AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Didn’t say. They called from an untraceable number, using a modulated, unidentified, digital voice. With what you’ve confirmed, I have no reason to doubt their capabilities. Or their determination.”
“So I just, what, transfer $100 million to a link? On your say-so? I’m afraid I’m very much in the ‘We don’t negotiate with terrorists’ camp. We’re calling the FBI right now, Chase.” Gillen grabbed his own phone.
Chase leaned forward in his chair, held up his hand.
“I threatened the same. The caller said no cops and no tricks.”
Gillen placed his phone on the desk and scrutinized Chase for a few moments. “How convenient.”
“Pardon me?”
Gillen stood and began to pace in the lane behind his desk and the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Chase, do you know what I’m trying to do here? What Avalon is on the cusp of?”
“Roll out more devices, I imagine.”
Gillen shook his head. “No. I’m not in the device business, or even the tech business. I’m in thefreedombusiness. Everyone knows that there’s exponentially more computing power in any car on the road these days than in the Apollo 11 module.” He swiped his phone off of his desk and brandished it. “With this, people have all the tools they need to start a business, film a movie, or broadcast their voice around the world and start a revolution. We’re preparing the next generation of Ava, with enough features to blow your hair back. It will save people so much time. For the elderly and mobility impaired, it will allow them to be more self-sufficient and to stay in their homes longer. Hell, for some it will be a member of the family. I’m trying to drastically improve people’s lives.”
“Great speech,” said Chase.
“Thanks. A little overblown rhetoric buys valuable time.”
Just then, the doors behind Chase flew open. Two beefy security guards marched toward him. They did not look pleased.
CHAPTER 13
CHASE EXHALED, SUDDENLY exhausted. “Panic button?” he asked.
The guards took station on either side of his chair, just behind him. At his four and eight o’clock. They were large enough to cast a shadow over his chair. He glanced back at them for a moment and noticed Ashley holding the doors open, her intense expression now softened with the hint of a smile. He looked back at the CEO.
Gillen shrugged. “Teague said you mentioned a few key safety features in your interview.”
The Zen CEO’s genial smile was gone. Gillen was serious now. Angry. A man did not build an empire on creativity alone. There was steel in there. “Of all the more established and better-resourced risk firms out there, do you know why I gave FIRST a chance? Because of the incredible respect I have for your wife.”
Ouch.Chase had not kidded himself otherwise, but he hadn’t expected Gillen to go there. What was the tech motto?
Move fast and break things.
Feelings didn’t enter into the equation.
“Of all people, I never figured Shay Summers would have married a buffoon, but I suppose we all have blind spots. Does she even know you’re here?”
“No.”
“I’m going to spare her the embarrassment—no, the mortification—and let you tell her.”
“Mr. Gillen, I don’t think you’re taking this seriously—”
“Oh, I’m deadly serious. Good people—Avalon people—died in an industrial accident. It’s you I’m not taking seriously. You break in with a tale of a ‘mysterious caller’ who demands I deposit a hundred million dollars into an anonymous account immediately or even more people will die. And when I suggest we contact the authorities, you tell me that’s forbidden. All this, the day after an active shooter hoax occurs at Avalon Park. You’re not the first person to try to make a quick buck off of me, and this little shakedown is definitely not the most sophisticated. But it is the most sickening. What did you think was going to happen here, Chase?”
Gillen signaled imperceptibly to the guards, who seized Chase beneath each of his arms and hauled him to his feet. Chase allowed it to happen; any other behavior would only escalate the situation and make him seem crazy, proving Gillen’s point for him.
“Damn it, listen: More people are going to die,” said Chase as the guards dragged him toward the doors.
“No, you need to listen, Chase: You need help.”
The men locked eyes before the doors swung shut.
“You’re going to regret this, Mr. Gillen.”
