Page 30 of Mission: Possible

"Nothing personal that I can think of but I read a few business articles that mentioned him. From what I recall, he came from family money until they lost it all in some big crash. I forget the exact details. Austen was a good student and nearly through school when it happened so the school created a scholarship just for him to allow him to finish."

"That was kind."

"Yeah, I thought so too, but I also think the school probably benefited greatly from the family's donations over the years so it would have been bad press to turf out the child. I think there was an older brother, or maybe a sister. Anyway, Austen went on to an Ivy League university and started a business in his spare time. By the time he graduated, he had repaid all his school loans as well as his sibling's, and hired twenty employees."

"Wow."

"He started multiple businesses and made instant successes of them. I think he sold a couple and diversified, buying some that were struggling and turning them around. He's pretty ethical too. He doesn't take over a company and chop it up to sell all the parts while laying off the former employees. He looks for a solid premise and then nurtures and builds it up. His business practices are pretty impressive. From what I remember, he believes corporate profits should be smaller in order to ensure the employees a better standard of life. Everyone wins."

All of that was interesting and said plenty about Austen's professional character but I wondered if it were enough information to determine whether someone tried to hurt him by injuring his wife. "Do you remember anything personal about him?" I asked.

"Not off the top of my head. He seems to cherish his privacy."

"What about his wife?"

"I don't remember reading anything about her at all, and you should know I'm not the man to ask about society gossip or any of that stuff."

"That's my field," I admitted since it was true. "He seems to genuinely love her."

"Perhaps he does." Solomon took another bite from his burger and gave it an approving nod as he cast a glance at my fries. I raised my eyebrows, daring him.

"I believe so. He can't think of any enemies from either of their pasts, or anyone that would want to hurt his wife, although her brother sounds like a jerk. However, he did say something very strange."

"What?"

"That he didn't think his wife was whom she said she was. If he's right, and she is hiding something, she might have gotten into some kind of trouble that has nothing to do with him."

"Trouble so bad that someone would actually attempt to kill her?" Solomon sat back in his seat and fixed me with a carefully studied expression. I knew that look; he thought I should be more careful.

"Yeah, but they didn't succeed. Sophie survived. But continuing with that hypothesis, do you think the potential perpetrator would try again?"

"Maybe. If there's any hope of her regaining consciousness, she could potentially identify her attacker. If they have a serious issue with her, for whatever reason, they might not want to risk it."

"I suggested we provide someone to watch over Sophie when Austen isn't there, and a bodyguard could be the answer. Can you spare a man?"

"I can and I know just the guy. Started in the risk assessment unit six months ago. Name's Frank. He also worked as a high-level bodyguard. Say the word and he's yours."

"I’ll ask Austen and let you know. What are your plans after lunch?" I asked, circling my finger over my rapidly diminishing order.

"We have another meeting with Charlie but this time, it’s at the bank. We're going to wade through their security footage. I hope something stands out from one or more of the robbers and we can use that to start looking for them. I'd like you to meet us there."

"No problem. I can check in with Garrett and ask what he knows too before I start the Takahashi case."

"And the FBI?"

I knew what Solomon meant: did I contact Maddox and his partner, Special Agent Sadiq Farid yet?

"I can do that. Or you can."

"They might let something slip with you."

"I think Maddox works very hard not to let anything slip around me."

Solomon huffed. "You'll think of something." He finished his burger, smacking my hand gently when I went in for another handful of fries before relenting and letting me take some.

"Thanks," I managed to say between bites. Why did food taste so much better from his plate? In the spirit of marriage, I pushed my plate to the middle of the table and Solomon helped himself.

"Can you meet me at the bank at four PM?" he asked.