn’t speak for a long moment once he gets to me. Instead, his head is cocked to the side like he’s listening for her footsteps.
“Eyes open?” he finally asks.
“You heard that? Hang on, did you wait to ask that until you heard her leave the building?”
“Yes.” What can Keaton do with his new special abilities? “What was that about?” he pushes.
“I’m not really sure. Her name is Jade, and she went to school with us. She said she was a grade after us, but I don’t recognize her. Do you remember her?” I step back to grab my coat so we can leave.
I’m not sure how much of what she said I should tell Keaton, mainly because last night he hadn’t said shit when I mentioned Malice. He’s keeping things from me, but then again, maybe this Jade girl is right about Malice being up to no good and Keaton is already aware of it.
“I only remember one girl.” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a kiss that makes me forget about everything. Except him.