Nigel followed Gretta and Jet into an enormous dining room; it made Tage Manor look tiny. A table large enough to fit twenty was in the center of the room. Dahlia, Eva, and Blanka were seated at the end of the far side of the table. Empty place settings were set up across from the deadly young assassins. Nigel took a seat opposite Eva, as far away from Dahlia as possible. Gretta positioned Jet’s wheelchair next to Nigel’s spot.
“Good evening. I trust that you had plenty of time to plan for our next operation?” Dahlia asked.
Jet gave Nigel a worried look.
“Yes, we did. Jet came up with a new way of looking for all the Cabal’s crypto wallets. I think she calls it SpiderJet,” Nigel said.
Dahlia gave him a mischievous look. Jet elbowed him gently to get his attention.
“Don’t worry, I know what to do,” Nigel said.
“Excellent, then you probably need this,” Dahlia said as she waved.
Moments later, a burly man with a machine gun brought Dahlia some kind of bundle.
“Is that?”
“Yes, it’s your backpack. I’m surprised you weren’t looking for it earlier. Don’t you need your computer? For your planning?” Dahlia said.
She’s on to me. Damn, she doesn’t miss anything.
“We don’t need a computer for the high-level steps,” Jet said.
A team of servants carried trays of food and arranged it on the table. Roasted duck and an assortment of accompaniments were scattered about the table. Nigel’s mouth filled with saliva.
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How long has it been since I ate? I think I had something this morning. I don’t remember.
“Isn’t it a little late for a full dinner?” Nigel said, trying to change the subject.
“Not at all. My girls and I often eat at odd times.”
“Can I ask you something?” Jet said to Dahlia.
Nigel held his breath for a long moment.
“Of course. I’m an open book,” Dahlia said.
“Why do you need to drain the cabal’s funds?”
Dahlia sighed. She looked like she was preparing to explain the obvious to a child. “Because it will hurt them the most. If they have no money, they can’t pay for Doc Chop’s services.”
“What do they want with him?” Nigel asked.
“They are behind the neurotoxin attacks in New York and in other places.”
“I thought the doctor was working alone,” Nigel said.
“He has a new benefactor, and I’m sure it’s the cabal.”
“What do they have to gain by hiring a cybernetic doctor or gassing innocents?”
“It’s part of Chen and Tage’s new world order, I suppose. But the Black Iris network has learned of their involvement. My team’s intel is second to none.”
I wonder if Black Iris’s network is being baited, Nigel thought.
“Is there a way you can share this intel with me?” Nigel asked.
“I don’t see why you should waste time on that when you should drain the cabal’s funds,” Dahlia said.
“This whole scenario about finding the link between Doc Chop and the cabal using your hacking team seems a bit—off.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Based on what I know of Doc Chop, his operation is pretty low tech. Sure, his cybernetic implants are good enough, but based on what Treeka told me, he butchered Nozomi’s face to give her skin to his cyborg girlfriend. He has his own clientele and wouldn’t trust outsiders,” Nigel said.
Dahlia considered for a moment.
“Even if what you say is true, the cabal needs to be stopped.”
“I agree, but I think that robbing the cabal is not the answer. Besides, another hacker has already started that process.”
Dahlia took a bite out of roast duck, then followed it with a gulp of red wine.
“If I give you access to the information that my team I will expect a full report—by tomorrow.”
“I can do that. And with Jet’s help, I—.”
“She won’t be helping you. She will take over your job of draining the cabal’s funds. I will give you both two more days.”
Nigel watched everyone dig into the duck like it was the last meal that they would ever have. His appetite seemed to evaporate. He wondered if Dahlia would let them go after they rendered their service. Or if they’d tricked him into a lifetime of indentured servitude.