Private Moscow

Chapter 28

I was on my way out of the office when I ran into Sci and Justine.

“Early start?” Sci asked as they emerged from the elevator.

“Mo cracked Karl’s machine,” I replied. “We think he’s identified the next target.”

“Who?” Justine asked.

“Elizabeth Connor, the owner of the Tribune,” I said. “I’m on my way to see her now.”

“You want company?” Sci asked.

I shook my head. “Mo-bot is looking for links between Karl Parker and Elizabeth Connor, but there was another death Karl pointed us in the direction of: Robert Carlyle—”

“The financier?” Sci interrupted.

“Yeah,” I replied. “Car crash twelve days ago. Police say he lost control of the vehicle, but I want you to see whether there was any foul play.”

Sci nodded. “I’ll get right on it.”

He left Justine and me in the lobby, and headed into the main office. We endured a moment of uncomfortable silence.

“Why don’t you come with me?” I suggested. “I could use your read on what we know about the killer so far.”

Justine hesitated.

“Sure,” she said, and we took the elevator to the parking garage. “Where are we going?” she asked as we approached the staff car.

“Elizabeth Connor keeps an office at the Tribune. She’s there seven days a week. We had no luck reaching her by phone, so I’m going to try the personal touch.”

“Irresistible,” Justine said, sliding into the driver’s seat. She pressed the Nissan’s ignition as I got in beside her, but paused for a moment. “Sorry, Jack,” she said. “I didn’t mean anything...” She hesitated.

“It was a joke, Justine. I get that,” I reassured her. “Nothing’s changed between us.”

That wasn’t true. Revisiting the past last night had altered everything. The easy rapport we usually had was gone, replaced by a sense of awkwardness.

“What’s your read on the shooter?” I asked, changing the subject.

She put the car in gear and thought about the question as she drove out of the garage and joined the traffic on East 26^th Street.

“The gloves, the disguise and the planning that went into the shooting all suggest someone extremely methodical. The chopper and the size of his support team point to a well-resourced organization,” Justine said as we crawled along the frozen street.

“And the Ninety-nine?” I asked.

“If Elizabeth Connor is the next target, that would fit their one percent motive, but terrorist organizations don’t spring out of nowhere. The FBI or NSA would have picked up some chatter. Heck, even local police intelligence would have some reference to the group, but there’s nothing.”

“Which suggests it’s a cover,” I remarked.

Justine nodded. “Criminal gang, or some other political group hiding their involvement.”

“Or a foreign power,” I suggested.

Justine nodded. “Motive is key,” she observed. “Find out why Karl Parker was killed and the truth of who was behind it will follow.”

I nodded and studied her face as she drove. She was as beautiful and smart as ever. She caught me watching her, and smiled. Maybe Karl’s death had knocked me off center, but watching her face light up made me want her more than ever.