Opening Scene

Corporate Headquarters of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe

Ms. Starling and I were posing as real estate investors in order to gain access to a firm suspected of swindling its investors. The authorities had been unable to gain enough evidence to obtain a search warrant.

We had been hired by some of the investors who had been cheated out of millions of dollars and wanted their money back. Unable to get relief through the legal system, they had turned to us.

We had originally tried to hack into the firm’s systems, but the files we needed were apparently kept in an isolated system. With no outside access, Ms. Swan could not hack in.

Ms. Starling and I were operating as a decoy. While we were keeping the staff occupied with our transactions, the rest of my team would access the system.

As Ms. Starling was discussing the one hundred million dollar deal, I casually glanced down at my watch. A small indicator light now showed red. That meant that Ms. Raven had broken into the computer room and planted the transmitter plug. This was a small wireless device that allowed Ms. Swan to access the private system of the firm.

Ms. Starling continued negotiating. The proposed deal would involve multiple transactions through Swiss and Cayman Island banks. The representative kept promising incredible returns, as much as three hundred percent in two weeks. Of course, they could promise anything, since they didn’t plan on paying anything.

I glanced at my watch again. This time there were two lights showing on the watch, both of them green. The transfer was complete.

I quickly interrupted the negotiation. “Thank you, Priscilla (Ms. Starling’s cover name), but I believe I am satisfied with the deal as it is.”

I turned to the firm’s representative. “Mr. Howe, I believe we can do business. If you will draw up the agreement, we will return tomorrow to make the transfers and close the deal.”

We all stood and Mr. Howe shook my hand. “Thank you, Mr. Dove. The papers will be ready first thing tomorrow.” I could see the greed in his eyes.

Ms. Starling and I left the building and went to the limousine waiting for us. The woman chauffeur opened the door for us.

“Raven is free,” she said quietly as I climbed inside.

“Thank you, Ms. Falcon,” I answered as she closed the door behind us.

Waiting in the limo was Ms. Swan, who was working on her laptop. “We got it all,” she said, “names, deals, bank accounts, the whole deal.”

“Thank you, Ms. Swan,” I responded. “Ms. Falcon, proceed to the pick up location so Ms. Raven may join us and then take us to the FBI building.”