Chapter Four: The Truth About the Dead Brother's Sister
"So, how does he know about us?" Hardison asked. "And that guy was Randle Costa."
Eliot shrugged and took a seat on the couch.
"I thought the guy was dead, imagine my surprise," Eliot said.
"So, what should we do?" Parker asked. "Obviously Eliot blew the only offer the guy put on the table."
"I didn't blow the offer, Parker, he's a psychopath. He's always been a man of control." Eliot ran his hands through his hair. "And he's using his family to con us into working with him. Everything about this guy reminds me too much of…."
"Sterling," Parker and Hardison said.
Eliot looked up at the two of them. He sighed and looked over at the large screen with Derek Michaels on the screen and his family.
"Parker, what do you know about Caleb Michaels?" Eliot asked.
"He's a mastermind at lifting. And stealing well that's like taking candy from a baby," Parker said. "But I guess he picked up some things as a spy."
"No, weaknesses," Hardison said.
"Nope," Parker said.
"And why did you turn the offer down with all that super cool military technology?" Hardison asked. "We could have used that and turn this place to the safest place in the world."
There was a knock on the door and the three of them looked at each other. Eliot walked towards the door and looked through the peephole. He opened the door partly and stared at the young, redhead woman.
"I said no," Eliot said.
"I'm not here to persuade you to take my brother up on his offer." Sarah stared at him. "I'm here because I want to be here."
"Not interested," Eliot remarked and shut the door.
He turned and looked at Hardison and Parker as they stood there with arms folded.
"That's interesting," Hardison remarked. "I think he might have got beaten by a girl when he was out there."
"Shut up, Hardison!" Eliot snapped. "She shot at me; I don't like people who shoot at me!"
"I could have killed you," Sarah's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Shut up!" Eliot shouted. "No one is talking to you!"
He folded his arms and Parker smiled
"I think his feelings got hurt." Parker pointed at Eliot as he seemed to go silent.
The door opened and Sarah stood in the doorway. Eliot looked at the redhead as she lifted up a bobby pin. She walked in and glanced around and nodded.
"I'm impressed, Spencer, top of the line technology. I was half expecting a rundown shake, but you did good." Sarah turned and looked over at him. "I want in."
"Excuse you, but this is a private organization," Hardison remarked.
Parker looked at the redhead and smiled. "I like her. She made Eliot mad."
Eliot and Hardison looked at her. Sarah smiled and looked at Eliot.
"Partner," she said.
"I'm not working with her, ever," Eliot said. "She smells like trouble."
Parker walked up to Sarah and smelt her. She looked back at Eliot and shook her head.
"Smells like cherries," Parker said. "So, you what can you bring to the team."
Sarah smiled and pulled out a device and walked around. She knelt down and looked under the sofa before reaching underneath.
"You have bugs," Sarah said. "Very smart bugs. When's the last time you sprayed?"
"I sprayed this place last week."
"Well, you missed a spot, Hacker," Sarah said as she stood up. "He's CIA special order and you need someone who can sniff out the bugs."
Eliot looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "I don't like you. I don't like your brother and I don't like your family."
Sarah walked over to him and patted his cheek. She pulled a piece of his hair and Eliot narrowed his eyes.
"Now, I have your DNA, Spencer," Sarah said.
"I'm starting to like her too," Hardison laughed. "She's a smart ass."
"Well, I don't," Eliot grumbled.
Sarah smirked and walked towards the sofa and tossed the bug to Hardison. He looked at it and started working on what information they had. Eliot stayed by the door knowing people like Sarah didn't travel in lone. Most likely she was the distraction and he wasn't falling for her unorthodox way of introducing herself to the team. He didn't trust the sister of the supposedly dead lieutenant.
"So, your sister," Parker said.
"Gina, she's good at what she does. My brother trained her to do all the acting in the world. Speaking of acting where's the other two members."
"They left," Eliot hissed.
"A shame I was looking forward in meeting them," Sarah said folding her arms. "I heard so much about them."
"From who?" Eliot asked.
Sarah looked at him and smiled a little. She turned and looked at Parker and Hardison as they seemed to enjoy the change in Eliot's behavior.
"What if I told you that my brother has been in touch with every agency possible?"
"I would believe that." Eliot stepped closer.
"Good because it's true and in the next forty-eight hours this building will be swamped with FBI, Interpol, CIA, and local authorities. In fact he's getting paid a load of money on your behalf. Thanks to little Eliot over there, he knows that you are here."
"Sounds familiar," Hardison remarked.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you get a cut," Eliot said.
"No, you would be wrong, my little sister and half-brother get a cut. Little old me goes back to shoveling horse manure and burying dead terrorists unless…"
"What?"
"You can you put your trust in me, I won't lead you down the wrong path."
Parker looked at Sarah and looked at Eliot.
"Cause they're after you too," Parker said.
Sarah glanced over at Parker. "That's right. Do you realize what it's like to be hunted like a dog?"
"Do you know who you are talking too?" Eliot remarked.
"Right, I forgot. Here's the deal, I join your little band of thieves because you obviously need an extra hand and I'll give you everything you need to keep the authorities off whatever this is," Sarah said.
Hardison looked over at them and Eliot as he still stood his ground of not trusting Sarah. He shook his head and typed vigorously as he tried to crack the encryption on the bug.
"Top security," Sarah said. "That's just the first taste of what is to come."
"How do you know that?" Hardison asked.
"I wasn't just a sniper; I was the keeper of their security. My brother and half-brother are my handlers."