Disclaimer I do not own Hu$tle.

Age before Beauty?

Stacie stared at the computer screen in front of her, glad that she was on her own in the apartment while the others set about observing the mark and trying to think of a plan. She stared at the website outlining what a beautiful home the Shades really was. Shaking her head she smiled slightly when she realised she was no longer alone in the room.

"Albert?"

"Hi." He tugged on his collar before sitting down next to her. "Research?"

"A little." She nodded before turning the laptop to face him. "It looks beautiful."

"It is."

"Then why?"

"Why?" Albert sighed heavily. "Why does anything happen? Why do we do this? Why did you and Danny go to the States, knowing how desperate I was to get away from there."

"Albert."

"Money. It's as simple and as complicated as that."

"I know." She turned her eyes back to the screen. "I know that's why he wants to sell the Shades but that isn't the only reason why I went to New York."

"Ash. I know. Too close too quick but look at Mickey and Emma. Things can work out."

"Can they?"

"Yes. I think so. Remember, Stacie you are not Rachel and Ash is not Jake. Give a man a chance."

"I."

"Think about it. Please. Just think about it."

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Sean parked the car in the small gravel filled car park as the rain finally stopped. Danny sat next to him as they both stared out of the windows towards the large building that housed the nursing home. He hated to think of someone like Albert living in a place where he had twenty four hour care, but it seemed the majority of people who lived in the Shades were of a similar age to his friend.

"Mad innit?" Danny sunk down in the passenger side of the car.

"What?"

"This place? Looks so peaceful. Right nice place to spend your twilight years and all that. Now some numpty wants to chuck everyone out so it can be flattened. Like Ash said. It ain't right."

"No." Sean agreed. "It aint right."

"That's 'im." Danny nodded to the man in a business suit parking a few feet away from them. "Reckon we could persuade him to let Albert live 'ere?"

"Albert?"

"Well yeah? Who else is gonna be able to work the inside? It has to be 'im."

"What about Mickey and ASh?"

"Too young."

"You know what I mean."

"Just drive, you daft sod before we're seen. Has Mickey taught you nothing? We have to get an inside man."

Sean shook his head before starting the engine. Before he could move the car there was a sharp rap on the driver's side window. Sean glanced at Danny before winding the window down.

"Alright?"

"You have been watching the home." A well spoken man glared at him. Sean knew there was no way he could lie his way out of it. So he nodded once.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Who are you? What's it to you?" Danny leant across him to get a better look at the man that had stopped their get away.

"James Kirk. I own this place."

"Oh right." Danny slumped back in his chair. "You'd be the man we'd be wanting to talk to then. Told you we should have made an appointment Bruv." Sean glanced at him with wide eyes. "Excuse my little brother here, he's got all the charm of a rattle snake on LSD. You'd be the man we'd talk to about getting my uncle in here."

"Yes, normally. But today I have a few meetings. You'd better make an appointment with Lucy."

"Lucy?" Danny flashed his best charm smile as Sean scowled.

"My receptionist come PA. Give her a ring and I am sure she'll fit you in." He handed him an expensive looking business card.

"Ta mate. That's great." He watched as the well dressed man smiled broadly before nodding and walking away. Sean narrowed his eyes and watched.

"Mickey will never agree to this."

"No." Danny sighed. "But how else to we get an in? We need someone on the inside. If he is selling the place there is no way he will be advertising for staff."

"Unless he needed a temp?" Sean pulled the car out of the carpark and on to the main road.

"Can your sister type?"

"Yeah."

"There's an idea. You aren't as thick as you look." Sean smiled for a moment before realising it wasn't a compliment.

###################

Mickey tugged his jacket sleeves down as he walked across the forecourt of the building company that Emma had found on the Net. He knew the owner was keen to strike a deal with Kirk to buy the land the nursing home was currently on. He had to find out exactly how much the Property Developer was willing to offer.

"Mr Lincoln?"

"Ah." The older man turned to face Mickey and nodded abruptly. "Who wants to know?"

"My name is Stevenson. Mike Stevenson." He held out his hand for Lincoln to shake, not surprised when the rotund man in front of him ignored him. "You'd were expecting me?" Mickey tried his best to sound truely disbelieving when the older man stared at him blankly. "I'm from the Building and Planning section of the council." He handed him a small fake ID that Ash had put together the night before. "We called last week."

"That's be Margaret. She forgot to put it in the book. What can you do? Can't sake the wife. You married?"

"Yes."

"Then you'd know what I'm talking about." Lincoln shook his head and smiled. "Oh alright then. It's mad busy but if you say you rang then we'd better fit you in."

"Ok." Mickey watched as the rotund man turned and nodded towards a portakabin in the far end of the car park. "That's my office."

"Lead the way." Mickey smiled as he wondered just how the others were getting on. He had a feeling things weren't going to be as straightforward as he was being led to believe.

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A/N Will Emma and Albert go undercover? How will Mickey cope with that? Can Stacie give Ash a chance? Please let me know if I should go on. Reviews make my day.