"Well," Reynaldo, the group counselor, spoke, "I think we are done." And, he drifted away.
The rest of the team descended on Eliot in a rush, yelling at and berating him, in turn. Sophie criticized, "Eliot? How could you? We were all taking this exercise seriously. Didn't you see that?"
The Hitter had the nerve to laugh, "Sophie, it was planned. Me and Kayla? We're the couple that's not going to make it out of this together. We know our role."
"So it was all part of your cover?" Parker questioned.
"Of course. Ask Kayla."
Hardison joined the group, "I've tried but she's off coms again."
Spencer's grin changed suddenly, "What do you mean she's off coms." He put his finger to his ear and called her name repeatedly. Then, he got a malicious grin, "She's doing this on purpose."
"So you're sure Kayla would agree that it was all part of the job," Nate countered.
"Yeah," he gave a short bark of laughter. "Look, she'll be in the last cabana closest to the promontory on the beach. Go ask her yourself."
"I will," Sophie gave a curt nod and turned toward the path. She was stopped by Nate's hand on her arm, "No, I'll go." He headed towards the path but turned back to Eliot, "and you better hope she's on the same page." Since Kayla's departure, Eliot had his first twinge of doubt.
She was sitting on the chaise, legs outstretched, crossed at the ankles. Her shades covered her face so it was hard to tell if her eyes were open or closed or teary. Logan sensed she was not alone. But, the masculine voice actually startled her, "You took out your earwig."
Kayla slid off her glasses and looked up at Nate Ford, "Yeah. I didn't want you guys to hear me laughing. It was greatness, listening to Sophie and Parker rip Eliot."
Nate removed his own shades and then dropped down in the other chair, "So it really was all planned?"
She smiled, "All planned." Logan shifted, "Eliot told you where to find me, didn't he?"
"Yeah, he did," the leader confirmed. Then, asked seriously, "And you're alright?"
Kayla quirked a brow, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"This con's been hard on all of us. I find it hard to believe you and Eliot wouldn't feel it as well."
"We know how to handle ourselves."
Nate had been looking for an opportunity to question Kayla. He figured now was as good a time as any. He pinned her with a stare, "Know how to handle a team, too."
Logan squirmed in her seat, "I've run a crew, yes. I haven't hidden that fact."
"It's why you can read the team," Ford smiled. "Why you know how to read me."
"Yeah, well, old habits die hard. And, anyway," Kayla looked back out to sea, "that's ancient history, me running a team. As you know, I work alone."
Allowing the change in subjects, Nate said, "So what about your lead?"
Nodding, she asked, "Why do you post a hidden guard on a private path that isn't even obvious to your guests?"
Ford looked around to where Logan gestured with her shades. Like Eliot, he saw it wasn't obvious but it was definitely there. He put his glasses back on and looked out to the water. He returned his com and motioned towards Kayla's ear for her to do the same. He asked, "How do you want to handle it?"
Kayla smiled and eased her com back in as she answered, "Well, I think, after J.T. humiliated me the way he did, I need some bar time."
The rest of the team had waited to hear Kayla's voice. They knew Nate had found her. He had told the team she was right where Eliot had indicated but he wanted private time to quiz her. Until that moment their conversation had been confidential. Now, the entire group would be party to the plan. "Janell should go with you, being the sympathetic type and all," Nate added.
"Thank goodness. Because of Hakeem's job, it's been awhile since I got to tie one on," Parker smiled.
Hardison continued, "And, of course, misery loves company." He looked over to Eliot who supplied, "Buckets of beer and crab legs on the beach." Kayla and Nate smiled as they heard the hand slaps over the air.
Sophie responded dejectedly, "But what does that leave for us?"
"For us?" Nate said. "For us, it's a quiet dinner for two while the kids play."
Again, Hardison spoke, "On it. Reservations for the Baker's."
Nate gave a decisive nod, "Alright, you're on. Starting time is 8 pm. Let me know as soon as you have something." He got up from the chaise and walked off, satisfied that the job was moving forward once again.
Kayla and Parker were both dressed in dark clothes, stylish enough not to arouse any suspicions, but serviceable for the mission they were about to attempt. Eliot and Alec were already on the beach, enjoying two buckets of beer, iced down and sweating, along with several buckets of crab legs. The girls could hear the bottles being opened and the cracking of the shells. Nate and Sophie were at one of the two upscale restaurants on the island, without coms, letting the "kids" run the job.
Logan's voice crackled in the guys' ears, "Alright, gentlemen, let the games begin."
Parker giggled and started staggering. Kayla wrapped her arm around the skinny blonde to try to keep her from falling, only to wind up tripping herself. "I didn't think we were that drunk," Janell said.
Karla answered on her own giggle, "Do you even know where we're going?"
"No, I thought you did." The two burst into laughter again, continuing to stagger closer to their target.
From their spot on the beach, the guys could just make out the two shadowy figures on their zigzag path to the sentry. As Parker got closer, she responded, "Man, I should have visited the facilities before I left the bar."
"Good grief, Janell," Karla answered in frustration.
"Well, I'll just sneak over here in the bushes." She called, stepping in near the guard. Karla saw him tense and then marvel as it did seem the petite blonde was about to drop her pants and relieve herself. That made it easy for Karla to walk up behind him, put his head in an arm lock and ease the hypo in his neck.
"Okay, done. He'll sleep for about three hours," Kayla responded.
"Good," Parker appeared, hair covered, slipping on gloves, "Let's get going."
Logan nodded her agreement, covered her own red-head with a black knit cap and pulled on gloves as well. They took off silently down the path and soon saw the guarded building. Kayla motioned for Parker to stay behind her as she found the quickest and easiest access point. Making sure they were shielded, she gave a signal to the Thief who was beside her instantly. The Mechanic pulled out a phone and quickly snapped pictures through a peephole in the door. Parker made a face seeing the only entrance was on the second floor. Using a nearby ledge as a boost, she made it up and through an open window she had spied. She dropped a rope to Kayla, who shimmied up to join the blonde. Luck appeared on their side as it was the office that they had managed to find. They immediately began searching for information.
"Alright you two," Eliot's voice permeated the silence, "talk to me. I need to know what's going on."
The sound was garbled so the girls were really only able to catch about every other word. Kayla answered, "Can't talk loud and the signal sucks."
Under the cabana, the guys shared a look. "Something's interfering with the coms," Alec clarified.
"Really?" Spencer said sarcastically.
Hardison glared, "If I had my laptop, I could probably boost the signal. We'll have to make do for now."
Eliot's face registered his irritation, "Alright, but help me listen. Anything that sounds like a problem and we're up that path."
"Got it," was the Hacker's response.
The meal had been amazing. The restaurant was top of the line and the couple had enjoyed the ambiance. They had finished with a decadent dessert and now sat talking. "So why aren't we involved in this operation," Sophie sat back in the chair, sipping the quality chardonnay.
Ford swished the whiskey in the glass, "They don't need us for this. The kids can handle it."
"And why are you really not doing it?"
Nate smiled, "Maybe I wanted a romantic dinner in a lovely tropical setting. Especially since we get that opportunity so often."
Sophie knew she was about to play with fire but it was just the two of them, off coms and she wanted - no, needed - answers to some questions. "So, Nate," Sophie began, "with all of this play-acting, I've been wondering...would you consider getting married again?"
Nate figured this would come up. He couldn't blame her. They had been flirting with something ever since Nate had asked her to join the team. What it was, he didn't know. He did hope to get some clues. He took a drink before answering, "If it was the right time and the right person, yeah, I think I probably would." She considered what he had to say but was surprised when Ford followed it up with, "But what about you? Would you consider getting married? Would you be willing to settle down; give up your world-traveling?"
The Grifter shifted in her chair, answering as she leaned forward, "If it were the right time and the right person, then, yes. I think I probably would." He smiled as he realized Devereaux had turned his own words back against him. But his humor fled when she followed up with, "And what about children?"
Nate tossed back the rest of his glass and motioned for a refill, using it to buy time to phrase his response. He nodded his thanks, took another sip and wrapped his hands around the glass before answering, "Sophie, I really don't know about that. It would be hard to have another kid and always worry that what happened to Sam might occur again."
She reached across, squeezing his hand, "Yes but unlike before we have money and the wherewithal to purchase any kind of treatment no matter how experimental it may be."
He shook his head, "I would have to…" He paused and finally added, "Whomever I married, it would have to be something we discussed thoroughly." Sophie nodded her head in understanding. Ford brought Sophie's hand to his lips, giving it a quick kiss. He then let her go and slapped the table top. "Alright, we've left the four of them without true adult supervision long enough. Let's go check on the children, shall we?"
He stood up, pulled out her chair and then offered his arm, escorting Sarah Jane Baker out of the room.
"I'm not finding much," Parker whispered.
Kayla shook her head, "Me, neither. And, the static in the coms is driving me crazy." To emphasize her point, she put her finger to her ear, moving the device around.
Parker's head jerked at the sound of movement outside the door. Kayla heard it at the same time and positioned herself to defend against the intruder. Logan pointed at the window for Parker to make her exit. The Thief had the nerve to shake her head, no. At Kayla's glare (like Spencer's, Parker thought momentarily) she responded quietly, "Not without you."
Realizing that whatever had been outside the door was now gone, Logan once again pointed towards the window. This time, Parker agreed, swinging down on the rope. Kayla dropped it for Parker to secure and then shinnied down the side. Problem was, Logan missed her footing and landed hard on her knee, cursing as she did.
"C'mon," Kayla growled and grabbed Parker's arm. Together, they made good time back down the path. No one challenged them or seemed to see them. When you're not expecting any attack, it's easy to be complacent. These guards obviously were. At the secluded entrance, the sentry was still asleep and the two girls made it easily to the cabana where Eliot and Hardison were waiting.
"You should have told me you were coming," Eliot hissed.
Kayla shook her head, "Couldn't take the chance of being heard."
"What did you find?" Alec asked.
It was Parker's turn to shake her head, "Not much." She handed Hardison the drive and Kayla's phone so he could process the data when they got back to their room.
"If there's anything to be had, it will be on those," Logan added.
"But, Eliot" she pointed at her partner in crime, "I think Kayla did something to her knee."
Spencer snapped his neck around to look at his wife at the same moment she jerked her head up at Parker's tattling. "It's nothing," she said at the same time Eliot growled, "What the hell did you do?"
Parker continued her reporting, "She tweaked it somehow when she came down out of the building."
Logan growled this time, "Damn it, Parker. Hush." The blonde had the nerve to smile. She even sounded like Eliot.
Spencer knew how this played out. He'd been there before with Kayla, a long, long time ago. He changed his tone, "You two, head on back. Nate will be expecting an update. We'll catch up to you guys in the morning. Let him know, we're alright."
Alec agreed and put an arm around Parker's waist, grabbing a couple of the beers and another bucket of the crab legs before leaving the Sherman's behind. As the Habidi's walked off, Eliot grabbed a long neck and twisted the top off, passing it to Kayla. He then pulled off his shirt, poured the rest of the ice into it and wrapped it around her knee. He knew she hurt when she didn't fight.
"Will you be able to walk on it tomorrow?"
She nodded, "Yeah. I'll probably have a limp but enough people have seen me running on the beach in the mornings; It will be easy enough to explain."
"Even to Nate?"
"Damn."
"Uh, huh. Hadn't thought about that one had you?"
"Don't be so proud of yourself," Kayla pointed, grabbing one of the crab legs from the few that were left. She snacked a bit more, finishing her beer, while the two talked. Sharing stories of past jobs since their separation; enjoying the peace and quiet. When he knew she was ready to go, Eliot stood first and then pulled Kayla up into his arms. They shared a silent battle of wills but, in the end, she acquiesced and Eliot carried her to their room, ending what seemed like their longest day so far on Isla Amour.
