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Ella studied Russo's face, searching for any hint of deceit. The hardened criminal before her was a stark contrast to the family man he was now claiming to be. Yet, in his eyes, she saw a glimmer of genuine concern, a fragment of the man who existed beyond the crimes and the Diamond persona.
‘And you’re asking this of me? An FBI agent?’
Russo grinned. ‘We know you. We’ve had tabs on you for ages. If you were always on the right side of the law, you wouldn’t be sitting in front of me, would you?’
Ella considered the request, both an accusation and a challenge. Helping a criminal's family was murky territory, ethically and legally. Yet, there was a human element she couldn't ignore.
‘You have my attention, Russo. But why trust me with this? Why not someone from your... circle?’ Ella asked.
Russo's grin faded, replaced by a somber expression. ‘Because in our world, trust is a rare commodity. And my family... they're better off without the Diamonds knowing about them. You're my best shot at keeping them safe. So I’m asking you this, not as a criminal but as a man.’
His plea hung in the air, resonating with a sincerity Ella couldn’t dismiss. Beneath Nathan Russo’s hardened exterior, there was still a human being capable of love and regret.
‘Alright,’ Ella said. ‘Give me the details later, but right now I need whatever intel you have. You knew Logan Nash better than anyone. Who would do this to him?’
Russo leaned closer, his voice turned down to a whisper. ‘God’s honest truth, swear on my mother’s grave – I only met Nash once. It was a long time ago. Most Diamonds don't even know he exists, and no one but the top dogs know what he looks like. The man was a last resort if we needed someone taken care of. Never knew his real name, address, nothing.’
Ella leaned back and folded her arms. ‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning I was being serious about suicide, because while I didn’t know a whole lot about Nash, I do know one thing for certain – we’d never give him the treatment. No chance in hell.’
‘The treatment?’
‘If we’re worried someone might snitch, we’ll take them out. But Nash is a lifer. The man would choose death before he snitched. And then there’s the…’ Russo trailed off, biting his lip, fighting a war between silence and confession.
Ella gave him the eyebrow, willing him to continue. She opted to keep quiet and let the awkward silence work its magic.
Russo looked up and asked, ‘Definitely no recording devices in here, right?’
‘You have my word,’ said Ella.
‘Okay, so last week, another Diamond came to visit me. He told me that Nash might end up here, in this prison, and if so, would I be up for helping the guy out.’
Ella’s mind raced as her curiosity reached critical mass. ‘Help him out?’
Russo glanced over his shoulder, perhaps a habitual move before a moment of confession. ‘Yeah. Help him escape.’
Ella took a moment to process the details. It was true that Logan Nash could have indeed ended up in Virginia State Prison. It was only because of the judge’s leniency that he was able to spend his pre-trial days in a safe house and not a prison cell.
‘And this was what, a week ago? So up until last week, the Diamonds had no intention of murdering Logan Nash.’
Russo showed his palms. ‘I don’t know a whole lot about algebra, but I know we never had any intention of taking out Nash. If I was a betting man, I’d say suicide…. Or someone else got to him first.’
Ella nodded, absorbing Russo's comments. This new information painted a complex picture. If the Red Diamonds had indeed planned to help Nash escape from prison, it suggested they still valued him, contradicting Ella’s theory of an internal betrayal. But then, why would Nash choose suicide, especially in such a manner, if he knew there was a possibility of escape? She doubted Nash had chosen self-sacrifice, but who had the means to track Nash down, intercept him, put a bullet through his forehead? A lone wolf like Nash might have made countless enemies, none of whom would shed a tear over his demise, but invading his secure location took brass balls.
‘Anything else?’ Ella asked.
Russo hesitated, his eyes darting around the room as if seeking an escape from his own thoughts. ‘You remember what I said… about snitches?’
Snitches get stitches, Ella thought. ‘You’re worried about your own group taking you out.’
‘They don’t take kindly to traitors, but I know they’ve got no intention of helping me get out of here. I’m too low down the totem pole for them to care.’
Ella's expression remained impassive, but inside, she weighed the seriousness of Russo's request. Offering protection to a key informant was standard in high-stakes cases, but this was no ordinary situation. The Red Diamonds were notorious for their ruthlessness, and their reach extended even into the most secure facilities.
‘I’ll see what protection I can get you. Maybe a transfer to another prison, far away. We can try and keep you off public records too.’
Russo's expression softened slightly, a mix of relief and remaining apprehension. ‘Thank you. I know I don't deserve much, but I've got to think about staying alive as long as I can.’
