Her hands shaking and the gun wobbling, Nadia says, "I just want my passport and money you owe. Forget everything else."

Gorev barks a laugh. "First your lawyer wants to sue me. Now you want to shoot me. At the sound of gunshot, Alex and Sergei will break through that door and cut your heart out. So stop this foolishness, gerla."

"Nadia, let's put down the gun, okay?" Solomon says.

"Lawyer is not as stupid as looks," Gorev says.

Solomon reaches over slowly with one hand. Nadia removes her left hand from the gun but is still holding it in her trembling right hand, pointing the barrel at Gorev. For the moment, the gun is partially in Nadia's right hand and partially in Steve's left hand.

"Do me favor, lawyer," Gorev says. "Hit magazine latch and remove bullets."

"Where's the safety?" Solomon says.

"Idiot! Glock has no safety. Why do you think I want magazine out?"

It all happens in seconds.

Nadia takes her index finger off the trigger and lets Solomon take the gun.

Solomon's right index finger slips into the trigger guard as Nadia lets go. With his left thumb, Solomon hits the magazine latch.

Filled with fourteen rounds, the magazine slides from the Glock's grip and hits the floor with a startling noise. Solomon's index finger jerks back-a movement as light as a baby's touch-and the round in the chamber fires.

The gunshot hits Gorev squarely between the eyes.

"It was an accident!" Victoria felt her heart racing. "Steve never meant to shoot Gorev, did he?"

"With the magazine gone, he didn't even know there was a bullet in the chamber."

"But it's not the story Steve told the police." Victoria shook her head sadly. Instead of telling the truth-or better yet, clamming up until she arrived at the scene-Steve had invented the story of Gorev threatening them with his gun and Nadia shooting him. As lies so often do, that one required another. Steve then told the far-fetched tale of Nadia pulling a switch, taking Gorev's gun with her-thus explaining its absence at the scene-while leaving Steve with the murder weapon.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave . . .

"Why did your man not tell the truth?" Nadia asked.

Victoria shrugged. "Because he panicked. Or maybe he thought the police wouldn't believe him. Or he feared he'd still be charged with manslaughter, even if they did believe him."

"What can I do to help him, Victoria?"

Before she could answer, a noise far louder than a gunshot rocked the room as a battering ram blasted through the front door. As splinters flew and light from outside streamed through the opening, three men with guns burst inside.

"On the floor!" one man screamed. "Now!"

-45-.

Enter the Cavalry Two men wore blue nylon Windbreakers with "FBI" emblazoned on the back.

The third man's Windbreaker said "US Marshal."

Walking in behind them, stepping gingerly over the splintered wood, was a woman in a gray business suit and black pumps. Assistant US Attorney Deborah Scolino. She brandished no gun. Instead, she waved two blue-backed documents as she spoke.

"Ms. Delova, we have a warrant to search these premises and a warrant for your arrest on federal immigration charges. Upon your return to Miami, you face indictment for conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and racketeering. Additionally, there is a state bench warrant for your arrest on grand theft charges involving a watch. Finally, you could very well face indictment as a conspirator in the murder of Nicolai Gorev, though that will be up to the State Attorney."

"Don't say a word," Victoria said. She'd had enough of blabbermouth defendants.

"Ms. Lord, I assume you are not Ms. Delova's attorney, given your blatant conflict of interest."

Victoria ignored her and repeated, "Don't say a word, Nadia."

"You may leave, Ms. Lord. In fact, you are ordered to leave."

"Nadia, she's trying to frighten you."

"Is working," Nadia said.

"Ms. Lord! Would you like to be arrested for obstruction?"

"You have no obligation to speak to anyone from the government," Victoria said.

"I was just getting to that, Ms. Lord," Deborah Scolino said, scowling. She recited the Miranda warnings.

When she was finished, Victoria said, "Nadia, exercise your right to remain silent."

"This is your last warning, Ms. Lord. You can leave carrying your purse or wearing handcuffs, your choice."

"I do what Victoria says," Nadia said. "I exercise my right."

"I'm leaving now, Nadia," Victoria said. "Be strong."

"What about Gerald?"

"I'll talk to him. I'll give him the names of several very good lawyers in Miami. Have faith."

"Tell Gerald I love him."

"He knows. But I will."

Victoria headed for the shattered door.

"Your boyfriend should have taken the deal," Scolino called after her.

"The deal was dirty," Victoria called back.

"Nightmare scenario for you. We don't need Solomon's testimony against Benny Cohen now that we have our witness. And even worse for Solomon, Pincher has her, too. Ms. Delova may be silent today, but she'll be singing to the grand jury for me and in state court for Pincher. Basically, Ms. Lord, Solomon just became dispensable, and that makes him dead meat."

-46-.

Nadia and the Feds . . . and Benny Three days after Nadia's arrest in Pennsylvania . . .

United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida In Re: Investigation of Benjamin Cohen File No. 2014-73-B Statement of Nadia Delova October 2, 2014 (CONFIDENTIAL).

Q: My name is Deborah Scolino, assistant United States attorney. Please state your name.

A: Nadia Delova.

Q: Let the record reflect that also in attendance today in the Office of the United States Attorney is Marcia Silvers, esquire, attorney for Ms. Delova. Additionally, with my permission, Mr. Gerald Hostetler is here. You have asked for their presence, is that correct, Ms. Delova?

A: Da. I need them both or I will say nothing and sign nothing.

Q: Subsequent to your return from Pennsylvania, is it true that we have had extensive discussions with your lawyer and your . . .

A: Fiance. Gerald is my fiance.

Q: Ms. Silvers and Mr. Hostetler have been present during these discussions.

A: Da. We have talked and talked.

Q: Very well. Have you had a chance to review the document the government has prepared?

A: [Examines document] These are the things I have said.

Q: And you are willing to repeat these statements under oath to the federal grand jury investigating Mr. Benjamin Cohen?

A: I will say these things because they are true. I took Aeroflot 100 from Moscow to New York carrying uncut diamonds hidden in lining of my luggage. All the girls took that flight and carried diamonds from Mirny mine. Was our job.

Q: Why that particular flight, Ms. Delova?

A: Like I told you hundred times. The Gorevs had their man working Aeroflot 100 at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. There was no risk. That is why we never took the Transaero nonstop flight to Miami. Too much risk. So we fly Aeroflot to JFK where US Customs looks for drugs and weapons only. Diamonds were sewn into compartments and were never found.

Q: When you landed at JFK, did you meet Mr. Benjamin Cohen?

A: He was waiting at hotel near airport. He opened my suitcase, tore out the lining, and removed the diamonds.

Q: You saw him do this?

A: With my own eyes. He told me it was the only time he went to New York for the diamonds. He always waited for them to be delivered by one of his men, someone he could trust would never testify against him. "No hand-to-hand transaction, bubeleh, except with you." That is what he told me. And that is why the US government love me so much. I am your big eyewitness. Also reason Benny want to kill me.

Q: [By Ms. Silvers] Nadia, please just answer the question and refrain from editorializing.

A: [By Ms. Delova] Sorry. Usually, driver delivers girls and diamonds to Nicolai Gorev in Miami. Gorev was middleman, again to protect Benny. This time, was different for reason I already say.

Q: [By Ms. Scolino] So why this one time did Mr. Cohen take the risk and come to New York?

A: He had buyer in city who could not wait. Benny took diamonds to Manhattan that night.

Q: Thank you, Ms. Delova. Do you fully understand the nature of the documents you are about to sign?

A: I testify against Benny. You drop all charges against me. Gerald marry me, and I get green card.

Q: And by Gerald, you mean Mr. Hostetler.

A: Who else would I mean? He is the only Gerald I marry.

Q: I am led to believe you will be giving a statement to State Attorney Pincher in the Gorev shooting, is that correct?

A: Da. I will tell him shooting was accident.

Q: Well, we'll see what he says about that, won't we?

A: [Witness does not respond]

-47-.

Use a Gun and You're Done There are no accidents, Jake." Ray Pincher exhaled a blue puff of cigar smoke in my face. "Freud said that."

"I'll be sure to keep him off the jury. C'mon, Ray. You heard Nadia's story."

"Sure. In her opinion, Solomon was supposedly unloading the Glock when it accidentally discharged."

"Exactly. The magazine hit the floor with a bang. Solomon was startled and pulled the trigger."

"So she opines."

We were in the state attorney's office, atop the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building. Pincher was perched on the edge of his desk, a hundred certificates, plaques, and photos arranged gaudily on his mahogany walls. His merit badges from the Elks, Rotarians, and probably the International Order of Odd Fellows. A crystal glass humidor sat on his credenza. It was filled with Cohibas. Real ones. From Cuba. Illegal. That probably made them taste better to the chief prosecutor.