Chapter 10: Case Closed
Sophie looked at the pendant that dangled from the sleek chain. "What's so special about this necklace?"
"Nothing at all, it's just a sapphire pendant in the shape of a butterfly. It's what lies inside," Nate said holding the necklace up. "And I bet there's some evidence that Melanie herself didn't know she possessed, but someone else did."
Sophie looked at Nate and lifted it up.
"Are you going to be incredibly cryptic or are you going to tell me?" Sophie asked.
Nate looked at her. "I'm not going to tell you, I'm going to show you. So, go get ready and I'll show everyone."
Sophie smiled and kissed him. "I love watching your mind work."
"My endearing qualities."
She walked off to take a shower and Nate glanced down at the pendant. He got up and walked to the bedside where his phone was. He called Sterling only to get his voicemail.
"If you want to close the case, Sterling, meet me at the den," Nate said. "Sophie and I will be there."
Nate and Sophie caught a cab and made calls to gather everyone for the greatest reveal. The cab driver pulled up to the den seeing a rental car that was obviously Agent Casey's. Nate glanced around finding no other cars nearby.
"Agent Casey is here, but no one else," Nate mentioned.
"They felt sorry for the environment and took one car," Sophie remarked.
Nate looked at her as she smiled. He kissed her and opened the door and she stepped out. The dampness of the city lingered and there was no doubt it would be the last thing they needed to worry about.
Nate lifted his phone to his ear and the annoying ring tone echoed.
"Do you hear that?" Sophie looked about.
They walked towards the sound and turned down an alleyway. Nate redialed and walked ahead of Sophie as he walked further down the alley. He stopped and heard a moan and he walked carefully towards a dumpster against the building. Nate looked around it afraid for the worst.
"Sophie," Nate called.
Sophie rushed over and stopped. "Sterling."
Nate knelt down and looked at him.
"Jim," Nate said.
Sterling opened his eyes and moaned. He raised his hand to rub his head, but Nate grabbed him by the wrist before he could. Sterling's gaze looked at Nate and darted towards his hand.
"Sophie, call for help." Nate looked over at her.
He turned to Sterling and Sterling began to close his eyes.
"Jim, wake up," Nate said giving Sterling's cheek a pat.
"Leave me alone, Ford," Sterling said. "My head is pounding."
"Well, you can't fall asleep." Nate looked at him. "Where's Agent Casey, Jim?"
"What? She's at the hotel." Sterling became more aware of where he was. "I find your voice very annoying, Ford."
"Even half beaten you still find a way to insult the people who help you." Nate shook his head. "Let's get you up before you actually are nice."
"It's not in me to side with a leader of bandits," Sterling said.
Nate rolled his eyes and started to get Sterling up.
"Nate, there's an ambulance coming," Sophie's voice came.
"I take it back her voice is much more annoying than yours, Ford," Sterling slurred.
"I'd have thought he had a stroke if he said anything nice," Sophie said.
"I agree," Nate said. "Give me a hand."
Sophie walked over and looked at Sterling.
"Do you think we really should be moving him?" Sophie glanced around. "I'm no doctor, but usually you don't move someone who may have a concussion."
"We have no choice, Soph," Nate looked at her.
She sighed and knelt down and helped Nate lift Sterling. He still babbled about still holding Melanie and McAlister accountable for the murders that had happened.
They walked out the alleyway to find another car parked in front of the den. Nate looked at Sophie as she glanced around.
"I didn't hear anyone pull up," Sophie said.
"Let's get Sterling in the car and I'll take a look," Nate said.
"Nate, no it's dangerous."
"Soph," Nate said.
She sighed and they made it to the rental car. Nate opened the door and Sophie looked at Sterling.
"He's going to need a good hangover remedy after this," Nate said.
"And a bath," she remarked.
Nate gave a smirk and helped get Sterling in the car. He paused and wrinkled his brow.
"His badge his gone and gun," Nate said.
Sophie paused and looked at Nate.
"What do you mean his gun and badge is missing?" Sophie stared at Nate.
The sound of the safety of a gun was heard behind them. Sophie nodded.
"That's what I meant," Nate remarked.
"Mr. Ford, Ms. Devereaux, could you step back from the car? And raise your hands up so I don't have to shoot you," the southern a feminine voice with a southern accent came from behind.
"Married," Sophie muttered. "No one gets that, not even in this backwards city."
Nate and Sophie stepped away from the car and slowly turned around to face Gabrielle.
"Gabrielle," Nate said. "Guess there's something about you southern girls."
"Of course there is. Now, if you don't mind, heading inside." Gabrielle motioned towards the den.
Sophie sighed and gave Nate a slight nudge. "I told you."
"I believed you, but I think the love sick puppy over there wouldn't have."
"Nate, if this is your idea of a romantic getaway I think you better reconsider your next try," Sophie muttered.
"That's what happens when you get involved with Sterling."
"Another thing I told you so, but you didn't listen, yet again."
They walked inside the den and Gabrielle walked over to a table and grabbed to sets of handcuffs. She walked to them and handed them the cuffs.
"If this is a hint of how to fix this romantic getaway, Gabrielle, I don't need help," Nate remarked.
"Shut up and cuff Ms. Devereaux," Gabrielle said.
"It's Mrs. Ford, by the way," Sophie remarked.
"It won't be for very long," Gabrielle snapped.
Nate looked at Sophie and she sighed as she put her hands behind her back. "Don't make them too tight, darling, I don't want marks on my wrists."
"Don't worry," Nate said and kissed her cheek. "You look ravishing in cuffs. I remember the first time I cuffed you."
"I do remember that," Sophie said as she turned her head.
"Enough!" Gabrielle snapped. "Turn around, Mr. Ford."
"She's just like Sterling, gets all flustered when we're all lovey dovey." Sophie looked at Nate. "They would have made a wonderful couple."
"Minus the whole opposite side of the law," Nate said as Gabrielle cuffed him tightly. "A little tight."
"Sit," she snapped. "I'll be taking Agent Sterling's phone."
Gabrielle reached into Nate's coat pocket and pulled Sterling's phone. She threw it on the ground and stepped on it.
"So, I did a little research on Mr. Raphael Roscoe and found he got a really good plea from the district attorney. In fact the district attorney was on his payroll. And he actually threatened to expose the scandal."
"Can't get anything past you, Mr. Ford."
"Most people can't. He's really that good," Sophie mentioned.
"Thank you, Soph," Nate said.
"You're welcome, darling. I have to stick up for you." Sophie smiled.
Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "And yet I see you married to a thief."
"Ex-thief, it must be something in the air that people can't see that I've moved on," Sophie sighed. "Ex-thief."
"So, why frame Melanie Collins and Kline McAlister? Did they find out that their boss walked free from all the horrible scandals he committed? Or was it the fact that you found out that Melanie Collins called the one person that had a reputation for chasing a band of thieves and had the second best resources?"
"Melanie Collins was the least of my worries, in fact thanks to Agent Sterling she's going to jail."
"Is she? I mean Sterling was obviously bright enough to come to the conclusion that she was innocent. And that you were the culprit. He's not as love sick as you think he is." Nate said. "He's always been paranoid."
"And obsessed." Gabrielle smiled. "But you knew that."
"Sadly, yes." Nate looked at the exotic woman as she held the assigned weapon.
"Once I'm done burning down this place all that will be left is to get rid of the other evidence." Gabrielle smiled.
"Yes, that's a good planned, only you still have loose ties." Nate smiled.
"No, I got them all. I'll be dragging Agent Sterling into here. And Melanie and McAlister will be thrown in prison."
"Yeah, you're still missing something."
"Look, you solved the case, Mr. Ford, now you can die happy."
"Yes, I can because I have the one person I want to be with," Nate said. "She's been my partner through all of this."
Sophie raised her gaze up and wrinkled her brow. He had never called her partner and she looked in the distance to see someone lurking behind the floats.
"Isn't that right, Soph?"
"Yes, number one. Call me his sidekick." Sophie watched as others lurked.
"Please, shut up," Gabrielle said.
Gabrielle raised her gun up and smiled.
"Good riddance," Gabrielle remarked.
"Put your hands where I can see them Gabrielle!" Agent Casey's voice shouted.
Nate smiled. "Loose end."
Gabrielle narrowed her eyes and turned around, but Agent Casey fired a shot first. She hit her in the shoulder causing her to drop her weapon. She walked towards the wounded and Gabrielle stared at Agent Casey.
"Stay where you are." Agent Casey walked towards them. "Agents clean up."
Several of Agent Casey's team began to clean up.
"Where's Agent Sterling?" Agent Casey asked.
"He's in the car, probably still shooting the breeze," Nate said.
Agent Casey shook her head a little and looked at Gabrielle as she held her shoulder.
"Now I know how you got your promotion." Agent Casey pulled Gabrielle's arms behind her back and cuffed her.
"Don't say anything, Soph, let it be." Nate looked at Sophie.
Nate and Sophie watched as agents carried out boxes of evidence as they stood outside. She grabbed his hand and kissed his cheek.
"Nate," Melanie's voice came from behind.
Nate and Sophie turned and saw Melanie making her way to them.
"The DA?" Melanie mentioned.
"Crooked cities have crooked people," Nate said. "And we've managed to clear your name and Kline's."
Melanie smiled and wrapped her arms around Nate. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, but you also have Jim to thank too," Nate said.
She glanced up at Nate and nodded.
"You two make a good team. Well, you three make a good team." Melanie smiled.
"We rather not," Sophie said.
"Thank you, I'll see you two tomorrow night, right?"
"Of course, I owe this woman a good time," Nate said as he gestured towards Sophie.
"Good." Melanie stepped back and walked towards a car waiting for her.
Agent Casey walked over to them and handed Nate an envelope.
"What's this?"
"A bonus for helping capture the real felon." Agent Casey smiled. "Agent Sterling will give you the rest."
"When he's lucid enough," Nate said.
"He's lucid, he's just not in the best mind set to be talking. Something about being drugged and beaten."
"They say payback usually isn't the nicest thing." Nate smirked.
Agent Casey extended her hand to them. "Thank you."
"Be careful who your partner gets involved with next time." Nate shook her hand.
"I'll keep an eye on him, Mr. Ford."
Agent Casey walked off and Sophie wrapped her arm around him.
"Payback?"
"I called on an old friend who was itching to get Sterling back for drugging him back in Dubai," Nate said
"You didn't!" Sophie said.
"Oh, I did." Nate smiled as they walked off.