For those of you who are just following these characters,

please begin with The Return. Reviews are welcomed and appreciated.

Paris, France

Outdoor café

Angelica turn the page of the newspaper. It someone had asked her, she wouldn't have been able to tell them one word of what was written on it. It wasn't that she couldn't read the French newspaper – she could read and speak seven languages fluently. No – her interest was on the man sitting three tables away. A man deep in conversation with someone Angelica would bet her last euro was up to no good.

She pretended to find an interesting article and leaned into her paper. She had hoped to get a table closer to Bo Brady and his guest, but someone had paid for privacy and no one was seated around them.

The two men stood, Bo threw some cash on the table, and they made their way to the crowded streets.

Angelica did the same, remaining far enough behind them that if she were spotted, she could easily disappear into the crowds.

She continued to follow Bo, his companion had disappeared into a waiting limousine minutes after their meeting. He made his way to the Sainte-Chappelle located near the Palais de la Cite in the heart of Paris.

The chapel was a large tourist attraction and held one of the most extensive collections of 13th-century stained glass anywhere in the world.

Angelica followed as he slipped inside.

She casually glanced around as tourist weaved in and out of the main floor. She swallowed her rising panic when she realized Bo had given her the slip.

Angelica hurried outside, cutting through one of the many alleys off the main road. Her informant had given her the name of the chateau Bo was staying at. She'd just go there and wait.

Steve had once told her Bo Brady was good – but Angelica could count on one hand the number of people who'd successfully gotten away from her.

She took a quick turn and slammed into a wall of muscle.

Bo Brady.

Angelica froze.

He was angry, but so was she. Had she been away from the Brass so long that she was losing her edge?

"Who are you and why are you tailing me?" Bo pushed her against a nearby wall.

She looked him in the eye, her expression neutral. "My name is Angelica Stone and I have a message for you from Steve Johnson."

Bo reluctantly released her and stepped back. He studied her for a moment, "What message?" he asked, the distrust still evident in his voice.

"Hope." Angelica watched as his concern washed over him. He grabbed her arm and held it firmly.

"What about Hope?"

Angelica stared at his hand. She didn't speak until he released her.

"I don't know, Steve said to tell you Hope needs you."

"Is that right?"

One of the reasons Angelica had managed to stay alive when most of her colleagues were dead was her ability to know when to keep her mouth shut. This was one of those times

Bo stared at her as he reached for his phone. "Steve does know how to use a phone, why didn't he just call me himself?"

Angelica shrugged, "The company you've been keeping?" She asked.

He punched in several numbers and waited.

She leaned against the stone wall Bo had pinned her to only moments before. Angelica had promised Steve she would deliver the message and she knew she should probably leave. But something about the cryptic message, glued her to the spot.

"Steve! It's Bo." Bo kept his gaze on her. "Yeah, she's standing right here." He listened for a few minutes. "Damn." He said after listening to Steve. He looked at her and pushed the phone towards her. "He wants to talk to you."

Angelica accepted the phone and watched as Bo Brady speared his fingers through his hair and began to pace.

She recognized that worried look. She'd seen Steve do the same thing many times when their past missions had them backed against a wall.

She spoke into the phone, "I gather you need more help than Mr. Brady can give you," she said dispensing with the niceties.

Angelica listened for a few minutes. Damn was right. Hope was about to get involved way over her head. Repercussions could be deadly.

"Look Johnson, I found your man for you – that's the only promise you got from me."

Angelica listened as Steve went over the events of the past week in Salem. She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Can't do that, Johnson." She handed the phone back to Bo, who'd been watching her expressions with interest.

"Steve," he spoke into the phone, holding up his hand to stop her. He punched the speaker and looked at her as he spoke, "She's still here."

"Listen baby," Steve's voice faded in and out, "I wouldn't ask, but you know more about this situation than anyone. Just think about it okay?"

Angelica nodded at Bo and turned to leave.

Bo was still talking to Steve when she heard him say, "Steve, I can handle Angelica Stone, don't worry."

Angelica smiled when Steve replied, "Bo – the entire defensive line for the University of Alabama couldn't handle Angelica Stone."