Chapter 34 - Cry Havoc

Bella had been working for years to get close to Nancy Landgraab, carefully cultivating a friendship between them.

Despite Nancy's ties, through her husband, to the Agency (or perhaps because of them) no one had even been able to get solid evidence on her connections to the criminal Families.


Bella was getting closer than anyone had before.

Since Mortimer's death, she had become dedicated to proving Nancy's involvement. Some in the Agency said she had become obsessed and her superiors were making noises about moving her off the case. Bella knew she was close. She just needed a break... one break.

"It's time be careful," Gwen whispered. "No one can know. We're not ready yet."

"I'm in," Cassie grinned.

Hacking into Nancy's secret server was almost laughably easy. You'd think a major crime ring would have better security, Xander thought.

"Hmmm... reset password," Cassie smirked. "You should be able to guess this one, little brother."

Nancy's son Malcolm was the same age Cassie would have been. Bella still wasn't surprised he was opening to a little flirting. Men could be so predictable.

She was surprised at how welcoming Malcolm, and his wife Bonnie, were...


... and how much they let slip to "mother's friend Bella."


They even invited her to dinner.

"Carefully..."

"He'll never remember he saw me. He'll just remember how much he trusts Bella."

After years of trying, Nancy was finally opening up.

"Now Nancy..."


"... you're so sorry about Mortimer. You trust Bella absolutely. You will let her in."

Bella knew she was making progress but she never expected to be invited this far in.

Nancy she'd known about...

Representative Feng? No wonder the Agency hadn't been able to make any headway.


Fortunately, he was an easy target...


... willing to share all sorts of things to a lonely widow.


Mortimer's dear old friend, Vlad. It was probably for the best she didn't try to seduce him. It took all Bella's concentration not to go for her gun at the sight of treacherous old snake. If the rumors about the old monster were true, it wouldn't kill him anyway... but it would hurt a lot.

As she put together the evidence packet, Bella couldn't help but think - This for you, Mortimer. This is for you.

"In a surprise action today, law enforcement officials made sweeping arrests to break up a major crime ring. Among the shocking suspects are Nancy Landgraab, her son Malcolm Landgraab, his wife Bonnie and Representative Victor Feng. The Landgraab's legal team denied all charges. A spokesman for Representative Feng issued a further statement condemning what they called the heavy-handed tactics of the shadowy Agency.

"One suspect, the noted wealthy recluse Count Vladislaus Straud IV, remains at large."

"Fools. I'm surrounded by fools. Reduced to hiding in a crypt due to their incompetence. How... inconvenient."