Chapter 21 #2
“Already working on it, but we should try and discover more about their financial situations,” Chase offered. “I’ll check with my connections on that.”
“Reese is right.” I grinned on purpose as I took a drink from Chase’s hand.
“Maybe Franklin wants Lucifer’s job. With a security company, you can glean any information you want.
From everything we know about this organization so far, they act not only on a hierarchy but with their own internal rules. ”
“God help them if one of them breaks a single rule,” Gabriel said, laughing.
Ruger laughed as well, pulling his eyes from the computer screen. “Well, you were right about Franklin.”
“What do you mean?” Maverick asked.
“Franklin Duffries is the CEO,” Ruger said. “So he has complete autonomy.”
“The security company who was the sole reason a sex slave trade route was destroyed can now keep another from being detected.” Chase shook his head. “Brilliant. I’m surprised he’s not the man in charge of the secret club already.”
“His capabilities are very much something Lucifer and the other elite members should fear. He’s setting the perfect trap.
” I was musing out loud again. “Why don’t we check with Global Universal’s recent business activities?
We need to know who he’s doing business with.
We need to discover Lucifer’s identity. I have no doubt once we do, the unraveling will begin. ”
Ruger nodded. “Do you honestly think I can hack into their computer?”
“Maybe. With Thomas Murphy gone, things could have changed.” I was dangling another carrot for him. The man had a voracious appetite when it came to absorbing information and boosting his skills.
“I’ll give it a try. When do I get a raise? How about I snag some funds from their bank account as well?” Ruger was having way too much fun with this.
“You forget I still have friends in the FBI,” Maverick reminded him. “I could very easily have you arrested.”
“Fuck you.”
The moment of laughter felt good.
“Let’s see what we can find with the fingerprints.” Chase had the slide created and the photographs uploaded into the system within a few minutes.
“Not bad,” Ruger said as he flipped through the pictures. “And you know what? I think I can use my sexy software to remove the masks the other two men are wearing.”
“Is that possible?” Gabriel moved closer to the system.
Ruger rolled his eyes. “You’re still questioning my skills, my friend? Please. I had to find viable, legal work after prison. Remember?”
He continued laughing while he got to work.
“Now that we inadvertently tipped Franklin off, I doubt he’ll be very cooperative with the book.” Reese turned her head toward Maverick.
“You’re right. I think I have enough to finish, especially now that we’re involved.” Maverick lifted his glass toward her. “Goddamn the son of a bitch. He was playing me as well.”
“He’s slick.” I could tell by the look in her face that she had a mischievous thought in that pretty little head of hers. “What are you thinking?”
“Well, you do agree I’m your biggest fan. Right?” she asked innocently enough.
Chase lifted a single eyebrow.
“Did you notice Maverick’s head is much bigger? She’s read all his books twice.” I even held up my fingers.
“Oh, God.” Gabriel slapped his hand against his forehead. “He will never fit through a doorway again.”
“Reese. And I thought you might be a good fit for Kendrick. Get her out of here,” Hudson teased.
It was good to see there was a little sass left in her. She shifted her hips back and forth, even blowing a kiss toward the others.
“So what is this evil thought?” I pressed.
“Do you have actual chapters written?”
Maverick nodded. “Yeah, more than half the book. Why?”
“Is there any way you can embellish a little bit with even more fiction?”
He looked at her and a slow and easy smile crawled across his face. “I could do that. You’re thinking about using my book as a way to draw out more of the club members. Pitting them against each other.”
She nodded. Suddenly, everyone was listening.
“Wait a minute,” Gabriel tossed out. “He’s not done with the book yet. By that time, they will have packed up and left town, especially if what you said is true and this Franklin dude realizes he’s backed into a corner.”
“It could also mean he’s placed himself in danger,” I suggested. “Finish your idea, my sweet slave.”
“He’s such a kidder,” she threw out. “You obviously know nothing about book marketing, Gabriel. A lot of authors give teasers to their readers long before the book is released.”
“They’re clueless, Reese, since not one of them has read a book.” Maverick grinned.
Chase acted as if he was going to toss his glass at the man. “Asshole.”
“Well, they do if they want sales,” she continued. “What if you put just enough in a portion of a chapter like that you have names you’re going to expose when the book comes out?”
“Easily done.” Maverick didn’t seem concerned in the least his life would then be placed in danger.
“The only problem is they will likely send their goons to ensure Maverick doesn’t have a chance to publish the book.” My reminder was met with sighs and nods.
“But there’s a chance by that point, we’ll have enough for the police or the FBI.” Hudson shrugged. “Maybe.”
“You’re assuming that members of law enforcement aren’t involved with the club.” My statement was met with head shakes.
“We put the pieces together and keep digging,” Chase suggested. “Plus, we can protect Maverick.”
“I can protect myself,” he threw out. “I like the idea. If they scramble, they’ll start making mistakes. I’ll work on it tonight. Should be ready by the morning.”
“Then I can put a sexy spin on it and get it out onto social media. If you’d like,” Reese offered.
Maverick grinned. “Assistance from my biggest fan? You bet.”
I pointed a finger at him to watch himself.
“Let me interject that given that I’ve spent several days on trying to find a single footprint involved with the Privileged, I think we can assume they are using Franklin’s new version of the software, likely adding the tweaks so the club wasn’t discovered like the former slave ring. ” Ruger glanced in my direction.
“Ruger makes a valid point,” Hudson said, nodding.
“So what are you getting at?” I could tell Ruger’s wheels were turning.
“What if the architect of the software provided assistance in hacking it?” All eyes drifted to Reese.
“Not a bad idea at all. Franklin wouldn’t expect that at all,” I added. “If the code wasn’t completely rewritten.”
“Franklin wasn’t that talented,” Reese tossed out, her face pinched. “You’re asking if my father can help bring down this group of predators?”
“Would he be so inclined given the fact he was pushed out of his own company?” She barely reacted to my question, but her anger remained high.
“Why don’t I ask him? I have no doubt there’s bad blood there.” Reese didn’t seem too certain she wanted his involvement, which I didn’t blame her for. The waters were getting murky.
“You’re going to need to tell your parents about Briana’s situation at some point,” I reminded her.
“I know,” she whispered. “I just know what the news will do to them.”
I didn’t want to add it would be decent incentive for him to help. But the thought crossed my mind.
“We have some good news if you can call it that,” Chase offered as he studied a report on one of the computer screens. “The fingerprints came back on the lighter. You’re not going to like what was discovered, but it confirms your suspicions that the police are involved.”
“Who is it?”
“Does the name Darren Ewing ring a bell?” Chase was grinning.
Exactly what my instinct had already told me.
“The chief of police. As suspected.” That would mean everything Jackie had been investigating he was aware of, including possibly Reese’s identity.
“Jackie’s boss and the man I’ve butted heads with dozens of times.
He’s not a good guy. That much I already know.
And his father? He’s in the import/export business. ”
“With access to cargo ships,” Gabriel added.
It would appear certain pieces of the puzzle were coming together and they were soaked with blood.
“Does that mean your identity has been compromised?” Reese asked, far too much concern in her voice.
“Doubtful, at least yet. The police should have clue of what we’re doing. Jackie came to me in private and I could tell she was apprehensive, as if being pressured. We’re safe for now. But the fact Franklin threatened you means he’s in no position to have his connection to Maverick exposed.”
There were still too many questions, no ability to determine the full breadth of what we were dealing with.
“You’ll need to be even more careful,” Maverick suggested. “If they’re collecting companies, they will stop at nothing to ensure their secret is protected. Including murder.”
Reese reached for my arm.
“How long before you know if you can remove the masks on the photographs?” I moved closer to Ruger.
He looked over his shoulder. “Precision takes time. A couple hours. But I’ll want to run it through the face recognition software. If there’s no hit, then I’ve failed as an artist. Go home. Get some sleep.”
“What about Steven Powell, the Privileged’s front man?” I continued pressing. Our inability to put the pieces together was as annoying as it was disheartening.
Chase cocked his head. “I’m confirming some information with Marlena Devlin. As most of you know, she served as a spy for the United States out of Russia for a number of years.”
Marlena was considered one of us, now teaching at the FBI Academy. In addition to providing vital information to the CIA on Russian activities, she spoke several languages and had contacts throughout the world who’d already provided us with important information in our quest for providing justice.
“What are you thinking?” Hudson asked.
Chase grinned. “I think he’s Russian. If so, it confirms our belief that the secret club has worldwide membership. Remember, American women are considered very valuable in other countries.”
“We need to find my sister,” Reese hissed.
While I wasn’t entirely certain how helpful the information was, every face put with a name would bring us closer to ending the nightmare.
The tension in the room was only increasing with every passing second.
“Go home,” Maverick pressed. “We’ll reconvene in the morning.”
“He’s right. Finish the chapter. Reese, your offer to help sounds perfect. We need to flush these bastards out before they get wind someone is gunning for them. I can guarantee you they’ll go underground as soon as we do.”
Chase was right. “We need to find the warehouse or whatever building I was in. I provided as many clues as I could remember.”
At this point, I felt deflated, but my instinct told me the situation was coming close to a head, even more dangerous than before.
Which meant I’d need to remain on edge in my effort to protect her.
And I would do that.
At all costs.