Page 9 of The Phoenix (Spy Girl 6)
“Assuming they did, that means they effectively control the US and their military stations around the world. Speaking of the world, if Alessandro Vallenta had succeeded in killing his brother, they would control the Strait of Montrovia, possibly Tartus, and could have been behind the closing of the Strait of Malacca. That would hinder Europe’s ability to fight back in a war situation, wouldn’t it? Do you think their plan is nuclear and has nothing to do with poisoned grain? Like, could that have been the original plan, but now, it’s changed?”
“Maybe,” he says thoughtfully, “but I don’t think so. It would destroy their perfect world.”
I let out a frustrated sigh but keep going. “Rutherford Elingston’s family controls most of the world’s banks and now also controls the world’s stock markets. Not to mention, he’s worth about two trillion. What could Maximillian Olivier do?”
“He’s a fund manager. He can break a country’s economy by short-selling the billions he controls.”
“Which he could do right before they shut down the stock markets and closed the banks. What if that’s it? What if we’re talking financial ruin? People can’t buy food. Harrison McClellan owns much of the world’s food supply, so they’d die of starvation. Or they offer up free poisoned grain and kill them that way.”
“Possible, but I don’t see how that could start in Montrovia,” Ares counters.
“So, that’s eight out of the ten rings. If they recruited Malcolm, he’s been buying up water sources. Aleksandr has a shipping company. I suppose he would be able to move his ships freely. Who else? What about some of the other men on your board? Like Sergey Olander or Zayn Kipling or the CEO?”
“The CEO earns a good living, but he’s not in their league. And, while the other two have enough money, I’m not sure what they would bring to the table. Sergey mostly hangs out with his football club, and Zayn is busy filling his yacht with fashion models.”
“But Zayn is in the tech industry. Maybe they needed someone who understood things like quantum computing to run the TerraSpheres they want to build in the new world?”
“I don’t think so. Regardless, it really doesn’t matter at this point who the others are. They would have joined after the plan was in place. They might not even know the full plan. For example, if they invited Ryan Spear to the group, I highly doubt they would tell him they were planning to kill off most of the population.”
“True. So, once again, we’re back to square one.”
“I’ve been thinking about the fact that you accessed the vault. The vault can only be opened with a ring, but because of the secrecy of the group, they never wanted cameras or to mar the rings to distinguish between them. It’s no wonder they sent a team of men. They were worried that someone had broken in somehow or that they had a traitor in their midst. Thank goodness you didn’t take anything out of the vault. All of the pieces are electronically tagged and would have triggered alarms.”
“Which means they can’t figure it out. Why would a member go in the vault and take nothing?”
“I think that’s what they are probably wondering. Maybe, somehow, we could make them not trust each other. Get someone to talk.”
“Maybe I should just ask. Everyone says you were curious and asked a million questions. Maybe I can say I discovered this plan in your personal effects. Ask about it.”
“No, that would put you in too much danger.”
“What if you went to them? Told them you, like, faked your death because of the mob or that someone had been after you.”
“They wouldn’t believe that.”
“Why not?”
“Because, if someone were after me, I would have gone to them. We’re talking about one group who has basically had a hand in ruling the world since the Renaissance. Petty criminals are a distraction, not a threat. I was curious as to past members and tried to determine who they had been but couldn’t find any written record. As far as I’m aware, there’s nothing to prove they exist other than the rings.”
“Okay then, let’s go at it from yet another angle. How did they know about my mother? What had she done that put her on their radar?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t talk to Giovanni, as I’d suggested she should. He told me so.”
“She talked to someone else.”
“What do you mean?”
I close my eyes and interlock my fingers, remembering. “She couldn’t meet with who she wanted to, so she spoke to someone else. He was tall and thin. Closely cropped hair.”
“Military?” Ares asks.
“He wasn’t wearing military dress but possibly, based only on his hair.”
“Have you ever seen the man since?”
“No. And I think I would recognize him. I met most of the top military officials at the Queen’s Ball, but I’ve really only had dealings with General Agueda and Admiral Lamonte.”
“And both of those men were friends of Giovanni’s. If your mother had told either of them something, Gio would have gotten the message.”
“So, what’s the plan? What would be my next mission—like, if I were accepting them?”
“Just keep doing what you can. Follow your gut. Maybe something will break.” He glances at his watch. “I must leave. Ari is meeting me. I’ll fill him in on everything we’ve discussed. You’re welcome to come with or stay here.”
“I’d like to stay here.”
He tosses me a set of keys and makes his exit.
I stay seated on my mom’s bed for a few more moments, just absorbing the memories. I recall being in the tree outside and her calling me in when it started to get dark. I remember sitting on the bed, folding some laundry, while she finished unpacking. I try to gauge her emotions. She was moving quickly and efficiently, as usual. She seemed a bit preoccupied, but I didn’t perceive it as stress. I know, if I had discovered something like what she had, I’d probably be freaking out a little, but she wasn’t, which meant that she wasn’t worried about being betrayed or discovered. She had no idea an assassin was closing in on us. That means one of two things. She either told someone in Montrovia she felt she could trust completely, who betrayed her, or somehow, someone intercepted her secure call to her handler or Ares. Only one makes sense.
I pick up my cell phone and immediately call Lorenzo.
“Lee,” he answers. “I’m currently flying home from London. It’s quite turbulent. Normally, it doesn’t bother me, but it’s good to hear your voice.”
“Speaking of turbulence, it’s about to get very bumpy in Montrovia. Right now, your country is flying through a few wispy clouds. I believe you have a traitor in your midst. Actually, in your military. Someone your father trusted who he shouldn’t have. Someone who was probably in a position of power six years ago when Alessandro tried to kill him on the yacht. They were planning a coup. And that person might still be. Can you imagine the chaos if there were a coup during the Olympics?”
“No, I can’t. Before we get into that, however, I want you to know that our little friend is on his way to see real-life superheroes. He insisted I help him pack. And his suitcase might be full of costumes I purchased for him to wear.”
“That was really sweet of you.”
“What can I say? Both of your pouting faces are my kryptonite.”
“I’ll have to remember that,” I tease. “Just so you are aware, Daniel and I are going on a very public date this evening, and we’ll be on a late-night talk show tomorrow. I would only agree to one interview, so I expect he will be a little over the top affectionately.”
“And you will only be playing a role?”
“Yes, but I promise that, regardless of what you see, know there is nothing g
oing on between us. Our engagement has been purely platonic, and if he kisses me in public, it’s only for show. I shouldn’t really be telling you all of this. His idea was to make you jealous as well, hoping one of you would break the engagement. And, while I want that, I don’t want to hurt you, and I don’t want to lie to you.”
“I understand your need for the charade,” he says, sounding a little choked up. “You know I would break the engagement with Lizzie in a heartbeat if you would agree to go public with our relationship.”
“And you understand why we can’t do that yet, right? I don’t have time to spend my days posing for magazines and going to tea. Too much is at stake.”
“Including our love. Something I worry about more than my country.”
“Will you please try to figure out who Alessandro was conspiring with?”
“As long as you keep wearing the necklace, I will do anything you ask of me, my love.”
I’m quiet for a moment and then say, “I’m at the house where it happened.”
“Where your mother was killed?”
“Yes. It was left among other properties in Ares Von Allister’s will.”
“You should have told me that when you first called,” he says sternly, but then his voice softens. “Are you all right?”
“I am. I realized why I kept waking up in my dreams right after the bullet entered my mother’s head and why I blocked so much out. It’s the same reason I didn’t ever want to come back here. You saw it yourself when I rescued you and Ari. The bullet goes in clean, but—”
“There is a lot of gore as the bullet exits. I will admit to looking away. It was traumatic as an adult. I can’t imagine how it was as a child.”
“I’m okay now,” I tell him. “The house is … well, it looks like I remember it from before that horrific moment.”
“You seem at peace with it. That makes my heart happy.”
“You make my heart happy. I have to go. Daniel and I will arrive in Montrovia on Tuesday morning. He will be prepping for the Olympics. I will be touring the locations with you. Will Lizzie be joining us?”
“I hope not,” he says. “Until then.”
When the call ends, I push myself up and get to work, meticulously going through the room, hoping to find some kind of clue. I search for secret hiding spots. I search in plain sight. When I’ve exhausted every inch, I move into the main part of the home to do the same.
