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I knew I had to focus on the task at hand, but it was hard not to wish Courtney were here.
As I parked my BMW and headed into the building, I mentally prepared myself for another day at work, steeling my resolve to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As I entered the office, I greeted my coworkers, who were all upbeat today. Giuseppe Russo, Amy's Sicilian and well-connected father, was scheduled to give an update at our afternoon meeting. He always brought a lot of hope and levity to a meeting and a measure of respect from the Rosedale crew.
Chase was deeply engrossed in his computer, a look of determination etched on his face, while Daniel and Ryder shared a laugh over some inside joke. Mitch and Guy were discussing something in hushed tones, talking about fishing or their latest match at the shooting range. It was a typical day at the office, and even though Courtney was no longer with us, the team continued to work together seamlessly.
We had conducted interviews to fill Courtney's position, but we wanted to make sure we found the right fit. In the meantime, we came up with a temporary solution—each week, one of the wives would come in to help with paperwork and other tasks that Courtney used to handle. Today, it was Amber, Ryder's wife, who had stepped in to lend a hand.
Amber was seated at a desk not too far from mine, sorting through a stack of documents with an air of quiet efficiency. She looked up and caught my eye, offering a warm smile and a reassuring nod. Despite the vacant seats around us, a quiet strength echoed in the Rosedale crew’s laughter and shared determination, a testament to our resilience.
I smiled back at Amber before heading to my desk, ready to tackle the day's work. With each passing moment, I could feel a sense of anticipation growing inside me—soon, it would be time for our afternoon meeting, and perhaps Giuseppe would bring more good news.
"I saved you some goodies. A chocolate donut and a cinnamon bun are on your desk. I wrapped them in some foil to keep them fresh," Amber mentioned as I opened my office door.
I was grateful for the support of my friends and their spouses. It was a testament to the tight-knit community we had built at Rosedale Tech—a place where everyone had each other's backs in times of need.
Before I could grab a bite of my donut, Guy approached my desk, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Hey, Brad. We've got a meeting in ten minutes," he informed me, his voice gentle. "We'll be discussing the latest updates on the case and also the recent success of the Shock and Awe app."
I nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Thanks, Guy. I'll be there."
Mitch began the meeting, his voice serious as he addressed us all. "As you know, the FBI has been working closely with Giuseppe Russo to interrogate Alexander Steele, the man behind bars, regarding any accomplices he might've had. They've managed to extract some crucial information, mostly that he was the brother of Chelsea, Megan’s kidnapper.”
Daniel chimed in, “Well, that’s something, but Chelsea is dead, so she can’t be of much help. At least, the good news is that there have been no new attacks, and our financial situation has improved since we sold the Shock and Awe app."
"Yeah, but what does that tell you about Alex?” I added, leaning back in my chair. "Since Alex was caught and put behind bars, things have definitely quieted down... knock on wood."
At that moment, Amber arrived at the door and gently tapped the door frame. "Guys, Giuseppe has arrived. Would you like me to let him in?"
We all nodded in agreement as Giuseppe, heading up a group of private security and investigators working on our case, entered the room, looking healthier than ever. Mitch smiled at his father-in-law and said, "You're looking fantastic, Giuseppe! It's evident that the cardiac rehab has been doing wonders for you."
Giuseppe placed his briefcase on the table and, with a wave of his hand and a mock groan, said, "Elana's become my personal food inspector, measuring my veggies and weighting my meat! And I'm down to just a measly quarter of a cigar a day. No wonder I'm looking better, huh?"
With no further ado, he shocked us when he opened his briefcase and dumped out the flip phones we had used a few months ago when everyone—except Courtney and me—were placed in protective custody. "Now, listen up!"
As we all sat forward in our seats, eager to hear what Russo had in store for us, Giuseppe explained how we all needed to reconnect our cellular plans and share the numbers with him and with each other if we had them already, and here were the reasons why: "First, that asshat Alex thinks he's a wise guy and has gone on a hunger strike. The other asshat, Agent Carter, has him in the jail hospital under sedation and supposedly they’re feeding him through a tube down his nose."
As Giuseppe continued, the atmosphere in the room began to shift. "Now, this is where things take a dark turn. My guys were reviewing some footage from interviews that Carter had with Steele, and they stumbled upon a shocking revelation. It turns out Carter is a frequent attendee at the Del Mar track, where my family has some involvement. He's a relentless gambler and often finds himself in debt to the bookies we run."
The air in the room grew heavy as the gravity of the situation settled in. Mitch, Daniel, Guy, Ryder, and Chase exchanged alarmed glances, their faces blanching as they processed the potential implications of this bombshell.
A cold shock ran through me as I tried to piece together the implications of this revelation. The image of Carter at the track flickered in my mind, knowing at the edges of my thoughts. Were we too focused on Steele to notice the possible threat lurking right under our noses? Was there more to this than meets the eye? Doubt and suspicion clouded my thoughts, making it difficult to concentrate on anything else.
Giuseppe leaned forward, his voice low and intense. "Now, I'm not saying that this necessarily means anything, but we can't afford to overlook the possibility that there might be a serious conflict of interest here. We need to be extra cautious and be prepared for surprises. That's why I want you all to reconnect those flip phones and keep the lines of communication open. We don't know who we can trust, and we need to make sure we're all on the same page.
"So, what can we do? I mean, do you suggest we do something to stir the pot, maybe? Like talk to the media, ask for their help or something like that?” Daniel asked.
Giuseppe palmed his hair. “Good idea!”
We looked at each other, the creative juices flowing. Giuseppe nodded slowly. "Yes, I think you all are catching on. We're gonna make this guy very uncomfortable—very uncomfortable indeed. All you have to do is tell Rosedale’s story to the media. It’s very compelling. It’ll get the public involved.” He clapped his hands together and stood up with a triumphant smile on his face. “Now, let's get to work!"
And with that, the six of us were off, devising a plan to make Agent Carter squirm until time to go home for the day.
Later that evening, as I settled into my home, I felt both excited and concerned. The day had been filled with shocking revelations, but our team had also found new motivation to pursue justice.
I called Courtney, filling her in on Giuseppe's report and our plan to make Agent Carter uncomfortable, hoping by doing so new details regarding the case would be revealed. She was eager to be a part of it, and I could feel the energy in our conversation as we discussed the details.
"I'm sending you one of those flip phones, too," I told her. "We need to stay in touch on a secure line, and I want you to be a part of this every step of the way."
Courtney's response came through, tinged with excitement and a hint of playfulness. "I can't wait to get my hands on that phone and be a part of the action. We'll make him regret ever messing with us, won't we?"
