Collateral Damage
Dan drove calmly, but his heart was racing. He effortlessly weaved through traffic, his mind buzzing and his heart thumping—but somehow he was relatively calm. He believed in the strength of what he built, but he also knew that his obligations to his foundations were of a high priority to him. He couldn't help but worry about that aspect of things as he went over everything David told him again.
For David to even bring up the foundations, Dan knew there was a problem—a serious problem. He pulled into David's driveway and parked in his usual spot. He calmly got out of his car and took the stairs up to the front door two at a time.
Before he could knock, the door quickly swung open and David, with a headphone set on, was talking and waving him in. There were stacks of printouts in his study, a whiteboard with notes, and two computers each listing the analytics from a different social media site.
Dan dove in and looked at the analytics while picking up printouts. David had highlighted several comments on the computers, and several sections of the reports to the sites in the printouts. Dan nodded—bots. The investigators will see through this quickly—we just need to have our cleanup strategy together.
He then focused on the printouts addressing the vandalized properties and the whiteboard that diagramed the damages and the costs. This hit hard, and his head began to throb. David was estimating millions in damages and restoration fees. The finished townhouse was going to hit them hard.
Dan had renovated that location with Italian marble and soft-carved teak doors. Carson City didn't allow full-coverage insurance for properties that will be placed for sale. Only property and basic coverages were possible. They were not covered for the loss of such expensive materials. Dan wanted to curse. He was looking at the printouts on the three foundations he created—one for childhood cancer research, one to help families of children with cancer, both because of his younger sister dying of leukemia when he was young. The third was a food bank Trace Progressive set up two years ago.
David walked in just as Dan's cell buzzed—it was Jessica. He ignored the buzzing and let it end on its own; she called right back. Dan groaned.
"I am really busy, Jessica."
"Hello, love. I just wanted to check on you. I want you to know that if you need me, I am always here for you." Her syrupy sweet, overconfident voice made Dan's skin crawl and his stomach turn uncomfortably. It was like she knew all his dirty secrets and she knew how to use them all against him.
He paused, lost in thought, and she giggled coyly. A slow scowl moved across his face. Was she mocking him? He exhaled heavily. "Jessica. There is nothing you will ever be able to do for me. I want nothing from you, absolutely nothing, ever again."
He disconnected the call and looked to David. "Let's figure this mess out. Call Clarence Dens. I have a wildflower garden to finish."
As Dan was working through the new issues facing Trace Progressive, the Patrick household was about to become a bit tumultuous as well. Gladys Patrick watched her favorite news channel just as a special report interrupted the broadcast.
"We just received a report of vandalism in three of the most opulent neighborhoods in Carson City. Police reports are stating that these are properties owned by Trace Progressive—probably one of the most lucrative real estate enterprises in the country. Trace Progressive also has ties to the Blue Serene Lake property that has recently been tied to city council corruption. Law enforcement seems to believe that Trace Progressive is directly being targeted. The owner…"
Gladys looked to Christopher and frowned—he had gone pale and had a deep frown on his face. The look made her pause, but she decided to think about that later. "What is going on?! Dan and Amber are having so many problems; it's like someone is out to get them."
She looked back to the TV and Christopher worked hard to swallow around the lump in his throat. Vandalism? He had given information to Jessica about all the expensive materials Dan was buying for his properties. Theoretically, it could be seen as a good investment, but it was also high risk. Case in point—they were now stolen and under-insured materials.
Could Jessica truly coordinate such a thing? His heart raced as he watched his wife. He had truly messed things up by sleeping with Jessica. He could not even think of why he had slept with her at this point. He had tied an insane person to him and his wife forever.