“What car is registered in his name?” Justin asked. “Can we find him that way?”
“We can try.” Levy was all business now as he worked the computer. “I know how to do this much as far as tracking bad guys.” He glanced at Dom, then added, “Basic stuff, yes. Fancy rerouting ISP addresses, no.”
His attempt at humor lightened the mood in the room. Kendra exchanged a hopeful look with Dominic. They had a name, and that was more than what they’d had prior to this meeting with Levy.
If they hadn’t tried to spring a trap on the guy, they wouldn’t be having this conversation now.
“I’m surprised to see he has a driver’s license in the US, issued for New Jersey.” Levy looked at Dom. “That’s where your father lived prior to joining the program.”
Dom nodded. “Makes sense that’s where Bartoli lived.”
“There’s more.” Levy turned toward Griff. “Bartoli has dual citizenship with the US and South Africa.”
“You think he’s part of the same organized crime cartel as Gunther Volter?” Griff asked.
“The Randover Royals,” Raine added. At Levy’s surprised look, she shrugged. “I was able to get access to the file. That’s the name of the cartel, the leader is known as Theo Le Ruiz. Until it was disbanded after Gunther’s arrest.”
“That’s correct.” Levy tapped his screen. “Theo Le Ruiz is dead, though. He was killed a year or so after Gunther went to jail. Could be Bartoli has taken over. I don’t see a vehicle registered in Bartoli’s name. Our database covers the entire United States. Nothing pops under his name. He either rented the truck or he had someone else purchase the vehicle.”
“If he rented it, we should be able to find him.” Raine frowned. “Unless he used a fake name and ID.”
“That, or Bartoli may have hired someone to rent or drive the truck.” Dom drained his coffee, setting the cup aside. “Either way, it’s good to have a starting point.”
“Your idea of looking at recent charters going into Jackson where Ramsey worked was a good one.” Levy gave Dom a nod. “Nice job. You could have a career in law enforcement if you wanted.”
Kendra placed a hand on Dominic’s arm. This time, he didn’t shrug it off. “Thanks, but I’m running a team at my current employer now. Not sure I’m interested in a change.”
“Think about it.” Levy turned back to his laptop. “You know what it’s like to be in danger. Why not use your skills to help others in a similar situation?”
Kendra gently squeezed Dom’s arm. She didn’t know much about his current job, other than it had to do with data security, but she sensed he was intrigued by the idea of working law enforcement.
“I’ll consider that. Does this mean we’re working together on this moving forward?” Dom arched a brow. “Because the sooner we get this guy, the sooner Kendra and I can go back to our normal lives. She’s the true innocent in all of this. The only reason she’s in danger at all is because this guy targeted me.”
“We still don’t know why Bartoli arranged for a gunman to go after you,” Griff said with a frown. “I find it hard to understand why he’d risk being caught to finish you off. There’s nothing to be gained from your death.”
“Simple revenge?” Kendra asked. “From what little I know about the cartels, they like to send a brutal message to anyone who dares to testify against them. Dom’s father is gone, but maybe they think Dom needs to suffer too.”
“Maybe. Or it could be Bartoli believes Stuart told the nurse who hired him and that she in turn told me. There’s no statute of limitations on murder.” Dom shrugged. “That would explain why she was killed. Although they went to great pains to make her death look like an accident. Unlike the constant stream of gunfire we’ve been subjected to.”
“It would make more sense to make your deaths look accidental,” Levy agreed. “We didn’t suspect your father’s plane crash to be murder. Being shot clearly indicates murder.”
There was one other possibility. Maybe the ultimate goal was to get the Krugerrand coins. Helen had one and so did Dom. Kendra was about to mention her theory, but movement from outside caught her attention.
“Down!” she yelled, and yanked Dominic down beside her, as the glass window shattered beneath an onslaught of gunfire.
11
“What in the world is going on?” Levy’s voice rose in alarm.
“We were found again,” Dom said hoarsely. His heart thundered with the spurt of adrenaline that came from being targeted by gunfire. He should have been used to it by now, but he wasn’t. The only good thing was that this incident pretty much proved Andrew Levy wasn’t their shooter. The US Marshal was down under the table with the rest of them.
Thankfully, the two K9s appeared calm. Far more than he was anyway.
“We need to head out the back,” Griff ordered. “Hurry!”
Dom grabbed the laptop, wondering again how they were found. He had rerouted the ISP address just an hour or so ago. And now that he thought about it, each time they were found was shortly after he’d rerouted the ISP.
“Stick close.” Kendra tugged his arm. He nodded, noticing she had her weapon in hand. So did Griff, Justin, Raine, and Levy. Dom was the only one without a gun. And for some reason, that made him feel next to useless.
