Free Crown's Vengeance, The by Andrew Clawson

of their business, and every second they spent waiting for it was not only time wasted, but also money lost. Moments later, the phone rang.
    “Drake.”
    “Mr. Drake, this is Luke Atwater, Senior Technician with IT.”
    “Luke, I was told you’re the best guy we have, and I need your help. Security recently uncovered the identity of two people who we suspect are orchestrating a money laundering operation and plan to involve Aldrich Securities. However, at this point we’re not positive of their intentions, and as such, cannot involve the authorities.”
    “I take it you require background information on the pair?”
    “You’re correct. I need to know anything and everything about them.”
    “Can you tell me anything to help narrow down the search field?”
    “Only that they are currently in Boston.”
    “And you would want this to be quiet, I assume? Everything kept in-house?”
    “Correct again.”
    He sensed the tech’s hesitation, but Drake still had a few cards up his sleeve.
    “Of course, you would be compensated for your efforts. I believe a one-time bonus of fifty thousand would be in order.”
    Drake heard Luke Atwater gasp. Fifty grand represented half his yearly salary.
    “When would you require the information, sir?”
    “Yesterday. I’ll have my secretary deliver what we know about the pair so far to you immediately.”
    “I’ll get right on it, sir.”
    Drake had long ago learned that the best way to get things done was with a smile on your face-and a large amount of money in your hands.
    “Liz, get this down to Luke Atwater in IT right now.”
    Once Drake learned something about these two, he would make a report to Stirling. It was hard to believe, but a two-hundred-year-old piece of information, gained in the torture chambers beneath the Tower of London, may have just saved their plans.
    One hour later, Drake had his answer.
    “Here is the report on Parker Chase.” Atwater handed him a thick manila folder, “And this is for Erika Carr.”
    “How do you know these are the ones I’m looking for? There must be hundreds of people with those names.”
    “This pair is currently registered at the Intercontinental Boston hotel.”
    Drake’s eyes lit up.
    “Excellent work. I’ll arrange for your bonus to be paid immediately. Of course, Mr. Atwater, you understand this assignment was confidential. I value a man with discretion such as yours.”
    Atwater took the hint. “I understand completely, sir. Thank you for the opportunity.”
    After his entrepreneurial employee had departed, Drake ripped the files open. Twenty minutes later, he leaned back in his chair, not sure what to make of the pair, and impressed with Atwater’s work. The man was extremely thorough.
    What troubled him the most was Parker’s chosen profession. It may have just been a coincidence, but then again, it could be much more. He needed to bring Stirling up to date. Surprisingly, Nigel answered on the first ring.
    “What did you learn?”
    “Their names are Parker Chase and Erika Carr. Both in their late twenties. The female is an assistant professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, hired two years ago. She lives in Philadelphia. The male is in finance with a firm out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He’s worked there for almost a decade, seems to be doing rather well for himself.”
    “Any idea how they know each other?”
    “They attended college together, and each participated in varsity athletics. Mr. Chase was an American football player of some renown. Tax records indicate they shared an apartment in Pittsburgh for some time, though Ms. Carr relocated to Philadelphia when she began her employment with the university.”
    “So we have a pair of lovebirds on our hands. Interesting.”
    When Stirling fell silent, Drake shared the other tidbit that had grabbed his eye.
    “Not sure what to make of this, sir, but Mr. Chase has recently suffered a series of personal losses. His father was killed in what is