Party all the time

We spent time loading all the data to crunch back at the hotel. Tessa was also gravely disturbed that we are back having to deal with the COA. We were all pretty sure we were done with them, and to have them front and center in this important investigation just seems like it can't be happens chance.

Once we got to the hotel, I took a break and went to the bedroom to contact Murphy Grainger. 

First, I texted her to see if she had some time to talk on the phone. After getting an affirmative back, I called her. 

"Hello? Murphy here." She greeted me. 

"Good afternoon, Murphy. I am calling to update you on a number of things. We got some serious and some dark information today." I started. 

"Is everyone alright?" She asked

"Yes, thankfully, we were able to get account numbers and IDs and a visual of the blackmailer." I said, "We are working all night to get you all of the information." I finished.

"Ok, that sounds like a good thing. What am I missing?" Murphy asked.

"I have to disclose something about my past to you." I said, sighing. "Last year I was ****; the people who did it were a foreign cult; they tried to perform a ritual on me, but I was rescued by Captain Geomonty and a SWAT team; there were lots of casualties on their side. I did the appropriate amount of investigating and thought that the cult was gone." I said.

"Ok, what does this have to do with our agreement? She asked.

"We followed the blackmailer back to an industrial complex; it turns out he and the area are likely owned by the COA cult that **** me. I am having a hard time believing that it is a coincidence." I explained "I would understand if you wanted to part ways at this point; I would give you a complete report on what we have gathered so far." I finished. 

"Matt, thank you for being honest with me. Can I ask you a few questions?" Murphy inquired.

"Of course Murphy ask away," I said.

"First, I take it these cultists are dangerous." Murphy asked

"Yes, very," I said.

"Second, did they abduct and hurt anyone else?" She said it with curiosity.

"Yes, women, and also men that they think are like me, maybe more." I stated

"Third, are you afraid for yourself or your girls if you were to pursue this further?" Murphy asked

"I am not afraid for myself, but of you and the girls I am." I said

"Lastly, if they are not stopped, could the intelligence they got from us be used to hurt people?" She finished.

"Yes, there is a large potential to hurt people," I said.

"If you have the spirit to continue this investigation, I will continue to find it until this cult is taken down, you are safe, and we are certain that Grainger industry has not hurt anyone with these leaks." She finished 

"I will continue to maintain this investigation, and we will see this to the end even if I have to bring Captain Geomonty in on this." I said. "Thank you, Murphy. I would have pursued this regardless of your answer, but having funding and connections like yours will help this be more effective." I finished. 

"There is only one thing I ask of you, Mathew Cole." She said it in a serious, almost business-like tone.

"And that is?" I asked, wondering what kind of catch there was. 

"I want you to be cautious and not put yourself in danger; if it looks like it is coming to that, let Geomonty handle things. I want to see you and your girls back in one piece."

"I will definitely agree to that; I'll even take you to dinner when we get back as a thank you for all this help." I said relieved; it was just that. 

"I will hold you to that, Mr. Cole." She said it in a more flirty tone. "I must say goodbye, but you have my private email, and I am going to text you my private phone as well, so you can reach me 24/7. Goodnight, Mr. Cole." She said.

"Goodnight Murphy." I replied, hanging up after I heard her disconnect. 

I headed back into the main area of the hotel and got to work with Tessa on decrypting, tracking, and researching, and she did the hacking to get the information we wanted.

After a few hours and a few pizzas, we finished. Our plan has been ambitious, and it has paid off. Here is what we were able to get.

Name: Artyom Skonivich

Age:26

Origin: Belarus with a work Visa

Employment: He works as a chemist in the industrial park we saw him drive to for a company called Apol-Lyon Energy Solutions.

Bank account # 65477586

Lic plate # Aplyn24

Additional info: current Facebook picture and lack of girlfriend. Home address.

We also got some preliminary information on Apol-Lyon energy solutions and the property it is on:

Apol-Lyon Corp. was formed 11 months after the incident with the COA. They leased the land that we had passed earlier. Besides the fluff on their web page, we were able to look into some of the permits and licenses they applied for. 

Tessa and I were able to identify that most of the stolen information from Grainger could be built with these permits and licenses.

All four of us sat down and discussed the information we had gathered. We hypothesized that Artyom was at best a mid-level goon in the COA machinery at the industrial property. He was the blackmailer but not the mastermind behind it, but he was trusted enough not to screw it up either. All of us were certain that Apol-Lyon Corp. was building the stolen inventions or using them to build a new device. What that was, we had no idea.

We got some dinner, had some sexy time, and got some sleep. We all needed to sleep on things and start fresh tomorrow.