Chapter 5
By eight the next morning, Rachel had slept exactly forty-seven minutes.
She changed into clothes Emily lent her, drank two cups of coffee, and entered Northstar Advanced Systems headquarters in Fulton Market carrying the same handbag she’d carried into the rain.
No designer suit.
No dramatic makeover.
No diamonds.
Dark slacks.
White blouse.
Hair tied back.
Samuel Reed met her in the lobby.
Beside him stood Monica Shaw, Northstar’s chief operating officer.
Monica had worked with Evelyn for nineteen years.
She shook Rachel’s hand.
“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances.”
“So do I.”
They entered the elevator.
Monica glanced at Rachel.
“Samuel told me enough to know you’ve had a difficult night.”
Rachel smiled faintly.
“He has a talent for understatement.”
The elevator opened onto the executive floor.
Eleven people were already gathered in the main boardroom.
Some looked curious.
May you like
Some skeptical.
One man looked openly annoyed.
