Shady had spent the night and most of the next full day in lock up. As a former agent, she also knew she'd be brought in for questioning soon. They couldn't keep her past 24 hours without charging her. She was good in interrogation but she'd never been the one facing the mirror. She heard the keys in the lock and knew her time to sweat was over.
She was led into Interrogation and seated facing the two way glass. However, she was not cuffed. Shady would have bet money that little respite was at Mitchell's instruction. So, she really wasn't surprised when he was the one who came in. He took the chair across from her and opened the file. Boots didn't say a word but, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the red light indicating they were being filmed turn on.
"Mitchell," she spoke first.
"Shady," he responded.
"So, shall we get to it?"
Mitchell was serious, "Not yet." And Boots was immediately on guard as he continued, "How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you," she responded primly.
He pointed towards her face that showed bruising, "I mean that."
She smiled smugly, "It's fine, Agent Matthews. Looks worse than it is." But, Mitchell didn't respond. So, Shady supplied, "It happened before I was arrested. There, I've said it on record. I had this," and Boots motioned towards her cheek, "when I came in. You and your staff have made my stay most pleasant." The last comment was delivered with thick sarcasm.
Mitchell frowned but asked again, "And how are you, really, I mean since leaving NCIS?"
She cocked an eyebrow and leaned across, saying softly, "This is not the time or the place."
"Boots, it's an honest question," Matthews said.
"And this is really how you want to proceed?"
"I mean…uh…I heard about what happened, you know, after you left," Matthews stumbled.
Shady answered vindictively, "And so what you really want to know is did I actually try to kill myself and am I now stable?" She looked down, almost embarrassed at her outburst. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then in a more composed tone, said, "Thank you, Mitch, for asking but I don't think this is the subject you really want to discuss."
He shook his head, "You're determined to take control, aren't you?"
She shrugged but didn't respond. Knowing that his time was limited, Mitchell was forced to play Powell's game. He began his questions, "What do you know about Jason Pratt?"
"Only what I read in the paper."
"The papers only got it half right. Senator Pratt was kidnapped while on his last trip."
"Wow, you're right. That part wasn't in the papers," she answered in mock surprise then questioned back, "So what's that got do with me?"
"We received an anonymous tip and Pratt confirmed it," Matthews answered. "He said there was a woman involved in both his kidnapping and his recovery. Pratt's description generally fit you."
"And so you immediately jump from she's unstable because she tried to kill herself to she could be the one involved in the kidnapping of a Senator?" Boots tried to bait the agent.
He ignored her and answered instead, "The tip we received was a recording of a woman," Mitchell paused, "and, I gotta admit, Shady, she sounded very much like you."
"So let me get this straight," Shady's tone was derisive, "you arrested me based on a general description and a voice message?" She leaned back, "I like my chances if that's all you've got."
Matthews continued to ignored her taunting, "In the phone message, the woman said she'd had a change of heart and that she had a copy of the Senator's itinerary to prove her involvement."
Mitchell slid the paper recovered from Shady's room, protected by the evidence bag, into her line of sight. At the top of it, she could clearly read the words 'Confidential Schedule – Senator Jason Pratt' and Matthews added, "Still like your chances?"
Seeing her squirm slightly in the seat, Mitch closed in, "What do you have to say now?"
The door to the Interrogation Room opened and an older man carrying a briefcase entered. He was well dressed, physically fit, ruggedly handsome and obviously in charge. "She's not saying anything except I'd like to speak with my attorney." He dared a look at Shady, "Isn't that right?"
She nodded her head, "That's right."
Mitchell looked from the man to Shady, "Who is this?"
"My attorney, Thomas Powell," she answered.
Matthews' brow furrowed as if trying to make a connection, "Isn't that your father's name? Thomas Powell?"
Again, she nodded her head, "Mitchell Matthews? My father," Shady made a grand gesture, "retired Air Force Colonel Thomas 'Shadow' Powell. He used his G.I. bill to get his law degree."
"Mr. Matthews, you'll give us the room now, won't you?" The attorney asked, standing back from the door.
Mitchell had no doubt it was an order, not a request. He closed the file, stood up and signaled to the Observation Room to stop recording and, nodding to Shady, walked out.
The Colonel shut the door and then sat across from his client, "You okay?"
Her response was clipped, "I'm fine."
"You don't look it," he said bluntly. And he pointed towards her face, "And how the hell did that happen?"
"Sir, with all due respect, not now," Shady answered sharply.
Her father knew her too well so he changed subjects, "Any idea how long they've held you?"
"What time is it," she asked back.
"6:30."
"Well past twenty-four hours," Shady responded.
The Colonel gave a curt nod, stood up and knocked on the glass. Mitchell returned, "Yes, sir?"
"Are you charging my client?"
"No, Colonel, not at this time," Mitch responded but, looking at Shady, he added, "Just don't leave the state."
She nodded as the Colonel answered, "Then we'll be going."
Lee was leaning against the car, dressed as the chauffeur, with a cap pulled low over his eyes. He watched as the Colonel and then Shady exited the Federal Building. He was immediately relieved to know she was alright but he'd seen that look before. Shady Powell was mad as hell and someone was going to get an earful. The Shadow led the way and, as Christmas opened the car door, the older man stepped aside letting Shady enter first. She never looked Lee's way. The two men shared a glance but the Colonel slid in behind his daughter and Lee shut them in, quickly crossing to the driver's seat.
Once the car was in motion, Shady unloaded, "Where the hell did you come from?"
"Sacramento," was the deadpanned answer.
"You know what I mean," she glared.
"Your friends called me."
She hissed, "My friends would know better than to call you."
"Believe what you want, Shady."
"Look, I didn't ask you to come. They were going to have to release me within twenty-four hours anyway. So, I didn't need you to play the hero and swoop in and save the day."
Her father answered drolly, "Obviously, someone thought you couldn't handle it alone."
"How dare…" she was indignant.
"That's enough," Lee ordered from the front seat. Her head jerked up and she made eye contact through the rearview mirror. Since getting into the car, Shady came to the realization that there was a third person, the driver. Now she was able to see that the driver was Lee Christmas. "I called him," he finished.
She crossed her arms over her chest and sat back against the seat. However, the glare she gave Christmas told him wordlessly that this fight was not over.
Her father took one look at her and then back to the man in the front seat and said, "You must tell me how to do that."
Christmas couldn't help but smile and then he noticed Shady's face, "What the hell happened to your cheek?"
"I forgot to duck."
Lee's glare was almost as withering as Shady's but, quite frankly, he still intimidated the hell out of her. She capitulated with the response, "I interrupted a break-in." However, Boots' reply was given in a manner that said it was all they were getting.
He wasn't satisfied with the answer but said instead, "Colonel, I appreciate your help. I'll drop you back at your hotel."
The Colonel shook his head, "I don't think so, Mr. Christmas. As you pointed out, you called me. Now that I'm here, I intend to hang around. I'm pretty sure there's more going on than either of you are willing to admit. So, I'll be going wherever you are."
"Sir," Lee began.
"Did any of that sound like it was optional, Mr. Christmas?"
"This is why you don't call him," Shady interjected, "You see, no one can handle a situation as well as The Shadow." She earned glares from both Lee through the rearview mirror and from her father sitting next to her. She clamped her mouth shut and then stared intently out the window.
Finally, they arrived back at the bar. Lee got out and opened the door allowing Shady to exit first. He reached out a hand to stop her but she looked at it and then back at him and said, with heat, "Move it or lose it."
He let her go and Shady stormed into the bar, all but running across the floor and up the stairs, then slamming into her room. Christmas and Powell followed. The Colonel was about to head up to his daughter's rooms but Lee stopped him, "With all due respect, sir, I think it would be best if I handled this."
"Oh?"
"Yes, sir. You see, your daughter and I have been uh," and Lee hesitated not exactly sure if he was helping or hurting with what he was about to say.
He slapped the younger man on the shoulder, "Good luck, Mr. Christmas. I think you're probably going to need it."
Lee smiled, "Help yourself to a beer. And, then, if you go through that door and up the staircase, it'll take you to a briefing room. The rest of the team is there."
The Shadow nodded and then added, "How long do you need before I send backup?"
Christmas chuckled, "If I'm not down in 45 minutes, don't worry about backup. Just call an ambulance." And Lee left to face the maelstrom that was Shady Powell.
She was just coming out of the bathroom, still wet from her shower when the apartment door opened. Shady grabbed a knife from the holster that hung on the hook on the bathroom door and took a defensive position as Lee entered the rest of the way, "You gonna use it?"
Shady glared and then, in frustration, threw it at the target that hung over their bed. It was a perfect bull's eye. She started dressing, still refusing to speak.
Lee nodded, "Fine. Then listen. Barney and Tool are both missing."
And that got her attention, "Missing?"
"Yeah, and that's not all. Hale was in an accident and Toll was arrested by the police around the same time you were being arrested by the Feds."
"What's going on here?" She asked.
"Not sure, but, all the guys are in the Briefing Room and we could use your help to think it through."
She nodded and stood up, ready to leave the room. But, Lee stopped her, holding her in place with his hands on her hips, "Before you go in there, though, there's something I need to say to you." She gave him a look and he continued, "With everything that was happening, your father was our only choice."
"Yeah, okay, but don't expect me to be happy," Shady answered.
"Fine, don't be happy. But he dropped everything and came as soon as I called. And, because he is your father, that should be all that's necessary for your respect. But, if that's not good enough, then this is. All of the men that you are privileged to work with understand what it means to have achieved the rank of Colonel. So, if you can't respect him for being your father, than you will damn well respect him for being a Colonel. And you will treat him with respect in front of the others. Is that understood, Commander?"
And Boots was sufficiently chastised, "Yes, sir, Captain. I understand."
"Now, I need to ask you a question," Lee continued.
"Yes?"
"Should I plan on spending the night in my apartment or here?"
And Shady blushed, "You damn well better show up here." And she kissed him. But, when she tried to step back, he wouldn't let her go.
"I should have stayed with you," Lee said quietly.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"You asked me to stay with you yesterday. If I had…"
Shady caressed his cheek, "If you had, you might have been arrested or worse." And she kissed him again and then broke it off with a smile and asked, "How much time do we have before the cavalry shows up?"
Lee chuckled, "45 minutes."
"C'mon," and she took his hand and tried to pull him behind her but he pulled her back instead into another kiss. He still had ten minutes.