Looking back at her brother as he told her than there was no text from Alec Ryan's look turned even more angry as tears started to well in her eyes. Glancing down at her own phone her eyes scanned the messages. She could see Alec's replys. They were right there, as clear as day and yet Eli still insisted than no one was keeping anything from her.
"You are a lier. I don't know why everyone is lieing to me. There are texts from him right there...I can see them."
She couldn't help but feel trapped, turned around, and everything just felt wrong. Why was this happening to her, and why now? Tears rolled down her cheek as she just shook her head and looked at Eli.
"Please just leave me alone. I don't want to talk about this anymore."
Being called over by Carson Aerith takes a small taste of the sauce before making her own funny face. It seemed a little bitter for her taste. Talking some of the suger, and a little bit of garlic Aerith put some in before motioning for Carson to stir again. This time tasting it she nods with a smile.
"Much better I think."
Shaking her head a little and going back to the pizza she was making Aerith just continues to smile. It was nice to see Carson in such a good mood again. It had been quite a while since she had seen him joke around, or even semi act like his old self it was just good to see.
"Well...I got the first pizza in the oven. I'm working on the second and third and we just have another 4 people come in. So take you pick on where to start first."
Not exspecting Reese to call him Nate gives a jump. The tone in Reese's voice was urgent and he new it. Standing and making his way across the phone he multitasked.
"Hey babe, boss man needs me. I better let you go. If I'm not going tonight I'll call and let you know but I should be. Love you!"
Hanging up the phone Nate meets up with Reese half way still making there way to the holding cells. He could only guess this had to do with there newest prisoner. He really didn't have much to do with him but he'd kept his ears open on what was going on.
"Whats up Boss? How can I help?"
Thinking for a long second as she watch everything on the window pass buy she contemplated Aaron's ideas. They were good ideas but she wasn't sure they would work, or work how they wanted them.
"Those are good idea's Aaron, but honestly, I doubt The Elite would trade anyone for Garret. Knowing he is one of the people closest to my grandfather is not something that would come along every day. I be they would sacrifice someone for him."
Looking to Aaron Victoria new he wouldn't be happy with her own idea, or even that she was going against him. He was an arrogant man and that she could tell just form looking at his reactions. But she was in charge and she only hoped he'd follow her lead without to much complaining.
"I know if I get in, I can get out. Even if Garret is not there I know I'd be able too. Not to mention if Garret is in there, and we both can get a good layout of everything, and maybe even get rid of some of that information Alec took upon himself to set them he will be a little more forgiving on Garret for being caught. Really...thats the best option I see at the moment and I need to know you are with me Aaron."
9/28/15
9/22/15
Concern
For a moment, Eli was almost offended that Ryan was obviously avoiding answering him about who she was texting. That in itself added to the strangeness of all this.
Then her mention of Alec made his eyebrows rise. And for another moment, he wondered if perhaps the Elite had made a terrible mistake. It wouldn’t be the first time the Agency would have made them believe someone was dead. Was there really a chance here? Did Alec really contact Ryan? Wait…she thought everyone was keeping him away from her? Was that…paranoia in her voice? Eli’s eyebrows came back down as the strangeness grew.
Seeing her phone, Eli stepped further into her room and took it from her to look at the text messages. He truly believed something would be there from Alec – real or fake. But all he saw were messages from Ryan to Alec. That was it. No return messages.
He glanced back to his sister and studied her eyes. Something was way off here. She wasn’t lying to him. She wasn’t playing around. There was no fun in those eyes. No teasing. Not even sadness for losing Alec. There was belief. Belief that what she was saying was true. And yet…there was nothing here from Alec.
“Um…Ryan…” Eli cleared his throat and stepped closer to sit down on the bed next to her. He held the phone out to her. “There’s…nothing here from Alec.” He cocked his head. “I’m not really sure what you think is going on but…no one is hiding anything from you.” Had she really taken this so hard as to try and convince herself Alec was still alive?
“Alec really is dead.” He continued to study his sister’s face, trying to figure out what on earth was really going on. “He hasn’t texted you…or anyone. The Elite has proof he died.” His confusion was evolving into concern. “Are you okay?”
Justin smiled a little, not sure how to take Beth’s compliments, but…it did feel good. She somehow always made him feel good. In spite of their rough start, and his constant trouble with trying to help too much, she always put up with him.
Beth’s suggestion of coffee made his smile grow. He’d been doing his best not to push her into getting out more, and he’d tried hard to just give her space and time. Offering to meet him for coffee was a big step, and he was proud of her.
“I would love to go get coffee with you. Just name the time and place.”
“So what do you think?”
Carson held his phone to his ear with his shoulder as he stirred a new batch of pizza sauce. He was in his normal jeans and tee, with his baseball cap on backward as he worked in the kitchen. “You’re asking me?”
Reese’s voice was just a little irritated. “Well you’re the one who brought him in.”
“And I already told you not to trust him.” Carson rolled his eyes and gestured to Aerith to grab the next pizza that was coming out of the oven. Lunchtime wasn’t exactly the best time for phone calls. “Besides, you’ve been keeping me at arm’s length from the Elite for how long now, aye? Now when you got a lion in your cage, you want my opinion? Why not call Ryder? He works at a zoo.”
“Seriously? You’re gonna play that game now?”
Carson sighed and took a taste of the sauce before scrunching his noise. “Hey, Aerith, taste this, would you? I’m all off today.”
“Carson?”
“Alright, what?” He glanced out to the dining area to make sure Thirteen was doing okay with customers. “What do you really want from me?”
“Since you’re the one Garret sought out, I find it natural to bring you in on this case. You obviously know more about him than anyone, and even after Justin’s evaluation, I’m still not sure what to do.”
“Lock him up and throw away the key.” Carson scanned a new order ticket before going to grab a clean pizza pan. “Look, Reese, I’ve kinda got my hands full at the moment. You’ve always seemed the capable type. So be capable and handle it as if I weren’t available. Oh wait – I’m not. I’m up to my elbows in tomato sauce, cheese and pepperoni.”
“Is everything okay? You’re…rather chatty…in an irritated sort of way.”
Carson couldn’t help his laugh, and he threw a wink at Aerith before patting her on the shoulder as thanks for all her help today. “The only thing I’m irritated with is the timing of your call. I honestly don’t think I have anything to add, but if you really want me in on it, I can’t come til after closing tonight. No, scratch that, I’ve got a date. Tell you what, how about I just call you if I think of anything? Okay good. Bye now.”
He ended the call and slipped his phone in his back pocket before he took a deep breath. “Alright, so…” He quickly came back to Aerith’s aid. “Sorry. Where were we?”
Garret sat on the holding cell floor, still and silent. Since Justin’s visit, he’d been left completely alone, other than to be given meals. Otherwise, he was clueless as to what was going on upstairs, and what they were planning on doing with him. He hated being here. He hated being this vulnerable. He hated it that he was being ignored. And he hated being locked in here. His worst nightmare was coming true. But it couldn’t. This had to work.
Reese looked at the monitor in the control room, frustrated after his brief conversation with Carson. Garret seemed to be calm…too calm. He’d given himself a workout multiple times over the last few days – it reminded Reese of both Carson and Alec, although Garret’s fighting techniques seemed to be more aggressive. More calculative. There was a definite difference between this man and the Agency officers they’d had here before. Reese feared Justin was right – Garret could get out of here any time he wanted. So what was making him stay? They didn’t even have him in cuffs anymore.
“He’s been asking to be let outside,” Hal commented. “Last couple mealtimes.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Said we had more considering to do before we let him out of his cell, let alone out of the building.”
“Did he say why he wanted out?”
Hal quirked an eyebrow. “No, he didn’t have to. You think he’s gonna stick around once he’s let out that door? We’d never see him again, and he’d have the layout of our entire building, security and staff to give the Agency.”
Just a little sweaty from his pushups and fight routine to keep his body active, Garret glanced up at the camera in the corner of the room. He had to get out of here before he went totally mad. He had to breathe fresh air. He had to see the sky. No one knew about the times as a child he’d been locked in a box in an attempt to rid him of his claustrophobia. He still couldn’t stand close spaces. No one knew that, not even Victoria – it was too great of a weakness to reveal to anyone. He’d learned to control the anxiety and focus on his job, no matter what. Here though, he had no job to focus on. Nothing to distract him. And the walls were closing in on him.
But playing nice wasn’t getting him anywhere. They were ignoring him, and that just fueled his desperation. He felt like throwing his weight around – he could take Hal down next mealtime. Or he could override the digital lock on the door and take out anyone he wanted to on his way upstairs. He knew where the weapons were kept. That could be a good place to start. But…he couldn’t. He had to gain the Elite’s trust, no matter how much it went against his nature. But that didn't mean he couldn't do anything.
He got to his feet. He’d get their attention one way or another. Shoving the cot into the corner, he stood up on it, reaching for the camera.
“Whoa, hey, what’s he doing?” Reese blinked as Garret came close to the camera, reached up…and the screen went blank. Reese didn’t like this one bit, and hit the intercom on the way out the door. “Nate! Down to the holding cell with me. Stat.”
Downstairs, Garret was back on the floor, a few camera parts in hand with wires he’d ripped out of the wall. They’d have to do something with him while fixing it…it might be his only chance to get outside for just a couple minutes. Even just out of this room would help. He was suffocating in here.
Aaron shrugged, while keeping his eyes on the road. “So far, our hackers haven’t been able to detect whether or not the Elite is actually holding Garret. But I think you’re right – that’s our best bet.”
He glanced out the window. For some odd reason, this felt different than most assignments. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but it almost felt like something big was waiting just under the surface to erupt. “Assuming we’re right and that he’s at the Elite headquarters, we’re gonna have to find a way in. And considering he obviously hasn’t broken out yet…they must have better security in place than we anticipated. So using stealth may not be the best route.”
They really were low on options at this point. They didn’t have enough facts, and it was making this whole thing tricky. “So if we can’t use stealth, we’ve either gotta have ourselves arrested – which brings the risk of us not getting back out either – or waltz right in there and hope they don’t have our faces on file – another huge risk.” He paused as a new idea came to him. “Or…we nab one of their agents and demand a trade. It would give us a quick answer as to whether or not they have Garret. And if they do, the Elite is loyal. They’d make a trade in a heartbeat.”
He gave Victoria a sidelong glance to see if she liked that idea. It was the best he could come up with, and it might just work. Best case scenario, it would only take a couple days to complete, and they’d be home free with very little fallout.
Then her mention of Alec made his eyebrows rise. And for another moment, he wondered if perhaps the Elite had made a terrible mistake. It wouldn’t be the first time the Agency would have made them believe someone was dead. Was there really a chance here? Did Alec really contact Ryan? Wait…she thought everyone was keeping him away from her? Was that…paranoia in her voice? Eli’s eyebrows came back down as the strangeness grew.
Seeing her phone, Eli stepped further into her room and took it from her to look at the text messages. He truly believed something would be there from Alec – real or fake. But all he saw were messages from Ryan to Alec. That was it. No return messages.
He glanced back to his sister and studied her eyes. Something was way off here. She wasn’t lying to him. She wasn’t playing around. There was no fun in those eyes. No teasing. Not even sadness for losing Alec. There was belief. Belief that what she was saying was true. And yet…there was nothing here from Alec.
“Um…Ryan…” Eli cleared his throat and stepped closer to sit down on the bed next to her. He held the phone out to her. “There’s…nothing here from Alec.” He cocked his head. “I’m not really sure what you think is going on but…no one is hiding anything from you.” Had she really taken this so hard as to try and convince herself Alec was still alive?
“Alec really is dead.” He continued to study his sister’s face, trying to figure out what on earth was really going on. “He hasn’t texted you…or anyone. The Elite has proof he died.” His confusion was evolving into concern. “Are you okay?”
Justin smiled a little, not sure how to take Beth’s compliments, but…it did feel good. She somehow always made him feel good. In spite of their rough start, and his constant trouble with trying to help too much, she always put up with him.
Beth’s suggestion of coffee made his smile grow. He’d been doing his best not to push her into getting out more, and he’d tried hard to just give her space and time. Offering to meet him for coffee was a big step, and he was proud of her.
“I would love to go get coffee with you. Just name the time and place.”
“So what do you think?”
Carson held his phone to his ear with his shoulder as he stirred a new batch of pizza sauce. He was in his normal jeans and tee, with his baseball cap on backward as he worked in the kitchen. “You’re asking me?”
Reese’s voice was just a little irritated. “Well you’re the one who brought him in.”
“And I already told you not to trust him.” Carson rolled his eyes and gestured to Aerith to grab the next pizza that was coming out of the oven. Lunchtime wasn’t exactly the best time for phone calls. “Besides, you’ve been keeping me at arm’s length from the Elite for how long now, aye? Now when you got a lion in your cage, you want my opinion? Why not call Ryder? He works at a zoo.”
“Seriously? You’re gonna play that game now?”
Carson sighed and took a taste of the sauce before scrunching his noise. “Hey, Aerith, taste this, would you? I’m all off today.”
“Carson?”
“Alright, what?” He glanced out to the dining area to make sure Thirteen was doing okay with customers. “What do you really want from me?”
“Since you’re the one Garret sought out, I find it natural to bring you in on this case. You obviously know more about him than anyone, and even after Justin’s evaluation, I’m still not sure what to do.”
“Lock him up and throw away the key.” Carson scanned a new order ticket before going to grab a clean pizza pan. “Look, Reese, I’ve kinda got my hands full at the moment. You’ve always seemed the capable type. So be capable and handle it as if I weren’t available. Oh wait – I’m not. I’m up to my elbows in tomato sauce, cheese and pepperoni.”
“Is everything okay? You’re…rather chatty…in an irritated sort of way.”
Carson couldn’t help his laugh, and he threw a wink at Aerith before patting her on the shoulder as thanks for all her help today. “The only thing I’m irritated with is the timing of your call. I honestly don’t think I have anything to add, but if you really want me in on it, I can’t come til after closing tonight. No, scratch that, I’ve got a date. Tell you what, how about I just call you if I think of anything? Okay good. Bye now.”
He ended the call and slipped his phone in his back pocket before he took a deep breath. “Alright, so…” He quickly came back to Aerith’s aid. “Sorry. Where were we?”
Garret sat on the holding cell floor, still and silent. Since Justin’s visit, he’d been left completely alone, other than to be given meals. Otherwise, he was clueless as to what was going on upstairs, and what they were planning on doing with him. He hated being here. He hated being this vulnerable. He hated it that he was being ignored. And he hated being locked in here. His worst nightmare was coming true. But it couldn’t. This had to work.
Reese looked at the monitor in the control room, frustrated after his brief conversation with Carson. Garret seemed to be calm…too calm. He’d given himself a workout multiple times over the last few days – it reminded Reese of both Carson and Alec, although Garret’s fighting techniques seemed to be more aggressive. More calculative. There was a definite difference between this man and the Agency officers they’d had here before. Reese feared Justin was right – Garret could get out of here any time he wanted. So what was making him stay? They didn’t even have him in cuffs anymore.
“He’s been asking to be let outside,” Hal commented. “Last couple mealtimes.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Said we had more considering to do before we let him out of his cell, let alone out of the building.”
“Did he say why he wanted out?”
Hal quirked an eyebrow. “No, he didn’t have to. You think he’s gonna stick around once he’s let out that door? We’d never see him again, and he’d have the layout of our entire building, security and staff to give the Agency.”
Just a little sweaty from his pushups and fight routine to keep his body active, Garret glanced up at the camera in the corner of the room. He had to get out of here before he went totally mad. He had to breathe fresh air. He had to see the sky. No one knew about the times as a child he’d been locked in a box in an attempt to rid him of his claustrophobia. He still couldn’t stand close spaces. No one knew that, not even Victoria – it was too great of a weakness to reveal to anyone. He’d learned to control the anxiety and focus on his job, no matter what. Here though, he had no job to focus on. Nothing to distract him. And the walls were closing in on him.
But playing nice wasn’t getting him anywhere. They were ignoring him, and that just fueled his desperation. He felt like throwing his weight around – he could take Hal down next mealtime. Or he could override the digital lock on the door and take out anyone he wanted to on his way upstairs. He knew where the weapons were kept. That could be a good place to start. But…he couldn’t. He had to gain the Elite’s trust, no matter how much it went against his nature. But that didn't mean he couldn't do anything.
He got to his feet. He’d get their attention one way or another. Shoving the cot into the corner, he stood up on it, reaching for the camera.
“Whoa, hey, what’s he doing?” Reese blinked as Garret came close to the camera, reached up…and the screen went blank. Reese didn’t like this one bit, and hit the intercom on the way out the door. “Nate! Down to the holding cell with me. Stat.”
Downstairs, Garret was back on the floor, a few camera parts in hand with wires he’d ripped out of the wall. They’d have to do something with him while fixing it…it might be his only chance to get outside for just a couple minutes. Even just out of this room would help. He was suffocating in here.
Aaron shrugged, while keeping his eyes on the road. “So far, our hackers haven’t been able to detect whether or not the Elite is actually holding Garret. But I think you’re right – that’s our best bet.”
He glanced out the window. For some odd reason, this felt different than most assignments. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but it almost felt like something big was waiting just under the surface to erupt. “Assuming we’re right and that he’s at the Elite headquarters, we’re gonna have to find a way in. And considering he obviously hasn’t broken out yet…they must have better security in place than we anticipated. So using stealth may not be the best route.”
They really were low on options at this point. They didn’t have enough facts, and it was making this whole thing tricky. “So if we can’t use stealth, we’ve either gotta have ourselves arrested – which brings the risk of us not getting back out either – or waltz right in there and hope they don’t have our faces on file – another huge risk.” He paused as a new idea came to him. “Or…we nab one of their agents and demand a trade. It would give us a quick answer as to whether or not they have Garret. And if they do, the Elite is loyal. They’d make a trade in a heartbeat.”
He gave Victoria a sidelong glance to see if she liked that idea. It was the best he could come up with, and it might just work. Best case scenario, it would only take a couple days to complete, and they’d be home free with very little fallout.
9/21/15
Why on earth...
Looking up at Eli again Ryan just looks at him for a long moment before shaking her head. She would of figured he'd guess him first, it really wasn't strange thing. She wasn't sure why she felt irritated though.
"No It's not Tal, just a...friend."
Ryan didn't like hiding who she was talking to, to Eli but if she told him...what stunt would they pull next to get Alec away from her? She didn't like living in fear, she didn't like this whole situation and she really hadn't had a chance to talk to Eli yet either.
"If you must know I am talking to Alec. We are trying to figure out why on earth you guys would all tell me, and play that he is dead. I know everyone dosn't think highly of him, but really all this just for me to stay away from him. Did you not think he would text me? Because he is clearly not dead."
Holding her phone up for Eli to see Ryan shows him the text to Alec phone that was only her. She was confidante though, and hurt at the same time that Eli would do this. After everything it was still hard for her to understand why.
Just listen to Justin Beth just nodded letting him continue. It was hard for her to really say anything seeing as she didn't know everything, but she could see that Justin really was torn on this one. For him it really must be harder than she could imagen. He'd always known the right path to go, and right from wrong. To be pulled now in two different ways it couldn't be fun at all.
"Well, no matter what you deiced I know it will be the right thing. For all the time I have known you, you have been one of the most honest and upfront people with me. You've got a good heart Justin, and a talent for seeing what most people can't. So many really having those secrets is what makes people trust you."
Beth gives Justin a soft smile before putting her fork down and taking a sip of her ice water. Setting the glass down Beth is quiet for a long moment. Justin always delt with so much, and on top of that he delt with her too. Every since that day at the restront she'd regressed not doing much outside the house. Justin never complained but Beth felt bad anyways. Maybe, it was time to try again?
"Maybe tomorrow morning before I go see my sister, you'd like to go for coffee?"
Returning the miss Stacy smiles up at Eric. Keeping a light on she would. In her window every night would be a candle that flickered for Eric to see when he returned. Maybe it was an old tradition but Stacy remembered her mother doing the same thing for her father when he was away. She said it would guide him home, and remind him someone was waiting for him. Just watching as Eric walked over to Ashlee, Stacy smiled. She was so happy things with them were ok. It was important to her, and important to there relationship that Ashlee was on bored too.
Getting that reassurance from Eric Ashlee smiles through her tired gaze. Just getting that little bit of reinsurance made her heart leap for joy. To most it might not be much but to her it was everything. Stepping forward Ashlee wraps her arms around Eric giving him a tight up. It was going to be a long long month without him and she hoped it would go fast.
"I'll be waiting, so...you better."
Looking out the window as the clouds passed by Victoria was happy to let Aaron drive to where they were going to set up base. Her mind wondered to so many different things as each image of a new passed by the window. She'd never been in this area of the world if it had been under better reasons she might be a little excited. But Garret was gone still, no word, no contact, and no more leads. All she had to go on was the alias he had used.
"So were do you want to start once to make base?"
"No It's not Tal, just a...friend."
Ryan didn't like hiding who she was talking to, to Eli but if she told him...what stunt would they pull next to get Alec away from her? She didn't like living in fear, she didn't like this whole situation and she really hadn't had a chance to talk to Eli yet either.
"If you must know I am talking to Alec. We are trying to figure out why on earth you guys would all tell me, and play that he is dead. I know everyone dosn't think highly of him, but really all this just for me to stay away from him. Did you not think he would text me? Because he is clearly not dead."
Holding her phone up for Eli to see Ryan shows him the text to Alec phone that was only her. She was confidante though, and hurt at the same time that Eli would do this. After everything it was still hard for her to understand why.
Just listen to Justin Beth just nodded letting him continue. It was hard for her to really say anything seeing as she didn't know everything, but she could see that Justin really was torn on this one. For him it really must be harder than she could imagen. He'd always known the right path to go, and right from wrong. To be pulled now in two different ways it couldn't be fun at all.
"Well, no matter what you deiced I know it will be the right thing. For all the time I have known you, you have been one of the most honest and upfront people with me. You've got a good heart Justin, and a talent for seeing what most people can't. So many really having those secrets is what makes people trust you."
Beth gives Justin a soft smile before putting her fork down and taking a sip of her ice water. Setting the glass down Beth is quiet for a long moment. Justin always delt with so much, and on top of that he delt with her too. Every since that day at the restront she'd regressed not doing much outside the house. Justin never complained but Beth felt bad anyways. Maybe, it was time to try again?
"Maybe tomorrow morning before I go see my sister, you'd like to go for coffee?"
Returning the miss Stacy smiles up at Eric. Keeping a light on she would. In her window every night would be a candle that flickered for Eric to see when he returned. Maybe it was an old tradition but Stacy remembered her mother doing the same thing for her father when he was away. She said it would guide him home, and remind him someone was waiting for him. Just watching as Eric walked over to Ashlee, Stacy smiled. She was so happy things with them were ok. It was important to her, and important to there relationship that Ashlee was on bored too.
Getting that reassurance from Eric Ashlee smiles through her tired gaze. Just getting that little bit of reinsurance made her heart leap for joy. To most it might not be much but to her it was everything. Stepping forward Ashlee wraps her arms around Eric giving him a tight up. It was going to be a long long month without him and she hoped it would go fast.
"I'll be waiting, so...you better."
Looking out the window as the clouds passed by Victoria was happy to let Aaron drive to where they were going to set up base. Her mind wondered to so many different things as each image of a new passed by the window. She'd never been in this area of the world if it had been under better reasons she might be a little excited. But Garret was gone still, no word, no contact, and no more leads. All she had to go on was the alias he had used.
"So were do you want to start once to make base?"
9/12/15
First Fight
Eli wasn't sure why Ryan's response about Tal felt so strange. Something just felt...off. He knew she was hurting about Alec but...this was...different. Yet he couldn't put his finger on it.
Her question made him sigh and shake his head. "No...no, things aren't okay with Scarlet and me." He forced a wry grin. "Guess maybe it's our first fight. Could be worse, though." He shrugged. "I'll get it sorted out one way or the other." This whole thing bothered him a lot more than he let on - Scarlet was a major part of his life now, and having her leave like that...it hurt. But he knew he could fix it. He had to, and he would. It was just a matter of time, and a question of whether or not Scarlet would understand and be satisfied. Eli had confidence that they would be okay...he just wasn't sure about when.
Seeing Ryan was so preoccupied with her phone brought Eli's mind back around to the other bothersome subject. He cocked his head in curiosity. He wasn't usually one to pry but...
"Man, looks like somebody can't get enough of you tonight," he teased. "Is that Tal, texting to say he misses you?"
Justin shrugged, still contemplating the entire thing. "I'm not sure what I see. That's what's so hard. It's like what I want to say - what my gut's analysis would be - doesn't match what reality has proven."
He twirls his fork around the long pasta, knowing he was bothered more than he should be. That was his downfall with most cases. But he wanted to figure this out. This was a dangerous situation and if anyone got hurt because he hadn't spoken up, he'd have a rough time dealing with that.
"This person...he's dangerous, and I know that. Yet I'm not afraid of him. It's like...like a rattlesnake. As long as you don't scare or threaten him, there's nothing to be afraid of. And one could make him afraid to get results...but why taunt a rattlesnake? You'll either get bitten, or he'll wind up broken." Justin's eyes drop. This was where his heart truly was. "And you know I can't stand to see broken souls. This one is broken enough without me helping make it worse." Maybe that's what it was. Maybe he was seeing beyond the threat to the man underneath, and he could see Garret's broken soul.
Justin glanced back up at Beth and gave her a little smile. "I just don't like withholding information and I feel like I did that today, whether my gut said to or not."
Eric returned Stacy's hug, embracing her tightly. "Mm..." He chuckled. "Yeah, I promise not to run over my phone." Pulling back a little, he cocked his head to plant a tender kiss on her lips. "Keep a light on for me. I'll be back before you know it."
One last squeeze, and he parted, even though he could stand there all day with her. Making his way over to Ashlee, he smiled as he looked down at her. "Thanks for getting up to see me off." He tapped her under her chin with a finger. "Behave yourself, alright? And keep riding, so you'll be ready for an all-day trail ride." He gave her a wink. "'Cause I promise...I will be back."
Seeing Karla, Kip's smile grew. "You're not crashing the party. You're always invited." He finally stood up and gave her a warm hug and kiss on the forehead. "Besides, Quinn's getting bored of me anyway and already looking for his girlfriend."
Quinn looked up and smirked. "Yeah well you're a poor replacement in that area."
Kip rolled his eyes. "I'll take that as a compliment." He threw Karla a sidelong glance. "Ready for a walk? 'Cause my bones have been sitting still for far too long."
Smiling to himself, Quin quietly finished gathering up the musical items for the evening and threw their pop cans away. Many a person thought his life was strange, if not downright crazy, but...he was happy. And until he ever had a family to support...if that ever happened...he was quite content to live day by day.
Her question made him sigh and shake his head. "No...no, things aren't okay with Scarlet and me." He forced a wry grin. "Guess maybe it's our first fight. Could be worse, though." He shrugged. "I'll get it sorted out one way or the other." This whole thing bothered him a lot more than he let on - Scarlet was a major part of his life now, and having her leave like that...it hurt. But he knew he could fix it. He had to, and he would. It was just a matter of time, and a question of whether or not Scarlet would understand and be satisfied. Eli had confidence that they would be okay...he just wasn't sure about when.
Seeing Ryan was so preoccupied with her phone brought Eli's mind back around to the other bothersome subject. He cocked his head in curiosity. He wasn't usually one to pry but...
"Man, looks like somebody can't get enough of you tonight," he teased. "Is that Tal, texting to say he misses you?"
Justin shrugged, still contemplating the entire thing. "I'm not sure what I see. That's what's so hard. It's like what I want to say - what my gut's analysis would be - doesn't match what reality has proven."
He twirls his fork around the long pasta, knowing he was bothered more than he should be. That was his downfall with most cases. But he wanted to figure this out. This was a dangerous situation and if anyone got hurt because he hadn't spoken up, he'd have a rough time dealing with that.
"This person...he's dangerous, and I know that. Yet I'm not afraid of him. It's like...like a rattlesnake. As long as you don't scare or threaten him, there's nothing to be afraid of. And one could make him afraid to get results...but why taunt a rattlesnake? You'll either get bitten, or he'll wind up broken." Justin's eyes drop. This was where his heart truly was. "And you know I can't stand to see broken souls. This one is broken enough without me helping make it worse." Maybe that's what it was. Maybe he was seeing beyond the threat to the man underneath, and he could see Garret's broken soul.
Justin glanced back up at Beth and gave her a little smile. "I just don't like withholding information and I feel like I did that today, whether my gut said to or not."
Eric returned Stacy's hug, embracing her tightly. "Mm..." He chuckled. "Yeah, I promise not to run over my phone." Pulling back a little, he cocked his head to plant a tender kiss on her lips. "Keep a light on for me. I'll be back before you know it."
One last squeeze, and he parted, even though he could stand there all day with her. Making his way over to Ashlee, he smiled as he looked down at her. "Thanks for getting up to see me off." He tapped her under her chin with a finger. "Behave yourself, alright? And keep riding, so you'll be ready for an all-day trail ride." He gave her a wink. "'Cause I promise...I will be back."
Seeing Karla, Kip's smile grew. "You're not crashing the party. You're always invited." He finally stood up and gave her a warm hug and kiss on the forehead. "Besides, Quinn's getting bored of me anyway and already looking for his girlfriend."
Quinn looked up and smirked. "Yeah well you're a poor replacement in that area."
Kip rolled his eyes. "I'll take that as a compliment." He threw Karla a sidelong glance. "Ready for a walk? 'Cause my bones have been sitting still for far too long."
Smiling to himself, Quin quietly finished gathering up the musical items for the evening and threw their pop cans away. Many a person thought his life was strange, if not downright crazy, but...he was happy. And until he ever had a family to support...if that ever happened...he was quite content to live day by day.
9/11/15
Trust Your Gut
Looking up from her phone with a start Ryan just stairs blankly at Eli for a long moment before coming back to reality and giving a small smile to her brother. She hoped he and Scarlett were ok and whatever they had been fighting about was resolved, or at least soon.
"Hmmm...? Oh...the race was good. I got second place though. Some new guy won and he had 2 noz tanks in his car. Dang near blew out his engine. I think he should of been disqualified but I guess thats just the poor losing talking in me."
Hearing her phone go off Ryan returns her attachen to that for a moment.
Have you thought about what I had asked?
Ryan lets out a small sigh for a second. Alec had asked her to run away with him tonight. He said he just wanted it to be them again. To start over where no one new them, and no one hated him. At first Ryan thought it was a joke but now...did he really mean it? Could she do that?
I don't think I could leave Eli. He's my brother the only one I got.
Looking up from her phone and seeing Eli was still standing there Ryan just looks at him for a long moment trying to remember what they were talking about. She had completely lost her train of thought completely for just a moment.
"Tal...oh yeah yeah I saw him at the race. Is everything ok with you and Scarlet?"
Beth gives a smile to Justin. She was grateful he wanted to tell her everything, but she understood why she couldn't as well. Though it made it hard to understand what Justin was talking about at time she did try her best without asking to many questions.
"Why do you like this person though? Does he remind you of you or someone else? I've never seen you read a person wrong so I guess I would just trust my gut."
Looking up at Eric Stacy new how sad she probley looked. Her time with Eric had went by to fast and while she new he was going to be back and a month was really not THAT long it still was going to feel like forever.
"No breaking your phone this time and making me worry ok?"
Wrapping her arms around Eric Stacy gives him a tight hug. She didn't want him to go but she new he had too. She'd still be here though when he got back, and that really made it worth it.
"I sure am going to miss you."
Standing off to the side Ashlee lets out a long yawn. It was early, but she couldn't miss saying good bye to Eric. It was going to be a while before she saw him again and she was not missing out on the opportunity. She'd wait her turn though and let her mom and Eric say good bye first.
Walking down the street Karla was in a good mood today. It was not to warm, but not to cold. In her mind it was the perfect weather. Meeting Kip was the icing on the cake for sure. She loved spending time with him even if it was simple. Simple was good to her.
Rounding the corner Karla hears the music come to and end and smiles. She loved hearing Kip and Quinn playing. Kip was talented and with Quinn there too...she was just happy he had someone else to play with and drive him forward.
"Hey, hope I'm not crashing the party. I'm a little early."
"Hmmm...? Oh...the race was good. I got second place though. Some new guy won and he had 2 noz tanks in his car. Dang near blew out his engine. I think he should of been disqualified but I guess thats just the poor losing talking in me."
Hearing her phone go off Ryan returns her attachen to that for a moment.
Have you thought about what I had asked?
Ryan lets out a small sigh for a second. Alec had asked her to run away with him tonight. He said he just wanted it to be them again. To start over where no one new them, and no one hated him. At first Ryan thought it was a joke but now...did he really mean it? Could she do that?
I don't think I could leave Eli. He's my brother the only one I got.
Looking up from her phone and seeing Eli was still standing there Ryan just looks at him for a long moment trying to remember what they were talking about. She had completely lost her train of thought completely for just a moment.
"Tal...oh yeah yeah I saw him at the race. Is everything ok with you and Scarlet?"
Beth gives a smile to Justin. She was grateful he wanted to tell her everything, but she understood why she couldn't as well. Though it made it hard to understand what Justin was talking about at time she did try her best without asking to many questions.
"Why do you like this person though? Does he remind you of you or someone else? I've never seen you read a person wrong so I guess I would just trust my gut."
Looking up at Eric Stacy new how sad she probley looked. Her time with Eric had went by to fast and while she new he was going to be back and a month was really not THAT long it still was going to feel like forever.
"No breaking your phone this time and making me worry ok?"
Wrapping her arms around Eric Stacy gives him a tight hug. She didn't want him to go but she new he had too. She'd still be here though when he got back, and that really made it worth it.
"I sure am going to miss you."
Standing off to the side Ashlee lets out a long yawn. It was early, but she couldn't miss saying good bye to Eric. It was going to be a while before she saw him again and she was not missing out on the opportunity. She'd wait her turn though and let her mom and Eric say good bye first.
Walking down the street Karla was in a good mood today. It was not to warm, but not to cold. In her mind it was the perfect weather. Meeting Kip was the icing on the cake for sure. She loved spending time with him even if it was simple. Simple was good to her.
Rounding the corner Karla hears the music come to and end and smiles. She loved hearing Kip and Quinn playing. Kip was talented and with Quinn there too...she was just happy he had someone else to play with and drive him forward.
"Hey, hope I'm not crashing the party. I'm a little early."
9/5/15
Frustration
Eli stood and listened to Scarlet, frustrated but silent. He crossed his arms and sighed. “Please, just… don’t do this, Scarlet…” He stepped towards her bike, but it was too late. He watched her ride away until she was out of sight, and even then, he just looked at the empty street for a few minutes.
Growling at himself, he walked back inside. This evening certainly hadn’t turned out the way he’d planned. He wasn’t worried about him and Scarlet…he knew he could sort this out, and he knew she wouldn’t go and dump him, but it was still aggravating. As soon as he was back inside, he grabbed his phone and dialed, rolling his eyes as he had to leave a message. “Reese. Eli. We gotta talk. Call me.”
Flipping his phone shut, his next stop was down the hall where he knocked on his sister’s door and poked his head inside. “Ryan?” He was still confused as to why she was home already, and he felt just a little responsible since he’d been the one who had told Tal where to find her tonight. “How was the race? Didn’t you see Tal there?”
Justin played a little more with his spaghetti before taking another bite while listening to Beth’s answer. It was kind off funny, in a way. Him asking her advice for once. He nodded slowly at her thoughts. “I guess there are three sides to this one.” He couldn’t tell her everything – he wasn’t allowed to. The nature of this particular case was too sensitive. It wasn’t like a regular client where he was bound to confidentiality, but any case involving the Elite was labeled as private and he could only say so much. Not to mention, he wouldn’t want Beth involved anyway.
He took a sip of water, still thinking. “I feel like I’m kinda stuck in the middle. If I’m loyal to one person, I’ll say everything that’s on my mind. But if I trust my gut, I’ll keep quiet about half of it. But I don’t even understand my gut on this one. I feel like I’m trusting someone I shouldn’t.” He sighed, knowing that probably none of this made any sense to her. “I met someone today that I like. I just do. There’s something there that… that intrigues me. But…according to all the facts, I shouldn’t have anything to do with them, yet I’m already protecting them and I don’t even know why.”
He smirked and looked back at Beth, giving her a sorry sort of grin. “You have no idea how hard it is for me to not just tell you everything all the time. And to be honest…” Just a little color rose to his face. “Well…” He shrugged. “You’re the first person I’ve ever wanted to tell everything to.”
The low rumble of the semi engine would wake only a few at the ranch. It was so early in the morning that it was still dark. The sky was just barely beginning to lighten along the eastern horizon, and stars were still shining brightly. It wouldn’t be too long before ranch dwellers would begin to rise and prepare for the day. Today though, only three were up already. Eric would have let Stacy and Ashlee sleep, but he wasn’t going to leave without saying goodbye to both of them. Four weeks away was going to be a very long time.
After tossing his last bag into the cab, he stepped back down and turned to Stacy. He’d say goodbye to her first before going to see Ashlee. “Well…” He cocked his head and gave Stacy a small smile. Closing the gap between them, he set his hands on her hips, his eyes twinkling. “I promise I’ll call every chance I get. But boy am I gonna miss…” He paused and bit his lip. The late nights just sitting in the hayloft. The walks. The talks. The kisses. “…everything.” He grinned. “But maybe the month will go fast.”
There were always five or ten people who hung around to listen, while other passersby would wander close, perhaps leave a tip in the open guitar case, then go about their business. The street corner, lit by a warm street lamp, was an almost-surreal scene that attracted even those not prone to stopping and listening to two unknown musicians.
Kip’s fingers moved nimbly along the guitar strings, skillfully accompanying the notes played next to him. Quinn, as relaxed as ever, let his voice send soothing notes into the night air, singing along with the two guitars, and often encouraging Kip to harmonize – which he did quite well.
As the quaint song ended, a few people clapped, and Quinn lowered his guitar, sending a smile down at Kip. He leaned back against the brick building with one foot bent to rest on the wall, while Kip sat cross-legged on the sidewalk. He returned Quinn’s smile, and laughed. “You made up that last verse.”
“Did not! We’ve done that one before.”
“Yeah – but not that last line of words. You had me going in circles!”
Quinn laughed and sank down to sit next to his younger friend. “Okay, so maybe I forgot a few words and came up with my own.”
“Uh-huh. That’s what I thought.” Kip played a few random notes on the guitar before setting it in his lap and sighing. They’d been here for over an hour, and he was getting a little tired. It was a typical Friday night, though. For the last couple months, he and Quinn had met on this corner, giving the joy of music to anyone who cared to listen.
Quinn set his guitar aside and pulled his case closer to gather up the few dollar bills and coins they’d been given. It only took a moment to divide, and he handed Kip half.
“How many times do I have to tell you to keep the money?” Kip complained.
“You can tell me as many times as you want, and I still won’t listen.” Quinn dumped the small amount of cash into Kip’s own case.
“Yeah, well I’m not the one without a regular job.”
Quinn snorted. “First off, I’ve told you, I’m well set and taking my time figuring out where I want to get my main income, and second off, your job is nothing to brag about.”
“At least it pays my rent…sort of.” Actually, it was more like forcing Gramps and Gram to take any money at all, but since he was still living with them, he’d insisted.
“How’s it going, anyway?” Quinn flipped open a can of ginger ale and took a swig. “The job, I mean.”
“Pushing carts and stocking shelves at ungodly hours of the night?” Kip rolled his eyes. “I’ve been doing it six weeks and have survived, so I guess that means it’s going well enough.”
Quinn chuckled. “You could always chase down the band and forget about cart pushing.”
Kip put away his guitar and snapped shut the case but remained seated on the sidewalk. This wasn’t a new topic, nor was his response. “I keep telling you – when are you going to believe me? I added nothing to the band. They’re doing great without me. They already spent a whole month on the road. A relatively short tour, but for a band just starting, that’s big stuff, and they’ve sold quite a few albums too. All. Without. Me.”
“And all without the majority of the population. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit from your talents.”
“Talents, shmalents.” Kip grabbed his own can of pop. “I fool around, that’s all. You know that.” That’s all this really was to him – something fun that allowed him to stay in touch with his love of music but without the pressure. If he messed up, there were no dire consequences and he let no one down. He’d stopped by a few times just to listen to Quinn, then had been coaxed to join in, and since then it had just been their habit. They’d never really agreed to meet every week, it just…happened.
“Yeah, well you got some shmalents then,” Quinn retorted. “You are one of the most naturally talented musicians I’ve ever met. A close second, if not just as good as my brother, and that’s saying something. You shouldn’t be wasting that talent here.”
“Wasting? Here?” Kip almost spit out his ginger ale. “What about you? You’re an incredible musician, but all you do is sing on the street corner, sing karaoke to make your girlfriend smile, and only once in a while take a gig at as much as a local coffee shop. How’s that for wasting talent?”
Quinn glanced at his watch. “Speaking of which…Anastasia should be here soon. We’re going out for ice cream tonight.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
Quinn sighed and glanced at Kip, dropping any silliness. “Look…I do this because I love it. I love the innocence. I love just making a few people smile. I love the simplicity. Making it big never did fit my goals or my personality. You, on the other hand… you do this because you’re hoping it will fill the hole you made when you left the band. You were meant to be there – it was your dream – and you walked away. You’re on this street corner because you crave a musical outlet since you no longer have the band – not because you love performing to a crowd of seven.”
Instead of getting upset, Kip simply fell silent and sipped his pop. What Quinn said wasn’t too far from what he’d discussed with Hope just recently. He was still seeing her every week or two, and it had helped. He was, perhaps, finally getting a few thing straight in his own mind and figuring out why he felt the way he did about things. “Well…as long as I’m still wrangling shopping carts for a living instead of playing in a band…and as long as you don’t mind my company…”
Quinn laughed and reached over to give Kip’s shoulder a shove. “If you suddenly disappeared, my grand audience might be disappointed, and I’d only make ten cents instead of five dollars.”
“Five dollars and fifty cents,” Kip corrected.
“Which translates into two dollars and seventy-five cents.” Quinn looked down the street to check and see if Anastasia was coming yet. “Hope she doesn’t mind buying the ice cream.”
Kip joined him in laughter and shook his head. Whether he was meant to be here or not – whether this was supposed to be his future or not – he was glad he’d found a friend in this musical vagabond. He finished the rest of his pop, waiting as well, but it was his own girlfriend he was waiting for. It would just be for an evening walk, but it was something he enjoyed. He and Karla didn’t have to ‘do’ anything to have a good time, and walking was something they both liked.
Growling at himself, he walked back inside. This evening certainly hadn’t turned out the way he’d planned. He wasn’t worried about him and Scarlet…he knew he could sort this out, and he knew she wouldn’t go and dump him, but it was still aggravating. As soon as he was back inside, he grabbed his phone and dialed, rolling his eyes as he had to leave a message. “Reese. Eli. We gotta talk. Call me.”
Flipping his phone shut, his next stop was down the hall where he knocked on his sister’s door and poked his head inside. “Ryan?” He was still confused as to why she was home already, and he felt just a little responsible since he’d been the one who had told Tal where to find her tonight. “How was the race? Didn’t you see Tal there?”
Justin played a little more with his spaghetti before taking another bite while listening to Beth’s answer. It was kind off funny, in a way. Him asking her advice for once. He nodded slowly at her thoughts. “I guess there are three sides to this one.” He couldn’t tell her everything – he wasn’t allowed to. The nature of this particular case was too sensitive. It wasn’t like a regular client where he was bound to confidentiality, but any case involving the Elite was labeled as private and he could only say so much. Not to mention, he wouldn’t want Beth involved anyway.
He took a sip of water, still thinking. “I feel like I’m kinda stuck in the middle. If I’m loyal to one person, I’ll say everything that’s on my mind. But if I trust my gut, I’ll keep quiet about half of it. But I don’t even understand my gut on this one. I feel like I’m trusting someone I shouldn’t.” He sighed, knowing that probably none of this made any sense to her. “I met someone today that I like. I just do. There’s something there that… that intrigues me. But…according to all the facts, I shouldn’t have anything to do with them, yet I’m already protecting them and I don’t even know why.”
He smirked and looked back at Beth, giving her a sorry sort of grin. “You have no idea how hard it is for me to not just tell you everything all the time. And to be honest…” Just a little color rose to his face. “Well…” He shrugged. “You’re the first person I’ve ever wanted to tell everything to.”
The low rumble of the semi engine would wake only a few at the ranch. It was so early in the morning that it was still dark. The sky was just barely beginning to lighten along the eastern horizon, and stars were still shining brightly. It wouldn’t be too long before ranch dwellers would begin to rise and prepare for the day. Today though, only three were up already. Eric would have let Stacy and Ashlee sleep, but he wasn’t going to leave without saying goodbye to both of them. Four weeks away was going to be a very long time.
After tossing his last bag into the cab, he stepped back down and turned to Stacy. He’d say goodbye to her first before going to see Ashlee. “Well…” He cocked his head and gave Stacy a small smile. Closing the gap between them, he set his hands on her hips, his eyes twinkling. “I promise I’ll call every chance I get. But boy am I gonna miss…” He paused and bit his lip. The late nights just sitting in the hayloft. The walks. The talks. The kisses. “…everything.” He grinned. “But maybe the month will go fast.”
There were always five or ten people who hung around to listen, while other passersby would wander close, perhaps leave a tip in the open guitar case, then go about their business. The street corner, lit by a warm street lamp, was an almost-surreal scene that attracted even those not prone to stopping and listening to two unknown musicians.
Kip’s fingers moved nimbly along the guitar strings, skillfully accompanying the notes played next to him. Quinn, as relaxed as ever, let his voice send soothing notes into the night air, singing along with the two guitars, and often encouraging Kip to harmonize – which he did quite well.
As the quaint song ended, a few people clapped, and Quinn lowered his guitar, sending a smile down at Kip. He leaned back against the brick building with one foot bent to rest on the wall, while Kip sat cross-legged on the sidewalk. He returned Quinn’s smile, and laughed. “You made up that last verse.”
“Did not! We’ve done that one before.”
“Yeah – but not that last line of words. You had me going in circles!”
Quinn laughed and sank down to sit next to his younger friend. “Okay, so maybe I forgot a few words and came up with my own.”
“Uh-huh. That’s what I thought.” Kip played a few random notes on the guitar before setting it in his lap and sighing. They’d been here for over an hour, and he was getting a little tired. It was a typical Friday night, though. For the last couple months, he and Quinn had met on this corner, giving the joy of music to anyone who cared to listen.
Quinn set his guitar aside and pulled his case closer to gather up the few dollar bills and coins they’d been given. It only took a moment to divide, and he handed Kip half.
“How many times do I have to tell you to keep the money?” Kip complained.
“You can tell me as many times as you want, and I still won’t listen.” Quinn dumped the small amount of cash into Kip’s own case.
“Yeah, well I’m not the one without a regular job.”
Quinn snorted. “First off, I’ve told you, I’m well set and taking my time figuring out where I want to get my main income, and second off, your job is nothing to brag about.”
“At least it pays my rent…sort of.” Actually, it was more like forcing Gramps and Gram to take any money at all, but since he was still living with them, he’d insisted.
“How’s it going, anyway?” Quinn flipped open a can of ginger ale and took a swig. “The job, I mean.”
“Pushing carts and stocking shelves at ungodly hours of the night?” Kip rolled his eyes. “I’ve been doing it six weeks and have survived, so I guess that means it’s going well enough.”
Quinn chuckled. “You could always chase down the band and forget about cart pushing.”
Kip put away his guitar and snapped shut the case but remained seated on the sidewalk. This wasn’t a new topic, nor was his response. “I keep telling you – when are you going to believe me? I added nothing to the band. They’re doing great without me. They already spent a whole month on the road. A relatively short tour, but for a band just starting, that’s big stuff, and they’ve sold quite a few albums too. All. Without. Me.”
“And all without the majority of the population. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit from your talents.”
“Talents, shmalents.” Kip grabbed his own can of pop. “I fool around, that’s all. You know that.” That’s all this really was to him – something fun that allowed him to stay in touch with his love of music but without the pressure. If he messed up, there were no dire consequences and he let no one down. He’d stopped by a few times just to listen to Quinn, then had been coaxed to join in, and since then it had just been their habit. They’d never really agreed to meet every week, it just…happened.
“Yeah, well you got some shmalents then,” Quinn retorted. “You are one of the most naturally talented musicians I’ve ever met. A close second, if not just as good as my brother, and that’s saying something. You shouldn’t be wasting that talent here.”
“Wasting? Here?” Kip almost spit out his ginger ale. “What about you? You’re an incredible musician, but all you do is sing on the street corner, sing karaoke to make your girlfriend smile, and only once in a while take a gig at as much as a local coffee shop. How’s that for wasting talent?”
Quinn glanced at his watch. “Speaking of which…Anastasia should be here soon. We’re going out for ice cream tonight.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
Quinn sighed and glanced at Kip, dropping any silliness. “Look…I do this because I love it. I love the innocence. I love just making a few people smile. I love the simplicity. Making it big never did fit my goals or my personality. You, on the other hand… you do this because you’re hoping it will fill the hole you made when you left the band. You were meant to be there – it was your dream – and you walked away. You’re on this street corner because you crave a musical outlet since you no longer have the band – not because you love performing to a crowd of seven.”
Instead of getting upset, Kip simply fell silent and sipped his pop. What Quinn said wasn’t too far from what he’d discussed with Hope just recently. He was still seeing her every week or two, and it had helped. He was, perhaps, finally getting a few thing straight in his own mind and figuring out why he felt the way he did about things. “Well…as long as I’m still wrangling shopping carts for a living instead of playing in a band…and as long as you don’t mind my company…”
Quinn laughed and reached over to give Kip’s shoulder a shove. “If you suddenly disappeared, my grand audience might be disappointed, and I’d only make ten cents instead of five dollars.”
“Five dollars and fifty cents,” Kip corrected.
“Which translates into two dollars and seventy-five cents.” Quinn looked down the street to check and see if Anastasia was coming yet. “Hope she doesn’t mind buying the ice cream.”
Kip joined him in laughter and shook his head. Whether he was meant to be here or not – whether this was supposed to be his future or not – he was glad he’d found a friend in this musical vagabond. He finished the rest of his pop, waiting as well, but it was his own girlfriend he was waiting for. It would just be for an evening walk, but it was something he enjoyed. He and Karla didn’t have to ‘do’ anything to have a good time, and walking was something they both liked.
Sometimes
"I have trusted you Eli always, with everything we have done. But that trust is there because of our honesty, and openness."
Taking her helmet Scarlet holds it for a long moment just searching Eli's face. She was angry at him, upset, and hurt. She new her eyes told most of that already so she didn't really need to say anything. She just didn't understand why Eli was doing this.
"It's not that fact that you didn't tell me Eli, but that you are now trying to hide it from me. If I saw a new toothpaste on your counter and asked "Hey you decided to try something new huh?" you wouldn't tell me you didnt know what I was talking about and run into the bathroom to put it away would you? So why are you doing that pretty much with this?"
Scarlet didn't wait for an answer before putting her helmet on and getting onto her bike. She felt bad, and wanted to stay. For some reason even though she new she wasn't she felt like the bad guy in this situation. Like she was the one doing something wrong. Maybe it was because she loved Eli so much and she new she was hurting him. But he was hurting her too, he was hurting them.
"I leave for work in two days and I'll be gone for two weeks. If you want to tell me whats going on you know my number if not...well...I guess you can tell me, when I get back. But I wont be hanging out with you again Eli till than. I just can't do it knowing you are willingly hiding something from me."
Starting her bike and letting out a long sign Scarlett pulls away from the road and heads home. Her heart pounded and she hoped Eli would call her. She didn't want to stay away but for her own health she really had too.
Dinner was good tonight and being able to share her cooking with someone else was even better. Beth loved when Justin was able to come over for dinner. Sure going out was always nice, but some quiet time home with a homecooked meal was even better.
Looking up at Justin and giving a smile Beth finishes what she had in her mouth giving her a moment to think as well. She new Justin had a rough day at work today though she didn't know any details she couldn't help but wonder if this had anything to do with it.
"Mmm...Yeah I have. But I've never really stewed on it to much. I guess I break it down and put myself in the other position and see what it would be like from there too. Sometimes the right thing is going against the rules if you know its going to hurt someone."
Taking her helmet Scarlet holds it for a long moment just searching Eli's face. She was angry at him, upset, and hurt. She new her eyes told most of that already so she didn't really need to say anything. She just didn't understand why Eli was doing this.
"It's not that fact that you didn't tell me Eli, but that you are now trying to hide it from me. If I saw a new toothpaste on your counter and asked "Hey you decided to try something new huh?" you wouldn't tell me you didnt know what I was talking about and run into the bathroom to put it away would you? So why are you doing that pretty much with this?"
Scarlet didn't wait for an answer before putting her helmet on and getting onto her bike. She felt bad, and wanted to stay. For some reason even though she new she wasn't she felt like the bad guy in this situation. Like she was the one doing something wrong. Maybe it was because she loved Eli so much and she new she was hurting him. But he was hurting her too, he was hurting them.
"I leave for work in two days and I'll be gone for two weeks. If you want to tell me whats going on you know my number if not...well...I guess you can tell me, when I get back. But I wont be hanging out with you again Eli till than. I just can't do it knowing you are willingly hiding something from me."
Starting her bike and letting out a long sign Scarlett pulls away from the road and heads home. Her heart pounded and she hoped Eli would call her. She didn't want to stay away but for her own health she really had too.
Dinner was good tonight and being able to share her cooking with someone else was even better. Beth loved when Justin was able to come over for dinner. Sure going out was always nice, but some quiet time home with a homecooked meal was even better.
Looking up at Justin and giving a smile Beth finishes what she had in her mouth giving her a moment to think as well. She new Justin had a rough day at work today though she didn't know any details she couldn't help but wonder if this had anything to do with it.
"Mmm...Yeah I have. But I've never really stewed on it to much. I guess I break it down and put myself in the other position and see what it would be like from there too. Sometimes the right thing is going against the rules if you know its going to hurt someone."
8/29/15
Long Talk
As Scarlet stood up, Eli's eyes widened. Really? She was just gonna walk out because...? His eyes quickly turned from surprise to confusion. He knew he was tired and hadn't been careful enough on the phone tonight - was she simply reading him that well to see he was hiding something? Apparently so. She had a talent for reading people...he just hadn't ever had her question his loyalty like this, and it stung. Her words were strong, deepening the sting. All this, just because she assumed he wasn't telling her everything? Was she really going to overreact like this? Apparently so.
Eli stood quickly as Scarlet reached the door, but had to wait to say anything as Ryan entered. Getting into a tiff with his girlfriend wasn't exactly a time he wanted an audience. But seeing Scarlet was now seriously leaving, he knew he had to act fast.
He sidled past Ryan, giving her a strange look. "Okay..." Tal had told him he'd be meeting Ryan tonight. "Didn't Tal find you at the race?" He didn't even let her answer as he continued out the door. "I'll be back." He let the door fall shut loudly behind him as he sprinted down the few steps. "Scarlet!" he hollered. "Hold up!" Reaching her bike, he stopped her by setting a hand on her shoulder. "This is ridiculous. Don't go, please. I'm sorry I'm in a mood and I'm giving mixed signals. I wouldn't ever do anything to jeopardize us, you know that."
He tried to read her eyes, but he was having a hard time tonight. "There is nothing bad going on, and there is nothing wrong. Please, just trust me. If I'm not ready to talk about something, you can't just assume I'm being dishonest and walk away - you should know me better than that." He was frustrated and confused at her reaction, and didn't know what else to say. "I didn't tell you which pair of underwear I chose this morning or that I tried a new kind of toothpaste, but that doesn't mean I'm holding something back from you. This has been a crazy day and all I want is to spend the rest of it with you."
Garret sat on the floor of his cell, barefoot and ignoring the coffee and cinnamon roll that had been sitting on the table for an hour. His hands were back in handcuffs, and his ankles were shackled again. Aside from a headache and exhaustion, Garret felt far better than he had during the last seven days. It had taken longer than he’d anticipated to get through his withdrawal, but finally the worst was over. Yet there was little to be celebrated. Now that he was out of danger, he’d been placed in this holding cell – his own miniature prison. This was not what he’d envisioned…
“..What do you think?” Reese came up beside Justin in the control room and joined him in looking at Garret through the monitor.
Justin folded his arms and shook his head. He’d been watching silently for half an hour after Reese had called him in for an unbiased opinion. “I’ve got a few theories, but it’s gonna take more than this to come up with anything substantial. No one’s talked to him yet?”
“Not since we first brought him in and got his initial story. Today’s the first day he’s been completely lucid.”
“I’d like to observe him under some pressure, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“There’s nothing I’d like more than to get to the bottom of this. I’m sure if I call Carson –”
“Pick someone else. How about Gunner?”
Reese’s eyes narrowed. “He’s got a cog loose himself.”
“Mm-hmm. He’ll be good.”
…It wasn’t much later that Justin stood on one side of the two-way mirror, looking into the interrogation room. Reese’s main concern was whether or not Garret was telling the truth. And though one could never be a hundred percent sure, it was Justin’s job to assess the situation before they would move on.
Garret sat in the chair at one end of the table, hands and ankles still cuffed, feet still bare. His eyes remained disinterested in Gunner or the subject at hand. He’d said all he could about why he was here, and right now he was extremely tired, and just a bit grouchy.
“Come on. There’s more to this, and we know it.” Gunner hopped up to sit on the table and swing his legs, glancing down at the sheet of paper Reese had given him, which listed some specific information he wanted. “We may not know everything about the Agency, but we’re not idiots.”
Silence.
Gunner sighed and rolled his eyes. “So why are you really here?”
“I’ve already answered that question. I would have expected a more creative angle by now.”
“Creative? You want creative?” Gunner slid closer and leaned down to be eye-level with Garret before he grinned. “I can be creative. I was just being nice.”
“That’s the problem with you lot. You’re always too nice.”
“Oh, really?” Gunner slid off the table. “Well, we’ll have to remedy that.” Without even thinking, he swung his foot at the back leg of Garret’s chair.
One would have thought there was little Garret could do, especially with his hands and feet bound. But as his chair toppled over, he tucked and rolled to the side. Using his hands for leverage on the floor, his legs came straight around, taking Gunner’s feet out from under him. It was hard to tell exactly what happened next, but the end result was Gunner flat on his back with a knee in his ribs and the chain of Garret’s handcuff’s across his throat.
Watching in the other room, Reese wasted no time in heading for the door, pausing only to hit the intercom. “Hal!” he barked. “Get in here.”
Justin just rolled his eyes. “That certainly didn’t take long.” He’d imagined Gunner would take a few more minutes than that to rile their subject. He sighed, but despite the extremely short-lived interrogation, he’d already learned a lot.
In the other room, Gunner struggled under Garret’s weight, helpless as he groped at the handcuff chain that was cutting off his air supply. Though he tried to kick Garret off, all his wriggling did was cause Garret’s knee to dig deeper into his ribcage.
Garret glared down at him, completely in control as he put just enough pressure on Gunner’s throat to make it hard for him to breathe. “You call that creative?”
Gunner aimed a fist at Garret’s face, but Garret blocked it with the cuff’s chain, trapped his wrist and brought his own head down to slam into Gunner’s mouth before returning pressure to his throat.
The door burst open, and Garret was yanked off his prey with no mercy by the strong arms of Hal. He gave him a minor struggle, but was shoved against the wall before being manhandled back into his chair. “Sit!” Hal ordered angrily. “One more wrong move and this will be the last room you see. Got it?!”
Garret’s eyes showed no more emotion than earlier, and he didn’t respond.
“Gunner, you alright?” Reese knelt next to him with concern.
“Y…” Gunner cleared his throat, trying to breathe normally again. “Yeah. I think so,” he wheezed.
Hal offered him a hand up. “Here. You need to see Rick?”
“No, no, I’m fine.” Gunner glanced back to Garret and wiped his bloody lip. The whole ordeal had lasted only moments, but it was enough to be just a bit unnerving. He’d been caught totally off guard.
“Alright, my turn.” Justin interrupted the scene, his backpack slung over his shoulder. “C’mon, guys, give a man room to breathe.”
Reese pulled him to the side, very much irritated. “Did you not see what he just did? I don’t think this is the time for a counseling session.”
Though Justin was just a bit offended, he held his temper. “This was Gunner’s fault,” he pointed out quietly. “That man you have there? He can take out anyone he wants any time he wants. Nothing is keeping him here but his own will. Whether I’m in here with him or not is no more risk than if I stayed in the other room.”
Reese’s jaw tightened. “What have you observed that you’re not telling me?”
“Plenty. But you’re gonna have to trust me. I dare say Garret is the most dangerous man who has ever been in this building, and if you want to play it safe, then just put a bullet in his head. Otherwise, let me work like you called me in here to do. I know the risks.”
Though displeased, Reese relented. “Fine. But if you’re gonna try to play interrogator, at least see if you can get him to answer those questions I listed for Gunner.” He turned. “Hal, Gunner – come with me.” They would leave as Justin requested, but they would be right next door. And Reese would not hesitate to use lethal force if Justin got in trouble.
Finally alone in the quiet room, Justin approached the table and sat down, letting his backpack sink to the floor. “Nice moves back there.”
One of Garret’s eyebrows arced. “Thank you?”
Justin grinned. “You might have gone a little far for my tastes, but you looked pretty cool doing it, and Gunner had it coming to him.”
“Oh, I get it. Good cop, bad cop routine.” Garret shook his head. “You guys really aren’t very creative.”
Justin laughed. “Actually, I’m being honest. Acting isn’t my thing and…I’m pretty sure you’d see through it anyway.” It grew quiet as he withdrew a notepad and pen from his bag, along with a protein bar that he shoved in Garret’s direction.
Garret looked at it, then back up at Justin. “What’s this for?”
“You didn’t have any breakfast. That’s all.”
Garret hesitated, but finally unwrapped the bar to eat it.
On the other side of the mirror, Reese smirked. “How’d he know he’d eat that after he’d refused breakfast?”
Inside the interrogation room, silence ruled. Justin jotted down a few notes as Garret finished the bar. Eventually, he set aside his pen and leaned back in his chair to study the prisoner.
Garret met his gaze with no new interest apart from a newly growing curiosity. “I know a lot about your operations here, but I don’t recognize your face.”
“Ah.” Justin shrugged. “I’m just contract labor.”
“I’d hate to think what your job might be.”
“I just wanna know what you want.”
Garret cocked his head. “Shouldn’t that be what I’m supposed to ask? You’re the one who insisted on this particularly enlightening discussion.”
“I don’t like games any more than you do,” Justin stated flatly. He stared Garret in the eye. “You’re unbreakable, and I don’t intend to test that theory just to confirm I’m right. So let’s pretend we just went through the whole routine of feeling each other out and assume we both have a low tolerance for holding this thing up any longer.”
The first sign of emotion emerged as a slight curl to Garret’s lips. He leaned forward on the table. “Psychiatrist?”
“Mm, good guess, but I’m afraid I’m too unconventional to pursue psychiatry, not to mention I probably could use a psychiatrist myself half the time.”
“So what is your job here?”
“Let’s just say I’ve been asked to evaluate whether or not you’re worth our time and effort. And I don’t like beating around the bush, so let’s get to it. I have other things I need to get done today.”
“And if I don’t talk?”
Justin shrugged. “I don’t care. I get paid the same. You know we’d like information – there’s no point denying that. But we don’t want it badly enough to sit here all day treating you like an uncontrollable teenager we’re trying to win over with bribes.”
Garret’s eyes darkened. “All I want is safety.”
“You know safety from the Agency can be offered but never guaranteed.”
“The effort is all I want.”
“And in exchange?”
“I’ve been over this ten times. I don’t know who killed Alec Banks, but I can help find out. That, and who’s been in charge of Carson’s case so they can be taken down.”
Justin sighed. “Can you?”
“I have information. I know how to get into the system. I know where the moles exist. I know names and passwords.”
“So? We’ve already got plenty to go on.”
“Yet you’ve gotten nowhere.”
“Can you guarantee you can locate the men who killed Alec?”
“Just as much as you can guarantee my safety.”
Justin quietly studied Garret, taking his time. He glanced at Reese’s list. “Why do you want out of the Agency?”
Garret’s gaze remained stone cold. “My reasons are my own.”
“Then we’re through.” Justin stood, ready to leave.
“What, that’s it?” Garret hadn’t expected that one. “What’ll you do with me now?”
“That’s not my department. But Reese will probably have you sent to prison where you’ll undoubtedly serve a life sentence. You leave him very little choice.”
Justin made it all the way to the door before Garret stopped him. He couldn’t go to prison. He couldn’t lose Victoria forever. “Look, I don’t know what more to give. I’ve told you all the ways I can help you. What else do you want?”
Justin glanced over his shoulder. “I asked you a simple question you refused to answer. If we can’t talk on equal terms, we have no reason to trust you will actually help us.”
Garret’s eyes dropped and he fell quiet again until he heard Justin open the door to leave. “Why shouldn’t I want out of the Agency? Being manipulated by a mad man can be tiring.”
Justin looked back again, keeping silent track of his fast-growing observations. “But why now? You’ve been under his rule for years – although with quite a bit of authority from what I hear.”
More years than Garret cared to remember. And the authority? It only went so far. His answer came out rather quietly. “A man’s soul eventually grows thin, and he has to make a choice between losing it forever, or taking it back. I chose to take it back. I’ll not allow Medridge to steal one more day from my life.”
Justin slowly shut the door and returned to the table, taking his seat once more. “Why not just disappear?”
From the other room, Reese’s wonderment at Justin’s skill grew.
“I could, but…” Garret bit his tongue to keep from saying what his true intentions were. No one could know about Victoria. Not yet. “But why condemn me for wanting to inflict revenge on the one who has made me suffer for so long?”
Justin reopened his notebook and shifted the topic. “Are you alone in your little scheme to defect?”
Garret didn’t blink. “Of course I am. It would be stupid to try and leave the same time as someone else.”
“So you’re alone in your feelings that Medridge has been a dictator?”
It took a little more effort for Garret not to let his eyes betray him as his mind immediately thought of Victoria. “If I’m not, I wouldn’t know. To speak of it would mean instant death.”
“Hmm.” Justin jotted down a note. “You’re obviously a very skilled man, but what would you say your highest talent is?”
“I’m not sure how to answer that.”
“Oh, don’t worry about shocking me.” Justin glanced up at him. “If your talent is breaking men’s necks with your bare hands, then so be it. With your offer to help us, I simply need to know in what capacity we could use your assistance.”
“Hand to hand combat and strategic undercover infiltration.”
“So I could put down that you’re good at getting your way.”
The subtle grin returned to Garret’s lips. “That would most likely cover it.”
“And…your weaknesses?”
“How about difficulty bending to authority?”
It was Justin’s turn to grin. “Now that, I believe. But you can’t be perfect in everything.”
“I am… perfect at nothing.” The only weakness Garret would acknowledge to himself was his love for Victoria. “But I can’t disarm bombs worth a tinker.”
Justin’s eyebrows rose as he wrote. He hadn’t expected that one. “Dare I ask how you discovered that?”
Garret fiddled with his handcuffs as he recalled the beating he’d received for clipping the wrong wire in the model bomb. He’d been fifteen at the time. But it was a forced smile that covered up his negative emotions. “I’m sure you’re imagining a smoking lab with my face blackened and hair on end.”
Justin chuckled. “Perhaps. Um… Carson indicated you did international work. Do you know any other languages?”
“Yes. I know German, French and Russian.”
“All European. Does that hint where Medridge is?”
“If you want me to tell you his location, I can’t. I’m sure you’ve all suspected he’s based in Europe – that much is true. But other than that, I’m in the dark.”
“You worked that closely with him, yet are unaware of where?”
“You’d be surprised how tightly Medridge runs things. For a man that smart, it’s not hard for him to keep even his highest ranking men in the dark.” Garret shrugged. “Coming and going requires blindfolds and windowless transportation, even for me.”
“What about the drivers?”
“Medridge has two. And as far as I know, they are the only two, other than Medridge himself, who have an inkling about where they actually are. And as such, their lives hang in the balance.”
Justin nodded. “I see. So back to the issue at hand. Surely there are other ways to inflict revenge on Medridge other than joining up with the Elite.”
“Of course. But…the Elite is in the United States, far from Medridge – though not out of his reach, obviously. And the Elite can offer assistance in keeping me alive.”
“Why through Carson? A virtual enemy.”
“Because he’s one of the best. And he knows of me and has the most opportune situation for me to help and prove my genuineness.”
Justin paused his writing and glanced up. “So basically Carson provided the best route into the arms of the Elite, and your being here has nothing to do with what happened with Alec.”
Garret sighed. “I’m resourceful. Yes, Carson was my best bet because he’s running on emotions. But make no mistake – I believe Alec’s death was unjust, not to mention the harm done to Misty. I may have a heart of stone, but I recognize undo violence.”
“As much as you’ve inflicted yourself?”
“Just because I’ve done wrong doesn’t mean I’ve agreed with it, nor does it mean I can’t make different decisions now.” Garret cocked his head. “Or does it?”
Justin played with his pen. “Everyone can change if they want, and everyone has a right to. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, nor does it mean everyone around you will accept or trust a change of heart.”
“But that’s where you come in, isn’t it?”
“How do you mean?”
“You’re the coolest cat in this whole bunch. Your confidence comes from your ability to read people and you do not read me as a threat to yourself. In which case, you’re going to leave here and recommend to Reese that he let me help find Alec’s killers. In turn, others will learn to trust me all because of your word.”
Justin grinned. “Fascinating.”
“That I’m right, or that you actually believe me?”
“That you like to observe almost as much as I do. I can’t guarantee what Reese will allow though. He trusts me, but I can’t sway him if he doesn’t want to be.”
Garret glanced at the mirror, knowing full well he’d been watched this entire time. “That, I believe.”
… “So do you really think I’m going to let him in?”
Justin paused inside the nextdoor room, backpack slung over his shoulder. He cocked his head at Reese’s question before eying the other men. Garret had been left in the interrogation room for now. “I’d rather not answer that since it is entirely up to you.”
“Well, I have to admit, I’m impressed with how much you got him to talk.”
“Eh. It wasn’t me. He was willing, once he knew I wouldn’t jump down his throat.”
“Think we can trust him?”
“Of course not,” Gunner scoffed. “If you do, you’re not as bright as I thought.”
Reese gave him a warning glance. “Your perception is clouded with emotion like everyone else’s – don’t deny it. This requires logic and strategy. If Garret can indeed lend assistance without major fallout, then we’d be foolish not to take advantage of it.”
“And if he’s lying through his teeth?” Gunner shook his head. “If you give him freedom, he could bring us all to ruin.”
“Or just kill us all.” Justin looked between the men innocently. “What? He’s got the capability. There’s nothing but his own choice that’s keeping him in that room. If he’s here to cause ruin, he could have done it by now, I dare say within half an hour of waking up this morning. But he didn’t.”
Gunner licked his now-dried lip. “So you think he’s actually telling the truth?”
“I think he’s got himself in a tough spot and we’re his way out. And as such, he’s willing to help.”
Reese sighed and folded his arms. “He wants safety. Do we have any other leverage?”
“You mean something he’s scared of that we can use as a threat?”
Reese cocked his head at Justin’s unusually sensitive tone. “Perhaps. If you want to put it that way.”
“You heard my entire conversation.” Justin shrugged. “It would be hard to find anything to faze him. He’s been trained to control his emotions, which isn’t in our favor when it comes to threats. We don’t know how long he’s been in the Agency, but it was at least as long as Carson was, and you all know they make robots out of everyone – especially the strong ones. If he’s got a weak spot, it’ll be nearly impossible to find. And that’s a big if.”
“Hmm.” Reese looked back into the other room where Garret remained motionless. “ So in other words, we have very little to go on…except what he tells us.”
…It was just a short while later that Justin was back in his truck, heading to his appointment with Mackenzie, then a short visit with Carson, then back home and hopefully dinner with Beth tonight. But even with all that on his mind, something else was bothering him more. He hadn’t lied to Reese. But he hadn’t been completely open either, and he didn’t like it that he’d done that. It wasn’t his norm to run on emotions in these cases, let alone this one, but something had held him back, and he wasn’t even sure why. But it bothered him. It bothered him that he’d taken this type of risk with that dangerous of a man…
…Justin swirled his fork in his spaghetti, playing more than eating. He’d had Beth over to his place tonight for dinner and a movie, and he’d tried his best to be good company, but he felt he wasn’t doing a very good job.
His eyes drifted up to Beth, and he gave her half a smile. “Ever have one of those days when you have no idea if something you did was right or wrong?”
Aaron thumbed through a magazine with disinterest, even less entertained by the view outside the commercial airliner’s window. He might find enjoyment in the fact that he was wedged in a seat next to Victoria, but her cold shoulder kept any of those thoughts at bay. Collens and Kirk were in separate seats further back in the plane to keep their group split in half and avoid looking too much like they were together. They had a long flight across the ocean that was going to give all four of them tense nerves if they weren’t careful. Once they reached New York, there were two leads – one to Washington, and one to Nevada. Kirk and Collens were to go to Washington, while Aaron and Victoria would go to Nevada. Aaron knew good and well that Victoria had chosen that route because she suspected the Elite’s involvement, and that was a stronger lead. Just as long as they found Garret, Aaron didn’t care how they got there.
He returned the magazine to the seat pocket and sighed with boredom before flagging down a stewardess and asking for a drink. He might as well enjoy part of this flight.
Eli stood quickly as Scarlet reached the door, but had to wait to say anything as Ryan entered. Getting into a tiff with his girlfriend wasn't exactly a time he wanted an audience. But seeing Scarlet was now seriously leaving, he knew he had to act fast.
He sidled past Ryan, giving her a strange look. "Okay..." Tal had told him he'd be meeting Ryan tonight. "Didn't Tal find you at the race?" He didn't even let her answer as he continued out the door. "I'll be back." He let the door fall shut loudly behind him as he sprinted down the few steps. "Scarlet!" he hollered. "Hold up!" Reaching her bike, he stopped her by setting a hand on her shoulder. "This is ridiculous. Don't go, please. I'm sorry I'm in a mood and I'm giving mixed signals. I wouldn't ever do anything to jeopardize us, you know that."
He tried to read her eyes, but he was having a hard time tonight. "There is nothing bad going on, and there is nothing wrong. Please, just trust me. If I'm not ready to talk about something, you can't just assume I'm being dishonest and walk away - you should know me better than that." He was frustrated and confused at her reaction, and didn't know what else to say. "I didn't tell you which pair of underwear I chose this morning or that I tried a new kind of toothpaste, but that doesn't mean I'm holding something back from you. This has been a crazy day and all I want is to spend the rest of it with you."
Garret sat on the floor of his cell, barefoot and ignoring the coffee and cinnamon roll that had been sitting on the table for an hour. His hands were back in handcuffs, and his ankles were shackled again. Aside from a headache and exhaustion, Garret felt far better than he had during the last seven days. It had taken longer than he’d anticipated to get through his withdrawal, but finally the worst was over. Yet there was little to be celebrated. Now that he was out of danger, he’d been placed in this holding cell – his own miniature prison. This was not what he’d envisioned…
“..What do you think?” Reese came up beside Justin in the control room and joined him in looking at Garret through the monitor.
Justin folded his arms and shook his head. He’d been watching silently for half an hour after Reese had called him in for an unbiased opinion. “I’ve got a few theories, but it’s gonna take more than this to come up with anything substantial. No one’s talked to him yet?”
“Not since we first brought him in and got his initial story. Today’s the first day he’s been completely lucid.”
“I’d like to observe him under some pressure, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“There’s nothing I’d like more than to get to the bottom of this. I’m sure if I call Carson –”
“Pick someone else. How about Gunner?”
Reese’s eyes narrowed. “He’s got a cog loose himself.”
“Mm-hmm. He’ll be good.”
…It wasn’t much later that Justin stood on one side of the two-way mirror, looking into the interrogation room. Reese’s main concern was whether or not Garret was telling the truth. And though one could never be a hundred percent sure, it was Justin’s job to assess the situation before they would move on.
Garret sat in the chair at one end of the table, hands and ankles still cuffed, feet still bare. His eyes remained disinterested in Gunner or the subject at hand. He’d said all he could about why he was here, and right now he was extremely tired, and just a bit grouchy.
“Come on. There’s more to this, and we know it.” Gunner hopped up to sit on the table and swing his legs, glancing down at the sheet of paper Reese had given him, which listed some specific information he wanted. “We may not know everything about the Agency, but we’re not idiots.”
Silence.
Gunner sighed and rolled his eyes. “So why are you really here?”
“I’ve already answered that question. I would have expected a more creative angle by now.”
“Creative? You want creative?” Gunner slid closer and leaned down to be eye-level with Garret before he grinned. “I can be creative. I was just being nice.”
“That’s the problem with you lot. You’re always too nice.”
“Oh, really?” Gunner slid off the table. “Well, we’ll have to remedy that.” Without even thinking, he swung his foot at the back leg of Garret’s chair.
One would have thought there was little Garret could do, especially with his hands and feet bound. But as his chair toppled over, he tucked and rolled to the side. Using his hands for leverage on the floor, his legs came straight around, taking Gunner’s feet out from under him. It was hard to tell exactly what happened next, but the end result was Gunner flat on his back with a knee in his ribs and the chain of Garret’s handcuff’s across his throat.
Watching in the other room, Reese wasted no time in heading for the door, pausing only to hit the intercom. “Hal!” he barked. “Get in here.”
Justin just rolled his eyes. “That certainly didn’t take long.” He’d imagined Gunner would take a few more minutes than that to rile their subject. He sighed, but despite the extremely short-lived interrogation, he’d already learned a lot.
In the other room, Gunner struggled under Garret’s weight, helpless as he groped at the handcuff chain that was cutting off his air supply. Though he tried to kick Garret off, all his wriggling did was cause Garret’s knee to dig deeper into his ribcage.
Garret glared down at him, completely in control as he put just enough pressure on Gunner’s throat to make it hard for him to breathe. “You call that creative?”
Gunner aimed a fist at Garret’s face, but Garret blocked it with the cuff’s chain, trapped his wrist and brought his own head down to slam into Gunner’s mouth before returning pressure to his throat.
The door burst open, and Garret was yanked off his prey with no mercy by the strong arms of Hal. He gave him a minor struggle, but was shoved against the wall before being manhandled back into his chair. “Sit!” Hal ordered angrily. “One more wrong move and this will be the last room you see. Got it?!”
Garret’s eyes showed no more emotion than earlier, and he didn’t respond.
“Gunner, you alright?” Reese knelt next to him with concern.
“Y…” Gunner cleared his throat, trying to breathe normally again. “Yeah. I think so,” he wheezed.
Hal offered him a hand up. “Here. You need to see Rick?”
“No, no, I’m fine.” Gunner glanced back to Garret and wiped his bloody lip. The whole ordeal had lasted only moments, but it was enough to be just a bit unnerving. He’d been caught totally off guard.
“Alright, my turn.” Justin interrupted the scene, his backpack slung over his shoulder. “C’mon, guys, give a man room to breathe.”
Reese pulled him to the side, very much irritated. “Did you not see what he just did? I don’t think this is the time for a counseling session.”
Though Justin was just a bit offended, he held his temper. “This was Gunner’s fault,” he pointed out quietly. “That man you have there? He can take out anyone he wants any time he wants. Nothing is keeping him here but his own will. Whether I’m in here with him or not is no more risk than if I stayed in the other room.”
Reese’s jaw tightened. “What have you observed that you’re not telling me?”
“Plenty. But you’re gonna have to trust me. I dare say Garret is the most dangerous man who has ever been in this building, and if you want to play it safe, then just put a bullet in his head. Otherwise, let me work like you called me in here to do. I know the risks.”
Though displeased, Reese relented. “Fine. But if you’re gonna try to play interrogator, at least see if you can get him to answer those questions I listed for Gunner.” He turned. “Hal, Gunner – come with me.” They would leave as Justin requested, but they would be right next door. And Reese would not hesitate to use lethal force if Justin got in trouble.
Finally alone in the quiet room, Justin approached the table and sat down, letting his backpack sink to the floor. “Nice moves back there.”
One of Garret’s eyebrows arced. “Thank you?”
Justin grinned. “You might have gone a little far for my tastes, but you looked pretty cool doing it, and Gunner had it coming to him.”
“Oh, I get it. Good cop, bad cop routine.” Garret shook his head. “You guys really aren’t very creative.”
Justin laughed. “Actually, I’m being honest. Acting isn’t my thing and…I’m pretty sure you’d see through it anyway.” It grew quiet as he withdrew a notepad and pen from his bag, along with a protein bar that he shoved in Garret’s direction.
Garret looked at it, then back up at Justin. “What’s this for?”
“You didn’t have any breakfast. That’s all.”
Garret hesitated, but finally unwrapped the bar to eat it.
On the other side of the mirror, Reese smirked. “How’d he know he’d eat that after he’d refused breakfast?”
Inside the interrogation room, silence ruled. Justin jotted down a few notes as Garret finished the bar. Eventually, he set aside his pen and leaned back in his chair to study the prisoner.
Garret met his gaze with no new interest apart from a newly growing curiosity. “I know a lot about your operations here, but I don’t recognize your face.”
“Ah.” Justin shrugged. “I’m just contract labor.”
“I’d hate to think what your job might be.”
“I just wanna know what you want.”
Garret cocked his head. “Shouldn’t that be what I’m supposed to ask? You’re the one who insisted on this particularly enlightening discussion.”
“I don’t like games any more than you do,” Justin stated flatly. He stared Garret in the eye. “You’re unbreakable, and I don’t intend to test that theory just to confirm I’m right. So let’s pretend we just went through the whole routine of feeling each other out and assume we both have a low tolerance for holding this thing up any longer.”
The first sign of emotion emerged as a slight curl to Garret’s lips. He leaned forward on the table. “Psychiatrist?”
“Mm, good guess, but I’m afraid I’m too unconventional to pursue psychiatry, not to mention I probably could use a psychiatrist myself half the time.”
“So what is your job here?”
“Let’s just say I’ve been asked to evaluate whether or not you’re worth our time and effort. And I don’t like beating around the bush, so let’s get to it. I have other things I need to get done today.”
“And if I don’t talk?”
Justin shrugged. “I don’t care. I get paid the same. You know we’d like information – there’s no point denying that. But we don’t want it badly enough to sit here all day treating you like an uncontrollable teenager we’re trying to win over with bribes.”
Garret’s eyes darkened. “All I want is safety.”
“You know safety from the Agency can be offered but never guaranteed.”
“The effort is all I want.”
“And in exchange?”
“I’ve been over this ten times. I don’t know who killed Alec Banks, but I can help find out. That, and who’s been in charge of Carson’s case so they can be taken down.”
Justin sighed. “Can you?”
“I have information. I know how to get into the system. I know where the moles exist. I know names and passwords.”
“So? We’ve already got plenty to go on.”
“Yet you’ve gotten nowhere.”
“Can you guarantee you can locate the men who killed Alec?”
“Just as much as you can guarantee my safety.”
Justin quietly studied Garret, taking his time. He glanced at Reese’s list. “Why do you want out of the Agency?”
Garret’s gaze remained stone cold. “My reasons are my own.”
“Then we’re through.” Justin stood, ready to leave.
“What, that’s it?” Garret hadn’t expected that one. “What’ll you do with me now?”
“That’s not my department. But Reese will probably have you sent to prison where you’ll undoubtedly serve a life sentence. You leave him very little choice.”
Justin made it all the way to the door before Garret stopped him. He couldn’t go to prison. He couldn’t lose Victoria forever. “Look, I don’t know what more to give. I’ve told you all the ways I can help you. What else do you want?”
Justin glanced over his shoulder. “I asked you a simple question you refused to answer. If we can’t talk on equal terms, we have no reason to trust you will actually help us.”
Garret’s eyes dropped and he fell quiet again until he heard Justin open the door to leave. “Why shouldn’t I want out of the Agency? Being manipulated by a mad man can be tiring.”
Justin looked back again, keeping silent track of his fast-growing observations. “But why now? You’ve been under his rule for years – although with quite a bit of authority from what I hear.”
More years than Garret cared to remember. And the authority? It only went so far. His answer came out rather quietly. “A man’s soul eventually grows thin, and he has to make a choice between losing it forever, or taking it back. I chose to take it back. I’ll not allow Medridge to steal one more day from my life.”
Justin slowly shut the door and returned to the table, taking his seat once more. “Why not just disappear?”
From the other room, Reese’s wonderment at Justin’s skill grew.
“I could, but…” Garret bit his tongue to keep from saying what his true intentions were. No one could know about Victoria. Not yet. “But why condemn me for wanting to inflict revenge on the one who has made me suffer for so long?”
Justin reopened his notebook and shifted the topic. “Are you alone in your little scheme to defect?”
Garret didn’t blink. “Of course I am. It would be stupid to try and leave the same time as someone else.”
“So you’re alone in your feelings that Medridge has been a dictator?”
It took a little more effort for Garret not to let his eyes betray him as his mind immediately thought of Victoria. “If I’m not, I wouldn’t know. To speak of it would mean instant death.”
“Hmm.” Justin jotted down a note. “You’re obviously a very skilled man, but what would you say your highest talent is?”
“I’m not sure how to answer that.”
“Oh, don’t worry about shocking me.” Justin glanced up at him. “If your talent is breaking men’s necks with your bare hands, then so be it. With your offer to help us, I simply need to know in what capacity we could use your assistance.”
“Hand to hand combat and strategic undercover infiltration.”
“So I could put down that you’re good at getting your way.”
The subtle grin returned to Garret’s lips. “That would most likely cover it.”
“And…your weaknesses?”
“How about difficulty bending to authority?”
It was Justin’s turn to grin. “Now that, I believe. But you can’t be perfect in everything.”
“I am… perfect at nothing.” The only weakness Garret would acknowledge to himself was his love for Victoria. “But I can’t disarm bombs worth a tinker.”
Justin’s eyebrows rose as he wrote. He hadn’t expected that one. “Dare I ask how you discovered that?”
Garret fiddled with his handcuffs as he recalled the beating he’d received for clipping the wrong wire in the model bomb. He’d been fifteen at the time. But it was a forced smile that covered up his negative emotions. “I’m sure you’re imagining a smoking lab with my face blackened and hair on end.”
Justin chuckled. “Perhaps. Um… Carson indicated you did international work. Do you know any other languages?”
“Yes. I know German, French and Russian.”
“All European. Does that hint where Medridge is?”
“If you want me to tell you his location, I can’t. I’m sure you’ve all suspected he’s based in Europe – that much is true. But other than that, I’m in the dark.”
“You worked that closely with him, yet are unaware of where?”
“You’d be surprised how tightly Medridge runs things. For a man that smart, it’s not hard for him to keep even his highest ranking men in the dark.” Garret shrugged. “Coming and going requires blindfolds and windowless transportation, even for me.”
“What about the drivers?”
“Medridge has two. And as far as I know, they are the only two, other than Medridge himself, who have an inkling about where they actually are. And as such, their lives hang in the balance.”
Justin nodded. “I see. So back to the issue at hand. Surely there are other ways to inflict revenge on Medridge other than joining up with the Elite.”
“Of course. But…the Elite is in the United States, far from Medridge – though not out of his reach, obviously. And the Elite can offer assistance in keeping me alive.”
“Why through Carson? A virtual enemy.”
“Because he’s one of the best. And he knows of me and has the most opportune situation for me to help and prove my genuineness.”
Justin paused his writing and glanced up. “So basically Carson provided the best route into the arms of the Elite, and your being here has nothing to do with what happened with Alec.”
Garret sighed. “I’m resourceful. Yes, Carson was my best bet because he’s running on emotions. But make no mistake – I believe Alec’s death was unjust, not to mention the harm done to Misty. I may have a heart of stone, but I recognize undo violence.”
“As much as you’ve inflicted yourself?”
“Just because I’ve done wrong doesn’t mean I’ve agreed with it, nor does it mean I can’t make different decisions now.” Garret cocked his head. “Or does it?”
Justin played with his pen. “Everyone can change if they want, and everyone has a right to. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, nor does it mean everyone around you will accept or trust a change of heart.”
“But that’s where you come in, isn’t it?”
“How do you mean?”
“You’re the coolest cat in this whole bunch. Your confidence comes from your ability to read people and you do not read me as a threat to yourself. In which case, you’re going to leave here and recommend to Reese that he let me help find Alec’s killers. In turn, others will learn to trust me all because of your word.”
Justin grinned. “Fascinating.”
“That I’m right, or that you actually believe me?”
“That you like to observe almost as much as I do. I can’t guarantee what Reese will allow though. He trusts me, but I can’t sway him if he doesn’t want to be.”
Garret glanced at the mirror, knowing full well he’d been watched this entire time. “That, I believe.”
… “So do you really think I’m going to let him in?”
Justin paused inside the nextdoor room, backpack slung over his shoulder. He cocked his head at Reese’s question before eying the other men. Garret had been left in the interrogation room for now. “I’d rather not answer that since it is entirely up to you.”
“Well, I have to admit, I’m impressed with how much you got him to talk.”
“Eh. It wasn’t me. He was willing, once he knew I wouldn’t jump down his throat.”
“Think we can trust him?”
“Of course not,” Gunner scoffed. “If you do, you’re not as bright as I thought.”
Reese gave him a warning glance. “Your perception is clouded with emotion like everyone else’s – don’t deny it. This requires logic and strategy. If Garret can indeed lend assistance without major fallout, then we’d be foolish not to take advantage of it.”
“And if he’s lying through his teeth?” Gunner shook his head. “If you give him freedom, he could bring us all to ruin.”
“Or just kill us all.” Justin looked between the men innocently. “What? He’s got the capability. There’s nothing but his own choice that’s keeping him in that room. If he’s here to cause ruin, he could have done it by now, I dare say within half an hour of waking up this morning. But he didn’t.”
Gunner licked his now-dried lip. “So you think he’s actually telling the truth?”
“I think he’s got himself in a tough spot and we’re his way out. And as such, he’s willing to help.”
Reese sighed and folded his arms. “He wants safety. Do we have any other leverage?”
“You mean something he’s scared of that we can use as a threat?”
Reese cocked his head at Justin’s unusually sensitive tone. “Perhaps. If you want to put it that way.”
“You heard my entire conversation.” Justin shrugged. “It would be hard to find anything to faze him. He’s been trained to control his emotions, which isn’t in our favor when it comes to threats. We don’t know how long he’s been in the Agency, but it was at least as long as Carson was, and you all know they make robots out of everyone – especially the strong ones. If he’s got a weak spot, it’ll be nearly impossible to find. And that’s a big if.”
“Hmm.” Reese looked back into the other room where Garret remained motionless. “ So in other words, we have very little to go on…except what he tells us.”
…It was just a short while later that Justin was back in his truck, heading to his appointment with Mackenzie, then a short visit with Carson, then back home and hopefully dinner with Beth tonight. But even with all that on his mind, something else was bothering him more. He hadn’t lied to Reese. But he hadn’t been completely open either, and he didn’t like it that he’d done that. It wasn’t his norm to run on emotions in these cases, let alone this one, but something had held him back, and he wasn’t even sure why. But it bothered him. It bothered him that he’d taken this type of risk with that dangerous of a man…
…Justin swirled his fork in his spaghetti, playing more than eating. He’d had Beth over to his place tonight for dinner and a movie, and he’d tried his best to be good company, but he felt he wasn’t doing a very good job.
His eyes drifted up to Beth, and he gave her half a smile. “Ever have one of those days when you have no idea if something you did was right or wrong?”
Aaron thumbed through a magazine with disinterest, even less entertained by the view outside the commercial airliner’s window. He might find enjoyment in the fact that he was wedged in a seat next to Victoria, but her cold shoulder kept any of those thoughts at bay. Collens and Kirk were in separate seats further back in the plane to keep their group split in half and avoid looking too much like they were together. They had a long flight across the ocean that was going to give all four of them tense nerves if they weren’t careful. Once they reached New York, there were two leads – one to Washington, and one to Nevada. Kirk and Collens were to go to Washington, while Aaron and Victoria would go to Nevada. Aaron knew good and well that Victoria had chosen that route because she suspected the Elite’s involvement, and that was a stronger lead. Just as long as they found Garret, Aaron didn’t care how they got there.
He returned the magazine to the seat pocket and sighed with boredom before flagging down a stewardess and asking for a drink. He might as well enjoy part of this flight.
Disapointed.
Scarlet's eye still searches Eli's face. Was there truth in what he said? She'd never doubted him before, but there was just something that was not right and maybe he wasn't lieing but he wasn't telling her the whole truth either and it bothered her alot.
"We've always told each other about everything. You know my past, you know my job, you know every little detail about me because the only way this relationship was going to work was being that way, and you new that going into it Eli."
Standing Scarlet just looks at Eli for a long moment. She didn't like how she felt, she didn't want to leave but she had too. She wouldn't put herself through this position again, she refused to no matter what she had to stick to her guns and let Eli know she really mean what she said.
"I have to get goings. I'm disappointed Eli, I thought this was going to be different because we put everything out on the table. I guess I put to much faith in that. I'm sorry."
Turning Scarlet heads for the door picking up her jacket along the way. Getting there the door opens and Ryan enter. Study's the young girl for a second she just gives her a big hug. She looked tired, sad, and not her normal self. It made Scarlet's hear ache.
"Hang in there Ryan."
Letting her go she makes her was out the door and down the steps to her bike. It had been a long day already and the night seemed even longer now. Just standing for a long moment Scarlet didn't want to ride yet, she was to upset.
Watching Scarlet leave Ryan looks into the living room where her brother was. That was strange Eli didn't walk her out. Maybe they were having a fight or something. Ryan didn't know other than it was just odd.
"I'll be in my room if you need me Eli."
Looking up at Ryder Thirteen gives a small nod. Leave it to to make her feel better. He just had that way about him. It was only thing she loved. She felt so safe with him, and even on the darkest days he could make it shine.
"Thank you Ryder, for always just being you."
Just sitting on the couch Misty was lost in thought. It was so quiet there, so lonely. She use to a long time ago like the quiet, being along, and just having everything to herself. It was a welcomed feeling. But now after having Alec around, having Mac there, Carson or Jason...now she hated it. There was to much time to stew, to much time to think. To much time to miss those she had loved and lost.
Hearing her phone go off Misty slowly picks it up looking at the number. She was thankful it was Carson even if she did show a little emotion. She always did love his poems and right now it was nice to read one. She didn't think tomorrow night she was busy, and not being in the house alone sounded good.
Coffee sounds great. Any time if fine. I'll meet you there.
"We've always told each other about everything. You know my past, you know my job, you know every little detail about me because the only way this relationship was going to work was being that way, and you new that going into it Eli."
Standing Scarlet just looks at Eli for a long moment. She didn't like how she felt, she didn't want to leave but she had too. She wouldn't put herself through this position again, she refused to no matter what she had to stick to her guns and let Eli know she really mean what she said.
"I have to get goings. I'm disappointed Eli, I thought this was going to be different because we put everything out on the table. I guess I put to much faith in that. I'm sorry."
Turning Scarlet heads for the door picking up her jacket along the way. Getting there the door opens and Ryan enter. Study's the young girl for a second she just gives her a big hug. She looked tired, sad, and not her normal self. It made Scarlet's hear ache.
"Hang in there Ryan."
Letting her go she makes her was out the door and down the steps to her bike. It had been a long day already and the night seemed even longer now. Just standing for a long moment Scarlet didn't want to ride yet, she was to upset.
Watching Scarlet leave Ryan looks into the living room where her brother was. That was strange Eli didn't walk her out. Maybe they were having a fight or something. Ryan didn't know other than it was just odd.
"I'll be in my room if you need me Eli."
Looking up at Ryder Thirteen gives a small nod. Leave it to to make her feel better. He just had that way about him. It was only thing she loved. She felt so safe with him, and even on the darkest days he could make it shine.
"Thank you Ryder, for always just being you."
Just sitting on the couch Misty was lost in thought. It was so quiet there, so lonely. She use to a long time ago like the quiet, being along, and just having everything to herself. It was a welcomed feeling. But now after having Alec around, having Mac there, Carson or Jason...now she hated it. There was to much time to stew, to much time to think. To much time to miss those she had loved and lost.
Hearing her phone go off Misty slowly picks it up looking at the number. She was thankful it was Carson even if she did show a little emotion. She always did love his poems and right now it was nice to read one. She didn't think tomorrow night she was busy, and not being in the house alone sounded good.
Coffee sounds great. Any time if fine. I'll meet you there.
8/25/15
Half Truth
"That's not fair," Eli teased. "Keeping a man from his popcorn." He tried to make light of the whole thing, but the look in Scarlet's eyes warned him that he was getting awfully close to a line he'd never crossed before. Her backing away from him a little just confirmed it, and the glint of humor in his eye faded.
"I'm not lying," he insisted. "Everything is fine. I got work breathing down my neck, and this whole thing with Alec is doing a real number on Ryan. I'm just trying to stay on top of it all." Whether or not he was lying, there was something he was leaving out. Something about his vague answers that made his reasoning seem flawed, and he knew it. But he wasn't going to discuss it further. He could talk to Scarlet about anything...except this. It was his own fault that he'd taken that phone call when she'd been within earshot. He'd always been more careful than that, but after such an emotional day, he'd let his guard down too far.
He reached for the open bottle of beer he'd been nursing all evening, and took a swig before trying to pull Scarlet close again. Anything to change the subject. "Popcorn or not, you're still the most comfortable couch buddy, so what say we finish this movie, huh? And then watch another one so I don't have to move."
Ryder just continued to hug Thirteen close. “It’s okay. Shhh.”
He led her into the living room where he made her sit with him and he gently wiped some of her tears with his hand. “Hey…look at me.” He leaned his head down until he could see her eyes. “You’re okay. You’re safe now. It’s okay to be scared – you didn’t do anything wrong.”
He offered her a gentle smile. “Even the strongest freeze sometimes, and you’re far stronger than you think.”
“Garret, can you hear me?”
The words sounded muffled and far away. The voice was unfamiliar, and the room felt so hot. Garret flinched only when his eye was pried open and a bright light shone at his pupil. He tried to fend off whoever was leaning over him, but found both wrists and ankles restrained. Sweat trickled down the sides of his face, and a wave of dizziness produced a verbal complaint that only came out as a groan.
Rick prepped a needle and gave Garret another shot before replacing the cold compress on his forehead. Three days, and his body was still revolting against the lack of drugs. Rick couldn’t help but wonder what kind of cocktail the Agency had developed to bring on such severe withdrawal symptoms.
“How’s he doing?” Reese stepped inside the infirmary.
Rick shook his head. “Not good. His body’s going haywire, and there’s only so much I can do.”
“Is he going to be alright?”
Rick folded his arms and looked back at Garret’s writhing form. “I hope so. I’m just trying to get his fever down at the moment. I hate to say this, but if he was lying, and the Agency really did send him here, they risked killing him. And as important as Carson says he is…I’m just not sure they’d do that.”
Garret tried to open his eyes, but they were so heavy. He squirmed in his restraints, unable to get his bearings. All he wanted to hear was one voice. All he wanted to feel was one person’s touch. He had to fight…he couldn’t give up…not now. He’d come too far. He had to keep fighting.
Reese pursed his lips as his mind reeled. What was the truth? “Has he said anything at all?”
“Nothing that makes sense, and half the time it’s in German.”
“Great.” Reese rolled his eyes. “Okay. Well, do what you can and let me know if anything changes.”
Carson lay on his back on his bed, his eyes roaming the ceiling of the small room. The last few days had been hard. Not just because he was still helping hunt for Alec’s killers, but because he’d refrained from contacting Misty. It was torture, but he’d known not to call her right away, lest it seem he was smothering her. Had he waited long enough now? It felt like he was playing a high school dating game all over again.
Finally, he reached for his cell phone on his night stand. It felt kind of funny just to text, but…maybe that would cause the least amount of stress. He thought for several moments before typing.
Though wounded on the battlefield, soul in pieces, the warrior’s pulse still pounds. Not for himself, but for the conquering queen – she who won his heart so long ago. For but one glance he holds on, surviving only for a single moment.
After hitting send, he typed another message.
Go out for coffee tomorrow night with me?
"I'm not lying," he insisted. "Everything is fine. I got work breathing down my neck, and this whole thing with Alec is doing a real number on Ryan. I'm just trying to stay on top of it all." Whether or not he was lying, there was something he was leaving out. Something about his vague answers that made his reasoning seem flawed, and he knew it. But he wasn't going to discuss it further. He could talk to Scarlet about anything...except this. It was his own fault that he'd taken that phone call when she'd been within earshot. He'd always been more careful than that, but after such an emotional day, he'd let his guard down too far.
He reached for the open bottle of beer he'd been nursing all evening, and took a swig before trying to pull Scarlet close again. Anything to change the subject. "Popcorn or not, you're still the most comfortable couch buddy, so what say we finish this movie, huh? And then watch another one so I don't have to move."
Ryder just continued to hug Thirteen close. “It’s okay. Shhh.”
He led her into the living room where he made her sit with him and he gently wiped some of her tears with his hand. “Hey…look at me.” He leaned his head down until he could see her eyes. “You’re okay. You’re safe now. It’s okay to be scared – you didn’t do anything wrong.”
He offered her a gentle smile. “Even the strongest freeze sometimes, and you’re far stronger than you think.”
“Garret, can you hear me?”
The words sounded muffled and far away. The voice was unfamiliar, and the room felt so hot. Garret flinched only when his eye was pried open and a bright light shone at his pupil. He tried to fend off whoever was leaning over him, but found both wrists and ankles restrained. Sweat trickled down the sides of his face, and a wave of dizziness produced a verbal complaint that only came out as a groan.
Rick prepped a needle and gave Garret another shot before replacing the cold compress on his forehead. Three days, and his body was still revolting against the lack of drugs. Rick couldn’t help but wonder what kind of cocktail the Agency had developed to bring on such severe withdrawal symptoms.
“How’s he doing?” Reese stepped inside the infirmary.
Rick shook his head. “Not good. His body’s going haywire, and there’s only so much I can do.”
“Is he going to be alright?”
Rick folded his arms and looked back at Garret’s writhing form. “I hope so. I’m just trying to get his fever down at the moment. I hate to say this, but if he was lying, and the Agency really did send him here, they risked killing him. And as important as Carson says he is…I’m just not sure they’d do that.”
Garret tried to open his eyes, but they were so heavy. He squirmed in his restraints, unable to get his bearings. All he wanted to hear was one voice. All he wanted to feel was one person’s touch. He had to fight…he couldn’t give up…not now. He’d come too far. He had to keep fighting.
Reese pursed his lips as his mind reeled. What was the truth? “Has he said anything at all?”
“Nothing that makes sense, and half the time it’s in German.”
“Great.” Reese rolled his eyes. “Okay. Well, do what you can and let me know if anything changes.”
Carson lay on his back on his bed, his eyes roaming the ceiling of the small room. The last few days had been hard. Not just because he was still helping hunt for Alec’s killers, but because he’d refrained from contacting Misty. It was torture, but he’d known not to call her right away, lest it seem he was smothering her. Had he waited long enough now? It felt like he was playing a high school dating game all over again.
Finally, he reached for his cell phone on his night stand. It felt kind of funny just to text, but…maybe that would cause the least amount of stress. He thought for several moments before typing.
Though wounded on the battlefield, soul in pieces, the warrior’s pulse still pounds. Not for himself, but for the conquering queen – she who won his heart so long ago. For but one glance he holds on, surviving only for a single moment.
After hitting send, he typed another message.
Go out for coffee tomorrow night with me?
Lieing
Feeling Ryder's arms warp around her Thirteen was able to relax a little. She was safe now, at home with someone who cared for her, protected her and she loved. As she tried to relax tears just rolled down her cheek, more and more. She'd been so scared, and she wished she was stronger.
"I...I was just so scared he was there to take me away, to take me back. I wasn't strong enough to stand up for myself..I just froze."
How could Ryder love someone as broken as her. Why did he stay there week after week for her. She felt like she was more of a burden than anything to him and Katie both. She wished she'd been stronger, if even just a little bit.
Scarlet studys Eli for a long moment. There was something wrong, something on his mind more than he let on and it was not often, actually this would be the first time he didn't tell her what. He made her worried.
"I hide it till you tell me whats really wrong...without lieing!"
Eyeing over Eli Scarlet backed away a little bit from him. The most important thing about there relationship was being honest specially with all the travailing she did. Thats the only way a relationship like there would work and she really hoped Eli wasn't going back on that now. She dared to say she loved him, but she wouldn't stand being with someone she didn't trust.
"I...I was just so scared he was there to take me away, to take me back. I wasn't strong enough to stand up for myself..I just froze."
How could Ryder love someone as broken as her. Why did he stay there week after week for her. She felt like she was more of a burden than anything to him and Katie both. She wished she'd been stronger, if even just a little bit.
Scarlet studys Eli for a long moment. There was something wrong, something on his mind more than he let on and it was not often, actually this would be the first time he didn't tell her what. He made her worried.
"I hide it till you tell me whats really wrong...without lieing!"
Eyeing over Eli Scarlet backed away a little bit from him. The most important thing about there relationship was being honest specially with all the travailing she did. Thats the only way a relationship like there would work and she really hoped Eli wasn't going back on that now. She dared to say she loved him, but she wouldn't stand being with someone she didn't trust.
8/17/15
Just Work
As Ryder saw the lights of a car pull up outside, he quickly got up off the couch. “Katie,” he called down the hall, “Thirteen’s home.” After Aerith had called, he’d told Katie what was going on, just to keep her in the loop. Whether it was going to be a long night or not, she had a right to know what was happening – let alone informing her of the Elite situation.
He opened the door as Thirteen came inside, and it only took one look at her face to confirm what Aerith had said. It made him so angry that someone could scare her like this – intentionally or not. It just brought back everything he hated about theAgency. “Hey,” he greeted softly. “Come here.” He put his arms around her and hugged her close. “You okay?”
Eli put his hand on top of Scarlet’s on his chest and gave it a squeeze as he returned her kiss. He could barely remember what it had been like before she’d come into his life. And it was hard to imagine life without her again, either.
Her question brought a strangely unsettled look to his eyes. “Yeah…yeah, things are okay. I just…” He left his sentence hanging as his gaze went back to the television and he set his feet up on the coffee table. “There’s stuff that…” Another pause gave room for his jaw muscles to tighten without him even realizing that it signaled he was trying not to say something.
He settled in closer. “It’s just work-related,” he concluded. “Now…what did you do with the popcorn?”
“If you’re not after Thirteen, there’s only one other reason you’d be here.” Carson drove across town, one hand on the wheel, the other on the cocked shotgun in his lap, aimed at Garret in the passenger seat. “But of all the names I went through to find who was in charge of ruining my marriage and killing my family, I never thought of yours.”
One of Garret’s eyebrows arced, but he remained still. “I’m too important for a petty job like that, but this has nothing to do with that young woman either. I came to make a deal, just like I said.”
Carson scoffed. “I don’t make deals with snakes.”
“Some snakes kill the innocent. Some kill rats.”
Carson stopped at red light. “Talk.”
“If you’re gonna get justice, you’re gonna have to find who Medridge has in charge of your case – and you’re gonna need help to do that.”
“What’s in it for you?”
“Freedom.”
Carson’s fingers tightened around his shotgun as the light turned green and he drove on. “You better come up with something better than that.”
Garret remained expressionless. “You want help? You’re gonna have to believe me.”
It couldn’t be that simple. “Freedom from the Agency? Why?”
“My reasons are my own. The bottom line is I want out.”
It seemed more likely that this was an elaborate trap. “I don’t believe you.”
“The best I can do is get you access to records that will have me listed as missing by now. They probably think I’ve been abducted by a rival – possibly even the Elite. I was low risk when it came to my allegiance, so they won’t believe yet that I ran.”
“As if you couldn’t set that up just for me to see.” But Carson really did wonder if there was any truth here. “How did you jump radar?”
Garret pulled up one sleeve as much as he could in his cuffs – it was just far enough to show a recent wound near his wrist. “Ditching my tracker was my first move, then I used an unknown alias. But it won’t be long before somebody suspects I came to the United States, whether by my own free will or by force.”
Carson signed. “If you’re telling the truth – and that’s a big ‘if’ – why here? The Agency has feelers all over this territory, and I’m a marked man. If you were looking for safety, you made a stupid choice, and as much as I hate to admit it, you’re just not that stupid.”
“I don’t just need safety.” Garret eyed the dark streets as they drove, and he swallowed hard. Being vulnerable like this was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
Carson turned down another street. “Well? Don’t leave me in suspense. I can’t imagine what you, of all people, would need from anyone.”
Garret wished he were in more control, but he wasn’t, and that was a fact. “They’ve had me addicted to a new trial drug for the past six months. If I try to get off it myself, I could be in big trouble. If I go to a hospital, they’ll find me. The Elite’s my only safe option, and…my withdrawal symptoms are already starting. I took my last dose yesterday.”
“So even Medridge’s right hand man gets to be a lab rat, ay?” Carson slowed the car and turned into the Elite parking lot, spotting Reese’s car already there. “Don’t puke in my car.”
Garret rolled his eyes. At the moment, the splitting headache was just beginning. But that was only the first stage. Far worse symptoms would follow. “I’m fine. For now.”
“So if you’ve got intel, how about we take the next few hours before you’re too far gone, and make a list of all I want to know…then I’ll consider helping you?”
A thin smile appeared on Garret’s lips. “I have to hold on to a few cards, Aussie. I may be desperate, but I still know how to play the game…”
…Reese looked through the window at Garret, who sat alone in the interrogation room. “Well?”
Carson stood beside him, and shook his head. “It was…weird. I don’t trust him one bit, but he was totally calm. I thought he’d get agitated or I’d have to yank information out of him, but he just talked like he was having a chat over coffee.”
“That usually indicates truth.”
“I know. That’s what bothers me.”
Reese shrugged. “You say he’s Medridge’s right-hand man?”
“Yeah. I dunno what his story is, but he’s been in the top ranks for years. By the time I got out, he’d already been settled in his position for a while.”
“He doesn’t look any older than you.”
“Eh. Not much. He’s just that good.”
“Well…let’s see what he has to say to me. Don’t go anywhere...”
…Garret flexed his wrists in the handcuffs, despising the way the felt. His ankles had also been shackled as an extra precaution due to Carson’s suggestion. He’d never felt more like a prisoner, which was incredibly unsettling. As Reese entered the room though, he looked up, but offered no emotion.
Reese folded his arms and stared down at their prisoner. “So what are you doing here, really?”
“I told Carson my intentions. There’s nothing more to say.”
Reese cocked his head. This guy…there seemed to be no cracks. No signs of weakness. No emotion at all. Carson had been right. “How can you expect us to believe that Medridge’s right-hand man wants out of the Agency? I’m sure you think we’re a bunch of idiots, but seriously…you think we’re that ignorant?”
Garret leaned back in his chair with boredom. “Your short-sightedness surprises me. How many officers do you have here that have come from the Agency? Five? Six? One of them your own niece. Yet you find it so hard to believe that one more wants out?”
“But you’re not just one more. You’re too high in the ranks to believe you’re willing to defect. There’s too much luxury in your position. What reason would you have for coming here, other than to destroy us from the inside out?”
Garret hadn’t known what he’d find here. He hadn’t known how he’d be treated or what he might have to do to gain anyone’s trust. He was in a foreign world here without anything to go on but the history of others who had found new lives here. Being at the mercy of the Elite was one of the few things that produced a feeling of fear. But his eyes remained hallow. His heart rate steady. No one would guess he feared the future if he could not convince them to trust him. “Let me prove my loyalty no longer lies with the Agency. Let me help find who’s in charge of Carson’s case. When that’s done, then tell me I haven’t changed sides.”
“Turning in a couple of your own is a small cost for bringing down the Elite.”
Quite suddenly, Garret was hit with a wave of nausea, and a bead of sweat trickled down his face. “Look…” He paused and took a deep breath. “I told Carson I’m coming down off drugs, and I wasn’t kidding. I can be an asset to the Elite, but you gotta help me get through this first. I can’t help til my head is clear.”
Reese hated to admit it, but Garret was looking more pale by the second. Whether he was lying about his intentions or not, it was obvious that he really was getting sick. Reese wanted to throw him in a cell, or better yet, call the police and have Garret taken to prison where he could rot for his involvement with the Agency. But something stopped him. It might prove to be his downfall, but his gut hadn’t been wrong yet. He moved back towards the intercom. “Hal, come get the prisoner and take him to the holding cell.”
Garret’s skin crawled. Was he going to end up behind bars? He couldn’t. He just couldn’t.
Reese continued to speak. “And when you’re through, call Rick and get him down here. He’s gonna have a new patient for a few days.”
Despite another wave of nausea, Garret felt a small bit of relief. Maybe, just maybe this whole thing really would turn out alright in the end.
He opened the door as Thirteen came inside, and it only took one look at her face to confirm what Aerith had said. It made him so angry that someone could scare her like this – intentionally or not. It just brought back everything he hated about theAgency. “Hey,” he greeted softly. “Come here.” He put his arms around her and hugged her close. “You okay?”
Eli put his hand on top of Scarlet’s on his chest and gave it a squeeze as he returned her kiss. He could barely remember what it had been like before she’d come into his life. And it was hard to imagine life without her again, either.
Her question brought a strangely unsettled look to his eyes. “Yeah…yeah, things are okay. I just…” He left his sentence hanging as his gaze went back to the television and he set his feet up on the coffee table. “There’s stuff that…” Another pause gave room for his jaw muscles to tighten without him even realizing that it signaled he was trying not to say something.
He settled in closer. “It’s just work-related,” he concluded. “Now…what did you do with the popcorn?”
“If you’re not after Thirteen, there’s only one other reason you’d be here.” Carson drove across town, one hand on the wheel, the other on the cocked shotgun in his lap, aimed at Garret in the passenger seat. “But of all the names I went through to find who was in charge of ruining my marriage and killing my family, I never thought of yours.”
One of Garret’s eyebrows arced, but he remained still. “I’m too important for a petty job like that, but this has nothing to do with that young woman either. I came to make a deal, just like I said.”
Carson scoffed. “I don’t make deals with snakes.”
“Some snakes kill the innocent. Some kill rats.”
Carson stopped at red light. “Talk.”
“If you’re gonna get justice, you’re gonna have to find who Medridge has in charge of your case – and you’re gonna need help to do that.”
“What’s in it for you?”
“Freedom.”
Carson’s fingers tightened around his shotgun as the light turned green and he drove on. “You better come up with something better than that.”
Garret remained expressionless. “You want help? You’re gonna have to believe me.”
It couldn’t be that simple. “Freedom from the Agency? Why?”
“My reasons are my own. The bottom line is I want out.”
It seemed more likely that this was an elaborate trap. “I don’t believe you.”
“The best I can do is get you access to records that will have me listed as missing by now. They probably think I’ve been abducted by a rival – possibly even the Elite. I was low risk when it came to my allegiance, so they won’t believe yet that I ran.”
“As if you couldn’t set that up just for me to see.” But Carson really did wonder if there was any truth here. “How did you jump radar?”
Garret pulled up one sleeve as much as he could in his cuffs – it was just far enough to show a recent wound near his wrist. “Ditching my tracker was my first move, then I used an unknown alias. But it won’t be long before somebody suspects I came to the United States, whether by my own free will or by force.”
Carson signed. “If you’re telling the truth – and that’s a big ‘if’ – why here? The Agency has feelers all over this territory, and I’m a marked man. If you were looking for safety, you made a stupid choice, and as much as I hate to admit it, you’re just not that stupid.”
“I don’t just need safety.” Garret eyed the dark streets as they drove, and he swallowed hard. Being vulnerable like this was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
Carson turned down another street. “Well? Don’t leave me in suspense. I can’t imagine what you, of all people, would need from anyone.”
Garret wished he were in more control, but he wasn’t, and that was a fact. “They’ve had me addicted to a new trial drug for the past six months. If I try to get off it myself, I could be in big trouble. If I go to a hospital, they’ll find me. The Elite’s my only safe option, and…my withdrawal symptoms are already starting. I took my last dose yesterday.”
“So even Medridge’s right hand man gets to be a lab rat, ay?” Carson slowed the car and turned into the Elite parking lot, spotting Reese’s car already there. “Don’t puke in my car.”
Garret rolled his eyes. At the moment, the splitting headache was just beginning. But that was only the first stage. Far worse symptoms would follow. “I’m fine. For now.”
“So if you’ve got intel, how about we take the next few hours before you’re too far gone, and make a list of all I want to know…then I’ll consider helping you?”
A thin smile appeared on Garret’s lips. “I have to hold on to a few cards, Aussie. I may be desperate, but I still know how to play the game…”
…Reese looked through the window at Garret, who sat alone in the interrogation room. “Well?”
Carson stood beside him, and shook his head. “It was…weird. I don’t trust him one bit, but he was totally calm. I thought he’d get agitated or I’d have to yank information out of him, but he just talked like he was having a chat over coffee.”
“That usually indicates truth.”
“I know. That’s what bothers me.”
Reese shrugged. “You say he’s Medridge’s right-hand man?”
“Yeah. I dunno what his story is, but he’s been in the top ranks for years. By the time I got out, he’d already been settled in his position for a while.”
“He doesn’t look any older than you.”
“Eh. Not much. He’s just that good.”
“Well…let’s see what he has to say to me. Don’t go anywhere...”
…Garret flexed his wrists in the handcuffs, despising the way the felt. His ankles had also been shackled as an extra precaution due to Carson’s suggestion. He’d never felt more like a prisoner, which was incredibly unsettling. As Reese entered the room though, he looked up, but offered no emotion.
Reese folded his arms and stared down at their prisoner. “So what are you doing here, really?”
“I told Carson my intentions. There’s nothing more to say.”
Reese cocked his head. This guy…there seemed to be no cracks. No signs of weakness. No emotion at all. Carson had been right. “How can you expect us to believe that Medridge’s right-hand man wants out of the Agency? I’m sure you think we’re a bunch of idiots, but seriously…you think we’re that ignorant?”
Garret leaned back in his chair with boredom. “Your short-sightedness surprises me. How many officers do you have here that have come from the Agency? Five? Six? One of them your own niece. Yet you find it so hard to believe that one more wants out?”
“But you’re not just one more. You’re too high in the ranks to believe you’re willing to defect. There’s too much luxury in your position. What reason would you have for coming here, other than to destroy us from the inside out?”
Garret hadn’t known what he’d find here. He hadn’t known how he’d be treated or what he might have to do to gain anyone’s trust. He was in a foreign world here without anything to go on but the history of others who had found new lives here. Being at the mercy of the Elite was one of the few things that produced a feeling of fear. But his eyes remained hallow. His heart rate steady. No one would guess he feared the future if he could not convince them to trust him. “Let me prove my loyalty no longer lies with the Agency. Let me help find who’s in charge of Carson’s case. When that’s done, then tell me I haven’t changed sides.”
“Turning in a couple of your own is a small cost for bringing down the Elite.”
Quite suddenly, Garret was hit with a wave of nausea, and a bead of sweat trickled down his face. “Look…” He paused and took a deep breath. “I told Carson I’m coming down off drugs, and I wasn’t kidding. I can be an asset to the Elite, but you gotta help me get through this first. I can’t help til my head is clear.”
Reese hated to admit it, but Garret was looking more pale by the second. Whether he was lying about his intentions or not, it was obvious that he really was getting sick. Reese wanted to throw him in a cell, or better yet, call the police and have Garret taken to prison where he could rot for his involvement with the Agency. But something stopped him. It might prove to be his downfall, but his gut hadn’t been wrong yet. He moved back towards the intercom. “Hal, come get the prisoner and take him to the holding cell.”
Garret’s skin crawled. Was he going to end up behind bars? He couldn’t. He just couldn’t.
Reese continued to speak. “And when you’re through, call Rick and get him down here. He’s gonna have a new patient for a few days.”
Despite another wave of nausea, Garret felt a small bit of relief. Maybe, just maybe this whole thing really would turn out alright in the end.
I dont even know...
Aerith gave a nod to Carson before moving behind him and putting her hands on Thirteens shoulder. She herself was scared, and panicked with what had happened but looking at Thirteen and how scared she was Aerith felt little for herself and more for his friend. She'd come a long way in the last months but still that fear was deep down inside her.
"Come on Thirteen lets go see Ryder. I bet he had a pretty busy day huh?"
Leading her into the back room she kept her friend close getting her jacket and purse. Than heading back out the front door she locked it behind her. Things were still a mess in the restront and she felt bad but maybe tomorrow she'd come in early and help clean up.
Getting Thirteen in the car it wasn't long till they pulled outside the house. Giving a side long glance at her friend she looked like she had calmed down a little bit, but was very tired now. It had been a long night for them both. At least Ryder would be there for her, and it make Aerith feel a little better.
Getting pulled into another hug of Eli Scarlett places her hand on his chest. She time spent with him was some of the best. She enjoyed it, and love being part of his life. It was really something new, refreshing, and just almost to perfect.
"No much...I'm not even sure I understand whats going on anymore."
Scarlett lets out a small laugh before turning to face Eli. Leaning in she places a kiss on his lips before drawing away to search his eyes. Something was heavy on his mind tonight. She wasn't sure what but she could tell there was. Maybe it was just a little of everything getting to him.
"Everything ok? You conversation with the phone sounded pretty serous."
Leaning her arms on the table Angelica just listens to Reese before saying anything. A million things went through her mind. She couldn't imagen the Elite working with really anyone. They had there own way of doing things and getting results. Through another branch of law enforcement in there and in her mind it wouldn't end well. She could see it weighed heavy on Reese's mind.
"Wow...thats..a mess. I can't honestly imagen us working with the real law enforcement. We are definitly a group not use to that. There is nothing that could be done? Can't go underground again or anything?"
There had to be something they could do? But it seemed like there was not. How were they going to work with the FBI? But if they didn't than they would all be out of jobs. It just didn't seem fair or right. Yeah they had there mishaps, but even the cops, and the FBI had those too.
As Reese's buzzer goes off Angelica just sits back and waits. It seemed pretty important. As he hands up she sands and gives a nod. Work called and she new he had to go. At least they had been able to enjoy dinner.
"Ok love. Just call if you need anything from me. I love you Mike."
"Come on Thirteen lets go see Ryder. I bet he had a pretty busy day huh?"
Leading her into the back room she kept her friend close getting her jacket and purse. Than heading back out the front door she locked it behind her. Things were still a mess in the restront and she felt bad but maybe tomorrow she'd come in early and help clean up.
Getting Thirteen in the car it wasn't long till they pulled outside the house. Giving a side long glance at her friend she looked like she had calmed down a little bit, but was very tired now. It had been a long night for them both. At least Ryder would be there for her, and it make Aerith feel a little better.
Getting pulled into another hug of Eli Scarlett places her hand on his chest. She time spent with him was some of the best. She enjoyed it, and love being part of his life. It was really something new, refreshing, and just almost to perfect.
"No much...I'm not even sure I understand whats going on anymore."
Scarlett lets out a small laugh before turning to face Eli. Leaning in she places a kiss on his lips before drawing away to search his eyes. Something was heavy on his mind tonight. She wasn't sure what but she could tell there was. Maybe it was just a little of everything getting to him.
"Everything ok? You conversation with the phone sounded pretty serous."
Leaning her arms on the table Angelica just listens to Reese before saying anything. A million things went through her mind. She couldn't imagen the Elite working with really anyone. They had there own way of doing things and getting results. Through another branch of law enforcement in there and in her mind it wouldn't end well. She could see it weighed heavy on Reese's mind.
"Wow...thats..a mess. I can't honestly imagen us working with the real law enforcement. We are definitly a group not use to that. There is nothing that could be done? Can't go underground again or anything?"
There had to be something they could do? But it seemed like there was not. How were they going to work with the FBI? But if they didn't than they would all be out of jobs. It just didn't seem fair or right. Yeah they had there mishaps, but even the cops, and the FBI had those too.
As Reese's buzzer goes off Angelica just sits back and waits. It seemed pretty important. As he hands up she sands and gives a nod. Work called and she new he had to go. At least they had been able to enjoy dinner.
"Ok love. Just call if you need anything from me. I love you Mike."
8/16/15
Cold
Garret knew good and well Thirteen was telling the truth. It had been him. On his way up the Agency ranks, he'd been stationed for six months at the testing facility as a hall guard. Thirteen had been the number on the door, and her name both. She'd been nothing but a lab rat, and he'd seen her as nothing but a test subject as well. It was a long time ago - so long he'd almost erased the experience from his memory.
Looking at Thirteen's frightened eyes now, a very unfamiliar and unnerving emotion pricked Garret's soul. Yet his eyes reflected nothing but a cold stare as he shifted his gaze away from the girl, and he looked back at Carson. "I've been stationed many places over the years. I can't remember every face."
Carson's jaw tightened. "Yeah, well I guess I can't expect more out of a rat like you." He reached for the cuffs from Aerith. "Thanks." He threw them at Garret, who caught them. "Put 'em on."
"Look, all I-"
"Put them on!" Carson's finger rested in his gun's trigger.
"Just give me a chance to explain."
"At headquarters, you'll have all the time in the world."
Garret had little choice, if he was going to gain any trust at all. As much as he hated this, he had to play by the rules. If he didn't, he risked more than his own future. Finally relenting, he snapped the cuffs to his own wrists. "Happy?"
"Getting closer." Carson was far from letting his guard down, but at least he had a little more control now. He glanced back to Thirteen, then Aerith again. "Why don't you take Thirteen home?" Ryder would be there and would be able to take care of her. "Just lock the door when you leave - don't worry about anything else here." He motined Garret towards the door. "I'm parked out back. Move."
"...Naw, nothing like that. I think she's just upset. I'll keep my eye out though." Eli kept his voice down and glanced to the living room where Scarlet sat watching the movie. His attention returned to his cell phone and the conversation that had interrupted his date. "Yeah, no problem. I'll let you know of any new developments."
Ending the call, he slipped his phone back in his pocket and wandered back to the couch. Flopping down next to Scarlet, he threw his arm around her shoulder and teasingly yanked her close to kiss her forehead. "Sorry. What did I miss?"
Reese had been at the office longer than planned and felt badly, knowing Angelica was waiting supper in him. She never complained, which made him love her all the more, but he also knew they both continued to work far too much...
...He took a sip of water and pushed his empty plate aside. Angelica's cooking would always be the best. He'd avoided talking about what was really on his mind all evening though, just wanting to enjoy their meal. But now that supper was over, he needed to get something off his chest.
"Law enforcement wants the Elite to work more closely with other branches, mainly the FBI." He glanced across the table to Angelica, his eyes showing concern. "The board doesn't like the freedom we have, and feels we're too reckless. Forcing us to work alongside the FBI would enable them to keep a closer eye on our activity and they'd have more control over which cases we took."
He fiddled with his water glass. "I haven't said anything to anyone else, because I know no one is gonna like it. We'd also be relocated...downtown...to share a building with the FBI." He sighed, knowing this news wouldn't go over well with anyone, not to mention it would come as a bit of a shock. "We have little choice if the Elite is going to stay in tact. I'm just not sure how to break it to everyone. I've been back and forth with Brown for weeks, but it's basically a done deal. Either we cooperate or disband."
His eyes found Angelica's again. He was worried. Very worried. Ever since they come out in the open, they'd been under intense scrutiny, and this was just one more step closer to having no freedom at all. "There are pros and cons both... I'm just worried a move like this is gonna be too much for our band of misfit hotheads." It was a statement meant in love, but it was the truth. Imagining Gunner one wall away from the FBI was rather frightening. Let alone any other agents. "I just don't know what to do. It's like..." His phone buzzing made him roll his eyes, but he knew he had to answer it. "Yeah?"
It was a short-lived conversation that had him on his feet by the time he hung up. He glanced at Angelica with apology. She hadn't even had time to respond to his news. "Carson's got some guy he's bringing in. I gotta go." He leaned down to kiss her lips. "I'll let you know what's happening."
Looking at Thirteen's frightened eyes now, a very unfamiliar and unnerving emotion pricked Garret's soul. Yet his eyes reflected nothing but a cold stare as he shifted his gaze away from the girl, and he looked back at Carson. "I've been stationed many places over the years. I can't remember every face."
Carson's jaw tightened. "Yeah, well I guess I can't expect more out of a rat like you." He reached for the cuffs from Aerith. "Thanks." He threw them at Garret, who caught them. "Put 'em on."
"Look, all I-"
"Put them on!" Carson's finger rested in his gun's trigger.
"Just give me a chance to explain."
"At headquarters, you'll have all the time in the world."
Garret had little choice, if he was going to gain any trust at all. As much as he hated this, he had to play by the rules. If he didn't, he risked more than his own future. Finally relenting, he snapped the cuffs to his own wrists. "Happy?"
"Getting closer." Carson was far from letting his guard down, but at least he had a little more control now. He glanced back to Thirteen, then Aerith again. "Why don't you take Thirteen home?" Ryder would be there and would be able to take care of her. "Just lock the door when you leave - don't worry about anything else here." He motined Garret towards the door. "I'm parked out back. Move."
"...Naw, nothing like that. I think she's just upset. I'll keep my eye out though." Eli kept his voice down and glanced to the living room where Scarlet sat watching the movie. His attention returned to his cell phone and the conversation that had interrupted his date. "Yeah, no problem. I'll let you know of any new developments."
Ending the call, he slipped his phone back in his pocket and wandered back to the couch. Flopping down next to Scarlet, he threw his arm around her shoulder and teasingly yanked her close to kiss her forehead. "Sorry. What did I miss?"
Reese had been at the office longer than planned and felt badly, knowing Angelica was waiting supper in him. She never complained, which made him love her all the more, but he also knew they both continued to work far too much...
...He took a sip of water and pushed his empty plate aside. Angelica's cooking would always be the best. He'd avoided talking about what was really on his mind all evening though, just wanting to enjoy their meal. But now that supper was over, he needed to get something off his chest.
"Law enforcement wants the Elite to work more closely with other branches, mainly the FBI." He glanced across the table to Angelica, his eyes showing concern. "The board doesn't like the freedom we have, and feels we're too reckless. Forcing us to work alongside the FBI would enable them to keep a closer eye on our activity and they'd have more control over which cases we took."
He fiddled with his water glass. "I haven't said anything to anyone else, because I know no one is gonna like it. We'd also be relocated...downtown...to share a building with the FBI." He sighed, knowing this news wouldn't go over well with anyone, not to mention it would come as a bit of a shock. "We have little choice if the Elite is going to stay in tact. I'm just not sure how to break it to everyone. I've been back and forth with Brown for weeks, but it's basically a done deal. Either we cooperate or disband."
His eyes found Angelica's again. He was worried. Very worried. Ever since they come out in the open, they'd been under intense scrutiny, and this was just one more step closer to having no freedom at all. "There are pros and cons both... I'm just worried a move like this is gonna be too much for our band of misfit hotheads." It was a statement meant in love, but it was the truth. Imagining Gunner one wall away from the FBI was rather frightening. Let alone any other agents. "I just don't know what to do. It's like..." His phone buzzing made him roll his eyes, but he knew he had to answer it. "Yeah?"
It was a short-lived conversation that had him on his feet by the time he hung up. He glanced at Angelica with apology. She hadn't even had time to respond to his news. "Carson's got some guy he's bringing in. I gotta go." He leaned down to kiss her lips. "I'll let you know what's happening."
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