“You’re right. It’s been fun, but I feel the same. It’s time to get back to the hustle and bustle of Washington.” He grunted as the vibration of the burner cell phone on the glass tabletop between them drew his attention. For a moment he did nothing but stare at the number flashing on the screen. It was disconcerting that Olov would contact him right at this minute.
“Spooner,” he snapped into the phone as he answered the call.
“It’s time to get back to work. We are ready to move on to the next step.” Olov’s voice sounded strained but as brusque as always.
“When?”
“Don’t waste time on stupid questions. Just get back to DC and wait for my instructions.”
The connection was summarily cut. Darius cursed at the rudeness of the Russian. He didn’t like the man, never had, but he was forced to do his bidding. His jaw locked. He was tired of always being the one following orders. One way or the other, he had to turn the tables and there were three places where he could achieve the success and recognition he was after. The DEA or Russian Intelligence or … the Bratva. It was time that Mikhail Olov was brought down a notch or two.
Darius’ devious mind spun as he searched for a way to exert himself, to rise in power and status. He didn’t care if it was within the criminal world, as long as he could finally show that he had the skill and the brainpower to build his own empire.
“Is that another mission, Uncle Red?”
Ralph’s voice yanked him back to the present and his dream dissolved … for now. He looked speculatively at him. He had been an invaluable source over the past couple of years. As a well-known surgeon, he moved in all the important circles and it was easy to use him to extract information, to delve for secrets … because who would suspect someone of his accolade to be corrupt? Ralph liked challenges … and money was the perfect incentive to keep him on board.
Besides, he was Darius’ back door. If anything ever went sideways, he had it set up that Ralph was going to be the scapegoat.
“Possibly, but I’ll only know once we’re back in DC. See if we can change our flights to leave tomorrow.” He slapped his hands on his thighs and got up to stretch his tall body to full length. “Well, shall we head over to Lounge 2727? I feel like a variety of seafood tonight and they have some decadent cocktails to cleanse the palate between courses.”
“Sounds like the perfect place to end our vacation.”
Chapter Six
“Have you found Billy Hewitt, Parker?”
Parker glanced at Kane as he sat down in the boardroom of Be Secure Enterprises, four levels below ground in a secure bunker on The Seven Keys Island.
“I found him, or at least the man he claims to be.”
“What do you mean?” Shane said.
“Billy Hewitt is fifty-seven years old but his records only start the day he was accepted as a Green Beret.”
“Are you saying he changed his name?” A deep line slashed between Hawk’s brows.
“It seems like it, yes.” Parker shrugged. “We can’t find anything further back that links Billy Hewitt with any other person prior to that.”
“So, we don’t know who he really is?” Ace looked between Parker and Zeke.
“Not who he was born as, no but we found the man he is now,” Zeke confirmed.
“Well,” Kane interjected curtly, “do we have to drag it out of you? It’s time the bastard paid for what he did to Stone.”
“I agree, Kane, but I also don’t believe we found everyone associated in the coup d'état that Chad Nesser was involved in.”
Stone leaned forward and glanced at Parker. “Involved in? I thought he was the mastermind.”
“So did all of us,” Shane interjected. “What did you find, Parker?”
“I’ve been using Nesser’s dark web links to dig deeper. There was something in the intel we found that kept scratching at me. A loop that didn’t close. Nesser issued orders but a lot of the intel he had wasn’t the kind he’d have free access to, even as the Secretary of Defense. Someone else was feeding him with Presidential information.”
“Good lord. How many more corrupt bastards are there? Just when I think we finally culled the last one, there’s another.” Stone leaned his elbows on the desk. “Do you have any leads?”
“Not yet,” Zeke said. “We’re doing elimination at this stage while Parker investigates every virtual communication we could find where Nesser was involved. It’s going to take time filtering through them.” He leaned forward. “Which is why I believe we should put a hold on eliminating Billy Hewitt. He might be our link to whoever is in charge. Someone of his capability is always in demand with corrupt officials. If you ask me, there are many they’d want to get rid of to keep their association secret.”
“Am I understanding this correctly? There is still the danger of a coup d'état?” Hawk took a sip of his latte.
“Everything points to that, yes.” Parker looked at Stone. “What happened with the meeting you were supposed to have with President Grayson and the Secret Service to discuss additional security measures to be implemented at the White House?”
“It was rescheduled to Monday, which brings me to another matter.” Stone leaned back in his chair. “David Yale is a personal friend of President Grayson. They’ve been friends since school.”
“David Yale,” Parker pondered out loud. “New York Times Businessman of the Year four times over if I recall correctly. He owns the Finance House Bank Group as well, doesn't he?”
“Correct. Yale disappeared three weeks ago. The Secret Service and FBI have been searching for him with no luck. President Grayson didn’t want to bother us with it at first because he knew I’d been shot and Ace was injured.” He looked around the room before his gaze settled on Parker. “He wants to know how dependable the hacker Dancer is.”
Parker straightened. “I would’ve thought he’d ask that kind of question before appointing her.”
“She’s a CI for many of the FBI agents and they approached her to assist with the search. He wants to be assured she can be trusted.” Stone flipped through the file in front of him. “Based on her involvement with Nesser, I’m a little skeptical.”
“You can stop worrying and assure the President that she’s legit.” Parker rapped his fingers on the desk. “In my opinion, she put her life at risk to set Nesser up the way she did, especially since I don’t believe she realized there were other parties involved.”
“I still want to know why. Why would she accept an assignment like that if she is legit as you say?” Stone got up and began to pace. “Have you managed to find out anything about this hacker?”
A Cheshire grin splayed across Parker’s face. “Indeed, I did. For that matter, I found out everything about her and I say again … she’s legit.”
Stone watched him with narrowed eyes. “What are you up to, Parker? Something tells me you know a lot more than you’re telling us.”
“I’m with Stone on this,” Ace interjected. “You don’t get a twinkle in your eyes for no reason.”