Page 40 of Centurion

“Yeah.” Con stood and crossed his arms over his chest. “Eisenberger was the world’s loudest fatalist about losing access to digital entities. Internet, ATMs, banking, comms, everything. The outline I’m reading is a step-by-step diagram of what will happen after an inciting event.”

“He’s probably thought a lot about it. His ideas of what will happen aren’t necessarily true, right?” Ronnie put the planner down and concentrated on what Con was saying. Obviously, he was trying to piece together information and was missing something.

“No.” He walked over to the book and handed it to her. “This is detailed information and statistics that include governmental responses, and it references different publications.” He tiltedhis computer to her. “Publications that are authentic and obtainable.”

“So, you think this is some kind of plan? Why would he be a part of doing what he decried?”

“I don’t know.” She gave him the book back, and he continued to read it, interspersed with random searches on his computer. She read the journal backward, looking for any kind of clue Eisenberger could have left regarding the trip to Australia and the meeting in Monaco.

The chimes of her doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation. She walked across the room and pushed a panel. It opened, and she took out a forty-five, locked and loaded a round, and walked to the front door.

“I’m telling you, that is seriously hot!” Con shouted after her.

She rolled her eyes but smiled, nonetheless. She checked the monitor of her alarm system before opening the door. “Malice.”

“Yes, and this is Anya.” He put his arm around a tiny blonde woman with big blue eyes.

“I can wait in the car if necessary.” Her Russian accent was very pronounced.

“No, not at all. Fury cleared you.” She opened the door. “Please come in.”

Anya’s mouth dropped open as she entered the home. She said something in Russian, and Malice chuckled. “She wondered if all the czars in Russia had such a beautiful home.”

Anya slapped her hand over her mouth and shook her head. “I’m sorry. You do have a nice home. Sometimes, I speak in Russian when I am surprised.”

“Completely fine. Thank you for the compliment. We’re set up in the library.” She led them across the grand foyer into the library.

“Con, you lazy son of a bitch, how’ve you been?” Malice grabbed Con’s hand and pulled him in for a bone-crushing bear hug.

Con laughed and did the man hug thing, beating on Malice’s back, too. “If I’m lazy, you’re in sloth mode. Glad you’re here. We’ve got a heck of a situation going on.”

“What do you have?” Malice asked, instantly focusing.

“Would you like to have a look around the house?” Ronnie asked Anya because the men were in their own little world.

“Don’t you need to do …” Anya motioned to where Malice and Con were leaning over the book he’d been working on.

“Actually, no.” She shook her head. “That’s not my forte, and as I don’t speak or read Russian, I won’t be of any help.”

Anya looked back toward Malice again. “If you’re sure?”

“Absolutely, they won’t miss us, and it’ll just take a few minutes.” Ronnie led her through the apartment. Her father’s contractors were exacting, and the detail was something to be admired.

“You work for Guardian, yes?” Anya asked as they circled back to the library.

“Part-time,” she admitted.

Anya glanced around her again. “This is from Guardian?”

“No, this is from family money.”

“Ah.” Anya nodded her head. “Now, this makes sense. Guardian is a good employer, but this … this is … wow.”

Ronnie laughed. “I forget how over the top it is sometimes.” She gazed around her gilded home. She saw the historical details her mom had researched, the safety and security measures her father had demanded, and the love that had gone into the rebuilding of her home.

“There you are,” Malice said as he exited the library. “Anya, I’m afraid I’ll need to take you back to the hotel.”

“Ah. Over my clearance.” She turned to Ronnie. “Thank you so much for the tour of your home.”

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