Chapter 17
Sebastian gave me his sister's number. I called her, but it went to voicemail. I left a message. I figured if she wouldn't talk to him, she might talk to me.
I sent her number to Isabella and asked her to track Madelyn’s phone. Isabella was swamped when I talked to her, but she said she’d get back with me shortly. She had plenty of other things to do besides handle my requests.
In the afternoon, we headed over to the warehouse district for band practice. We pulled into the lot that was full of disheveled cars and vans. I found a place to park, and we hopped out and strolled to the main entrance.
The usual band of miscreants loitered out front—jet black hair and skinny jeans.
We hung out and shot the breeze for a few minutes, then stepped inside and ambled down the hallway.
The guys were in the room tuning up, noodling around. We pushed into the small space and greeted Dizzy, Crash, and Styxx.
"I think it's time we record the second album,” Styxx said right away. It had clearly been on his mind. “We've got enough songs, and we’re solid.”
"Sounds good to me," Jack said.
"I want it to have a live feel. I think we should rent a house, set up a studio, and knock it out. Kinda like we did last time. That worked. Someplace that has cool vibes.”
"That can be arranged," Jack said.
"I’ve been thinking. We don't need a producer. We don't need anybody else. We can engineer it ourselves. We did it before. It sounded great. No need to get anybody else in the kitchen messing up the stew.”
"You don't have to sell me," Jack said. “I’m on board.”
"We just need to find someplace with mojo.”
"I'll think of something.”
Styxx grinned, and there were high-fives all around.
"We’re making a record!”
"I've got an idea," Dizzy said.
All eyes fell on him.
"Just hear me out. There's a haunted house on Moonstone Island. Talk about mojo. The place has got it.”
"Oh, hell no," Crash said.
"Come on, it would be fun.”
"Nope. I don’t mess with that stuff. Demons from the netherworld. No, thank you."
"It's all nonsense anyway," Dizzy said. "But it's a hell of a publicity angle.”
"Food for thought," Jack said.
The band ran through their set. A couple of lovely groupies spilled into the room and enjoyed the show.
Afterward, Jack treated the guys to dinner at the Dive. It was an upscale seafood restaurant that specialized in the elegant presentation of local fare.
We chowed down on seared scallops, lobster bisque, and poached lobster tail. And that was just to start. The menu had a nice selection to choose from—pan-seared halibut, miso-glazed black cod, Chilean sea bass, king crab legs, and of course surf & turf with a 6-oz filet topped with lobster.
The meal did not disappoint.
I was waiting on dessert when my phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number on Memo. I swiped the screen and answered. “This is Deputy Wild.”
“I got your message,” an alluring voice said.
“Who is this?”
“I’m not saying my name over an open channel.”
“This is encrypted.”
“We have to assume the platform has been compromised. Unlikely, but better safe than sorry.”
It was a reasonable assumption. Who knows who Sebastian gave access to? Maybe he caved.
“I was a little skeptical, so I called the department and checked you out,” she said.
I knew it had to be Madelyn.
"It's always prudent to do your due diligence," I said.
"Well, I don't trust anything that comes out of my brother's mouth."
"He mentioned there was bad blood between you two, but I think his concern is genuine."
"He doesn't care about anybody other than himself."
"You wouldn’t be the first person to express that sentiment.”
"He's using you to get to me.”
"I think he’s concerned for your safety.”
She scoffed. "He needs me.”
"How so?”
"Look, it's terrible what happened to Ava. I've never met her, but I think she's a really sweet girl from what I've seen of her in interviews. But I can tell you, my brother is scared shitless right now.”
"Given the situation, that's understandable.”
"People have been after us to hand over private data since the platform got popular. This is nothing new. It just seems they’ve escalated measures. They’re panicking. They think they’re about to lose control. This is just the beginning. The escalation will get worse.”
“Who are they?”
“Who do you think?”
"So, you would agree that you're in danger?”
Madelyn scoffed. "I'm not in any danger. Nobody knows where I am.”
"Might want to reevaluate that. I bet I can find you and show up at your door within an hour."
“I do like a good wager,” she said with a smile in her voice.
“I'm using a burner phone that I've never used before. The only numbers I’ve called are the department's and yours.
I'll dump the phone after I'm done and change my location. I'm a ghost. You’re never going to find me, and neither will the Consortium.”
“The Consortium?” I said, eliciting more from her.
"That's clearly who's responsible for this. They’re a shadowy group of corrupt politicians, billionaires, oligarchs, and other degenerates who are trying to control the world, pulling the strings behind the scenes.”
“That’s what your brother tells me. Why does he need you?”
"Because he can't hand over control of the platform without me.”
That hung there for a moment.
"I'm guessing he's ready to cave to their demands,” she said. “He asked you to protect me, which means you have to find me first. Sorry, I'm not falling for that. I know my brother all too well. He's a snake. You'd be wise to treat him as such.”
“You think your brother is trying to set you up?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s using you to get to me and ultimately the HSM.”
“HSM?”
“Like I said, I’m not talking about this on an open channel.”
I considered her theory. "If you change your mind and decide you need protection, let me know.”
"I’ll be just fine on my own. But if you can find me, I might reconsider my stance.”
"Is that a dare?"
"If you can find me, it means I’m not as safe as I think I am.”
“News flash. You’re not as safe as you think you are.”
She paused. “Okay. I’ll bite. I'll pay you $100,000 if you can find me.”
I laughed. "That's quite the incentive.”
"That's how confident I am.”
"You’re on,” I said.
"I recall you saying something about finding me within an hour. Not a minute past, or no deal.”
"I guess I better finish my dessert."
I admired her spunk. She sounded interesting. I was always up for a good challenge.
I ended the call, dialed Isabella, and asked her to track Madelyn. Memo obscured the origin of the call, and the servers didn’t keep logs. There was no way to track the call. No metadata to follow.
But Madelyn had made one major mistake.
When she turned on her listed phone to check messages, it pinged the tower, giving away her location.
With a few taps of the keys, Isabella was able to tell me Madelyn was just off the coast of Barracuda Key. This was like taking candy from a baby. I could certainly find ways to spend an extra hundred grand.
I updated JD on the situation just as the key lime pie arrived. That was the real dilemma. Do I sit here and eat it? Or do I chase a ghost?