Author's Notes:
Is you Is or is you Ain't?
Sequel to "Canary on a Landmine" - It had been a long week for Marshals Shannon and Mann and from the looks of things they were going to be dealing with the fallout for months to come. Story includes Marshall with an OC (the series will end being M/M but that is a ways down the line.)
Disclaimer time: I do not own, nor pretend to own the characters of In Plain Sight. This work is not intended to contest said ownership and no profit is being made from the telling of this tale. (I'm just having too much fun to stop)
Isn't/Fake Is/Emergency backup Is/Agent Elder on the other hand is mine, and ... it's complicated.
I hope you enjoyed Canary and I hope you will enjoy the telling of this tale as well.
I still have not posting schedule worked out, but I am trying to get at least one post in a weel... we'll see how that goes.
Marshall watched as Leigh reviewed the information he'd presented and pieced together the full implication of what they had learned about Marlin.
"Let me see if I get this straight," she said in the tone of someone who really didn't want to believe what they'd heard and yet couldn't deny the truth.
"ADA Marlin, who I've worked with on multiple occasions over the last few years... quite effectively mind you… a man who has successfully prosecuted many of the counterfeiting cases I've worked: used our working relationship and my boss' good will to set me up and get me killed?"
Marshall winced. There was no easy way of describing what they'd learned. "That's what it's looking like."
"Why?"
"That's what the FBI and OPR are trying to figure out..."
She studied him for a long time before prompting, "and you're here because…"
He thought about her request and gave her an apologetic smile. "Which part do you want first, the perplexing, possibly disturbing or the ironic?"
"Surprise me."
He took a deep breath noting the exhaustion in her voice before replying. "He's willing to turn State's Evidence..."
She closed her eyes and shook her head as she realized he was going for the ironic.
"Let me guess, in exchange for witness protection..." she said as she opened her eyes and searched his for the answer.
Marshall met her gaze and held it for a moment before giving her slight shrug. "A lot of that depends on you... it's your job and safety he compromised."
She gave a heavy sigh and shook her head. "Damage is already done: he can't do me any more harm. That leaves who wants me dead and why and the answer to that question will determine if I vanish into the woodwork or join uniformed services. Either way, I still have a job in my chosen field. Well, not quite—if we don't stop whoever wants me dead… I doubt they'll put me on any protection details… kinda self defeating…"
She tilted her head and nodded towards him, her expression once again growing serious. "The real problem as I see it is what he can do to you and Marshal Shepherd. He knows enough to ruin your careers, your lives and the lives of those around you… not to mention certain aspects of your job…
Marshall's gaze sharpened. He hadn't expected her to shift gears so quickly. Sure he knew she'd look beyond her own situation but not this quickly. She'd dismissed what Marlin had done to her as past, and went straight to the threat the former ADA now posed to him and Mary. Unexpected or not, it didn't change the fact that she was right.
Marlin knew too much about what they did. Even if he were in the program, there was nothing keeping him from using that knowledge to his own advantage and he'd already proven how... malleable his moral compass was.
"I see you've given this some serious consideration already."
"Yeah well... it was either that or count ceiling tiles."
He smiled and shook his. The more he talked to her the more he appreciated not only the job she'd done posing as Isabelle, but the way her mind worked and her self-deprecating sense of humor.
"After the week we had, I'd be tempted to count ceiling tiles," he told her.
She gave him a direct look and shook her head. "No, you'd travel… what …450 miles? To do follow up work and make sure that your job is actually done… which leads us to the perplexing possibly disturbing information…"
Marshall's smile faded slightly. "Agent O'Conner's going to be here later on to talk to you but the last thing any of us want to do is blind side you… "
He could practically see her steel herself for whatever was coming, her gaze focusing on him with cold clarity.
"What?"
He took a deep breath before meeting her gaze head on. "Marlin had pictures of you…"
She relaxed ever so slightly an amused smile crossing her face. "What… he had a shower cam?"
Marshall shook his head. "Picture of you… in Iraq… "
"Pictures of me… showering? in Iraq?"
Marshall gave her a pointed look. She was not making this any easier.
"Marshall…," she began. "I go to Iraq... a lot… Counterfeiting is almost a national pastime in some areas and the linen content of their money is very close to our own which only makes their job easier. When you're one of a handful of Agents fluent in different dialects of Arabic, you're on the frequent flyer plan… you're going to have to give me more to go on here. "
Marshall drew a deep breath and nodded. She'd said to not dance around things and he owed her that much. "He had pictures of you… and your husband… in Iraq."
Her smile froze, her gaze sharpening into a pained scowl. "He… has pictures… of me… and Rick?"
He could almost see the life drain out of her as she sat back in the wheel chair suddenly looking totally defeated.
"Leigh?"
When she looked up at him, he realized how little he really knew about her. The lost look made him want to reach out to her, but he hesitated. She needed someone who knew her better than he did: someone who could anchor her and help her weather the emotional storm that threatened to overwhelm her.
"Where's your partner?"
She looked away for a moment then focused on him again. "They moved him as soon as he could travel. Keep us both safer."
He let his breath out slowly. "What can I do for you?"
"Give me a minute?"
He paused. The last thing he wanted to do was leave her alone, but he understood her need. "I'll be right outside…"
She nodded, not really seeing him as he left the room.
=IPS=
Mary watched over Isabelle as Charlie verified that her new apartment was still secure. She wasn't sure which bothered her more: the fact that it was Charlie working with her or the fact that there was every possibility they would have to put Isabelle through this a second time, depending on Marshall's findings.
Originally they were supposed to take her to Atlanta after the trial, but until they knew exactly what Marlin knew, and leaked, she was safer in Albuquerque where they could keep an eye on her.
She refused to dignify the man with the title of ADA or Former ADA, not after he'd nearly gotten them killed. No, he had done too much damage to them, to the legal system and to their witnesses to have any other moniker than 'scumbag.'
Marshall stood outside the door for a moment, when he caught the gaze of the 'orderly' who'd brought Leigh to the private waiting room. The accusatory look the man gave him only confirmed his original assumption: these men knew Leigh and cared about her.
He hoped that would mean they'd be able to help her through whatever ghosts the news of the pictures had summoned, but to a man they shook their heads.
The 'orderly' finally gave him a grim look and took pity on him. "Mike's the only one she'll talk to about it."
Marshall winced. The only person she would talk to about this was her partner and he had already been moved. That meant either leaving her to her own devices or going back in and being there for her… whether she wanted it or not.
One look at the lost expression on Leigh's face and his decision was made. He moved back into the room and squatted down in front of her.
"Leigh… talk to me…"
There was something in his voice that reached her, the combination of concern and understanding seemed to sooth her she met his gaze and recognized a sense of loss reflected in his eyes.
Something in that look told her, he'd understand.
