Read Online Game Over (The Baltimore Banners Book 2) by Lisa B. Kamps - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lisa B. Kamps
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agency?"
"That's what we can't find out. He's been approached by other agencies, and he's been offered advice and assistance, but he refuses. He simply denies that there's anything wrong and that he's satisfied with his current agent."
Bobbi was still having trouble understanding. Why would Nikolai agree to something so outrageous? He was an intelligent man, smarter than he let everyone know because of the Old Country act he deliberately portrayed to everyone—even to her, though usually not as extreme when they were alone.
"This agent, Walter Jacobs. Is he even legitimate? He's obviously working in the US. Isn't there something that can be done from that angle?"
Denny shook his head. "He's legitimate, with all the necessary certifications and licenses needed. And he's done a credible job of negotiating contracts and endorsement deals for Petrovich."
"Lucrative contracts and endorsements," Howard added.
Of course. The more money Nikolai made, the more money Jacobs would get. But why?
"The money he gets...where does it go?"
"He keeps a percentage, but the majority of it goes directly to TBL."
"Which is in Russia. Which makes the money almost impossible to trace." Bobbi took a deep breath and let it out. Her stomach twisted again. "Drugs? Human trafficking? Terrorism?"
Silence greeted her speculation, and she looked at both men, waiting. Howard is the one who finally spoke.
"We don't know. We suspect drugs and trafficking. There's been...rumor...that Pavel Maksimov has some kind of ties to TBL. But rumor only."
Bobbi's hands involuntarily clenched around the chair at the name. Pavel Maksimov, reputed Russian mafia boss specializing in a hundred unsavory practices. One of the few people they had never been able to locate enough evidence against to put away. One of the few names that had the power to lure her back into shadowland.
She eased her knuckled grip on the chair and looked first at Denny, then to Howard. "Rumor? You can't tie him to this?"
Howard shook his head, but it was Denny who answered. "We were hoping that having you get close to Petrovich would give us some further insight."
Bobbi stared at him in disbelief, anger thrumming through her veins. "How? You just said you don't think he has anything to do with any of this. I told you last week that it sounded like a shady business deal and to follow the money, but you'd already done that!"
"It was my call, Bobbi." Denny admitted. She stared at him, her jaw clenching in anger. "I was hoping that you'd be able to get...close...to him, find out why he was continuing to agree to the deal. If we knew why, we might have a better idea of where to focus our search."
"So you used me. Why am I not surprised?" She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, then opened them again. "So what was today about? Why would somebody suddenly send a warning like that by targeting him?"
"I don't know. Obviously someone somewhere thinks that we're getting information from Petrovich. What did he say about it?"
"Say? He didn't say anything—he didn't even know!"
"So the warning was meant for you. For us." Howard steepled his hands together and tapped his chin, thinking.
Denny was more agitated. "Which means someone at least suspects you're more than Petrovich's personal assistant. You're off the case, Bobbi."
"No. Bobbi's already involved. She's close to Petrovich. And now she knows what to look for." She had opened her mouth to object, then shut it when Howard spoke. He now turned his attention to her. "We should have been more thorough in briefing you. I'll take the responsibility for that. Are you still willing to help with this?"
Willing? Did she have a choice? Images whirled through her mind: Nikolai's smiling face, his deeply accented voice and hearty laughter,
"That's what we can't find out. He's been approached by other agencies, and he's been offered advice and assistance, but he refuses. He simply denies that there's anything wrong and that he's satisfied with his current agent."
Bobbi was still having trouble understanding. Why would Nikolai agree to something so outrageous? He was an intelligent man, smarter than he let everyone know because of the Old Country act he deliberately portrayed to everyone—even to her, though usually not as extreme when they were alone.
"This agent, Walter Jacobs. Is he even legitimate? He's obviously working in the US. Isn't there something that can be done from that angle?"
Denny shook his head. "He's legitimate, with all the necessary certifications and licenses needed. And he's done a credible job of negotiating contracts and endorsement deals for Petrovich."
"Lucrative contracts and endorsements," Howard added.
Of course. The more money Nikolai made, the more money Jacobs would get. But why?
"The money he gets...where does it go?"
"He keeps a percentage, but the majority of it goes directly to TBL."
"Which is in Russia. Which makes the money almost impossible to trace." Bobbi took a deep breath and let it out. Her stomach twisted again. "Drugs? Human trafficking? Terrorism?"
Silence greeted her speculation, and she looked at both men, waiting. Howard is the one who finally spoke.
"We don't know. We suspect drugs and trafficking. There's been...rumor...that Pavel Maksimov has some kind of ties to TBL. But rumor only."
Bobbi's hands involuntarily clenched around the chair at the name. Pavel Maksimov, reputed Russian mafia boss specializing in a hundred unsavory practices. One of the few people they had never been able to locate enough evidence against to put away. One of the few names that had the power to lure her back into shadowland.
She eased her knuckled grip on the chair and looked first at Denny, then to Howard. "Rumor? You can't tie him to this?"
Howard shook his head, but it was Denny who answered. "We were hoping that having you get close to Petrovich would give us some further insight."
Bobbi stared at him in disbelief, anger thrumming through her veins. "How? You just said you don't think he has anything to do with any of this. I told you last week that it sounded like a shady business deal and to follow the money, but you'd already done that!"
"It was my call, Bobbi." Denny admitted. She stared at him, her jaw clenching in anger. "I was hoping that you'd be able to get...close...to him, find out why he was continuing to agree to the deal. If we knew why, we might have a better idea of where to focus our search."
"So you used me. Why am I not surprised?" She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, then opened them again. "So what was today about? Why would somebody suddenly send a warning like that by targeting him?"
"I don't know. Obviously someone somewhere thinks that we're getting information from Petrovich. What did he say about it?"
"Say? He didn't say anything—he didn't even know!"
"So the warning was meant for you. For us." Howard steepled his hands together and tapped his chin, thinking.
Denny was more agitated. "Which means someone at least suspects you're more than Petrovich's personal assistant. You're off the case, Bobbi."
"No. Bobbi's already involved. She's close to Petrovich. And now she knows what to look for." She had opened her mouth to object, then shut it when Howard spoke. He now turned his attention to her. "We should have been more thorough in briefing you. I'll take the responsibility for that. Are you still willing to help with this?"
Willing? Did she have a choice? Images whirled through her mind: Nikolai's smiling face, his deeply accented voice and hearty laughter,
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