All Is Bright - K. Sterling Page 0,5
and seamless, fully integrated security system for a large state compound with extensive subterranean facilities,” Toly said as a screen came down at the front of the cabin.
“Yes. Well...” Reginald cringed and rolled a hand. “Blackhurst is the sort of place a head of state might reside and it’s as large as a federal building. I couldn’t tell you to design a system for a fat-ass mansion with massive underground bays and bunkers. You’d know who it was for.”
“And I would have said no,” Toly pointed out but Reginald shook his head.
“I would have been unbearable until I got my way. This was faster. Listen, Toly, you’re as close to untouchable as a person can be, now that you work for him,” he said but stopped when Toly held up his scarred hand again. Reginald winced then tapped his nose.
“Of the three of us, I came the closest to dying. I don’t think they wanted you or Denver dead. They have snipers.” He said and waved around them urgently. “Don’t you see? There are very few beings in this world more powerful or feared than Mr. Blink. Everyone on this jet should have been safe from anything save Russia, the Saudis or the CIA because I’ve pulled us all under Blink’s umbrella. This would have been foolproof and we all would have been safe if the impossible hadn’t happened. Nothing about this makes sense because who in their right mind would go after Cyril Blink?” He said loudly. He looked around for some agreement but they just blinked and waited for him to continue. “You weren’t complaining about all those little windfalls,” he murmured as he checked his nails. Lane immediately thought of the $52,000 check he got from the insurance company for the Corvette. It was out-of-the-blue and didn’t make sense but the lawyer from the company insisted there was a clause for “rehabilitation benefits,” which didn’t make sense either but who argues with insurance companies when they want to give you money?
“Goddamn it,” Lane said as he rubbed his temple. “Can you imagine if this came out before I announced my retirement? Good thing I wasn’t going into politics.”
“That profile screening rubric and the evaluation standards?” Aiden asked and Reginald nodded.
“Alon’s used them to refine his hiring process and determine who gets promoted or selected for sensitive tasks.”
“I hate you,” Aiden muttered.
“Nonsense. Wait until you see what I have planned for us!” Reginald winked jauntily then gestured at the screen as the specs for a large SUV with armor-plated floors, doors and bulletproof windows appeared.
“Wilder considered working for Blink when approached by Bravo Link but turned them down. But I did sell them one of his designs for The Robin’s Nests’ next generation of up-armored vehicles. Wilder’s also street tested several iterations of body armor and helped locate dangerous individuals in Chicago under the guise of providing intel on gang activity.”
“Chido!” Wilder said sarcastically.
“No one was immune. He’s even compromised my mom. He funded her campaign,” Paul told them as he reclined and stretched his arm along the back of the sofa.
“Senate?” Lavender asked and his brows pulled together but Paul shook his head.
“Town councilwoman.”
“Why?” Lane asked in confusion but Paul held up a hand.
“He believes she’ll be good for the community,” Reginald said dismissively. “With the exception of Mrs. Holderson and Dr. Gabriel, we’ve all worked for Mr. Blink or had a hand in designing Blackhurst’s security,” Reginald summarized. Sage was reading a book in the corner and lowered it so he could glare at Reginald.
“How much of my art have you sold to him?”
“How much of it do you actually consider art?” Reginald shot back but Sage didn’t take his bait and went back to reading.
“Cunt,” Sage said under his breath.
“On his best day,” Paul replied. Reginald pretended to be wounded as he fell onto the sofa next to him.
“Our combined knowledge of the workings of Blackhurst and Blink’s network and history will come in handy because it would appear that someone wants to break in or kill him. Since his survival is in our best interest, we should see what we can do to get to the bottom of this and neutralize any threat against him.”
“We don’t have a choice now, do we?” Aiden said. Lane sat in the chair next to his and shook his head as he gave Aiden’s hand a squeeze.
“No but we’re going to make the best of it and see if we can have a little fun.”
Chapter 3
“Are you sure