Page 125 of Blind Prophet

The separation between Zenith and Halston’s empire could be crucial for tracking the source of the attacks. Classic intelligence work: follow the access points.

“So he’d have no access,” Nick clarifies.

“None. If someone contacted one of my employees claiming to be Halston, they wouldn’t get far. I’d get notified.”

“And that hasn’t happened?”

“No.”

I pick up my phone. “You’re good on nav, right?”

Signs are pointing us to Santa Barbara.

I don’t wait for his agreement but shoot a note to Sophia.

Me

Geoffrey Cromwell is a person of interest.

The message feels cold, clinical, reducing Dorian’s newly discovered brother to a data point in an investigation. But emotional distance is crucial when the stakes are this high. Even if it means treating your husband’s family as potential national security threats.

SF

FBI en route. To both Halston Moore’s and Geoffrey Cromwell’s addresses.

CHAPTER30

DORIAN

Traffic gets heavier the closer we get to Santa Barbara, but it’s moving. Reports are coming in that traffic in Los Angeles is at a standstill, partially from traffic lights being out and intersections off the freeways getting clogged. If they can’t get power restored by nightfall, there’s a possibility of a curfew. On the East Coast, nightfall will occur shortly.

If the plan was to rock the world with a sudden multitiered attack, it seems the plan isn’t being executed correctly.

“Sophia says a fringe white supremacist group out of Texas has taken credit for the attacks on US soil.”

I glance at Caroline and the phone in her hand.

“Are they buying it?”

If true, then there’s no tie to my father. Although these guys may not buy that. They’ve already accused him of funding fringe groups, dismissing the fact that he funds both parties to cover his bases. For as long as I can remember, my father has viewed politicians as toll keepers. If you want to avoid court or have a favorable policy outcome, pay the toll. Want legislation that hurts your competitor? Pay the toll. Want legislation that allows your business to grow? Lower taxes? Lessen restrictions? Pay the toll.

“No one’s buying it. It’s a grab-the-limelight ploy.”

“Are you headed to Texas?” If she is, I’ll go with her. I should have my security detail with us, but I left them back at the compound.

“FBI and Homeland Security will handle.” Caroline sets the phone down and looks out the window at a sprawling neighborhood set off to the right, far too close to a freeway. “I’d bet this group has been on a watch list for years.”

“They being dismissed outright?” I ask.

“Not in the media, but…reading between the lines, they already know the players and don’t believe they have the capacity or funding to pull this off.”

Up ahead, a sign informs us we’re eighteen miles from Santa Barbara.

“We have a solid twenty minutes before we’re at the office,” I say. “What did you learn from Aurora Calloway?”

I don’t miss the hope in her eyes. It’s misguided. I’m not open to a relationship with a woman who walked away from her child. I get that my father can be intimidating, but if she cared, she wouldn’t have given up.

“She has two framed photographs of you. One when you were in the hospital, in her arms. Another when you were learning to walk. You were holding both of her hands. You were a chubby child.”

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