Touché
By phillydi
Chapter 10
By the time Kensi and Deeks returns to Ops, Calen had already been briefed by the FBI. If Ray is still alive and on the run, he is a dead man walking. He still has a huge price on his head and if it's not the Southland Kings then some other arms ring will be gunning for him. Sanders already said he wouldn't stop until his problem was eradicated. Now it was just a matter of time.
Callen turns to find Kensi and Deeks standing in front of him.
"I've just been on the phone with the FBI and the LAPD," says Callen. "This is their case now. Jenna's family has requested her body be flown back to LA for burial. The LAPD will be working detail on the funeral along with the FBI in case the Kings decide to show up looking for Ray."
"You can't turn it over to them, this is our case," argues Kensi.
"We have no choice on who takes lead here Kensi. We're no longer dealing in the sale of military arms anymore."
"That's true Mr. Callen, but we can still have our fingers in the pie, sort to speak," Hetty interrupts as she walks to the middle of Ops. She turns to Kensi and Deeks.
"Mr. Deeks your resignation paperwork was completed and forwarded to the LAPD. They are expecting your return today," continues Hetty. "And Miss Blye you will be joining Mr. Deeks as the new NCIS liaison to the LAPD."
Kensi's eyes finds Deeks who has a astonished look on his face.
"Wait a minute ….." Kensi sputters.
"Don't worry Miss Blye. I offered the LAPD our assistance specific to this case only because of our initial work and under the circumstances they gladly accepted. I've also advised them it would be prudent to keep you and Mr. Deeks together as partners so you can finish what we started here in lieu of the latest events."
"Welcome to my world," Deeks grins.
"Sam and I will be here in case you need backup," added Callen.
"Mr. Beale and Miss Jones are also at your services." Hetty raises her finger. "But be aware, if the FBI finds out we are assisting in any way, you're on your own. They will not take kindly to any interference from us."
Kensi swore to Deeks she would do whatever it took to find Ray and it was time to make good on that promise. She accepted her new role with apprehension. Somehow she would have to make it work.
"Good luck to you both. Be sure to check in regularly, Miss Blye." Hetty turns and leaves Ops.
Deeks takes Kensi to his old station on North Los Angeles Street and they enter through the back parking lot door. The halls have seen better days. Kensi looks around as she follows him to the undercover division.
"Don't they ever slap a coat of fresh paint on these walls?" she asks.
"Don't worry, the place will grow on you…kind of like the mold on these walls," Deeks quips morosely.
'Lovely," says Kensi.
Deeks walks up to the check-in desk.
"Hey Kendricks." Deeks addresses the cop behind the desk.
"Heard you were back, Deeks." Kendricks barely looks up at the detective. "Howard is waiting for you."
"Thanks," says Deeks.
"He's charming," Kensi mumbles.
"Yeah, if you think he's delightful, wait until you meet Howard."
Deeks nods to several detectives as they walk past a long line of desks leading to Lt. Howard's office. He steps into the corner office and addresses his superior.
"Lieutenant?"
"Yeah, come in Deeks," growls Howard. "So you're back." Howard is preoccupied trying to find something on his desk.
"Lieutenant, this is Agent…."
"Yeah, I know who she is." He still hasn't acknowledged Kensi formally.
"Kensi Blye, sir." She extends her hand out to him but he continues shifting through papers on his desk.
As she puts her hand back in her pocket, Kensi sneaks a look at Deeks. Is this guy for real? Deeks nods his head, reading her mind.
"Report from NCIS says you know who turned this joker into the Kings?"
Deeks keeps his composure. A heated argument with his lieutenant will only get him in trouble right now and he needs all the cooperation he can get from his department if he is going to find Ray.
"Our suspect is the informant's ex-wife," Deeks says calmly.
"How do you know that?"
"It's complicated." Deeks hedges.
"Figures," says Howard. He finally looks up from his desk. "So what are you two still doing here? Find her!" He turns his back and dismisses them by picking up the phone.
Kensi and Deeks are silent as they hurry back out to the car. Kensi pauses before she opens her side of the SUV.
"Deeks why do you want to come back to this place? I don't understand. It's obvious you're not one of their favorite people."
"Do you really have to ask that question Kensi?" Deeks opens the passenger side, gets in and slams the door.
Kensi decides to avoid a confrontation with Deek for now. Coming face to face with Nicole again was a meeting she was not looking forward to. She would need to keep her emotions under wraps when they apprehended Ray's ex.
The SUV pulls up in the alleyway leading to the back of Nicole's old brick house.
"You think she has any idea we suspect she turned Ray in?" Kensi asks Deeks.
"She's not stupid Kensi, she knows. I wouldn't be surprised if she's long gone from here by now," Deeks answers.
Deeks leads the way up the stairs to Nicole's back door. They search for any signs of life in the house but everything is quiet. All of a sudden they hear footsteps on the gravel at the bottom of the stairs.
"Looking for me Marty?" Kensi and Deeks spin around and pull out their weapons in unison. Their guns are pointed directly at Nicole.
"Is all that really necessary?" Nicole stands with her hands on her hips. "Jeez! And I see you brought your special friend with you too. How nice. I suppose you're here to arrest me again? You know this is getting really boring Marty."
Deeks could tell she had been drinking. She never gets drunk; she just gets nasty after a few drinks.
"So why did you do it Nicole? Jenna's dead and in case you're interested she was carrying Ray's child." There was tension and heartbreak in Deeks' voice.
"And you think I care? Look, I'll tell you why I did it." She turns to look away but returns to stare directly at Deeks. "I did it because I'm tired of all the men in my life using me and then dumping me like a sack of shit. Ray was an idiot but I trusted you. You were different….Max or Marty or whatever your name is!" She waives her hand through the air.
Kensi looks at Deeks. She's worried how he will handle the next move.
"Why are you still here? You could have been long gone by now?"Deeks asks.
Nicole laughs out loud.
"You really want to know why I'm still here Marty?"
Deeks doesn't move.
"I knew you'd come and find me and I couldn't wait to see your face again after they killed your best friend and his whore. I wanted to see you suffer the same way you made me suffer right after you screwed me!"
Kensi stiffens and looks at Deeks.
"I didn't touch you the other day Nicole and you know that."
"You didn't have to touch me Marty to screw me, did you?"
Deeks closes his eyes. So many lives lost and destroyed because of him.
Kensi heard enough. "Don't listen to her Deeks." She walks down the stairs and stands behind Nicole to cuff her hands roughly behind her back.
"Come on, let's go. Nicole Martindale you're under arrest. You have a right to remain silent…" Kensi pulls Nicole away from Deeks and directs her towards the SUV to finish reciting her Miranda rights. Nicole interrupts Kensi and turns to look back at Deeks.
"Tell me Marty, was it worth it?" Kensi pushes Nicole's head into the car before she can say anything else.
Kensi looks over at Deeks. She's worried for her partner. How much of the blame was he going to take on this time?
Big thanks go out to Virtual Friend, AnaSoft7 and 3 ways to write who are helping me stay true to the characters, keeping me honest and giving me great ideas in the process. I can't thank them enough. Always open to all ideas and reviews...The story continues...