The Little Red Tattoo
Chapter 4
Los Angeles, January 7, 2017
It was two years to the day that he had quit NCIS and returned to LAPD and it had been a rough two years. The undercover work was ten times worse than with NCIS. There was no team back-up, never mind the lack of equipment and toys they used. But it was his decision and he had to live with it.
On the upside, Monty was doing well. He had slowed down a little but still loved going to the beach. Funny though, every time they went, for about the first ten minutes or so he would just sit and stare in the direction Kensi would have arrived from when she met them there to watch Deeks surf. It was obvious Monty still missed her.
Deeks missed her as well but it has been three years since she disappeared and not one single lead had ever turned up to help them find her. He finally resigned himself to the fact that Kensi was not coming back.
He had developed the habit of going over and checking on Kensi' mom every four months or so, depending on his undercover work. It was tough at first but it did help him to move on. As for her, she enjoyed the company, sometimes reminiscing about Kensi as a child. It was very cathartic for both of them.
Actually, Julia pushed Deeks to at least go on a date every now and then. So he did, most of them were just one casual evening and then done. A few were the typical one night stand. Those usually happened after exceptionally difficult undercover cases.
Except a few months ago he met someone that deserved a second date. Elizabeth Riggs had blue eyes, was about five foot eight with dirty blonde hair and a beautiful smile. She had a great sense of humour but was a little bit shy around people she didn't know. Elizabeth or Liz as Deeks called her worked for LAPD in the Administration division and had met Deeks by accident when he was called into to review issues with his expense reports.
So they began to see each other a few times a month, nothing serious but steady enough to start the rumour mill at work.
Since today was his birthday, Liz had planned to cook him a wonderful meal, with dessert and she had requested that he bring a bottle or two of red wine. After dinner she was going to ask him to stay over; she wanted to move their relationship up to the next level. They had kissed often and Deeks was always the perfect gentleman, almost to a fault, but they had yet to be intimate, so tonight would be the night, she hoped.
Deeks parked the car and started walking to the entrance of the NCIS OSP building. Reaching the front door of the building, Deeks took a deep breath, exhaled, put on a smile and pushed the big wooden door open. He was immediately hit with a flood of memories; it was like he never left, reminiscent of coming home after a long trip and wanting to see your family. He walked over to the bullpen and was floored by what he saw. There were four new faces behind the desks and all of them looking at him and wondering if they should shoot him for finding their headquarters.
"Can we help you?" The young man sitting at Kensi' old desk asked.
"Detective Deeks, LAPD. I…I once worked…" But he was cut off by Nell who spotted him and ran over and gave him a big hug.
"Deeks! It's been soooo long, how are you? Come in and sit down."
The four newbie's watched in amazement at how Nell greeted this complete stranger. This was something they had never witnessed before. Looking back and forth at each other they didn't know what to make of this. One of them even whispered "Deeks" to the others as if this man was a walking legend.
She led the way to Hetty's office and took her seat behind the desk. Deeks was beyond confused and just stared at Nell with his mouth slightly open and waited for her to explain.
"Yes there have been a few changes around here since you left."
"Do tell." Was all Deeks could muster raising his eyebrows.
"Well here is the quick version. The riff between Hetty and Granger kept growing. I believe they each blamed the other for Kensi and then for you leaving. About six months ago Granger forced us to undertake a very risky op. Callen tried to talk him out of it but he stood firm. Well your ex-partner Janet, was seriously injured and has since retired from the field. She is currently in Washington behind a desk.
She is doing fine." Answering the unasked question Deeks was thinking.
"Hetty could not handle the possible loss of another agent, especially if Granger was involved, so she retired. Gave her notice and was gone in a week. I started as a temporary replacement and it soon became permanent."
Nell paused and waited for Deeks to say something but he only nodded, still stunned. But she wasn't finished.
"Callen was beyond fed up with the whole situation and asked to be transferred to Red Team. G and Paris Summerskill had become close friends and so he moved to be with her. As far as I know, all is well between them."
"Interesting and I'm happy for him…them." Deeks added.
"With Callen gone, Sam decided to settle down and spend more time with the family, so he took a teaching and training position with the Navy. He loves the work and gets to kick probie butt all day long.
Eric is running Ops up stairs and oh yes, we are engaged."
She smiled ear to ear and showed Deeks the ring waving her hand in front of his face.
"Wow, guess I should have come by a little sooner. So what's with the fearful foursome out there?"
"They are the new team, a little green but they are getting better. I could use a couple of senior agents to help break them in but you work with what you got.
So tell me what you have been up to."
"Not as exciting as things around here. LAPD has me working undercover almost 24/7 so not a lot of down time. I did make detective third grade and I think I'm in line for another promotion."
"That's great, but how are you? Are you getting out, seeing anyone? I know Kensi would have wanted you to be happy."
He winced every so slightly but she caught it.
"Well I have been seeing someone from work, nothing serious, so relax. She is very nice and we get along, that's the important thing."
"I'm glad you have someone to talk to. We, well mostly you, have been through a lot so it's good you found a friend to spend time with."
"Yeah, I guess your right. Well I came by to say hello to the team but that seems like a bust. I'm going to run up and say hi to Eric if that's alright? I wouldn't want to be taken out before I got there."
"Don't worry, I got your back Shaggy."
"Ok Velma, let's do it."
They both laughed a little as she walked over and gave him a hug saying "I'm sending you an invite to the wedding and you're coming. Don't force me to send a couple of agents to get you because I will do it."
"Oh I know you will and don't worry, I will be there with bells on."
"With a date and a nice suit will do fine." She smiled at him, walked him to the stairs and off he went to chat with Eric.
Deeks arrived at Liz's apartment around eight with a couple of bottles of wine. He was nervous and anxious, not sure where he wanted this to go. He liked her, he really did, but she didn't know anything about his past, at least not the dark moments. His walls were up and she was patiently waiting for him to let her in. However Deeks was in no hurry to open that door for her.
He knocked and she welcomed him in with a deep passionate kiss and a "Happy Birthday Marty." It was always Marty, never Deeks.
Deeks felt the intensity in her kiss and it caught him off guard. "Thank you Liz. I hope you didn't go to any trouble, it's just another day."
"Marty, just relax and enjoy it when someone does something nice for you. No need to feel guilty about having a little fun." She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him trying to get him to unwind. She looked into his eyes and moved in for another kiss. This time it was longer and deeper. She was trying to set the mood for the evening and hoping that he would get the hint.
Deeks knew something was different. Liz was never this open and forward.
The meal was excellent, she could cook and very well too. Dinner conversation was light and amusing covering numerous topics. The first bottle of wine was soon finished and the second was opened. They were just sitting on the couch chatting about work when she took his hand and looked directly into his blue eyes. He knew something was up so he waited.
"I want us to be more than what we are. Marty I really like you. You're kind, funny, and affectionate and I feel great when I'm with you. I'm just not sure how you feel about me."
Not what he was expecting at all. He broke her stare but continued to hold her hand.
"Liz, I like you as well, I really do. You are one of a few people I feel comfortable with, but I have a lot of baggage I drag around with me. There are thing you don't know about me, things that I can't tell you about. At least not yet."
He looked back up at her and found her looking down at their hands. He didn't want to hurt her in any way, she deserved better.
"Liz, look at me, please."
She looked up and he could see the tears in her eyes ready to spill down her face.
"I have big shoulders. I could help you with all that baggage. If you will let me." Her voice was low and filled with emotion and he knew that she meant it.
Deeks didn't know what to say, Liz was pouring her soul out to him, so he leaned in and kissed her very softly cupping her cheek.
Los Angeles – September 30, 2017
The Red Scorpion was sitting on the bed in her hotel room dialling the number of the man she was to meet to pick-up her sniper rifle and the gun required for the mission. She had requested the Cheytac .408 cal rifle complete with a silencer and case. Not an easy order to fill by any means. The rifle was a little big but this is what she needed to do the job right. The explosives were already acquired and hidden away.
A man picked up the line "Hello" he said in a low groggy voice.
"Are we on for two?"
"Yes. You know the spot?"
"Be ready, I don't have time to waste."
"Just make sure you have the money."
The line went dead and she dropped the phone on the bed and smiled.
"Oh I have your money alright." She said aloud running her fingers over the knife in her lap.
The timing was good, with five hours before the meeting, she would make her way over to the garage he was working out of and scope the area. LA was new terrain for her and she needed to get her bearings straight.
Dressing in jeans, a loose fitting top, running shoes and a baseball cap she put on her sunglasses and started to make her way over to the garage. Exiting the hotel and turning north she walked at a leisurely pace enjoying the morning sun.
Apparently the Red Scorpion had company on the walk; she had picked up a tail. He was good, very good but she was better and spotted him about fifteen minutes in.
She let me tag along for a while as she figured out how to take him out. There were a few stores up ahead so she saw her opportunity and headed for the coffee shop. If she went out the back she could double back and trap him.
David Rono was basically a gun for hire. He is ex-special forces and enjoyed doing the dirty work for the people that were willing to pay. He was contacted weeks ago regarding a little surveillance work to be done in LA. He was to track a woman around the city and communicate her movements back to the gentleman on the other end of the burn phone he was given. Very easy work for a man of his calibre, but a job that pays this well doesn't come around to often, so he grabbed it. The man on the phone had alluded to the possibility of maybe using explosives but for now it was observe and report only. So here he was following the lady in jeans and baseball hat around the slummier streets of LA. Checking his watch, he decided it was time to call the boss and give him a quick briefing.
He dialled and waited while watching the door of the coffee shop.
"Yes"
"I'm in LA and she is moving around the city."
"Does she have the weapons yet?" The voice with the German accent asked.
"No. I imagine she is on the way there now."
"Stay on her, you need to ensure that she completes the mission."
"Will do."
Just as he was about to put the phone away he was blindsided. The phone smashed against the ground and he bounced off the wall. From one knee he looked up to see the woman he had been following. He smiled as he pulled the knife out from its leg strap and brandished it slowly in her face. He didn't see her as a real threat, that was his first mistake, taking a lunge at her with the knife was his second mistake. Spinning to her right she stabbed him three times very quickly in the shoulder, back and side. The movements were fast and precise and found all the marks. He dropped to one knee again, bleeding and stunned but still holding his knife. She walked around him, like an animal stocking it prey, cold eyes staring down at her target locating the next point of her attack. He spun around quickly trying to catch her off guard but she side stepped him driving the blade of her knife into the side of his throat. He went down for the last time.
She dragged his body over to a garbage bin and dumped him in.
The questions now bouncing around in her head were who and why? What bothered her was the fact he was following her. How did he know she was in LA? How did he find her in the first place?
Going back she found the phone but it was destroyed. She pulled the data card out of the unit and put it in her pocket. She would try and access it for information later.
There was a thrift store two doors up the street from the alley, so she went in and picked up a change of clothes, ditching the blood stained ones she was currently wearing.
Hat and glasses back on she continued on to the meeting place to finish the surveillance work she started.
Twenty minutes later she was approaching the intersection just south of the building housing the garage. Continuing through the intersection, she quickly glanced down the road. It was empty of cars but there was a homeless man and his dog at the near end of the street. The dog was lying on the sidewalk and the man was sitting with his back toward her.
She would double back and enter the street with the garage from the opposite side, walking by the unit to check it out. So far the setting was perfect expect for that homeless guy and the mutt. She couldn't leave any witnesses, it wasn't her style. When she picked up her gun and silencer she would walk by and end their misery. Too bad really, the dog was kind of cute. Maybe she would spare the dog, then again maybe not. The dog should be with his master, but something about that mutt had her second guessing herself.
Deeks was trying to set-up a small time arms dealer that seemed to be able to get his hands on some pretty serious weapons. Posing as buyer, Deeks had placed an order for a case of automatic rifles to see how the deal would go down. Deeks also needed to see what type of clientele this guy was servicing so he decided to stake out the garage. It was a nice morning in LA, the sun was shining and Deeks and Monty were undercover as a homeless man and his dog. Sitting on the corner up the street from the garage he had a section of cardboard on the ground and a large coffee cup set in front of Monty to catch the coins from any passersby. The morning was progressing slowly, very few people moving along this section of the street.
On the opposite side of the road he noticed a single figure walking toward him and Monty. As she approached with her head down and hands tucked into her jeans, Deeks began to take notice and slowly started to stand. Monty was way ahead of him locking on her and following her every step. The closer she got the more Monty reacted.
The dog was now standing and had taken a step toward the curb ready to cross the street.
"Monty, stay. Don't blow our cover, boy." Deeks half whispered.
As she reached the exact point on the sidewalk that was directly across from Deeks and Monty, she turned her head and looked directly at them. A wicked grin grew on her face as she stared them down. Deeks was in shock, it couldn't be. It just wasn't possible. Monty was whining and whimpering at her, stepping in place like the pavement was too hot for his paws and wagging his tail. He so desperately wanted to run over to the lady, looking back at Deeks and then at her again, over and over, but Monty stayed put as Deeks hadn't release him. She rounded the corner and disappeared. By the time Deeks recovered it was too late, she was gone.
Thanks everyone for the encouraging reviews. You guys are great. I'm really having fun writing this one and I hope I can keep all of you interested.
