19. April 12-13, 2023
Demon
Every time the countdown on his watch hit twenty-nine seconds, Demon stopped and hit the button on it to jam any nearby camera signals for another thirty seconds.
The worst section would be the open beach.
He knew, cameras or not, the moonlight would easily reveal him on the stretch of beach between the wall and the water.
From the base of the wall, he dared a glance up at the villa.
A man stood at the far end of the veranda, but Demon couldn’t see which way the person was facing.
Feck!
Sliding along the wall, Demon looked to see if there was any additional coverage he could use to at least get closer to the water or possibly farther down the beach and out of the guard’s eyes, but there was nothing.
Loud beeping noises, like a truck backing up, erupted near the kitchen, momentarily distracting the guard.
Demon hit the jammer on his watch and sprinted toward the water.
As soon as he could, he dove under the low waves coming in and swam beneath the swells until he felt his lungs were about to burst. Even then, he slowly forced himself to breach the surface to suck in air and see if he was clear of the villa.
There was no flurry of activity on the beach, so as far as he could tell, he’d entered the water without being seen. Getting back in would be the hard part.
He turned out toward open water. Scanning to the west, he saw two brief flashes of green light.
It was impossible to be sure, but he thought it was about a mile out.
Distances over water were deceptive. He winced at a cramp that began in his lower back.
Forcing himself to ignore the pain, with powerful pulls and kicks, he swam out toward the green lights.
When he could make out the silhouette of the boat and the shapes of two men in it, one large, one small, he used the flashlight on his watch to flash twice toward the blob in the water.
Two flashes of green light appeared again, and Demon continued on through the water.
About thirty feet out, he did a shallow submerge, swam under the boat, and came up along the opposite side.
Two sets of hands reached down, grabbed his arms, and hauled him into the boat.
He did his best to keep a groan of pain inside as his teammates manhandled him into the boat, but a soft grunt escaped anyway.
He sat for a moment, catching his breath, then removed the hood from his head and shook out his hair. “Where’s Midas?” he asked.
TB raised an eyebrow at him. “Computers and water don’t really mix.
Besides, he was grumbling so hard at himself and so focused on what he was doing, we left him there.
Probably doesn’t even know we’re gone. Gem brought us pictures and video, so now he’s canvassing footage from all over the town and comparing shot angles, trying to see if we can follow Ka-Bar’s path to or from the café that day.
His workspace looks like a murder board on a crime procedural. ”
“Why is he having so much trouble?”
“Old-world charm and all,” Steel replied.
“Security cameras aren’t nearly as prevalent as they are back in the States.
He’ll get it, eventually. The bigger question will be how far we can track Ka-Bar.
If he gets in a car and leaves town using interior roads, we’ll lose him sooner rather than later. ”
“Well, I’ve got something a little more pressing he needs to look into,” Demon told them.
“We figured, which is why we’re out in the middle of the bay in the middle of the night when Steel should be sleeping, I should be talking to Flame on the computer, and you should be cuddled up in bed with your ‘wife,’” TB complained.
“Whatever,” he muttered. “We need you to look into a man named General Elliott Howard, four-star general in the United States Army, and another guy named Felix Giudici. He’s a money guy of some sort. Wasn’t able to get the details.”
“What’s up with them?” Steel asked.
“Cherry spent a dance with the general. While they were out on the floor, she noticed a design on a button on his uniform. Looked like a normal army button, but when you look closer, it’s got a Salieri S on it between the eyeholes.
” He ran his hands through his hair. “She was so freaked out by the army guy, I sent her back to the room. Apparently, he made some comment to her about regretting what happened to her father. Between that and the button, she was on the verge of losing her shite, and she never loses her shite.”
TB whistled. “Yeah, doesn’t sound like her.”
“I looked around some more, and that’s when I found the Giudici bloke. He was sporting a button on his shirt. Just like the army guy, it blended in so that you’d barely notice it. Once you know what to look for, I imagine it becomes easier.”
“They’re using it as a signal to each other. You see any others?”
“No, but I had little time. Cherry’s uncle doesn’t like me much.
When Zion saw her leave, he tried to distract me with some princess whose tits were falling out of her dress, and her ass crack was showing in the back.
” He snorted. “Like that would be a distraction from Cherry. Was more like a feckin’ train wreck. ”
“ Pendejo ! So she thinks this guy, Howard, had something to do with her dad’s disappearance?” Steel asked.
“His wording would suggest the possibility.”
Steel looked up from his watch. “Texted Midas the two names. Didn’t give him any details, but he’ll know we want them looked at. What do you want to do in the meantime?”
“Tomorrow morning is the big meeting. It’s out at the plantation grounds.
Not sure if I can get out there and get Cyclopes inside to record the meeting, and I don’t think Midas would want to risk Nova.
He’s still working on her nuances. She’s pretty sophisticated already for an AI, but she’s not done yet. ”
“Not to mention the potential of you being caught,” Steel said. “Awfully risky. You getting caught makes Cherry vulnerable. I could try. I would be more expendable.”
TB said, “Neither of you is expendable.” Glancing out at sea, TB chewed on his lip.
“We have to run it past Waters. Think Midas can hack into something while they’re in there?
If this meeting is that important, Zion probably doesn’t allow electronics in there.
Bet he sweeps everyone down beforehand, but he’s also probably smart enough to record what happens in that meeting.
Maybe Midas can find whatever he uses to record and tap into that. ”
Steel added, “The system would have to connect to the internet, or at least be a closed-circuit monitoring system that a central computer in their security room controls.”
Demon swore under his breath. “Any further idea on whether Zion and Nimbus are directly involved with the Salieri or if they’re pawns?”
TB shook his head. “Nothing yet. If Howard is a member of the Salieri, and if he’s the US Army’s connection to planes through Nimbus, there’s nothing to say he couldn’t be negotiating planes for the Salieri as well.
The question would just be if Zion was aware or not.
Sex trafficking requires the ability to transport under the radar.
Ground travel is becoming more and more difficult.
Airports too. He certainly has an excellent setup if he’s part of all of it.
He has a multitude of potential players with his global connections.
“Add to that the fact that St. Lucia is one of the more challenging islands to get to, even with being such a popular honeymoon destination and its limited security capabilities, and he’s got himself a winning lottery ticket.
The interior of the island can easily hide a small private airstrip, especially if you can stomach moving smaller numbers of people at a time.
Some of what Gem gave Midas was drone footage of the estate and the plantation.
There’s a space of land that fits the bill in the back third of the plantation. ”
A groan came from Demon. “We can’t keep from her that we’re looking at Zion as a first-tier player, especially given his relationship with her father.
” He thought for a moment. “You don’t think her father would have been involved with the Salieri, do you?
Maybe realized too late what he was involved in and tried to disengage himself?
Medusa seems pretty sure they eliminated all members who broke their code.
Removing people they did business with would be even less of a concern. ”
“It’s possible,” TB agreed reluctantly. “I don’t get the feeling that Grayson Bosworth would have been that unaware of who he was doing business with though.
From all reports, he was a stand-up guy.
Ethical beyond ethical. More likely, he was an unwilling pawn, if involved at all.
I’d be inclined to believe he stumbled on one of his associates making deals with the Salieri, likely Zion, if they were as tight as she believes, then investigated them before making accusations.
It can be a heavy blow when someone you consider a friend turns bad. ”
“It would explain all the files Cherry found,” Steel agreed. “I’m with TB. I’d put my money on the last theory.”
TB grumbled, “And we all know how accurate you are with betting. We need to be much more careful about the language we use when making wagers. My kid’s college fund is going to be gone at this rate. ”
Demon chuckled at that. “Feck that. You’ve got more funds than any of us, hidden away or not. Even after bidding on the hit on Gem.”
“Hey, I got paid for that ‘job,’ and she’s still alive, so mission accomplished. I should get a bonus for that from someone.”
“I’m sure Nemo’s very grateful,” he soothed.
“Hasn’t stopped the fucking confetti cannons and shit.
I always know when they’ve snuck back into the States.
Even when they aren’t on our coast, I know he comes specially to set me up.
Now he’s got Cerberus helping him with timers and shit.
The last time those fucknozzles were in town, I opened a drawer in the armory, and he knows I don’t close the drawers right away, so five minutes later, when I was in the zone, a swarm of those butterfly things flew out. ”
Demon shook his head in laughter. “That’ll learn ya. Bet you’re shutting the drawers right away now, aren’t ya?”
“Fuck yeah. What I can’t figure out is why he still has his clearance in our building. You’d have thought Midas would have shut that shit down, considering how pissy he’s been acting.”
“Probably hoping his brother will fuck up with Gem and come home with his tail between his legs. But as far as the pranks, you know you love it,” Steel teased. “Means you know he still loves ya. Especially if he makes a special trip.”
“Yeah, but the problem is, he also brings Flame presents from wherever they’ve been. He shouldn’t be bringing my woman gifts.”
“He does it merely to piss you off,” Demon said with a laugh. “And it works, so he keeps doing it. Stop letting him know it bothers you, and he’ll stop.”
“No, he won’t,” TB said. “He truly adores her. It’s good to know she’s got him in case anything should happen to me. He’ll take care of her.”
“We all will, amigo ,” Steel assured him.
“I know.” TB came out of his reflective state. “Okay. So. Meeting tomorrow. We’ll check with Waters when we get back to our home base to see how he wants us to proceed, but I agree. I think we need eyes and ears on that meeting somehow. What else? ”
“After the meeting tomorrow,” Demon told them, “there’s a brunch at the actual plantation’s main facility.
Cherry and I will go along, see if we can scout out any more Salieri members.
He’s also offered us a tour. Depending on what time we get back from that, I’ll text you, and we can set up a meeting to pass on information.
Hopefully, you’ll have something for us on Howard and Giudici. ”
“Agreed. You ready to swim back?”
“Yeah. Child’s play.”
“Be careful, hermano ,” Steel said as he clasped Demon’s forearm. “It isn’t only the bay that has sharks swimming around. Protect our girl.”
“Don’t worry. She’s always a priority,” Demon promised.
“Is she? I wonder,” TB said softly.
“Don’t start, Thunder Bolt,” Demon growled. “I will always protect that woman, no matter what else happens. I’d die for her without a qualm.”
“And yet?—”
“I said don’t.” Demon’s eyes glared, even in the dark.
TB held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Okay. I won’t go any further.”
“You gonna be able to get back inside?” Steel asked.
Demon just cocked his head to the side as if to say, “Really?” He put his hood back on and tucked it into his wetsuit. “See you soon.” Then he was over the side of the boat, not a splash to be heard, and swimming back to the one thing in the world he loved more than life.