Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(24)

“And Davenport Bank is one of the most prestigious banks in the world. Everyone who is anyone banks there. It would be nothing to have all those people on that list as clients,” Humphrey pointed out.

Valeria nodded. “It’s how they launder the money. Manuel put $5,000,000 into his bank, then invested it into a stock market account. Then someone at the Davenport Bank in South Africa liquated that account and wired it through private banking to Davenport London, who would then send it to Davenport Bank in DC or anywhere else in the world. When it’s pulled out, it’s clean.”

“This is good, and we can now stop the free-flowing money that is funding Mollia Domini, but what does this have to do with the bombs?” Jason asked.

“This.” Valeria went to the next file. “It’s a list of the world’s most influential stock markets, power grids, and water plants.”

“It’s the dossier Thurmond prepared,” Humphrey said, stunned.

“They’re going to blow up some or all of these targets. We know they have five more bombs, thanks to Alex’s hacker friends. But we don’t know if they have more than that,” Dalton said with a seriousness they all felt.

“We do know where and who the money is coming from, though. We need to cut off the money and cripple Mollia Domini. And let’s make sure we find Roland Westwood. Maybe then we can find out where these bombs are. We can’t wait any longer. We need to move now. Westwood could be the head of Mollia Domini, and without him we may never find all the bombs,” Lizzy ordered.

“Sandra doesn’t know we’re onto her, though.” Humphrey said, his bald head coming into view as Alex took down the documents from the shared screen. “She could lead us to Roland or even others who are in the inner circle.”

“I can get that information from her,” Jason said coolly. “She’s responsible for Phylicia.”

That said it all. Jason blamed Mollia Domini for his wife’s death. But he blamed Sandra most as Phylicia’s handler. Lizzy looked at Dalton, and she looked at Birch. They understood what was happening. If she gave Jason permission, she was signing Sandra’s death warrant. Of course, Sandra never had much of a chance at living anyway. Not when she’d committed treason.

“Do it,” Lizzy ordered.

“Wait,” Birch called out. “I’ll call her to the hospital. Meet me here at eight. I’ll have the floor cleared. Alex can get you past any security. I’m taking a risk, but I need this as much as you do. Then you can take her to the black site.”

Jason looked out into some unknown before acknowledging the president. “I’ll keep myself in check. I’ll see you in a couple hours.”

“Valeria, you’re with me,” Lizzy said as she took control. “We need to find Roland Westwood.”

“You’ve got it.”

“Dalton and Grant, you’ll provide support if we need it. Alex, you do your thing to shut down the money. If you have to, bring in only those hackers you can trust. No more public boards and screen names, though. I need details on them so I can vet them before I clear you to bring them in. And even then, they only need to know the bare minimum. Okay?”

“Yup,” Alex nodded, already getting to work on his computer. “I’m posting their details on our secure site.”

“Tate, are you able to work?” Lizzy asked.

“I can type with one hand,” Tate smiled.

“Then start working on press releases for the disappearance of Thurmond and Sandra. We need something to account for their absence or someone will come looking for them. I want it to be specific enough that Mollia Domini knows we have them and are coming for them.”

“I can do that. I’ll have something tomorrow for you to look over.”

“Good. We have our assignments. Good luck, everyone.”





11





Alex headed back to the bar, Jason disappeared into the night, probably to the black site, and Valeria found herself and Lizzy sitting at the kitchen table researching Roland Westwood until darkness turned into light. Valeria leaned back in her chair and ran a hand over her face.

Grant was asleep on the couch and Dalton had disappeared into the bedroom a couple of hours before. Valeria was beyond exhausted, but she had a job to do. “It would be easier to get to Roland with Sebastian’s help.”

Lizzy shook her head. “You know as well as I do that we don’t know if Sebastian is involved with Mollia Domini. The bank records, the spyware, I don’t know if we can trust him.”

“At the worst, he’s one of the inner circle or even the leader. Sebastian has the power, money, and influence to pull it off. He could be funding us just to keep an eye on us,” Valeria pointed out.

“And at the best he’s someone who doesn’t mind crossing lines to get things done.”

“Isn’t that what we do?”

Lizzy thought about that. Valeria had a point. “Yes, but our goal isn’t self-serving. With Sebastian, I think everything he does is meant for the betterment of his situation. That’s why I worry about turning to him now. There’re times I would swear he helps us, but I’m learning nothing is free with him. If he’s not with Mollia Domini, then he will still expect payment in terms of us doing something questionable for SA Tech. And I don’t know if we can risk turning to him.”