Page 144

Stephen C. Perry:high school principal.

David C. Johnson:judge overseeing Attikus’s case.

Mike C. Matthews:police officer #1 who covered up the attack.

Benjamin C. Jones:police officer #2 who covered up the attack.

Anthony C. Young:fire investigator who gave false report.

Dillon C. Harris:heir #1 to Harris Pharmaceuticals.

Brody C. Harris:heir #2 to Harris Pharmaceuticals (cousin to Dillon).

Richard C. Muller:artist specializing in male genitalia at Boston Auction.

Jim C. Caruso:police officer who didn’t help Vanessa’s case.

“What do you guys see?” Orion asked.

“I see aCrepetition.” Grayson formed aCwith his fingers. “Pun intended.”

Orion came back onto the screen. “I just searched what their initialCstands for, and it’s Claude.”

“What?” Royce shook his head. “They’re related?”

This mystery around Ashton just took a darker path. “Milton told me the Claude family is one of the wealthiest in Europe with ties to old money.”

“They are,” Orion grunted. “We don’t like them. The Reimann family and the Claude family don’t do business together.”

“Why?” Remi asked.

“Their banking family is a lot older than my family,” Orion said. “Napoleon Claude started the business, and his empire expanded to England, Germany, Sweden, Russia, and other countries. Despite their expansion, they wanted to keep their massive wealth within the family. Like the Rothschilds.”

Forrest made a face. “Incest?”

“One of their daughters admitted it during an interview,” Orion replied.

“No wonder they’re all messed up,” Royce added.

“But some of them broke free and married outside of the family.” Orion turned from side to side, stretching his neck. “That’s why we see the likes of Ashton, Brody, and others. These people are proud of their lineage, hence the initialC.”

“Ashton is part of a powerful family.” I yawned. “Why did he change his gender? It’s not to hide from me. What’s his agenda?”

“I think we’ve got enough to go by,” Remi said. “We’ll all look at the President and his wife. Go to sleep, Attikus.”

“Thanks, guys.”

I shut off the computer, returned to the bedroom, and washed up. Then I slipped in next to Vanessa, hugging her close. This entire investigation had morphed into a complex mystery. My friends and I didn’t have time to discuss how The Trogyn fell into the mix. That could wait for another day.

Madeline Claude-Collins had some balls, but they won’t save her from me.

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

ATTIKUS

A few days later,the news broke that Brody C. Harris’s body was found in the street with a gunshot wound. Either his own family or The Trogyn got to him.

My men found Dr. Messina disguised as a woman hiding not too far from the Canal Walk, where the illegal drug experiment took place. The doctor probably assumed people would look for him elsewhere, but I had a team focusing on the area. My drones and the camera footage around Providence caught him exiting a grocery store in a dress.