Chapter 04: Toxic Dealings

“Executives for the Weapons, Enforcement and Transportation Division are in a scramble to save their clients and keep themselves out of prison as word of a scandal hit the news.”

“That’s right, Brenda, emails detailing the agency’s involvement in over a dozen assassinations were released to the public by unknown hackers.”

Alexa turned up the volume as Channel 7 News Anchors Brenda Cosgrove and Lance Winters detailed the last 48 hours of Kasper’s activities. WET’s logo appeared on the screen above the anchor’s head as they continued reporting suspicious emails and accounts he brought to light. Thanks to Jennifer, they were able to sift through the larger portion of her blackmail box and find the records that would harm the company the most.

Chapter 04: Cleaning House

Alexa motioned for Kasper to remain put and she silently snuck over to the porch doors. Peeking out through the curtain, she saw a couple of kids playing in a field behind the house and sighed. “It’s just some kids,” she announced, watching as they chased after a stray dog, moving farther and farther away from the house. “They’re gone.”

“Maybe we should be gone too.”

Chapter 04: No Good Deed

“You are watching footage taken by onlookers of tonight’s brazen shootout in downtown St. Claire. Police are still piecing together the events that lead to two homicides and several local businesses being destroyed. What we’ve been able to gather is that there were three cars involved in a chase that began near Southbridge and Fairview. The suspects hopped onto the I-95 before ending up here at the Plaza. As you can see behind me, police have taped off the Crossway Bridge and traffic is being rerouted. What began as a shootout ended in an explosion and fire that decimated an entire city block just one mile north of the Civic center.”

Chapter 04: Icarus

How quaint, Alexa thought as she scanned the area for guards. The location for the meeting was in an abandoned railroad switch house, another reason Kasper should have avoided this client altogether. Contact with clients was to be kept anonymous, online, never on a hard line and never face-to-face. And to agree to meet in a shady location on the client’s terms and without backup was beyond foolish. What were you thinking, Kasper?

Quietly, she crept around the rail yard, cautious of every sound she heard. A couple yards in the distance, Alexa observed two nondescript black sedans parked beside a black SUV. Three men stood near the front gates, alert and dressed in equally as dark clothing. And with three vehicles in play, there was no telling how many men were inside. Alexa removed her weapon and back up piece from their individual holsters, checking them both. She had 26 bullets between them and two extra magazines of ammo. With any luck, it would be enough.

Chapter 04: What They Don’t Know

“23-year-old Monica Dalton was the only child of a devoutly religious family and had just started her own business. She was a cherished member of the Jamestown Charity Center, an organization that works off of charitable contributions from the community to support underprivileged families. Monica had her entire life ahead of her until her desecrated body was found in the alley behind her office late Monday afternoon across from where Mike Burns teaches history at Pinehurst Middle school. Your Honor, given the abhorrent nature of this crime we request that the defendant be remanded without bail,” Alexa argued as she stood before the court during arraignment.