below Henry Wharton in the Tyler, Stone partnership pecking order. He
had a substantial client base and his life was focused on his own
professional career enhancement.
“I must say I’m surprised to see you here, Sidney.”
“Going home right now isn’t such an appealing idea, Philip.”
He slowly nodded his head. “Yes, yes, I can well understand that.”
He glanced over her shoulder at the phone receiver lying on the shelf of
one of the bookcases. “Talking with someone?”
“Personal. There are a lot of details I need to go over now.”
“Of course. Death is terrible enough to confront. Sudden death even
more so.” He continued to stare pointedly at her.
Sidney felt her face flushing. She turned away, grabbed her bag off the
couch and pulled her coat from behind the door, partially closing the
door on Goldman, who had to step back quickly to avoid being struck.
She put on her coat and poised her hand over the light switch.
“I’ve got an appointment I’m late for.”
Goldman stepped back into the hallway. Sidney made a show of locking
her office door before shutting it.
“This may be an awkward time, Sidney, but I wanted to congratulate you
on your handling of the CyberCom transaction.”
She jerked her head around. “I’m certain we should not be discussing
that subject, Philip.”
“I know, Sidney,” he said. “However, I still read the Wall Street
Journal and your name has been mentioned several times. Nathan Gamble
must be very pleased.”
“Thank you, Philip.” She turned to face him. “I have to go now.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.”
Sidney quickly nodded and then moved past Goldman. She walked down the
hallway toward the firm’s main entrance and disappeared around the
corner.
Goldman strode quickly down the hallway in time to see Sidney enter the
elevator. He then walked casually back down the corridor to Sidney’s
office. After looking in both directions, he pulled out a key, inserted
it in the lock, opened the door and went inside. The lock clicked into
place, and then there was silence.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Sidney pulled the Ford into Triton’s vast parking lot and got out.
She buttoned up her coat against the chilly wind, checked her purse once
more to make sure the plastic card was there and Walked as normally as
she could to the fifteen-story building that housed Triton’s world
headquarters. She identified herself into the speaker located next to
the entrance. A video camera mounted over the doorway was pointed
directly at her head. Then a compartment next to the speaker swung open
and she was directed to insert her thumb into the fingerprint scanner
that was now revealed. Triton’s after-hours security measures probably
matched those of the CIA, she surmised.
The glass and chrome doors slid noiselessly open. She walked into the
building’s lobby, which featured a soft waterfall, soaring atrium and
enough polished marble to have emptied a good-sized quarry.
When she walked toward the elevator, the lighting automatically
illuminated her path. Gentle music also followed her and the elevator
doors opened as she approached them. Triton’s headquarters building had
received the full benefit of the company’s immense technological muscle.
She rode the elevator to the eighth floor and got off.
The security officer on duty there rose and walked over to her, grasping
her hand. There was pain in the man’s eyes.
“Hello, Charlie.”
“Sidney, ma’am. I am so sorry.”
“Thank you, Charlie.”
Charlie shook his head. “On his way to the top. Worked harder than
anybody here. A lot of times it was just him and me in the whole
building. He’d bring me coffee and a little something to eat from the
lunchroom. Never asked him to, he just did it. Wasn’t like
some of the big shots here who think they’re better than you are.”
“You’re right, Jason wasn’t like that.”
“No, ma’am, he wasn’t. Now what can I do for you? You need something?
You just tell old Charlie. what it is.”
“Well, I was wondering if Kay Vincent was still here.”
Charlie stared blankly at her. “Kay? I don’t think so. I come on duty
at nine. She’s usually gone around seven so… I wouldn’t have seen