Burke grinned. “He is. But The Force is stronger with me.”

Chapter 91

Burke put on his Beats over-the-ear headphones, turned off all the lights in Verbeek’s office—which was one of the only completely finished rooms in the house—and started up a heavy metal playlist. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths before even touching the keyboard. He had told the others to wait upstairs. He needed to concentrate and relax and that was impossible for him while in the presence of other people.

After a moment of centering himself, his fingers flew over the keyboard. He fell into the digital world like it was a part of him. The 1s and 0s were so much easier to understand than people and emotions. He only needed to understand the underlying infrastructure and the basic tenets of the system, and then he could make it bend to his will.

When he booted Verbeek’s main office computer, the first thing he saw was a Microsoft Windows logo. He chuckled to himself. These people could at least try to make it a challenge for him.

His mind tracked the digital variables, considered the underlying security mechanisms and their capabilities. Within a moment, he had full access and started digging through Verbeek’s life. The computer contained all of his financial records and security assignments.

Burke waded into the sea of digital data like a great white shark, fins cutting through the code, drawn by the smell of blood in the water, intuitively knowing where to find his prey and how best to savor the meal.

Within only a few minutes, he had found several strange data points. Yoshida, Loria, and K (which he assumed was a code for Kruger) had all paid large sums to Black Dog Protective Services. But Yoshida had paid far more than any of the others. Something about that seemed strange.

The financials weren’t helpful in locating Kruger, however. So he dug deeper.

He examined the distribution and assignments of Black Dog’s employees, most of whom were designated as security or operator. Burke assumed that the operators were the mercs with greater skill sets and weaker moral compasses.

Reviewing the current client list and employee assignments, he discovered a strange anomaly. Black Dog had been paid to provide security for a bankrupt casino that investors had been trying to get off the ground for years. Normally, the property was only patrolled by two rent-a-cops. But over the past week, the property’s security had been upgraded to a patrol of four employees marked as operators.

Just to be thorough, he reviewed other clients and properties, but nothing stood out like the change to the security of The Jade Dragon.

Burke used his iPad to snap pictures of this and the strange financial data, then he melded those photos into the mural of notes for the case before informing the others.

When he explained what he had found to Carter, the ASAC immediately said, “We can’t do this by ourselves any more. I think it’s best that HRT takes the building. And Nic and I go in right behind them.”