Page 40 of Entwined With You

“Not piggyback. We think they’re going to be in the thick of it, either monitoring your operation or actually have their players on the team.”

“That’s true,” Cami said. “Darrin and Jorge both served time. They might have been approached.”

“Exactly,” Seagrave said.

“For that matter,” Ryan added, “it’s possible they killed Tim because he wouldn’t cooperate.”

“And maybe they’re the ones who killed Sabrina,” Brax said, his voice almost a whisper.

“It’s likely,” Ryan agreed. “And they probably intended to kill you, too.”

“But that was fifteen years ago,” Brax says. “If they wanted the sisters back then, why wait so long? Why didn’t they raid Wolfe’s home?”

“Wolfe’s security is exceptional,” Seagrave said. “But the point is valid. Their fingers may not have been in the soup back then. We’re merely speculating. My point is simply to be aware. They refer to themselves as Group Ultra.They’re incredibly well-funded—primarily through trafficking of weapons, drugs, and humans—and their agents are loyal.”

“And aware?” Brax asked. “They know what kind of organization they work for?”

“The top tier, yes. As for the lower level agents, we think not. But we can’t be sure.”

“That’s crazy,” Cami said. “How could they not know?”

“It’s not crazy,” Brax says, seeing full well how it would play out. “I’ve done it. On a much smaller scale, sure. But it’s just a long-term con. Elaborate, but that’s the gooey milk chocolate center. You build a world with every con. A decent conman keeps it small. The world exists in the story they tell. A mediocre conman might set up shop. Hang out a sign. Provide some bullshit service. Pay a few panhandlers to pose as employees or customers. Setting the stage, but it’s still just putting on a show. Anyone too clever just looks behind the curtain. A master conman, though…”

He looks around at the group. “At that level, it’s not a stage anymore. It’s not even a Disney ride. It’s like walking into an AI generated world. Completely immersive.” He exhaled, then met Seagrave’s eyes. “If they have money and resources, then hell, yeah, they could pull it off. And their marks won’t even see them coming.”

Chapter Eleven

I take my seat in the briefing room around the huge conference table. Larry takes the seat beside me, and next to him is Director Lambert’s personal assistant, his pen poised to take notes.

Lambert’s standing beside the screen, his brow furrowed as he reviews a briefing bound in the familiar purple cover that designates it as a high priority mission.

On the other side of me is an empty chair, and beyond that is the newest guy on the team, Morris Grey, a recent transfer from Eastern Division. Since I’ve been in the field, I’ve only met him once, but he seems like a sharp guy. I hope so. We’re a small team, but the work we do here is important, and everyone pulls their share of the weight.

I hear the door open behind me, and I turn as Ramos hurries in. I look down, hiding my smile. In all the years I’ve known him, the only time Ramos was ever early was when he pulled me out of the van with only seconds to spare.

“I’m buying you a watch for Christmas,” I whisper to him as he slides into the seat beside me. “And I’m setting it fifteen minutes fast.”

At the front of the room, Lambert’s brows rise. “Thank you so much for joining us, Agent Ramos.”

“Happy to be here.” He leans back, smiling his familiar grin.

Lambert scowls, but I know he’s not really angry. Ramos is a stellar agent, and around here, what counts most is the quality of your work. That and being a team player.

He presses a button on the lectern, and the lights dim as a screen descends from the ceiling. A moment later, an image appears. The Sisters.

“Since Mr. Grey is new to the team,” Lambert says, “I’ll do a brief recap. As most of you know, about fifteen years ago, these diamonds were the subject of an attempted heist.”

Grey leans toward me. “I read your file,” he says. “That was a wild ride that led you here.”

“I can’t argue with that,” I say, then make a show of sitting back and zipping my lip when Lambert glares at us, one brow cocked.

“The leader of that team is making another go at stealing the stones. Darrin Gold isn’t a particularly skilled thief, but he is a determined one. Agent Fox’s mission is to see that that heist happens,” he says firmly, nodding to me. “Those stones need to go missing.”

“Why?” Grey asks.

“We’ve learned of a plot by a group of Eastern European terrorists to steal the Sisters when they’re in transit from the Performing Arts Center where they will be on display back to the home of Kingston Wolfe.”

“Going to be hard to find a buyer for those rocks,” Grey says.