Disclaimer: I do not own Person of Interest or any of its characters.

A/N: So I guess the last chapter wasn't popular based on the small number of reviews but it was necessary to move the story along. Thanks to my always faithful reviewers that I can always depend on, even in the slow chapters! It looks like the story is winding down—I'm thinking only two more chapters and maybe an epilogue which makes me sad. I've really enjoyed writing this story. Thank you all for reading!

Chapter 12

December 9, 2013

All five team members made it back to the City in a mere two hours. Luckily the snow stopped midday and the snow plows and salt trucks had done their jobs. Much to John's chagrin, he was driving Finch's car, with Finch and Fusco, while Shaw was the lead car with Carter and Bear. He still couldn't figure out how Shaw had arranged that. Once they entered the City, each car took a preplanned circuitous route, all meeting at the Library, after ensuring no one was tailing them.

On the return trip from Owen Island, John had placed a call to Zoe Morgan, arranging to meet her at the Coronet Hotel bar in three hours to discuss what information she could provide on Ryan Belton. Reese dropped Fusco and Finch close to the Library and then parked the car a few blocks away. He was the last to arrive.

"So this is the Bat Cave huh?" Fusco questioned. Carter took in her surroundings, marveling that the inner sanctum of Finch's two man crusade was in plain sight. She had probably passed the old library a hundred times, never knowing what was hidden behind its exterior walls.

All business, Finch ignored Fusco and began to address the task at hand. "Mr. Reese, I will drive you to the Coronet to meet Ms. Morgan. Ms. Shaw perhaps you can get eyes on some of our Bulgarian friends. Detective Fusco, see if you can pay a visit to Dr. Sabatini and determine whether Simmons has made direct contact. Detective Carter, I can set you up here to look into any other leads on Isabella's whereabouts."

Carter glared at Finch, causing him to turn to John with a helpless expression. She knew exactly what he was attempting to do. In some ways, she found it endearing that Finch was trying to protect her but an equal part of her found it to be extremely irritating. "Absolutely not, Finch. I'm going to the Coronet."

"Joss, I don't think that's a good idea," John tried to reason with her.

"I either go with you or I go on my own." Harold and John exchanged a look, knowing they would not win this argument.

Harold gestured in exasperation to one of the back rooms of the Library. "Detective, if you go to the room on the left, you will find a wardrobe assortment. I had acquired various items for you and Ms. Shaw, so that we would be prepared if we needed to send either one of you undercover on short notice. I'll pose as your and Mr. Reese's driver, so I would suggest opting for some of the higher end clothing. You will more easily blend in with the Coronet's clientele."

"That won't be necessary, Harold. She's staying in the car," John retorted.

"We'll see about that," Joss called as she retreated in the direction Finch had indicated, ready to see what kind of taste Harold Finch had in women's clothing and accessories.

A few minutes later, John returned to the main room in a fresh suit. He turned as he heard the click of heels on the parquet floor. Carter stood before him in black stiletto Manolo Blahnik boots, a Dolce & Gabbana charcoal trench coat and a pair of over-sized black Gucci sunglasses. Her dark hair cascaded down her back. She looked more like a model than a homicide detective on a cop's salary. John was speechless.

"Cat got your tongue?" Carter asked flirtatiously. John was about to respond when Harold entered the room.

"Detective Fusco and Ms. Shaw have already left. Detective Carter, I have a new phone for you and an earpiece. John, I have a set for you as well since you saw fit to destroy your last ones when you so unceremoniously left your sick bed and disappeared." Harold gave John a disapproving stare and continued. "Are you both ready?" Carter and John nodded, following Harold out the door. John felt the sting of guilt as he watched his employer and friend lead them to the waiting car.


John strolled into the Coronet hotel bar to find Zoe already seated in the back booth, which afforded them privacy from prying eyes. She was dressed to kill in a slinky red dress that hugged every curve, leaving little to the imagination. Coolly sipping her martini, she waited for John to seat himself across from her.

"It's been awhile, John. You look tired." Zoe smiled as she plucked an olive out of her drink and placed it in her mouth.

"Looking lovely as always, Zoe. Were you able to track down that information on Belton?" John asked.

Zoe bit her bottom lip and took another sip of her drink. "Have I ever let you down?"

"Zoe, how do you know Belton? Is he a client?" John pressed her for answers.

Zoe pulled a black folder out of her Coach bag and placed it lightly on the table in front of her. "A few years ago, Belton found himself in a little trouble. He was having an affair with an eighteen year-old Eastern European prostitute. Some of his political rivals had video. I solved the problem. What's your interest in Belton?" Zoe asked.

"He can lead me to someone I very much want to find," John replied.

"John, is this related to HR? I know Belton was a strong ally of Alonzo Quinn." John didn't answer. Zoe began pushing the folder across the table to John. As he reached for the folder, Zoe pulled it back and placed her hand on top of his. She lightly rubbed circles over John's hand with her thumb as she spoke. "Listen, John. I know the last few weeks have been difficult for you. Let me help you forget about everything for tonight."


Dr. Robert Sabatini paced the length of his Greenwich Village office in frustration. He had come to work to maintain a sense of normalcy. Officer Simmons had warned Sabatini not to deviate from his usual routine.

Normally Sabatini did not spend much time in his office. It never felt right with its modern black and white décor and furniture that was more decorative than functional. It lacked the Old World style that better complimented a physician who still made house calls, carried a black alligator medical bag and wrote prescriptions by hand. He couldn't, however, bring himself to go home. Isabella wouldn't be there.

Allison and George had asked Robert to take care of his granddaughter for the week months ago. They were in Chicago at a conference designed for law enforcement, aid workers and the legal community who assisted battered women and children. How could he tell them that on his watch and because of his illicit connections, Isabella had been kidnapped? He didn't even have any bargaining chips—he didn't know the location of the detective Simmons was so anxious to find.

A soft rap on the door interrupted Sabatini's thoughts. "Doctor," his assistant, Angie called. "There is an NYPD detective here to see you." Sabatini's heart started pounding . Could the elusive Detective Carter have hunted him down? Or had someone seen the kidnapping and reported it to the NYPD? Simmons had warned no police. He went to the other side of his desk and opened the bottom right hand drawer, revealing an old Smith & Wesson revolver. He had taken an oath to save lives and he intended to save a life—Isabella's life.

He tucked the gun into his white coat pocket and called "Show the Detective in, Angie." Sabatini was disappointed when a middle aged male detective walked into his office. Suddenly recognition dawned on Sabatini. This was Detective Carter's partner.

"Hello, Dr. Sabatini. I don't know if you remember me. I'm Detective Fusco." Fusco stretched out his hand and gave the doctor's a firm shake.

"What can I do for you, Detective?" Sabatini asked.

"Doctor, there is no reason to play games. I know Patrick Simmons has your granddaughter and he wants you to tell him how to find my partner in exchange for her." Sabatini gaped at Fusco as the detective continued. "My friends and I are going to get Isabella back and take down Simmons, but we need your help."

"He said if I told anyone he would kill her. I'm sorry, Detective but I won't put her at risk. I already have my contacts searching for her."

"If you would just hear me out, Doctor. If you help us set a trap, we can get Simmons and Isabella without anyone getting hurt," Lionel attempted to reason with the doctor.

"You can't guarantee that. There is no point in pretending. I know you know who my employer is. For good or bad, I've put my faith in Elias that he will find her. I can't help you, Detective Fusco. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm expecting a call." Exasperated, Fusco walked out of the office and pulled out his phone to call Finch as he waited on the elevator.

Sabatini sunk into his office chair willing the phone to ring. When he had called Elias, attempting to gather information on the whereabouts of Detective Carter, the crime boss had seen through him. The kidnapping and Simmons' threats had come spilling out of Sabatini. The poor doctor was almost in tears as he begged Elias to trade the detective for his granddaughter. Elias had assured him he had his best men searching for Isabella. Robert Sabatini could only hope that he had made the right decision relying on Elias and sending Detective Fusco packing.


Joss Carter was thoroughly annoyed to be sitting in the back of a black town car in front of the Coronet. John had insisted on meeting Zoe alone. Although she did so grudgingly, Carter had to admit John would have more luck with Zoe if she wasn't present. That didn't mean she enjoyed listening in on the flirty banter between the two through her earpiece.

With Zoe's last statement, Carter had lost her patience. There was a twelve year-old girl missing because of her and Zoe Morgan had information that might lead to the child. And if she was being honest, she couldn't stand to listen to Zoe propositioning John for one more minute. Carter opened the car door, careful not to jostle her injured shoulder since she had left her sling back at the library. Harold called after her, but she ignored him. She strutted to the Coronet's entrance and pushed through the revolving door of the hotel lobby. Joss quickly spotted John and Zoe huddled across from each other in the far corner booth of the bar.

Carter wordlessly seated herself next to John and removed her sunglasses. "Hello, Zoe. How are you?" Joss asked with a fake smile plastered on her face.

Zoe Morgan was not usually a woman to be rendered speechless, but she also wasn't normally seated across from a ghost. "Joss?"

"Yes, Zoe. I'm alive. Now let's cut to the chase. What information do you have on Ryan Belton?"Joss questioned. Zoe placed the folder in Joss's outstretched hand. Joss silently perused the folder's contents and then closed it. "Thank you for your help, Zoe. We'll be in touch if there is anything else." Joss turned to look at John expectantly as she exited the booth.

"Thanks for the help, Zoe," John said as he stood to follow Carter. As he caught up to her, he placed a hand protectively at the small of her back as they left the hotel.

"Was that necessary, Joss?" John asked.

"If she had had her way, she would have forced you back to her room before she gave you that folder," Joss responded through gritted teeth. John couldn't hide the smirk that crossed his face at Carter's obvious jealous streak when it came to Zoe Morgan.

Joss waited as John opened the car door. She entered first and scooted across the backseat, allowing John to sit next to her. Joss then thrust the folder at Finch who was still waiting in the driver's seat.


An hour later, John and Joss were in the front seat of the town car driving to a warehouse in Queens. The old warehouse had been Belton's father's and the son inherited it when Belton, Sr. died six months ago. As John and Joss looked at the dilapidated building through the car window, both realized this would be an excellent place to hide a kidnapping victim or the City's most wanted.

John and Joss quietly exited the car, guns in hand, and approached the side of the building. The coast was clear. John glanced down at Carter's shoes. "Are you going to be able to move in those?" he asked gesturing at her designer boots.

"Just see if you can keep up with me," Joss retorted as she pushed her way through the side door. Joss went right and John went left, reconvening in the middle of the warehouse after confirming no one was home. As John approached Carter, something caught his eye. He walked over to one of the open shipping containers to inspect the item peeking out from beneath it. Kneeling down, John pulled the black nylon strap of a sky blue backpack.

Joss crouched beside him and unzipped the bag. Both knew who the owner had to be. Joss pulled out a pre-algebra book and opened the cover. The name Isabella O'Malley was written in pink, surrounded by hearts. "So we know she was here," Joss stated. Before John could answer, they heard gunfire approaching their location. John grabbed Joss's hand and ran for the nearest walk-in shipping container.

They both ducked inside, guns trained at the entrance, and continued to listen. It sounded as if the gunfire was retreating, but they then heard a single set of footsteps running towards their hiding spot. The intruder dived into the container, not noticing it was already occupied. Joss and John remained still in the back corner, hidden in the shadows. They aimed their guns at the new occupant.

The intruder noticed the movement as the sliver of outside light shifted. He pulled out his flashlight and shined it on Carter and Reese, letting out a laugh as the light illuminated them.

"Fancy meeting you two here."

"Tony?" Carter asked incredulously.

"The one and only. How are you Joss? Looking hot as usual." Tony Marconi replied with a grin.

Carter ignored the comment and placed a hand on John, forcing him to lower the gun he still had trained on Marconi. "What are you doing here?" Carter questioned.

"I imagine the same thing you and Mr. Personality are. Elias doesn't take kindly when our allies' families are targeted, especially kids. I have orders to find Isabella O'Malley and take out Simmons," Marconi responded.

"So I'm assuming the gunfire was for you?" Carter inquired.

Tony winked at Carter, "The Bulgarians may have the numbers but they're dumb. The coast should be clear. The last I saw them, they were running after one of my men in our SUV, headed uptown." Tony led the trio from the shipping container. As Carter stepped down, her heel wedged in the gap between the container and the floor, causing her to lurch forward. Tony stepped in catching her before she hit the ground. John's cat-like reflexes, however, had the two separated before Carter could recognize she had avoided hitting the floor.

Carter raised her eyebrows at John and then turned her focus back to Marconi. He continued to watch the two with a smirk on his face, noticing the possessive arm John still had wrapped securely around Carter's waist. John asked in a gruff voice "Have you had any sign of the girl?"

"No, I think they've already handed her off to Simmons or one of his HR cronies," Marconi responded. "Well, as fun as this has been, I need to report back to the boss." Marconi began to saunter away and then stopped. He walked back to Joss and paused in front of her. As Marconi reached into his pocket, Joss could see in her peripheral vision, John's hand go to his gun. Marconi pulled out a burner phone and placed it in Joss's hand. "Since we're all on the same team for this one." With that comment, he stalked to the entrance and disappeared from sight.

Joss could hear John mumble under his breath "He's a piece of work." She had to stifle a laugh. John reached up and touched his earpiece. "Yes, Finch."

"I received a call from Detective Fusco. Sabatini has apparently placed his faith in Elias. He is refusing to help us," Finch informed his asset. "Did you have any luck at the warehouse?"

"It seems that Elias is running down the same leads we are. Scarface was here but no Isabella or Simmons. We found the girl's backpack but she's long gone now. It looks like I'm going to have to pay Belton a visit. Maybe dangle him off a building," John said as he turned and grinned at Carter.

"Head back to the Library, Mr. Reese. I think it is time we regroup," Finch requested and disconnected the call.