Chapter 22 #2
“Believe it, cuz. When there is a death, the treatment facility—for an additional fee—can provide falsified documents to the family to ‘prove’ the deceased donated their body to science.” Briefly checking something on her laptop screen, Trill went on to say, “Kilgore could hire someone to take the remains to some makeshift processing plant that will harvest the organs, bones, eyes, appendages—even the fingernails—then sell those body parts to medical researchers and educators, often for hundreds or thousands of dollars. But since he doesn’t have the network setup to do all that, he sells the body whole to one or two harvesters he has become acquainted with. ”
With her muscled arms folded across her chest and her green-hazel eyes even darker than they normally were, Drew growled, “I knew I fucking hated that dick. Can we assume that because Reflex keeps themselves mobile, so they can fold up their tent and disappear at a moment’s notice if needed, it’s highly unlikely Kilgore would ever get involved in the harvesting part of the equation?
He just brokers bodies illegally when he can? ”
“We can assume,” Trill told the room. “Part of the challenge with countering a grift like this one, however, is that the laws are all over the place in the U.S., depending on the state. The disposition of human bodies raises ethical and legal questions. While there is no federal law prohibiting the sale of human remains by anyone, there are state laws that vary significantly from state to state. In Florida, for example, selling dead bodies for profit is illegal. One thing is clear, though: it looks like Rob Kilgore has been running his personal body brokering grift—live and dead—in parallel with the Reflex embezzlement and money laundering schemes and probably has for quite some time. But now, the rest of his partners know what he’s been up to behind their backs. ”
Ari’s deep brown eyes were almost black. “And your moonchild knows way more than she’s telling, boss.”
“So it seems.” Drew’s voice was cold. “We can pick it apart in our crew meeting with Syd later.” Turning to Blake, she said, “You need to be there as well, cuz. Even though Brooke is bowing out of the Reflex relationship, little sis should be aware of the dangers inherent in having any contact with them whatsoever in light of what’s going on.
That whole partnership is teetering on the edge of exploding.
As much as I hate dragging our femmes into this shit, they are in a much better position to keep safe if they are clear-eyed and know exactly what’s happening around them. ”
“Smart move,” murmured Dani.
Indi hooked a strand of golden hair behind her ear. “Is there anything Infinity can do until Drew and her team get their ducks in a row?”
Drew answered her, shaking her head. “I don’t think so,” she told the operative.
“We’ll have a much better indication of what our next steps should be after my team and I compare notes.
Meanwhile, you may want to see if your contacts can tell you anything further about ‘Rob Vonn.’ Seems our friend has been deeper into this body brokering scam than we ever knew. ”
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“It isn’t a question of trust,” Ari Mendoza said.
Blake was meeting with Drew, Dara, and Ari in a small, hidden chamber located not far from the Bunker and wired entirely separate from the rest of the facility—the home of The Shadow and the place where Drew and her team accessed and monitored Purgatory.
“If the twins trust Infinity, then I trust Infinity. However, something in my gut is telling me to keep this Reflex and Cyb3rmoon mess around body brokering under wraps right now, even from our own people, until we can figure more shit out.”
Syd McPherson nodded in agreement. “Kilgore is hitting this body grift hard, amigos. He may be disappearing into private chats when he hooks a fish on his line, but he’s gotten a fuck of a lot less subtle about the fact that he’s recruiting.
While my first reaction was to allow myself to get pulled into one of his chats so I could hear the pitch, I decided against it.
What I don’t like is how closely Cyb3rmoon has been watching anyone who interacts with him, and I didn’t want to end up in her crosshairs.
It seems to have worked because she ignores me, like I’m beneath her notice.
“Instead, I’ve been cozying up to Kilgore’s rejects.
Because these morons aren’t subtle, you can tell from their bitching online that Mr. Body Broker kicked them to the curb before they got too far in.
He didn’t tell them shit, so there isn’t much by way of intel, but from what I’ve been able to gather, Kilgore makes it seem as though there might be future opportunity to haul products and equipment instead.
No details or firm offer of work, though, just vague innuendo. ”
Blake was reflective. “Even with his partners wise to his double-dealing, the other three aren’t going to turn their backs on the embezzlement and money laundering piece of this.
They’ve put too much work into this deal and have come too far to turn back now.
Langston has to be circling the wagons. Kilgore may have derailed their plans for a time by lifting resources, but Langston, Berger, and Norris aren’t about to walk away from that scam.
The smart money says they’re focusing on getting everything back on track.
” She turned to Drew. “Cuz, when do you plan on making an appearance in Purgatory next?”
“Tonight. It’s a little early for me, but not so early that it will cause any comment.
I need to have words with my moonchild because it’s far past time for her to tell me just what the fuck she’s up to.
What will be unusual is that The Shadow will be down in Purgatory at the same time as both Echo and Raven.
” The counterintelligence chief lifted her chin at Dara and Ari.
“It’s not like that’s never happened before, though, as rare as it is,” Dara assured them. “Ginning up a good reason why—if anyone actually has the balls to ask, that is—won’t be difficult.”
Suddenly, the comm in Blake’s ear flared to life. As the expression on Drew’s face altered, thunderstorms gathering on her brow as she heard the words of Trillian Dacanay at the same time the Utopia head did, Blake turned her own darkening eyes on the two counterintelligence associates.
“Looks like there will be no need to stir up any bullshit reasons for the three of you to hit Purgatory at the same time tonight after all. Because Rob Kilgore is dead.”