“Boy has skills,” I heard Ghost say to no one in particular.
“I’m sorry sir. I will update your firewall when I’m finished,” Sypher said apologetically, then continued, “Phantom, I need your files on the original seven. I have a lead, I think. Search the name, Gary Hughes.”
The pretty woman cursed then muttered, “Don’t know why you just didn’t take it. You do it all the time. Okay, give me a second. Gary Hughes.”
“He’s the lead District Attorney in D.C. He is up for the twelve-circuit court judge position. He’s a shoo-in for the Supreme Court someday. What does he have to do with this?” Angelo asked, looking at his computer screen as Phantom began.
“The hot Italian guy is right, boss. Gary Hughes is the current District Attorney for the greater D.C. area. Born August 18th, 1970, he is the son of George Hughes and Martha Caldwell from Virginia. He attended Yale University and graduated with honors, where he was quickly scooped up by a D.C. firm of Hughes, Caldwell, and McMillian. That’s right, folks, he went to work for daddy. Now, Gary Hughes married a woman named Linda Stevens, the daughter of Michael Stevens and Abigail Lyons-Brentwood. Yes, those Brentwood’s from Martha’s Vineyard. Gary Hughes had a normal childhood and never got into trouble, even in college, as far as I can tell. How does this match up with the original seven, Sypher? The guy is clean.”
“A hunch. Something Ms. Demarco said. Keep digging while I look at your files.”
“Want to let me in on this,” Matrix added. “If not, I am putting my son to bed.”
“Matrix search the name Catarina Demarco, born….”
“June 3rd, 1995. Born in Rome, Italy, to Benito and Sophia Demarco. They immigrated to the United States when she was eight, along with their twelve-year-old son, Angelo. They own a small bakery in little Italy, Chicago. She attended Loyola University. Her favorite color is blue. She is five-six, with raven black hair and the deepest emerald eyes I’ve ever seen. She smells like honeysuckle and lavender on a dewy morning. She smiles all the time and prefers books to watching television. Her favorite movie is theLion King. I took her when it came out. We watched it five times before I begged no more. She…”
“Um, that’s good, Player,” Matrix whispered as I looked up to see everyone staring at me. Reaper grinned and lightly shook his head. My brother Massacre rolled his eyes and sighed, sitting on the bed as his hand landed on my shoulder. Gio and my cousins all just stared blankly at me until Gio asked, “How long, Reggie?”
“Since sophomore year in college.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“We didn’t want her brother to find out.”
“But he found out, didn’t he?”
“Yes. The night before I left. I was with Cat. Angelo found us. I left soon after.”
Gio sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “There is more to that story, Reginald. Hiding it now will do no one any good. Best tell us everything.”
“He’s right, Player. Spill. Now,” Reaper ordered, crossing his arms over his chest. I hated the look he was giving me. It was‘the do not fuck with me with right now, or I will reap your ass’look.
The one that always made me piss my pants.
That look.
Kind of similar to the one Gio was giving me too.
“Story time is going to have to wait,” Matrix interrupted, then added. “Direct your eyes to the screen men. The picture you are seeing is of Vito Roman Bianchi, head of the Bianchi Family in northern Italy. He is also a second cousin to Vincenzo Capribella. When Catarina was sent back to Italy in 2017, she was enrolled at the University of Verona but never attended. Shortly after she arrived in Verona, she was spotted with Vito Bianchi. There was an article in a Verona paper. Now, I can’t read Italian, so I don’t know what the paper says, and the paper doesn’t say her name, but facial recognition identifies the woman as Catarina Demarco. Vito Bianchi is big in the underground world boss. I’ve just begun to start piecing together his history. If Catarina was seen with him, it’s my bet he had her to sell her.”
“Matrix is right, Boss,” Phantom said. “I’ve been monitoring all the dark-web chatrooms, and Vito’s name has been mentioned before. I didn’t think anything of it because he isn’t a big fish. If he bought or sold her, I can find it, but it’s going to be tricky. The International Trafficking trade is vast. Lots of countries participate. The network they use is a maze, boss. It’s going to take time.”
“Get to it fast,” Reaper stated, then asked, “Sypher, what is the link between Hughes and Catarina?”
“I’m not sure, Mr. Reaper, but my gut is telling me they are tied somehow.”
“Keep digging. Find the link.”
“Yes, sir.”
“In the meantime, Phantom and Matrix, I want everything you can find on Hughes, his family, both sides, and this Vito asshole. I don’t want to start another war if I can help it.”
“And I would like a copy of that paper. Email it to me,” Gio ordered, quickly giving Matrix his email address just as his phone dinged. I watched as a slow grin appeared when he looked at his phone. I knew that grin. Someone was in trouble. However, I was too concerned for Catarina to care. Whoever it was, was on their own.
Both Phantom and Matrix nodded before signing off.
“Sypher,” I asked the young member. “Is she okay?”