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Riding in the back of the pickup, Magnus stared at Troy in the cab with Digger. The boy’s smile was a greater reward for Magnus than what money they’d get from selling the MarQuebes in Vegas. He knew that no amount of money bought happiness like that. Although Magnus smiled, his eyes were sad.
The hot wind blew over their faces. And the roar of the highway beneath the truck wheels was almost a lulling comfort.
“You going to be okay giving Digger away?” Sylvia asked.
“I gotta be. Besides, it’s for the best.”
“What do you mean?” Carter asked.
“You and Sylvia now get to Vegas quicker. And it will be a lot harder for Grayson to find you. With the business I have to attend to in Texas, at least Digger has a good home now.”
Sylvia frowned. “So you’re leaving us?”
“Your affairs with Grayson don’t concern me. After we sell the gems in Vegas, we divvy up the money and part ways.”
Carter forced a smile and stared down at the briefcase. “I hate to see you go. I thought maybe you’d help me, and I’d return the favor.”
Magnus shook his head. “Nah, Grayson’s your demon to wrestle with. I have demons of my own.”
Sylvia placed her hand on Carter’s and squeezed. “Carter, why don’t we forget about Grayson and help Magnus?”
Carter cocked his head to one side and stared straight ahead. A frozen expression controlled his face. It appeared that he was deep in thought or listening to someone else.
“You okay, Carter?” Magnus asked.
Carter shook his head, his eyes widened, and he looked at Magnus. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Magnus peered closer at Carter’s eyes. “Are you sure? This heat can mess with your mind, especially after everything else we’ve gone through.”
Carter glanced at Sylvia. His pupils were dilated. He cleared his throat and shook his head. “I’d love to help Magnus, dear, but Grayson needs to be held responsible for the crimes to humanity that he allowed to occur on Deimos.”
Sylvia squeezed his hand tightly. “You don’t have to be that messenger.”
A strange smile crossed his lips. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
Fear surfaced on her face. Her eyes widened because of the coldness in his voice. She looked at Magnus momentarily and then returned her attention to Carter. “No. You can contact the authorities or government officials and report Grayson for his unethical practices.”
“That won’t do any good,” Carter said.
Frustrated, Sylvia sighed. She nodded toward Magnus. “I’m sure Magnus would testify about the cruel punishment the prisoners undergo in the mines after they been controlled by one of those Sleeper Chips. Once Magnus finishes with his business in Texas, that is.”
Magnus nodded and placed his huge hand on Carter’s shoulder. “Sure, Carter, I’d be happy to do that.”
Carter’s hands tightened on the silver briefcase. Anger stirred in his voice. “I doubt the government would grant me an interview, much less actually do anything. Rich people are seldom held accountable for their actions, and if judgments do come against them, it’s always minor infractions or a short time in prison. That’s why the sooner I strike, the better.”
Sylvia’s eyebrows rose. “Strike? Exactly what are you planning to do?”
Carter looked away. “It’s best that I don’t tell you.”
Sylvia looked at Magnus with great concern. Her mouth opened to speak but no words came.
Magnus shook his head. “Sorry, Sylvia, but he’s right.”
“How can you take his side?”
“If his plans incriminate him, it’s best you don’t know what he’s going to do. Then you’re innocent of any charges.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Do you know what his plans are?”
Magnus shook his head. “No. And I plan to keep it that way. I suggest that you do the same.”
The truck slowed. Magnus smiled and pointed at the road sign.
“Welcome to Vegas!” he shouted.
Sylvia didn’t share his enthusiasm. Instead, she stared at Carter in disbelief. Hurt and betrayal weighed in her eyes. Magnus wanted to tell her that things might be better, but he believed that was a lie she’d easily detect. Anything he said at this moment was nothing more than deceptive hope, and he didn’t want her wrath on him after all the dealt hands played out. Las Vegas was where people wagered on luck, but in the reality of the real world, the stakes were much higher and the pay out was a lot less.
Lessons in life were often learned through the gambling of one’s emotions, heart, and soul. Those stakes were higher than any money lost in a casino. He truly hoped that Sylvia weighed her hand, called, and accepted whatever outcome she received. Good, bad, or totally devastating, she would need to move forward with life.
Others he had known never got that chance, and when his opportunity to right the wrongs presented itself, he’d tilt the scales of justice in the proper direction, even though the one that had lost his justice would never know.
***
Grayson Enterprises Security Office
Donovan sat and busily typed commands into his laptop while Grayson towered behind him, looking over his shoulder. Donovan’s mesmerized eyes focused on the screen while he accessed vital information between various screens.
“Can we find them?” Grayson asked.
Donovan shrugged slightly. “If they head to Vegas, we’ll be alerted the second a camera captures their images. Provided, that is, they head to Vegas.”
“It seems the most plausible choice.”
“I agree. Anyway, if they do, I’ve hacked into the casino security cameras.” He pointed at the screen. “And I’m working on a link to the traffic cams along the streets. With facial recognition technology like it is, the results should be instantaneous.”
Grayson rubbed his huge hands together while he grinned. “Good. That’s good. I’ve sent a twenty man TAC team. They’re ready to dispatch the moment we locate them.”
“Want me to contact Vegas police, too?”
Grayson shook his head. “No. It’s best that they’re not involved.”
“Still keeping it in-house?”
“Always. You know that. The last thing I want is for the U.S. and the U.N. to think my operations are vulnerable. I’ve worked too hard and invested too much time and money for an outside group to try to stake premature claims on my establishments.”
“They’d do that?” Donovan asked, peering over his shoulder.
Grayson turned toward the large window and clasped his hands together behind his back. “They’re already trying to do that.” He chuckled and shook his head. “These other countries expect to use my landing bays and operations in order to help them start their own settlements.”
“Essentially you’ve paved the way for others to do so.”
“No. Not on my millions I haven’t. I took the risks and proved it could be done. They want a piggyback ride, and I’m not carrying their dead weight.”
“I don’t blame you. Merely my speculative opinion of what they want.”
Grayson nodded slowly, watching the bright sun glisten off the rolling ocean waves. He sighed. “I’m glad that you see what I do. They are too blind to recognize that they expect me to roll out a welcome mat with open arms and invite them to share my wealth.”
“Perhaps they do see what they’re doing, and are hoping you’ll ignore it.”
“Donovan, I am an only child. I never had to grow up fighting with others over what toys I wanted to play with. Needless to say, I’ve carried that into my adulthood. I don’t play well with others. I have hard time sharing something that’s already mine. If I invite them to my party, I’ll gladly share the pie, but I’ve not given invitations to anyone and I never intend to.”
“I understand. I get it. That’s why you’re so hard bent on capturing Magnus and Sylvia.”
“And their unknown accomplice. Especially him. They stole from me. Liars and thieves I cannot tolerate. But I believe he’s the true mastermind and started it all. Once we find them, they will wish that I held a bit of mercy for them. But justice will be served. My justice.”
Donovan wanted to reply, but he didn’t. Chill bumps rose on his arms. He gently rubbed them for quick warmth and then immediately turned his attention back to tapping into the traffic cams data feed. He often worried that he might be working for a ruthless madman, and Grayson had done little to convince him otherwise. Donovan was certain that he would do everything possible to find Magnus and Sylvia because doing so prevented Grayson’s wrath from raining down on him.