A/N: A big thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I've been crazy busy, but I hope to be able to respond to your kind reviews soon. Hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Chapter 7
"She hasn't been heard from since yesterday, but no one seems to think that's suspicious," Fischer told Jane over the phone.
Jane rolled back on his good heel, his back to the rest of the team who were sitting in the living room taking a conference call with a very angry Don Matthews.
He ignored the argument. "They wouldn't…yet. Go back and ask them how many girls have been exclusive to Gibbs over the last few years and what happened to them. Make a fuss if you have too."
She breathed out loudly. "All right."
"That a girl," he said and hung up before she could reply.
He turned back to the room and noticed that Lisbon was now sitting behind the monitors, she was stressed, but trying to hide it. Cho stood behind her, back by the door to his room, and was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Pike, who had shown up thirty minutes before, sat in the armchair at the head of the couch and was listening very intently to Abbott and Don.
"This isn't what we agreed to," Don said.
Abbott was seated on the edge of the couch with his elbows resting on his knees. "What we agreed to is finding the man responsible for the deaths," Abbott lifted his hands palms up to the monitor, "We've done that. It's Jacob Brown. We're staying because we want to help and believe that we can bring him down. You were told from the beginning that we didn't work in conventional ways."
Don's temples pulsated as he clenched his jaw. "You have one of your agents investigating a missing girl that has nothing to do with this case and you've sent some of my men off to intimidate some of the most influential people in D.C. That's not unconventional, it's professional suicide."
"I know it seems like they're going about this the wrong way," Pike jumped in, "but it'll work. I have seen this team pull of the unimaginable, I've heard personal stories about how good Jane is too. I can vouch for every person on this team."
"No offense, Agent Pike," Don interjected, "but considering your personal relationship with Agent Lisbon, and hers with Patrick Jane, I'm not sure your recommendation is worth all that much."
Pike glanced in Lisbon's direction. She flushed scarlet and looked away. Jane felt his ire rising and was about to put Don in his place when Abbott beat him to the punch.
"Agent Matthews," Abbott said in a tone that made Jane jump and Don immediately quell, "you are perfectly aware of what our team has done, what we are capable of, as you looked into us before inviting us down. This is how we work, and if you don't like it then I suggest you get out of our way."
"I could have you removed from this case!" Don spat.
"I'd like to see you try, given that the Director of The FBI told me just this morning how grateful he was that my team was on this case."
Jane was proud of how Abbott had handled himself, but time was of the essence and they needed Don's help, no matter how much he disliked the man. He took a deep breath, calming himself so that Don wouldn't see how angry he was with him. "I understand your concern," Jane said. "This is a tough case. There's more at stake than just our jobs. We can do this without your help, but it'd be a lot easier if you were involved."
Don still didn't look happy, but after he'd given it a moment's thought he nodded. "What do you need?"
"We need you to get the vans ready for tonight, just like we discussed," Jane said.
"I wanna see results by tomorrow," Don said as a final jab before shutting his call off.
"What a prick," Cho said from his place against the wall, earning him an amused smile from Lisbon.
"I'm sorry," Pike said looking first at Abbott and then at Lisbon. She nodded lightly back. "I had no idea how difficult he would be."
Jane felt sick with himself and with Pike at the idea that Lisbon may have been working under that man had he not told her how he felt. He glared at Pike.
"It's all right, Agent Pike," Abbott said and glanced over his shoulder at Jane. "Jane's ideas can be hard to swallow." Jane smiled at Abbott.
Abbott's comment seemed to ease the tension somewhat, until Jane moved around the living room slowly, taking it easy on his sore ankle and sat in the armchair next to Lisbon.
Pike, admirably, was the first to recover. "Why are we sending Wiley in on this one?"
Jane could understand his reservations. If he couldn't do his part, it would put Wiley in a lot of danger. It had been incredibly useful having Wiley be the invisible man for them. This was a risk, but it was the only one that made any sense. Jane wiggled in his chair.
"He hasn't been seen before, and he's the best with computers," Cho said.
"If he's seen that'll be it for him, we'll just have to get him out," Pike said.
"If all goes according to plan, that won't be an issue," Abbott said from his place on the couch.
Wiley came out of Jane's room dressed in Hawaiian print swim trunks and a white t-shirt and he had one of the hotels towels draped around his shoulders. "How do I look?" he asked.
Jane wrinkled his nose at the outfit Pike had brought in for Wiley on the spur of the moment. It stood out a little too much for Jane's plan, but since it was all they had, it'd have to do.
Lisbon smiled. "Very roguish."
Wiley looked down at his outfit. "Really?"
Abbott looked over his shoulder. "Well, roguish might be taking it a bit far."
"Dapper then?" Pike asked.
Lisbon smiled her first sincere smile of the day, Jane noted, and it stung that it hadn't been for him. Wiley made his way to the couch and plopped down, before tapping something out on the computer. When he was done, he looked up at Jane.
"The cameras are set to run on a loop, I'm as good as the invisible man. And I got this," Wiley produced a dark blue baseball hat from his pocket and waved it at them before placing it atop his head.
"Very inconspicuous." Lisbon moved forward in her chair.
Wiley beamed at her. "Thank you." He started handing out mics from a case that had been placed on the floor next to the coffee table.
Abbott smiled at Wiley's enthusiasm, but when he spoke he used his best boss voice. "Just make sure that you're letting us know what you're doing the whole time and if anything seems off, get out of there."
"Yes sir."
Pike ran a hand through his hair. "And what if Brown hasn't looked us up."
"He has," Wiley told him, "I've been monitoring the information I set up for you. A lot of activity coming from the hotel."
Jane smirked at Wiley and stood up. "There you have it."
"All right," Pike said, "but why can't he take a gun?"
Abbott stood now too, "This hotel has a lot of security. Sneaking Wiley in was pretty difficult, but if he's walking through the lobby in this," he signaled to Wiley's outfit, "there's no way they'd miss a gun."
"Are you sure about this," Lisbon asked Wiley as she too stood up.
"I'm the only choice," Wiley said, "no one knows me and I'm the computer wiz."
Cho walked over and joined the circle. "He'll be all right."
Pike stood up and nodded. Lisbon linked Jane's arm through hers, so he could support his weight on her. Cho sat in Abbott's place on the couch in front of the monitors and Wiley started tapping something out on his computer.
Jane looked at Wiley. "Head down in ten minutes."
Wiley nodded but didn't look up.
The restaurant was slightly busier today than it had been yesterday. The pianist was playing Ain't That a Kick in the Head. Miss lonely hearts was sitting in a booth smiling with a man slightly her junior across from her, and Jane was surprised to see the newlywed couple sitting in a booth, on the same side though of course, snuggling. Jane smirked at them. There were a couple other tables filled as well. And, unsurprisingly, Brown and Gibbs sat at a table in the center of the restaurant.
After they were seated at a round table and had ordered, Jane pulled out a map and spread it across the table. Three roads were clearly marked off with red marker, and all of them had been chosen for being well known and lightly trafficked. Abbott and Pike leaned forward to better look at their phones and Lisbon grabbed her cell phone and started playing a game on it.
Pike leaned forward and looked at the map. "Are you sure this will work?"
Jane nodded.
"We've made every contingency and feel confident that this is the best possibly scenario," Abbott said.
Brown and Gibbs looked toward their group and Jane gave them thirty seconds before they stood up and made their way to their table.
"I'm in position," Wiley spoke into their earpieces.
"They're coming," Lisbon whispered.
Jane nodded and waited a second before speaking again to be a hundred percent sure Brown and Gibbs could hear. "If you're having reservations, Pike, then maybe you could find someone else to move your cargo."
Pike breathed out and leaned back. "No, I'm not…. And you can call me Marcus."
"Then it happens tonight," Abbott said. "Well use the white plumber's vans and no one will be the wiser."
"Gentlemen," Brown said stopping at the table.
They all looked at the Brown and Gibbs, and Jane was pleased to note that Gibbs had taken a good look at their map. Abbott reached for it and slowly started folding it up.
Jane smiled. "Jacob Brown. I was wondering when I'd have the pleasure of meeting you and of course, Jason Gibbs. It good to see you again." He inclined his head at him.
"Don't get much sleep?" Gibbs looked pointedly at Lisbon.
Jane looked at Lisbon and smiled, then pretended to zip his lips, lock them, and throw away the key.
"What happened to the girl in the hall last night?" Gibbs plowed on.
So, this was how the meeting was going to go.
Jane smirked. "She was dead tired."
Gibbs flinched.
"You have to forgive my associate's manner," Brown said. "We've had some urgent matters arise this morning and he's a bit on edge."
"Nothing too serious, I hope?" Jane asked.
"Stewart," Abbott said to Jane and looked at Pike who wore a very grave expression.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, where are my manners." Jane signaled to Abbott. "This is my associate Dennis Archer and our new friend Marcus Pike." He then pointed to Brown and Gibbs. "This is Jacob Brown, he owns this hotel and Jason Gibbs, his associate." He turned to Lisbon. "And this is Teresa."
Lisbon reached over and placed her hand on Jane's shoulder. She smiled. "I wondered if we might see you two at lunch today," she said in a sultry tone.
Jane glanced at her and plastered a surprised look on his face. "You've met?"
"In the lobby earlier," Brown said. "Couldn't pass by without making her acquaintance."
"You flatter me," she said and then batted her lashes for good measure.
Brown returned here smile, then looked at Jane. "Might we join you?"
Jane looked at Abbott and Pike, then nodded to the two extra chairs at their table. It hadn't escaped his notice when they had first been seated that they were given a table of six instead of four.
"Always glad to make new friends," Jane said as they took their seats. "What can I do for you gentleman?"
"You can start by telling me what you're up to," Brown replied and crossed his legs mimicking Jane.
Abbott chuckled. "Why would we do that?"
Brown looked at Abbott. "You're in my hotel. No one passes through my doors without me knowing who they are, or what they're doing here."
"Well, if you already know what it is we're doing, then there's no need for us to tell you," Jane retorted.
"Very glib Mr. Stewart…"
"Please, call me Patrick."
"I'm not interested in playing games, so you can either tell me what exactly it is you're doing here, or I'll be leaving an anonymous tip with the FBI about Agent Marcus Pike," he said looking at Pike, then back to Jane, "with information about his 'cargo' in the white plumbing vans and the three routes you intended on using to remove the cargo tonight. What were the roads again, Jason?"
"Glendale to Moore, Dover, and Polson."
Brown smiled.
"I'm in…" Wiley announced right before his mic made a loud fuzzy noise and disconnected.
Jane was glad that no one had jumped from the sound being so loud in their ears, but noticed a quick startled and panicked expression on Lisbon's face.
Cho's voice came next. "Wiley just went in Brown's office, something fried his mic."
Pike leaned forward and pointed at Jane. "You promised me you'd be able to keep this quiet."
Jane raised a quieting hand. "Relax."
"Yes, Marcus," Brown said. "Relax.
Gibbs's phone buzzed and he leaned in to Brown and whispered, "the office," before he stood up and left. The group watched after him and Jane's stomach fell. He maintained his happy demeanor nonetheless.
"If you boys are going to be talking business then I'm heading to the gift shop," Lisbon said to the group as a whole, then turned to Jane. "Need any sunscreen? Aspirin?"
Jane glanced toward the gift shop and quickly tried to remember which part of it would give her the best view of Brown's office, which was located down a small hall between the reception desk and the restaurant. He spoke before he really knew what he was saying, "Condoms."
Her smile dropped and she looked up at Brown, then smiled and hummed deep in her throat. Pike cleared his. Lisbon then sauntered off and Jane was glad that all the men, Brown included, watched her go. It gave him a moment to collect himself from the embarrassment of what he'd just said. He wasn't sure why he was embarrassed, exactly. It was definitely something his character would've said and it made him appear un-phased by Brown's threat, but he'd felt the sudden urge to run away in shame.
When they looked back, Jane smiled. "Where were we?"
"You were just about to tell me what you are doing in my hotel."
Jane glanced at Abbott.
"It's your call," Abbott said calmly.
"Gibbs just went into Brown's office," Lisbon said in her mic that was now turned on. He stole a quick glance in her direction. She was looking at sundresses…near the rack with the condoms on it. Pike and Abbott exchanged quick glances.
"I'm coming down," came Cho's voice.
"You're used to getting your way," Jane said, then reached for his water and took a sip, "but I wonder Mr. Brown, what you would do if you didn't get your way."
"Do you really want to find out?"
"Honestly, what's the most you can do? Insist I leave?" Jane swirled his ice around. "You wouldn't try and kill me, even though I believe you capable of murder, as a matter of fact I'd be willing to bet that you were responsible for the deaths of those five undercover agents."
"Dammit, Stewart," Pike spat. "You just can't go around sharing that information with everyone you meet."
Jane raised a silencing hand at Pike and continued. "But you won't make me leave, because you're too curious. And you won't harm me or my colleagues because you wouldn't want to draw that kind of attention to your hotel."
Brown held his smirk, but Jane saw his jaw clench. "You're very sure of yourself, aren't you, Mr. Stewart?"
Jane smiled and shrugged.
Brown remained calm outwardly, effecting amusement, but Jane could see his patience was loosely tethered. He had to bring it down a notch. It wasn't time for him to come undone. Not yet. "I won't tell you what I'm up to, but I will extend you an olive branch. The FBI has been sending men out to talk with some of your colleagues today. If I were you, I'd be more worried about that than little ol me."
Brown considered this a moment. "You are either very cunning or incredibly stupid."
"Or both," Pike interjected.
Brown looked at Pike and Jane could see the moment Brown decided to believe everything he'd just said, but the small victory was immediately overshadowed.
"Oh no," Lisbon's distressed voice came through again, "Gibbs just left the office. He has a gun."
A/N: Please review and let me know what you thought. I always love theorizing too!
