“Come again?”
“If somebody wants to start a company fast, not only in Estonia but in many other countries too, the easiest way to do that is to buy a shelf company.It comes pre-registered, often with a bank account and business licences, and you don’t have to be a resident in the country to start trading.Those often have dumbass names that are just random words from the dictionary, and you change them later.”
I was still sitting in the “makes no sense” camp, and so was Justin, judging by his puzzled expression.
“So you’re saying some random Estonian was paying Amie for information about me?”he asked.
“I’m saying that if I wanted to make a payment and hide its true origin, and I couldn’t use crypto, that’s how I’d do it.”
“But who’s behind it?”
“There are two people who might be able to tell us.One’s missing, and the other is in the shadows.Someone needs to speak with Sophy again.”
“Who?Ari?”
“Nope.Ari’s working on the Raelene Holtz angle, and there’s weirdness there too.”
We already knew a little about her, thanks to the internet.She’d been a big-shot prosecutor in New York, going after criminals who considered themselves untouchable—wealthy businessmen, politicians, the Mafia.Then she’d abruptly quit and switched sides.In an interview withNewsFlashmagazine, she’d cited burnout as the reason.
“Tell me her fees aren’t being paid by an Estonian shelf company?”
“The Justice Project is strictly not-for-profit.No, she seems to have a bodyguard.Two of them, actually—one covers mornings, and the other takes afternoons.”
Dawson sat up straighter.“A bodyguard?You think she has concerns about her safety?”
“We don’t know yet.But she didn’t call up Blackwood or Sentinel or any other reputable security company and ask them to send a guy over.The bodyguards are from the Diamondback Devils.”
“Isn’t that a motorcycle club?”
“Yup.They shadow her to work, they wait outside the office, and they follow her home again.Chances are, it’s unconnected to Levi’s case, but we can’t get close to her right now.”
“So who’s going to talk with Sophy?You?”
“Me?”Alexa snorted.“Of course not.Her.”
She pointed at me with a stylus, and I choked on the mouthful of coffee I’d just taken.
“What?”I asked at the same moment Justin said, “No way.”
“It’s just a few questions, and Ari said Sophy was opening up to you.”Alexa addressed me, ignoring Justin.“We think it’s unlikely Sophy’s involved, but she’s known Amie since the beginning.”
“Unlikelyshe’s involved?”Justin asked, and he didn’t sound happy.
“How did they end up sharing an apartment?”
“I don’t know.”
“Precisely.Jessalyn needs to find out.”
“This isn’t Jessalyn’s problem to solve,” Justin practically growled.“She’s not one of your minions.”
“Yes, but she’s not exactly busy, and the quicker we get to the bottom of this, the quicker we can all go home.Apart from you, obviously.You live here.”
“I’ll do it,” I said quickly.I wanted to help, although I couldn’t deny Justin’s lack of confidence in me stung.
“Attagirl.Don’t forget the cake.”
I was halfway off my stool when the doorbell rang.Shiro began barking as Alexa glanced at her screen.
