Chapter 11-Keeping Busy
Baldwin Hills, California
"Ms. Greene?" Vicky said {An African American woman walked to the door}
"Yes" Ms. Greene asked.
"I'm Vicky, I called you a few weeks ago" Vicky said as Ms. Greene eyes widened.
"Yes, now I recognize your picture, come in" Ms. Greene said.
"I was also at the funeral a few days ago" Vicky said.
"You were? I didn't know who was there" MS. Greene said sadly.
"Thank you for listening to me on the phone" Vicky said as they took a seat.
"RJ talked about you all the time in his letters" Ms. Greene said.
Vicky smiled she looked down, "I wish I saw my son before he died I haven't seen him in 6 years" Ms. Greene said.
"Really" Vicky said surprised as RJ talked about his mother a lot.
"It was my fault when he came out to us during college, my husband and I didn't accept him. Last time I saw him was my mother's funeral" Ms. Greene said.
Vicky sadly nodded, "He wanted to get back at the person who killed Travis" she said.
"I read the papers, Drake is it?" Ms. Greene said.
"He killed my father, I met RJ when" Vicky started to say tearing up.
"He saved my life, I was attempting to break into Drake's complex in Chicago, nearly shot and RJ saved me. Then we were too peas in a pod" Vicky said.
"RJ always helped people" Ms. Greene said.
"And I want to help you guys" Vicky said looking around the house, it needed desperate repair.
"RJ also mentioned you wanted to open a bakery, he said you make the best red velvet cakes" she said.
"They were his favorite" Ms. Greene said.
"An assignment RJ and I were doing for an art descendent was very successful. And she gave me his half to give to you" Vicky said handing Ms. Greene a check.
Ms. Greene looked at her funny her mouth dropped looking at the amount: $300,000.
"Is this some funny business?" Ms Greene said.
"No, no, I want you to have this and use it because RJ would have wanted it, please" Vicky said strongly.
"Victoria now that this is over how are you moving on?" Ms. Greene asked.
"Doing this is a start" Vicky said.
NYC-FBI Headquarters
"Look who is helping us out on a new case" Diana said as Neal watched Alex approach them.
"Hey stranger" Alex said smiling.
"Hey" Neal said.
"Let me rephrase that, almost free stranger" Alex said as the group walked to the conference room.
"Socialite Tyler Newman" Peter said.
"We are looking at socialites now" Jones said.
"When they want to steal rare diamonds from South Africa" Peter said.
"And they use immigrants to smuggle them" Diane said.
"Alex brought the case to our attention" Peter said.
"And how did it get to your attention" Neal asked.
"We won't get into that, you hear a few things, see a few things while on a job" Alex said.
"You and Alex will pose as a wealthy couple visiting from Chicago, you heard about the rarity of these diamonds and wish to possess them" Peter said handing Neal and Alex invitations to a Plaza hotel event.
Neal glanced over at Alex who grinned.
30 minutes later
"So where you caught or did you turn yourself in?" Neal asked as him and Alex walked outside.
"Caught is a strong word, I got a deal. I saw what Newman was doing in London, good to be at the wrong place at the right time" Alex said.
Neal chuckled, "You look great" she said.
"You do too" Neal said.
"Peter mentioned a cause you were working on with Drake? You helped catch him" Alex said.
"Yea what a case" Neal said thinking about Vicky.
"Who is she" Alex asked.
"Who?" Neal said.
"The one-liners Neal, I know you by now, who is she" Alex said.
"It's not important at the moment" Neal said changing the subject.
Vicky's hotel room
"Jessica Crespo" Vicky read the file out loud.
"She had a daughter only 2 at the time" she said.
She looks at her phone to see the missed calls "Jack" she read, Text from Justine.
"Miss you please call us" Justine said as Vicky text her back.
"Miss you too including Jack, I'm ok" Vicky wrote.
"Are you coming home soon" Vicky read.
"I need to finish one more thing and I will see" Vicky typed.
"You said you would come back" Vicky read.
Vicky sighed looking out the window, "Be safe" she remembered Neal whisper in her ear.
"I miss you" Vicky said out loud.
Plaza Hotel 1am
"That was easy" Alex said as her and Neal walked out.
"Got all of it on tape" Neal said smiling.
"A con always perks you up" Alex said.
"Are you going to finally tell me about the beautiful Victoria Thompson, the woman who made a jackass out of Drake" she said.
"How do you know her name" Neal said as they got into a cab.
"You were in the shower, I pressed Mozzie" Alex said.
"Well you know about her then" Neal said abruptly looking out the window.
"She did get to you" Alex said surprised.
"No she didn't" Neal said annoyed.
"She sounds like a lot more fun than Sara" Alex said as Neal shook his head.
"You are not getting any older, you are close to being free, you risked that to rescue her, yes she got to you" she said laughing.
Neal laughed, looking out the window "I miss you" he thought.
Two days later-1pm
"Is Juan & Tina Crespo here" Vicky asked she looked next door the neighborhood was in shambles.
"I'm Tina's stepmother" a Hispanic woman said as Vicky entered.
"Juan!" she yelled.
"Are you 5 O?" Tina said.
"No" Vicky said.
"I wanted to talk to you about that bank explosion 13 years ago" Vicky said to Juan as he entered.
"What about it" Juan said angrily.
"The FBI agent that was helping you, I'm his daughter" Vicky said as Juan's demeanor changed.
"You" Juan said as he offered Vicky a seat.
"Yes, I looked up the case" Vicky said.
"What do you want" Juan asked confused
"I have been very angry about what happened for a very long time. I can't be angry anymore. I did a lot of crazy things the past few years and I want closure. I also wanted to help people affected by this situation like I had been" Vicky said taking out the check she hands it to Juan.
Juan reads the check: $150,000. "I'm sure your family can use it more than I can" Vicky said getting up.
"Wait" Tina said as Vicky turned around.
"We were about to have dinner stay please" Tina said.
NYC-FBI Headquarters 4pm
"Good work you too" Peter said as they watch Newman get arrest.
Alex gives Neal a hug "Thanks" she said.
"Anytime" Neal said.
"So where are you headed" he asked.
"I think Miami" Alex said.
"Art Deco scene?" Neal asked.
"No I just want a tan" Alex joked.
"Neal you seem different but in a good way, I really hope the next few weeks are smooth for you. And that Victoria when she does come back makes you happy cause if she doesn't I'll be back" she said.
"I'm sure you will be" Neal said.
"I'm learning as I get older not to take anything or anyone for granted" Alex said seriously.
"Including friendships" Neal said.
"Good luck to you Neal" Alex said she gives him a hug again before hailing a cab.
"Cupcake stand open" Neal hears a little boy say as Neal looked around, he gave a somber smile before going into the building.
Crespo Home
"Do you have a boyfriend" Tina asked.
Vicky felt herself blushing, "You do" Tina said.
"No I don't actually" Vicky said.
"I think she does" Juan said.
"There is a person I care about a lot" Vicky said.
"And he cares about you" Tina said as Vicky noticed Tina's stepmother not interacting.
"Yes" Vicky said smiling first time she smiled in the last few days.
"Did he come with you" Tina asked.
"No he had to work" Vicky lied she looked down.
"You miss him" Juan said.
"Yes I do" Vicky said.
"Don't waste time looking back, my wife didn't do that and they were the happiest years of my life. I didn't know till it was taken from me" Juan said tearing up.
Vicky nodded wiping away a tear.
Neal's apartment
"Did you track her whereabouts" Neal asked Mozzie.
"I think she expected you to do that, she is in California but after that no one knows. But it looks like she took that file on that bank bombing" Mozzie said.
Neal nodded looking out the window, "She isn't stupid Neal she isn't going to do anything to risk her life" Mozzie said.
"I know" Neal said.
LAX Airport
"I need the next flight back to NY, I can't wait till Saturday night" Vicky said to the clerk.
"Ok we have 1 available flight you need to run since it's boarding in 20 minutes" The clerk said handing Vicky a plane ticket.
"Thank you" Vicky said she takes off her shoes {puts them in her suitcase} and starts to run.