CHAPTER FOUR
Wednesday, September 6th
Sam sat in the conference room and looked at the initial raw information the Intelligence Branch had acquired and felt like his suspicions about Vazov were right on. There were enough communication records between Anton Vazov and Nikolai Yolkin to suggest they were working together. And if they were, then it made Yolkin’s rapid rise to power more understandable. Up until Sergey Belikov’s death, Yolkin had been nothing more than a small-time player in the organized crime scene, and the only way he would’ve risen was if he had help, and Anton Vazov appeared to be that help.
Not only had Yolkin managed to sweep up Belikov’s shestyorkas, he also folded the bratoks into the operation as well, which meant he had enough boots on the ground to run a successful operation and grow rapidly.
Leaning back in his chair, he turned toward the window and studied the busy causeway that ran in front of the building. If the FBI wanted to be successful in going after this new group, then it was going to take some unorthodox methods to achieve it. Which his boss pointed out last night wasn’t really an option.
He tapped his hand on his leg, and decided the biggest hurdle in front of them was how long the intelligence gathering process took. If he could somehow circumvent it or shorten it in any way, then they might have a chance at ending the Bratva dominance before the end of time. Unfortunately, the bureau was limited by how quickly they could act because they followed every rule of law and, while he appreciated it, he was also frustrated by it. Which is why his dark heart wanted to work with Lucky again, at least that was the story he was telling himself.
Before he could get too wrapped up in his thoughts, Owen walked in and slapped down his tablet and took a seat. “We’ve got the full backing of Simon on this one. We just got approval to deploy physical surveillance specialists, and we’ve also got three intelligence analysists assigned to the case.” Leaning back, Owen ran his hand over his shaved head and grinned. “Whatever you told him last night must’ve worked because when I walked in this morning, every request that I’d submitted was approved.”
Sam looked over at his top man and let out a laugh. “I said very little because he was too busy giving me the rules and regulations speech.”
“He must’ve felt it was effective because he signed off and put our requests on the fast-track.”
Sam crossed his knee on his leg and then looked out the window again before he spoke. “I believe we received the green light because the possibility of an alliance between Vazov and Yolkin is not inconceivable. We both know that Yolkin had to have help to make the grab for power that he did, and if he’s in constant communication with Vazov, then all arrows point to him.”
“We should contact the Brussels legat and see what they have on Vazov and see if their suspicions about his ties to the Albanian Rudaj fis were ever proved.”
“That’s a good idea because if they’re connected, then it explains the black heroin in the dealer’s hands.”
Owen pulled his tablet closer and typed a note. “Is Bes Besiaj still the krye of the Rudaj fis?”
“I’m not sure, but if he is and there was a proven connection to the KLA made, then the stuff that’s showing up makes sense.”
Sam pulled out a folder and opened it. “But why would Besiaj use the Russian Bratva to distribute their goods when they have known ties all along the eastern seaboard? I’ve never heard of the Albanians working with the Russians, so why in the hell would Besiaj?”
“And therein lies the fifty-million-dollar question. Not even the Genovese crime family wants anything to do with them,” Owen replied. “When I was in the New York office, I heard a captain of the family say on tape that he hated the fucking Albanians because if you have a beef with them, you have to kill them right away. There’s no talking to them.”
“Yeah, I bet the Gambino family regrets ever hiring them as assassins back in the nineties. Gave them a foothold that allowed them to become one of the most dominant groups in the world.”
Owen took his chair again and leaned his elbows on the table. “We’ve got a lot of dots of raw intel, and it’s going to take longer than we like to develop them.”
“Which makes me crazy.” Tapping the table with his fingers, Sam shook his head. “We’ve got a new and improved Russian cell operating in the city with the possible backing of one of the best money launderers in the world—who might have ties to an Albanian fis that likes to donate money to al-Qaeda. Why should we worry about how long it takes?”
Owen let out a loud bark of laughter. “You have a sick sense of humor.”
“What the hell is my choice? This is a shit-show of such epic proportions that it’s difficult to imagine how it could get worse.”
“Lucky could stick her nose in it and put herself in danger,” Owen replied helpfully.
“Fuck you for even uttering those words.” He ran his hand down his face and felt a cold chill run over his body because that’s exactly what he was afraid of. Not wanting to let that picture fully develop, he glared at Owen. “I know you’re good friends with Jason over at SAI, so put a bug in his ear to keep an eye on Lucky. I’m going to be working it from my end, but it never hurts to have an extra set.”
“I will, but you know she has enough people around her that, even if she wanted to do something foolish, she wouldn’t get far.”
“That’s what I’m counting on.”
“Are you going to ask her to share intel?”
“Not sure. Right now, Simon doesn’t want her anywhere near this case because there’s some rumor suggesting she’s been crawling inside the Intelligence Branch’s network. After speaking with her last night, I know in no uncertain terms she’s been nowhere near it, so that means someone is making shit up or creating false data.”
“Not surprising. No one in the Intelligence Office likes being shown up, and that’s exactly what Lucky has done and could do again.”
Which suddenly made a lightbulb go off in Sam’s brain. Maybe it was the Intelligence Office that was spreading bad intel about Lucky. They sure had the ways and means to do it and what Owen had said was true because what she’d accomplished in a matter of weeks would’ve taken them close to a year. “You have a point, Owen.”
“I usually do,” he replied sarcastically. “Seems this case may not be a total shit-show if it gives you an excuse to keep in contact with Lucky. Maybe this time you won’t screw it up and you’ll get her to like you instead of hate you. That date you’ve been wanting may not be an impossible dream after all.”
“I would never get Lucky involved in something potentially dangerous just so we could hang out.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make it work in your favor.” Owen stood and picked up his tablet. “And that concludes my dating advice for the day.”
“Thank God,” Sam said as he watched Owen saunter out of the room. Picking up his stuff, he stood and walked out of the conference room toward his office. He didn’t need the case as an excuse because, one way or another, his and Lucky’s time was coming, and when it did, he wasn’t going to screw it up.
***
Lucky sat next to Griffin and grabbed another donut out of the box. “I tried to backtrack through the initial breach and then found myself stuck. Whoever is responsible for this has a sick skill set.”
Grif inhaled a donut in four bites and then flicked sugar off his sweater. “We have to change our mindset and think like the hackers we used to be. This breach has a purpose, and since we don’t know what kind of psychopaths we’re dealing with, we have to proceed slowly.”
“I agree, but I can’t figure out where they entered. I don’t think the initial package we discovered that failed to deploy is what we need to worry about. I feel like there’s something deeper in the network that we’ve yet to uncover.” Lucky looked over at her monitor and saw that the reverse-engineering software called a disassembler was halfway through processing the content of what had been sent. “It will be interesting to see if there’s ransomware attached to the package, though. That will tell us something because if there’s bank account information, that will give us a clue. We can get into the bank’s network and see who holds the account.”
“There will absolutely be ransomware.”
Griffin leaned over and looked at the monitor and Lucky inhaled his familiar warm male, musk scent and wondered why it didn’t send her swooning as it had in the past. “Hey, how was your date last night?”
“Are we really going to talk about that?”
Sitting up straight, she let out an exasperated breath. “Not if you don’t want to. I just thought we were at the point of being able to talk about stuff like that.”
Rolling his chair closer, he dropped his arm around her shoulder and hugged her close. “When we worked, it was amazing, and that’s not easy to let go of.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder and grinned. “Let’s relive our ten worst fights and that way we won’t get nostalgic for the past.”
“Am I interrupting anything?” Hank asked as he walked into the room.
“No, Boss, just trying to figure out the security breach for the client.” Sitting up straight, she flashed Hank a grin and rolled her chair away from Grif’s.
“Yeah, something was about to get breached all right,” he responded with a laugh.
Griffin stood and shook Hank’s hand. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
Hank gripped Griffin’s hand and nodded. “Thanks, man, I’m officially cohabitating with my girlfriend, and it’s freaking fantastic.”
Lucky swung her head around and saw the huge smile that split her boss’s face. It was no small wonder that her best friend had fallen for him and was head over heels in love. “Has Stazi started to decorate your condo?”
“It’s not my condo—it’s our condo, and yes, she’s added some color to the place. We’re not going nuts, though, because eventually we’re going to look for a bigger space.”
“Your place has plenty, why do you two need more?”
“We’ve only got two rooms, and I want more than one kid, so it makes sense to start looking around now, so we’re ready.”
“She just moved in two weeks ago, don’t you want to wait and see how it goes before you start planning the kids?” Lucky asked.
“No. We’re going to be married next year, and I bet we start a family right away.”
Lucky saw Grif’s horrified expression and knew the idea of getting married and having kids was nothing he was interested in. “Close your mouth, Grif. Otherwise, you’ll catch flies.”
“Sorry, it’s just shocking to think that less than a year ago Hank didn’t know Stazi existed, and now he’s planning marriage and babies.”
Hank slapped Griffin on the shoulder. “If you’re fortunate, something like that could happen to you.”
Shaking his head vigorously, Griff waved his arms. “Don’t even put that out to the universe. I’m only thirty years old, and I’ve got a lot of living to do.”
“Turns out I like doing all that living with Staz,” Hank responded. Snapping his fingers, he gave Lucky a grin. “Almost forgot why I came in here. I wanted to give you a heads-up that Ivy is going to be in the office tomorrow and wants to meet with you.”
“Is she coming to apologize for stealing one of my best people and keeping her in Texas?”
“Don’t think so; she said something about the planned expansion of the Department of Intelligence at SAI.”
“Why am I expanding?”
“Max and Rory want to ensure we’re keeping up with the evolution of the security business and want to grow where necessary. As the VP of Operations, it’s Ivy’s job to make it happen.”
“Well, hanging out with Ivy is always fun and interesting, so I look forward to her visit.”
“Ryan’s coming with her, and he’s going on an op we’ve got on Friday.”
“Why?”
“Ryan was one of the best snipers on the Teams and an incredible waterman. We’re in the harbor on Friday, and I’d like to have him join us.”
“I think he’s coming along because he and Ivy just got married and doesn’t want to be left home alone.”
“Maybe, but I’m happy to have him, and it gives him a chance to keep his abilities sharp. Not a lot of opportunity in Texas to keep his diving skills up.”
One of the computers beeped and Lucky turned around. “I better check it.”
“I’ll do it,” Grif said as he moved toward the monitor.
“Leave you to it,” Hank said as he walked out.
Lucky watched him for a second and wondered briefly what Ivy had in mind. Expanding her department would be both a blessing and a curse, and she couldn’t decide which was going to happen first.
Taking a chair next to Grif, they both watched the data scroll across their screens. Right now, they didn’t have anything definitive, but what was showing up looked like the malicious hack was meant to permeate the client’s network, steal and encrypt all of its data, and demand payment for its return.
But her gut was telling her there was more, and it was going to take her and Grif digging through it together to discover what that more was.