“And the frankenstruct would resist and possibly kill one or two of us. I have thought about how to overcome that minor detail but trying to grab them in the middle of Revenant is risky. However, why I am here is because the sheriff arrested Rasmus, hours ago, as planned. He confiscated everything he could and put him in jail.”
“Good.” I fold my arms. “Excellent, even. Did you get that phone?”
“We did, and Rasmus had already cracked it and recorded his findings and conclusions. All the files are ours. It is revelatory, Van Kerr says. He has an assistant now. Yes, I vetted him. It was the only way we could expedite this. Rasmus has beenreleased. Esau Wrath turned up and took him home. There is not enough evidence, yet, to charge him with everything we wish to throw at him.”
I nod and try not to look annoyed. “You said revelatory. What is on that phone?”
He inhales audibly. “This may sound crazy, sir. The entire operating system is just ‘off’ according to Van Kerr. The data inside seems like it refers to here, to the institute.” He gestures. “A Revenant Institute is mentioned. Some info about Kail is in there, and his full name is indeed Kail Stone.
“The data also repeats some things we assumed were errors on the memory card. Such as Hailey’s father being alive and the subject of a hit that was ordered very recently. Kail was here to kill Simon Tarrant. They listed Kail as very dangerous but trained to obey—citing those priority orders, for example.”
“Huh. And yeah, we know they had poor intel on Simon Tarrant.”
“We believe he killed his handler in defiance of a priority order. He’s not safe. He’s a loose, ahem, cannon.”
I chuckle at that. “So, the revelation is the errors and the operating system? Where is this institute he came from? It has the same name?”
“Well, brace yourself. It was really this place. He comes from Revenant, but in an alternate timeline. This is the only explanation that fits.”
I groan and drop my head into my hands. “No.Nooo.Don’t do this to me. Dammit, Cannon. It’s late.” I raise my head. “Now tell me the real interpretation.”
He stares. “That…was…it. Rasmus said it. Van Kerr came to the same conclusion after he analyzed a mountain of data. Kail Stone is from an alternate world. He does not existat allhere. If we can trap him, we can do anything to him, and he may be the key to one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs ever. Sir, I would suggest we inform your investors before you choose what to do. I suggest we leave the girl alone for now. Even if she falls into our hands, we need to free her.”
I merely blink at him. What the fuck. Have they all gone mad? It’s too early, too late, and I have a fucking headache.
“I am going to bed, Cannon. Go over that data again, tomorrow, when you’re all less fatigued. Goodnight.”
He turns to the car with disappointment lodged in the rigidity of his mouth and eyes.
“Wait. Cannon. Just…wait. You genuinely see Kail as a target but intend freeing her if she just drops into my hands? No. I want her too. You agreed previously that killing her was doable. Two birds, one stone. That’s a pun, I think? She’s…a liability.” I wave vaguely. “She threatened to go higher up and expose the institute, and she is willing to try hacking in and getting past our security.”
“Yes. True.”
Nosirin there?
I have pissed him off. “Yes, but she hasn’t, yet. That party was her way to get into the institute, even if we did set her up. So, after that ramble, my point is, I want her. I want her in a room, at my mercy. There.” I jab my finger at where the institute building rears into the sky.
“You just said she has nowhere left to go. Rasmus is an amateur. She may not use what we gave her. It was clever of you, sir, but that USB might lead us nowhere. And you have a powerful piece of evidence to use against her if she ever tries to expose you.”
“I do?” I open the Porche door, ready to slide in.Cannon called me clever. Nice.“Which is?”
“That video you made tonight of her being fucked. A long video, I gather.”
“Very long.” I smile. “How the fuck did you know? Forget it. I want her. I want her alive, for a while, until I tire of her.”
“Not advisable. Not necessary. You have her over a barrel with a stick up her ass in a video. Go public with that. She cannot complain if we catch and detain Kail, because he is not a person andnever ever existed here.” The man is almost raising his voice. “Try murdering her and get caught and the institute will suffer. Your investors would disapprove.”
That again? Cannon nearly shouting is unusual.
It’s my turn to stare. I don’t like my staff lecturing me.
My eyes are drooping though, and I need a painkiller. I settle into the driver’s seat. “To be continued, tomorrow. Get some sleep, Cannon. I want your brain working tomorrow, and working for me, not for the investors.” I shut the door and start the engine, listening to that purr while the gate slides back.
Why has everyone gone insane tonight? Alternate worlds? Jesus, give me a break.
41
EVERYTHING WENT BANG
