Clay Ward is a freelance agent.
As the owner of and principle agent for The Fortune Agency, a private concern founded by Clay Ward on East Hill Street in the Bahamian capitol, Nassau, Ward is usually the man to take the missions that come into this spy-for-hire organization. In some respects it is much like a detective agency but with the reputation that Ward has inside the global intelligence community, most of the jobs Fortune gets are connected to some government in one way or another.
Ward's age is not mentioned but can be estimated to be in the late 30s based on the service in the military that is hinted at, a good ten years working for the CIA, and "many" years running his own company. He is described as quite tall with a large barrel chest and a weathered face, handsome but not exceptionally so. He has sparkling blue eyes and a quick smile. In one meeting with an old workmate, it is revealed that Ward had for many years the nickname of "Doc". Since no medical knowledge is evident, it is possible it refers to a college degree.
The activity that Ward did for Langley is not mentioned beyond very brief comments but whatever the mission was that ended his career with them, it did not go well as he was arrested and convicted of a crime and served fourteen months in Lompoc Prison in California while his superiors "got rich writing books", to quote a former colleague of Ward.
Leaving the States to start his own business, Ward chose the Bahamas because of its weather and its easy access to the Caribbean and flights to anywhere else he needed. His firm is a small one, consisting of him, a beautiful female agent named Hildy who doubles as the receptionist, and three male agents. Chester and Burke share an office with Hildy while the third, Roy, is more freelance.
The Fortune Agency charges $10,000 a day plus expenses and, based on the lack of reaction he gets when he quotes those figures, the firm is well worth it.