Page 42 of The Hitman’s Final Job

The problem for them is I can’t be bought. This is why my research, while in collaboration with the University of Denver, is not tied to the school. None of its grants fund my work.

I read the email again carefully. At the bottom of the email is a single line.

We trust you’ll make the right decision for yourself and your family.

I close the email and go back to the box. Under the note is a folder. Inside that is an acquisition contract. I ignore it because I know what it’s going to say. There’s also an envelope containing two photographs.

The first is from Warsaw. Me at the lectern during the presentation, the large screen of the conference hall visible behind me. The photo looks like it was taken from the audience.

The second shows me and Seth in my hotel restaurant. Seth leaning forward and me laughing at something he’s said. The angle is from outside, probably taken from a distance, if the quality is anything to go by.

I was being watched in Warsaw, and whoever was watching me is deliberately informing me they’re here and waiting for me.

I close the folder and focus on the wall of my office for a moment, trying to process this information and the level of danger I could be in.

“Vaughn.”

Priya’s back in the doorway. Her expression is filled with worry.

I hold out the folder. “This stays between you and me.”

She takes it and reads in silence, going through the legal document and the envelope. Her expression changes when she reaches the photographs, and she closes the folder.

“This is scary, Vaughn. Who’s doing this?”

“I don’t know yet,” I say honestly. “But I’m going to find out. I’m going to speak to the sheriff. See what he thinks we should do about security.”

She nods.

“Don’t mention this to Dom yet,” I say. “Or the students. I don’t want to alarm anyone until I know what we’re dealing with.”

She nods again, sets the folder on my desk, and goes back to her bench.

This isn’t the first correspondence of this kind I’ve received. Every time my research gets any attention, they come out to try to show me who the big kids in the playground are.

One of the reasons I love living in Pine Ridge so much is that everyone knows everyone, and new people stand out.

What really worries me is that whoever is making this threat knows where my research lab is. I’ve gone to great lengths to keep that a secret. Even the people in Pine Ridge don’t know who I am or what I do. Another reason I kept them mostly at bay until HelixGen came knocking.

HelixGen. Could they be behind this? It would make sense.

I pick up my phone and unlock it.

Rowan’s last message is still on the screen.

Love you.

Involving Rowan in this is an option, but I wouldn’t put his career at risk by asking him to investigate this off the record. I pull up Atlas’s phone number instead.

He picks up after two rings.

“Hey, Vaughn! Thank you for saving me from the most boring meeting I’ve ever had to endure.”

I laugh. “Thanks?”

“No, honestly, thank you. What can I do for you?”

“Could I have the contact number for your friend Jordan?”