Chapter 38: A Call from the Skies
Ben was deep in thought, standing by the wall to ceiling windows and watching the skies, when a video call request from Edmund Jang chimed on his computer. He quickly walked over and accepted the call, his screen flickering to life to reveal Edmund and James Rudder, both seated comfortably in the plush interior of the Jang family’s private jet.
Edmund looked as composed as ever, his keen eyes reflecting the blue tint of the sky outside.
Ben greeted them with a nod.
“Edmund, James, I trust your trip is going well?”
“Yes, though we’ve run into some concerning information regarding the Amos family,” Edmund informed him.
Ben felt a twinge of unease. The Amos family had always been a wildcard, even more so when they were led by the late Darius Amos, their intentions unclear and their methods unpredictable. The news that Edmund had something more to share about them was concerning, to say the least.
“It seems they are planning to make their move soon,” Edmund continued. “Our sources have reported increased activity within their ranks; they have been mobilizing and preparing for something.”
James chimed in, his tone grave.
“It’s more than just increased activity, Ben,” he added. “One of our operatives reported a conversation between Kain Amos and THE Tammy Gund of the Gund Intelligence Network. Kain asked for information on Dalton’s notable figures, their security measures, and even a list of wealthy collectors.”
The implications of this information were not lost on Ben. An attack on Dalton’s elites could destabilize the city, and the Amos family could very well use this chaos to their advantage. The fact that they were also interested in wealthy collectors was equally worrisome.
Ben took a moment to process the information, his mind churning as he considered the potential repercussions.
“How reliable is this information?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Our source has proven reliable in the past. We have no reason to doubt the accuracy of this information,” Edmund assured.
Ben let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair as he contemplated their next steps.
“We’ll need to increase our security measures. If the Amos family is preparing to strike, we need to be ready,” he said decisively.
“What about the boy?” Edmund asked, his voice filled with worry. “Is he safe? Where is he now?”
Ben shook his head, a stern look on his face.
“I’ll inform you and James when you’ve reached Dalton and we are secure within my office,” he replied firmly. “I have no doubt that this channel is secure, but you must understand I have to be more than cautious when it comes to his safety.”
Edmund nodded in understanding.
“Very well, we should arrive within a few hours,” he replied. “I’ve decided to station a few of my guards at the airport to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, so we won’t be needing as many SUVs as my assistant previously requested. Nine or ten should be enough.”
“Understood,” Ben acknowledged, “I look forward to seeing you soon.”
As he terminated the video call, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
What would William do? What would Bethany do?
His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed David appear in the surveillance feed for the hotel’s staff floor, heading towards the manager’s office.
Surprised, he quickly changed into his manager’s suit and locked the secret entrance to his private office on his way out, only taking a moment to admire the genius of its hidden design. This private office was created years ago by William Hall, intended to be used as a safe room in the event of an emergency and for secure communication lines. Ben looked forward to the day he could reveal everything to David.
Smoothing out his suit, he prepared for another act as the Rising Phoenix Hotel manager.
Copyright © 2024 by A. J. Knight
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