I heard it said that whatever you needed, he could supply.”
“Even fake passports?” Jonas asked.
Biggie nodded.
“Then that has to be him.” Madison glanced at Jonas. “Do you have a name?”
Biggie hesitated again. “I don’t know his last name, but his first name is Yuri.”
“How do we contact him?” Jonas asked.
Madison turned to Biggie. “You could get me in there, couldn’t you? If I needed a new passport?”
“You?”
“If Yuri finds out we’re onto him, Barrick will never show up,” she said. “We also need some kind of guarantee that we’re on the right track. Otherwise, we’ll have to set up a handful of stakeouts and we might still end up with nothing.”
Biggie shook his head. “This guy will spot a cop a mile away. You’d never pull it off.”
“He’s right,” Jonas said.
“Maybe,” she said. “But I’ve done plenty of undercover work.”
“I’m still not convinced—”
“I could go in as a single mom, say, running from an abusive relationship.” She turned to Jonas.
He frowned, not surprised she’d come up with a risky plan. “If you had the right cover story, and managed to convince him, it might work.”
“This guy has a reputation for handling problems himself,” Biggie said.
“Meaning?” Madison asked.
“He’s not one you want to cross, and if he were to end up finding out you worked for the government—”
“He won’t,” she said.
“You can’t know that.”
“Biggie might be right,” Jonas said. “There are just too many things that could go wrong in this scenario.”
“Something I think every time I do an early morning raid to bring down a fugitive. The way I see it, this is our only lead right now. It’s worth the risk.” She turned back to Biggie. “Can you get me in to see him?”
“I could try.”
“If we don’t find this guy, more people will die,” she said. “If we know he has to pick up a passport, that means we’ll know where to watch for him.”
Biggie sighed. “Fine. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try to set up an appointment.”
“We’ll come up with a background story,” Jonas said, “and he needs to know that this is a rush job.”
“He’ll want cash. Up front.”
“Not a problem,” Madison said. “Are you good with this, Jonas?”
“It might work.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
His hesitation had nothing to do with Madison. He had to remember that she was not Felicia.
He nodded. “Actually, despite the risks, I think your idea’s spot-on if we want to find Barrick without scaring him off. What do you say, Biggie?”
“I’m in. When do you want to see him?”
“Can you get me in with him tonight, Biggie?” Madison said.
“Works for me.”
“Then let’s go,” Jonas said, and turned on the engine.
Twenty-Eight
At half past four, Madison finished her water in one of the marshals’ offices, then dumped the bottle into the recycling bin, trying to channel her nervous energy. A rush of adrenaline was inevitable, but she could never let it affect the role she was playing.
“Madison . . . or should I call you Chrystal?” Jonas leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “Before you go, I want you to pretend I’m Yuri and tell me who you are.”
“Pretend you’re Yuri.” Madison sat down across from him. “Are you serious?”
“I’m always serious.” His frown deepened, but there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve done this.”
“I have no doubt in your abilities, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to ensure you’re ready. Just do it. For me.”
She hesitated, but knew he was probably right. They needed the information from Yuri without scaring away Barrick. If she gave Yuri any cause to believe she was there undercover, it would blow everything.
“Fine.” Madison took a deep breath and focused on the backstory they’d created for Chrystal. “I’m a single mom with a three-year-old, trying to get away from an abusive relationship. He’s taken my passport and driver’s license and birth certificate, which is why I need a new one. I need to leave the country.”
“How did you find out about me?”
“I have a friend who has a cousin who’s involved with some . . . under the table things. He promised to set me up and gave me your number.”
“And the money . . . where did you get the money?”
“I have an aunt across the country who has some stashed away. I didn’t tell her what it was for, but she was willing to help.”
“Why not just move in with her?”
“Because as long as I’m in the country he won’t