Chapter Seven
Coleen took a deep breath as Amelia stood just outside the door.
"Get that ruby from Ms. Singh. I need it," Amelia said.
Not too far from the room Eliot saw Amelia going towards the room. He looked at Nate and disappeared into the crowed. She was about to enter the room and Eliot grabbed her hand.
"Hey Baby, I was looking all over the club for you," he said and kissed her.
Amelia pushed him away and slapped him across the face.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" She hissed.
"Oh, damn, I thought you were that hot red head I was with," Eliot said. "Sorry about that, but hey you are pretty hot too. How about I get you a drink?"
"How about you get away from me before I shoot you?" Amelia narrowed her eyes at him.
Eliot glanced down at the small hand gun in her hand. "You don't pack light, but I don't either if you know what I mean."
He gave wink.
"Maybe next time," Eliot said stepping back.
He walked into the crowd.
"Nice move, Eliot," Hardison said.
"I'm going to get a call later on," Eliot chuckled.
Coleen breathed deep as she hid in the auction room. Amelia walked in and looked around looking for something.
"Graham?" Sterling said.
"I'm alright, Jim. That was a close call."
"Sterling, you owe me," Eliot muttered. "Both of you do."
"I knew you'd warm up to me, Spencer," Coleen said.
"And the ungrateful bitch returns," Eliot muttered.
Coleen smiled and watched as Amelia pushed the picture back and turned the safe lock. She glanced around and pulled some of the stacks of the money out. Her hands stuffed them into her purse and walked towards the door.
When Coleen thought she had left she peeked through the crack of the door.
"Graham," Sterling said.
Coleen stepped lightly and shut the door. She turned around to find a gun pointed at her and a pair of brown eyes narrowed at her.
"I smell a rat," Amelia remarked.
She took a deep breath and looked Amelia directly in the eye. Amelia smirked and stepped back.
"Well, if I died and went to hell," Amelia said.
Coleen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Agent Coleen Graham, I could have shot you dead in your tracks," Amelia remarked as she stuffed her gun into her purse.
"Amelia what the hell are you doing?" Coleen whispered.
"Just collecting funds from Trotter's personal account." Amelia flipped her dark hair over her shoulder and smiled. "He owes me and I'm taking what belongs to me. What the hell are you doing here?"
Coleen looked around and folded her arms.
"I'm keeping my promise," Coleen answered.
"Where's your partner, that old guy?" Amelia folded her arms.
"Old guy?" Sterling snapped.
"He's outside keeping an eye on things. What are you doing for Trotter?"
"I'm trying to get that ruby that Ms. Singh has brought. I know that little woman is doing something illegal. I don't trust her and the way she was acting all coy says she's moving something bigger that she needs to sell her heirloom."
Coleen leaned against the wall and looked at the painting on the wall.
"And her body guard, where's she find someone like him." Amelia fanned herself. "They don't make them like they use too. He's got to be special forces…a spy maybe."
"Graham, what the hell is she babbling about now?" Sterling questioned.
Amelia walked really close to Coleen and leaned forward.
"Sterling, why do you always send a woman to do your job?" Amelia asked. "I mean, especially the Trotter job. You are a coward."
"Hey don't talk to him like that!" Coleen pushed Amelia away from her ear piece.
Amelia was shocked and looked at Coleen. She cocked her head to the side and laughed.
"Well, this is very interesting," Amelia said with a smile. "Coleen, you can't?"
She straightened up and Amelia raised her brow at her.
"You and him; are…no way." Amelia laughed.
"Amelia, why should you care who I'm with."
"Cause he's old, Coleen. You need yourself a younger man that can keep up with you, dearest. And I can only imagine what Eleanor thinks of you and him…you know."
There was a knock and Amelia and Coleen glanced over.
"Ms. Marcello," a guard said.
"Sorry, Coleen, but I got too. Make me look good." Amelia said.
"What?"
Amelia punched Coleen and pulled her gun out as her body guard came in.
"Who do you work for?" Amelia shouted as she stepped on Coleen's shoulder. "I said who do you work for?"
"Ms. Marcello, want me go get Trotter?"
"Yeah, tell him we got a breech," Amelia said.
The body guard ran out the room and Amelia stepped back. Coleen narrowed her eyes and kicked her legs from under her. She fell flat on her back and Coleen stood up.
"Down to the auction room," Amelia said.
"I hate you, you realize that," Coleen snapped.
"Trotter's going to kill that Indian woman for the ruby,"
"What?" Coleen stopped.
"Go!" Amelia shouted.
Coleen opened the door and ran down the steps into the poorly lit room. Her eyes darted around for and exit.
"Jim, come get me!" she shouted.
"Hey, Agent Graham," someone whispered.
Coleen glanced around and breathed deep.
"Who's there," Coleen called.
Someone jumped down and Coleen turned around to see Parker.
"What the hell?" Coleen said.
"It's kind of my thing; I get to climb through the air vents." Parke said. "Hands up."
Coleen lifted her arms up and Parker wrapped a belt around her.
"Pull her up," Parker yanked on the rope."
Coleen felt herself get pulled up and she slipped through the air vent. She looked over and saw Hardison.
"Nate, sent us, I'd rather be stuck in an air vent then in a car with Sterling," Hardison remarked. "Nate, I got Agent Graham."
"Good."
Outside of Trotter's office
"Perhaps we could go somewhere a little private," Trotter said. "Upstairs where the music isn't as loud and there is a little more light."
Sophie looked at Nate as he nodded.
"Of course, but don't you have an auction soon?" Sophie remarked.
"Well, of course, but the auction can't start without the priceless gem that I have," Trotter remarked.
"Yes, of course." Sophie looked at Nate.
Trotter guided them upstairs and Sophie looked over her shoulder at Eliot. Nate looked to over the railing and Parker stood on the other side.
"Parker's out," Nate said.
"Eliot is too," Sophie remarked.
"Nate, what's going on, what am I suppose to do with this?" Maggie asked holding the silk pouch.
"Hold tight to that one." Nate winked at her.
"You don't mean?" Maggie questioned.
Trotter led them to a private room where the room was complete silence. Nate gave Sophie's shoulder a squeeze as she nodded. Her hand reached into her purse and handed Trotter a jeweler's glass.
"Use mine," Sophie said. "It gives you the full appreciation of the ruby."
Trotter pulled the ruby from his pocket and unwrapped it. He looked at the ruby and she glanced at Maggie. Maggie walked around the table and leaned forward to look at the glass. Sophie turned it in another direction.
"This ruby's fake," Maggie glanced up.
Trotter looked at her.
"What!" Trotter looked again "It can't be. I just took this out of my safe."
"You're trying to auction off a fake ruby, Trotter?" Nate said.
"No, it's real. Look again!" Trotter's face began to sweat.
"I've looked at it, Mr. Trotter, that ruby is fake," Maggie said again.
He looked at them and Nate raised a brow.
"Maybe we should be telling your guests that you're trying to sell a fake ruby," Nate said. "Your majesty, I think you need to take your business elsewhere."
Sophie looked at Trotter and he shook his head.
"I believe you're looking for the real Maharaja Ruby," Someone's voice came from the shadows.
Trotter slowly turned around and stared in the shadows that swallowed the voice. Sophie stepped back and Nate grabbed her hand. He looked at Maggie and she stood by him.
Coleen stepped out the shadows and looked at Trotter. Her eyes narrowed at the older man. And Trotter stepped back as she walked towards him.
"What's a matter, Trotter? You look like you just saw a ghost," Coleen said with a smirk.
"You're dead. I killed you," Trotter stuttered. "At the airport."
Coleen walked towards him and unwrapped her saree. His eyes got wide at the scar across her midriff.
"How it that possible?" He stuttered.
She lunged at him and grabbed him by the neck.
"Give me one reason I shouldn't kill you now!" Coleen reached into her blouse and pulled out the poison. "One tiny prick and it will slowly kill you."
"It wasn't my fault. They threatened my life. If they knew I was talking to you they would have killed me then. So, I thought it was better to get to you first. But hey you're alive!" Trotter's eyes were wide with fear.
Coleen narrowed her eyes and tightened her grip around his neck.
"Where's the ruby?" she shouted.
"I don't have it," Trotter breathed deep as Coleen tightened her grip.
"Let him go, Agent Graham," Amelia's voice came through another door.
Coleen glanced up and saw Amelia pointing her gun at her. Her two body guards stood ready to shoot. Coleen narrowed her eyes at Amelia.
"Let him go, Agent Graham," Amelia ordered. "Craig Trotter is mine."
"No!" Coleen shouted.
She pulled the poison and thrust it towards Trotter. "Agent Graham!"
Amelia pulled the trigger and Coleen saw everything flash before her eyes. She felt herself being thrown to the floor. The capsule rolled out her hand.
Sophie, Nate, Maggie stared in disbelief.
Coleen looked up and her eyes became wide. "Jim!"
Be Continued…..