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“Because we were working under government leadership and recruited from various branches of military op’s units.” Bozz continued. “We were working under the assumption that we were a secret weapon for the pentagon, DOD, and even the White House and the shit we carried out, as unsettling as it was at times, fit the bill. We had no reason to question anything until you guys entered the picture. The case with Wylie O’Reilly really hit is home but started with Dace.”
Bozz was referring to the O’Reilly cousins who, with the rest of their brothers, founded BK Security. Dace had been reacquainted with his missing ex-fiancée, and she quickly landed under the protection of BK Security. He also found that he had a young son who he didn’t know about and was being used as a pawn by none other than Chalice… though they didn’t realize that until later.
The Dozen were in the background during that case, and BK wasn’t made aware until Wylie found himself caught in the crosshairs of a cartel seeking revenge and their affiliate… Chalice. Dirty Dozen was the muscle who hunted him and ultimately brought him in. It was also their turning point, and they discovered they’d been on the wrong side of just about everything they’d been involved in –– something they were currently rectifying. From that point on, the Dozen worked in the shadows, often assisting BK Security while seeking redemption.
“But you still don’t know who was calling the shots where your team was concerned, correct?” Killion asked.
“Right. We know it’s Chalice, and we’ve nailed several of those sons of bitches for what they did, but we’ve yet to confirm the top of the food chain, I guess you could say. Someone in Washington with a lot of power is my guess,” Bozz said. “Someone who was able to keep their hands pretty clean and walk away from Chalice when their cell went down and their ledgers confiscated.”
“I think we inadvertently discovered a clue for you, then,” Killion announced as he stood and went to pick up the other baby, who was beginning to fuss. “I wrote the system you guys have been operating out of. Everything about it is BK patented.”
“Like I said, we didn’t steal it.” Bozz’s tone was a warning.
Killion nodded while swaying back and forth, patting his daughter’s back. “I know you didn’t. It was given to you by one of our clients –– one I customized this for, hence being compatible with ours.”
“Oh shit.” Cane leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head as awareness washed over him.
“Oh shit would be right.” Killion cringed, looking down at the baby, then shook it off.
“Is this some kind of game?” Hen asked. “Are we supposed to guess something here? Or is someone going to cut to the chase.”
“I think I know where this is going,” Bozz added, leaning forward to rest his head in his hands. “Let me guess, one of your biggest clients was our boss… the US Government.”
Killion snapped his fingers and pointed at Bozz. “Bingo. We sold them a universal system that has been installed across all branches of government, customizing bits and pieces along the way for those who needed us to. It’s compatible with our system because we manage all the back-ends stuff. It’s our biggest contract to date with no expiration in sight.”
Relay let out a slow, low whistle. “You were hired to customize ours then. You literally designed the technology behind the government’s –– or in this case, Chalice’s –– most lethal weapon.”
“Dirty Dozen.” Killion shrugged. “For lack of a better name of course. So, in theory, we’ve played a role in all the cases you’ve worked for Chalice.”
“Enemy of my enemy…” Bozz said.
“And it all ends with me,” Killion said. “So not only do I have my hand in that, but I also control the ledgers that make Chalice… Chalice.”
“Saying you’re Chalice now just took on an entirely new meaning,” Wit fired off. “Killion, you have more power and control than any of us realized. The keys to the kingdom? Nah… Keys to the universe, brother. You can infiltrate every division of our government, take it down, manipulate it, you name it… and with the ledgers, and our other contracts…”
“It goes beyond our borders,” Killion said. “Our contracts aren’t limited to our government. We have contracts all over the world.”
“Holy shit,” Hen whispered.
Brody stood and began to pace, finally turning to face Killion. “You know what this means then. This isn’t about Lindstrom and his trafficking ring or any other cases you and Relay will pull up in that… thing you’re building. Database. Whatever. It’s never been about any of it.”
“I think it’s become abundantly clear now that this is about more than the damn ledgers and Chalice,” Wit warned. “Rainy isn’t the target. Never was, not really.”
“It’s me,” Killion said. “I’m the target, and stakes are so high, I don’t know how we fight it, or how we keep it at bay.”
Wit’s stare tracked between Killion and Rainy as their eyes locked, realizing the sense of panic they had to have been feeling in light of the new information. “There’s always a way. We’ll find it. We’re the Keepers, nothin’ we can’t do, y’all.”
“This is different.” Killion shook his head in a moment of weakness none had witnessed before. “Everything we’ve built over the years. All the hard work. All the justice-seeking bullshit missions. It all led to this… backing us into a fucking corner without a way out.”
“Destroy the ledgers,” Hen said. “I still don’t understand how possessing something so ridiculous is what gives someone power, but if that’s it, take away the power.”
“The power isn’t the ledger itself or the symbolism of it. It’s the content inside. If we destroy it, someone else will just reinvent it. It’s how I stay ahead of that –– how we stay ahead of that. And even if the ledgers were out of the picture… I’m still the key to everything we’ve touched. I can access top secret, highly classified information. I can start wars with my clearance, access, and know-how.”
“You’re a damn nuke, bro,” Cane said. “Waiting to go off if you end up in the wrong hands.”
“Right. Me,” Killion said. “If I end up in the wrong hands.”
“What about Liam?” Finn asked. “Should we warn him?”
