Reese listened while the team pondered overthe information they’d been given.
To be honest, it went better than expected.He thought for sure there would be more hurt feelings.He did pick up on some subtleties in Evan’s and Charlie’s tones.Since they’d been with the task force the longest, it was only logical that they would feel slighted.It hadn’t been their intention, but they had held back valuable information.
Now that everything was out in the open, the team seemed determined to do what was necessary to find Kylie and take down a group of rogue law enforcement agents.The first seemed relatively easy compared to the second.Reese had no idea how to even begin cutting off the head of a very powerful snake.And that was what Censorious was.
Last night, after he’d dosed Brantley with his migraine medicine, Reese had done some research of his own.He had wanted to know what they were really up against.Simon, with help from Elana, had made decent headway in getting information on the group that had been formed to mete out their own brand of justice when they weren’t content with the results of the US judicial system.They had a growing list of names, as well as information on their families, occupations, and political affiliations.
But they didn’t have enough information.Not for his liking, anyway.So he had started digging deeper.What he found on his own had made his stomach churn.And to think, Martin Calloway claimed Max Adorite was the one who needed to be put down.From what Reese found, the opposite was true.At the very least, they both needed to be stopped.
Not that Reese had any intention of taking down Max.He might not believe in what Max stood for, but he understood it to a degree.His motivations, anyway.He was building an empire, fueled by money and power.Yeah, people got caught in the crossfire, but the collateral damage was minimal.
The same could not be said for Censorious.Martin Calloway was fueled by power and greed, using whatever means necessary to get what he wanted: justice.His perverted version of it.Censorious had distorted the definition of justice to achieve their goals.And they weren’t above taking down innocent people in the process.
“What should we focus on?”Charlie asked, drawing Reese’s attention.
Archer was now standing up, moving to the front of the room.“As Brantley said, our main objective is to find Kylie and take down Censorious.And yes, in that order.Our focus should be on finding Kylie.”
“I guess there’s no reason to exhume the body, huh?”Charlie asked.
“What’s the point?The funeral home said there isn’t one,” Jay stated.
“And what if they’re lying?”Elana countered.
“And if they are?”Jay argued.“Then we will have disturbed the woman’s final resting place for no reason.”
“But we won’t know for sure unless we do,” Charlie argued.
“Right now, I’m not worried about that,” Brantley said.“If we get nowhere in the next twenty-four hours, I’ll consider approaching my cousin with that request.For now, let’s focus on following the leads we have.”
“Where do we start?”Holly asked.
“The task list is up to date,” Archer explained.“Make sure you add anything you get as you get it.This is our playbook right now, so you’ll see we’re adding things as we go.If you determine there’s something that plays to your strength, assign it to yourself.But if you do that, it’s yours.And we want hourly updates from everyone.”
“I’ve got a lead on a member of Censorious,” Reese told Archer.“He’s got an Austin address.Charlie, Jay, if one of you could pay him a visit this mornin’, see what you can get outta him.”
He could tell that statement surprised Brantley, but he didn’t say anything.
“I can do that,” Jay offered.
“I’ve asked JJ to continue to monitor Allison Bogart’s cell phone,” Atticus said, stepping up beside Archer.“I think she’s key to finding out more on all fronts.”
“I agree,” Brantley added.“If and when you find her, I want to talk to her.”
“Charlie is gonna continue her research on her,” Atticus added.“See if we can find out who she’s workin’ with.I can’t imagine she doesn’t have a partner.”
“Depends on what her role is,” Reese told him.“If she does, there’s no guarantee that person knows what she’s up to.”
“True.But it’s worth a conversation,” Atticus countered.
“It is,” Brantley agreed.“If you need someone to do legwork in Dallas, reach out to Z.He knows what we’re focused on.Said he’ll have agents at the ready if we need help.”
Atticus gave a thumbs-up.“Noted.”
“We’re headed to Johnson City,” Reese informed the team.“While Atticus and Archer head to Dripping Springs.We’ve got enough connections in those two cities to be more than a coincidence.It’s worth doing some recon.If you need us, call, but remember, Atticus and Archer are runnin’ this op.Go through them.”
“You ready?”Brantley asked.
Nodding, Reese whistled for Tesha.He was eager to get this underway.Finding Kylie was all he could think about, and he knew he wouldn’t rest until they did.
One way or the other.
