Hey Guys!
This chapter was already half written, and then my computer broke and IT deleted it by mistake when giving me the temp laptop while mine was being fixed.
I have a feeling second time around is much better than the first.
I love it when my fics and my life meet on different levels. Did this ever happen to you?
I started writing this during a rather boring and too long work meeting/conference (you'll know where pretty soon, it's where McSwarek are heading) :) I chose that destination when I started writing this fic, though it's really fitting in light of last night's episode.
In addition, in my last chapter I wrote Sam as uncooperative at the photographer's, not knowing it's not going to even be a full week before a photographer will be brought to my place of work to take an official employee-card pictures of all the staff, me included. I found myself sitting on that chair, making small talk with the photographer, smiling and realizing how close to reality that chapter was.
Some parts of next chapter, though, I hope will not happen to me in real life, as well as to anyone else on the planet.
And with that in mind, I wish you joy and enjoy!
He stood by the diner door where the meeting was about to be held.
The bell was still glinging above his head, though none of the staff seemed to notice. The diner was mostly empty, which was good for the purpose of this meeting. It was too late for family dinners and too early for romantic dates.
He liked this hour for these meetings. Not many prying eyes around, he thought. Perfect.
His look wandered around, scanning the place before walking to the booth at the end of the room. He sat down where he could have eye contact with the incoming costumers, and placed his parcels on the floor, next to his legs.
Still - no one came to him.
He cleared his throat loudly, and caught the waitress' attention. While she made her way towards him he evaluated the U-shaped booth, to see if he chose the right spot. He can see the door and the inside of the diner while his colleagues will be hidden by the high booth's back.
Excellent.
A small movement towards the center of the booth and he was ready.
This was a little test he learned from his parents - when his guests will come, they have two options to be seated: one with each of them at each of his sides, the second with one next to the other. In this specific case - the latter is preferred. It would mean his colleagues feel comfortable with each other, and that's a sign of a good partnership.
He had to know if in this forced complex situation his "guests" can be partners, or not.
He knew one of them is a lone wolf. The other one he never met, but heard good things about.
He repeated his silent prayer for these two to make good partners. An OP will rise or fall on partnerships, he knew.
He brought out a small black book and a pen from the inside pocket of his vest, and reviewed the list of items to be discussed he wrote in the office, drawing another line under 'evaluate partnership' written in his illegible handwriting.
When Sam and Andy finally walked in, Steve was already done with his first cup of coffee, and just gave his food order. He waited for them to come to him, watching carefully how Sam took Andy's jacket off her shoulders and how Andy shook the evening's cold air and warmed her palms by rubbing them one against the other.
They both saw him at the same time and walked over to him in unison, Sam's hand on Andy's small back, as if he's guiding her way.
Andy sat opposite of Steve, and Sam leaned forward to place her jacket next to Steve's other side and then joined Andy's side.
There was no hesitation in his act.
Good call, Steve reflected.
He started by taking their enveloped pictures which Andy handed him over the tabletop and placing it in the same pocket the black book came out of. Then he called the waitress to take their orders. And only once that was over too, he started talking business.
First thing on his agenda was delivering his mother's sincere apology.
Superintendent Peck did not assign a handler as she wrongfully estimated Andy's mission as a simple in and out. When she learnt the complexity of it, the case was assigned to Steve himself.
Steve looked at Sam's fisted hands and white knuckles resting on the tabletop. They both knew this was about the lamest excuse ever, but that's what there was for now.
When this is over, someone is going to pay big time. Sam promised himself.
Having done with the first item on his agenda, Steve marked a small 'v' with blue pen next to the appropriate bullet point, and Andy quirked a half amused-half questioning look at Sam, raising one eyebrow.
Sam shook his head lightly, indicating there's nothing to worry about. He knew the drill. A look from across the table on Steve's list, and he realized it was longer than usual.
It was understandable; this was not a usual meeting, a lot of ground had to be covered.
Steve's professionalism, unlike some other detectives at Guns n' Gangs, was in his blood. Sure, he had many 'cop genes' in him, but it was more than that. He worked his way up the ladder because he was good at what he does, not because of his parents.
Sam always appreciated this.
Steve noticed the exchanged look, said nothing and pretended to still look at his list, lightly ticking on the tabletop with his pen. He knew he can mark another 'v' on his list, next to the 'evaluate partnership' item. A smile graced his face from lips to eyes.
If they share looks, they're really attentive to one another, and that's great. They'll have each other's back.
He lifted a designer bag from the floor and placed it on the table, gliding it towards Andy who took it silently, with two questioning doe eyes.
"Look inside, in the left pocket." Steve waited for her to open the bag, and then added "Give me your phone while you're checking it."
Andy opened the bag and showed Sam the hidden camera inside. The recording button was hidden under the zipper, and was easily accessed to whoever knew it was there. Just shuffle your hand in the bag, and the recording was on.
Andy sighed in relief.
She was wondering if the phone was the best possible option.
"Here" Steve handed her the phone back. "Your cover apartment is wired, and also has Wi-Fi in it. When you come back home, the phone will automatically download anything saved on it to a cloud drive on the web only I have access to. Same with this bag. I'll get an email whenever you've downloaded something, so you don't have to call me. I'll call you after I see the data and give you feedback about it.
"Pshhhh" Sam let out an impressed huff. "Why didn't you give me any of these? I like driving in the clouds"
"Driving in the clouds?" Andy was wording Sam's words with her lips, figuring out he must have no idea what Steve was talking about.
"You want a designer bag, Swarek? Is it required for your next drug distributing deal? Or do you want it for personal use? Should it match your black suit?" Steve teased and Sam realized he was being fooled and pushed his tongue inside his mouth, not saying another word.
"And don't you think this means no more old-school espionage methods. I need you both to give me a code name for Edmonds, so you could talk about him without everyone's attention." Steve continued.
"Wow… to choose a code name… that's like…" Andy was carried away with her enthusiasm.
"I'm sure you already have something up your sleeve, Peck. Spill it out." Was Sam's answer while Andy was still pondering.
"Reed" Steve said triumphantly.
"Like read a book?" Andy questioned.
"Naaa. Like Lou Reed, the one and only."
"Walk on the wild side" Sam supplied with a smile and an appreciative expression. "I like it."
Nearly an hour later the diner was starting to get crowded, and the three people at the table at the end
Steve gave Andy a short intro to sexual harassment laws, emphasizing what kind of proof she'll need,
For Andy, this was exactly what she needed; she was starting to feel clueless the past few days, afraid to make the wrong move and blow the case.
"Anything else you might need from me?" Steve concluded the meeting.
"Yup" Andy jumped in her seat, startling Sam who also had something to say.
Steve looked at her, inviting her to talk.
"I need pills." Both men shot their eyes at her, not believing their ears.
"I had a doctor's appointment the day I started working at the firm, so obviously I couldn't go and so I don't have my refill. I asked Julie to recommend me about her doctor, and apparently there's this doctor the firm works with so I went there and instead of my usual pills he gave me some sample pills he got. And… I don't know… these new pills are making me feel really bad. Like, in all sorts of places."
Looking at her talking, both men noticed how she moved her hands a lot. They also noticed how when she said the last words, she pushed her chest a bit higher and both her hands pointed inwardly to her upper abdomen. Clearly, she wasn't aware of her body language that told them exactly where it was that she didn't feel well.
Misinterpreting their stares, Andy continued.
"Well, don't look at me like that, I know all side effects pills have, believe me. I've been taking them since I was 14. I know how they should feel, and these pills just don't feel right. You know?"
She finally stopped her blubber long enough to see four eyes looking at her blankly, waiting for her next words.
Sam's mind was racing. Really? Since she was 14? She's been sexually active since such a young age? Really? And why are you bothered by that? Sam started to beat himself.
Andy turned her head to him, and looked into his brown eyes.
"It's not what you think. I had the worst PMS and I had to regulate my period. Nothing else."
So now she can read my mind? Who is this woman? And why is she still holding my eyes hostage with hers?
While Sam and Andy turned this into a discussion with their eyes, Steve looked at her, clearly amused by the shower of words she just allowed out of her mouth.
He cleared his throat and broke the spell between the couple in front of him. He turned a page in his black book and slid it to Andy along with his pen.
"Write the name of the pills you want, and how I can contact your doctor. I'll bring you the pills in the morning. Anything else?" Steve turned his head from the appreciative Andy to Sam and back.
"Yeah" Sam spoke "what was Boyd doing in the office today?"
"Boyd?"
"He had a meeting with Edmonds. A long meeting…"
"I don't know, he's working with Beljac, trying to arrange a buy of his vest-penetrating bullets. I'll have to check with him why he's interfering with your case." Steve scribbled something in his book.
"He's a cop too?" Andy exclaimed
"Yeah. He's a detective at Guns and Gangs."
"So we were three undercover cops in one room today? What are the odds of that?"
"Don't know and don't really care." Steve answered. "I need to know what he was doing there today. He was supposed to meet his buyer."
"Well…" Andy cleared a stray strand of hair off her face and pulled a piece of paper from her purse next to her. "Maybe this could help" she handed it to Steve who started to unfold it and flattened it on the table so Sam could read it too.
"Edmonds called me to take notes during that meeting. I saw how Sam and him looked at each other, so I figured I'd keep a copy to ask Sam about it later. I guess later has come." She shrugged her shoulders, and Sam wondered how she could be so nonchalant talking about pills for one moment, and then be so observant, professional and think ahead on the next.
For the second time in one night, Sam found himself speechless in front of her actions. He had no smart retort. And this was new to him.
Steve read through her notes, noticing Andy's clear handwriting.
"Well, it seems like Edmonds is some sort of mediator in this deal. This man is unbelievable. We must get him, guys. Soon. The dipper we dig the more bad things he is involved with in the city. We must put a stop to it."
Thought I'd release some sign of life here, even if it's only a short chapter. I really am looking forward to the next few chapters. I think I had enough no-McSwarek action for this fic. So, we'll have some mountains to cross next chapter, and after that – Sam and Andy get closer.
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