“Tell me you’re with Kai or Lance?”
Zoe growled. “Tell me what you want to say and be quick about it.”
“The burned car? It’s foul play. The camera feed in the garage had been erased and there’s a reason for that.”
“Let me guess, Cynthia?”
“More or less. She let a virus through Blackwood’s system, rendering it vulnerable. So that clumsy act of hers was not totally fake, she was just a carrier. We guess the fire was some sort of distraction, but with the enhanced security, it didn’t go anywhere. The guys were caught on our security cameras and are linked to the one you bashed. Some sort of mercenaries for hire. Very dangerous and usually effective. I think that they underestimated our capabilities and your swing.”
“And the villain in the shadows?”
“I still think it’s coming from Finch, but we don’t have proof. We’re trying to find a link to both mercenaries. Money, communications, or otherwise.”
“If it’s Finch it means that Vasiliev is in on it.”
Gabrielle didn’t seem to agree. “He may be. Or not. I don’t want to only focus on Vasiliev. He may only be the tree hiding in the forest, or not even involved. I suspect Finch is using him, I just don’t know why yet.”
“So, we’re at the same point.”
“Well, yes and no. Sam Sarkhan... you were right. He’s one of Finch’s bastards. It took some digging, but as he was part of the Saudi army, we were able to find blood samples. It’s a match with Aleksei and Oz.”
“Ok, you have to tell me if I should be happy about it or not.”
“Well, Oz and I haven’t contacted him in any way. So why did he show up? At this particular event, for what purpose, facing his estranged brother and father? I’m not a fan of coincidence.”
“I see. Still too many questions. Damn, can we at least know something for certain?”
“Well, I learned from Kai that Blackwood switched gears after the fire and decided against you being in the room during the three negotiation meetings. He’s organized for a surveillance system to be installed prior to each of them.”
“Well, at least the sound will be good.” But it nagged at Zoe. Why this sudden change?
“And that way, we’ll have access to the feeds too.”
“Nothing on the Cynthia front?”
“We’re waiting on the report. Harker is supposed to send it to us as soon as he gains access to it.”
“Maybe her phone will tell us more about it.”
Gabrielle exhaled loudly. “Me, too. Be safe. I’ll contact you if something comes up.”
Hanging up, Zoe was trying to wrap her mind around all of it when her phone buzzed again. “Where the fucking hell are you?”
Archer Blackwood’s voice boomed through the receiver. A couple passing by gave her a weird look.
“Mr. Blackwood. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Her calm and professional tone probably added fuel to his fire, but she would be damned if she’d start yelling at him too.
“Answer my question, damn it.”
Ignoring his initial question, she asked one of hers instead. “Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need anything to be translated or interpreted?”
His tone was still harsh but had calmed down a bit. “Don’t give me that speech again. This has nothing to do with work.”
“Am I missing a deadline? Or are you unsatisfied with my work so far?”
“Everything is perfect, and you know it. I’m just concerned about...”
Cutting him off, she continued. “If everything is to your liking, if you have no need for me, I’m taking the rest of the afternoon off. I have something planned tonight, but as I’m a professional, I’ll be sure to be in tip-top shape tomorrow morning. And may I tell you that the next time you yell at me over the phone, I will not only shut it down, but I’ll shove it up your British arse.”
And she clicked off.
