Point of Control Read Online Free PDF Page A

assumed missing adults had walked away on their own—for good reason, since it was nearly always true. Although two disappearing metallurgists created a whole new investigation. Her next stop was New Age Fabricators, the company Bowman worked for. His coworkers had been the last people to see him.
    Outside in the bright sun, she focused on the food cart she’d noted on the way in and turned left. As she reached the corner, she realized her error. Wrong direction. Her topographical disorientation had tripped her up again. The short walk to her car had seemed easy, especially after registering the food cart as a direction signal. Had the owner moved the damn cart?
    Bailey backtracked and found the rental car without further mishap. Before GPS had become commonplace in cars and phones, her life had been more challenging, including getting through the fieldwork segment of the bureau’s training. But her IQ and analytical skills had made up for it. The agency’s psychological exam had worried her the most. Though lying was easy for her, knowing when to lie on the test and what they wanted to hear had taken a lot of preparation—but she’d gotten through. As long as she was good at her job, what difference did it make?
     
    New Age Fabricators took up half a block in an industrial area south of San Jose, a concrete-bunker-style building with a row of glass-framed offices on the top floor. She could never be one of the workers on the ground floor with no windows, but that was their choice. She parked next to the entrance in the open visitors’ space. Who would drop in at a company that produced unusual metals? Not spotting any security, she pushed through the double doors into a small lobby. Beyond its back wall, the hum and thump of machinery vibrated the walls. She ignored the guest chair and stepped through an open door to the left. A claustrophobic office space with an old guy behind a cluttered desk. The tag on his wrinkled white shirt said Security . She suppressed a smile and introduced herself.
    “You’re here about Dr. Bowman?”
    Doctor? Oh right. Bowman had a PhD in materials science and engineering, and obviously exploited the title. She added arrogance to his profile. “Yes, and I need to speak with Clare Jones and David Seabert. Ms. Jones first.” The last two people to see Nick Bowman alive. She’d gleaned the names from the field office report.
    “Clare’s on the second floor, left side of the building.” The old guy coughed up some phlegm. “Mr. Seabert has the corner office on the top floor.”
    No surprise. Seabert ran the company his father had founded. But little information was offered on their website, and she wanted to know more about the company’s research, particularly what Bowman had been working on. Bailey remembered to say thanks as she walked out. She didn’t see stairs so she took the elevator, then encountered a chubby middle-aged woman as she got off on the top floor. Based on the field office report, Bailey took a guess. “Ms. Jones?”
    “Yes?” Her eyes registered fear.
    “Agent Bailey, FBI. Let’s go to your office and talk about Nick Bowman.”
    “I don’t know anything. I already told the other agent that.” Her voice was thin and childish and didn’t match her appearance.
    Bailey decided to dive right in. “Tell me about the last time you saw Bowman.”
    The woman let out an exasperated breath. “We walked to the parking lot together, then got into our cars and left. That’s it.”
    “What did you talk about?”
    “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I mentioned a restaurant I wanted to try.”
    “Did Bowman say what his plans were?”
    “Just that he was stopping for a drink.” Jones rolled her eyes, then blurted out, “But he was having an affair. It was so obvious.”
    That hadn’t been in the report. “With who?” Now she had to consider a jealous husband as the suspect. Maybe the scientists’ shared career was a coincidence.
    “I have no idea. Can