Chapter 10 #2
Violet huffed in exasperation. "People who care for plants in offices or hotels often use simple digital tracking devices to monitor soil moisture, sunlight, and stuff like that.
It means less people checking on the plants and the plants living longer.
They use them in this resort. I spotted a couple in the lobby.
If you intercept some plants going into the estate, you can wire bugs into the monitors.
You can use the monitor battery to run the bug.
You just need to put it on a timer, or delay switch, so that it isn't live when they scan the plants on arrival. "
Wow, that was a lot of talking and she seemed exhausted by it. She took a swallow of orange juice, dismissing everyone again.
"Think it will work?" Abasi asked Rodrigo, earning another growl from Violet. This one was small and rumbling. Like the warning a kitten might give before sinking needle-thin teeth into flesh.
"Yeah." Rodrigo looked impressed. "If we can get access to the florist. And if there are plants going into the estate."
"Hack the florist. Add plants for the estate," Violet said before taking another bite of her sandwich.
Max made a mental note to add cookies to the order next time. Sugar definitely seemed like a good idea when it came to keeping Violet human.
Abasi grinned at her. "You're on a roll today. A really grumpy roll, but still, go you." He looked back at the team. "Should be easy enough for me to get into the florist's system. Can't imagine it would have any serious security I'd need to hack."
"Violet will fill you in on what to add to the order," Rodrigo said with authority.
Violet rumbled a little, but it wasn't a growl so Max relaxed.
"I can contact the guy who charters boats for Damien's guests and see if anything's changed there," he offered. "Maybe check in with my other sources and see if they've heard anything too."
Rodrigo focused in on him. "These sources of yours, are they on the staff here? Because that would make things a helluva lot easier. Abasi could tap into them for you."
"I'm sorry but no."
Max paused, wondering how much to tell them. With a sigh, he realized he needed to tell them everything. As Violet had put it, they were literally putting their lives on the line for him. He should have shared it all from the beginning.
"I, uh, had ears on one of Poole's ex-girlfriends," he said. "She was complaining to another of his ex-girlfriends that she had to leave the island because Poole had a big meeting. Turns out it happened to the previous girlfriend too.
"From listening to their conversations, it was clear the same thing happened every few months.
Poole would drop everything to take the meeting, clearing the estate of anyone unconnected to his business.
The women were happy to talk about it, as they weren't pleased he'd made them leave.
From there, I checked out other girlfriends and found a pattern going back several years.
That made me look at charter boats in the area, to see who did regular drop-offs for Poole.
I, uh, found a small executive charter business that ferried people to Poole's estate every few months.
They had something on the books for this weekend. For tomorrow."
There was silence for a moment before Rodrigo said, "Crap, that's all supposition. You don't know for sure if this meeting is happening, do you?"
"I know." Max clenched his jaw. "There's a pattern, and this fits the schedule. Poole always uses the same charter service. I'm certain the meeting is happening tomorrow."
Violet shifted in her seat. He was pleased to see she'd finished the sandwich. "You illegally tapped phones and hacked business accounts? You know that's unethical right?" There was heavy emphasis on the last sentence.
Oh, he knew where she was going with this. "It's not the same as drugging someone," he said firmly.
"Wait," Rodrigo said. "Who's drugging people?" He eyed Violet suspiciously.
"Nobody," Max said before Violet could confess. This was between them. "She's talking about a discussion we had earlier."
"Wow." Abasi was seriously entertained now. "Violet talks to you? I need to write home about this."
"To whom?" Katrina said sweetly. "You killed everyone you know."
"Not everybody," Abasi said. "Not yet."
"Can we get back on track?" Rodrigo said. "You illegally listen in on anybody else, Max, or was that it?"
Max felt his face burn as shame washed over him.
"I'm not proud of the fact I've compromised my ethics for this story," he said tightly.
"I tried everything else and got desperate.
My choices are something I'll have to live with.
Plus, I'm aware I can't use anything I found through the taps or hacking in my article, but at least they gave me a place to start.
I had nothing before that." He spread his hands, appealing to them.
"This guy has to go down. He's far more dangerous than you can even begin to imagine.
He has to be stopped. And, if that means I need to play dirty, then I'm prepared to do it.
" He took a deep breath. "I'm prepared to do whatever it takes. "
Abasi leaned forward, suddenly alert. "Who was it? Who did he take from you?"
Max broke out in a sweat under Abasi's knowing gaze. "I didn't say anythi—"
"Max," Violet said in a tone that made it clear he was to comply.
He let out a long breath. "Back in college, I had a friend, Sandi.
Damien raped her, beat her up pretty badly too.
She didn't want to go to the police, claimed he was far too powerful for anyone to believe her.
" His throat tightened and he rolled his shoulders, trying to loosen everything up.
"She, uh, killed herself a few months later. "
Rodrigo swore softly, while Katrina's eyes darkened with deep understanding and sadness.
"So, this is revenge," Abasi said with a nod of approval.
"No. Well, not entirely," Max said. "This is about justice. I started looking into Poole years ago, but he's slippery and I couldn't get the evidence I needed to expose him. This is the closest I've gotten. I want to bring him down before he hurts anyone else."
"I need to see all the info you've gathered," Rodrigo said. "I have to check you aren't reading into what you've uncovered. Desperation can blind a man and turn facts into wishful thinking, and we've already got problems after yesterday's run in with Damien. Your room being searched proves that."
"I'll give you access to the cloud storage where I keep everything I have on him," Max said.
"We need a drone," Violet said suddenly.
"Huh?" Max said.
She turned in her chair, looking much calmer now she'd eaten. "If we accidentally fly one over Poole's private residence, we can go over the footage. It might help us get a better idea of what we're up against."
"There's no way anyone on staff will allow a drone to go anywhere near the owner's private home," Katrina said. "Drones are banned in the resort, unless they're for official use." She waggled her phone at them. "It's on their website."
"What we need," Abasi said. "Is a kid with a drone who doesn't give a damn about the hotel rules."
"Or an overgrown kid who'll no doubt piss the staff off but might get the footage we need before he's thrown out of the hotel," Rodrigo said.
Abasi grinned. "I'll tell Evan he gets to buy a new toy. How do you want to play this? It's gonna look weird if some young guy comes to the resort alone to fly his drone."
"Can't you drum up some friends for him and have them all come over for dinner?" Violet asked. "A bachelor party maybe?"
Abasi looked thoughtful. "Yeah, I think I can make that happen."
"Just make sure he doesn't recognize us when he sees us," Rodrigo said. "I'm not sure about this. He isn't the triplet I'd pick to play the part."
"But he's the only one we've got," Katrina said before turning to Abasi. "Might be a good idea to vet what he wears for this adventure too. His usual Hawaiian shirts will stand out too much."
"I'm on it." Abasi checked his watch. "Gotta run. I'll tell the boss I got lost. Nobody will bat an eyelid at the new hire trying to find his way around the island. This place is bigger than it looks on the map. What are you lot up to this afternoon?"
Violet let out a long, pained wail. "I have to learn how to dance."