Private Dublin

Chapter 76

“We’re monitoring Lawrence Finch’s phones and emails,” Mo-bot said. “At least, the numbers and accounts we know about. Even an illegal move will leave a legal trace if he makes it using one of these means.”

I knew this to be true from my years of investigative experience. Finch’s connection to the Dark Fates warehouses was a case in point. Few criminals are ever willing to totally relinquish control to someone else. Having absolutely no link to or control over a criminal enterprise requires a level of trust in associates who, by virtue of their occupation, are untrustworthy. So, most high-ranking criminals have a legal entity somewhere, acting as a front, to enable them to exert ultimate power or control over their operations. Finch might have made it difficult to trace the true ownership, but I’d found the link between him and the warehouses eventually.

“He’ll do something,” Justine said. “He won’t want you at large posing a risk to their entire enterprise.”

She and Mo-bot were in the new hospital room, which looked comfortable and bright with the California sun streaming through a large panoramic window. It seemed they were somewhere on LA’s west side, but I couldn’t see enough of the city skyline to be sure, which was exactly how I wanted it.

“If I can persuade the Garda to let me talk to Andi, I might be able to convince her to—” I was interrupted by another call coming in from a local number I didn’t recognize.

“I have to take this. Be right back with you,” I said to Justine and Mo-bot before hanging up.

I answered the incoming number. “Hello.”

“Mr. Morgan, it’s Conor Roche.”

The moment he announced himself, a question formed in my mind.

“I’ve got bad news,” he said. “Andi Harris has been released. The higher-ups said we don’t have enough cause to hold her. Where are you? Maybe there’s some information you can give me to help us re-arrest her.”

It didn’t sound right. Andi was caught pointing a gun at me. How could they release her? My internal alarm bells were ringing and the question that played on my mind the most was how he’d got my new number. Only four people in the world had it: Justine, Mo-bot, Sci and Andi.

“I’m busy today,” I replied. “Can we stick to our plan? I’ll be at Garda headquarters first thing.”

He hesitated and I could sense him trying to think of a way to press me on the issue.

“It would be helpful if—” he began, but I cut him off.

“I really can’t,” I said. “I’ll see you first thing tomorrow.”

I didn’t give him a chance to reply and hung up.

I immediately video-called Justine and Mo-bot.

“Well?” Mo-bot asked.

“The cops released Andi,” I replied. “Did you give anyone from the Garda my new number?”

Mo-bot shook her head. “Why would I?”

“That’s what I thought,” I said. “I just got a call from Andi’s Garda friend, Conor Roche, on a number he shouldn’t have. He told me he was pressured by higher-ups into releasing her.”

“Sounds off,” Justine remarked.

I nodded. “It confirms our suspicion that we can’t trust the police here. We know Propaganda Tre has compromised law enforcement agencies before and they have almost certainly done it here if Sam Farrell is anything to go by.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Mo-bot asked.

“We can’t wait for them to make a move. I need to leave immediately in case they made the call to locate me,” I replied. “And I need to find out what Propaganda Tre is up to here in Ireland and get conclusive evidence against Lawrence Finch.”