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staff, she couldn’t be sure which was the higher.
    “Okay, let’s get started,” Greer addressed the room, “I’m sure most of you are curious to find out what this meeting’s about. It has come to our attention that there’s been a security breech in our computer files. Evidently, a hacker may have gained access to some files of a financial nature on a few of our clients.”
    “Eighty four of them, to be exact.” She wouldn’t allow Greer to downplay the significance.
    Rachel watched the room for a reaction, a sign that someone was suddenly nervous, a fidget, a cough. She watched for any subtle indication of who she should interview first.
    “So, as a matter of procedure, the District Attorney’s office will be conducting an official investigation. This is Deputy DA Rachel Summers. She’ll be interviewing everyone individually. I’ve assured her of our complete cooperation. So, gentlemen,” He grinned at the group of salesman, “Let’s be on our best behavior.”
    Rachel half expected him to slap her on the ass.
    “Isn’t this a violation of some kind of civil right?” asked a man leaning on the far end of the counter, “I mean here we are, a captive audience, in our place of employment, being forced to answer questions about a crime. Aren’t we going to be read our rights?”
    There was muffled laughter from some of the sales staff.
    Rachel now had her first target. “Miranda warnings are applicable only if you are under arrest. This is a simply a preliminary interview designed to give us a direction in which to focus our investigation. One of the first things I look for is anyone who becomes suddenly nervous.”
    “Guilty.” The word came disguised in a cough, from the back of the room, followed by more laughter.
    “What is your name?” Rachel asked.
    “Michael.” the man said after a short pause. “Michael Dupree.”
    “Well, Mr. Dupree, I’d be more than happy to read you your rights, if that’s what you’d prefer.”
    More laughter filled the room.
    “This is a serious matter,” Greer said, “I suggest ya’ll treat it that way.”
    The room became silent.
    “The files in question contain confidential financial information on some very prominent public figures.” Rachel walked across the front of the room toward the far wall. “To them, I assure you, this is no laughing matter.” She scanned the room again. “Now, we could make the initial assumption that the motive would be identity theft. But, why would someone break into the computer system of a car dealership, rather than say, a bank? My guess would be that in a bank there would be far too many files to weed through, looking for that handful that would make it worth the effort. Whereas a dealership, such as this, that sells luxury cars with six figure price tags, would have a concentrated and far more lucrative pool of potential victims.”
    Rachel walked slowly back and forth across the front of the room as she spoke, scanning the room, to be sure everyone was following. “But, my intuition tells me that there is something far more sinister than just identity theft at work here. A large number of these files are on some very powerful people. Whoever is responsible for this is no fool. It would be a huge risk, crossing these people just to steal their credit card numbers. This individual, or individuals, is looking for something, something for which they are willing to risk a great deal to find.”
    “So, what would be the payoff?” one of the salesmen asked.
    “That,” Rachel replied, “is precisely what we’re here to find out. So let’s get started. The interviews will be conducted in private, in Mr. Greer’s office. Mr. Dupree, since you threw up the first red flag, why don’t we start with you?”
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Chapter Six
     
     
    The waiting area for the emergency room was better appointed than some hotel lobbies that Carmen had seen. In the corners, were Roman style columns that appeared to hold up the sky,