“It could work.” Drew looked at Bas, who was scowling at his screen. “What do youthink?”
Bas looked up from his phone, startled. “Huh? I’m sorry. What were yousaying?”
“That maybe we could get Alexei on ID fraud, if we can’t bring him down on somethingbigger.”
“No.” Bas shook his head, putting his phone down. “In fact,fuckno. I don’t want to get Alexei on ID fraud, or possession of drugs, or jaywalking, or whatever misdemeanor we can come up with. I want to get him onmurder. He had my parents killed, Drew. He had your sister killed. He needs to answer for that. Anything else isunacceptable.”
Drew sighed. “Sebastian, if wecando that, wewill, but isn’t it more important to remove him from power and stop him from killing anyoneelse?”
“No! I mean, yeah, that’s important, but getting him on ID fraud… that’s a stopgap, and not a guarantee that he’ll even see prison. Besides, how the hell are we even going to do that much?” he demanded, glaring at each person around the table inturn.
“I agree,” Damon said. “He ruined my life…” He glanced at Cain, and his expression softened as he stroked the column of Cain’s neck with his thumb. “Or he tried damn hard to, anyway. I want him to pay forthat.”
“That would mean my dad coming forward and going to prison,” Cain said woodenly. “He’d have to confess and, as much as he’s trying to be helpful now, I don’t see thathappening.”
“I just want this to be over.” Cam crossed his arms and stared around the table. “I want to know that no one is coming after us. Will getting them on ID fraud be enough to ensure that?” he askedCort.
Cort grimaced and shook his head. “I don’t know, babe. It would depend on whether someone pleads out, and how generous the prosecutor is being. I still have a lot of friends in the FBI, but investigators don’t have the final say on plea deals. If a prosecutor feels like they could turn Alexei? Use him to get a RICO charge on another organization, or hunt down an even biggerfish…”
“He wouldn’t spend a minute in an orange jumpsuit,” Basgrowled.
“I still say it’s worth pursuing,” Drew insisted. “I mean, if we could get information from Gary on just that aspect of the organization - just finding a couple of fake IDs that were used or whatever, maybe wecould…”
“Couldwhat? Is that going to dismantle SILA?” Bas demanded as his phone chimed again. He glanced at the screen and swore under hisbreath.
“What’s going on?” Drewdemanded.
“I told you, it’s nothing.” He caught Drew’s glare and sighed in frustration. “Nothingpertinent, okay? Just that asshole who’s been emailing me at work. MichaelPaterkin.”
Drew narrowed his eyes, trying to recall the name. “Wait, is that the guy who was sending you weird emails insisting you get him ajob?”
“Yeah, said he worked with my dad. Well, he’s gone from insisting to threatening. Not a big deal, justannoying.”
“Threatening?” Cort said, his gaze sharp. “Explain.”
“Not threatening like he’s going to kill me. Just obviously pissed off. A crackpot. It’snoth—.”
“Don’t say it’s nothing, Sebastian. Remember this is myjob, yeah? Head of security for your company?” Cort reminded himmildly.
“What idiot promoted you to that position?” Bas demanded, rolling hiseyes.
Since everyone knew that Sebastian had created the position for Cort himself, Cort didn’t bother to dignify this with aresponse.
“Hand me the phone,” he demanded, and Bas passed it down with a mightysigh.
“My dearest Mr. Seaver,” Cort read aloud. He glanced up and down the table. “Anyone else creeped outalready?”
Cam snorted and leaned in, putting a hand on Cort’s thigh. “Keepreading.”
“I am sure you have received my several recent messages regarding a most important opportunity for us to work together, but I have to date not seen yourreply.”
“It sounds like one of those Nigerian phishing scams,” Cain said, frowning. “Does he want your bankinformation?”
“It’s the English,” Cort mused. “A little bit stilted, the words out of order and way too formal. Ordinarily, I’d ignore it, but the dude goes on to say that he enjoyed working with your father many times in the past, and appreciated the brilliance of their work together on theCollier Project.” He glanced up at Bas. “Any idea what thatis?”
“None.” Bas shrugged. “Must’ve been before mytime.”
“Can we check out what itwas?”
