“You mean, what does the name translate to?”
She was onto the answer. She could feel it. Jane nodded.
He typed the name into his computer and sat back in astonishment. “Bednarek means Cooper. That bastard wasn’t even trying to hide.”
“He had someone’s clearance. I’ll look into it right now.” Grimshaw tookoff.
“Sir, that means he’s been one step ahead of us because he’s been one of us.” It made Jane ill to think of him inside the building.
“Maybe. Or maybe he snuck in. But Jane, he gave us Kaminski.”
“Because he and Kaminski are no longer on the same team anymore. They’re at odds. One of them killed the Scotts’ aide.” She subconsciously connected the pieces. “The other killed Matthew. They’re playing with each other, sacrificing pawns.”
Rook would look at it that way.
Haversham corrected, “Sacrificing the Scotts, which I find interesting. You did hear Ronald pause when you mentioned getting at the truth.”
“Yeah. Matthew was worried his parents were involved. I think he was right.”
“I agree. I told him to be sure. Maybe I should have spoken with Ronald and Belinda sooner.”
“You can’t do that,” she said automatically. “You can’t second-guess yourself.”
At his startled expression, she apologized.
“Sorry. That’s something my uncle keeps telling me.”
“He’s right.” Haversham paused. “I assume your tech specialist, who helped you with the not-corrupted file, was from Team Ten?”
“I, ah…”
“Jane, it’s impossible to get tech support around here. We’re understaffed as it is. Fighting for help with our forensic analysts is always tough. You got answers pretty fast.”
“I have sources, sir. Let’s leave it at that.”
“Let’s.” He gave a weak chuckle. “But at least we can trust what they learned. So Kaminski and Rook are at odds. The Scotts are the rope in their tug of war. But three of the ten?—”
“Eleven.”
“Eleven families are dead. Why kill them? Why not just steal from them and make them go away quietly? The killer didn’t just target the head of the company. He killed the entire family.”
“Because the killer isn’t all there. Victor Bednarek’s arrest recordwas from an altercation over something minor, correct? He’s got mental issues, I’m betting. So Casimir is the brains. His cousin the muscle. And they work, or used to work, for August Kaminski. But then they had a falling out.”
“But why? What are they both after?”
“That’s what we need to figure out.”
“Afteryou find Victor and stop him from killing again. He didn’t kill Harte, probably because Harte is the linchpin connecting the money to the mission. But now that we know there’s a mission, no one is safe. Not if August wants to sweep his part in this under the rug.” Haversham scowled. “He’ll go scorched earth. No one and nothing left.”
“And Matthew was the first to go.” She sighed.
“No. He was a message. But the Collective? We need to get to them before August kills the rest.”
“You really think he will? He needs them.”
Haversham shrugged. “Maybe you’re right. I’m tired and still not sure what anyone needs. We have so many questions. So let’s focus on what we do know. Victor Bednarek’s face is on every BOLO in the city. We need to get him before he does more damage. Let’s bring him in. Then we’ll get his cousin. And finally, August.”
“I sure hope so. But I’m not so sure.”
