to divert the conversation back to the original topic. “So what’s Kronin getting out of blackmailing VDB?”
“Kronin is using his ‘shit art’ somehow as a coverup to travel the world and do his dirty business. But selling former Soviet nuclear codes makes him lots of money, money that needs laundering …”
“Through the casino!” Sloane finishes and I nod.
But our girl isn’t only smart, she has the biggest heart and always has her loved ones happiness in mind. “So if we have those files, then we can prove that VDB was responsible for the embezzlement and that means that Royce’s dad can be exonerated.”
I confirm that’s the case and she squeezes Royce’s hand in hers, keeping her green eyes on me. “Does this mean that it’s over? That we have what we came for? That we’re free?”
I hate to disappoint Sloane and I seem to be the one with that shitty job lately but I have to shake my head. “Almost, baby. I was at a secure location in a meeting with Agent Walker. They want both Kronin and VDB. And also Kronin’s latest client. Apparently he’s really high up on Interpol’s most wanted list. So to finish this, we need to get proof of the money and the codes changing hands.”
Blaine looks deep in thought and his next question doesn’t surprise me. “How are they moving the money? Some shady offshore bank?”
This is where the simplicity of Kronin’s plan borders onto genius. “No. That was what would happen a decade ago, nowadays that type of technology is very traceable, making it really hard to get away with.”
River voices his confusion. “Then how?”
“Think about it,” I offer. “The high roller games. Some of those games are fixed. So that the transaction looks like a very legitimate loss at the casino. The buyer ‘loses’ the money and then Kronin conveniently wins it back. It doesn’t even necessarily happen in one single bet, so it’s very hard to trace. But as long as we obtain the casino’s records—which should be easy once VDB is arrested—that part of the problem will be solved by the FBI’s forensic accountants. What’s left to do is to find how the nuclear codes change hands. That completes the picture. Without that exchange, we have no crime.”
There’s silence in the room for a long moment. “So are we at a standstill?” Royce sounds frustrated and I don’t blame him.
“Yes and no. We have a good idea of who Kronin’s client might be. We think he’s coming here under the guise of buying some art. So there’s only two times those codes can change hands: during the high roller game, at the same time when the money is lost, or when the art is delivered.”
“I guess we’re going to another high roller game then, huh?” River asks rubbing his hands together as if he were planning to kick ass on the football field. “Who are we slipping some eye drops to this time? We’ve gotten pretty damn good at it.”
Everyone laughs. “Not this time, dude. We need to be there to try to catch the transaction, see if they exchange anything at all that could contain the codes. Can we get a last minute invite for the one tonight?”
Royce nods. “I don’t see a problem getting Blaine and someone else in. But it might look weird to ask to all be there.”
“Awesome. I’ll make sure that we’re all fitted with filming devices, so we can catch every angle of the game.”
Blaine’s rubbing his chin, in his typical thinking posture. “Wouldn’t it be easier to try to infiltrate VDB’s security team? I’m sure they have CCTV watching every game.”
I nod. “Yeah, I thought about it and it would be ideal. But first of all, it would be very hard to find a good reason to ask for it. I tried to have a field agent hired into the security team but VDB just hired a new chief of security and he’s uncannily been rejecting every agent I sent to the interviews. So being at the game is the only way to have boots on the ground.”
The atmosphere in the room is tense with the anticipation of this being over soon, everyone is well aware that there’s more at stake than just catching the bad guys. Our freedom hangs in the balance but Royce and I made a plan B that will allow us to get away if the shit were to hit the proverbial fan.
Alicia calls to invite us all to