Read Online Treaty Violation by Anthony C. Patton - Free Book Online Page A

account number.”
    “You must be Tyler’s replacement,” she said.
    Nicholas nodded and started filling out the form. The word “replacement” didn’t sit well with him. Her tone had been empathic, but the flirtatious spell was broken. He handed her the completed form.
    “Did you know Tyler?” she asked, and then frowned when he nodded. “I knew him only a few weeks,” she added. “He was a nice man. His death was such a shock.”
    Nicholas didn’t want to face any painful emotions, but Jessica might have some insights. Then again, if she worked for The Order, he would have to be careful about what he said. Everything was a test. “How was he acting?”
    Jessica sighed and rested her elbows on the desk. “I think something was bothering him, even before Helena died. After that, of course, he wasn’t himself.”
    “What do you mean?” Nicholas asked.
    “A few days after Helena died he came here to arrange his third wire transfer. He hadn’t shaved and his eyes were bloodshot. I asked what was wrong, but he didn’t want to talk.” She leaned forward with an upraised eyebrow. “I heard a rumor that Cesar Gomez—he’s a drug dealer—might have killed Helena. Tyler was trying to have him arrested. Judging by his mood that day, I’d say he wanted to kill him.”
    Nicholas nodded. “You said something was bothering Tyler before Helena’s death. What did you mean?”
    “I can only speculate,” she said.
    Nicholas didn’t expect anything more, with the caveat that women often offered such caveats before speaking the truth.
    “Helena liked to party,” she said. “She also…used cocaine. People talk, you know.”
    Nicholas nodded, surprised.
    “One night a few months ago she overdosed at a party. No one will discuss it, but I heard she was raped.” She pronounced rape at a cautious whisper.
    Nicholas gestured for her to continue.
    “More recently, she found out she couldn’t have children.”
    “Her being raped caused that?” Nicholas asked. Jessica shrugged. “What does that have to do with Cesar?”
    Jessica looked embarrassed for having not stated the obvious. “Helena was raped at Cesar’s penthouse during a party. Not by Cesar himself, mind you,” she added, “but he was the one who gave her the cocaine, or so I heard.”
    Nicholas gritted his teeth. Only a coward would give cocaine to a woman. He couldn’t begin to imagine the pain Tyler must have felt. “I had no idea—”
    “Jesus Christ!” a man yelled and slammed a door. He loosened his tie and stormed down the hall yelling a medley of four-letter words.
    Jessica smiled apologetically. “You’ll have to excuse Nash. He’s our futures trader. The market must have taken another turn for the worse.”
    “The markets have been in a nosedive,” Nicholas said. He decided he wanted to see more, especially if The Order was involved. “Perhaps you could give me a tour.”
    “Follow me,” she said, using her professional tone again. She walked to the back of the office and gestured to the room the enraged man had left. “That’s Nash’s office. He spends most of the day at the computer watching the markets and placing trades for our clients.” She continued down a short hall. “That’s the bathroom,” she said and pointed to the closed door. The faucet was running. Nash was mumbling expletives. “I think Nash is really upset,” she whispered and turned to the other side of the hall. “This is our conference room. Please,” she added and gestured for him to enter.
    Nicholas entered the room, walked around the conference table, and stood before the window. He observed the silent city below as cool air from an air duct showered him. Tyler must have blamed Cesar—for Helena’s cocaine addiction, for her rape, for her infertility, for her death—and decided to kill him.
    He turned to see Jessica standing next to the words “Enterprise Associates” emblazoned on the projection screen. He sat in a leather chair and