Bleeding Edge: Elliot Security (Elliot Security Series Book 2) by Evie Mitchell (books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

out a hand. “We got a deal. Reduced sentence, two years, and protection.”

“I’m not making promises on the sentence,” Annabelle cautioned. “We need to hear what he’s got first.”

The lawyer hesitated, then nodded. “Eric?”

The guy sighed heavily, eyes glued to his hands. “They recruited me fresh out of high school. I thought I was top shit. Knew how to hack. They honed in on me, taught me what I needed to know. I was in deep when they blackmailed me.” He clenched his fist. “I couldn’t get out. They shaped who I became. Paid for my university, hacked systems so I became the preferred candidate. All I had to do was plant software in each of the companies.” He scoffed. “At first I thought it was intellectual property theft. They could sell the plans to the highest bidder. Sure, there was some of that. But then they had me work the financial sector. I ended up planting software that pulled money.”

“How much?” Annabelle asked.

“Millions by now. I don’t know how many places I’ve worked that still haven’t found the malware.”

No one spoke for a long moment as he struggled. “They sent me to Canberra two years ago. Set me up at what would become West Investments. The merger was already in negotiations. They had me plant the software, then leave it. Grant is a mover and shaker. He takes over shitty companies, flips them, then sells them for a profit. My role gave me access.” He swallowed, shaking his head. “For a while, everything was fine. I did the dirty work, they got paid, and they left me the hell alone.”

“But?” Annabelle prompted.

“They contacted me with a new request.” He looked up, his face ashen. “They ordered me to blow the West account.”

“Blow how?”

“Report it.”

“Shit,” Paxton whispered beside me. “They wanted Emmie.”

“Why?” Annabelle asked.

“Said they had a bigger target. I was to contact Elliot Securities and ask for the people who’d worked the Sierra account.”

I jerked in surprise. We closed the Sierra account the middle of last year. A local start-up that specialized in wholesale medical equipment, their website had been compromised. Shaken, the CEO had asked us to overhaul not just their online security, but all their backend and physical. The guy had sung our praises for months, referring new customers our way. Emmie and I had worked the case.

“They did their research,” Brean commented from my left. “Addie wouldn’t have questioned that referral, just passed them on to you.”

My fists clenched. This wasn’t getting us any closer to Emmie.

“Did you know the Sierra case?”

Eric shook his head.

“Did they tell you about the real target?”

Eric shook his head again. “They wanted all the information about my meetings and who would be where, when.”

“And the houses? The car?”

“Last month. They wanted me to set it up. First it was two guys, then five, then ten.” He paused. “Said they’d let me out once this was done.”

“It was a big job?” Annabelle asked.

“Huge. People were coming and going. They kept wanting more tech, more infrastructure, more… just more. I got them what they wanted, but it was causing issues. They were… on edge. Pissed off.”

“You know they’ve kidnapped Ms Franklin.”

Eric dropped his head. “Yes.”

“Do you know where they’re taking her?”

He hesitated, glancing at his lawyer. The lawyer nodded.

“They gave me a fake ID. Robert Castle. The house is a rental in Bywong.”

I turned to leave but Paxton’s hand clamped down on my shoulder, halting me.

“Wait,” he said, nodding towards the glass. “We need to know more.”

“Do you know what they want with Ms Franklin?”

“Something about an account. Before she left, escaped, whatever, she transferred money.”

“Fifty thousand.” Annabelle nodded. “We know.”

“No.” Eric shook his head. “I’ve heard whispers it’s in the hundreds of millions. Maybe more. She siphoned the money. It goes through multiple offshore accounts, never staying in one place long. They can’t track it, can’t work out her alias. She’s covered her trail so well they can’t figure it out. And they need the money.”

“Why?”

“They need her to access the accounts. They’re transferring cash to weapons dealers, big players overseas. They don’t have the money to pay these guys off. They need her to enact their final solution.”

“The final solution?”

“They never told me. But it sounded like they were planning on something big.”

“I want the Bywong address.”

I twisted out from under Paxton’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Annabelle met us in the hall. “The tactical teams are approved. We’re lead.”

“I want in,” I told her, palming my gun.

She locked eyes with Pax who nodded.

“Fine, but you stay behind my guys. I don’t need a civilian contractor getting shot.” We followed her up to the meeting room. Maps were spread on the table, Sawyer sat hunched over a laptop next to two analysts.

“Swayer?” I asked, entering the room.

“I got satellite and confirmation from a CCTV that they passed through the town. They’re there.”

“How long do we have?” Pax asked, looking over the maps.

“Maybe three hours? They don’t know they’re compromised, yet,” Annabelle commented, taking a stack of papers from her aide, then frowning. “We’ve pulled the plans from the rental agency. The house is surrounded by bush. That’s going to make entry difficult.”

“We’ll have to wait till dark,” Brean agreed, running a hand over the property lines. “They’ll no doubt have traps and patrols.”

I stared at the plans, memorising the layout. “The house is big. Also, outbuildings.” I pointed at the plans. “Based on this, they have enough room for half the commune.”

“Shit.” Sawyer hunched over the laptop. “Give me five. I’ll see if… fuck.” He slapped a hand on the table, twirling the laptop to face us. “Three buses. They passed through the town three days ago.”

“That could be–”

“They’re registered as being hired by Robert Castle.”

“Okay.” Annabelle clapped her hands together once, all attention turning to her. “This has just jumped from a hostage to a full scale takedown. We’ve got one opportunity to bring these guys in. Someone get me the commissioner. We’re going to need support.”

Her aide stood, moving to exit