Out of Bounds
Paul stood in the kitchen sipping a cup of coffee too scalding to swallow outright, but turned immediately when he heard Paige's footsteps leave the stairs and move towards him.
"Wow! You look great, Paige. What's the occasion?" Paul smiled appreciatively, noting Paige's high heeled sandals and full skirted Hawaiian print dress. "Got a hot date?"
She grinned, setting her purse on the counter and beginning to rummage through it. "Eventually maybe," she located her cell phone, checked the volume, and replaced it. "Sophie Telina and I plan to shop this afternoon, and with that kind of girlie girl bonding, I hope my new best friend will finally introduce me to her brothers."
"Telina? This girl is part of the Telina drug family you're targeting and surveilling for the DEA? These are the same Telinas you brought me in your files last week?"
"Yep, the one and only, or ones and only." Paige reached down to loosen her sandal strap. "I've put in some groundwork. This is the second week I've cultivated her friendship and I think she trusts me now."
Paul regarded her thoughtfully and rubbed his chin. "Ok, but I want contact with you before you actually meet those boys, and I mean contact with advance notice that you have a green light to meet them. Under no circumstance do I want you in a rendezvous with those criminals without one of us at your side. I will not have your safety compromised."
Paige bristled, snapping with indignation, "Paul, I can take care of myself and you know it. The DEA certainly does not doubt my competence so this is a manufactured problem."
"Did I imply that you lack skills or training, Paige?" Paul narrowed his eyes.
She scowled. "Yes, because…"
"No," he interrupted. "No, you jumped on the defensive there. I do not doubt your training or skills. I do, however, have reservations about your judgment in volatile or questionable situations and I will not have you alone without backup in the company of the Telinas."
Charlie coming home from the grocery store temporarily sidelined the conversation, and Paul and Paige helped unload as Charlie shared that she intended to create an incredibly fabulous family meal that night.
"Mikey has not run back to D.C. because of our bad behavior," Charlie grinned, twisting her hair into a makeshift ponytail while fumbling through their junk drawer for something to secure it, "so he deserves a reward."
Noting Paige's outfit she whistled appreciatively and directed her to turn and model from different angles. "Ooh, la la, beautiful and sexy," Charlie concluded, blowing her a kiss.
Paige laughed at the attention and grabbed her purse. "Well, this is my entrée into the Telina family. So far little sister Telina and I are two peas in a pod, but I want a deeper involvement with her brothers."
Before she could depart, however, Paul clamped a hand on her wrist. "Tell me ahead of time, Paige," he directed, eyebrows raised to emphasize the order.
Freeing her hand Paige snapped, "Ok, I will," before turning to Charlie, "How about explain to Paul that he needs to spend his time on important things and quit worrying about me and what I'm doing on the job."
"Hmmm…" Charlie responded, "it appears Paul views you as an important thing." Noting Paige's scowl she pointed towards the door. "Anyway, go and enjoy your BFF time with the Telina girl and get back here in time for dinner."
Charlie waited until Paige shut the door before she concentrated her attention on Paul.
He exhaled dramatically and plopped onto a kitchen stool while Charlie leaned conspiratorially on the counter across from him.
She questioned sympathetically, "Did she spitfire on you?"
"Almost- she had worked herself into full tantrum mode but your entrance stalled her."
"Our Paige does enjoy getting on a high horse when she thinks someone is trying to tell her what to do when she plans to do things her way, so I don't doubt that she rebelled if you laid down the law on her." Charlie agreed and looked troubled. "I find it hard not to worry about that girl. With all of her great skills and training she still underestimates situations. It scares me that she's still so impulsive."
"My point exactly, Catherine DeMarco," Paul leaned across the counter so that he and Charlie were just inches apart. "Reminds me of another beautiful woman who lives in this spectacular beach home and harbors really off the wall notions and ideas."
"That so?"
"Uh huh." Paul leaned in and kissed the tip of Charlie's nose. "You, my Chuck, epitomize a stereotypical stubborn female. Still, though, when you're in the field you possess that extra something that signals you to cut off your emotions and react solely from your training and intellect."
Charlie raised her chin and reached up to caress the side of Paul's face. "Ooh, Baby, that romantic streak of yours always leaves me breathless. Stubborn? Did I hear you whisper stubborn as a sweet nothing?"
They both laughed at her tone and Paul rounded the counter to snatch a bottle of orange juice from the refrigerator.
Charlie stretched decisively. "I have to check in at the Bureau downtown but should be back mid afternoon. I told everyone tonight is a family dinner to celebrate Levi's first six weeks as a bona fide agent. Don't you walk in here late and set a bad example, Eric."
She winked.
"Late? Absolutely not, Katie, as long as you plan to make it worth my while with some dessert just for me. Count on my helpful self to even set the table for you."
Wrinkling her nose Charlie promised, "Dale's gonna make your life miserable for drinking his juice and I refuse to defend you. You'll regret that blatant theft and my story to Dale will be that I warned you."
With that, she waved goodbye and left.
Paul spent an hour working through physical aspects of a warehouse takedown he planned to lead within a couple of days. The owner claimed to run an export business but the FBI had its suspicions- genuinely valid ones.
Briggs thumbed through the thick file again. What he really needed was to scout the warehouse ahead of time and gather surveillance. He might as well start.
Checking his watch he realized he had almost left it too late. He jogged out to his jeep but Jakes pulled up just as he turned over the ignition.
Noting Dale's rumpled shirt, Paul greeted him with a sly grin. "Good to see you alive Jakes. I have a little inner voice telling me that rather than work on capturing customs bashers today you have tangled with a member of the opposite sex."
"Sharp, aren't you?" Dale slid his sunglasses to the tip of his nose and gazed over them. "That looks like orange juice on the side of your mouth, but for your sake, I hope I'm mistaken and you indulged in eating or drinking something else colored orange like, say, curried carrots."
Widening his eyes to appear innocent, Briggs glanced in the rearview mirror. "You're mistaken, man. All I see is the reflection from the marquee over there."
Dale grumbled, "My job encompasses exposing frauds. At least when you lie try to make it resemble something logical."
Paul laughed delightedly. "Hey, I'm heading for a little warehouse snooping but will head home in a couple of hours. Chuck wants a family meal tonight, so today is not the day to pull any of your hermit tricks. We expect you at the table."
Dale simply stared.
"Seriously, though, I might need you to help me keep an eye on Paige. She's about to tangle with the Telinas and no matter what she thinks, she can not handle them alone."
Jakes sucked in a breath and his eyes widened. "Agreed. No problem. Let me know when and where and I'll gang up on her with you if you need me to do so. She'll balk for sure."
Dale saluted and Paul drove away.
By the time Briggs returned Charlie had begun supper with the help of Mike, who evidently served happily as her kitchen helper even though he was the guest of honor.
Paul excused himself to take a shower and ran into Johnny at the top of the stairs. The younger man studied a text message on his cell phone.
He grinned happily when Paul tapped his shoulder.
"Yo, Briggs, just the man I wanted. I have two things for you, Man."
Not pausing Paul directed, "Follow me, Johnny."
In his bedroom Briggs began rooting through drawers for clean clothes as Johnny spoke with that sincere tone he often adopted. "Ok, I need to you to run interference. I kinda sorta promised this young lady I met at the pier that I would meet her for dinner tonight…"
Paul interrupted decisively, "Charlie's cooking dinner, Johnny."
"I know, so that's why I'm telling you about my plans. I'm scared of Charlie."
"Chuck scares me, too, but she planned this family dinner for Mike and we all need to participate. I expect to see your handsome face toasting the probie. Call your girl and reschedule for drinks or dessert."
Johnny pursed his lips. "That might just work."
"Hurry and tell me," Briggs ordered, stripping off his shirt. "I want to shower."
"Item two- Paige called my cell and said to make sure I let you know that her friend invited her home and so she'll join us later in the evening."
Paul froze in place and snapped, "Get that girl on the phone right now!"
Startled with the vehemence of the order, Johnny punched the connecting numbers feeling a bit guilty that he had landed Paige into Paul's wrath.
Briggs waited until Johnny greeted warningly, "Yo, P…" before he snatched the cell from Johnny's grasp.
"Get your ass back to Graceland by the time I finish my shower," Paul ordered before disconnecting.
Johnny whistled, "Paige must have figured out that she's in big time trouble with that greeting."
"She's about to be," Paul agreed, clenching his jaw.
A cough at the door interrupted and both agents pivoted. So intent had they been upon the phone call that they had missed hearing footsteps ascend the steps.
Mike stood just inside the hall.
Still focused upon Paige's deliberate decision to ignore protocols and circumvent his directive, Paul regarded Mike's intrusion with annoyance but checked himself. Mike didn't deserve misplaced anger.
Briggs offered an approximation of a grin.
Mike reciprocated, and once more Paul reminded himself that Johnny and Mike both sported almost choirboy, boyish appearances. Johnny's looks disguised a fully trained, experienced federal agent, while Mike's features illustrated an inexperienced but fully trained federal agent.
"You two were talking. I can come back," Mike stammered when Paul's stormy expression registered with him.
Johnny smiled. "No, man, you're good."
"Actually I need your help Mike," Briggs promised. "Yours and Johnny's, actually. Come on in and join us a second."
Mike straightened and entered eagerly. Not only did Briggs serve as de facto Graceland leader for all of the agents in the house, but most especially he ranked as Mike's training agent. So far Briggs had allowed him to observe quite a few missions but had only permitted him to take part on the sidelines with two of them.
As much as Mike wanted the full responsibility of an FBI agent he respected Paul's expertise and leadership. One day Paul would have enough confidence in his abilities to turn him loose.
Until that day he would wait patiently and soak up as much of Paul's tutelage as he could, building his credentials with Briggs with occasions such as this one.