Page 105 of Never Forget

“They’re the same number,” Cory says.

“They’re not just the same number,” she says, folding her arms in a way I’d find cocky if I wasn’t so impressed. “It’s the same number you asked me to track from the cellphone data. And guess who the number is registered to?”

Everyone is frozen to their chairs, waiting for her to drop the final bomb that will hopefully be the answer to all our problems.

“It’s registered under a business account that also belongs to X Media Corp.”

My gaze flies straight to Cory. He looks over at me too, and I know we’re both thinking it. Francis.

Blake stands and starts pacing. “X Media Corp… That’s familiar. Don’t they own…”

“ConX Media,” Kit finishes for him.

“The conservative media channel? They run Hoax News, don’t they?” Cory adds.

“Let me get this right. You’re saying multiple employees from a company that runs the same news channel that have made it their mission to harass and discredit us are randomly hired at our label, spread out into different departments, and all assigned to our accounts. Right around the same time that our scheduled tour dates start getting ambushed and we receive a bomb threat at a location that is supposed to be secure.”

“That’s the gist of it, yeah.”

“This really is starting to sound like a conspiracy,” Blake says, standing before the windows looking over the city.

I look over at Cory, who gives me the go-ahead with a clipped nod.

“Actually, I think I have something that’s going to make this whole thing even weirder.”

Cory and I fill them in on everything that’s been going on with Scott’s anonymous texter. I tell them the odd feeling I had when I saw the man walking away from the locker facility, and how familiar he seemed. Cory tells them most of the details from the conversation we overheard last night.

“It was his voice,” I say. “And he all but confirmed it. Who else would it be?”

Blake curses under his breath. “Fucking Francis.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying!”

“Is this the same Scott Riley who was fired two days ago, paperwork processed this morning?”

Blake looks at Sunni like he’s never seen her before. Did he forget she was still here or is he just that fucked-up from the information overload?

Sunni’s eyebrows shoot up. “Wait. Oh, I see. You fired him but didn’t really fire him. That’s actually really smart. By the way, while you were talking I looked up the work order for the cellular booster you mentioned, and guess who it came through?”

“Who?”

“Kathy,” Blake answers for her. “The new IT technician. I was there when Emmy mentioned Naz needing something so he couldn’t keep being antisocial. The cell booster was her idea.”

“Yep, and she made a phone call just before the work order came through…”

“Francis.”

“When is the meeting?” Blake asks Cory.

“About an hour in Washington Square Park.”

“Ooh, I love it there. Please tell me you’re sitting in on that,” Sunni says excitedly, like she’s getting to ride along on her favorite crime drama.

“We’ll have eyes nearby, but it’s too busy to overhear them, and we can’t let anyone suspect Scott isn’t on their side.”

Sunni grins ear to ear and rubs her hands together. “I’ve got you covered, boss.”

TWENTY-SEVEN