"New client's gotten in touch with us," Donno says, leaning against the counter that he'd just finished cleaning before his phone had started going insane with notifications, Ren impatient for their weekly catch up. "Wanting to off-load gold. Tonya's all about it, keeps talking about what a solid product source she is, but I dunno. I think..."
"What do you think?" Ren asks, curled up by a fireplace with a wine glass, staring at his face curiously.
Donno looks down at the laptop flickering across from him and exhales. "I researched her best I could."
"Ah look at you!" Ren exclaims, smiling around the rim of her glass. "Putting those impressive Internet skills to work. Did you find anything interesting out?"
"She's Jennie Hoyt's mother."
That's all he needs to say, the humor drains out of Ren's face quickly. "You need to get Tonya to pull back on this. There's no way this ends well."
"I've tried," Donno says. "She keeps insisting that she knows what she's doing, and Jenny's been estranged from her mother for years, so what could this one deal cost her really in the long run?"
"Oh, gullible summer children," Ren sighs, shaking her head. "Donno, I mean it, you need to talk her out of this. That woman, she's way too close to all this, Jenny gets wind of her mother involved in all of this, and... it won't end well for you, or for... well, anyone. You need to just convince Tonya of that and cut and run, Donno."
"I'll keep trying," Donno says. "But I don't think she'll listen." He mulls over his next words, working his tongue over his teeth as he taps his free fingers against the cupboard behind him. "She wants to impress us, and she thinks this is the easiest way to do so."
Ren scoffs. "Please, like I"d let her keep this job if she hadn't impressed me months ago," She exhales and shrugs. "Just... handle it as delicately as you can, we'll talk next week and try to figure out what our next move is, if required."
"Yes," Donno agrees, hoping that they won't need it, will be able to talk about something else. "Same time next week."
"Same time next week," Ren agrees with a small smile, hanging up.
Donno stands for awhile, phone in one hand, fingers of the other toying with the counter edge until he locates his favorite knife, alternating between checking his messages and spinning the blade about between his fingers. It's not going to be easy, he thinks. But he'll find a way to keep Tonya safe, no matter what she's opened herself up to thanks to this whole situation.