A/N: Oh thank you guys! I am so happy about the reviews! You guys really make this a lot more fun! And as a reward for all the positivity, I am posting chapter 3 on the same day! Please keep up the feedback!

Disclaimer: This story is fictional: I do not own Leverage. But I do own Seasons 1-4 DVDs and pre-ordered Season 5! Mark your calendars if you haven't already! 09/17/2013!

'The invisible man has revealed himself' She knew that voice. She hadn't heard from him in a long time. she wasn't really looking forward to speaking with him either. Because for him to call, she knew it was bad.

Parker was not afraid of the dark. She wasn't afraid of a lot of things actually. Walking through a beautifully lit park in the middle of the night should be second nature to her, but this particular night, was no walk in the park (pun intended). She took in her surroundings noting that it was a lot quieter that it would normally be on a Friday night.

She came upon the lake in question and sure enough, the moon's reflection could be seen in the unnaturally still water. She took a seat on a nearby bench and waited. She didn't have to wait long as a figure took a seat on the other side of the bench.

"You always were punctual doll face" the figure stated.

"I have to be. Timing is very important in my line of work as well as yours." She responded

"That it is"

"Why couldn't you call just to say hi, Quinn?" She asked not even looking in his direction.

"What purpose would that serve?" the hitter asked

"It was rhetorical" she sighed.

"With you I can never be too sure"

"I still haven't forgiven you for beating up Eliot" She stated remembering the David Job.

"I was working...besides Spencer got a few hits in"

"Its been a while since I heard from you" she said. 'might as well get this over with' she thought.

"I knew you would miss me doll face" she rolled her eyes.

*Flashback 4 Years Ago*

Parker knew she was being followed. Personal awareness was one of her strong suits. Oddly enough, she already knew who it was that was tailing her. She went into a nearby coffee shop and took a seat at a table in the back. Her follower took a seat not long after.

"Quinn..."

"Its been a while doll face. I didn't recognize you. You look good as a blonde"

"I am a natural blonde, and what the hell are you doing here?" she asked

"I can't stay long so I'll be quick...Vladimir escaped from Black Dolphin" she gasped

"H-How? Your lying! there's no way he could have escaped"

"I am trying to figure it out my self. It should not have happened, but I have contacts. Its rare for a prisoner to escape from Black Dolphin Prison, especially considering not many people know where it is. I was hoping that the next time I talked to you I would telling you of his demise. It seems that conversation is for another time."

"Am I in danger?" She asked silently. He looked her straight in the eyes and answered.

"No. you're all clear. You 'died' remember?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes ...I made sure there was evidence and everything." She released a breath she didn't know she was holding

"Evidence? What...How?" She was confused.

"Its best if you don't ask. Anyway he and two of his right-hand men vanished. The three of them especially him are being searched for all over Russia by the Russian officials and border patrols. In the U.S, the FBI, CIA, and Interpol have all been informed. Plus I have a few sources keeping watch and I myself will continue searching for that bastard. I thought I'd let you know what's going on."

"I appreciate it...What happens now?"

"You go back to doing what ever the hell it is you do...your a thief right?"

"I am"

"Well then, I'll keep you posted when the time comes...See ya doll face." With that he left as quickly as he came.

*END FLASHBACK*

"Please tell me this is that conversation you promised me." She asked.

"Afraid not. Nikolay Vladimir has resurfaced, He is in the U.S."

"In the U.S? How did he...even make it through security? His name and identification is on the Terrorist Watch list, and he is labeled as a threat to society!"

"Aren't we all?" he smirked "Anyway there is always a way in if you know the right people" he took out his phone and showed her a picture of Vladimir getting off of a plane with a picture of the US flag hanging off of a building in the background.

"What reason would he have to be here?" she asked

"Blood Diamonds...sound familiar?" He gave her a knowing look. she took a deep breath. 'not this again' she thought before responding.

"There aren't any Blood Diamonds in the U.S..." She should know.

"They are now...temporarily. They are being auctioned off in an underground Black Market"

"There is something your not saying" She looked at him.

"He knows your alive. He was tipped off"

"No...He can't...Quinn you said..."

"Parker... listen to me." He started using the name she goes by. "He knows you are alive, but that's all he knows. He doesn't know where you are. If I recall, you were a brunette the last time he saw you himself. You are not easy to find. Hell I had a hard time relocating you a few years back."

"Who tipped him off?"

"If I had to guess, its some kiss ass who is close enough to him to know that you should not be breathing. He got this tip, sometime after he vanished."

"How do you know all this?" she asked.

"Infiltration" He noticed her eyes widen.

"You...you're on the inside? When did you... How...Why haven't you killed him yet!"

"First off, I only kill when the situation calls for it." He sounded insulted.

"It does call for it!" she exclaimed. Is he not getting what's at stake?

"Calm down doll face. Its a good thing you are not a Retrieval Specialist. You can't just go on a killing spree."

"Why...he's done it" she replied.

"Everything has to be carefully planned. One false move and its over. He is...how should I put this...getting rid of his liabilities if you catch my drift."

"He's killing his own men" she realized.

"Man doesn't take betrayal too kindly. After all, he spent time in the Black Dolphin Prison after he was branded as a traitor to his own country thanks to you, and you know how Russians feel about traitors. Execution is non-negotiable. He made a lot of enemy's. He can't afford another slip up. Little does he know, he's already slipped by trusting me which as you know is a very fatal mistake on his part."

"How did you get in?" she asked curious.

"My services were requested...to retrieve some priceless art piece from the 16th century in the black market, when I heard rumor about Blood Diamonds being secretly shipped into the U.S. to be sold. Naturally I followed the lead, remembering Vladimir's lust for Blood Diamonds." He notices her involuntary shudder but doesn't say anything about it and continues. "Once my suspicions were confirmed, lets just say I pulled a few extra strings and got his attention. Once I was in his circle, I started to blend. I found out he knew you were still alive and immediately set out to warn you." He finished.

"Why are you so calm about this? What else do you know?"

"Some of Vladimir's goons are conspiring against him. They want out." he answered.

"But how do you know that its not another trap to test their loyalty?"

"I don't... The only way out of a Russian Mob is death"

"So your idea is to get the goons to turn on each other, while you take out the Boss"

"In a matter of speaking, but of course nothing is that simple" He paused for a second and then continued "I'm keeping my eyes open so I can determine whose loyal and who is rebelling. There is a window to take him out. We just have to wait until it opens" She thought about that for a second. And something occurred to her.

"And he just happened to choose Portland?" She asked suspicious.

"Portland is one of a few locations that is low profile. Its easier to hideout here." She took everything in that he just told her, and then made a decision.

"I want in...What can I do?" she asked. He looked at her then.

"You want to go after him? I thought..."

"You said he knows I am alive...I don't want to give him the opportunity to come looking for me" she said with determination.

"You're not going to clue in your little gang of misfits?"

"No... because then they will want to go after him. Vladimir is too dangerous, I want him as far away from them as possible."

"He knows nothing about them" He reassured her.

"It needs to stay that way. I won't drag them into this mess I made."

"We both know that is not your only reason." He gave her a look, but then continued. "I am going to need more time to get things started...But If this starts to go south," he started

"I'll run" she finished.

This couldn't be happening. She didn't want to believe it. But she knew what she had to do what ever it takes to keep her family safe. She took a different route out of the park from which she came and made her way to her warehouse. She walked into the darkened room and sat in the middle of her bed. She took out her cell phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Parker?" The sound of her mentor's/father voice brought her a little piece of mind. Very little.

"Archie its happening. Vladimir is back, and he knows I am alive." She said shakily.

"What?...How do you know this?" she hesitated before answering.

"...Quinn"

"Ah...I see...that young man, is a snake."

"You hired him"

"Yes I did...To protect you back then. But I had no idea you were still in contact with him. However, I do suppose for the right amount of cash, he can be your best friend." he stated.

"Not everything is about money Archie. He has helped me a lot. You don't know the whole story"

"And that would that be?"

"Archie we don't have time...he is here not only hoping to find and get his revenge against me...but he is here to make a purchase."

"What kind of purchase?"

"Blood Diamonds" she heard him gasp.

"And Quinn told you all of this?" he sounded suspicious.

"Yes, he's...good at what he does" She wouldn't dare tell him that she knew he is on the inside.

"So are you and your team...Parker, tell them what is going on. They are your family" he insisted

"You all are my family and I can't lose either of you. He knows about you and who you are Archie...he doesn't know about them."

"Parker...you will lose a whole lot more if you don't"

"No...Vladimir has no reason to target them, and I am not going to give him one. Archie please get somewhere safe" He sighed

"He has no idea where you are?"

"According to Quinn, No" He snorted

"Right According to Quinn. Very well. I am going to start taking care of things on my end, in the meantime, act normal...well your normal. Once I am sure that my other family is safe, I will call you" She had to say something.

"Archie...Please be careful" She whispered

"You too." with that he hung up and she threw her cell phone on the bed.

Parker didn't realize how long she sat there in the dark until her phone brought her out of her musings, It was Sophie telling her to get to Nate's. It was another job. She looked at the time and realized that it was a quarter till 7 a.m. Had she really been sitting here that long? She stood up and realized that she was trembling. She wiped her palms on her pants, and forced herself to get back into 'Parker Mode'.

A/N: I would like to take time to let you all know that Black Dolphin Prison is an ACTUAL prison in Russia. I looked it up on Wikipedia and the types of criminals they lock up there is unreal not to mention their daily routines...just reading about it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Even today, it is still labeled as one of the most toughest prisons in Russia.

Also I don't really know much about Blood Diamonds except many people have been killed because of them. So I'm trying to make it work

Anyway thanks again for the reviews and all of the positives! Please keep the reviews coming!