The Broker

19. Don't Poke The Bear

December 2nd, 2019

Roanoke, Virginia

Golden Gull Electronics

When Zach and Amaraya got back to the bunker, Kaden was sitting on the table, a headphone in one ear. As soon as they came in, he put a finger to his lips, telling them to be quiet. Then he unplugged the headphones, and a man's voice came through the speaker.

"Bouman made the phone call almost immediately after you left." Kaden informed them, and they turned to listen to what he was saying. The bug that Zach planted in his office, and on his laptop allowed them to listen to Bouman's conversation. Unfortunately, Kaden said that they couldn't hear, or identify who Bouman was talking to.

"Yes, yes I know I'm not allowed to call you." Bouman said. "But they came. You said they'd come, didn't you?" A pause. "Yes-No, I didn't tell them anything. He brought the girl with him. What should we do, boss?" Another pause. Kaden's eyes met Amaraya's. She gave him a questioning glance, and he shrugged his shoulders. "They asked about the fire. They think it was murder. No. Of course, boss. Anything you ask. I won't bother Amaraya Holt. Of course not, I wouldn't dare to. Yes, boss." Bouman stopped talking completely, and Kaden shut off the laptop.

"He knows my name." Amaraya said as a matter of factly, her face setting into a frown. Zach was rubbing his brow, and Kaden sighed. "He didn't know my name before. Did he?"

Kaden looked up, and muttered something incomprehensible. Then he jumped off the table. "I don't think he knew your name before. And whoever he called, told him. Which means that whoever is paying him to be quiet also knows who you are." He finished, and his words did nothing to ease the tension in the room.

"He said that he won't bother me. Which means that his boss told him to do so. But why?" Amaraya paused in her speculation. "Shouldn't they be concerned with making sure no one finds out this is a cover up?"

Zach shook his head. "I think we need to focus on figuring out who that was. Because whoever is paying Bouman, is also behind the cover up of the investigation. Or at least works under the person that does. Which means that whoever Bouman was talking to is connected and could help us find the person that killed your parents."

There was a steady silence in the bunker. Unspoken words and thoughts hung over their heads like grey clouds.

Amaraya was the first to speak. "How do we find out who Bouman is working for?"

Zach pinched the bridge of his nose in thought. "I don't know. I have no idea where we go from here." Amaraya gave into her mind. She couldn't figure out why Bouman's boss cared so much if she was bothered or not. Maybe it was part of some big scheme. Her head throbbed in a silent pain.

"I think we need time to process this." Kaden finally voiced. He looked around the room, meeting each of their gazes. "We don't meet for a few days. Everyone takes some space to think of ideas, and we meet again at the end of the week."

Zach slowly started to nod. Amaraya didn't say anything. "I think that's a good idea." Zach looked at her, his eyes filled with worry. "Are you okay, Amaraya?" She turned her eyes to Zach, and then to Kaden. She pushed herself from the table, and walked to the center of the room. Zach and Kaden didn't move from their positions, but there was a tension in the air.

"No. I'm not okay. The person who knows the answer to the question I've been asking my whole life, was just at the end of that line. We were so close." Her voice felt thick on her tongue. She didn't feel right at all. "And I'm just realizing how much danger I'm putting myself into. And you guys, as well."