Profile

Little is known about Alex’s life before meeting Neal when he worked for Vincent Adler. All we know is that she’s a grifter, con, fence and a thief. Also that her grandfather, Gerhardt Vaugner, was a German soldier during World War Two and that he encoded a U-boat’s final SOS into a music box design. When he came to America, he changed his name to Michael Hunter and was going to build a receiver and find the boat. That plan never happened and Alex always thought that it was lovely tale her grandfather told her. That it was her own family’s version of a fairy tale, that was until much later when she realized the truth on his deathbed when he handed her the key to the box.

She first came into Neal’s life when he spotted her working a con, though he didn’t know who she was at the time. His job was to root out who was looking into Adler’s acquisitions and it was Kate. Their first meeting wasn’t exactly a fairy tale beginning but it was exactly how their relationship was. It wasn’t built on trust, but it was built on knowing what they were and sometimes that’s a stronger foundation.

Their paths continued to cross after that, the music box being the catalyst always, until finally they found the music box and the treasure that it uncovered. As with their beginning, Vincent Adler was tied to the music box recovery. Alex was drugged and placed inside a warehouse as a means to make Neal disarm the explosives on the U-boat without complaint. She was going to keep the family secret, especially in front of Adler but when Neal made a decision that almost cost him his life while disarming, she revealed who her grandfather was and the sudden realization what the code of getting inside was.

She had planned to still split the treasure with Neal and Mozzie just not equal thirds, but best laid plans and all that. Mozzie stole the treasure, Alex fled the country and ended up in a Greek jail for 16 months. Alex being Alex, she made a deal to get out.

Personality:
Like most cons and grifters, Alex thinks very quickly on her feet and is usually about four or five steps ahead of where you are. It has helped contribute to the fact that like Neal, except for the Greek prison, Alex has never been in jail because charges couldn’t ever stick. She doesn’t really hold a grudge either unless it’s truly deserved and earned. Alex doesn’t even hold it against Mozzie for cutting her out of the treasure. They are what they are, and you expect to get cut out. The phrase no honor among thieves has more truth than lie. She will get revenge and paybacks, however, but that’s not the same as holding a grudge.

Alex loves the adrenalin rush that comes with the chess match and matching wits with opponents. Taking artifacts has more to do with the game and the ability to do it than it does the piece itself.