of a private citizen. And trust me, I have plenty of security cam footage that would back me up. How do you think that’s going to play out? For him, for the FBI, for his partner?”
The threat hangs heavy, and before things can get out of hand again, I step in between them. “Claire, I don’t know what’s up with Matt, but he did try to kill Nathan. You know that’s not how the FBI works, or at least not how it should work.”
“There will be questions. It’s not like this can be shuffled under the rug if an agent goes missing,” Claire protests. “Nathan will have to answer for this.”
“Please, Claire,” I plead. “Work with us.”
She hears the meaning. ‘Us’ is Nathan and me, not me and her. I’ve picked my side. The only thing left is for her to choose hers. Me or the FBI?
Claire gives Nathan a hard look then turns to me, crossing her arms. “Maybe he didn’t kill Anna, but he’s still not a good man, and tonight doesn’t change what he has done. I put you here to find out about his business dealings because he’s shady, Em. I know he is.”
“I’m not some squeaky-clean charitable do-gooder,” Nathan admits, speaking up to defend himself. “I run a company successfully and proudly. One that, I’ll admit, I’ve spent years trying to clean up in a dirty fucking industry. And so far, I’ve done pretty well using skill, foresight, and maybe a bit of luck.”
“Guess my new nickname is Lucky now,” Caleb mouths off, smirking. No one responds but Claire rolls her eyes at him.
“Has Stone Corp always been on the right side of the law? No,” Nathan reiterates. “Some of that echoes of my father's legacy, and some of it’s the nature of the international gem trade.”
“My heart weeps for you,” Claire growls, and Nathan glares at her.
“But it is as close as I can get it when I’m dealing with an industry that is decidedly ugly. And I’m breaking no laws, US or otherwise. I promise you that.”
“And Nikolai Romanov? Why would you have dealings with a man like that? We both know there is no doubt about him,” Claire asks, trying to jab back.
“I’m not responsible for his business,” Nathan replies. “My father had business with the Russians previously, and I made a one-time arrangement for a trip with Nikolai to pay my father his last respects. That’s all.”
Claire’s smile is smug, “You mean Daddy Stone’s ashes? Tell me again how you got those since he was buried?”
Nathan pinches his nose, reaching the end of his rope. “Yes, I told everyone it was to spread his ashes. Because telling people that I wanted to go there and spit on his legacy isn’t exactly the image I want to give people, about him or me. I made that deal with Nikolai for safe passage so I could drain the black scourge of anger my dad left me with and hopefully start fresh. And I did that. Only to return to an agent attempting to assassinate me in my own home.”
I nod, begging her to see the truth, to let this go. Nathan has done nothing wrong, at least not tonight. As for Brazil . . . that’s not germane to Matt getting shot.
For the first time ever, I see Claire lose her cool. She slips the gun into her holster and throws her hands down, yelling out, “Fuck!”
She starts pacing, and I can see her lips moving as she works through everything we know.
She’s got to believe us. It’s the only way, and I absolutely think it’s the truth. Or at least part of it. Someone sent Matt, so there’s more, but this is where we’re at. Nathan didn’t kill his Dad or Anna, and we all know that. Even Kyle knows it, and he rightfully wants blood for Anna’s death.
If only Claire will realize it too.
The moment grows as she works her way through every angle, and when she sighs glumly, I know she’s finally arrived at the same conclusion.
“I’ll go to Matt’s apartment, see what I can find. I’ll be back shortly.” It’s a big concession on her part, a sign that she believes us.
“Thank you, Claire. So much. But how can you get in Matt’s apartment?” I ask.
She looks at me miserably, and my heart breaks at what I see in her eyes. Oh, no, Claire, not that . . . not that. “One, I’m an FBI agent. Two, he’s my