Chapter II

Corner Café

Nate sipped on a strong cup of coffee as he looked around the city. He was trying to avoid anymore suspicion that could blow the whistle on the young agent and the fact that Eliot's sister loves Grant.

"So, instead of alcohol you switched to coffee?" Sophie's voice came up behind him.

He looked over and smiled. She took a seat and grabbed his coffee from his hand. She pulled the top off and sniffed it.

"Nate?" Sophie said. "I knew there couldn't be just coffee."

She took a sip and swirled it around.

"Needs a little more whiskey in it," Sophie joked.

"I needed something to take the edge off. I promise that's all." Nate stole his cup back and took another sip. "Plus, we didn't put a bar in the office."

"We all agreed it would look a little unprofessional." She smiled as she looked at him. "So, there's something going on with you."

Nate looked at the knee grifter he depended on to keep him in check. She was his balance and confidence. Her hands reached over and grabbed his giving them a squeeze.

"Nate, I'm worried about you, since you came back from New York. You just took off and I didn't hear from you for a day or so. What happened?"

"I just had to confirm something with someone. Soph, I'm fine."

"No, you're not, Nate. I can see it in your eyes. You're not yourself. And there's more of sharpness to your voice when certain subjects come up."

"Like what?"

"Well, let's start with pulling Hillary to the side," Sophie said.

"I had something to ask her about something."

"Nate, don't lie to me. The moment she said Agent Graham's name you and Eliot got on edge. Either you both know something and won't share or you know something that deals with Agent Graham."

Nate looked at Sophie and shook his head. He looked out into the busy streets and tried to avoid her ever prying eyes. If there was one person who could get a secret out of him it was Sophie. She just had that skill that opened up people.

"Soph, I don't want to talk about it. I am entitled to my thoughts and privacy. Could we drop it now?"

"Nate," she whispered.

She sighed and stood up.

"I'll be willing to listen when you are ready to open up to me. But until then I suggest drinking plain coffee until you have a clear head." Sophie leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "See you back at the apartment."

She walked off and Nate watched her walk away. He sighed and turned back to find he wasn't alone at the table. He jumped a little to see someone he didn't care to see.

"Hello, Nate," Sterling said. "You really shouldn't drink."

Nate narrowed his eyes at Sterling.

"What do you want?" Nate said.

"Ah, that's always a good question coming from you," Sterling said as pulled his coat tight. "Why don't you tell your beloved team about, Agent McCoy? You obviously want too, but somehow don't have the heart too."

"That's pretty strange coming from you, Sterling. You used your own nephew as prop in your little mind game."

"Who said I was using him?" Sterling stood. "I'd listen to your voice of reasoning if I were you."

Nate looked at him and shook his head.

"This is still just a game for you isn't?"

Sterling chuckled and looked at Nate.

"A game? No, Nate, it's not real." Sterling smirked.

"Nate," Eliot's voice came from across the street.

Nate looked over at Eliot as he quickly dashed across the street. Nate turned and saw Sterling was gone. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at Eliot as he came up to him.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost, Nate," Eliot said.

"Just the cool air. What's up?" Nate looked over at Eliot.

"I have to talk to you privately, without my sister and McCoy around," Eliot said pulling out a chair. "Got a minute?"

"Fire away." Nate ran his hands through his hair.

Eliot nodded and tucked his dark hair behind his ears. He looked at Nate still seeing paleness to his face.

"Sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine, Eliot. What did you want to talk about?"

Eliot leaned back into the iron back of the chair and nodded.

"My sister is hiding something. Something she's got sealed with an iron clasp. I don't know if it's me, but the other thing is McCoy he just is acting…"

"Yeah, Eliot, I don't know if you should be talking to me about this right now," Nate said as he stood up.

Eliot looked at him and stood up. He wrinkled his brow and watched Nate's eyes look around. He grabbed Nate by his jacket.

"She told you something, didn't she?" Eliot said.

"She told me nothing. A private matter that I can't discuss." Nate quickly made something up.

"One she can't discuss with her own brother?"

"Something that might need time to simmer on the back burner. Are we done?"

Eliot raised his brow.

"Sophie was right, you are acting strange." Eliot stepped back and looked at Nate. "You better quit drinking."

"I'm fine."

"No, you smell like whiskey, Nate. Quit it before it gets you." Eliot pointed to him and walked off.

Nate's Apartment: Late that Evening.

Nate heard Sophie go into the bathroom to shower. He warmed up the stove to make something light for dinner. He reached into the fridge and pulled out some salad fixings. Nate shut the fridge and turned around nearly dropping the head of lettuce and tomatoes.

"How did you get in?" Nate remarked.

"You act surprise," Sterling said.

"Get out!" Nate turned away and pulled a cutting board out from the cabinet.

He glanced up and saw Sterling leaned against the fridge.

"Stop burdening yourself with that deep dark secret you know about Agent McCoy. It won't hurt so much if you finally just say it out loud," Sterling said.

He reached for a glass of whiskey and took a sip of it. A smile curled on Sterling's lips as he walked around Nate's apartment.

"What do you want, Sterling?" Nate walked out the kitchen only to find him gone.

"Oh, you know," Sterling's voice came up behind him.

Nate narrowed his eyes and took a swing at him. Sterling stepped to the side and looked at him. Nate caught himself before falling to the ground. He looked over at Sterling as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at Nate. He clicked his tongue and walked towards Nate.

"You really should stop drinking, Nate. It's not very appealing and it makes you do stuff. Or start seeing things," Sterling chuckled.

"Nate," Sophie's voice came from the top of the stairs.

Nate glanced over in the direction of the iron rail stairwell.

"Yes?" he called.

"Have you started dinner yet?" Sophie asked.

Nate glanced over his shoulder to see he stood alone in the kitchen. He looked at the stove to see he had forgotten he turned it on.

"Not really," Nate replied as he walked towards the stove.

"Good, I was kind of thinking we could order out maybe instead. It's been a long day."

"I don't mind cooking," Nate said as he walked to the iron rail stairwell.

Sophie looked down from the top step. "I know, but I think it would be easier."

She stepped down the steps and came to the last one. She put her arms around Nate and looked at him.

"We could always go out," Nate suggested.

"No, let's just order out and have dinner here." She looked at him. "Nate, is something the matter, you're a little pale, like you've seen a ghost or something?