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Story: The Strategist

“The Trogyn?” Grayson asked.

“How do you know this?” Forrest inquired.

He smirked. “I have a company that’s more advanced than NASA. You know little about it, and I prefer to keep it that way. Let’s just say that NASA often hires my team to do their work.” He rose from his seat, stepping close to us. “How did you think I got all that secret information for you so quickly? So discreetly?”

I couldn’t believe this. It all made sense now. He’d done tasks for us quickly and efficiently. We’d paid him well, but he’d never needed the money.

“I got intel The Trogyn was after you.” Orion went to the wine counter and poured himself two fingers of whiskey. “They suspect you’re responsible for the last few disruptions to their businesses. And they want payback.”

“I knew they’d figure it out eventually.” Royce stepped up to the counter and poured himself a glass of whiskey, gesturing to the boys and me if we wanted any. Remi and Grayson nodded, but Forrest and I declined.

“So what did you do?” Grayson asked.

“I deflected information from you as best I could. My men ensured the two drivers never made it.” Orion finished his whiskey and put the glass down. “So now the organization thinks you know about their attempts. They’ve backed up a bit, but not for long.” He leaned against the counter, tucking a hand into his pants pocket. “Which is why I needed to meet you. The game has gotten bigger. The stakes higher.”

Orion was an asset to keep. If we didn’t welcome him, he’d work independently. We were all stronger together.

“When were you planning to tell us who you are?”

“Now. Things are also escalating for me. I stopped the human cargo shipment that Ghost wanted to deliver to the Europeans.”

“You saved Aimee from her kidnapper. Why?” I asked.

“Because, like you, I don’t like harming children. I’d been searching for human traffickers within the New England area. So, when you gave me her info, I knew where to look.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you found her?”

“Because they wanted Aimee for her gift. Her recovery would only intensify their search for her. They had to believe they were still getting their ‘product.’” Orion smiled. “Plus, her incredible memory helped me locate a few things on my list.”

“What do you mean?”

Orion gestured to the room full of paintings and artifacts. He pressed a button on his phone, and the wall with the paintings slid away, revealing a new wall with three interesting paintings. Two abstract paintings and one floral.

Royce walked up to a flower painting about forty-eight by forty inches. “This is a Georgia O’Keeffe.”

“It’s theJimson Weed/White Flower No. 1. Sold for forty-four-point-four million in 2014. It’s the highest-paid painting by a female artist.”

“I thought it was in the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas,” Grayson said. He and Natalie often visited art shows worldwide.

“The one in the museum isn’t real.” Orion turned to look at us. “An elite member hired someone to replicate and replace it.”

“How did you get it?” Remi asked.

“That’s not important.” Orion pressed the button on his phone again. The walls with the previous paintings slid back, covering theJimson Weed/White Flower No. 1. “What’s important is that the owner is very angry right now.”

“Who is he?” I asked.

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

It made no sense to me, but Orion was an enigma. He probably purchased the painting from someone else for twice the amount.

“What about these other paintings and sculptures? Do they belong to someone too?” Forrest gestured to some abstract seascapes and landscapes and figures on display throughout the room. They were probably worth millions but not as precious as the ones behind the wall.

Orion tucked his hands into his pants pockets. “They belong to me.”

“You know what I’m asking,” Forrest retorted.

“And that’s my answer,” Orion replied.