Chapter 45: The Puppet Master
Tammy Gund allowed herself a wide grin as she leaned back in her chair. She felt a sense of satisfaction as she reflected on her recent dealings with Kain Amos. The man had been none the wiser as she subtly manipulated the information in her favor. Not only had she provided the intel he needed, but she had also discreetly tipped off the National Museum of China, turning a tidy profit in the process.
Her operations were running smoothly, like clockwork. She was successfully upholding her grandfather’s legacy as one of the world’s greatest information brokers. A legacy that she was determined not to tarnish. The thought of her grandfather brought a soft smile to her lips. She missed him dearly, but she knew he’d be proud of how she was handling the family business.
Just then, an incoming message from Agent MX5 caught her attention. As she read the update, her mind wandered to their missing agent, CX3. It had been too long since they last heard from him. At this point, he was either captured or dead. The latter seemed more likely, and the thought sent a chill down her spine.
It was another report on David. The name was unfamiliar to her, but with every report, Tammy wondered if she should have known about this young man prior to the disappearance of CX3. The level of surveillance on him was unusual, and the fact that he was being closely watched by multiple spies was suspicious. Clearly, he was someone of importance. But who were these spies? Were they from another intelligence agency or gathering intel for some other group? Could they be associated with David somehow? Were they guards of some sort?
Too many questions, too few answers. Tammy decided to add David's file to her watchlist. After all, information was the lifeblood of her business, and this David seemed to be a wellspring of intrigue.
Another report from one of her other agents trickled in, interrupting her contemplation. Tammy’s eyes scanned the document with practiced ease, her sharp mind absorbing the details. The report indicated that Dent Amos, one of the infamous Amos brothers, had arrived in Dalton with Horace Lim in tow. However, there was no mention of Horace’s wife and daughter. More likely than not, they were still being held captive by the Amos family to be used as leverage and to ensure Horace’s compliance with their demands.
This development didn’t surprise Tammy. In fact, it was almost predictable. Kain, the other Amos brother, had shown a particular interest in Horace’s file. He even requested additional information on him and the Luxe Luminary Gallery. She felt a pang of sympathy for the unsuspecting Lim family—they had probably never seen this coming.
Such are the hazards of being influential.
As she mulled over this, Tammy couldn’t help but shudder as she recalled the cruel and ruthless reputation of the Amos brothers, Kain and Dent. Their brutality and mercilessness were second only to their late predecessor, Darius Amos.
Tammy took a deep breath and dismissed her fear. She knew that as long as she maintained the strength of her intelligence network, she would remain untouched and untouchable. Her power to gather crucial information, to predict movements and actions, made her invaluable as an ally and fearsome as an enemy.
Suddenly, one of her assistants barged through the door.
“Ms. Gund,” he gasped. “I must inform you that the Jang family will be arriving in Dalton soon. Their plane will be landing any minute.”
To the assistant’s surprise, he was met by a pleased grin from Tammy.
“The Jang family, you say? Well, now, that does make things interesting,” Tammy mused.
“Yes,” the assistant confirmed, a hint of nervousness in his voice. “I thought I would bring this news to you urgently since you’ve been working with Kain Amos.”
“And you’ve done well to inform me promptly,” Tammy replied, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “Indeed, there is much bad blood between the Jang and Amos families. With luck, this could play to our advantage, and we could make a fortune from both sides.”
Tammy stood abruptly, causing the assistant to flinch in response.
“Contact Edmund Jang immediately to arrange a meeting,” Tammy commanded. “Let him know I am on my way to Dalton with news that will be of great interest to him.”
“Very well, Ms. Gund. I will see to it that the meeting is arranged,” her assistant acknowledged, hurrying off to his task.
Tammy walked past her desk, playing out various permutations of scenarios in her mind as she contemplated her next move.
Tammy knew she had to tread carefully. If Kain discovered her presence in Dalton, away from the network’s headquarters, it would undeniably raise suspicions. He was no fool and would quickly put two and two together, potentially jeopardizing her profitable dealings with him. Her relationship with the Amos family was a delicate one, built on mutual gain rather than trust, and she could not afford to tip the scales against her favor.
On the other hand, the arrival of Edmund Jang was a golden opportunity. The Jang family was far wealthier than the Amos family and, thus, would be able to pay a hefty sum for information, especially regarding the Amos brothers’ recent activities. This was a chance for her to significantly boost her net worth, and she was not one to let such an opportunity slip by.
Luckily for Tammy, the Jang and Amos families despised each other. As long as she wasn’t seen publicly associating with either side, it could be done. Her dealings with both families could continue in secret. She could reap the benefits from both sides without arousing any suspicions. It was a gamble, but she was ready to roll the dice.
Copyright © 2024 by A. J. Knight
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