"That drug Penny’s been studying for so ti. The lethal drug."
Atlas and Dean didn’t speak. They just stared at each other, and their silence was louder than a scream.
Without a word, Dean took off his blazer, dragging a stool as he sat down by the counter. But instead of going straight for the box of pills, he checked every chemical and searched for notes. Anyone conducting research or simply testing substances like this one would need to take notes.
anwhile, Atlas watched Dean before turning his attention to the investigation wall behind him.
He approached it carefully, his eyes scanning the investigation board. There was a lot of information here—enough to overwhelm or confuse soone who didn’t know what Jonathan had been up to. But Atlas was aware that one way or another, Jonathan was connected to what was happening around them.
And this entire wall showed it.
The Pierson Family tree, the ones in power, the Smith Family, well-known businessn and politicians, and even so people and organizations Atlas had never heard of.
One particular section Atlas focused on was the area detailing this specific organization.
Human trafficking.
Illegal drugs.
Scams.
Gambling.
And many more were listed under the organization’s na, with a photo of a woman connected to it.
Atlas stared at the photo quietly. Although the photo looked recent, like it was taken—if not in the present—then definitely not long ago, she still looked like soone Atlas had seen. Not in person, but in photos.
The sa photo that had caused the Bennet Family and Zoren to have an ergency eting.
Naylani Pierson.
"She’s alive," he whispered, even though he had already assud—even Zoren said it himself—that Naylani Pierson was alive.
This was confirmation.
The only question that lingered in his mind now was: if this person was Naylani Pierson, then who was the woman who died in Charles’s last military operation, who was also Haines’s lover? And who was the woman who hung herself in prison as Zoren’s mother?
Above all, who was this woman?
Atlas’s eyes shifted to the note under her photo. There was no na there. All that was written was:
[Head/Mastermind]
Jonathan... Atlas whispered in his mind, moving his eyes across the rest of the board carefully. What are you actually trying to do with this roadmap?
If Atlas were to guess, it seed Jonathan was plotting sothing else.
There was also an area for the Bennet Family, but compared to the space the Pierson and Smith Families had, it was actually very small. Atlas walked closer to their family tree, reading everything and all the small notes beside it.
The notes were short—just information Atlas already knew, such as the Global Pri Logistics piers, their shipnt schedule, business ventures, including investnts and projects. Then, ca the Miller’s Company under Charles and Haines’ managent and Pri Group’s unofficial subsidiaries.
Then ca Pri Group’s connections and an incomplete list of clients. Along with it were notes on the programs the company had sold, their features, and the projects ready to launch in the market. More like things to watch out for.
Notes about Hugo were short, general knowledge—like who he was close with in the ranks, and n with political and military power. Then, Slater’s were almost nothing. All it said was "Celebrity."
This only ant they still hadn’t caught up with Slater’s cover.
Strangely, though, there were no notes on Atlas. There wasn’t even one there. Well, his note was actually in the Pierson Family tree, which he could say was a bit efficient.
But this... he thought. It shows that they were paying attention, especially to Penny, Dad, and Hugo.
Atlas nodded to himself, thinking Penny was right not to make any huge movents at the mont. If Jonathan knew this, then the enemy also knew this information. The only thing that bothered him was how their Bennet Family was placed on the side.
It was like Jonathan was avoiding them.
How did he think so?
Well...
Atlas shifted his attention back to the Smith Family. It seems they were the fall guys here.
He nodded, thinking this had sothing to do with Jonathan’s awareness of Penny’s rebirth. Even if Atlas were in Jonathan’s shoes, he wouldn’t use Penny as the fall guy anymore, because the risk percentage was too high.
Is this why Penny... no, I was chosen to be the fall guy? And Penny just had to take the fall for because she was in the wrong place at the wrong ti? Atlas wondered, recalling the confession story Penny and Slater had told them.
His gaze lingered on the Smith Family section, approaching it to take a better look at the notes written around it.
The Smith Family tree was connected to all sorts of things, especially Senator Smith and his son, Cassandra’s father.
Bribery.
Corruption.
Illegal funds going in and out of their banks under different accounts.
But the main point wasn’t the fact that Senator Smith knew about the controversial orphanage and was actually involved in it.
Atlas already knew that from Penny, who got the information from Priscilla.
But what caught his attention was...
He’s a mber of this organization, Atlas shifted his eyes to the woman’s photo, Naylani’s. She’s his puppet. If so, why...
Why was Cassandra taking the fall for this orphanage sche?
The question lingered in his mind until he noticed one of the photos in the corner of the wall. He narrowed his eyes, not sure if he knew the guy or if they simply resembled each other. After all, Atlas hadn’t t the man in person, so he wasn’t completely sure. Besides, he wasn’t following the news much lately because it was mostly about Cassandra Smith or Senator Smith.
"That’s Senator Smith’s biggest competitor." Suddenly, Dean’s voice rang from behind him.
Atlas glanced back, only to catch Dean approaching. The latter stopped a step beside him, eyes on the photo Atlas had been focusing on.
"And his chances of winning are high with the ongoing scandal with the Smiths," Dean explained, scanning the board quietly. "But I don’t care about that. All I want to ask is..."
His eyes settled on Naylani’s photo. "... how co that bitch is still alive?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)