I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

One of the things that never failed to amaze Bozer is that a bike messenger could and would deliver just about anything. In this case, after Riley transferred the money to the auction house, the First Folio edition of Paradise Lost was delivered to the house two hours later, by a surly twenty-something on a twenty speed bike. A quick look confirmed that the item was as promised.

"I guess we need to go back to," Riley paused, "...to him."

Bozer nodded, no more eager to return, but knowing that it was the only way to get any more answers. "How much longer until you can access Cory's computer?", he asked.

Riley checked. "An hour. Maybe ninety more minutes. I think its close. By the time we are done with...him, we should also have access."

"Wilt," the cold eyes grazed over the young man. "And Riley," Murdoch lingered on the woman just long enough to see her shudder involuntarily. "Were you successful in your quest?"

Bozer held up the carefully wrapped package and met Murdoch's gaze only to be startled by the look of almost desperate hunger in his eyes. "What do you think," he taunted.

"Give it to me," Murdoch's tone was almost pleading.

"Uh uh. Not until you talk," Bozer held the book just out of reach.

Murdoch's gaze was pure malevolence, but he took a deep breath and began speaking. "The New World Order is a very real thing, Wilt. There are some very important people who believe in it. Deeply. Passionately. These people will do anything. Sacrifice anything and anyone to the goal."

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Wilt pushed back. "I never took you for a tin foil hat type of guy. Murdering, sociopathic prick, sure, but not a conspiracy theorist."

Murdoch looked as if he would jump over the table separating him from Wilt.

"Sometimes people are just too smart for their own good," Murdoch looked at Riley. "I am sure you understand what I mean." Riley glared back.

"So Cory knows something and you were hired to...to...," Riley stumbled on the words

"To eliminate her," Murdoch finished, relishing the look of disgust on the woman's face.

Bozer was nodding. "Cory was your target. The rest of it was your sick game...you were entertaining yourself." Murdoch did not argue.

"So what does Cory know and who wanted it to keep her quiet," Riley asked.

Murdoch remained silent, looking meaningfully at the package on Bozer's lap.

"Ok, ok," Bozer handed the package to the other man.

Murdoch tore open the packaging then laid the book the table. He caressed the cover gently, even lovingly. Riley was disgusted, but could not look away as Murdoch continued stroking the book as if it was...Riley closed her eyes unwilling to think about it.

"You have your book. Finish your story," Bozer spoke in a cold measured tone unwilling to let Murdoch see his discomfort.

"Patience, patience, Wilt," Murdoch taunted. "I do not know what it is that young Cory is purported to know of why somebody was willing to pay...," Murdoch paused, "...what they were willing to pay. As to who...," he paused again.

This time both Bozer and Riley sat silently, unwilling to give the man what he wanted. Murdoch looked from one to the other and smiled a slow, feral smile. He started speaking,"Three, three, seven, nine," Riley grabbed for a piece of paper and a pen that she always carried in her jacket. Murdoch was continuing. "Zero, seven, five, two, seven, six, four, one, nine, seven, five."

With that, Murdoch sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, ignoring Riley and Bozer. He was clearly finished talking.

Bozer and Riley stepped outside. "I feel like I need to shower," Riley said leaning into Bozer for comfort."

"I know," Bozer commiserated. "I've never known anybody as twisted...but if it helps Mac and Cory."

Riley suppressed a shiver and nodded. "So...other than the fact that he is the creepiest, most twisted human being on earth, what do we know?"

Bozer stopped and thought. "We know that Mac was not the target and that Cory was. We suspected this, but now we have confirmation." Riley nodded. "And," Bozer stopped to look at the list of numbers that Riley wrote down,"we have a bank account number."

Riley looked surprised. "For whom?"

"No idea, but I am sure if Murdoch gave it to us, its important."

Riley checked her watch. The code on Cory's computer should be broken by now," she said. "We should probably go home to look. I don't like the idea of doing this in the open."

"I'll drive," Bozer said. "You figure out where the bank account is from."

"That sounds like a deal," the young woman smiled. As Bozer drove, Riley worked her magic. "OK," she said after a while. "The account is from Lloyd's Bank," Riley paused and hit some more keys. "Figures," she snorted in frustration, "it's a Swiss bank. They don't have to save any information so there is nothing for me to hack. It's a dead end."

"Maybe not," Bozer said chewing the inside of his lip. "If the bank is the US, they have to keep paper records. Its an FCC requirement."

"But I can't hack paper," Riley said.

"S'Ok, smart girl," Bozer chuckled. "I can. Lets figure out what's on the computer and then we can figure out what to do about the bank account."

Arriving home, Bozer went to do what he did best and started clattering pots and pans to make a snack. Riley sat at the kitchen table with Cory's computer opened and a look of intense concentration on her face.

Silence reigned for a full half hour as Riley clicked the keyboard and Bozer mixed and stirred. "How's it going," the man finally asked as he came to stand behind Riley to set down a plate of delicious smelling crepes.

Riley inhaled appreciatively, then looked at Bozer her eyes dark with concern. "I understand how her the model works," she said. "See," she said pointing to her screen. "Cory has created four scenarios and figured out the likelihood of each one happening. I can modify the percentages based on additional information, but since I don't have any, I'm leaving it alone." Bozer nodded. "This is really sophisticated statistical analysis," Riley said with some admiration. "The model seems to be really solid."

"But that's a good thing, right," Bozer asked, confused.

"Yes. Sort of. And sort of, this is a really, really bad thing."

Bozer looked confused and Riley explained. "The problem is, while I don't know what the scenarios actually are, I do know that which ever one happens, between one million and five million people could die."

Looks like Jack may have been right and Cory was the target all along. The team has its work cut out for them. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know and leave a review. Thank you in advance for your time.