If you have to injure someone, then make it so severe that his vengeance need not be feared ― MICHAEL SCOTT

"… So she was in the building from 7 p.m. till 8 p.m. But Claire left and returned a half hour later at 7.30. Only to be found dead by Katharine at 8.15 p.m. in Mr. Shore's office. Where was she for that half hour? Also, since she was killed somewhere else and moved to the executive offices… maybe she was attacked in the building somewhere else or nearby? This doesn't make any sense."

"No, it doesn't. Do we have any cameras covering areas outside the office?"

"I already checked those. Claire didn't leave from the front entrance and the logs don't show that she took her car."

"So she was probably in or around Knight Inc. premises. Or maybe someone took-?"

"Mr. Knight?"

He'd followed the voices to Jerry's workstation where three monitors were running the surveillance footage from a few different angles. One screen was frozen to a shot of Claire entering the basement stairwell. Jerry and Cat were leaning in close to each other to look at the picture.

"What the hell is going on?" Alex looked pointedly at Cat.

"We were just looking at yesterday's surveillance footage-" Alex's gaze shifted to Jerry and seeing the death-stare on his boss's face, Jerry quickly mumbled out, "I'll just go get some coffee then. Been staring too long at these screens. Don't worry Cat, I've got you covered."

Jerry left and Alex turned his glacial stare in Cat's direction who was looking at him with burning anger and a hint of weariness.

What the fuck? Why was she angry with him?

"That cold look might cut it with Jerry but not with me. By the way, what the hell was that?"

"So it's Jerry now? And what the hell are you doing here since yesterday night?"

"We've been trying to figure out Claire's movements since before the attack. Detective Riley said he'd be here soon with the warrant for the tapes. So we decided to-"

"Hang on. What's this we? Who said it's okay for you to stay here all night and help? This isn't in your job profile."

"Please don't act like you're worried about me, Alex," she replied in a high false tone.

"I don't care what you do. So tell me, why're you doing this and what the hell are you trying to get out of it? Unless it's to defame or spread rumors about my company?" His voice rose in anger in direct proportion to her calm attitude.

"Oh, you mean my report? Or are you worried that I'll sell whatever I find here to those vultures flitting outside your office?" She bit out scathingly.

"Don't pretend for a minute that you're doing this for some altruistic motive. You forget that I know you, Cat and you never do anything unless it benefits you."

"I just want Claire's killer caught, Alex. Is that so hard to believe?" Her voice dropped suddenly and her eyes closed. For the first time since he'd entered Jerry's workspace, Alex noticed the blue shadows underneath her eyes and the waves of exhaustion rolling off of her. Cat was tired and she had stayed here all night, even after how he'd treated her.

"No. It isn't." He murmured huskily and raised his hand to trace her flawlessly high cheekbones that could cut glass. Her skin was unlike anything he'd ever known. So fucking soft and warm.

"Catriona…" he breathed. Cat's eyes snapped open to stare at him with confusion. Alex realized how close he'd moved when she reached out to cover his callused fingers with hers.

"Here you go. I bought enough coffee to keep us going till next week-"

They moved away quickly to look at Jerry standing in the doorway and looking quizzically at them. His dark eyes hadn't missed a thing. The look Alex gave Jerry dared him to say what he was thinking.

"Mr. Knight, you're still here. I thought I'd update you in a formal report with Detective Riley's findings, which he promised to share as soon as he had something new. But since you're already here…"

"Okay. What have we got?"

"So, based on Detective Riley's assumptions and the coroner's report the estimated time of death corroborates with the time stamp we found on the surveillance video when Ms. Katharine Dugall found the body. Claire Gibbons was stabbed twice in the abdomen and multiple times in the liver. It was messy and brutal. She bled to death in a matter of minutes. But since the crime scene didn't show any splatters or the amount of blood that should have been there, the evidence, clearly points to the murder taking place somewhere else."

"Hold on. So you're saying that she was left bleeding on the floor after she was stabbed?"

"Yes, it would have been horribly painful and lonely to just lie there bleeding out," he confirmed in a morose tone.

Alex felt a burst of raw anger at the atrocity committed on his property. Maybe even by someone he knew. Alex vowed to get justice for Claire whatever it took. His jaw tightened and fingers curled into fists so tight that his knuckles whitened. Feeling Cat's fingers close over his fists, he slowly loosened his death grip and focused on what Jerry was saying. His fingers curled unintentionally with Cat's.

"… In order to track down the killer, Cat and I were building a timeline of Claire's movements yesterday. But there are some discrepancies that have yet to be investigated further and I will let you know as soon as possible."

"I know I heard. I may have some theories on the time gap in the footage about Claire's whereabouts. Come see me when you're done. I'd like to check out the footage once more. Thank You Jerry. Keep up the good work."

"Sir, also Detective Riley has asked for a copy of the tapes and access to Claire's belongings. He said he'll get a warrant before noon."

"Yes, cooperate with the officer and keep updating me. I have to let Claire's parents know what's happening."

"Poor Ms. Gibbons' parents. They must be pretty overwhelmed and shook up over the news. It seems like hell to pile on how she was- this pain on them."

"They deserve to know, however painful it is."

Cat squeezed his hands in a show of support. The proud gleam in her eyes shining like the surface of the ocean on a sunny day lifted his mood.

It doesn't matter what she thinks. She's a selfish liar.

Aware of how perfectly his fingers were interlaced with hers, he quickly disentangled them and left.