Sharks - Matt Rogers (classic books for 11 year olds txt) 📗

to bribe everyone, how to manipulate the whole system, not just share prices. I’m sure Archie taught Dylan everything he knew. So think about it. Dylan gets to middle age, and he’s spent most of his career cooped up in the boardroom. He doesn’t really feel power over other people. It’s better to have them eating out of your hand. So he starts loaning money. He starts ruining lives. He probably thrives on it, like a bloodsucking vampire.’

‘Why Dylan?’ King said. ‘Why the grandson? I’m sure there were other members of the family.’

‘I can’t find much on the rest of the family,’ Violetta said. ‘All the signs point to them being nobodies. Archie probably identified Dylan as the kid with the least amount of soul. I’m guessing he was groomed from there.’

‘Maybe,’ King said.

He realised he didn’t even know what the man looked like.

‘You got a photo of Dylan?’ he said.

Violetta tapped keys, and rotated the laptop screen.

It was a photo taken for a passport, its resolution grainy, but King got the vibe. Dylan Walcott looked to be in his forties. His blonde hair was full and thick and showed no signs of receding. His lips were thin, his nose long, but he had a strong jaw and pale blue eyes. In California he’d be a rich retired surfer. King realised he might be the same thing here. He had no idea what the man did in his downtime.

Besides getting his goons to rough up old servers.

Violetta stared at the photo. ‘You think he knows what he does to people like Teddy? You think he knows how much hurt he creates?’

‘Of course,’ King said. ‘You said it yourself. That’s what he gets off on.’

Violetta said, ‘When you find him, I want you to make him feel it. Before you kill him.’

King took a moment to respond. ‘That’s not like you.’

She said, ‘I’m about done playing by the rules. The information I’ve had to sort through…’

‘What have you found?’

‘Nothing I haven’t told you,’ she said. ‘But the full picture … it’s so ugly. I mean, he bankrolled Alastair Icke in Vegas. That alone blows my mind. That’s why I asked if he knows the hurt he causes. Sure, he throws a few million dollars to the U.S. to fund offshore operations, but does he see what that actually does? Does he see what happens to teenagers like Melanie and Elsa?’

King thought about all their past ops. ‘Don’t they all?’

Violetta couldn’t take her eyes off the photo. ‘Something about this guy feels different.’

‘He’s no worse than Icke.’

Violetta shook her head. Didn’t speak, like she couldn’t quite put her finger on what she wanted to say.

King said, ‘What is it?’

She worked a knot in her shoulder, and reaching over exposed the long chain of musculature running down her side. King ran a finger down her skin absent-mindedly.

Finally she said, ‘You remember when you met Icke. You told me every detail. He was pushing three hundred pounds, rasping for breath with every step, up to his eyeballs in drugs. I think Icke had to destroy his body just to put up with the things he knew he was doing wrong.’

From the laptop, Dylan Walcott stared out at them.

Sharp eyes, cool gaze, high cheekbones.

Violetta said, ‘This guy has everything going for him. Those are sober eyes. Which means he doesn’t need to drown his discontent. He’s got no qualms about what he’s doing. In fact, that’s probably where he gets his kicks. That’s where he gets his high.’

King looked at the screen.

Remembered Teddy hunched over and sobbing.

Remembered Lyla — quiet, proud, sad.

He said, ‘Did you look into the safe house address?’

Violetta nodded. ‘Already got it. It’s an old administrative building near the container port. Like a field office, for something that used to be there but isn’t anymore. I can’t find anything registering it as a business in close to a decade. Satellite photos show it surrounded by dead grass and fields, on the west side of Hawksbill Creek where the cruise ships come in. I don’t get the feeling it’s heavily guarded. It’s probably for dead drops. You know ... Vince and his colleagues dumping bags of cash so Walcott’s legitimate employees can pick them up later and feed them through his businesses.’

King said, ‘Should be easy work.’

‘You know what?’ Violetta said. ‘That reminds me of something.’

King waited.

She said, ‘I had some spare time, just then, right before you woke up. I flicked through the first few pages of the logbook — the list of people that owe Eric money — and I looked up a few addresses. Nearly half the addresses led to nowhere. Abandoned buildings, empty offices, lots without houses on them. What’s that about?’

King stared into space. ‘I don’t have a clue. Is it code or something?’

‘I don’t know. I’m hoping you can find out more today. Because right now we’re swimming in the dark.’

King threw the covers off. ‘I’m on it.’

45

Slater was halfway to the villa’s gate with the logbook in his pocket when Alexis called from the porch.

He turned to see her waving him over.

Beside him, King said, ‘It’s alright. There’s time.’

‘You sure?’ Slater said. ‘Looks like you’ve got somewhere to be.’

‘I just want to get this done.’

‘You woke up angry or something?’

‘No more than usual,’ King said. ‘Something about Walcott just pisses me off.’

Slater gave a sardonic smile. ‘Keep this mean streak up and you’ll have blood pressure like mine.’

‘I saw your last check-up. You might be the healthiest man alive.’

Slater sighed. ‘It’s metaphorical.’

‘I get it. Go. I’ll be here.’

Slater jogged back to Alexis. She reached out and took his hands and kissed him.

He said, ‘You’re affectionate this morning.’

‘When am I not?’

‘Touché.’

‘I just want you to know,’ she said, ‘I’ll be here when you get back. What happened last night won’t happen again.’

He paused. ‘I wasn’t angry about yesterday, if that’s what you think. I care about you, that’s all.’

‘I know,’ she said. ‘And if you’ve taught me anything these past few months, it’s to be ruthless