Number 06 │ A Leverage Fanfiction

The 12 Step Job│ Part 1

Leverage HQ

The office was bathed in the soft glow of afternoon light filtering through the blinds. Nate and Sophie sat across from Michelle, a visibly distressed woman clutching her purse tightly. Nate leaned back, casually sipping from a pop can, his sharp eyes never leaving her face.

"Have you told anyone the money went missing?" Nate asked softly.

Michelle shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not even the board of directors. Mr. Ford, those donations were my responsibility. I could go to jail."

Nate set the can down with a quiet clink. "No, that's not gonna happen. Tell us about your money manager."

Michelle took a deep breath. "His name's Jack Hurley. Works for one of the biggest firms in town. He said that with the right investments, he could grow our money. He was enthusiastic and sweet, like a big kid. I did my homework. He checked out."

Sophie leaned forward slightly, her tone gentle. "So, when did you realize things had gone wrong?"

Michelle's hands twisted in her lap. "We're breaking ground next week on a new food pantry, and I needed to write some checks. Jack's been ducking my calls, so I contacted his boss. And he told me they didn't even have a record of our having an account there." She looked up, eyes filled with desperation. "How is that possible?"

Nate's expression hardened. "It isn't. The company is falsifying its records so they're not on the hook for Hurley's embezzlement."

Sophie crossed her arms, her voice dripping with disdain. "Classy."

Nate nodded grimly. "It happens all the time."

Michelle's voice cracked as she spoke. "People trusted me with this money."

Nate leaned forward, his tone firm yet reassuring. "And you trusted Jack Hurley. Michelle, this isn't your fault. It's important for you to know that."

He stood and walked her to the door, his calm demeanor steadying her frayed nerves.

Michelle hesitated, turning to him as she reached the threshold. "Please don't take this the wrong way. After what happened with Jack, I have to ask."

Nate raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

"Why do you do this?"

Nate's lips curved into a faint smile, his voice soft yet resolute. "Same reason you do."

She nodded, understanding flickering in her eyes, and stepped out.

Sophie joined Nate, picking up his pop can from the desk. She held it up, the smell of whiskey wafting from the can, raising a questioning eyebrow. "Bit early for that, isn't it?"

Nate blinked, caught off guard. "What—what's that?" He noticed the can in her hand and straightened defensively. "What does that matter? What does that matter? What matters is this nice woman runs a food bank—you know, that we keep her out of prison. That's what's the matter."

Sophie didn't reply, her gaze steady but unreadable.

Nate grabbed his jacket, already moving toward the door. "Look, this guy is probably halfway around the world already. Let's go."

He pushed past her, the unspoken tension lingering as they headed into the conference room for briefing.

Conference Room

I sat at the table, rhythmically tapping my fingers and humming a tune to pass the time. The room was quiet except for the soft beat of my fingers on the wood, but the anticipation in the air was palpable. Finally, Nate, Sophie, and Eliot walked in, their expressions ranging from focused to mildly irritated.