Beneath the suit

Chapter 3: Shadows of Doubt

The dial tone was still ringing in Leo's ear, like a foghorn in the distance but he did not put the phone down. The city of Boston was moving around him people were rushing to get and the streetlights were shining down on them. Leo was standing in the shadow of a brick building and his whole world was falling apart.

The person who was working with him was Grace Bennett.

Marcuss last words were still echoing in Leos mind. It was like they were making fun of the good feeling he had in his chest just a little while ago. He looked down the stairs of the subway station where Grace had gone into the crowd. He could still feel her hand in his and he could still hear her laugh.

She had told him that money was paper. She had talked about her dads bankruptcy in a way that was really honest and sad. It had made Leo want to break his rules and get close to her.

Was it all an act?

Leo slowly put the phone down. The screen went black. As the boss of a company he had met a lot of people who were trying to trick him. He was good at reading people and figuring out what they really wanted.. Grace had surprised him and he did not know what to think.

Did she?

Leo closed his eyes. Took a deep breath of the cool evening air. The people who worked with him were really good at looking at numbers and finding problems. But they did not see the picture they did not see the look in Graces eyes when she talked about the company.

If Richard Henderson was doing something then Grace would either be helping him or in trouble. He would. Want her to work with him or make her look guilty so she would take the blame.

Leos jaw was tight. He was holding the phone really tightly. He was not going to let Marcus do anything yet he wanted to find out the truth for himself. He wanted to look at Grace and see if she was telling the truth.

He unlocked his phone. Dialed a number.

"Lucas " Leo said, his voice was serious. "Marcus just called me. He said that there was a big problem at the Boston office. He said that Richard Henderson was taking money and that Grace was involved."

There was a silence on the end of the line. "The girl you just met?" Lucas asked.

"Yes " Leo said, he was walking away from the subway station. "I want you to stop Marcus from doing anything I want to handle this myself."

"Leo if she is involved you are putting yourself in danger " Lucas said, he was worried. "You are acting like an employee and if she finds out who you are -"

"She will not " Leo said, he got into a taxi. "I am a temp and I have access to her desk and her files. If she is guilty I will find out. If she is not I will help her."

The morning Grace was at the office early she had not slept much. She was thinking about what had happened the day and she was scared. She turned on her computer and saw that Leo was standing next to her cubicle he had two cups of coffee.

" morning " Leo said, he was smiling. "I brought you coffee I remembered how you like it."

Grace was surprised she took a sip of the coffee it was perfect. "Thank you " she said, "you are a lifesaver I was really tired today."

Leo went to his desk. Started working but Grace could see that he was looking at her he was trying to figure her out. As he was working he was also looking at her files and he saw an USB drive on her desk it had a special tag on it.

Leo started typing on his computer but he was not just doing his job he was also trying to find out more, about the companys files. He was running a program to see who had been looking at the files recently.

"Grace!" he said, he was trying to sound normal. He was really trying to investigate her.

The voice of Richard Henderson was really loud as he opened the door to his office. Richard was a guy in his late fifties. He had a face and a tie that was a little crooked. He looked like he was really stressed out. Leo thought it was just an act.

"Grace I need those reports from the last inventory check on my desk by noon " Richard said without even looking at her. He was busy going through a stack of papers. "The people at corporate are on my case again. They think our numbers are wrong. I need you to double-check the signatures on the computer."

Grace got up away. She put on her face. "I already put those files together night Richard. They're on the shared drive in the folder. I just need your code to send them to headquarters."

Richard looked up. Said, "Great great." He glanced at Leo, who was pretending to have trouble with the stapler. "Who's the guy?"

Grace introduced Leo. "He's the temp from the agency. Hes helping with the phones. Sorting invoices for the next two weeks."

Richard gave Leo a nod. "Just make sure he doesn't touch the computers. We can't afford any problems now. Grace come into my office for a minute. We need to talk about the budget for the logistics team."

Grace grabbed her notebook and a black USB drive. Followed Richard into his office. The door closed behind them. Soon as it did Leo started typing on his computer. He got into the folder really fast.

He found the file Grace was talking about. It was called *HGE_Boston_Sub_Q3_Balance.* When he looked at the details he saw that there was a mistake. 1.2 Million dollars was missing. It was listed under a department that didn't even exist.. There was a security code at the bottom that looked like it came from Graces computer.

Leo leaned back in his chair. He was really surprised. The code was a match. It looked like Grace had signed off on the mistake. Leo wasn't sure if she did it on purpose or not.

Then Ruby Finch came over and dropped a big stack of folders on Leos desk. "Hey, Leo you're staring at the bosss door like you're trying to see through it " she said with a smile. "Don't worry Richard doesn't bite. He's too lazy. Long as Grace keeps everything running he just stays in his office and watches sports."

Leo quickly covered up what he was doing on the computer. "I was just wondering if I need to set up a mail system for Richard or if everything goes through Grace " he said.

Ruby said, "Everything goes through Grace. She's in charge of all that. Richard doesn't even know his password half the time. Grace handles all his computer stuff and his schedule."

Leos eyes narrowed. *She handles his computer stuff.* "She seems dedicated " Leo said, trying to sound casual. "I guess Richard trusts her a lot."

Ruby nodded. "Yeah he hired her after her dad died and her family was struggling. He's like a father to her. She would do anything to help him."

Leo thought about this for a moment. If Richard was like a father to Grace she would probably do anything to help him.. Was she helping him with something bad?

When Richard and Grace came out of the office Grace looked really stressed. She went back to her desk. Started typing away. Leo got up. Walked over to her. "Hey remember rule number two " he said softly. "We need to look like we're comfortable with each other."

Grace looked up confused. "What do you mean?"

Leo smiled. "We need to act like we're a couple. You look like you're fighting with your computer and your fake boyfriend is feeling neglected."

Grace laughed. "I'm sorry Leo. I'm just trying to fix a mistake in our budget. Corporate is saying we're missing a lot of money and I don't know what to do."

Leos alarm bells went off. "A mistake? How much money?"

Grace looked worried. "Over a million dollars. Its listed under an account but I don't think it's real. Richard told me it was a project from the New York office but they're saying they don't know anything about it."

Leo looked at her. She seemed honest and worried. He didn't think she was trying to steal money. He thought Richard might be using her to cover his tracks.

Leo felt a wave of relief. Grace was innocent. She was a pawn, in Richards game. Leo wanted to help her to prove that she wasn't involved in anything.

That feeling of relief did not last very long. It was replaced by a lot of anger towards Richard Henderson. This man had taken advantage of a girl who was already hurting because her family had lost all their money. He had done things to make her look like she was the one who committed a crime.

"Grace " Leo said, his voice was very calm and steady. He put his hand on her desk close to hers. "Do not worry. If Richard said that the files are okay then the problem is probably with the office. You know how messy they can be."

"I hope you are right " Grace said, looking at his hand. Being close to Leo made her feel better. He was like a person in a big storm. "I just want to get through this week. I want to get through the gala, with Julian and make sure our office is okay."

"We will,"

Leo promised her his eyes looking into hers with a fierce intensity. "I won't let anything happen to this branch, Grace.. To you."

Grace looked at him her breath catching slightly at the weight behind his words. It felt like a promise that went beyond the boundaries of a temporary office assignment. Before she could process the feeling her desk phone rang, shattering the moment.

She answered it quickly her professional voice returning. "Grace Bennett, Hayes Global." She listened for a moment her expression turning into a frown. "An urgent courier delivery? For Richard? No he’s out at a lunch meeting with a client. I can sign for it at the desk."

She hung up. Looked at Leo. "A courier is downstairs with a confidential legal package for Richard from an international firm. Can you come with me to the lobby to help verify the security tracking number? The reception system has been glitching all morning."

" course " Leo said, stepping back to let her out of the cubicle.

They walked together toward the elevator bank. The buildings central elevators were glass-backed structures that overlooked the central atrium of the office park. As they stepped into the car and the doors slid shut the elevator began its descent toward the ground floor lobby.

Grace stood next to Leo looking out at the glass atrium. "You know Leo you really don't talk much about yourself. We spent all yesterday talking about my history but I still don't know much about your consulting work. What kind of projects do you usually handle when you're not doing temp assignments?"

Leo kept his eyes focused on the descending floor indicator. "I mostly deal with crisis management, Grace. Companies that are at a turning point, where a single decision can mean the difference between survival and total destruction. It’s stress but it teaches you to see through the noise and focus on what matters."

"Sounds intense " she murmured, looking up at his profile. "No wonder you didn't flinch when Julian started throwing his weight around. You're used to dealing with people."

"Powerful people are regular people with bigger platforms, Grace " Leo said softly turning his head to look down at her. "They bleed the same they make the mistakes and they're just as vulnerable to the truth."

The elevator chimed, the doors sliding open to reveal the bustling lobby of the corporate park. A courier in an uniform was standing near the security desk holding a heavy oversized cardboard document envelope sealed with bright red security tape.

Grace walked up to the desk offering a smile to the security guard and the courier. "Hi I'm Grace Bennett, assistant to Richard Henderson. I'm authorized to sign for his correspondence."

The courier checked his pad. "Verification required, ma'am. This package contains corporate governance deeds from an international transition. I need an administrative witness signature from a branch representative to clear the tracking protocol."

Grace looked back at Leo. "Leo can you sign the secondary witness field on the pad? It just registers that a second employee witnessed the transfer."

"Sure " Leo said, stepping forward.

The courier handed Leo the stylus. Leo took it his eyes skimming the screen of the pad. The delivery origin was listed at the top of the interface: Thorne & Associates Legal Counsel, Manhattan.

Leo’s hand froze for a microsecond. Thorne. Marcus Thorne’s private legal firm. This wasn't a branch delivery. This was the un-redacted forensic accounting indictment package that Marcus had compiled to send to the federal prosecutors misdirected to the local branch due to a automated compliance tracking protocol.

If Richard opened this package he would realize that corporate was onto his embezzlement scheme. He would destroy the backup servers delete the digital footprint and flee the country leaving Grace holding the digital signature trail that pointed directly to her guilt.

Leo’s mind raced at a thousand miles an hour. He couldn't let Grace sign for this package under her name. He couldn't let it reach Richard’s desk.

"Leo?" Grace asked, looking at him with a frown as he stood frozen with the stylus. "Is everything okay?"

"The system tracking code looks a bit off " Leo said smoothly his voice completely calm as he looked at the courier. "The destination code on this routing slip is for the headquarters registry, not the local subsidiary. If we sign this here it will register as a mis-delivery in the database, which could freeze the document access keys."

The courier blinked, looking confused. "Uh the system just told me to bring it to the floor man."

"Let me check the registry link on the pad " Leo said. He took the stylus. Didn't sign his fake name. Instead his fingers flew across the touch screen of the couriers pad entering a sixteen-digit master administrator override code—a code known only to the top three executives of Hayes Global.

The couriers pad flashed bright blue a system message appearing across the screen: ACCESS GRANTED. EXECUTIVE OVERRIDE VALIDATED. ROUTING REDIRECTED TO CEO ARCHIVE.

The courier stared at the screen in bewilderment. "What the... What did you just do? The whole delivery manifest just changed."

Grace leaned over the counter trying to see the screen. "Whats wrong with the system Leo?"

Before Leo could answer, a loud familiar voice boomed across the marble lobby causing Grace to turn around immediately.

"Grace! What are you doing down here?"

Richard Henderson was walking through the glass entrance doors his face flushed from the humidity outside his coat damp from the lingering mist. He was marching toward the security desk his eyes locked onto the red-sealed security package sitting on the counter.

"Richard " Grace said, turning around. "An urgent courier delivery just arrived from New York. We were just trying to clear the security tracking protocol because the manifest seemed misrouted."

Richard’s eyes went wide as he saw the red security tape and the Thorne & Associates logo printed on the label. A sudden terrifying look of panic flashed across the managers face gone as quickly as it came replaced by an aggressive defensive mask.

"Give me that " Richard snapped, pushing Grace and reaching for the package on the counter. "That is confidential corporate material. It shouldn't be sitting out in a lobby."

The courier instinctively pulled the package back looking at his pad, which was still flashing the executive override message. "Uh wait a minute, sir. The system just locked this delivery. It says its been flagged for a security hold by executive order from the main office."

Richard froze, his hand hovering in the air. His face turned from red to a mottled white. He looked at the courier then slowly turned his gaze toward Grace, his eyes of suspicion and a dark dangerous fury.

"An executive hold?" Richard whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and rage. He stepped closer to Grace his posture suddenly threatening. "Grace... What did you do to my files? What did you tell corporate?"

Grace backed up a step completely stunned by the violent shift in her manager’s demeanor. "Nothing, Richard! I didn't tell them anything! We were just trying to sign for the package—"

"You're lying!" Richard shouted, his voice echoing loudly off the marble walls of the lobby drawing the attention of every security guard and commuter in the area. "You've been digging through my archive all morning! I saw your user log on the system! You're trying to ruin me!"

He reached out his hand gripping Graces forearm violently twisting her around to face him. "Show me what you downloaded onto that flash drive, Grace! Show me now or so help me—"

"Let her go."

The voice wasn't loud. It wasn't a shout. It was a freezing baritone that seemed to instantly drop the temperature in the entire room by twenty degrees.

Richard paused, his grip still tight on Grace’s arm as he looked up.

Leo moved. It was a blur of motion. He didn't just step between them; he took Richard’s wrist in a grip of iron. With a effortless twist of his fingers Leo forced Richard’s hand off Graces arm stepping directly into the managers space.

Leo stood at his imposing height his broad shoulders completely shielding Grace from view. His face was a mask of terrifying command his blue eyes boring into Richard’s soul with a power that was entirely inhuman for a low-level temp worker.

"You will never touch her again " Leo said, his voice quiet, steady and vibrating with an authority that left no room for defiance. ". You will step away from that counter before I have security remove you from your own building."

Richard stared up at the "temp " his breath catching in his throat. He looked at Leos eyes then looked down at the couriers pad, which was still flashing the sixteen-digit override code—a code Richard had only seen once before in a corporate security manual from the highest office, in New York.

The realization hit Richard like a punch to the gut. His eyes got really wide with horror as he stared at the man in front of him wearing clothes.

"You..." Richard whispered, his voice shaking with fear.

"You're... You're him."

Grace stood behind Leo holding her arm breathing hard as she looked at the two men.

Her mind was all mixed up.

Richard, the man who was like a father to her had just attacked her in a lobby over a package.

Leo, the broke temp who always seemed to trip over his own feet was standing over her boss like he was about to hurt him.

He was holding everyone, in the room captive by being there.

"Leo?" Grace whispered, her voice shaking as she reached out and lightly touched his sleeve.

"What is going on? Who are you?"

Leo didn't look at her.

He kept staring at Richard, who was shaking with fear.

The question hung in the air. Everyone was waiting to hear the answer.