Chapter 10

Alexis was startled awake by three loud knocks the lofts door. Getting out of bed she walked over to the front door and then seeing the plain brown envelope that was slid under the door she does not bother to open it, she knew that her street contact had came and gone. Her street contact was very good at getting her any type of information she needed. She picked up the brown 8x11 envelope and opened it up as she walked back to her office. Entering she pulled out the surveillance pictures of Mr. Alvarez's crew and a typed up report.

They were all prior military and possibly all from the same unit. Hanging their pictures on her white board she studied her adversary's with respect. Something she had learned when she was in Japan. Her CI had found out just about everything they had done since they were old enough to drive. There were four of them. All of them had the basic training but only two of them had advanced training to equal her own training. The thought that worried her the most is that these men would have no problem taking her out if they were given the chance. She just needed to be on her "A" game when the time came. Reading through the written documents she worked thoroughly to come up with a plan that would deal with Alvarez's hired muscle. Going over it again she felt satisfied with what she was going to do. But now it was time to call Kate.

Kate Beckett had the rare freedom of sleeping in late. Since it was a Saturday she had little to do today. The extra added bonus was that she was off for the next 3 days, pending any body drops. Just lying in her bed she kept going back to the statement that the caller said to her right before the line went dead, Until tomorrow, detective. This had her thinking that it was not a way for someone who did not know her to say good night. But there was no one she knew who could use that phrase, alive anyway. Deciding to get out of bed, she made her way to the shower and stepping in it felt good just to stand there under the soft spray of the tepid water traversing over her body. After toweling off she got dressed in sweat pants and one of Rick's old flannel shirts. It was the plaid one she never gave back to him after she had been a guest at his place after her apartment had blown up so long ago. His scent was long gone from repeated washings but her memory of him is still there.

Heading over to her coffee maker she made herself a cup and turned and looked at the file folder on the kitchen counter. It contained the information that her mystery caller had wanted on Mr. Alvarez, but after she looked over the files she found nothing out of the ordinary. Taking her coffee she sat down with the file and started to re-read it again. After looking at his reelection accounts she noticed a couple of anomalies. Then looking at his personal accounts he had three she noticed that the 3rd account was just used for large deposits only. She matched those deposits with funds from his campaign accounts and found and noticed funds were transferred between the two accounts. But there was only a balance of $122,034.88 in his third account. It shows almost nine million going in but then the day it was deposited it was transferred to a phantom account. She had all his account information but there was nine million unaccounted for.

Alexis had been thinking back to her dinner with Paige last night. It was great reconnecting with her in so many ways. She had missed her while she was away. Now all this would change, they had agreed to meet at least once a week to talk about what was going on in their lives and have a good meal together. Then Alexis needed to let her in on a little secret, she was not going to reveal everything she was doing but just enough to get Paige to do what she needed her for. When dinner had ended she slid a letter envelope across the table to Paige.

"What's this Alexis?"

"What I do sometimes puts my life in certain dangerous situations. Inside of that envelope is information that you will need to turn over to various media outlets and the city's corporate council if the event of my untimely demise. With you being a lawyer I know that what I give you, you will keep in the strictest of confidence."

Paige looks at Alexis with concern for her but when Alexis meets her eye to eye her look softens a little. Understanding she asks...

"Do you think it will ever come to that?"

"I am not sure but if you do not receive a call from me within 72 hours from now you are to release what is in that envelope. And one more thing...do not open it for any reason except to fax it to the parties who need it. I'll call you telling you when the 72 hours will start."

Paige looks at Alexis like she will never see her again and it scares her. "Alexis is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Paige what you are doing is more than enough."

Alexis got ready to start her day. The first order of business was placing a call to Kate. Walking over to the phones on the table she selects the next burner in the sequence. Dialing her number she waits patiently for Kate to answer.

"Hello."

"Detective Beckett, how are you this morning?"

I'm doing well, how are you?"

"Again Detective you don't need to concern yourself with my well being. But thanks for asking just the same."

Alexis paused for a second and then asked "Kate did you get me the information I asked for?"

"I did, but after I read the files I noticed some discrepancies."

Alexis knew that her curiosity would get the better of her but she was in control here so she needed to set some ground rules.

"Detective while you might be curious about what you have read in those files I am only going to say this once and once only. Any information you acquire for me in the course of my mission, is not for you to read. What you know could get you killed in the process."

"But I..." Alexis cuts her off and tells her that there is no trade-off here. While she wants Kate to be involved she won't see her killed in the process.

"Detective any further requests I ask of you I need to you to know that the information is for my eyes only. Do you understand?"

"I understand, but I may be able to help you"

"Detective while I admire your drive, your job as a cop comes first, there is no need to involve yourself with what I am doing. The least being you could lose your job, the worst you could end up dead!"

"Can you meet me at the Battery Park ferry in an hour? Park your car at the entrance. I will see you then."

Hanging up Alexis is concerned that Kate might have made copies of the files. Hoping that she didn't she replaces the burner back into the charger she returns to her bedroom and gets dressed into her all black outfit. Remembering her balaclava she heads out to the meeting location. Hailing a cab to get her there she asks the cabbie to make a pass around the location to do her recon run. Noticing that it looks pretty normal she asks the cabbie to park about a block away from the ferry meet location. About 10 minutes passes by and she sees Kate's unmarked Charger pull up and park. Looking around the area she cautiously gets out of the cab and walks over to Kate's car. Again she slides up along the right side of the car and opens the rear door. Getting in she notices Kate with her eyes focused on the ferry that is just about to leave.

"Is there something wrong detective?"

Not turning around Kate answers "No a memory just came to mind and I was lost in it."

"Do you have something for me?"

Kate picks up the file and passes it to Alexis. Wondering if she should ask her any questions she thinks to herself I need to get some answers from whoever this is.

Alexis quickly skims the file and reaches for the door handle to leave. Kate clears her throat and speaks looking forward still. "I need to know who you are. If what your doing is so dangerous that you could get yourself killed then maybe I could stop that from happening to you."

"Detective you are very determined aren't you? Like I told you before, our relationship is still in its beginning stages and as far as I am concerned I am not too sure giving you more to do would be a wise thing to do."

"I'm up for the challenge."

"I know detective but for now lets see how this progresses okay? As for who I am that will be something that I will not reveal to anytime soon. Kate are these the only copies of this file?" Alexis really needed to know for sure.

"Yes, they are" she answers back.

Alexis places her hand on the seat back to push herself out of the car but Kate reaches to hold it, Alexis not resisting lets her touch her hand. What Kate feels by this touch is someone who could be very compassionate and caring. She gets the feeling that she is intense and calculating as well. Alexis pushes off the seat back and leaves the car.

Kate starts her car and pulls away hoping that she can get a glimpse of her mystery visitor. Coasting down the street she can't believe that she has lost her in such a short time. Driving back to her apartment she needs to talk to Kevin and Javi.

While Kate and Alexis were in their meeting little did they know that across the street leaning up against a tree there was a person gathering intel on the both of them. He was associated with the crew that took care of Alvarez interests, but was not actually with the crew. He was just hired to gather information and take pictures of one detective and find out who she was meeting with. With the speedy exit of the detective he ventured out into the street to snap one last picture as she left.

Alexis returned back to the loft and thoroughly went over Alvarez's finances. She spent about 4 hours finding exactly what Kate had uncovered. But she would take it one step further. She has contacts in the Cayman Islands that could tell her if and when Mr. Alvarez or any person had made any large deposits recently. This needed to be done quickly because her window of opportunity was closing fast. Placing a call to her banking contact she told her what she needed, it would be about 4 or 5 hours to get the information she needed.

Considering a strenuous workout she pulled her auburn hair into a tight pony tail. She changed into her sports bra and spandex shorts and proceeded to beat up the speed bag and then take her frustration out on the cardio strike bag. After an hour of abusing the workout gear she called it a day. Heading back to the loft from the gym she needed a shower desperately.

She was seriously thinking about what Kate offered when they had their meeting, and while it was tempting she could not put her in a situation that would in anyway cause her any harm. She lost her dad to violence but would not loose the only connection she had to him to the same.

Alexis had decided to gather intel on the crew that was protecting Alvarez. It would turn out to be a long and tedious night. Leaving the loft she set out to do just that.