James Family
austin, texas
John
Firm's owner & founder.
career history: unknown
relationship status: involved with lynn bryant
currently based in: new york
Rules and order have been a constant in John's life since infancy. As the oldest of four in a family of Army brats, he travelled the world, moving every few years when his father was reassigned to a new base. Falling into the "man of the house" role while his father worked, John grew to be a dependable and adaptable young man. He left home at the age of 18 to pursue his own career. What that career was is unknown to all but a very select few. After "retiring" ten years ago, he partnered with Grant to found the firm.
grant
John's long-time friend and business partner
career history: retired green beret
relationship status: divorced
currently based in: los angeles
as a kid, the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" always stumped Grant because what he wanted to be changed from day to day. When the time came to make his first career choice, he was drawn to the prestige of the Green Berets. After nearly fifteen years of distinguished service he struggled to adjust to civilian life and suffered from sometimes debilitating PTSD. John's business proposal renewed a sense of purpose and order in Grant's life. He prefers to stay behind the scenes, working in the office and never in the field.
wes
Counter surveillance and Operations Master
career history: former secret service agent
relationship status: twice divorced
currently based in: nomadic
If there's one thing Wes prefers more than anything else, it's being left alone. His parents have joked that he never learned to share in the sandbox. A childhood on the outside of social circles suited him just fine and left him highly observant and attuned to the world around him. He eagle eyes eventually lead him to the Secret Service where he served on the personal details of two first families. When bureaucracy wore him down, Wes moved to the private sector, running surveillance and operations for the firm. Although he has a home in New York, he's rarely in the city, moving to wherever the job - or the winds - may take him.
matthew
legal counsel
career history: Former public defender in Philadelphia and Los Angeles
relationship status: hopelessly in love with melissa
currently based in: los angeles
The world has likely never known a bleeding heart as earnest as Matthew. Driven to do the right thing and defend the honor of those less fortunate, he felt a calling to the law from an early age. Bookish and shy, Matthew hit his stride in the hallowed halls of Harvard Law School. After graduation, he worked as a public defender in his hometown of Philadelphia and Los Angeles. He loved the work, but ultimately became disillusioned with a system that felt stacked against him and his clients. The chance to join John's team ultimately proved too enticing to turn down. Matthew works out contracts with clients and serves as a legal advisor for the firm. Although he would never admit it, his proudest moment in recent years was successfully aiding Melissa in getting child support payments from her former boyfriend.
cooper
tech wizard
career history: former fbi analysist & quantico guest lecturer
relationship status: still crafting the perfect online dating profile
currently based in: los angeles
"Pinball Wizard" may have predated his birth by more than a decade, but for most of his childhood Cooper thought The Who had written the song just for him. A gamer and geek for as long as he can remember, he was recruited to the FBI Academy at Quantico during his sophomore year of high school. As the top student in his class, Cooper was assigned key analyst roles and worked closely with other agencies. Facing burnout from the high stress and pressure of the FBI he left several years after completing his training. Joining John's team three years ago, he has completely overhauled the firm's technology.
Nate
career history: former marine
relationship status: single (and mingling)
currently based in: new york
Inspired by the wave of national pride following the September 11th attacks, Nate vowed to serve his country. He enlisted in the Marines on his 18th birthday and shipped out to basic training the day after graduating from high school. During his second tour in Afghanistan, his platoon was ambushed by a suicide bomber. Nate received severe shrapnel wounds and subsequently developed an addiction to prescription pain killers. He has been clean for 3 years, but sometimes struggles with temptation. With his strong work ethic and charisma, he's quickly worked up the ranks at the firm and become one of John's most trusted employees.
jackson
career history: retired cfl player
relationship status: depends on the day
currently based in: los angeles
Jackson always assumed he would see his name in lights. A Mississippi charmer, he ate, slept, and breathed football from the moment he could stand. He was a star both on and off the field and a pro career seemed inevitable. However, NFL teams seemed uninterested in him. A year after graduating from college, Jackson signed with Toronto Argonauts, hoping that some time in the Canadian Football League would get the attention of American teams. But a knee injury halfway through his first season sidelined him and, ultimately, his plans for sports hero glory. He briefly returned to the mall security job that had helped him pay his college tuition before accepting a spot at the firm. A professional from nine to five, Jackson's sweet southern drawl ensures that he's never alone when he’s off the clock.
jared
business security guru
career history: cop
relationship status: married
currently based in: los angeles
Jared was born a fighter. As a toddler, he was diagnosed with pulmonary valve stenosis, a congenital heart defect. Although surgery ultimately corrected the condition, it prevented him from pursuing one of his life long dreams of serving in the military. Left to find a new goal, Jared enrolled at the police academy. He took pride in the honor and duty of the job, but still felt like he was missing out on his true calling. Shortly after marrying his wife several years ago they welcomed twin daughters. When one of the girls showed signs of the same heart defect that had sidelined part of his childhood and his career aspirations, Jared decided it was time for a change. He joined the firm as the chief business security advisor, working with companies to improve and train their security teams.
lucas
career history: former queen's guard
relationship status: engaged
currently based in: new york city
For a boy from the East End, dreaming of guarding Buckingham Palace was about as lofty as a goal can be. But Lucas was never fond of being told there were things he couldn't do. Working against the odds, he enlisted in the British Army and worked his way up the ranks until he made his dream a reality. After several years in the Queen's Guard, Lucas met a young American who was studying abroad. Suddenly, he had a new dream and he left his post to follow his love back to the United States. He found kindred spirits in John, Grant, and the rest of the firm. He currently serves as the east coast liaison, developing business contacts from New York, to Boston, to Miami, and everywhere in between.
johnny
trainee
career history: none
relationship status: it's complicated
currently based in: new york
The only son of John's youngest sister, Johnny was named for his mother's hero and best friend. With his father in and out of his life, Johnny lacked a steady father figure or male role model. His adolescent hijinks were chalked up to teenage hormones and rebellion. But now that he's in his twenties and has shown no sign of growing up, his mother is at her wits' end. John agreed to take him in and try to straighten him out. Whether or not that mission will be successful remains to be seen.
melissa
trainee & gal-friday
career history: assistant and wme
relationship status: single mom
currently based in: los angeles
Melissa came to Los Angeles hoping to take the city and the entertainment industry by storm. She was excelling as an assistant at WME when her life and career plans were derailed by an unplanned pregnancy. Her boyfriend wasn't interested in parenting, leaving Melissa to raise their son on her own. Needing a career with more flexibility and steady hours, Lynn recommended that she reach out to John, who was in need of an assistant at the firm. Melissa took to the new role immediately. She maintains the schedules for everyone at the firm and handles everything from travel arrangements to grocery deliveries. Cooper set her up with an at home computer system that allows her to work remotely instead of missing out on time with her son.
judith
in-house doctor
career history: retired army reserve
relationship status: recently separated
currently based in: los angeles
Judith spent her childhood craving stability. The daughter of hippies, she was raised on peace, love, and happiness. Unfortunately, that trifecta didn’t always pay the bills. When the time came for her to strike out on her own, the one thing Judith knew for sure was that she didn’t want to have piles of debt looming over her head. Her way out came from Army Reserve scholarships to college and medical school. Although her intention had been to study general medicine, a tour of duty in Iraq before completing her doctorate lead Judith to change her plans and specialize in psychiatry. The horrors that followed her and her brothers and sisters in arms home haunted her. Choosing to devote the rest of her life to unlocking the layers of the human mind, Judith spends the time she isn’t working at the firm volunteering with veterans' health organizations.
