Speaking at a press conference from Bucharest, Interpol officials explained how data planted into their system provided them with enough information to finally make arrests of over a dozen key members of a newly formed organised crime ‘empire’, including the alleged head of the organisation, Calin Dalca.
These arrests are the biggest disruption to organised crime in Romania in decades, according to Interpol. The crime ring, involved in drug, weapon and people smuggling across much of Eastern Europe, was recently destabilised by the sudden death of Bogdan ‘Lupucojoc’ Rusnac. TheClanuri Interlopeboss died when a family dispute turned violent, his drug empire being overtaken by Dalca, who amalgamated it with his own weapon- and sex-trafficking syndicate.
While being lauded as a huge breakthrough in the fight against organised crime, the incident has raised questions about the security of Interpol’s tech systems. When asked, officials insisted their data security is second to none, and that no breaches of sensitive information were detected. The vigilante appears to only have been interested in providing crucial evidence.
In related news hitting much closer to home, Rumi Zheng, a Sydney lawyer and daughter of real estate magnate Luke Zheng, was arrested at her office yesterday. She has been remanded on charges of receiving bribes frommembers of the Romanian crime syndicate. Details of her recent dealings with one of Dalca’s offsiders lead to the arrest and were leaked to the NSW police via yet another anonymous data upload into police systems, raising questions about whether the hacker is home grown.
Zheng Holdings has issued a formal statement distancing themselves from Miss Zheng, who has been unable to post bail.
Epilogue: 3 months later
IRINA
“Your belly issobig!”
I mock-scowled at the six-year-old who was patting my baby bump like it was a pet. “Thanks, Polly! I wouldn’t have realised I accidentally swallowed a bowling ball if you hadn’t said anything.”
Polly giggled. “It’s not a bowling ball! It’s a baby!”
“Oh! My bad. Now, you need to practice your big strong arms, so give me the kickboard. Remember, rocket arms to start, and then use those hands to scoop the water.” I demonstrated freestyle arms for her then stood to the side as she launched herself off the edge.
She was a little firecracker, Polly, and sometimes I wondered if her parents were paying for an hour-long private lesson just so they could have a coffee in peace.
Thankfully, she was easy to redirect, and by the end of our lesson, she was so exhausted even the nattering had faded away, and I handed her back to her tired parents feeling like I’d really accomplished something.
“Ri!” Martin, my new boss, called out as I left the staff changeroom. “Remind me again. You can’t pick up any shifts tomorrow, can you?”
I shook my head. “Nope, I’ll be living it up in San Francisco by thistime tomorrow, getting all dolled up to be arm candy for my brainiac husband as he wipes the floor at the Appies.”
Martin looked confused—not unusual for him—but nodded anyway. “So … when are you back again?”
I stifled a sigh. “In a week. I’ve put it all into the roster, and my shifts have already been covered.” I patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll see you next week, okay?”
He smiled. “Have fun in San Diego!”
I didn’t bother to correct him as I headed to the carpark, where Stefan was waiting in his brand-new black SUV with the darkest window tint known to man.
“Thank fuck for private jets. Imaging flying commercial at six months pregnant!” I whined, stretching the seatbelt over my belly. Stefan let out a chuckle, heading into the traffic towards the airport, where Henry was waiting for me.
“Pretty sure you’d cope in commercial first class,” he mocked gently.
I rolled my eyes at my own behaviour. “I sounded like such a princess just now, didn’t I?”
“You’re the princess carrying my nephew. And we want the best for him, don’t we?”
“Or niece,” I reminded him with an elbow jab. “I’m still sure it’s a girl.”
“You could just let your midwife tell you and put us all out of our misery.”
“No way! All that gender reveal crap is so cringe! I like not knowing for sure. Even though I’m ninety-nine percent sure, anyway.” I adjusted the seatbelt so it wasn’t pressing right on the bladder that Tiny Human had a fetish for kicking. “How are things with TCS?”
To the shock of all of us—himself more than anyone else—Lucian had almost immediately formed a bromance with Stefan, and they’d gone into business together. Two Cousins Security, TCS for short, was not only responsible for Tickle HQ and the personal security of Henry and me, but they were branching out into contract security for celebrities and other high-profile personalities when they visited Australia.
Stefan shrugged. “We just onboarded another three staff yesterday. And word on the street is that Lilah Jay wants local security for theAustralian leg of her world tour. Lucian’s already sent off an expression of interest.”
I raised a brow. “Lilah Jay, huh? Didn’t you have a secret stash of her albums under your bed when you were fifteen?”
Stefan grunted, refusing to meet my eyes.
