Spring Cleaning in Wonderland

Chapter One

A Plan is Hatched

Disclaimer: I do not own Sentinel, or the characters. I do own the mayor and her secretary though. This disclaimer is to be used throughout this story. See end of story for author's note.

In the middle of Cascade's business district sat City Hall, a large white marble structure. Within City Hall seated in a brown leather swivel chair was an aging woman with her red hair pinned back in a bun. Looking out through a picture window, she gazed at the manicured lawns as she cradled a phone against her face.

"Yes sir Governor Santo, I promise that Cascade will be completely ready for the senators' convention next week." Mayor Sandra Yields reassured her acquaintance as they gave their final good-byes. Sighing as she turned to face her oak desk, Sandra hung up.

"Is everything alright, Ms. Yields?" David Joseph, personal secretary to the mayor, asked as she came closer towards his employer.

"I don't really know David." Sandra leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "The crime rate of this city has gone up for some reason, and here I am lying to the governor saying that the senators will be perfectly safe."

"I'm very sorry to hear that ma'am." David gave a sympathetic look before he pulled out a black, hardcover notebook. Opening the book, he continued. "I thought you might be interested in the latest report from Captain Simon Banks."

"I'll listen to anything you have to say, just as long as you change the subject." Sandra accompanied this statement with an offhand wave.

"Alright then, according to Captain Banks' report, his department, Major Crimes, has apprehended two of the FBI's most wanted and nine major crime suspects."

Sandra suddenly opened her eyes and looked at David in shock. "Really, well no wonder Ryan wants to join the police force so bad." Sitting up, Sandra smiled as she gazed at a framed picture sitting on the corner of her desk. "So, are you going to tell me why the department was so efficient today?"

"According to my contacts within the station, it seems that Blair Sandburg was two hours late." David allowed a small smile to play across his features.

"What! A simple police observer is two hours late and one of the laziest departments in the police force apprehends eleven criminals!" Sandra's cry echoed off the spacious office walls.

"Yes, it seems that Mr. Sandburg has a nasty habit of getting himself kidnapped." Referring to his notebook, the secretary continued. "His record right now is ten times in the last three years."

"So, what you're saying is that because of his track record, every time Blair Sandburg goes missing, the Major Crimes Division get off their butts and scours the city for him?" David nodded and Sandra adopted a thoughtful expression as she leaned back in her chair.

"David, I do believe we now have a solution to our problem." Without waiting for a reply, Sandra picked her phone and dialed.

Meanwhile, half a block from City Hall a defendant was pleading his case in the Bullpen.

"Sorry guys, my car got a flat tire on the way here, and my cell phone decided to die right then and there." Blair Sandburg explained as he stood in front of the judge and jury.

"So let me get this straight, your tire blew out, your cell phone died, and you couldn't flag anyone down so you could call us?" Simon Banks questioned as he raised his voice just a tad.

"Well, yeah. I was going down this new I'd found and not many people use that particular road." Blair could just see Jim's jaw tighten at his explanation.

"And you were going down this new road why?" Jim's face betrayed no emotion, but his voice was laced with annoyance and anger.

"Because it was a new road and I wanted to know where it went." Blair saw many of the major crimes detectives hang their heads at the childish reason.

"Whatever Chief, you can make it up to all of us by finishing up the paperwork on the eleven criminals we cause caught while looking for you." Jim gestured at the stacks of manila folders on his deck.

Blair paled at the sight of his sentence. "Wow, um……you know I would really love to get started on those reports, but I have a lecture tonight at the university. It's on ancient Mayan cultures and how they come into play during modern times, and it starts in twenty minutes. I just dropped by to tell you why I didn't come into today. So…yeah....uh....bye!" Blair turned and made his way out the door as quickly as he could without running.

"Should we call the university?" Simon asked Jim as he thought of Blair's habit of feigning university work to get out of police work.

"Nah, he's been working on this lecture for two weeks now." Jim turned to sit down but stopped suddenly. "Perhaps we should put a tail on him though." Jim suggested remembering Blair's other habit of changing the date on his university work to suit his needs.

"Don't worry, it's already done." Simon pointed behind him at Rafe who was making his way towards the elevators. "As extra caution I'm also putting out an APB on the kid's car so we can track his movements."

"Can you do that?" Jim asked as he started sorting through the folders Blair had left behind.

"I don't care if I'm allowed to or not, I'm not going to let that little sneak get the best of me this time." With that Simon stalked towards his office leaving a very amused detective in his wake.

"Geez chief, you bring out the Mother Hen in all of us." Jim said to himself as he got to work.

Author's Note: Finally, the revised chapter one is finished! Reviews are appreciated. Don't forget to look at my other story, New School Meets Old School! It's a cross fic of Sentinel and Team Knight Rider, Blair and Trek get in trouble, and you find out many interesting details about our favorite police observer.