The Blake Job

Disclaimer: I neither own nor am associated with Leverage – the Show or the Physics applications.

Chapter Six: King's Pawn Game

"I can't go with you." Sophie said adjusting Eliot's collar. "For obvious reasons, but I'll be right here." She touched his ear. "And I'm sending Holly – she's my eyes." Eliot nodded.

"I've picked up women before, Sophie." He muttered.

"I'm sure you have." Holly said appearing at Sophie's side. "What'sherface from that one bar was in total aw of your skills." Eliot was quiet, the comeback he didn't have would've died on his tongue anyway. Holly was done up. She was done up well.

The first thing he noticed was her lips, her bow mouth was a deep, glossy plum. For a time he was simply captivated by that, but his gaze soon moved to the rest of her. Her auburn hair was in textured waves that framed her face and provided backdrop from her chandler earrings, the stones matched her lips.

"Parker will lift her phone and send all her information here." Sophie had been going over the plan the whole time, he hadn't noticed until that bombo.

"I am quite capable of getting a woman's number, Okay!" He exclaimed defensively. They seriously thought he had no play.

"We know." Holly said sympathetically, "But we want to make sure we have our asses covered."

"Then you need to change." Nathan quipped from behind them, Holly turned.

"Whatever Da-ad!" She smartly replied. Her dress was more like a slip – black, short, satin with thin straps that slid around her shoulders and a small amount of lace detailing around the hems. She looked… And then he realized she wasn't wearing her glasses. Without those thick rimmed, bohemian, elbow patch glasses Eliot could see her eyes. Her defined and decorated silver eyes.

"Anyway" Sophie said pulling his eyes away and smirking. "We want more than her numbers, we want total control of her phone." Sophie finished talking with Eliot and glanced at Holly, I told you so in her eyes.

"Didn't you used to wear contacts?" Sophie asked as she did Holly's hair like a mother before prom.

"I still have some; I just honestly prefer my glasses." Holly replied, she'd been staying with Sophie since Nathan brought her on with Leverage Consulting and Associates. Nathan had originally offered his place to her but Sophie claimed 'Girl time' privileges. Nathan had scoffed but the argument was being justified as they spoke.

"Glasses are a way to hide Holly." Sophie said softly, "I used them for invisible characters."

"You're always visible, Sophie." Holly objected, "You're sex on legs." Sophie looked away, Holly took her hand. "He notices you," she said, Sophie gaze remained away. "He notices you."

"Let's talk about who notices you." It was Holly's turn to demur. Eliot hung in the air.

"I didn't intend for this to happen."

"No one ever does, life just unspools that way. Now, about those glasses."

***

221B was a bar on Baker Street, a nice bar with dark wood and low ceilings. Between following Snook and Calhoun they put a tail on Coxon. This was her favorite haunt. Eliot arrived separately from Holly and Parker, lest they be seen together. The women took a cab, the drive was one of the longest and quietest ever experienced. Coxon was in the bar when they arrived.

Alright girls Nathan said, play nice. He opened a bottle of Merlot as he spoke, he and Sophie would pull the strings from headquarters. And remember Blink, you can't drink until the thirteenth-

The thirty first Holly corrected. And yes, Dad, I know.

"I can't believe you still can't remember her birthday, it's an international holiday for heaven's sake!" Sophie called from the conference room. She was setting up a battered Scrabble board.

He remembers yours Holly said quietly.

"July Tenth." He rattled off without thought. Holly smiled, her point made. She ordered a Shirley Temple.

"I'm the DD." She cooed to the quizzical bartender. A few feet down the bar Melissa Coxon sat, elaborate drink in hand. Eliot bellied up to the bar near Coxon, sending Holly a glance.

Don't look at me. She tisked so only the earpieces could hear.

Where is he? Sophie asked taking her glass of wine from Nathan.

About a foot from her.

Eliot, don't preface just start a conversation, no excuse me, just speak. Sophie said, she chose seven tiles, Nathan did the same.

Parker He asked, Do you have it? A beat. Got it. She announced.

That's my girl! Hardison exclaimed as Melissa Coxon's phone was served to him on a silver screen. Holly smirked, so did Nathan and Sophie.

"Bourbon – Neat." Eliot ordered beside Coxon, she looked at him from the corner of her eye. She looked at him. Holly said.

Excellent. Sophie laid out her first word QUEUE. Eliot give her a three second smile, get it to reach your eyes. Think of something happy.

"Fifteen points." She gloated to Nathan.

Eliot followed instructions, Coxon turned slightly in her chair. She's responded. Holly said. Back at headquarters Nathan put down ME. Four points. Sophie laughed. Scrabble was a competitive sport between them, evolving from origins unknown. The genesis didn't matter; the competition had a strong hold. MAC gave Sophie seven more points.

Converse! Sophie commanded, Nathan got eight points with BEAU And have and accent – we like accents.

"What's your favorite midnight sack?" He asked, southern accent strong. Nice one. Sophie said, adding an S to BEAU. You're learning.

Stop looking to the left. Holly hissed.

Maybe not.

"Mine?" Coxon asked, disgustingly coy. "That's a funny question."

"I enjoy a little levity now and then," he replied. "Now, about that snack."

Smooth Holly intoned in his ear, Eliot's smile grew true. She's leaning in.

Excellent! Sophie exclaimed laying SLAYER after Nathan's CON, garnering thirteen more points than him. Remember that drink trick I taught you? Eliot's 'mmhum' was directed at Sophie but fit to Coxon's reply of,

"I like things sweet and salty at night." She traced him with her dull eyes.

"About that drink trick," Nathan said watching Sophie as he played GAME. She filled her glass, as if expecting to need it. "Have you ever used that on me?"

"Course not." She said sipping her wine before playing RISE.

"You see you say this but you do that." He said leaning forward.

"Do what?" She asked, sipping again.

"You did it again!" He exclaimed.

"Play, Nate." He gave her a look, she returned with one. COY.

She's laughing and oooo touching. Look's like our boy's in like Flynn. Holly commented.

Parker, is her phone ready? Nathan asked still watching Sophie. ROT.

Already back in that stupid bag. She confirmed.

Oh, no thank you – really. No thanks, but no thanks. Holly said suddenly, almost afraid.

Parker! Report! Sophie said sitting straighter.

Eliot's stopped smiling.

Eliot! Sophie snapped, You've got to keep this going – focus!

Parker get Blink out of whatever she's in. Nathan said.

She's just with a man, Parker snipped, She can surely handle a man.

Now Parker… Nathan said, Sophie was ordering Eliot – the earpieces buzzed.

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program. Holly's voice cut through the din. Nathan' play, COT. The tiff was over.

Sophie made MAT and TOY in a single play. Nathan smiled at the pun Eliot made, Sophie sipped her wine.

"You did it again." He said playing IT. He was bringing up Belgrade, their argument had gone unfinished. Eliot had things under control for the time being. She watched Nathan nick some tiles.

"What is life if not a game?" She asked laying RAT. He looked at her. "You're getting at my assertion that there is a degree of manipulation in relationships – all relationships. And I asked what is life if not a game?" Sophie said rolling the stem of her wine glass between her slim fingers and thumb. "Keep in mind I just saw you lift those tiles." She tilted her glass to QUEER, Nathan's play. He sat back, blue eyes meeting brown.

"What is life if not a game?" He said slowly, thinking. Along with her fierce Scrabble skills, Sophie could make him think. Really think. He'd say he loved that but the emotion frightened him. Sophie played Die while she waited for a reply.

"If life is not a game then it is a struggle – like Faust. In Faust the devil is struggling against the oppression of God as he endeavors to garner as many souls as he can. Life is a struggle if it is not a game." Sophie raised her glass.

"Well played." She said, "But I know you don't buy it." Nathan played AT, Sophie laid PIXEL, she met his eye.

"I saw that." Sophie smiled, passing a tile back and forth through her knuckles. For a moment they were silent only the buzz of their earpieces between them as Nathan contemplated the board. He finally laid OX for nine points.

"You've manipulated me just as much as I have you." She finally said.

"Oh?" he replied eyebrow going up.

"I'm here aren't I? She said raising her glass to the room. "I became a citizen."

"Because of me." Nathan said quietly, Sophie nodded holding his eye and tilting her closely guarded emotional hand slightly.

"You manipulated me as much as I have you." She said again.

The moment was ruined by SUCCESS!

I hope you were outside before you did that. Nathan said dryly, leader persona taking over. Sophie took her Scrabble turn PORN.

He was Holly confirmed. LS should get the pictures any second.

Did you just walk her to her car or… Sophie prompted.

She gave me tongue. Eliot said. I did this all by myself by the way. I told you I didn't need your help.

He just needed his wingman Jack Daniels. Hardison butted in.

More like Jose Cuervo. Holly snickered.

Who's side are you on anyway? Eliot snapped.

What?! Sophie squawked trying to make since of it all.

Ya see, while you two were talking about Frost-

Faust. Nathan corrected.

Whatever. Hardison said, While you two were having your little moment Raymond was giving a play by play and Eliot was putting on the Shlitz.

Shut up Hardison. Eliot snapped. I'm going to go rinse my mouth out with bleach. The group laughed at his expense. Sophie and Nathan finished their game and their wine.

***

Outside the bar Holly turned to Parker.

"I know we don't get along but I want to thank you for getting me out of that spot back there."

"Holly, Holly, Holly!" Parker said grabbing her arm, she wasn't any good at acting, that was Sophie's job but she was forced to bail the young whore out. The things she did for Nate. "Nate just told me to get you out of here." The guy soliciting Holly looked at her.

"Excuse you." He said. Think, Parker, think. She told herself.

"Morty just died!" Parker exclaimed, not for effect but because it was the first idea she had.

"Morty?" The creeper asked.

"Our dog" "Our grandfather." The girls chimed before looking at each other.

"Huh?" The guy said, Parker just pulled Holly away.

"Our dog?"

"It was creative." Holly said.

"Nate told me to." Parker said shifting on her high heels.

"I know." Holly said, "And I think I know why you don't like me."

"What are you psycho?" Parker spat flustered. Holly calmly removed her ear bud, removing the others from her conversation.

"Psychic."

"Whatever."

"I'm not psychic, I'm a mentalist."

"Oh, so you're mental." Holly chuckled.

"No. Well, maybe, but I'm also an observer. I see more than the average person and I see why we don't get along – why you don't get along with me."

"Oh really." Parker said crossing her arms over her chest, standing athletically.

"I'm not the one he wants."