Chapter 16
"Iknow people have been wanting access to platform data for a long time," Vanessa said.
"Private messages, sensitive information, names and addresses of users. Imagine how devastating it could be if that data gets compromised. People rely on the platform all around the world—intelligence communities, field agents, people with nonofficial covers. If that information falls into the wrong hands, people could die. Not to mention the kind of control it would give governments. Imagine being able to get that kind of dirt on your political opponent or wealthy donors. Every sordid detail of their personal lives. Memo has become a powerful platform.”
"Who contacted you?”
Vanessa hesitated for a moment. "I don’t know who. They didn’t give me a name. But these are powerful people. People in government. People in the shadows. I didn't have a choice. I figured I’d take the money and do what they said. These are the kind of people who can get to anyone.”
I regarded everything she said with a dose of skepticism.
We pushed away from the table and started for the door.
In a panicked voice, Vanessa screeched, "What happens to me?”
I shrugged, then knocked on the door. A guard buzzed us out, and we stepped into the hallway.
The sheriff joined us a moment later. "You believe any of that?”
"She'll say anything at this point, but there might be some merit to it.
Memo is a valuable platform. It's heavily used in the intelligence community as a secure communications tool. Even my people have a hard time accessing data from that app. It would be a boon to foreign intel agencies, non-state actors, corrupt officials.”
Daniels frowned. “Go talk to that rich asshole. See what he has to say about this.”
“You got it,” I said, then called Sebastian.
He picked up after a few rings. “Deputy, please tell me you are making some headway.”
“We have two suspects in custody,” I said. “When was the last time you spoke to Vanessa?”
“Early this morning. I’ve been trying to get in touch with her for the last hour. She’s not returning my calls. Quite frankly, it’s pissing me off. I pay her to be available 24/7.” Then he added, “I hope she’s okay.”
“I’ve got some news you’re not going to like.” I caught him up to speed and told him about Vanessa’s betrayal.
“Vanessa?” he said in disbelief.
“I’m afraid so. I think at this point you need to reevaluate your entire staff. If she’s been compromised, there’s no telling who else has been.”
He went silent for a moment.
“Where are you right now?“
“I’m at the hospital. I’ve been here all night.”
“We’ll be right over. I’ve got some questions for you.”
We left the station and headed to the hospital. I found a place to park, and we strolled through the seafoam green hallways. The atmosphere was depressing. All the pastel seascapes in the world wouldn’t brighten the mood of this place.
The charge nurse pointed us to Ava’s room.
Two private security guards stood sentinel on either side of the door.
I flashed my badge, then gently knocked on the door as we stepped inside. With the shades tight, the room was dim. The TV was off. Ava rested, her damaged face slick with ointment. She was at the stage where they didn’t put on bandages. If they stuck, it could be a nightmare to remove.
A monitor by the bed read out vital statistics. The peaks of her heartbeat blipped, and BP and O2 saturation displayed on the screen.
Sebastian sat in a chair by the bed. He stood to greet us and shook our hands.
"How is she doing?" I asked in a soft voice.
Sebastian frowned and shrugged. "About as well as can be expected, given the situation. They’ve got her on some heavy pain meds. She sleeps most of the time.”
“You have any idea who’s behind this?” I asked.
Sebastian frowned and took a deep breath. After a moment, he finally admitted. “I've been under a lot of pressure lately to hand over the platform data.”
"Who’s been pressuring you?”
Sebastian paused. In a hushed tone, he said, "Certain European regulators, government officials, foreign intel agencies, terrorist organizations, you name it.
Everybody wants this information. They want me to hand over personal data and control of the platform.
I won't do it. Various governments have been trying to drum up fake charges against me for years.”
“This would have been good to bring up earlier," I said.
"I didn't make the connection.”
I gave him a doubtful look.
He sighed. “Maybe I was in denial. I didn't think they would go to these extremes.”
“Have you heard directly from these people?”
Sebastian sighed, "I got a call this morning. He didn’t give me his name.
He said his organization had been hired to facilitate the transfer of private data and control of the platform.
He said if I did as he asked, he would guarantee the harassment would stop, and my family would be safe.
I would have no problems moving forward.
No more legal challenges, no threat of arrests. I could basically write my ticket.”
I shared a look with JD.
"I'm freaking out. I can’t prove it, but this is the Consortium.”
“The Consortium?”
“An off-the-books clandestine agency paid to harass me until I comply. Run by Viktor Kovalenko. He’s tight with several politicians and the global elite.
He’s also got ties to several terrorist organizations and facilitates the transfer of cash and weapons.
Viktor wants the platform for himself. He’ll sell the information to the highest bidder and use it to blackmail and control people in power.
” He sighed again. “I’ve been offered large sums of money before, but I’ve always turned them down.
But nothing is worth this,” he said, defeated.
"I'll look into the phone records and figure out who made the call and where it came from, but I'm not holding my breath. These people are professionals and have covered their tracks well."
"They’ve given me 48 hours to comply. If I don't give in to their demands, they said they will attack someone else close to me. But this time, the damage will be more than superficial."
"I think it's time to step up security for yourself and everyone around you," I said. “They compromised your executive assistant. Everyone’s vulnerable.”
"I've already done that. I trust the guys who protect me. They’ve been vetted, and they’re paid well.”
“I’m sure you paid your assistant well, too.”
Sebastian frowned. “I tried to reach out to my sister, but she won't return my call. We’re not on the best of terms right now.”
"Is she local?”
Sebastian nodded.
"Is she involved in the company in any way?"
"She was. But her role has… changed. She has a reduced ownership," he said in a sheepish voice.
"I'm really concerned about her." He took a deep breath.
"There's been a lot of bad blood between us, but I would like to put all that in the past. I will pay you guys if you can find her and keep her safe. Name your price. Money is no object. I can’t watch someone else I care about suffer the same fate. "
"What's her name?" I asked. "We'll see if we can find her and make some kind of suitable arrangements."
Sebastian breathed a little easier. "Thank you. Like I said, you can name your price."
"We don't do this for money," I said.
Sebastian lifted a curious brow. "Really?”
"JD and I volunteer for the department."
"No shit? Sounds like the department’s lucky to have you.”
Jack smiled. "We like to think so.”
Sebastian gave me Madelyn’s number. "She likes to avoid the spotlight these days.
Keeps to herself. She was always like that, working behind the scenes.
Madelyn was more than happy to let me take the spotlight in the early days of the company.
I had asked Giovanni to invite her to the fashion show, but I don't know if she showed up. Things got so hectic, and I was hoping to get an opportunity to talk to her. I wanted to smooth things out between us. This incident has made me realize just how precarious life can be. One day everything is perfect, and the next it can turn into a nightmare.”
"Savor the good times," Jack said.
“You get to a point in life where money can’t buy the things you truly want. I’d give my kingdom to go back a day and stop the attack.”
He seemed genuine.
I said to Sebastian, “If you don’t mind my asking, what caused the falling out between you and Madelyn?”