Siren unpacked her documents and gave Kate the summary of her case. Starting with the Crown Mountain conspiracy, the recording of Carl Unger’s murder, and the ambush on the way to the safehouse. She told her about how they’d been on the road for weeks, chasing down leads. She told her about how that had led her to Ashcroft and Draven.
Siren spread the evidence across Kate’s desk and then played the recording of Carl’s murder.
Siren showed Kate the photos from Carl’s insurance package. “He sent this evidence to a friend before he died.”
She picked up the photo of Ashcroft, Draven, and Peters in front of Fate Mountain Lodge. “This was taken in October of last year.” She then showed her the handwritten note from Carl to Greg, backing up the dates and locations.
She showed her Diana’s financial records. The connection between Ashcroft’s Delaware shell companies and Teton Resource Group. How Teton Resource Group funded Vanguard Security International.
Kate studied the documents, her eyebrows rising as she realized the depth of the evidence.
“This is solid work.”
Finally, she handed over the phone she’d taken off the operative at the gas station. “If you take this to digital forensics, I’m sure you’ll find kill orders on me and Reed.”
Kate paused, taking the phone. “That’s everything,” she said. “We’ve got multiple angles to prove Ashcroft and Draven are guilty of fraud, conspiracy, and murder.”
Kate sat back in her chair, the mass of documentation spread across her desk.
“These are powerful people,” Kate said.
“People died for this evidence,” Siren said through gritted teeth.
“I know.” Kate’s jaw tightened. “Let’s make it count.”
Chapter
Twenty-Five
“This may take a while.I need to take this to the Special Agent in Charge. We’ll need to get warrants.”
“I’m trusting you, Kate. Do not disappoint me.”
“You can count on me, Reaper. This is exactly the kind of case I need to break my slump. It won’t get buried. I swear to you. But you two need somewhere to lay low while we carry this out. I think I’ve got just the place for you.”
She picked up the phone and dialed. “I need access to the Hartwell place.” She paused. “I’ve got important witnesses who need R&R, and I’m not sending them to the Holiday Inn.” She listened, then snorted. “Yeah, you owe me one anyway. We’re even.”
Kate hung up and turned to them. “I’m sending you to a safe location while this moves. We’ve got a luxury condo we seized from a hedge fund prick who thought fraud was a victimless crime. You’ll need security.” She picked up the phone and dialed again.
“I need a car downstairs. Two passengers to the upper east side.” She hung up and looked back at them. “A car will meet you downstairs. I’ll contact you when there’s news.”
The black SUV was waiting on the sidewalk when they walked out of the building. The driver opened the door for them and they climbed inside.
Manhattan slid past outside Reed’s window. The driver informed them that their security detail had already arrived, and that their belongings from the van would be delivered within the hour.
The towering buildings of Midtown gave way to smaller brick and limestone buildings and treelined sidewalks of the Upper East Side.
The driver stopped in front of a limestone building with a green awning. A doorman in a gray uniform greeted them, opening the door for them to walk inside.
They made their way through the Art Neveu style lobby to the elevator. The elevator had wood panels and a brass plate listing the floors, creaking as it rose.
The door opened onto the hallway of the twelfth floor. Brass wall sconces illuminated the crown molding above the vintage wallpaper.
Two men in dark suits stood on either side of their door. One was tall and bald. The other was shorter with a mustache.
“If you need anything, just let us know,” the taller one said as the other one opened the door for them.
The apartment had similar architectural detail as the rest of the building, but the entry and living room were decorated in a moremodern style, with a gray upholstered sectional facing both the windows and the big screen over the white brick fireplace.
