“Oh shit… the same guy got her killed, huh?”
“Yep. The Brody kid picked sides, and went with Derek Munsun. If he’d researched Munsun more, Brody would have been in a better position to make a decision. I didn’t reveal anything about Munsun because I leave the Company alone, and they leave me alone. Derek was the guy who fostered my exit from the Company, and if not for Carol, that son-of-a-bitch would have been dead along with the guys he ordered to hang me out to dry. When she negotiated the truce, I knew there would be repercussions down the road.”
“So we’re screwed?” Gus asked, but the evil smile spreading across Nick’s features hinted at something else. “Okay… I see the Terminator smile. Lay it on us. Jean’s here and listening intently, so I know there’s not much chance of shielding her delicate consciousness from our evil maneuverings.”
“Go ahead, Dad,” Jean urged.
“Munsun provided bad intel on a Delta Force op in Afghanistan. We shot our way out without air support. Two men I respected died, and we didn’t get to retrieve their bodies until nearly a year after. He faced off with us after we made it back in company with his CIA associates, pointing fingers at us, and ranting dereliction of duty. I beat him senseless. My guys had to pull me off him. That was the moment I knew there were sick bastards in authority that could put us in danger without any thought to our wellbeing. Munsun did me a favor. The rose colored glasses were off forever. When Carol approached me later about joining the Company, I jumped at it. I planned to work my way somewhere I didn’t get used, but could do what I do. There’s no doubt in my mind Munsun influenced Brody to kill Carol.”
“Uh oh,” Jean said.
Gus understood what the underlying message Jean’s short verbal reaction meant. “I think we see what the stakes are now, brother. I’ll bet this Munsun hasn’t forgotten you either.”
“Not hardly. He was in intensive care for three days after the beat down I gave him. I’m trying to decide who I could contact at the Company so I can get in the loop. I took a chance, and posted at the e-mail drop Carol and I used. If someone’s looking into her death or taking her place, maybe I can find more on Munsun’s position.”
“Do you think he and Brody tried to frame you for Carol’s murder?”
Nick hesitated for a moment, wondering whether Munsun would have been able to pull off a stunt like the one Gus described. “Too many gaps in that, Gus. My guess is they went with an injection. Field operatives in the states dying of mysterious causes get autopsies. When the Company orders an autopsy, they look for all the tricks of the trade. I’m sure Munsun considered it, but then he would have lost the ‘Hack Chip’, if someone else came after me.”
“This is not like having a pimp and hooker on your trail.”
“He made a mistake enlisting those two, but figured nothing could blow back on him if it didn’t work out. I have a nice picture of him from the school security video. I’ll send it out to local places with a warning not to approach, and an e-mail drop that will look official. It may be he’s staying somewhere nearby. The moment he finds out the Attorney General has the chip though, old Derek will take off for parts unknown. What would be nice is if he contacts Tracy again. I would have figured she’d use her damn phone by now to call someone.”
“I have your cloner on audible and vibrate,” Gus replied. “We’ll know it when she does.”
“Wow… you guys are like the spies in the movies,” Jean said. “Could someone clone my phone too, Dad?”
“If you have it set with discovery turned on, then yes. Most people do because they want to be synched into everything instantly no matter what might happen. They don’t want to hassle with turning the discovery mode on and off.” Nick looked down when his laptop chimed. “Incoming. It’s a Paul Gilbrech from Carol’s e-mail ID. They know Carol was killed. Brody got sloppy. Gilbrech knows Brody killed her. He wants a discussion with me about the chip and Munsun. That’s promising, if this Gilbrech isn’t working with Munsun. I think my first call will be to my US Marshal pal, Grace.”
Nick used the satellite phone he had used during the cross-country jaunt with Rachel and Jean. He knew Grace would recognize the number. She answered on the third ring.
“Oh boy… my favorite killer. Now what?”
“Is there any way you could check on a Company man for me through the Attorney General? There have been complications due to the chip as I explained to you before. A couple of new names have popped up, and I need to know if one of them can be trusted. I know the other can’t. The supposed good guy’s name is Paul Gilbrech.”
“The AG nearly did a happy dance with that chip,” Grace replied. “Tim and I are golden as you can imagine, thanks to you. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll call you with what I find out. Are all of you okay, Nick?”