Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 52338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
"What business do they have with a nineteen-year-old college student? Morgan has no ties to the bratva for her to be a threat," I mention. There isn't even any information in her file about that possibility.
The man shook his head. "The main company that she does a lot of advertising for is a major competitor for my boss," he explains. "They've been having her give coded messages for the trafficking auctions they have, and this last one conflicts with one that my boss is trying to have for himself. Like, this upcoming auction is for virgins. Don't believe me? Look into the company she did the advertisement for."
Looks like I was right, after all, I muse. I tuck the piece of information in the back of my mind as I nod, making a mental note to mention it to Natalie when I check in with her about any information she may have found.
"Okay, continue," I say.
"So my boss figured if he got rid of the girl, his competitor would lose its main source of advertising. The girl was pulling in a shit ton of money for them, and my boss wanted to disrupt it, especially since he couldn't get her to do any advertising for him."
I shake my head. At least the motive now makes sense. "So all the information about this so-called bomb threat was planted?"
The man nodded. "My boss paid some guys to hack into her phone and email to send communications back and forth to an email and phone number that he had to make it look like she was actively planning things. They also got her credit card information to order items to make it appear as if she was making her own bombs."
"And he wasn't worried about getting caught for fraud?" I ask with a raised brow.
"No." He shakes his head. "He said rich people don't really check their bank statements unless it's for obscene amounts. He was careful to keep the purchases at a minimum, at least enough to stay under the radar from both her and her bank while also ordering enough to seem suspicious."
"Who is the so-called competitor?" I ask. Even with all of this information, I still need a name for the person or organization responsible for the auction Morgan advertised. The only thing her father had given me was a number, but it would make it a lot faster if I also had a name attached to it as well.
"The Rosario Family," he says. "They're an Italian mob that's monopolizing the human trafficking sector of this region, and it's all because of that girl and how they can advertise publicly and right under the nose of law enforcement."
I lock the name in the back of my mind as I nod. "And is that everything you know?"
"Yeah, man. They only tell us lower-level guys information on a need-to-know basis. Anything deeper than what I've already said isn't something we're privy to."
I stare at him for a long while, watching as his good eye bounces between me and the cattle prod. I finally lower the tool and nod. "Okay then," I say. "I guess that's all I need from you then."
"So I can go now?" he asks.
I don't answer him, only walking back over to the wardrobe. I put the cattle prod back in its place before retrieving the pistol, checking to make sure it was loaded before I turn around. The man's eye widens as he jerks against his restraints.
"What the fuck, man?!" he exclaims as I approach him. "I told you everything I know, I swear!"
"And I appreciate that," I reply. "But you didn't really think you'd walk out of here when your two friends are dead, did you?"
"Wait, I—"
I fire a single shot, watching his head quickly snap back before falling forward. Blood pools in his lap from the gaping hole in his forehead as his body slumps in the chair. I roll the tension out of my shoulders before returning the gun to the wardrobe. Now that I have all the information that I need, it was time to get rid of this threat once and for all.
Once everything is back in its place, I step out of the room only to find Natalie standing outside of the door. She's nearly a foot shorter than me, her blond hair slicked back into a low bun. She wears her usual attire of a dark pantsuit, her dark rimmed glasses seeming to match her outfit. Her hands are clasped in front of her as she waits to hear my assessment. I close the door and step off to the side, crossing my arms over my chest.
"So I was right about the auction," I finally say. I recount everything the informant revealed, Natalie nodding her head as I spoke. "Now, instead of only worrying about this auction, we still have to deal with the actual organization who put the hit out on Morgan. Even if we stop the auction, it won't stop them from coming after her again if this same company tries to do business with her again."