You can win in life if you have Nina Hayes’ confidence. Everyone around her told her that she was playing with fire, but Nina didn’t care. She was ready to go to any length to drag Saxton to prison. The only problem was that she was part of a corrupt system that produced men like Saxton, and they would do anything to protect him. While Nina was aware that Saxton was a big player, she didn’t know she was up against politicians in the White House too! Her confidence is admirable, but was it enough to put the bad guy(s) behind bars? Well, we’re yet to find out! In episode 6 of Duster, it was finally time for Nina to shine as Saxton’s interpreter. Jim repeatedly warned her that if she said the wrong thing or even smiled wrong, she would have a bullet to the head. But Nina knew the stakes, and she was ready to take the challenge head-on.
Spoiler Alert
How did Nina and Jim save Saxton’s deal?
Chad Grant’s eagerness to find out what Nina was up to became a little too obvious. From one glance at her desk, Nina knew someone was watching her and had gone through her things to find clues. Nathan instructed her to focus on her job and close the case as fast as possible. Chad followed Nina to the guest house where she was staying to keep up her act as the interpreter. He didn’t even care about hiding his enthusiasm, and he ended up confronting Nina, hoping to find some information about her operation. Nina was annoyed the moment she saw him stepping out of his car. She warned him that his presence could blow her cover, and while Chad didn’t have much choice but to leave, he made it very clear that he expected Nina to share details from her operation with him or he would actively try to jeopardize her case. As she tried to convince Chad to leave, Billy and Jim showed up. Billy memorized the number plate on Chad’s car; he had a sharp eye, and he was ruthless with the ones he suspected. He immediately asked Nina who she was talking to, and when she responded that he was just a client, Billy’s suspicion grew stronger. Considering his line of work, he could tell very easily when someone was lying, and he knew the man was more than just a client. Jim tried to convince Billy that his hunch might have been wrong, but he was not ready to forget the incident so easily.
Nina met Saxton and his son, Royce, who immediately took a liking to Nina. It was finally time to meet the Russian gangster, Kasimir Volkov, and the meeting started with a good dose of vodka to honor traditions. Royce refused to gulp down the vodka shot, because he was under strict orders not to mix his medication with alcohol. But if he failed to honor the tradition, the Russian would interpret it as an insult. Royce didn’t have a choice. Volkov was suspicious of Nina. He wanted to know how she had learned the language, and he immediately detected her lie the minute she mentioned that her father was posted in Hamburg. He stated that the Americans were stationed in Frankfurt during the war. Nina explained that her father was with a top-secret unit at Bergen, and she added that she would prefer not to disclose any more details about his operation. She was nervous, but thankfully the Russian bought her story this time. Nina tried to take a look at the contents of the suitcase that the Russian gangster had passed to Saxton, but she couldn’t see much from her seat. Saxton handed the gangster a million dollars for it.
Just when Royce began counting the bills, he felt dizzy, and he started to behave erratically. The Russian gangster was concerned, seeing Royce’s behavior, and he considered calling off the deal. Jim stepped up to protect Saxton’s reputation. Since Volkov was a macho man, Jim figured that the only way he could impress him was by narrating a gallant story that could prove Royce’s bravery and strength. While the Russian didn’t believe a word Jim said, when Jim showed him Royce’s scar (from the heart replacement surgery) and stated that it was from a fight with two men who had almost left his heart hanging out of his body, the gangster was impressed, and he ultimately decided to proceed with the deal. Saxton was overjoyed, and he decided to leave early and instructed Jim to drop Royce off at home and Nina at her guesthouse. Just when they were about to leave, Billy got off the phone, and he pointed his gun in Nina’s direction. He had just found out that the number plate belonged to a Fed, and he suspected Nina of being involved with the cops.
Who followed Saxton and his team to the meeting?
After Jim and Genesis crashed Greek Sal’s daughter’s wedding, Saxton was expected to pay a price. Saxton was open to negotiating distribution routes, but without Arizona on the list, Leon (one of Sal’s handymen) didn’t think the deal was good enough. Jim requested them to talk the deal through with Greek Sal before further negotiation, but Leon was not ready to let them go so easily. He wanted them to suffer like he did when Genesis and Jim flung fireworks into his car. So, he decided to tail Jim and Billy and find out what was keeping them busy. The minute the deal was finalized and Saxton left the warehouse, Leon and his partner stormed in with guns in their hands. They wanted the suitcase, but of course neither Jim nor Billy was ready to hand it over to them. Billy decided to deal with Leon first, before getting back to Nina and finding out her secret. To his surprise, Nina and Jim single-handedly took down the two men Hollywood style.
What convinced Billy to not take action against Nina?
While Billy was impressed, he had all the more reason to suspect Nina now. When he asked where she’d learned to shoot this well, she explained that the man at the guesthouse was her abusive ex-husband, Trevor. He had been tailing her since the day she’d decided to separate from him, and he left her no choice but to learn how to shoot for self-protection. She explained that she didn’t mention him before because she was embarrassed of her past, and discussing him made her feel weak and small. Billy was not entirely convinced, and he thought it was best to let Saxton judge the situation. But Royce made it very clear that Billy must not pester his father about something this trivial. Royce was infatuated with Nina, and he believed every word she said. He threatened to expose Billy’s secrets to his father if he refused to resolve the matter immediately. Billy was forced to agree.
How Did Izzy Become Saxton’s Target?
In Duster episode 6’s ending, Izzy successfully organized a protest demonstration with other female truck drivers demanding separate restrooms for women, better healthcare, and equal pay. She had tried to discuss the issue with the union leader, Bob Temple, but he wasn’t bothered to take up the issue. The protest started to gather a crowd, and soon television reporters also showed keen interest in covering the issue. Izzy and Luna were on the news, and while Izzy hoped this would help female truck drivers finally receive the basic amenities and rights that they deserved, she had no idea that Saxton was already planning on ‘taking care’ of the problem. The transportation company was owned by Saxton, and he couldn’t afford delayed shipments. To stop the protest, he might decide on taking harsh action against Izzy, but hopefully Jim will manage to negotiate and protect Izzy and Luna. There seems to be no end to Jim’s troubles, and while he and Nina celebrated their success that night, he was already thinking of ways to deal with the Izzy situation. Nina managed to pull off what everyone around her thought was impossible, but she was yet to find out who Xavier is, what was in the suitcase (worth a million dollars), and why the deal was so significant for Saxton.
