“To appear legitimate to the hiring company. Even the FBI didn’t find anything wrong. Agent Kidd only had a hunch, and he didn’t see this list. The companies wouldn’t see it, either, only information on the contractor hired.”
Facing the computer again, she wondered aloud, “How did Tony link up with these people?”
“He must have known them ahead of time. This has been planned for a long time. And Damen is helping him.”
“How?”
“He wanted me involved. Maybe he needed someone to design a virus.”
Forget explosives. This was electronic warfare. Take down vital infrastructure. Banks. Water treatment facilities. Emergency systems. If they succeeded it could be catastrophic.
“They have to be stopped,” she said, deciding right then that she was going with Korbin.
“We have no proof.”
“Then we have to get it.” Where would they begin? “Macon said Damen has a twin brother.”
“He does.”
“Maybe he knows something.”
“It’s worth a try.” He took out his wallet and found a piece of paper with Agent Kidd’s number written down. Then he went to a landline and made the call, putting it on speaker so Savanna could hear.
“Agent Kidd.”
“I have something for you,” Korbin said.
“Maguire?”
“I need your email.”
“Hey, sorry for what happened. I didn’t rat you out. It just so happens I have competition for a promotion around here. He found out I’d been talking to my brother-in-law and since he saw the news, he did some digging and learned about the apartment. He must have staked you out or something.”
“I got away. Give me your email.”
The agent fell quiet for a bit. “What have you got?”
“Maybe something big. Really big. Like a terrorist plot.” Korbin explained everything they knew.
“That does sound big. If we can prove it. I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, I’ve got an update for you on the murder evidence.”
Savanna met Korbin’s anticipatory look.
“I just found out that a small amount of blood and some other tissue was discovered under one of Collette’s fingernails. It looks as though she tried to scratch him and caught him at least partially. Now all we need is a DNA match. Will it be yours?”
“No. It’ll be Damen’s,” Korbin replied.
* * *
The next afternoon, Dad was like one of his action heroes.
“I didn’t know you had a gun safe here.” Savanna took in the ten-by-ten room filled with every imaginable gun and rifle. “Or is this a panic room?”
Jackson handed Korbin an intimidating automatic rifle with a scope mounted to the top and then a couple of pistols, one with a silencer.