The Blacklist (No. 73-161)

Madeline Pratt (No. 73)

~-____</3____-~

"She's breathtakingly unattractive, but she is worth over 40 million dollars." Red smiles, "The only Vermeer in private hands."

"That's considered a masterpiece?"

"Last night when I got up for a scoop of orange sherbert, and she caught my eye. I just stood here in the dark just squinting at her. Poor thing ruined my appetite. Even after I went to bed all I could hear was the hideous music she must be playing. Didn't sleep a wink." Red sits down

"Then why'd you buy her?"

"Oh my God, no, she's not mine she belongs to some hedge-fund manager who is having me hold it for him."

"Why would you keep it here?"

"Well, the owner's been on vacation since the SEC started its investigation. Never met the man, but his housekeeper is an old friend," Red gestures to a chair, "Please."

~-______</3______-~

"You're going to love Madeline Prat," Red gets out of the sleek, black Lincon, "Come on, dear, and if she asks you're my girlfriend."

"I thought I was your wife, a demotion, how rude."

~-______</3______-~

"I need to know about you, how you respond under pressure. This is an embassy, security, cameras, armed guards, everywhere. One mistake you end up in prison."

Red chimes in, "My Lizzie here is as calm as a Hindu cow. Tell her that story about Frank."

"Who's Frank?"

"A guy I knew."

"What story?"

"We met in high school, we grifted. Small jobs really, just what we had to do to pay the rent."

"Tell her about Omaha."

"I was 17, there was a drug store. Thursday night, they made bank deposits on Friday," I swallow and smile at Red, "I was the lookout. The night manager came back, he forgot his glasses. I gave the signal, but nothing. I had convinced myself Frank was the only thing I had in the world, so the night manager was an easy decision."

"What did yo-"

"I seduced him into the alley."

"And then what?"

"I played him for a little bit, then I kissed him off, told him he'd get more next week, and Frank and I went away." I pause for dramatic effect, "I didn't come here to audition." I stand up.

"Wait, the job, it's yours."

"I don't want the job call someone who does," I throw the phone I picked off of her at her and walk away, "See you in the car Red," I call out.

"How did you get my phone?" It takes a second, but she says, "What if I pay you double?"

I walk back into the room. Red smiles widely, "See this is what I love about you, dear. Headstrong but vulnerable, confident but cautious. This is gonna be a gas!"

~-_____</3_____-~

"Wow! Oh, and I love your clutch, you look beautiful, my dear Lizzie." I say, I know she wore a Red dress specifically for me.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, dear."

"Au contraire, my dear, it got us here."

~-____</3____-~

"A difficult as this may be, Lizzie, we can't both lead," I smirk as Lizzie sticks her tongue out at me and follows my movements.

~-____</3____-~

"You still wear the hell out of a tux."

"My plane is fifteen minutes from here, we could all be in Florence by morning."

"The girl, how did you choose her?"

"Fate."

"She's a little young for you."

"You think so? Lizzie is my wife."

"So is that what happened to Florence last summer?"

"Yes, I was going to come, but I met her at the airstrip, she was my new pilot also has a wonderful way with money-laundering. Breathtaking isn't she. She'll be done in," Red checks his watch, "Forty seconds. My offer still stands."

"I don't think your Lizzie would like that much."

"Oh, but she would."

~-____</3____-~

"I got the effigy! Is she going to take us up on my offer?" I ask as I grab Red's arm and start towards the exit.

"Unfortunately for us, no."

"What a shame."