Drew answered her, shaking her head. “I don’t think so,” she told the operative. “We’ll have a much better indication of what our next steps should be after my team and I compare notes. Meanwhile, you may want to see if your contacts can tell you anything further about ‘Rob Vonn.’ Seems our friend has been deeper into this body brokering scam than we ever knew.”
?ω?ω?ω?
“It isn’t a question of trust,” Ari Mendoza said. Blake was meeting with Drew, Dara, and Ari in a small, hidden chamber located not far from the Bunker and wired entirely separate from the rest of the facility—the home ofThe Shadowand the place where Drew and her team accessed and monitoredPurgatory. “If the twins trust Infinity, then I trust Infinity. However, something in my gut is telling me to keep this Reflex andCyb3rmoonmess around body brokering under wraps right now, even from our own people, until we can figure more shit out.”
Syd McPherson nodded in agreement. “Kilgore is hitting this body grifthard,amigos. He may be disappearing into private chats when he hooks a fish on his line, but he’s gotten a fuck of a lot less subtle about the fact that he’s recruiting. While my first reaction was to allow myself to get pulled into one of his chats so I could hear the pitch, I decided against it. What Idon’tlike is how closelyCyb3rmoonhas been watching anyone who interacts with him, and I didn’t want to end up in her crosshairs. It seems to have worked because she ignores me, like I’m beneath her notice.
“Instead, I’ve been cozying up to Kilgore’s rejects. Because these morons aren’t subtle, you can tell from their bitching online that Mr. Body Broker kicked them to the curb before they got too far in. He didn’t tell them shit, so there isn’t much by way of intel, but from what I’ve been able to gather, Kilgore makes it seem as though there might be future opportunity to haul products and equipment instead. No details or firm offer of work, though, just vague innuendo.”
Blake was reflective. “Even with his partners wise to his double-dealing, the other three aren’t going to turn their backs on the embezzlement and money laundering piece of this. They’ve put too much work into this deal and have come too far to turn back now. Langston has to be circling the wagons. Kilgore may have derailed their plans for a time by lifting resources, but Langston, Berger, and Norris aren’t about to walk away from that scam. The smart money says they’re focusing on getting everything back on track.” She turned to Drew. “Cuz, when do you plan on making an appearance in Purgatory next?”
“Tonight. It’s a little early for me, but not so early that it will cause any comment. I need to have words with my moonchild because it’s far past time for her to tell me just what the fuck she’s up to. Whatwillbe unusual is thatThe Shadowwill be down in Purgatory at the same time as bothEchoandRaven.” The counterintelligence chief lifted her chin at Dara and Ari.
“It’s not like that’s never happened before, though, as rare as it is,” Dara assured them. “Ginning up a good reason why—if anyone actually has the balls to ask, that is—won’t be difficult.”
Suddenly, the comm in Blake’s ear flared to life. As the expression on Drew’s face altered, thunderstorms gathering on her brow as she heard the words of Trillian Dacanay at the same time the Utopia head did, Blake turned her own darkening eyes on the two counterintelligence associates.
“Looks like there will be no need to stir up any bullshit reasons for the three of you to hit Purgatory at the same time tonight after all. Because Rob Kilgore is dead.”
Chapter 23
Brooke picked up her phone as it started to ring and looked at the display, even though Reflex’s ringtone was clear as day. “These fucking assholes, I swear,” she muttered then decided she might as well get through the whole severing ties thing. “Hello?” she said, her tone cold as she answered, fully expecting Thom to be on the other end of the line.
To her surprise, however, it wasn’t Thom. “Are you over your little snit?” Jack’s tone was just as icy. “We need to get this project back on track. You throwing a hissy fit and delaying the timeline even further because your little feelings were hurt damages the project. Get your ass into Cask & Canvas immediately.”
That was it. Brooke wasdone. “Well, here’s the deal, you fuckingprick,” she snapped, letting her famous Marino temper fly as she stood up from her table. “At this point, I have enough information gathered to prove what an unprofessional, useless bunch ofscam artistsReflex Rebranding really is. You think you can hurt Brooke Marino Designs by spreading lies about me and my work? I have two words for you, ballsac:Try. Me, because I will fucking destroy you. As much as I feel sorry for Gene and Sandy Wheeler, this clusterfuck is in my rearview mirror as far as I’m concerned. I’m out.”
“You’re going to be sorry for that, little bitch!” Jack screamed, outraged.
“Yeah? I don’t think so. Brooke Marino Designs has done a lot of work in the craft microbrewery space over the years, Jack. With everything I have in my arsenal at the moment about Reflex and how you’ve mishandled the Cask & Canvas account,your best bet is to walk away and forget I even exist. Icanand Iwillensure you are never invited to participate in another microbrewery project in Florida again if you don’t fuck off. Don’tevercontact me again.”
After ending the call, Brooke immediately called Gene Wheeler. “You have no idea how sorry I am to tell you this, Mr. Wheeler, but I’m afraid I’m no longer involved in the Cask & Canvas rebranding project,” she started after they had exchanged pleasantries. “Without getting into the gory details, let’s just say I am not comfortable with how they conduct business after everything I’ve learned. With some of the situations that have occurred over the past month with them, the reputation of Brooke Marino Designs will be best served if I sever all association with them.
“My sorrow is because I have developed such a deep respect for you and your wife and how you have coped with everything you’ve been through with Sandy’s illness. Consequently, taking this step is hurtful to me. Please know, however, that I didn’t feel I had a choice. If I caneverbe of assistance to Cask & Canvas in the future—outside of this project or anything else that may be tied to Reflex—please don’t hesitate to call.”
There was a moment of silence, then, “Thank you for your honesty, Brooke. You have been nothing but a pleasure to work with, and I’m sorry to see you go. Now, may I ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
Gene’s sigh was audible over the phone. “Between you and me, I’ve been having very serious misgivings recently about Reflex. Initially, my head was in the clouds because I was so worried about my wife, so Reflex seemed like a godsend when they dropped into my lap. Sandy has been doing so well, however, those clouds have lifted, my brain fog has beendissipating, and my idiocy has taken a back seat to my business sense.
“They don’t… They don’t seem honest, Brooke.At all. At first, I thought I was feeling that way because I was so overwhelmed. But now?” Gene’s tone turned pleading. “Tell me what you know, please. Don’t worry that I might get mad or think you’re crazy. I spent years building this microbrewery, and the only reason things went to hell is because my wife and her health came first, not my business. Losing it all because I was targeted by some greedy scam artists while my attention was diverted elsewhere? I’ll be damned if I let that happen. Therefore, I need to know who and what they really are.”
“First of all, it wasn’t idiocy.” Brooke was firm. “You are a man who loves his wife beyond all else. She was your priority, so I think what I call that is a pretty special kind of love. Second, I am dating one of the owners of APS, Gene, and she and they have been digging into Reflex on my request. What they have been finding out about them isn’t at all good.” An explosive breath came over the phone. “Another security firm from North Florida is here at the moment working with APS because they have been looking into a con artist operating in this area named ‘Rob Vonn’…whom you know as ‘Robert Hoyt.’ I can’t even begin to tell you what a mess this entire situation is.”
“Good Lord, Brooke. What do I do?”
“Would you be willing to speak to one of the Infinity operatives, Gene? She will be in a much better position to advise you than me, and I can assure you she will be glad to help. I’ll bring Blake Seibert up to speed the minute we get off the phone—she is one of the APS owners and the woman whom I am dating—and she will have India call you right away. In the meantime, just act naturally at work, like you don’t have a clue that anything is going on. Since you and Sandy aren’t on the Reflex radar outside of their embezzlement scam anyway, I verymuch doubt you’ll have anything to worry about personally if you play it cool.” Gene agreed.
“When APS moves, they movefast. Don’t be a bit surprised if this blows up in an instant, so be prepared. Sit tight and wait for Indi to call you. She’ll tell you what to do.”
As Brooke ended the call, Blake walked in the front door, pulling off her leather jacket but leaving her concealed carry holster on. Brooke jumped up and ran to her, throwing her arms around her. “I have so fucking much to tell you, Blake. Jesus, this stealth and grift bullshit is for the birds.” She dragged Blake over to the sofa and plopped down, not noticing the grave look on Blake’s face, while pulling the Utopia head down next to her.
Rapidly, Brooke went through her phone calls with both Jack Norris and Gene Wheeler. “Basically, I told that fucker Jack he could kiss my Italian ass: I was gone. And Gene’s a good guy, he’ll follow whatever Indi tells him is the best approach.” She huffed. “Honestly, life would be much simpler if these motherfuckers would just drop dead.”
Blake snorted. “You may get your wish, tigress.” Gently, she held Brooke’s arms, looking deeply into her mystified eyes. “Baby, Rob Kilgore is dead.” Brooke’s eyes grew huge, and her mouth dropped open in shock as she drew back. “Trill doesn’t have any details yet, but she’ll let us know when she does,” Blake continued. “Drew, Dara, and Ari will be in Purgatory tonight. I hope to hellCyb3rmoonis smart enough to come clean regarding what she knows about Kilgore when Drew grabs her, because our counterintelligence chief is done playing her games.The Shadowwilltrack her down and toss her over her knee if she doesn’t. Trust me, that is one butch youdon’twant catching you if she’s pissed at you.”
“Hoo boy.” Brooke blew out a shaky breath.
