~Chapter 12~

~June 23rd, 2019- Josh Taske’s House in Eugene, Oregon
Josh, Wraith and Nathan spent most of the morning in the Den finishing up their research. With Wraith’s perfect-recall memory showing the way, it didn’t take them as long as it could have to find all the data they needed.
A little after noon, Gwyn showed up to take the kids back with her. She stayed and talked a while but, ultimately, she decided she could make it back the same day. So, with Lola, Maria, Elijah, and little Jackson in the back of her station wagon, she whisked them away to her place in Washington.

Not ten minutes after the kids left, five defenders met around the circular table in the Den. Josh commandeered the swivel chair by the computers with Lexy positioned at his right. Wraith stood to Josh’s left, just behind Scarlet’s chair, and Nathan re-occupied the chair he had claimed earlier on the other side of Lexy.
Josh looked around at his little team.
“Okay, so here is what we already know; James Hughes is the current Chairman of the Board and he has reinstated the bounty my uncle Regent placed on all our heads a few years ago. Emma Lector, the woman who was recently James’ right-hand, has apparently left James and is on her way here, possibly looking for help.”
Scarlet nodded quietly and Nathan put his feet up on the edge of the table.
Nathan glanced over at Josh and Wraith, “So, do we have anything to add to that overwhelming amount of information?”
Wraith directed the small remote he held in his hand towards the middle of the table and tapped a button with his finger. 3D images of Pallas and Apollos appeared in the air.
“Pallas and Apollos, assassins originally from Florida, and deceased as of just the other day. We know James hired them, and it is probably safe to assume they were only the first.”
Nathan admired the holo-images.
“Damn, Wraith, you really did a great job with this holo-projector thing.”
Wraith half-smiled at Nathan and bowed his head in the Merc’s direction.
“Thank you, Nathan.”
Josh glanced over at Scarlet, “Scarlet, can you think of any upper-class Mercs or assassins that might accept the hit?”
Scarlet shrugged, “Isis currently is unemployed, but she’s not pressed for cash and is on good terms with both Nathan and me. And Odin doesn’t have the guts to go up against the invincible Sharktooth, especially when he is backed by the beautiful Scarlet and the insane Wolf.”
Nathan snorted, “Beautiful?”
Scarlet stuck her tongue out at him, “Shut up, or instead of “Wolf” I’ll start calling you “Dog”.”
Nathan rolled his eyes at her and turned back to Wraith and Josh.
“So, what else?”
Wraith clicked another button on his remote. A 3D image of James Hughes took the place of the twin assassins.
“How about a review of the players? This is James Hughes. To recap of his file; thirty-nine years old and hailing from California, James Hughes started as a lowly problem-solver and was a member of a think-tank Regent Taske put together to come up with bigger and more daring crime schemes. Last November, James Hughes was elected as the Board’s new Chairman.”
Wraith clicked another button and next to James an image of Emma Lector shimmered into view.
“Emma Lector, thirty-two years old and from Texas, she used to work as a secretary at the Whitehouse during Matt Gold’s time in office. Our recent understanding of her is that she was seduced from her job by James Hughes to help him with some unknown scheme. Based on what we have heard from Hollywood and Lucy Vale, it seems her and James recently had a falling out and James might even want to take her life.”
Wraith met each of their eyes, silently allowing them to ask any questions they might have. When everyone remained quiet, Wraith moved on with his presentation, the images from the 3D projector changing in response to his report.
“Next we have Jake Williamson, also known as the hacker called Cipher. He has been closely affiliated with James for some time now, presumably working on the same project Miss Lector was brought in to help out with.”
“Jay Marcos, forty-nine and from Chicago, has been a leading member of the Board for a great many years. He worked under Sean, Belle, Regent, and now James. As of right now, there is no definite connection between him and James’ plans, but his position requires him to at least be privy to them.”
“Hosea De Carlos, forty years old and from Mexico, he has been a member of the Board almost as long as Marcos. Same as Marcos, we have no reason to bother with him at this time, but he is one to keep an eye on.”
“Last but not least, Samuel Grayson joined the Board three months after Regent was executed. He runs a nation-wide armored car service based out of North Dakota.”
Nathan stared at the image of the tall, gaunt man.
“Damn, did anyone tell him he looks like death warmed over?”
Wraith ignored Nathan’s comment and continued, “Grayson does a lot with the Taske Empire’s finances, budgeting and such. He is a low-key member of the Board, but he still carries much weight with the other members.”
Josh interrupted Wraith, “Why did you include Grayson in the report?”
Wraith’s green eyes met Josh’s grey ones, “Grayson’s bio is clean, too clean. It is almost as if it is fabricated. Everything in his file checks out, the high school he went to, the roommate he had in college, his DMV records, et cetera. It matches up so well it doesn’t. He isn’t who he claims to be, and I think he deserves at least a casual glance.”
Josh stared thoughtfully at the image of Samuel Grayson. The other three watched Josh, wondering what was running through the ex-soldier’s mind.
Finally, Josh looked up and nodded once.
“Okay then, we’ll keep tabs on Marcos, De Carlos and Grayson. Everyone start thinking about how to deal with James.”
Wraith raised a hand and was acknowledged by another nod from Josh.
“I think our only real option is to cut the head off the snake.”
Scarlet was curious, “How do you mean?”
Wraith’s green eyes flicked to rest on her, “If James dies, his plans and schemes dies with him. It will be some time before the Board can elect another Chairman, which will buy us time to find a more permanent solution.”
Josh agreed with the Informer, “Yes, but as of now we have no way to get to James save for storming the Regency Building in New York. Until we have a feasible plan, we need to hole up and stay ready for another attack.”
Nathan got to his feet and stretched, “Al’right then, let us prepare ourselves for battle!”