Page 61 of Cash

“Okay, Cashy.”

Cashy?

Good Christ.

I walked through the office thinking I didn’t hate the nickname.

“Find anything?” I asked as I entered the conference room.

“We’re going with the working theory Damion snatched Lore,” Kira informed me.

I didn’t like theories. I liked solid proof.

“Theory?”

“She was actively investigating him,” Kira went on. “She’s good at covering her tracks. But whoever is handling her brother’s cyber security is better. When she hacked into his personal computer, she left breadcrumbs and he or she tracked it back to Lore.”

“What exactly is her brother involved in?”

“The better question is, what isn’t he involved in,” Zane interjected. “He took over McKnight Holdings. In the last twenty years he’s expanded. The problem is he doesn’t seem to be as good as dear ol’ dad when it comes to hiding his shady business practices.”

“And that means what exactly?” I pressed.

“In the last seven years, he’s lost near a billion dollars.” Kira causally tossed that out like a billion dollars wasn’t a shit ton of money. “Not all at once. There were several six-figure transactions that got…intercepted. But the bigger problem for Damion McKnight is, the money wasn’t his. He was laundering it.”

“Hacker?” I asked.

She shook her head. “CIA.”

Cara’s father, Michael.

“If the CIA had the money, why not take him down?”

Kira and Zane exchanged looks but it was Nebraska who answered, “We don’t have Michael’s files and unfortunately, we can’t ask him. Lore might know, but there’s nothing in her notes that indicated Michael’s motives for dismantling Damion’s network instead of taking him out.”

“So, Damion got fed up with the CIA toying with him and took out Michael and his wife?” I concluded.

“That’s the theory,” Kira rejoined. “The facts are: Lore was investigating her brother. Someone on Damion’s security team found out. And now Lore’s been snatched, her house was torn apart, but nothing was taken.”

I glanced over at Garrett who was sitting on Zane’s right side scrolling on his tablet. If I knew him, he was still checking every available traffic and private security camera near where Lore lived.

No, Stella. Lore was dead. She’d said as much when she left six months ago. Now more than ever she was Stella.

“Other than his residence in Fairfax, he owns an unoccupied warehouse in Woodbridge and a plaza outside of Arlington,” Smith informed me. “This time of day the Plaza’s a long shot with a grocery store, pharmacy, and restaurant that will all be open and likely busy, but it’s worth checking out. Four units are empty.”

“This is personal,” I started. “He’d take her to his house.”

“Theo, Easton, take the Plaza,” Zane instructed. “Smith, Jonas, you hit the warehouse. Cash, I’m with you hitting the house.” He pushed back from the table and stood. “Unless you want me here with Cara. If that’s the case, Garrett’s with you.”

The Dove is strong and beautiful. She flies the world spreading her love. She helps the Snake keep everyone safe.

I like the Dove.

“She’ll be fine with Nebraska. Give me five minutes.”

Kira pulled her laptop closer. “Theo, I’m sending you everything on the Plaza and directions. “Smith, I’ll send you what you need on the warehouse. Cash, I’ll have the blueprint to Damion’s house before you leave.”

“Everyone gear up and be ready to roll out in twenty.”