need to know the characters. Who they are, what makes them tick, any advice on getting the details you need. Lay it all out for me, Claire. If we’re going off-assignment at work for you, and into the lion’s den for me, we need to be smart about it.”
She bites her lip and I can see the hesitancy. She needs this, but she’s nervous about sending me into it, or maybe about going against the rules at work.
Or more likely, both. And that is more telling about her desire to run with this scheme than anything else she’s said.
Claire was always the one to look out for me, hiding away from Mom and Dad together to make our own clubhouses, and later, setting the precedent for not being a trophy wife. No, she went to university and started pre-law, a respectable decision, according to Dad. Not because she’d actually be a lawyer, but because she could speak legalese at her future husband’s parties. He actually told her that.
And when she’d been recruited by the FBI, she’d jumped in with gusto, declaring that she was never getting married and was instead going to love her work.
And she has. Until tonight.
After a moment, her face hardens and she goes into business mode, pulling a file folder from her bag. I vaguely wonder what else she’s got in there since it seems to be the Mary Poppins style of tote, just a Bourne version.
“First, Nathan Stone, oldest son of Michael and Monica Stone. Mom died when they were young, suspected suicide after a bad cancer diagnosis. Michael was a businessman dealing in gemstones but widely suspected of running an underground shadow network of . . .well, basically, treasure. He was legit a treasure hunter, full-on Indiana Jones type, but he was murdered a little over a year ago. Nathan was a soldier. Well, mercenary is more like it, but when his dad was killed, he came home and took over the family mantle. He’s good. Too good, I think. The company has had a huge upswing in profits under him, but I think the true influx of cash is much greater behind the scenes and under the table. I think he’s running an illegal jewel operation that stretches globally and involves multiple people, from government workers to sales reps within respected institutions. We’re talking billions of dollars annually here.”
She spreads her arms wide to emphasize her point, then places a fingertip hard on the table. “That’s the info I need. What he’s doing, how he’s doing it, and where the assets are. You’re not gonna get all that info, but anything will help.”
She pauses to let me confirm that I understand. “Got it. Main lead is Nathan Stone. Soldier, businessman, dangerous, and smart. Who else?”
“The younger brother, Caleb. He’s more the wild child of the family. Works for Nathan doing odd jobs, but we’re not talking running the dry cleaning. More likely, stealing jewels, strong-arming competitors, and the one who gets his hands dirty so Nathan can appear to be above-board. He’s cute, charming, got that whole boy next door façade, but he’s hardcore. Served as a mercenary with Nathan too. Last, but certainly not least, is Nikolai.”
“The Russian crime lord?” I say sarcastically, like that’s something I would ever say on a regular day.
Claire must hear something in my twisted humor that sets her off because she leans forward, getting in my face.
“This is serious, Em. I mean it. If you go in there all casual and get up in something dangerous, I’ll never forgive myself. I need you to understand that this is risky and to be smart.”
“I do. I’m with you,” I reassure her. “Nathan, Caleb, dead mom and dad. And a crime lord in a pear tree.” I singsong to the famous Christmas tune. “Seriously, Claire. I get that this is dangerous. I’m coping with some humor here.”
She closes her eyes for a second, and I think she’s changed her mind, but when they open again, she keeps going. “Okay, Nikolai Romanov. He’s a thug, ruthless and powerful, cruel and smart. Looks a lot like every Russian mob stereotype you’ve seen, but don’t let the central casting looks deceive you. He’s been on the FBI watchlist for a long time because he controls a large territory in Northern Russia, like his own dictatorship. But his organization has tendrils that reach out. His family is the major financier for one of the cartels in South America. He basically owns the