Number 06 │ A Leverage Fanfiction

The Three-Card Monte Job | Part 1

The dim glow of a streetlamp cast long shadows as three men surrounded a fourth, shoving him hard onto the cold pavement. The sound of impact was harsh, echoing off the empty alley walls.

"I think he understands," one of them muttered, watching as Andrei groaned and pushed himself up from the ground.

"I think he understands."

A tall, broad-shouldered man with a thick Russian accent, stepped forward, exhaling smoke from his cigarette before flicking it away. He reached down, yanking Andrei up by the collar and shoving a small black object into his hands.

"Get up." His tone was low, calm. "Take it."

Andrei's fingers trembled as he turned the object over—a phone.

"This... is this a bomb?" he asked hesitantly.

The Russian man scoffed."It's a phone. Now, you have two choices." His voice lowered, becoming almost friendly. "Either you do what we ask, or..." He shrugged, "I pay a visit to Natalia and little Sasha, eh? They go to school the same way every morning. Did you know this? Boston traffic is dangerous. Accidents happen."

A chill ran down Andrei's spine. He gripped the phone tightly, his breath shallow.

"Anything." His voice barely held steady. "I'll do anything."

The Russian patted his cheek, satisfied. "Good man. What I'm asking for you to do is..."

[McRory's Pub]

Andrei sat stiffly at the table, his fingers gripping the burner phone like it might explode any second. He exhaled shakily before placing it on the table.

"...answer this phone." His voice was hollow.

Hardison picked up the device, turning it over in his fingers

Sophie leaned forward, her voice gentle but firm. "What happens when they call?"

Andrei swallowed. "I do whatever they ask. Then I destroy the phone and tell no one, or they'll kill my children."

Nate studied him. "You're a telecom engineer, right? Install and repair phone lines?"

Andrei nodded. "For ten years. I have three major contracts right now. If I get arrested, everything is gone."

"And you have no idea why they picked you?" Sophie pressed.

Andrei shook his head. "No. I try to be a good man. My parents came to Boston to escape this kind of life—Russians hurting Russians. And yet..." His hands clenched into fists.

"And the cops?"

Andrei stiffened. "The Russians will know. They're watching. They said so." His gaze flickered around the bar. "But here, I think... maybe they can't see. I know this place." His eyes locked onto Nate. "And you—you're no cop."

Nate smiled faintly. "No. I'm no cop."

Hardison slid the phone back across the table. "Cloned."

Nate picked it up, his fingers tapping lightly against the surface. "When this rings, you answer it." He handed the phone back to Andrei. "We'll be in touch."

Andrei hesitated before taking it, nodding. "Thank you, Mr. Ford."

Sophie offered a reassuring smile. "We're not going to let anything happen to your family."

The man's shoulders sagged with relief. He stood, nodded one last time, and walked away.

As soon as the door swung shut behind him, Hardison spoke up. "Okay, I put a tap on the phone, so the second that thing rings, we'll know it."