20
CHAPTER TWENTY
“I’ve beenout of the hospital for more than two weeks. I’m fine, Sophia,” I say for the fifth and final time. She’s not happy that I will soon leave for my trip to Tennessee and has been showing her ass more and more these last few days. Some of it has been intentional, I think, but most of it is because of genuine concern for me.
“Why can’t I go with you then? I don’t like you going alone so soon after a head injury.”
“It’s hardly a head injury when I just got my bell rung, Sophia. All the tests are clear and I haven’t had any headaches or dizziness. I’m fine. And you know you can’t go with me because you have to stay and oversee the daily operations,” I reply. “Plus, you don’t have the security clearances to go with me.”
“What if your wreck wasbecauseof your involvement with this top-secret place?”
Honestly, the thought has crossed my mind. When Tucker returned to pick us up from the hospital the day after my wreck, he had a concerned look on his face. I’ve never seen Tucker with such a look before. He’s always been the epitome of cool, calm, and collected. For Tucker to be concerned meant he knew something very disturbing.
He wouldn’t discuss it with anyone else around, but Shadow had obviously briefed Tucker on what he’d found since both men stayed glued to my side. Shadow even refused to let the nurse push my wheelchair out to the waiting car, but the nurse wasn’t the least bit offended since Shadow turned on the charm to get his way.
When we arrived back home, Tucker asked to speak to me alone in my home office. After excusing ourselves from Sophia, Shadow, Tucker, and I met behind closed doors as they explained the situation. Since Tucker had also initiated background checks on Sophia’s family, he wanted to convey that information in private as well.
“What do you have?” I asked Tucker and Shadow.
“Have you ever heard of a ‘Boston Brake Job,’ Mr. Powers?” Shadow asked in response.
“Can’t say I have. What is it?”
“It’s a pretty effective assassination technique originally developed by the CIA. It’s been adopted by some drug cartels and other generally bad guys,” Shadow explained. “Unfortunately, the technology in your car made it a perfect fit for this type of accident. No one would ever find it if they didn’t know what they were looking for.”
“What technique? How does it work?”
“The drive-by-wire technology in your car allows the computer to control most everything—brakes, steering, accelerating, etc. Instead of the brake pedal actually controlling the brakes, it sends a signal to the car’s computer to apply the brakes. In this case, someone put a small chip on your car, sped up close to you with the remote and activated it, frying the car’s computer that controls everything.
“I checked your car out myself. I don’t think it’s related to your government contract negotiations. Had it been a sanctioned hit, someone would’ve gone back to retrieve the chip from your car and erased any proof. It would be deemed a freak accident and nothing would ever be questioned.
“This may have been an experienced hit man, but he didn’t get back to your car in time to retrieve the chip, so he’s not a pro. However, there’s no doubt it was an attempt on your life,” Shadow explained.
Tucker took over the next part of the conversation, “Sophia’s parents and brother all have ties to the Mexican drug cartel. That cartel has been well known in deploying these types of devices against their enemies.”
“I haven’t had any dealings with anyone in a drug cartel!” I exclaimed.
“No, but they may be trying to get to Sophia, and her family, through you. The condo she lives in isn’t in her name, so they wouldn’t be able to trace her to it. If they know she’s with you that may be our link. Her brother has been in some trouble with possession with intent to distribute charges lately. Somehow, they’ve ‘lost’ the evidence and his case is pending. Has Sophia told you any of this?” Tucker asked.
“She did say that she was afraid her family would try to hurt me in order to hurt her,” I said. “She has no interaction with her family, though. She wouldn’t even let me talk to them to try to smooth things over between them. There’s something missing with this—it just doesn’t add up to me. What would they get from killing me?”
“Would your company go to Sophia?” Shadow asked pointedly.
“No, everything is left to my parents in my will.”
“They may not know that. While I don’t believe in coincidences, the drug cartel angle may be a false lead. I’m still on the case, but this was a definite attempt on your life. We will take additional precautions until this is resolved,” Tucker said.
“Thank you—both of you—for everything. It’s disconcerting, to say the least, but I’m grateful to have you two in my corner,” I said sincerely while inwardly reeling from being told someone had just tried to kill me. “What are their names—her family?”
“Her father is Manuel, her mother is Sarah, and her brother is Shawn but goes by Smoke,” Tucker replied.
Sophia eyed us suspiciously when we left my office, tightlipped and somber. At that point, without further evidence, I didn’t think it was a good idea to tell her what Shadow and Tucker had found and I advised them both of that before we left my office.
We did have to sit down and discuss the amped up security measures for both of us with Sophia. She wasn’t happy and asked more than once, “If everything is fine, why do we need increased security?”
Shadow answered, “Standard protocol for any of our high-profile customers, Miss Vasco. Mr. Powers is well known, wealthy, and in contract negotiations with a top-secret facility. It’s prudent to be safe than sorry. In this case, we will be safer than sorry.” His emphasis on the ‘-er’ in ‘safer’ didn’t go unnoticed.
Today, Sophia and I are discussing my upcoming trip to Tennessee and her insecurities are showing again. Someone tried to fucking kill me two weeks ago, but I have to keep my concerns to myself until we know more—like who is after me and why. Part of me is concerned to leave her here and part of me is concerned to take her with me. If they make another attempt on me, I don’t want Sophia anywhere around the danger.
