Chapter Fourteen

"When Alice first petitioned Special Agent Diaz to reinstate Ben's immunity deal, she also made a deal for Tommy Vaughan, Alice's younger brother." Valerie pressed the screen on the tablet that rested on the conference room table. The action caused Tommy's picture and file to appear on the monitor with a view of the restaurant. "The information he provided on the Titan Group and your dealings was enough to get him released on bail in our custody."

Rhys and Princess Zara sat on the other side of the table and watched as Tommy made a show of taking the seat between Griffiths and his sister. Rhys snorted as he said, "So that's what the little bugger's been doing all this time. Where have you been keeping him?"

"He's been in Victorville tagged with a RFID chip and two of our agents sitting on him at all times." Valerie smirked. "Bugger secured."

"Bugger secured, my ass." Rhys chuckled as he rose from his seat and walked up to the screen, pointing at it as he closed in. "That little wanker's going to muck everything up, I tell you. Do you know how long it took him to even be close to making

somewhat relevant?"

Valerie sighed. "What I'd like to know is whose bright idea was it to come up with a moniker like

she said with as much of a false accent as she could muster.

She was about to speak again as the door opened behind her. "Sorry I've been out of touch, Miss Anderson," said Special Agent Diaz as she entered the conference room. "Putting an ex-husband in prison takes up a lot more time than anticipated."

Her voice trailed off as she noticed Rhys standing by the flat screen. She glanced at Val who slowly rose and held out a hand. "Agent Diaz, I can explain."

Rhys held his hands up as he grinned sheepishly. "Justine! Oh how I've missed you."

Diaz gave Rhys a stony glare that could melt ice. She pointed at him but conversed with Valerie. "What the hell is he doing here?" she whispered.

"Valerie meant to call you but it seems there's bigger fish to fry," said Rhys before Val could reply. He took two tentative steps towards the two women as Princess Zara looked at each of them in confusion.

"It seems I have a long lost uncle who's attempting to kill everyone in my family. I barely escaped an ambush at the Weatherby by a cousin who has the makings of a Bond girl."

"And she missed?" Diaz snorted. "She could have saved me the paperwork. And the time."

"As much as I'd like to agree with you, Agent Diaz, he's telling the truth." Valerie indicated a seat at the conference room table. "He came scurrying here for protection. But we have a plan underway right now."

Diaz almost sat down before she took note of the video feed on the monitor. "What's Tommy Vaughan doing? What's

doing?"

#

Tommy took Alice's sake shot from her hand and downed the contents. He smacked his lips at the taste as he set the small cup down with a flourish. "My associate informed me that it would be wise to cut my vacay short in Belize and come to Los Angeles. Well, Mister Cyclops, I am here and someone needs to do some convincing.'

Oliver frowned at the newcomer. "Who is this?" he asked Alice.

Alice smiled as she grasped

Tommy's hand. "This gentleman has been trying to acquire all of the North American holdings of the Kensington Firm for the past six months."

Oliver leaned back and regarded Tommy as a smile slowly began to form. "Americans. I swear. Always plotting to steal from one another. Or from others."

Tommy coolly returned the gaze as he slid his chair to where he sat more to Alice's back, away from Oliver. "Be that as it may, I believe I have made a lot more progress in that aspect than you, Mr. Griffiths. You've acquired a lot of manpower but no hardware to sell in order to maintain that manpower while I on the other hand have the hardware to sell but not the manpower."

He nonchalantly held his left hand out to Alice who wordlessly slid an activated tablet into it. He in turn held it out to Oliver with a smirk.

"See for yourself."

#

Diaz frowned. "What is he doing? Sell

hardware?"

Valerie smiled.

"Don't worry. We had a feeling the FBI would have a hard time covering the list that would make this guy's mouth water. But Ben just so happens to know the relative of a gangster or two."

#

Ben stood in front of a credenza resting along the wall of a spacious office. Several pictures of various sizes adorned the shelves among a collection of plaques and awards. A crystalline vase holding a bouquet of roses dominated one corner of the credenza. The Hollywood sign was the focal point in the skyline behind the large oak desk.

He smiled down at one black and white particular picture in a large silver frame. Dressed in a tailored tuxedo, he stood with a similarly attired Rhys and a young, unassuming couple, the woman centered dressed in a white wedding dress.

The double doors to his right hurriedly opened and closed just as quickly with a flourish. The air from the doors' sudden movement rustled the flowers beside the picture.

Ben glanced at the petite blonde who stood at the doors. She wore a light blue silk blouse with a khaki skirt and a laptop tucked in her left arm. She closed her eyes and expelled a long sigh before reopening them, focusing on Ben.

"I could use a

escape right now."

Ben grinned. "Please. You are loving all of this. You wear it well."

The woman frowned as she walked past him to her desk and set the laptop down on its surface. "Don't go there. Someone who has worked here for twenty years said recently I reminded her of my mother-in-law. Now answer me this. Honestly."

She turned around to face Ben. "Am I starting to look anything like Virginia Foster? I mean I think of her and every time I do, the first thing that pops up is Cruella Deville."

Ben grinned as he walked over. "Of course not," he answered, hand extended.

Instead of accepting the hand, Stephanie Duncan Foster pulled him into an embrace. "It is so good to see you," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek.

"You, too. How's Morgan?"

"Putting the final touches on another non-profit he just got started in San Diego. He's sorry he missed you but told me to help you in any way I can. How's Andy or whatever his name is this month?"

"Rhys. And he is incorrigible as always," he said drily.

They disengaged and moved over to the couches on the other side of the office. "So you took over Virginia's businesses for real," said Ben, settling into one of the cushioned sectionals while Stephanie stopped at a rolling liquor bar to the side.

"After that night with the FBI and twenty million coming up missing from her basement, she just couldn't wait to hand it over." Stephanie laughed. "Morgan, dear soul, he couldn't even get his seat belt on before she called the plane begging us to delay the honeymoon. So I said we would on one condition. To sign over everything to Morgan and me, no questions asked."

"How did that go over?"

"Well, for me it went over like a charm!" She handed Ben a glass of bourbon and sat down beside him. "She was all worried that the FBI was coming after her. But she didn't realize that all they wanted was that crazy woman who made out with all that money. When they got her and the fake funds, their probable cause was done. Why would she even keep all that money in the basement is still news to me but hey."

She sipped her drink. "I made sure to point that out to them when we got back to the house and announced myself as counsel. But not before I had her sign some legal docs I had typed up on the fly. So she's still the president in title, but you are now looking at the new CEO of Foster Shipping."

Stephanie leaned forward to give Ben a sideways grin. "I went through our books after our call and I think I have exactly what you want. Something that my dear sweet mother-in-law had saved for a rainy day that I just didn't know what to do with when I took over. So just make sure you bring my boat back but the contents are yours to do with as you see fit. I already emailed you and Alice a cargo manifest."

Ben exhaled audibly. "Stephanie, I'm forever in your debt."

"Please, after what you did for us, this doesn't begin to repay you." She raised her glass to Ben in a toast.

"Hell, you're doing me a favor."

#

Oliver scanned the contents notated on the tablet spreadsheet. Several times he eyed Tommy and Alice before returning his gaze back to the list.

After five minutes he sat the tablet down and rubbed the stubble on his chin. He eyed the siblings once again before he sighed and reached for his sake. He gestured to Alice with the small cup.

"You mean to tell me that the freighter has all of these guns and ammo available?" He indicated the tablet. "There's maybe ten, fifteen million worth of goods here to sell. Though I am skeptical about crossbows. And did I see a listing of Revolutionary War era muskets in there? Isn't that a slap in the face."

Tommy reached for the cup Alice passed to him filled with another shot of sake. "I'll make sure to throw one of them in for you exclusively. Provided you can find a buyer. Partner. Fifty-fifty split."

He held his cup out to Oliver who hesitated for a second before a grin materialized on his face. He extended his cup out in a toast but pulled it back before it could touch Tommy's.

"I'm tempted. Believe me, chap, I'm tempted. But I need to tell you something. You see, I could care less about the Kensington Firm. I could care less about … all this. I just want to set up something for my girls."

Alice leaned forward. "If you're not interested in the firm's U.S. holdings, then what is it you want?"

Oliver's eyes darted from Tommy to Alice. One eyebrow arched over his good eye as he said, "I want that sniveling niece and nephew of mine. I want both of them bound and gagged on that freighter as I prepare to receive these weapons to sell. Can you two do that?"

Alice glanced over at the table where Danny, Sean, and the Hammer sat and jerked her head in the direction of the entrance. The three men rose as one and made their way out o.

"They are the best men for this kind of work," Tommy said. His sake was still extended. "Will twenty-four hours suffice?"

Oliver leaned back to regard both of them in silence. One corner of his mouth turned upwards in a very familiar smirk as he held up his sake.

"Cheers, mate."

#

Diaz sat back in her chair with her arms crossed as she took in the scene on the monitor. "So this is … your uncle?"

Rhys shrugged. "Someone who is hell bent on having my head on a pike like "Game of Thrones." Speaking of which, are those three actually coming for me

"Focus, Rhys," she said, turning to Valerie. "And twenty million worth of guns? A freighter? How did you do all this?"

"The freighter plan was always in play. But it seemed we were going to have a hard time getting the weapons from the FBI so we found another source."

"I see. Well, can I ask where these weapons came from?"

"A confidential source that's no longer in the gun running business. The FBI can do whatever with the weapons as long as the freighter is returned to its rightful owners."

Diaz sighed as she considered her options. Princess Zara took her silence as an opportunity to speak. "Ladies, if I may."

Valerie nodded. The princess rose to her feet and walked over to the monitor where she pointed at the image of Oliver Griffiths frozen on the screen.

"I was the first to speak with this gentleman several days ago. The one thing he mentioned was that the Kensington Firm has to end. And that Rhys and his family are toxic."

She regarded Special Agent Diaz. "If he said he doesn't care about the firm, then he is telling the truth. He doesn't care about anything else except to get his hands on Rhys and his sister. I saw that in his eyes speaking with him at the park. I saw that again just now."

Rhys slid down into his seat. "And here I am thinking you possibly were on my side, Your Gracefulness."

Valerie's cell phone vibrated on the table in front of her. She thumbed on the screen and smiled. "Ben just texted. He said the stock Stephanie Foster has is going to help us out a lot."

"Stephanie Foster? From the wedding?" Rhys sat up in his chair. "How are the newlyweds? Did they ask about me?"

Diaz shook her head. "Miss Anderson, Your Highness, may I speak to Rhys alone, please?"

Both women nodded and exited the conference room as Diaz stood and moved to the front of the table. She crossed her arms and stared at Rhys. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't slap a pair of cuffs on you right now, you bastard," she said softly.

"My dear, if there wasn't this thing like the hashtag "Me Too" movement, I would give you a few good reasons why you should." Rhys chuckled to himself until he noted Diaz continued staring at him expressionless.

He sighed and slapped his hand on the table. "Alright. I know I messed up, Justine. I know I screwed up everything with Ben, Alice ...you. And all I can is I'm sorry …

sorry. I'm here to help in any way I can."

Diaz shook her head. "I swear if I had my gun on me I would shoot you."

"You wouldn't be the first," muttered Rhys.

"In any case," continued Diaz, "I'm not making any deals with you. When all this is over, you are going to prison. How you participate will determine how long you will be there."

She walked over to Rhys' chair and started to place a hand on the back. It hovered over the chair for several seconds before slowly moving close to his shoulder. It was an inch away before she balled it into a fist and walked out of the conference room.

#

Tommy and Alice stepped out of the restaurant into the mid-afternoon sun. Tommy examined his reflection in the restaurant's window as he said, "Well, I have to say that was very refreshing. Wouldn't you say?"

When he did not receive a reply, Tommy glanced over at his sister. She returned a stony glare in silence, arms crossed.

Tommy started to say something but Alice cut him off with an uplifted hand. "This will go a long way towards getting your sentence lowered to time served but I need you to promise me one thing. No, I need you to

"Wait, what's bringing this on, sis?" Tommy gave her a sly grin as he straightened his tie. "I think I was pretty convincing there."

Alice reached for his tie and yanked upward, jamming her clenched fist into his larynx.

"You're still talking like you're Mockingbird, Tommy! Geesh!"

She released him and marched over to her vehicle parked just behind her brother. She began to open her door but paused, looking up at Tommy standing in front of the car on the sidewalk. "I need you to swear to me that when this is done, no more games. No more trying to flip a dollar to make two dollars.

You're my brother and I love you, but … I'm done. If you mess up one more time, I'm done."

Tommy's hands slowly lowered from his collar and stepped off of the sidewalk to the passenger door of Alice's car. He looked over the roof at her, seeing as if for the first time the seriousness in her countenance.

And hearing the finality in her tone.

"I swear, Alice. As God is my witness. I am done."

#

Dao and Diaz wasted little time in their preparations. In three hours they assembled three dozen FBI agents, including another dozen acting as crew members on the newly commandeered freighter.

Alice whistled in amazement as she took in the scene down in the parking garage. "I have to say, Agent Diaz. I'm impressed."

Standing beside her, Diaz strapped on her tactical vest. "How can you not be? We're the FBI. Now let's get Ben and the others.

#

Ben, Alice and Valerie stood off to one side of the head of the AVI conference room table, staged behind chairs occupied by Princess Zara, Reggie and Troy. Rhys sat on the other side of the table next to Tessa. The usually stoic Hammer stood behind them conversing with Sophie in quiet whispers.

Ben gestured to the other end of the table at Agents Diaz and Dao. "In this phase of the operation, I think it's best that we defer to you two for this. If you please, Special Agent Diaz?"

Diaz nodded and held up a tablet. She pressed the screen and the monitor behind Ben activated displaying the schematics of a freighter. "Princess Zara will be on board along with a dozen agents -"

"And my personal guard." The princess narrowed her eyes. "I have every trust in your abilities, Special Agent Diaz, but should the throne catch wind of my role, it will rest easy knowing that all steps were taken to guarantee my safety."

Ben answered before Diaz could respond with a query. "They can be staged as her bodyguards," he said reassuringly. "From the way they look, it really isn't far from the truth at all."

Diaz nodded. "I already have snipers staged inside and outside as well as Yoon and Hammer. Two dozen agents will be waiting in a warehouse not far from the dock. Jones, where will you be?"

"I'll be attached to transport our captives to the freighter." Ben looked down at Alice. "I'd like Tessa to be brought here to AVI. In case something goes south."

"She'll be fine here." Alice gave his hand a squeeze. "Valerie and Sophie will also be here monitoring real-time feeds from the docks."

"Excuse me." All heads turned to Reggie. "What about us?"

Ben smiled. "Troy will be with Alice and her brother as they meet with Oliver Griffiths and company. His photographic memory can help to provide a list of holdings he might be interested in to keep him distracted."

"But you," Alice said, smiling as she wagged a finger at him. "I have a special part for you to play."

Reggie looked at Ben in confusion. "Don't look at me," he said. "This is all her idea."

#

Margot and Rhys sat back on the couch as one as Alice explained the plan to them. She looked at them expectantly, awaiting the barrage of questions and objections.

So it was to her shock that Rhys shrugged and crossed his arms.

"Okay."

It was Alice's turn to sit back in her chair. Her eyes narrowed as they switched back and forth between the siblings. "Okay? That's it? Just "

?""

Margot shot a sideways gaze at her younger brother. "I believe just like that fake wayward drug dealer brother of yours, mine here has finally seen the light."

Alice frowned. "What did you do?"

Margot leaned forward for her glass of bourbon on the coffee table. "We had a discussion earlier. He … admitted that we wouldn't be in this predicament if it wasn't for his activities."

"

activities," Alice interjected.

"In any case,

both decided that our uncle and cousins are the greater evil," Margot took a sip of her drink. "It would be beneficial to assist in any way to … alleviate the situation."

Alice looked at both of them for a few seconds before she gave a solemn nod. "You do understand that after this, you both will be arrested. I have no control over that. You're only free for this plan to work."

Alice gestured with her chin at the four FBI agents standing outside her office with the Hammer. "They'll be with you at all times under the guise of … henchmen. Hammer will be the driver."

The former hitman entered the office and bowed at the waist. "I'll let nothing happen to you, you have my word."

Alice rose from her chair and walked around to the front of her desk. She crossed her arms and looked down at her feet for several seconds before leveling them back to look at Margot.

"In your own selfish ways you nearly broke me. You planted a con man in my life, stole from me and my clients, nearly bankrupted the company Val and I started from the ground up, and framed me for crimes I didn't commit."

To her credit, Margot remained silent, the only action taken was another sip of bourbon. Alice turned her attention to Rhys, glare hardening as she took a step closer to the coffee table.

"You. In spite of everything you have done, Ben still saw fit to include you in his original FBI deal. He loved you like a brother. And you betrayed him."

She paused and expelled a long sigh, feeling the tension leaving her body. She wiped at the corner of an eye before continuing.

"Ben never wanted to turn either of you in. He once told me that you both saved his life and he owed you. He said you were his family. He didn't want this to happen for either of you … but this is Diaz and Dao's show. If this works, they will immediately take you into custody."

She extended a hand to each of them, palms facing down to the floor. Margot and Rhys stared at her warily before slowly rising and each grasping one.

Margot's eyes widened and she started to speak but Alice quickly cut her off. "I hope when that happens, they will treat you with the respect you deserve in return for the information you provide," she said, her eyes indicating their grasped hands.

Rhys smirked and gave her a subtle nod. "Oh, I can't wait to sing like a canary, Alice." He released her hand, shoving his own quickly in his pockets. "Right. Let's be off, Margot. We have some wayward relatives to bag, eh?"

Margot simply nodded as she finally released Alice's hand. She smiled and gave her a subtle nod before turning around to reach for her bag. Rhys and the Hammer were already outside the office but she stopped and turned back to Alice. "If anything should … happen to me out there …"

Alice nodded. "Tessa will always have a home with me."

Margot nodded once again, sliding her hand in a jacket pocket before following the Hammer, agents and her brother to the elevator. It opened and Agent Diaz rushed off, a harried expression on her face.

"Where's Alice and Ben?"

Alice quickly stepped through the group. "Ben took the princess and her guards to the ship. Is something wrong?"

Diaz pulled a tablet from her shoulder bag. "The ship was attacked. Three agents dead, seven injured. And all of those weapons? Gone. The only thing left behind … was this."

She displayed a picture of a sealed oil drum sitting in front of a gangplank used to board ships docked at port. Alice squinted as she peered at a large item resting on top of the drum. "Is that … an anvil?"

Diaz nodded. "An anvil. The weirdest thing to leave at a crime scene. I honestly have no clue about what it could mean."

"I do, Agent Diaz." The Hammer stepped forward, a resigned look on his face. "It's the calling card of one of the most renowned weapons specialists in the world."

Alice frowned. "You sound like you know him."

The Hammer gave a small nod of affirmation. "Of course. It's very hard to forget your father."