Stolen in Paradise (A Lei Crime Companion Novel) by Toby Neal

investigation.
    “Okay. The way back then.”
    Her phone rang again.
    “Agent Scott.”
    “This is Dr. Zosar Abed.” Mellifluous voice with an Indian accent. “I am calling with a concern.”
    “Hi, Dr. Abed. How can I help you?” She glanced at Rogers. They were all coming out of the woodwork now.
    “I have some information for the investigation.”
    “Yes? What would that be?”
    “I think some people were having a relationship. And maybe Dr. Pettigrew didn’t approve.”
    “Is that so? What people would be having a relationship?” Marcella asked for Rogers’s benefit.
    “Cindy and Fernandez. But he wasn’t good to her.” This last spoken in a rush. “He didn’t appreciate her. He took advantage.”
    This wasn’t the pairing Marcella had anticipated—she’d been expecting something about Dr. Handsome and the Goth.
    “Cindy and Fernandez had a relationship? And how does this connect to Dr. Pettigrew’s murder?”
    “She didn’t want anyone having the relations in her lab.” From what Marcella could tell, the lab was a regular soap opera. “So maybe one of them killed her. But not Cindy. Cindy would never do that.”
    “If it wasn’t Cindy, then you’re accusing Fernandez of murder. Do you have anything more to go on than this?” She frowned over at Rogers, who glanced at her, sandy brows lifted in question as they left downtown. They were heading into the foothills where AgroCon owned a complex of low-key buildings.
    “Fernandez, he didn’t agree with Dr. P on a lot of things. And he came up with one of the main concepts of the research, and I don’t think he agreed with what she was planning to do with it. He wanted to get rich.”
    “So you guys knew what she was planning to do with the research.”
    “She had a lot of interest from funding sources. We know BioGreen is important—critical even. We know there were offers. And we also know Dr. P wanted to help the world.” The note of hero-worship was back in his voice. “But she hadn’t told us directly, no.”
    “So Fernandez didn’t agree with Dr. P, whom you look up to. Sounds like you didn’t like him very much.”
    A long pause.
    “Jarod Fernandez took advantage of Cindy. And he didn’t understand Dr. P. That’s all I’m saying. If you don’t believe me, well, I’ve done what I can.” He hung up, an abrupt click.
    “Hm. Could be sour grapes,” Marcella said, looking at her phone. “Or it could be a good tip. Either way, we need to schedule those longer interviews with the interns ASAP.”
    Rogers slowed down as they approached the AgroCon complex. Protesters lined either side of the street, holding signs saying LABEL GMOS and Stop Poisoning Our `Aina .
    “What’s all this about?” Marcella frowned.
    “Been following it in the news. AgroCon grows a lot of test crops and tries their experimental products, including pesticides, here in Hawaii because of its geographic isolation. People aren’t happy.”
    “Whoa. Wonder what AgroCon will have to say.”
    “This should be revealing,” Rogers agreed, as they pulled up to a discreet gatehouse beside a mechanical metal gate that didn’t identify AgroCon Ltd. anywhere—but clearly the address had been identified by the protesters. He held up his cred wallet for the armed security guard in the booth. “Special Agents Scott and Rogers to see your vice president.”

Chapter 10
    The director’s office was more like a fancy lawyer’s than an agriculture company’s, with deep carpets, Swedish modern furnishings, and a huge view of Honolulu spread out below them. Vice President of Operations Lance Smith came out from behind his minimalist desk to shake their hands and inspect their creds with equal thoroughness.
    “Please, sit,” he said, indicating a seating arrangement around a beautiful ikebana arrangement of bird-of-paradise. They sat. Smith had the beefy, sunblasted look of a golfer and the lavender polo shirt to go with it. He showed them a lot of veneered