Hard and Fast (13 page)

CHAPTER 13

In under five minutes, Lucas had both his Fortis partners on a three-way video call. At three fifteen on Saturday afternoon, Evan DaCosta and Samuel Mackenzie both were at home. Lucas quickly gave them a summary of the new developments on the Magnus Motorsports mission.

“How bad is the property damage?” asked Samuel with a deep, rich voice and a cultured Scottish accent.

“The fire alarm went off pretty quickly. Ned attacked it with an industrial-size fire extinguisher within two to three minutes after that to contain it. So far, other than superficial water and smoke damage to the area, looks like only the race car was damaged.”

“Brake fluid and chlorine,” Evan mused. “Pretty low-tech, household stuff, Lucas. High school chemistry one-oh-one.”

“Exactly,” Lucas agreed. “Based on the surveillance video, these guys walked in as customers, no evidence that they were carrying anything suspicious. Whatever they used was small and easily concealable. Based on what Michael and the marshal found, I’d say it was a few pucks of generic pool chorine, coupled with a highly flammable liquid to ensure it spread fast enough to do the damage needed.”

Sam blew out a deep breath. As a former British Secret Service MI5 agent for over ten years, he had a lot of experience with all forms of creative threats.

“This changes the mission significantly, Lucas,” concluded Sam. “Whoever’s behind all this isn’t just trying to steal the design and technology, they want to shut down the Magnus project altogether.”

Lucas and Evan nodded.

“And their behavior is escalating in their attempt to do that,” Evan added.

Lucas glanced over at Lance who was standing beside him, looking just as serious as the rest of them.

“To what end, though?” Lucas finally asked, though it was a question reflected on all their faces. “Are they trying to stop Magnus from being first to market by stealing the tech for their own future release? Or bury it completely?”

Evan sat forward in his chair from the living room of his apartment in Alexandria.

“Based on Raymond’s research on the big car manufacturers, they all have electric or hybrid models on the market now. And there’s dozens of concept models making the car show rounds this year that promise results similar to what Alex Cotts has designed,” Evan argued. “So, this isn’t like the Avro Arrow in 1959. Shutting down the Magnus project isn’t going to hinder the advancement of electric car technology in any significant way.”

“That’s assuming it’s one of the oil companies behind this, right?” Sam threw in. “They ultimately have the most to lose.”

“I looked through Raymond’s file last night,” Lucas explained. “And I wouldn’t rule out oil and gas. None of the designs solve the cost problem. All of the car companies still use battery technology that is expansive and motors that lack real power. Which means that electric and hybrid cars are really only targeting the eco-conscious Prius buyer, at least for another three to five years.”

“Or the rich one-percenters that can afford both an Aston Martin and a Tesla,” Sam added dryly.

Lucas chuckled. And since Evan owned both cars, though the Tesla was really for his girlfriend, Nia, he gave the Scotsman the middle finger in protest.

“You should try entering the twenty-first century Mac. Maybe upgrade that boat you drive into something more responsible,” Evan shot back.

“It’s a Jaguar XKR-S, my friend. There is no other upgrade,” Sam replied sardonically, showing a rare flash of teeth in a big smile.

“Okay, boys, settle down,” interrupted Lucas, though he appreciated the moment of levity from the serious situation they were facing with Magnus and Alex Cotts.

“Maybe we’re thinking about this too big,” stated Lance.

“How so?” Evan asked.

The ex-Ranger stepped closer to the computer screen.

“Once we saw the setup in Chicago with Pratt, we assumed big-budget backing. Which logically led to us thinking major players, right? Then we learned more about the Cicada design and the impact to automotive engineering far beyond the racing industry. So, again we expanded the pool of industries and companies who could be responsible,” Lance summarized. “If we limit the scope to North America, there’s the big three car manufacturers, assuming we don’t include Tesla. Then the top five or six gas companies.”

He counted them off with his fingers.

“But that all assumes that someone found out the full capabilities of Cotts’s design. We have no proof that happened,” continued Lance. “Maybe this whole thing is just your everyday, run-of-the-mill small company competition.”

The other three men thought for a moment in silence.

“It’s a good point, Lance,” Lucas finally agreed. “So, let’s review the facts that we know. One: Magnus Motorsports is registered for the Vancouver race in June, like they have been for the last three years. Their three investors think they will launch a new hybrid engine and none know it’s actually electric-powered. Two: Someone knew Adam North was working with Cotts, and they also would know that he’s a physicist with a specialization in battery technology. Three: Timothy Pratt got access to North’s computer at the university, then used his access to the Magnus file-sharing server to plant a Trojan horse. Four: Pratt was payrolled, then killed in Chicago when he failed to get access to the Magnus network. Five: Thirty-six hours later, the Cicada engine is cleverly destroyed by arson inside the Magnus auto shop.

“Have I missed anything in the sequence of events?” he finished, looking at each of the other men.

“No, that about covers it,” replied Evan.

“Yup, that’s it. Until we can identify the two men who set the fire today,” Lance added. “We got nothing on the goons that attacked us in Chicago.”

“And the copy of Pratt’s computer didn’t provide any clues about how much these guys know of North’s battery technology or the Cicada design,” Lucas confirmed. “We only know for sure that they want information from the Magnus network and to destroy the prototype. There are no facts to tell us who or why. So, to Lance’s point, this could all be personal, or another small racing company trying to knock out the competition.”

“We know a couple more things,” Sam inserted. “They didn’t do it all for shits and giggles. Someone had invested a bit of time and money into this endeavor. So they have access to funds, and contacts in the U.S. and Canada to get things done without getting their own hands dirty.”

The four men were silent in contemplation for a few moments.

“Okay, let’s outline our go-forward plan,” Lucas finally stated. “Until we know more and can determine who we’re dealing with and what their ultimate objective is, we need to take every precaution. While we could assume that whoever is behind this whole thing has accomplished their goal today by destroying the engine, my instincts tell me that’s not the case.”

“It’s not all destroyed.”

The comment came from a silky feminine voice. Lucas and Lance turned to Alex who was now standing next to the bed, dressed in loose blue jeans and a black T-shirt with sneakers. With her arms wrapped around her waist, she looked young and vulnerable.

“Alex, please join us,” Lucas told her, then waited until she was in visual range to do introductions. “Alexandria Cotts, meet Evan DaCosta and Samuel Mackenzie, the other managing partners in Fortis.”

She gave them both a casual hand wave and a tight smile.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Cotts,” Evan replied with a nod. “Did we hear you correctly? Your engine wasn’t destroyed by the fire?”

“Not all of it,” she stated, looking between the two men. “Everything that was still in the car is probably irreparable. But I had removed the rechargeable batteries on Friday.”

“The ones Adam North customized for you?” Lucas clarified.

Alex nodded.

“I was creating test models on the computer for a new part I picked up on Thursday, so I took it out. It’s now locked in my office.”

“Lance, call Michael to confirm there has been no attempt to access any other part of the Magnus building, particularly Alex’s office,” Lucas instructed.

Lance walked to the other side of the room while dialing out on his cell phone.

“I already told Marco, but no one else would know that,” Alex explained. “So, I think I can rebuild my motor and the full drivetrain. The battery is the only thing that is irreplaceable.”

“Passante still plans to launch in June?” Evan questioned. “Is that feasible?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. But I have to try,” she stated with determination.

“All right then,” said Sam with a sparkle of what looked like admiration in his eyes.

Lance returned as he hung up his call.

“Michael and Ned have done a full reconnaissance,” he confirmed. “No other signs of intrusion.”

Lucas folded his arms across his chest and widened his stance as he spoke to his partners.

“If that is the objective, to allow Alex to rebuild the asset, then we’ll have to implement Omega protocol for the next six weeks.”

“Agreed,” stated Sam, and the other two men nodded in accord.

“What does that mean?” Alex asked.

Lucas hesitated, knowing she wasn’t going to like it.

“I’ll explain when we meet with Marco,” he told her briefly.

Alex looked as though she was about to protest, but he turned away to discourage more questions.

“Lance, is the Magnus building secure yet?” he asked instead.

“The fire department is packing up now, so we’ll have complete containment in about fifteen minutes.”

“Okay, let Michael and Ned know we’ll be there at four o’clock to meet with Mr. Passante,” instructed Lucas. “Sam, Evan, send me the best options for an extraction and a safe site based on all the variables. We’ll work out the other logistics tonight.”

He disconnected the video call then turned to face Alex. She looked even more worried than before.

“What are you planning?” she asked right away.

“We’re only looking at options right now. Our recommendations will depend on our meeting with Marco, and what he decides to do. Then, my job is to provide the required asset protection,” explained Lucas. “Why don’t you finish packing your things? We’ll be leaving here in five minutes.”

Alex sighed deeply, but walked away to do as he instructed. While he continued to pack up the laptop and his other things with efficient practice, Lucas struggled to contain his displeasure at the new developments at Magnus. Two men had simply walked onto their client site and successfully implemented a plan to destroy the motor prototype. Which means he had underestimated the protective support required. That was unacceptable and could not happen again. He knew all too well that there were more than machines and schematics as stake. There were people. There was Alex.

Lucas took a deep breath and put a firm halt to the direction of his thoughts. That moment between them earlier was an unexplainable act of madness, and best forgotten. It certainly could not happen again.

“Do you really think we need the Omega protocol,” Lance asked, interrupting Lucas’s thoughts.

“We don’t know anything about the threat, except that it keeps escalating,” replied Lucas in a low voice. “If Cotts is going to rebuild her motor, the only way to assure protection is to completely contain the environment and tighten the restrictions on all information and access.”

“Makes sense,” Lance replied. “But I don’t know how you’re going to convince Cotts of that.”

“If that’s the plan, then she won’t have a choice.”

They left the room shortly after, with Alex sandwiched between the two men as they walked through the hotel and out to the car parked on the street. They drove with Lance in their rented truck around the block to Magnus with no sign of any threats, then parked at the back entrance. All signs of the fire department were now gone, and Ned was outside waiting for them.

“The marshal left a few minutes ago, but he provided his contact information for follow-up,” Ned stated as they all walked quickly into the building. “He found a tiny puncture in the brake fluid line of the car, just as we suspected. Raymond’s got a hit on one of the perpetrators. He’s sending us the file, and we think we’ve tracked their car to the west end of the city.”

“Good,” Lucas stated. “I want a plan confirmed by tonight, so we need all the answers we can get.”

Marco Passante was standing in his office, talking on his cell phone while pacing back and forth in front of his desk. He looked up at the group gathered in the hallway.

“I’m on with our insurance broker,” he muttered, then went back to pacing.

“Alex, why don’t you wait in your office while my team gets set up for the debriefing,” Lucas suggested while the Fortis men entered the meeting room they had set up as a control center.

“No,” she stated, following them all in and taking a stubborn stance next to the table. “I want to know what’s going on.”

Lucas stopped in front of her with a look that should make grown men back down, but Alex just lifted her chin higher and boldly glared back.

“Lucas, I have Raymond’s report,” Michael stated from a seat in front of one of the computers.

“Put it up on the other monitor,” Lucas instructed with a final hard stare at Alex before he turned to stand with the other men.

Several pictures tiled onto the screen in front of him. The first was a still shot from the surveillance footage before the fire, showing two men talking to one of the mechanics. The next was a second, closer image of the guy who created a distraction while his partner had sabotaged the Mitsubishi race car. Several other pictures showed the same man in social media postings.

“This is Oleg Petrov, thirty-eight years old, and a Toronto resident,” Michael stated based on the report provided. “He works as a supervisor for a company called Bold Management that owns a few properties around the city. No criminal record in Canada or the U.S.”