Authors note: Hello fan fiction readers I want to thank everyone for their kind words in regards to Bump and Road Trip. What's Next is the newest installment of the Paige and Mike story. After all the craziness these two have dealt with now they have a new challenge marriage. This story will focus on what lies ahead for Graceland's coolest duo both in their personal and professional lives. This story will also bring back the rest of the Graceland crew back including Briggs. There will be comedy, action, suspense and of course romance. So I hope you all enjoy. So my fellow readers sit down and enjoy What's Next. Now that I have had some free time I have been writing more. Chapter 10 is in the editing process and will be posted soon. I am working on chapter 11. Thank you all for your encouragement and a special thank you to Hopeful Shipper for helping me with my spelling and grammar you're amazing. Enjoy chapter 9
Disclaimer: I do not own Graceland or the characters therein
Traffic was unbearable the whole way out there, but Mike eventually got to the destination. "Sorry, I'm late- I didn't think the 91 would be that bad."
"Don't sweat it. It's Friday. It's always this bad, but you've seen your fair share of traffic in DC."
"Nothing like this though. So what did you want to talk about?"
"To find the people who did this I'm going to need something to work with."
"Like I said before, I don't know what they stole."
"No, not that, but a computer that was affected by the virus would help. Every virus leaves a digital fingerprint. You think your firm can send you out one?"
"I can do you one better," Mike went back to his car and pulled a lap top, "This is my work computer or it was. I left it at the office the night of the hacking. Hasn't turned on or worked since. Will this help?"
"Oh, Mikey, you never were that good with technology. This will definitely help- I'll get it running and see what I can find."
"That's good to know. When will I hear back from you?"
"Give a few days and I'll have something for you."
"Bobby, my firm is expecting results sooner."
"Well tell them they have to wait. Doing this sort of thing takes time. If I rush it then I might get nothing. Also there is a pressing issue I have to deal with concerning some business associates of mine. I'll call you when I have something." As Bobby walked back to his car Mike asked, "Does this concerning issue have to do with the deaths of several members of organized crime?"
"What do you know about it?" Bobby asked as he walked over to Mike.
"After we met earlier, I got a call from the partners apparently one of our clients had an estranged nephew who was in your line of work and now is dead and he wants to know who killed him."
Bobby laughed, "And then what happens when you find who killed this person? You gonna kill him, Mikey, because I don't think you have that in you."
Mike wanted to say something smart back but resisted, "You're right, I don't but I find the info give it to the partners and they take it from there. They're offering to double what we're already paying you if you assist us."
Bobby looked at Mike and smiled, "It just so happens that I am going to a meeting about this certain topic in about in a couple of hours. I'll call you tomorrow." Bobby extended his hand and Mike shook it then the two got back in their cars and drove off.
As Mike walked in the door he spotted Briggs, Johnnie and Jakes at the dining room kitchen eating and looking over case files. In the living room were Charlie and tech girl Amy going over something on the computer. Mike walked down and flopped on the couch next to them. Charlie turned as asked, "Any problems with the meet?"
"Nope, we're all set. The meeting got moved to tonight so he said I should hear something tomorrow."
"What's going on?" Johnnie asked yelled from the dining room.
"Meeting got changed to tonight. Hopefully we'll have a lead tomorrow." Charlie yelled.
"Perfect now Mike can come back here and help us." Jakes yelled back. Mike looked at Charlie for sympathy but she had none. "Get your ass over there and help them."
"It go a lot faster if both you joined us." Jakes added.
"I can handle things from here, Agent DeMarco, if I find anything I'll let you know." Amy said.
"Thanks, Amy, and from now on it's just Charlie ok?"
"Ok, Charlie."
Mike and Charlie helped with the case files. "Hey where's Paige?" Charlie asked.
"She grabbed a box of files and went up to her room. She wasn't feeling up to being around people." Briggs answered looking directly at Mike.
"She feeling ok?" Charlie asked.
"Don't know just grabbed a box of files and said she'd be in her room." Briggs said again looking directly at Mike. Charlie caught on the tension between Mike and Briggs, "Ok what's going on you two?"
"What do you mean?" Mike asked.
"This between you and Briggs."
"Charlie, I don't have a problem with Briggs I don't know what you're talking about."
"Paul, care to explain?"
"I'm just disappointed in Mike he loves that girl and he just breaks her heart."
"You dumped Paige?" Johnnie asked.
"No, we're just putting a pause on things. Briggs, I know your trying to give me advice but don't ok. My relationship with Paige is mine and really is no one's business except me and Paige so I appreciate it if everyone just backed off and let it go."
"Don't tell me this is about what happened earlier today?"
"No, it's not it's more than that and that's all I'm going to say about it so let's drop it ok?"
Everyone stayed quiet for a second then Charlie added, "You two are great together, Mikey. I've never seen her so happy than when she is with you. Don't let a great thing like that slip a…."
Mike just grabbed the case files on the victims and walked up to his room. As he got to his door he heard soft sniffles coming from behind Paige's door. Part of him want to kick the door down embrace her but he didn't. Instead he blocked it out and went in his room.
An hour passed and Mike was buried in the files when a soft knock on his door. He looked up to find Amy in his door frame. "Sorry, to bother you, Agent Warren, but you left your keys and cell phone down stairs." He smiled, "Thank you, Amy, and like Charlie just call me Mike."
Amy smiled, "Ok, Mike." She turned to leave but then stopped and looked back, "Break ups are hard."
"Excuse me?"
"Breaking up it's tough. Everyone wants to help or give you advice they never just leave you alone."
"Paige and I didn't break up we're just taking a pause. Listen I don't want to be rude but I feel like talking about it right now."
"Fair enough so any luck on the case?"
"Nothing so far I've been looking them over and over for the past hour and nothing."
"Are they connected in any way?"
"Besides them all being undercover agents? No" Mike said as he tossed a file on the floor in frustration. "They tell you not to let your emotions get to you when solving a case but this is different."
"How so?" Amy asked
"These assholes killed 6 of my fellow agents. To me and everyone in this house including you, Amy, this is personal and I will stop at nothing to..." Mike looked down at the picture of the victim that was on the ground then he grabbed another picture from a different case file. "Holy Shit!"
"What's wrong Mike?" But Mike brushed right past her and flew down the stairs, "I got something." He yelled. Briggs looked up, "What do you mean?"
"The murders."
"Yeah what about them?"
"They were personal." Mike said.
"Mike, there is no connection to any of the victims. No overlapping cases, none were friends." Jakes said.
"Yeah, Mikey, the only connection between them was they were agents." Johnnie added.
"Your both right but here just look." Mike tossed the pictures on the table.
The four agents looked at the pictures and were still clueless. "Mike, what are we supposed to see?"
"Ok, whoever killed them they did it out of hatred."
"Are you saying the agents knew the killer somehow?" Amy asked.
"No, but these murders was out of vengeance. Look at the pictures again see how the body is laid out. These were angry kills."
Briggs looked at one picture then another soon his eyes got wide, "Holy shit, Mike, you're right."
Charlie, Jakes and Johnnie looked at the pictures and soon they figured it out. "How did we not see this?" Jakes asked.
"It doesn't matter now we know" Briggs added.
"I think that this is just the beginning." Mike said.
"How so?" Charlie asked.
"These guys, whoever they are, think they have that the agencies hurt them and made them suffer. So they steal the list kill agents for payback but that's just part of it."
"How so?" Charlie asked,
"I think they have something else planned that could cripple the three agencies. The question is what?"
"So what do we do now?" Johnnie asked.
"Johnnie, you and Briggs look into disgraced FBI agents see what you can find, Jakes, you and I will take Customs, Mike, you and Paige look into the DEA." Mike tried to interrupt, "Mike, that's a direct order now and I don't have time to argue now let's move." Mike was heading back upstairs when his phone went off. Mike didn't recognize the number but he answered it. "Hello."
"Meet me at the port of Long Beach in an hour."
"Bobby? What's going on?" Everyone got quiet as Mike listened.
"Can't talk over the phone they might be listening."
"Who might be listening? What are you talking about?"
"Port of Long Beach Pier J one hour," Before Mike could ask Bobby hung up.
Mike went for the door but Charlie stopped him, "We need to talk about this first Mike."
"Charlie, he sounded spooked and he never gets spooked. If I don't meet him we may not get another chance."
"You can't go alone Mike." Briggs said.
"He won't talk to me if others are around."
"Someone is going with you to be your backup just in case something goes bad."
"I'm not going to put other agents' lives in jeopardy. I'll go alone and I will be fine."
"This is non-negotiable, Mike, someone is going with you."
"Any volunteers?" Mike asked
"I'll go" They looked up to see Paige at the top of the stairs
"Paige are you sure…" Charlie asked
"We have a job to do and if this is a lead then we have to follow it. I can sneak around and no one will know I'm there."
Everyone looked at Mike; "We leave in 5." Was all he said before heading out the door. "Paige, make sure to bring a wire so you have both eyes and ears on him."
"I got it, Charlie, we'll be careful." As Paige left Briggs asked, "50 bucks one of them blows their cover."
Charlie smiled. "You're on."