Disclaimer: I don't own Goren, Eames or any other of the LOCI characters etc...
After posting the first chapter I visited some of the fan pages and realised Leila is VDO's daughter's name so Leila Johannes' name has been changed to Roxana Johannes.
Also I meant to say ATF not FDA lol (late night)
She turned in a silent request for support from her partner, Bobby Goren, who was pacing behind her, trying to make sense out of the fact that the Captain pulled the plug on their investigation into an art smuggling ring. When she realised Bobby was away in his own world she turned back to Captain Deakin.
'Are you going to tell us why you are stopping this investigation?'
Her tone conveyed frustration. Deakin sat back down in his chair and swung slightly to his right. He hated to pull his two best investigators off a case but he had his orders from above.
'Johannes is involved in something a bit more deadly than art smuggling. The FBI and ATF have been on his tail for a long time and their case takes priority I'm afraid. We have to back off for now at least.'
'But what about Elaine Smithson's murder? Johannes killed her to shut her up. What are we going to tell her family? What can be more important than getting a cold blooded killer?'
The unfairness of the situation was getting to Eames. Deakin spread his arms in a helpless gesture.
'The FBI did not give me many details, only that Johannes and his mob are to be left alone – '
'Which one is it Captain, drugs or arms?' Interrupted Detective Goren.
He stepped up to the Captain's desk, his head quirked slightly to one side in that typical Goren way, one arm folded across his chest the other pointing towards the Captain.
'That's it isn't it? Johannes is into one or the other if the ATF is involved, but why the FBI?'
He wondered aloud. Eames and Deakin could almost hear the wheels in his brilliant if somewhat weird mind click towards the right answer.
'Look Goren, I am not at liberty to discuss the details –' Goren didn't let him finish this sentence either. He turned to Eames as if confiding in her.
'We know.... that Johannes is smuggling art from the former Soviet Republic mainly from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Countries that are known to have terrorist groups, but they have a grudge with Russia, so why is the FBI so interested, hmmm?
Eames followed Goren's lead.
'But Uzbekistan has a border with Afghanistan.'
Eames nodded with sudden understanding.
'Captain are you telling us Johannes is smuggling arms for Al Qaieda?'
Goren did a quick pirouette to face his Captain again, a move that belied his 6"3' frame. Deakin virtually popped out of his seat and moved to stand in front of his detectives.
'No I am not telling you anything, so you better not go around talking about Johannes and Al Qaieda in the same sentence.'
Goren had a tight smile on his lips. The Captain's agitation confirmed his suspicions. Deakin however was not prepared to discuss the issue of Johannes further.
'Discussion is over Detectives. Your orders are to back away from Johannes. Are we understood?'
'Yes Captain.' The partners replied in unison.
'You may leave.' Deakin returned to sit behind his desk as the detectives moved towards the door.
Eames slammed the folder on her desk. She looked at her partner expecting to see the same frustration etched on his face, in his gestures. Instead she found him carefully putting his expensive hand made suit jacket on the back of his chair then watched almost incredulously as he sat down and rested his arms on the desk. He looked up to see her glaring at him.
'What?' he asked, even though he knew the answer.
'How can you give up so easily? We've been on this guy's tail for weeks?'
Goren looked around as if to assure himself no one was listening then looked up at Eames.
'Who said I am giving up, Eames? Something is fishy about the whole Johannes business.'
Eames sat down across from him.
"Yeah, he is a terrorist who likes art?' Goren leaned forward, the crisp white shirt stretching across his wide chest and shoulders.
'I mean that Deakin very conveniently let us believe what we wanted to believe. This leads me to conclude that Johannes' involvement in terrorism is not all that it seems.'
He leaned back in his chair with a satisfied look in his dark eyes. '
What are you talking about Goren?'
'You worked with him for almost a month as his new PA, right?'
'Right.'
'Did you ever see or hear or read about anything not related to art while working with him?'
'No, all his work, legal and illegal was about the paintings, the carvings the artefacts. Do you think they are all a code for weapons?'
'And you were able to access his secure files and his diary and trace all the phone calls he made? And they were all to do with his art business, right?'
'Yes Bobby.'
But he already knew the answer to the questions he was asking. He bared his teeth in the semblance of a predatory smile, like a panther would just as it was about to strike.
'The FBI is not after Johannes at all.'
'Then.... hang on, are you saying he is a cover for someone else?'
Goren nodded.
'Yup, and I bet the poor sucker has no idea that he is being used for much bigger purposes.'
'But who is using him? One of his partners?'
Goren shook his head.
'Think Eames. You met all the important people in his life. Who can be easily overlooked but still have some say in his life, who can disappear in the background, appear insignificant and be ignored without consequences, yet still go wherever he goes, unhindered and unwatched?'
Goren saw in her eyes the exact moment Eames figured out who the FBI were chasing.
'Roxana Johannes, his wife.'
'Yup. I bet you anything she is the Al Qaieda link, and the FBI is not looking at arms dealing. She is either a sleeper or can lead them to a sleeper cell.'
'My God Goren, and I felt so sorry for her, being married to a murderer with two mistresses. She seemed so downtrodden and insignificant...' Eames trailed off, once again amazed at Goren's ability to sift and analyse factual information with such speed and accuracy.
'Now what?' They looked at each other in silence.
It was after 3am when Eames' cell phone interrupted her fuzzy, slightly erotic dream. She found the instrument immediately, having practiced the same move countless times over the past couple of years.
'Where is the body?' she asked.
'Detective, this is Captain Deakin. I need you in the office ASAP. There have been some new developments in the Johannes case.'
She jerked to a sitting position, her hear pounding in her chest. Goren! What has he done now?
'Is Goren –'
'I have already called Detective Goren.'
The captain hung up without a word. Eames slumped back on the pillow, the adrenalin draining out of her suddenly. She forced herself to push aside the reasons her heart pounded at the thought of Goren getting hurt and dressed herself quickly.
Bobby Goren was already sitting in a chair looking as fresh as an unshaved daisy when she walked into the captain's office.
'Close the door Detective.'
She did as instructed then sat in the chair next to her partner. He gave her a wink, and she frowned back at him. Deakin sat on the edge of his desk facing them.
'Earlier tonight, or rather last night, the FBI's undercover agent in the Johannes case was critically injured in an unrelated car accident. Agent Malone was supposed to be a new contact for Roxana Johannes, whom the FBI suspects of being an Al Qaieda operative.'
He looked expectantly at his detectives, but no surprised exclamations greeted him. Goren looked at Eames then they both looked back to Deakin. He sighed. After three years of working with Detectives Goren and Eames he really shouldn't be surprised at their investigative and deductive skills. He cleared his throat and continued.
'The FBI has requested our help since Detective Eames had already infiltrated the Johannes' stronghold. You will continue with your role as Thomas' PA, and try to develop a relationship with his wife Roxana.'
'No problem Captain.'
Goren looked slightly jealous at his partner's good fortune in being actively involved in such an interesting case. He started to fidget more vigorously, and crossed his legs twice before he realised his actions and willed himself to calm down. Deakin turned to Goren.
'I have suggested you as a replacement for Special Agent Malone. The FBI has agreed. Case files are on your desk. You will be Luca Sava, an American citizen of Serbian Muslim descent. Your knowledge of Slavic languages should come in useful. The real Luca Sava has been killed a few months ago by unknown assailants. His death has been kept a secret. Luca Sava's name first came up a few years ago during the FBI's Lakemba six investigations, but there never was any solid evidence.'
Goren nodded knowingly. Eames looked confused.
'The Lakemba six were a group of young Muslim men, citizens of US who trained in the Al Qaieda camps in Afghanistan. They were thought to be the first sleeper cell made up of US citizens, rather than foreigners living in the US'.
God old Goren, the walking talking encyclopaedia, Eames thought to herself.
'Roxana's first call to Luca some time before his death was intercepted by the FBI. They arranged a meeting to 'set up a business to import various goods' from southern Russia. Due to Thomas Johannes's business travels and her need to accompany him for appearances sake, their meeting was rescheduled several times. Last night, the FBI received a message from Roxana on Luca's cell requesting an urgent meeting; however by then Agent Malone had his car accident.'
Deakin slid off his desk and came to stand in front of Detective Goren.
'This is where you come in. In the morning you will call Roxana and arrange a meeting with her.' Deakin walked behind his desk, and the partners stood up, Goren towering over Eames' slight frame.
'Be careful Detectives.' Deakin urged his best investigators.
'Coffee Eames?'
It was almost 8am and both had spent the last few hours poring over the files from the FBI. Eames looked up to her partner who stood by her desk, an empty cup in his hand and his eyebrows lifted in question. He looks cute, the unbidden thought popped into her mind. Alexandra Eames shook her head to dislodge the stray thought. Goren took that as a negative answer to his question and took off in the direction of the coffee dispenser.
'Bobby! Wait, I'll have some coffee too.'
He nodded and in no time returned with two cups of steaming hot caffeine laden drinks. They sipped the first mouthfuls in silence savouring the dark aroma.
From the FBI files they found that Luca Sava had a Serbian mother and an American father, who had left Luca and his mother for his English secretary. His mother turned to prostitution to support them as his father had cleverly managed to evade support payments. His mother's work ostracised Luca from the close-knit Serbian Muslim community fuelling his hate towards women. His youth had been troubled; he joined various gangs, and twice was accused of rape and assault as a minor only to have the charges dismissed when the victims had a sudden change of mind. He had been a small time drug dealer and occasional pimp, until he turned to his mother's religion and ended up in a radical Muslim organisation, which had been on the FBI's watch list since 9/11. The group's link to Al Qaieda was never proved, until Roxana's first phone call.
Eames was the first to speak.
'This Luca sounds like he was a real piece of work. You should have no problem taking his place.'
At this statement, Goren's head snapped up. There was strange look in his eyes, something akin to hurt. His voice was cold when he spoke.
'What are you saying Eames? Are you implying my character is the same as this .. this.. misogynist wanna-be terrorist?'
Goren's fidgeting increased, and he couldn't sit still.
'Goren, calm down.'
She put her hand on his forearm, feeling the power and warmth. He shook her hand off.
'Bobby, you misunderstand me. You can get into these criminal minds so well, you have an understanding beyond us mere mortals, so I think you can act like this Luca Sava easily, but I know you will never become like him.'
Goren suddenly felt embarrassed. Eames was his rock, his partner, and knew him better than most people, and she would never insult him by comparing him to Luca Sava. Perhaps reading about the evil that was Luca and understanding the evil that was Luca and knowing how easy it would be to slip into such evil had disturbed him more than he realised. Eames was right. He could play Luca Sava easily, too easily in fact. Goren looked up to find her staring at him with a puzzled expression. He gave her a crooked smile.
'Early morning?'
'Apology accepted Goren.'
She said pointedly but softened the words with a smile as she stood up and removed her coat from the back of the chair.
'I have to go to the gallery it is almost time for Leanne to arrive to work.'
'Mhmm and I better make that call to Roxana.'
He accompanied her to the elevator.
'See you back here around 5pm I guess.'
Goren waved to her distractedly, the other hand holding the cell phone to his ear, waiting to be connected to Roxana Johannes.