Chapter eleven: New City

The next evening Nate waited anxiously for Sophie as she readied herself for the ball. He looked at his watch and tapped his foot to an unsteady rhythm.

"Nate, I can hear you," Sophie remarked.

"I'm not doing anything," Nate lied.

The door opened and Sophie walked out with such elegance. Nate looked up and his jaw dropped. He walked towards her as she stood with poise.

"Well, that was worth waiting for," Nate remarked. "That dress is just how I remember it on you."

Sophie smiled and fixed his tie. "Well, I do have to say, Mr. Ford, you look very handsome."

Nate grabbed her shawl and slipped it around her shoulders. "Shall we?"

"Lets."

They walked downstairs and Nate reached into his coat pocket. He stopped and handed her a ticket.

"And here we are," Nate said.

Sophie gave him a curious look. "Here?"

"I was surprised myself when Melanie gave me the tickets. Along with these fabulous tickets came with the room. Sometimes the best places are just around the corner."

Nate opened the door and Sophie walked in entering into her own element. Nate presented his arm and escorted her in the rest of the way.

It seemed like the perfect ending after a long couple of days in a city that never stopped celebrating. Nate and Sophie made the best of the evening as they mingled with other guests. And the grateful crew members that came up to thank them personally.

By the time they had finished dancing the night away they made it back to their hotel room where they enjoyed the rest of their night.

"Thank you, Nate," Sophie whispered as she rested in his arms.

Nate kissed her head.

"You never cease to amaze me, Soph," he whispered.

The late morning slowly crept in before Sophie and Nate finally got up. They took the rest of the morning slow watching the end of the carnival season closing with the largest celebration taking place.

"I like it here," Sophie whispered.

Nate looked at her as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"You do?"

"It's no Venice like you promised, but there's something about this city that feels so natural." Sophie glanced up at him.

"It looks great on you," Nate said.

"I have you and anywhere that you are is a good place." Sophie kissed him.

Nate smiled and embraced her.

It was not long before their perfect morning was ruined by the unexpected knocking on their door. Sophie and Nate looked over and waited to hear who maybe knocking on their door. But the knocking continued.

Nate sighed and walked to the door and peeked through the peephole. He rolled his eyes and unlocked the door.

"Sterling, what do we owe the pleasure of your uninvited presence?" Nate questioned.

"I can leave without paying you," Sterling suggested.

Nate stepped to the side and Sterling glanced around the room. "Cozy, for two former felons."

"It was complementary; could you skip your version of the warm and fuzzies and give us our check?" Nate remarked.

Sterling turned and looked at Nate.

"About that."

"Sterling," Nate grumbled.

Sterling smirked and reached into his coat. He pulled out the seal envelope and looked at Nate.

"I have one question about how you solved the case," Sterling remarked. "I didn't have Gabrielle pegged to be one to accept bribes."

"Of course you didn't, if you weren't sleeping with her you would have sniffed her out. I didn't at first either, but I guess that's one of her charms. I figured it out when she came to pay us a visit. She had pictures that were altered to make it look like Melanie took Raphael Roscoe's car to hit your car."

"And you knew this how?"

"The necklace. It was all about the necklace that tipped me off."

Sterling glanced at Sophie as she folded her arms. He turned to Nate as he walked over and pulled out the pictures.

"Call it experience at picking out fraudulent work. Also Gabrielle had told us she questioned Raphael after she left your hotel room. She was using you as an alibi. She wanted me to call you to confirm that she was with you." Nate folded his arms.

"I'm impressed," Sterling said.

"You shouldn't be, Sterling. You really need to be careful who you decide to sleep with." Nate snatched the envelope from Sterling's hand. "All you needed to know is that money leads to corruption. That was how your case got tied into Gabrielle's six months ago."

Sterling smirked. "Well, impressed or not, I owe you a thank you."

"Of course you do. But you can also do a favor before you go on your way," Nate said.

"What's that?"

"Leave us out of your unsolved cases and just leave us alone. Sophie and I bowed out, we have no reasons to stay on Interpol's radar. Especially your radar."

Sterling walked towards the door.

"I'll be seeing you, Nate and the art thief."

"Ex-art thief, you pompous ass!" Sophie called.

He opened the door and started to walk out.

"Why did you come here, Jim?" Nate asked.

Sterling turned and looked at Nate. "Maggie called me and said her little sister was in a bind. And you know how I rush to save little Melanie for Maggie. You did at one point."

Nate shook his head and Sterling gave his infamous smirk.

"See you around."

"Please don't go out your way to see me," Nate said.

Nate shut the door and locked it tight. Sophie walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"So, where is that necklace?" Sophie asked.

Nate smirked and kissed her.

"Wouldn't you like to know," he said.

"Nate, that's not fair," Sophie said.

"Maybe we'll see it again." Nate walked her to the window. "Now, it's just you and I and our new city."

The End

AN: Thank you for reading :-)