Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(52)

“When would be the optimal time?” Tate looked to Birch to answer.

“A great time to launch software like that is after a crash. The software could maximize its returns if an outside force caused an extreme drop.”

“Did Sebastian tell you he wanted Alex to give him this information on Bertie?” Lizzy asked, directing the conversation to Birch and Sebastian’s previous meeting.

“Yes.” Birch let out a frustrated breath. “I hate to admit this, but I don’t know what to do. I believed him when he said Roland wasn’t the head of Mollia Domini and that he joined only to feed us information. But then he wanted that information in return. Not just that information, but illegally obtained corporate spying. I don’t know. He’s my best friend, or at least I thought he was.”

“Are you going to hand the information over?” Tate pressed. Lizzy could see she was uncomfortable with this, too.

“Not yet. You want to go to New York to see Locke? Well, Lizzy, you and Valeria can pay a visit to Bertie Geofferies. We’re going to get to the bottom of this now. If it’s Sebastian playing me, I’ll have you bring him in. And if it’s Locke trying to pull a power play, deal with him. But first we learn and then we move,” Birch ordered.

“We can leave tonight,” Lizzy told him as the others nodded.

“And Alex, invite your crush to join us. I wonder what she’s like. She must be special if you like her,” Birch grinned as Alex flushed from his chin to the tip of his ears. “Oh, and before you all leave, why don’t you pick up Stan Detrick and toss him in a cell for a couple days. It may make whoever is paying him a little nervous for him to suddenly disappear.”

“I’ve got that,” Jason grunted as he walked out the room.

“Jason,” Birch called, stopping the man. His face, his body, and his stance spoke of a grieving, hardened man. “You’re not alone.” Birch looked around the room at the vagabond team, willing Jason to see that his loss was felt by all. “Be safe.”

Jason barely registered the backing before he turned and left the room.

“I’ll watch out for him,” Dalton said softly before chasing after Jason.

“Good luck. I wish I could go with you two,” Tate smiled sadly at her and Valeria.

“You keep the team together here on the home front. Give us something positive to fight for, and we’ll all come back.” Valeria leaned down and hugged Tate before winking at Lizzy. “Come on, Lizzy. Let’s see if all billionaires are assholes.”





21





“Duuuude,” Alex said slowly from the backseat of the large SUV as they headed back to Quantico to pack for New York. “Oh my, I mean, dude!”

Grant turned around and looked at him. “Words, dude. Like, use them.”

“She’s coming. Rock Star is coming. She said she can catch the first flight out of Heathrow and meet us in New York tomorrow.”

“You. She can meet you. We’ll be a little busy,” Valeria said, shaking her head but then smiling at Grant as he smirked.

“Remember, this isn’t a hookup. This is work,” Dalton called back from the driver’s seat.

Grant had never seen a person turn such a bright shade of red before. “I’m not—she’s not—it’s not—oh no,” Alex groaned as he looked at his phone.

“What?” Grant asked as he and Valeria turned to look at Alex crammed into the third row of the SUV. His knees were practically to his chest as he looked like a whipped puppy.

“This,” he said, turning the phone, “this is Rock Star.”

Grant blinked and Valeria let out low whistle. “Good job, dude. She’s hot.”

“Exactly. She’s way above me. There’s no way now.“ Alex buried his head in his hands as Valeria grabbed his phone and passed it up to Lizzy.

“Wow,” she said, looking at the brunette beauty. She wore dark eyeliner, had long lashes, brown eyes, and a smile that would turn Alex into a bumbling idiot. Well, maybe then he wouldn’t say dude all the time.

“You have to send a picture back,” Valeria grinned as she took the phone from Lizzy and turned on the camera. “Smile!” Alex practically leapt into her seat to grab the phone.

“Can’t we send a picture of Dalton or Grant?” Alex asked as he cradled the phone.

“Don’t be a scared wee lad. Women like confidence.”

Lizzy and Valeria nodded in agreement.

“I’ll send a picture when I get back to the bar. Maybe do a few pushups beforehand.”

Valeria shook her head. “She already likes you. She’s coming all the way from London to meet you and work with you.”

“You think?” Alex asked hopefully.

“Duh,” Lizzy laughed from the front. “But now that we have your hacker love team set up, we need to plan our trip to New York. We need identities in case we get caught or pulled over.”

“Got it,” Alex said, pulling up his laptop. His fingers began to fly across the small keyboard perched on his cramped knees. “What else?”

“Everything on CBL Services Group and Brandon Locke, including his relationship with Sandra Cummings and the layout of his building,” Lizzy instructed.