Mira stopped. “It’s not trapped in the data file. It’s in a digital wallet. And it’s not money, it’s cryptocurrency that has a rough dollar conversion rate.”
Sunil nodded and stuffed a piece of pineapple in his mouth, talking around it. “And how much in dollars?”
Emi gave Mira’s honorary uncle a glance. As far as Naveen could tell, she hadn’t budged from the position they’d left her in the night before in front of a computer, though she’d swapped one hotel out for another one. Her hair was mussed, sticking straight up, like she’d run her hands through it a thousand times. Her makeup had either worn off or been smeared to create dark shadows under her eyes. “Almost six hundred million dollars, at the moment. But it’s only on paper,” Emi said flatly. She leaned closer to the computer and typed furiously.
“What do you mean on paper?” Naveen asked. “It’s a functional currency.”
“Do you know how the blockchain works?”
“Not really. Explain it to us.”
Emi swiveled around. “Refreshing, explaining crypto to a man for once. Okay, the blockchain is public: every transaction is recorded and visible. That’s how I know how much is held at this address. Since it was such a large amount that sat dormant for so many years, it caught the attention of hackers. Because crypto is decentralized, there’s no password recovery service. Without one, the money is untouchable.” She grimaced. “We don’t know who the original owner is, so it’s not like we can even beat anyone with a wrench for this passcode.”
Mira pivoted. “I’m sorry?”
“It’s an old saying,” Sunil announced, and ate a strawberry. “People think something is so well password protected, but really, the thief just has to beat someone with a five-dollar wrench to get the passcode. I already tried threatening your friend Stuart with worse, but he’s not talking, so I doubt he’s got the information.”
Mira rubbed her eyes. The shadows under them were pronounced. Not for the first time, Naveen regretted adding to her stress earlier, but it wasn’t like he could bring that up now, with Emi and Sunil watching. “So this could also be a dead end.”
“Your father never did anything without purpose,” Sunil said firmly. “If that file was on that phone, it’s because it meant something. When we can get the money, we exchange it for Sejal.” Sunil buffed his nails. “I’ve done a million ransom drops. They’re going to propose you meet somewhere enclosed, like a house or a warehouse. We want an open space, in public. Since we have the more valuable item, we can negotiate easier.”
Naveen straightened. “That’s her sister, man.”
Sunil had the grace to look embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Mira. Of course, you’re right. But we do have so much money.”
“If I can get the passcode,” Emi reminded them, with some exasperation. “Again, it’s theoretical.”
Naveen passed Mira. He felt stiff around her now, and he hated it, after the breakthrough he’d thought they’d had the night before.
He was such a fool. A prideful, too eager fool. Passionate detachment, he was clearly not good at. One night with Mira, and he was ready to jump right back into a relationship with her.
It was smart she’d pumped the breaks. Even if it didn’t feel good right now.
Mira flopped on the couch. She shoved her hands in her pockets and worried something there. “We can’t access the storage unit because this Cobra has eyes everywhere, we don’t know whether Sejal is alive, and we don’t actually have access to anything that isn’t already public knowledge. Doesn’t seem like we’re doing very well here.”
Naveen’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. His ears grew warm at the number there. “It’s my brother,” he said quietly to Mira. “Do I ask him or not?”
She bit her lip. Her chest rose and fell. “Yeah.”
He knew that admission cost her. It was about to cost him, too, though in a different kind of pride.
If you get the money, and you do date, won’t you always feel like she’s doing it out of an obligation?
Yeah. He hadn’t thought of it until she’d brought it up, but he was a lawyer. He understood conflicts of interest. Which was why they wouldn’t be able to be together, if he got this money.
It was going to cost him pride and her. And that was okay, because at least it would mean this nightmare would be over and the people he cared about would be safe. Including Mira.
He answered and went into the bedroom for a small degree of privacy. He didn’t want everyone to hear him lay his soul totally bare. “Kiran.”
“Naveen. Hi. I didn’t know whose number this was when you called yesterday, but Mom left me a message to call you back. It was kind of a confusing message and, well . . .” Kiran trailed off. “Ah, did you really get married to your ex in Vegas with a fake diamond?”
“Not quite.”
“But . . . you’re in Vegas?”
“Yeah.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw. His beard was coming in strong. He’d kill for a razor, but that was something else that would have to wait. “Where are you?”
“In Paris. Payal—” he faltered. “Ah, we wanted to go shopping. I’m sorry I missed your call. I’m . . . I’m surprised to hear from you.”
“I know.”
“But happy,” Kiran continued, rushing to speak. “Very happy to hear from you. Is everything okay?”
Naveen sat on the edge of the bed. “Yes, everything’s fine.” He gave a half laugh. “Actually, scratch that. It’s not at all fine.”
Kiran quieted. “What can I do to help?”
“I need money, and I can’t quite tell you why.”
“It’s yours,” his brother said, and Naveen immediately knew what Mira meant by not wanting to feel like she owed someone.
“It’s a lot.”
“How much?”
“Millions. As much as you can spare.”
A slight hesitation, but his brother agreed. “Done. I’ll have to see what I have, but I can liquidate.”
Naveen swallowed. “Don’t give it to me because you ran away with my fiancée,” Naveen said quietly.
There was a squeak of a chair, and Naveen imagined his brother leaning back and crossing his legs over his desk. That had been how he’d always taken phone calls back in the day, at least. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. It was a mistake. We couldn’t help how we felt for each other, and well . . . she said she didn’t feel that way for you.”
“I know now that I didn’t feel that way for her.” You may be what I said I wanted, but you’re not what I need, Payal had told him earnestly during that god-awful family meeting, and that had made sense to him. He’d felt kind of the same way, that he’d caved to family pressure and agreed simply because it was the right time, and she was somewhat similar to Mira. Quiet, reserved, kind.
But she hadn’t been Mira, and he couldn’t be angry at her for being herself.
His anger at Kiran had lasted a lot longer, though. They had been best friends as well as brothers. “It was a shitty situation.”