CASCADE - Chapter 32

CONNECTION

March 19, 2023

CONNECTION

Liz followed her hunch for the connection between Necro Metallum Corporation in the Daily Events tab on the city’s webpage. She scrolled to the Events Calendar to find that the annual shareholders’ meeting for NMC was scheduled for tonight at the Charleston Convention Center. On the NMC website, she read, “Owner and CEO, Robert Wingate III, opening keynote speaker, March 19, 2023, 6:00 PM.”

She searched Mason Boggs and discovered that he had prior arrests for disorderly conduct but no felony charges. He lived in Naoma and worked at Necro Metallum Corporation’s Darknight Mountaintop Removal project. She also noted that he has a Federal Explosives License.

Liz called Liam.

“Hi, Liz. What do you have for me?”

“I have found the connection between NMC to Charleston. When do you arrive?”

Liam glanced at his dashboard navigation and confirmed, “I should be there at 5:30 PM. What’s the connection?”

“NMC is having its annual shareholders meeting at the Charleston Convention Center. Wingate is speaking at 6:00 PM.” She reminded Liam, “Robert Wingate III owned the NMC Coal Mine in Naoma, where Asher worked and lost his job in 2010.” Liz predicted, “Based on Colvin’s military experience as a sniper, I think Colvin will attempt to assassinate Wingate tonight. I have also found something surprising about Colvin that I had not suspected. It’s unrelated to our current case but will interest you.”

“Liz, you have my attention. What is it?”

“When I discovered that Colvin and Clay were both discharged from the military and then dropped out of site for about three years, I contacted a friend at the CIA. He confirmed that both Colvin and Clay worked for the contractor Black Swamp. Colvin was a mercenary sniper.”

Liam responded, “Ok, that is interesting, but why would it interest me?”

“The CIA report listed all the 'kills' for Colvin. One of the locations was near Kandahar. I was curious because you and I were deployed to Kandahar and were frequently assigned to many of the same missions. Listed on Colvin’s 'Kill' list was a warlord from a small Afghanistan village.”

“Wait.” Liam interrupted, “What village?”

“Najeeban.”

Shocked, Liam repeated, “Najeeban.” He asked in amazement, “What year?”

“2007”

“That’s impossible! I was there, in that same village. My unit’s mission was to extract the warlord. The CIA must have retained Colvin’s services from Black Swamp. The military wanted the press to believe that the warlord was killed in the battle.” Liam clarified, “Liz, Colvin did the hit while my unit was pinned down. Snipers do not work alone. Look further in the report and see if they identify a spotter.”

Stunned by the revelation, Liz said, “Okay, give me a second. Here it is, Clay Matthews.”

Liam looked at the dashboard clock. He still had 40 minutes before arriving at the Convention Center in Charleston. Liam suggested, “There is more to Colvin than we thought, but there is one thing we know for sure.”

Liz questioned, “What’s that?”

“Colvin is a trained killer.”