Chapter seven
A few days later, after the ravages of the hangovers had dissipated, Emily looked across at JJ from the drivers side of the Ford F-150 truck they had bought a week or so earlier. "Are you ready for this?" Emily asked, seeing how pensive JJ looked.
"As I'll ever be." JJ said, puffing her cheeks out. "Let's do it."
Putting the truck in to gear, Emily drove to the designated area they had agreed on beforehand. "I'll be here when you get back." Emily then watched as JJ got out, and grabbed a large black canvas bag from the back seats.
"Thanks." JJ said, just before she closed the door and walked off in to the crowds. Emily nervously checked the time on her watch, before settling in her seat, knowing there was nothing more she could other than wait. Meanwhile, JJ looked around as she walked and using a mobile, made the call.
"Kill the cameras." Was all she said.
"Done." Garcia's voice sounding as nervous as she felt, "And good luck."
JJ cut the connection, before dropping the phone in the nearest trash can. She then began to move towards the large expanse of steps leading up to the buildings entrance in front of her. Glancing up, she noticed the glare from the panes of glass that surrounded the building, and wondered if they might effect what happened. Trying not to dwell on the thought, JJ walked towards the entrance, and without stopping entered the foyer. She moved with purpose to the internal stairs, which she used rather than the elevator. She finally arrived at the vacant office, which she entered carefully, in case someone was unexpectedly in there. She sighed with relief when she saw it was empty, turning to lock the door behind her, and drew her hair up in to a pony tail. She then pulled a desk across, lining it up as she went, before leaning across, and carefully opening the window as much as it would allow.
Once she was satisfied with the desk's position, she brought the high powered rifle out from the bag, and trying not to let her hands shake began to assemble it. Once she had it together, she then lay flat across the length of the desk, using the rifles own small tripod to get it as firmly planted as she possibly could. She was pleased to see the glare from the glass wasn't a problematic as she had feared, and slowly she began to regulate her breathing, using a meditation technique taught to her by her grandfather, who had been a sniper in the army, and had shown her everything she knew about weaponry.
As she felt her heart rate drop, JJ began to sight up through the scope, checking her watch quickly, which she had taken off her wrist, and placed it in a position where she could see it clearly, but without disrupting her position. She was pleased to see she had just under a minute still, and further meditation brought her heart rate down even more, and without losing concentration, JJ was ready, as she slipped the safety off, and her finger rested on the trigger. Watching the seconds tick down, timing it right between heart beats, as she held her breath, JJ fired, and watched in what seemed like slow motion as the man crumpled to the ground, his security detail scrambling around him. She couldn't hear the shouts from her position, but seeing the reaction brought her out of her thoughts, and she got up quickly.
Without hesitation, JJ stripped the rifle down, and placed it back in the bag and snatched her watch up off the table. She then walked out along the corridor, where she dumped the bag in to a cleaners trolley, and she also reached in and grabbed a briefcase, before walking towards the elevators. As the elevator doors opened in to the foyer JJ had only entered a short time earlier, the chaos still hadn't got to the building, nor had it been locked down. Walking at the same pace as the people around her, looking like a business woman just leaving, JJ was finally outside, and pushed down the temptation to run down the steps as the adrenalin surge began to hit.
Emily looked relieved as JJ climbed back in to the cab. She barely gave JJ time to buckle in as she pulled away from the curb, joining the traffic easily. Glancing over, Emily could see how pale JJ looked. "Hey, it worked." Emily said, throwing a reassuring smile JJ's way.
JJ let out a deep breath."I can honestly say that ranks up there as one of the most nerve racking things I have ever done.
"That's understandable." Emily said, as she pushed a button and a local radio station came on '…. there are reports that the individual who was shot is a high ranking US diplomat. Officials at this time are making no further comment, other than to say they don't believe it is terror related.' Emily didn't listen to any more as she turned the radio back off again. "Looks like the media story is working."
"It better." JJ said with a nervous laugh. "I'm the one who wrote the press release, remember."
Emily smiled, pleased to see a little more of JJ beginning to come to the fore again. After a short drive, they arrived back home, and Emily drove slowly in to the underground garage immediately above their apartment block, looking in her rear view mirror as she did. "I think we've got company." was all she said as they drove past the barrier.
"Already!" JJ was genuinely surprised.
"Yeah, well they knew about this, we put pretty detailed plans in there to be found and they would have been sloppy to not see if we achieved our goal. Once they saw we accomplished it, then it makes sense to get to us on our way back. It's what I would have done." Emily said as she headed to their designated space, where she pulled in and parked. "We'll be fine." She gave a reassuring smile before getting out, making it no secret that she had spotted the tail as she did. JJ followed her lead, and walked over, grabbing Emily's hand as she came alongside her. Emily looked down at JJ's hand grasping her own, before walking towards the car that had followed them in.
"Lexus, nice." She said as she walked up towards the drivers door where the window was down. "A little flashy for my liking though." and she smiled mirthlessly as the driver opened their door and stepped out. Emily could immediately tell this woman was trained, most likely ex-forces. She then looked as the passenger also got out, also obviously highly trained, but definitely not the one in charge.
"Anything we can help you with?" Emily asked, slowly. "Directions perhaps since you're little out of your way aren't you?"
"We have a job proposition for you." The driver said, moving her jacket slightly to show she was carrying. Emily shook her head dismissively, and did the exact same thing, while JJ just watched the passenger, not breaking eye contact. The driver gave the smallest of nods to acknowledge she'd seen Emily's glock in her hip holster.
"We're not interested." Emily said.
"Oh I think we could come to an arrangement."
"You do?" Emily shook her head, making sure her voice conveyed surprise. "See, we've just finished a job and plan to have a bit of a vacation and we certainly don't need the money."
"We noticed your last job, as one professional to another, very impressive."
"It's always nice to know our work is appreciated, but the answer is still no." Emily went to walk away, but an arm came out and grabbed her wrist. Not trying to hide her disgust, Emily turned back, as she looked down at the hand grasping her, before slowly bringing her eyes up, "You touch me like that again, and I will break your arm." She snarled, and the woman immediately pulled back.
"I'm sorry I've offended you." She said quickly, but was cut off by JJ.
"Oh come on Mel." JJ made sure she sounded excited, pitching her voice higher than she would normally, "We haven't got anything else booked."
"Ladies, as you can see, my wife here gets a little ahead of herself." Emily said calmly putting one finger up. "Just a minute." and pulled JJ to one side.
"I know you enjoy..." Emily began to say, but was stopped as JJ put a finger to her lips.
"Oh, please," JJ pleaded, as she deliberately batted her eyelids, "I really don't want to just hang around...when I could be playing, you know how much I love playing..." she finished off, as she lent in and kissed Emily, who was shocked as JJ deepened the kiss and was thankful her back was turned.
Trying not to show she was flustered as Emily pulled out of the kiss, she turned back to the two women who were both standing there with smirks on their faces at the display they had just witnessed. "I'm not promising anything, but we want time to think and talk about it, is there a contact you can give us."
The driver nodded, and pulled a business card out of her pocket. "You can find us here." she said, before getting back in the car and driving off. Emily watched as the car disappeared around the corner.
"Wow, you really are getting in to character." Emily said, trying to calm her breathing as she looked back at JJ.
"That was too much wasn't it!" JJ looked horrified.
"No..." Emily said looking to reassure her, "Just a surprise that's all." and Emily put an arm around JJ's waist as they headed to the elevator. "You did very well, I loved the excited blonde impression you gave back there. It sure had me fooled."
"Do you think they are still watching us?" JJ asked, as she leant in to Emily.
"Yeah, Garcia said there is at least one wireless camera in here." Emily said, pushing the button to call the elevator, "but she hasn't found a trace of one anywhere else so far, I don't think they have got in past the barrier of the parking garage and Garcia said its picture only, no sound feed we can find."
"Lets give them a show then." and before Emily could say anything, JJ had once again captured her lips with her own.
"Whoa." was all Emily could say as the doors opened, and an elderly woman looked at them shocked at what she was seeing. JJ blushed furiously, and ducked in to the elevator as soon as it was vacated, with Emily following behind. "What just happened there?" Emily asked as the doors closed on them.
"I kissed you." JJ said, with wide eyes.
"I know that!" Emily exclaimed, "Okay, we need..." Emily's voice trailed off as she tried to gather her thoughts. "I need to call Hotch when we get in." was all she could think of saying.
"Oh." JJ said, keeping the disappointment out of her voice, and she just watched the floor levels showing on the display panel, walking out when the doors pinged open, fumbling with the front door keys as she went, with Emily slowly following, trying to work out what had just changed between them in a five minute period.