“So, what you’re saying is that they actually took the bait?”Dexter asked, eyebrows raised.
“Hook, line, and sinker,” Camden confirmed with a satisfied smile.
“Does that mean they stole the money?”Axel interjected as he sipped his coffee.
“They accessed the gateway, but it’s too early to tell if they used it,” Rex said.“If they did run a batch of transactions during the night, it would only be processed by the banks during banking hours.It might only be processed after the weekend.My team is keeping an eye out for it.”
Jax paused mid-bite, swallowing a mouthful of eggs.“And if they did, how do you get the money back?”
A slight smile played at the corners of Rex’s mouth.“We won’t need to.See, that’s the beauty of it.It’s a fluke.From their side, the transactions would run and show the actual total value they believe they’re pilfering from the accounts, but in reality, my algorithm changes it into a cipher run.I’d love to be a fly on the wall to see their fucking expression when they check the various accounts the money is deposited into and realize it was all for nothing.”
Max’s face darkened with concern.“This isn’t just about Rex and his algorithm anymore—at least not solely.The threats they’ve been making...it sounds to me that they’re targeting all of us and our families.We need to stay ahead of these bastards.”
“Is it my imagination,” Dexter interjected, voicing what had been weighing on all their minds, “or do you also feel that some of this entire fucked up situation is personal?A vendetta of some sort against all five of us and that getting Rex to do something illegal is only the tip of the iceberg to fuck us all over?”
“Yeah, the thought has crossed my mind,” Max said grimly.“Which is why I appointed covert security teams to watch over all of you and your loved ones.”
“Thanks for that, Max.”Rex nodded, pushing his plate away.“I agree.It’s not common knowledge that I personally developed that security algorithm, so it has to be someone who has insight into it.Fuck if I can think of anyone who has a grudge against all of us.”
Camden cleared his throat.“At least we also have the name of one person involved with The Consortium, in other words, the one who leaked the intel to The Consortium’s hacker.”
Max’s eyes glinted dangerously as he stood.“Well, what are we waiting for?Who is the motherfucker?”
Camden looked around the room.“A man who I have always believed had the highest integrity.I met him a couple of years ago at a fundraiser.Sad, since he has a lovely family.”Camden ran a hand through his hair.“The Director of Foreign Currency at the World Bank, Colin Masters.”
“Fucking shocked me, too.”Rex’s fist cracked against the desk.“He was involved in the initial discussions when we started the development.”
“Well, he has clearly lost his stellar integrity over the years.The Consortium is all about power and money, so I guess greed has a lot to do with his fall from grace,” Dexter grumbled as he finished his meal.
“Let’s go pay him a visit, shall we?”Max stood.“See if we can persuade him to volunteer the New Orleans’ hub location and some more names running the elusive Consortium.”
The tension in the room shifted and became more predatory as the men exchanged knowing looks.
“I suggest we wait until after dark and visit him at his home.Access is easy, and we can enter undetected via the lake.Accosting him at work will draw unnecessary attention,” Camden said as he rolled out a printed area chart of the estate where Masters lived.
“Agreed,” Max studied the map.“So, what’s our strategy?”
Jax quickly shoveled his last bite of breakfast, wiping his mouth with a napkin.The time for casual breakfast was over—now the real work would begin.
“Masters’ estate is heavily monitored from land,” Camden explained, spreading out satellite imagery across his desk.“But the lake approach is surprisingly light on surveillance.Rich folks tend to worry more about street access than water entry.”
“Perfect,” Max nodded.“I assume we’re taking the tactical boat.Silent running after sunset.”
“This has to be a non-violent mission,” Rex said with authority.“Masters might be a white-collar criminal, but he has a teenage son and eight-year-old twin daughters.If we go to his house, we go for him; his family must not be aware we’re there.”
“That goes without saying.”Max nodded and leaned over the map again.“I assume you already know his security detail?”
Camden nodded.“Definitely more than required for a banking executive.”
“Well, that in itself is telling, so one way or the other, his wife must be aware something isn’t kosher,” Jax said around the last bite in his mouth.
“Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean she has to suffer on his behalf.”Rex stood firm, but he knew he was preaching to the choir.None of them would ever hurt women and children.
