08

Loose lips

"Please excuse the gun. I'd hate for them to think we're in cahoots."

/


Raymond could pick up the sound of the harbour even from the room he was stood in, the offices of whistler cruise line, an international group navigating perilous waters. The room was large and atypical of its type, spacious and modern with light colours and panel wood effects. A large display case showed one of the companies many cruise ships, an oversized vessel that was essentially a mobile city. He shook his head marvelling at how far technology had come, after second impact it was as if humanity had suddenly found a fresh well of knowledge, and technology had suddenly advanced. Raymond refused to believe in sudden, the knowhow had come from somewhere, and he doubted it had come from man. Much like his now dearly departed smart phone, Raymond had "accidently" run over it, he hated technology. He preferred the old vinyl players or at a stretch a cassette tape player, there was simply to much room to put a tracking device in things these days. Still he was here because there was a chance to make money, and money made the world go around. Information had come Raymond's way that Whistler Cruise line was in danger of going bankrupt, and so never the sort to let an opportunity pass, here he was in Australia.

The cruise company would be perfect for his smuggling operations, all he had to do was offer to pay off the struggling companies debts. The money he would rake in from such a venture, would off set the initial outlay of money. Dembe was sat on a comfortable and expensive looking cream sofa, the massive windows the younger man was staring out of, gave a stunning view over the harbour. The sound of a door opening made him look up, and the man he had come to see entered at a brisk pace. "Sorry I'm late gentlemen, Carter Wilson." Carter introduced himself with a handshake, he had a full head of well cared for black hair, and one of those slightly wide but honest looking faces. "I spoke with your associate on the phone, not entirely certain what I can do for you Mr Lockhart?" Raymond smiled pleasantly, following the man over to his desk. "I'll be blunt Mr Wilson; Whistler Cruise line is sinking. The band is on deck and warming up nearer my god to thee." Raymond sank into the chair facing Wilson, the man blinked in surprise at Raymond's words. "We're having some difficulties…" Raymond interrupted the chairman, "Running aground on endangered coral reefs, E coli at the buffet, sailing half empty ships." The mans smile had vanished as Raymond pressed on, "your difficulties are about to land you in bankruptcy court." Carter's gaze had turned frosty.

"How on earth did you hear about that?!" Bingo, turned out the information Raymond had been given was spot on. Now that he had established the mans financial woes, it was time to slowly reel him into his new partnership. "Have you ever been to Mont Saint-Michel? It's a tidal island off the coast of Normandy, the only way in or out used to be a causeway that disappeared at high tide." Carter had leaned forward expression guarded, "To reach the other side was about knowing when the tide came in, and seizing the opportunity before it arrived." Raymond sat back, Wilson blinked twice before finally responding. "I'm afraid I don't follow." The man was angry that his little secret, well had failed to remain a secret. "I'm offering you a causeway Carter, I bail you out, you transport my cargo." The mans demeanour shifted almost instantly, "what kind of cargo?" Raymond gave him a polite smile, "could be Dutch tulip bulbs to New York, ghost guns from Danone. Instead of hypotheticals allow me to assure you, that plausible deniability is the best option." Raymond paused a beat before driving home his point, "I save your business, you don't look too closely at mine." Raymond sat back in the chair, and waited for Carter's response.

/


Rei stood back her head tilting to one side, the wall in her little apartment now doubling up to help her unravel a mystery. The first day she had set foot back at school, Rei had recognised her new teacher. Raymond Red Reddington, the man had graduated from the United States Navel Academy at the age of twenty-four, he was at that time being groomed for the position of admiral. Then one day when returning home to his family for Christmas he vanished, resurfacing four years later selling classified information to America's enemies. Over the next twenty years he built a syndicate of contacts: spies, thieves, smugglers, drug traffickers, people smugglers, human traffickers, arms traffickers, counterfeiters, forgers, hackers, mercenaries, and assassins. Rei had accessed this information thanks to her clearance level, though it had not gone unnoticed. The commander had not forbidden her investigations, but he had warned her to be cautious. Reddington had infiltrated the private sector, there had been no industry beyond his reach, including technology, shipping, communications, security/military contracting and pharmaceuticals. Eventually he went from just selling secrets to also starting wars, toppling governments, and influencing geo-politics to suit his needs. It was this that had earned him the moniker the concierge of crime.

So, this left Rei to ponder what such a dangerous man was doing in Tokyo three, and why he was teaching at her school. SEELE were a powerful group of individuals, men and women who all shared a single ideal. Reddington's power came from mobility, from being able to vanish in an instant and avoid capture. Rei frowned, if his enemies knew he was settled in one location, it meant they were allowing him to do so. After all, what better way to be able to keep track of the man, if he stayed in one place it made things easier. Then there was the unspoken agreement between the commander and Reddington, the pair seemed to tread carefully around one another. Well, rather the commander seemed to tread lightly around Reddington. Rei sighed, the commander had over the last few months seemed preoccupied. Whether because of his son's plight, or because of Reddington and his crew Rei could not tell. She returned to examining her wall of evidence, she was well acquainted with investigation techniques, up until now she had seen no use for them. The man's picture was pinned to her wall, she had also pinned pilot Ikari's picture up as well. The man seemed fixated on Shinji, had come all the way from Washington DC to rescue the boy.

In her hand she held the communication devices the kidnappers had used, they had been logged into evidence and the commander had denied even Cooper access. Again, being who and what she was had its advantages, and she had acquired one of these comm devices. Rei found herself curious as to why the commander did not want them examined, especially as both Misato and Cooper believed a second party had been involved. There were limits as to what she might find out, but perhaps Mr Mojtabai might be able to glean some information from this thing? Rei shifted her focus from the device and back to Reddington, this was the enigma she needed to unravel for herself.

She cocked her head to one side brain working on the puzzle, the next logical step would be to find a way to trace the mans movements, to find out where he went on his business trips. Rei had heard the term frequent flyer miles, and suspected that Reddington must be earning a lot of those by now. Stowing away was not an option, Reddington's security was a little too tight for that, but perhaps some sort of device. Something that could monitor its own location, then once back in her hands she could decipher the mans movements. That had potential, though Rei would have to work out how to get the device on Reddington's person. Shrugging she returned to her photo wall, letting he gaze snake back and forth between the two photographs she had up. Two pairs of blue eyes stared back at her, and Rei felt she was missing something obvious here. She recalled Reddington's reaction to her at school, the first day back he had seemed to recognise her. That of course was impossible, she had never met the man in person before then. Still the way he would glance her way, the man was clearly trying to figure something out about Rei. A thought occurred to her, that perhaps he had been there at her creation?

Rei had pinned a piece of red string between the two pictures, a paper question mark was pinned on both pictures. Of course, there where then the others, of particular note was one agent Donald Ressler. The young agent was notable because he had spent five years in pursuit of Reddington, this begged additional questions for Rei to unravel. The others had come from various positions within the FBI, the now head of section two being no exception. Rei paused in her musings and took a sip of her soda, the question she most wanted answered was who had sent Garrick? This mystery had become an obsession of Rei's, who could have wanted to harm pilot Ikari? How had they known that Reddington would ride to the rescue, and had they specified the horrific treatment the boy had received? Rei groaned, her brain was capable of processing so much information, yet this was a tangled web she was dealing with. That was of course not even factoring in the angels, and their strange reset. Even Rei only had limited understanding of the angels, they seemed not to follow a specific plan, save to find and unite with the first angel Adam. It had been two weeks since Ikari had awoken and heralded their return, an event that had caused a great stir at school.

Rei recalled pilot Soryu recounting her tale of victory to the student body, but most all of them only wanted to know how Ikari was doing. This had irritated the red headed girl, and Rei had found herself in the firing line. Soryu seemed reluctant to take her frustration's to Ikari's bedside, though Rei would have felt inclined to strike the girl if she tried. No, Rei suspected it had to do with Reddington, the man was a capable organiser and manager. He seemed able to manage the red heads outbursts, the man had the gift of the silver tongue. Misato was one of the few she noted as being on edge around Reddington, and to Rei that meant she knew who he really was. Rei walked up and tapped a finger on Ikari's picture, somehow, he was at the centre of everything going on here. The Crime lord's presence and the angel's strange behaviour, everything seemed to be revolving around the boy. Rei briefly entertained the idea that Reddington had sent the kidnappers, but then why stick around for so long afterwards? No, the threat had not come from Reddington, so who then had been pulling Anslo Garrick's strings? No matter how much she stared at the pictures, Rei found no answers were forthcoming. Sighing she picked up her bookbag and headed out of the door, she would be late for school if she was not careful.

/


Misato made her way along the medical centre's hallway, in her arms she carried a wrapped box Reddington had given her. Before the man had departed on one of his little trips, he had given her the box insisting she be the one to give it to Shinji. Misato had been understandably suspicious, yet now that she thought about it, when had Reddington done anything to directly harm Shinji? The man had been there when the boy had woken, he had called her as soon as that had happened. It was not as if he was teaching how to pick a pocket at school either, yet Misato couldn't help feeling on edge around the man, he was after all a criminal. Sighing, she shook these thoughts away and stepped into Shinji's room. Shinji was sat up in bed, there was nobody in at the moment visiting him. In Shinji's right hand was a small foam ball, and she watched as he squeezed it rhythmically. "Don't you go wearing yourself out, not when I finally get you to myself." Misato playfully chided the boy, he looked up cheeks faintly flushing as he did. "Miss Kaplan, I mean Kate left this for me." Misato smiled at his little slip, Kate had insisted the boy use her first name. He set the foam ball to one side, and Misato noted that the bear was tucked under his left arm.

The strange relationship that had blossomed between Shinji and Asuka confounded even Misato, Asuka treated the boy differently to everyone else. Shinji was still somewhat nervous around the red head, understandable given how she had treated him before his kidnapping. The Coma, that was what had likely triggered a change in Asuka, seeing Shinji in that state had been a shock for all of them. Misato herself had grown to appreciate what she had almost lost that day, and it seemed even Asuka was no longer taking Shinji for granted. She stepped forward the gift-wrapped box held forward, "Mr Holman asked me to give you this." Shinji peered at the box curiously, then with Misato's help began to unwrap the unexpected gift. When the paper was Off Misato nearly fell off the edge of the bed, and Shinji looked utterly stunned. It was a replacement for his SDAT, but this was a much newer and far more expensive model. The device was marked as a SDAP, and instead of tapes it took micro data cards. "Misa this, I!" Shinji mouth was working like a fish, "he has to take it back this is too much!" the boy then clapped a hand over his mouth, tears streaking down his face as he was overwhelmed. Misato gathered her wit and pulled the boy to her, knowing he wasn't crying from misery, not this time.

The SDAP's were unbelievably expensive, they did more than just play your music, they also could playback high definition video content. Misato could save up for five years and still not afford one, they were the exclusive preserve of the super-rich. Part of Misato wanted to hug Reddington, another part wanted to punch him in the face, he would end up spoiling the boy. Ever since Misato had been made Shinji's legal guardian, she had striven to do the best she could for him. No one had said anything to the boy yet about this change, since in truth they didn't know how he would react. Now a replacement for his SDAT was here, Misato hoped they could slowly get the boy back to normal. Recovered Shinji seemed to make a choice, and leaning forward opened the box. Inside they found the unit and its headphones, Shinji sat reading the instructions while Misato examined the cards. The box had been opened, Reddington inserting several cards filled with music of different tastes. Misato thumbed them finding one marked classical, she handed it to Shinji who inserted the card. A short time later music was filling the boy's ears, and Misato watched as he sat back eyes closed. Misato carefully set the box aside, she would have to warn Shinji about not taking that thing to school.

The door opened, and Misato turned to spot Kate, the older woman looked worn out and more than a little irritated. She pulled up a seat next to Misato her voice kept low, "Raymond's on a tear, someone undercut him on a business proposal." Misato grimaced, she imagined that Reddington was not going to take that well. "Does he know who?" Misato found herself strangely curious, Kate frowned nodding her head. "The names not one we're familiar with, someone called Robert Grey." Kate continued to explain, almost everyone within the criminal network knew each other. There were certain things you didn't do, and undercutting someone on a deal was one of those things. If a deal was falling through then it was ok, but in the case of Mr Grey that had not been the situation. Misato grimaced, this was just what they didn't need right now an irate Reddington. "who else knew about the deal?" Kate blew out a breath before responding, "nobody, that's what's got Raymond infuriated." Misato shook her head, Reddington's world was one she studiously avoided engaging in. Whoever had taken over the deal must have had substantial money available to do so, and was also stupid enough to tangle with the concierge of crime as well. As they continued to discuss Reddington in hushed tones, the pair had failed to notice something, Shinji had switched off his music when Kate had first come in, one earbud partially out.

/


"Normally I don't take such drastic action Carter." Dembe watched carefully, Carter Wilson was curled up on the floor blood dripping from a split lip. Raymond very infrequently involved himself directly in the beating up part of things, the bruises on his knuckles bore testament to this. "We had an agreement Mr Wilson, and you reneged on that agreement." Wilson coughed, "It was a better offer, I didn't have to transport potentially illegal cargo." Raymond stooped down eyes deadly, "and here I thought a mans word was his life?" Dembe had seen his benefactor this angry only on a few occasions, this was one of those occasions. "You know something I hate these warehouses, its just so cliched." Raymond chuckled shaking his head, then he reached down and not so gently turned Carter's head to face him. "If you don't want a cliched ending to this Carter, you'd better provide some information." Carter was a businessman first and foremost, the idea of receiving any more physical abuse loosened his tongue. The man spilled his guts, giving them a bank account number but also adding. "I didn't meet Grey myself, he sent a proxy! A Mr Jeffries, John Jeffries!" Dembe felt his eyes narrow, these were not names he was familiar with.

For a second Dembe thought Raymond might just kill Wilson, but with a shrug he rose to his feet and dusted down his jacket. "Let this be a lesson to you Carter, about keeping your word." Dembe led the way back outside to the car, Raymond clambered in eyes narrowed. "We need to pursue this lead Dembe, before the trail goes cold." Dembe felt for the man, he wanted to be back in Tokyo three by the boy's side. Dembe had not expected to see Raymond so invested, not after Elizabeth had died. Yet Raymond was becoming more and more emotionally involved with the boy, with each moment spent talking to Shinji Ikari, his benefactor grew fonder of the boy. "Perhaps Mojtabai can be of assistance Raymond?" He watched as the man ran a hand across his chin, it was a nine-hour flight back to Tokyo three. While time was of the essence Aram was the best hacker they had, if he couldn't follow the money trail then nobody could. Raymond finally acceded, and a relieved Dembe drove them back to the private airfield. The longer they stayed in Australia, the more chance there was that Raymond might change his mind, and Carter Wilson would find himself taking a dirt nap.

/


It was late as Shinji lay with his eyes closed though he was not asleep, his mind was whizzing along at a mile a minute digesting what he had learned. Steven Holman was in fact Raymond Reddington, master criminal and an all around bad person. Shinji had already gone through a multitude of emotions, anger had been followed by a sense of betrayal. Garrick, he had said that he could ask Raymond as to why he had been taken. Shinji had not talked about the kidnapping with anybody, he was still coming to terms with it himself. Now he had to find out the truth, one way or the other as to why Reddington was here, why had he stayed seemingly by Shinji's side, for nearly a year? Had it been a guilty conscience, unlikely from a criminal of his reputed stature. Then there was Kate Kaplan, a woman who had seen to his every need as well. Had she done so because Reddington had said so, or had she had other reasons for tending to him? Shinji wanted to groan, his life was in such a state of turmoil right now. He was effectively wheelchair bound until he got his strength back, and even once he got his strength back his knee would limit his mobility. A twinge ran through his kneecap, almost as if the injury was recognising where his thoughts were at.

Pain flared sudden and unexpected in his head and Shinji gasped aloud, he thought he heard footsteps, but his eyes were watering from the pain. Someone pressed tablets against his lips, and Shinji accepted them and the water to down the pills with. The pain receded, and he looked up, it was Reddington and the man looked tired. "Th Thanks." Shinji cursed the stutter, but the man seemed not to notice it as he sat down. "another migraine?" Shinji nodded slowly, Reddington sat back in the comfortable chair eyes closing for a moment. "I know a man called Glen, he's often responsible for many of my migraines." The man chuckled at his own joke, Shinji felt his heart hammering in his chest. He wanted to confront the man about the truth, but a part of him was scared, scared for some reason he might go away. Reddington had been one of the few people to treat him decent, to treat him nicely from the beginning. Shinji grabbed his faltering courage and rallied, he had to know the truth here. "This businessman you were dealing with, did you kill him?" Reddington looked at Shinji sharply, "I overheard Kate and Misato talking, they thought I was listening to my music." For a long while the man didn't speak, then he looked up and responded. "I was sorely tempted, he reneged on an agreement we had, but no he's not dead." Shinji allowed himself to digest that, "why me? Why are you still here, I mean you must have more important stuff to be doing, right?"

Reddington looked at him as if seeing into his soul, "maintaining my business is important yes, but not as important as you are Shinji Ikari." Shinji was floored, here was a man of a criminal background, a man notorious across the globe, and he was telling Shinji he was important. Seeming to sense Shinji's next question Reddington spoke, "I met your mother some fifteen years ago, she tracked me down for a favour." "Yui was… a unique person, and she loved you very much." Once again Shinji found himself entranced by the mans voice, criminals were all supposed to be terrible liars, yet for some reason Shinji felt Reddington was being honest with him. "When Yui gave birth, I was made your god father. Gendo disagreed strongly with that decision." A chuckle escaped Shinji's lips unintended and he couldn't help replying, "I wonder why that was?" Reddington let out a bark of laughter, "we never saw eye to eye, and I lost track of you after Yui died." Shinji felt a fresh wave of anger toward his father, he could have sent Shinji to live with this man, instead of the cold-hearted teacher. His migraine threatened to return, and Shinji rubbed at his temples, Reddington rested a hand on his shoulder, and for some reason that ended the attack.

"It wasn't until Garrick kidnapped you, that was when I was able to catch up with you." Shinji nodded, his roiling emotions starting to settle down. "Why the deception though?" Shinji couldn't help but ask, Reddington looked at him as if the answer were obvious, and Shinji felt like the idiot Asuka had often accused him of being. "because you might get arrested, so you go by a false name." Reddington nodded, "One day I might be Bill Houston, the next Steven Holman." Shinji contemplated the mans words, of the freedom that had to come from being able to be somebody else, to be free to go wherever you chose to go? He had never considered himself to be an adventurous sort, but that life had a certain appeal to it. Shinji decided he would keep the SDAP, it would be rude to reject a gift from his new-found god father. Another thought drifted into his tiring mind, he no longer felt the need to please Gendo Ikari. No, Shinji would no longer do anything to try to earn that mans praise, for what was the point? Shinji had been on the fence about a possible return to piloting, but now he had a strong incentive to do so. If for any reason he regained his seat, he would pilot for only two people, Misato and Reddington. "thank you for the gift, I… was a little overwhelmed by it." Reddington smiled softly, no words were really needed now.

A tired yawn escaped his lips and he slowly rolled over, with Mr Bigglesworth secured he drifted into a thankfully nightmare free sleep. In his dreams he roamed the world, a man of wealth and sophistication. He tasted caviar and drank wine, all the while he was the envy of those who might pursue him. He wooed a woman whose face he couldn't quite make out, but she seemed to have red hair that shone in the sun. It was a very pleasant and vivid dream, and Reddington didn't miss the smile on the boy's face as he slept.


AN: Apologies for the lack of updates, the last couple of months have been hectic to say the least. This chapter has been sitting waiting for me to put it out for quite a while now, but that time has given me time to ferment a few ideas for the story. Oh and yes the first section is a wholesale bit from the Blacklist TV show, gives us a taste for Reddington and his scheming, but this time the deal didn't go sour due to financial problems.

I wanted to have Shinji discover the truth, and while Misato and Kaplan might normally not be so clumsy, they had gotten a bit to comfy talking next to Shinji without him being aware of it, and yes Rei is turning her hand to being a private eye.