Chapter 20

"Nate a week…?" Sophie whispered as they prepared to take over the party at the Peterson's house.

"I don't see another way Soph…if we go in full steam we could scare her off, the deal doesn't go through and then…"

"What if we just approached them, I mean just told them that they were taking our child…"

"Soph…" Nate said looking at her with a slight frown. The woman knew better than that, she was a Grifter…she had spent her life in the dark underworld. People who were willing to buy a child were not going to be 'guilted' into giving that same child up. Telling them could add to the problems not ease them.

"I know…but…" Sophie tried to stop the tears but failed miserably. "Nate, what if this isn't Kate and we have wasted…what if she is out there somewhere else, what if…"

"Stop Soph…just stop it. Susan was here. She was here with these people and this is where we are going to get Kate back." Nate said. He had also considered the possibility that they were going down the wrong road. But he had to believe that it was not. That the Petersons were going to 'adopt' their little Kate and that they would be there to stop it.

"Don't worry Soph…we are going to get her back I promise." Nate said taking her into his arms and holding her tight.

"She must be so very scared…so alone…" Sophie sobbed. "What have they told her…? She's only three years old Nate…she's so…"

"Shhh…she's her mother's daughter Soph…she'll be alright…" Nate told the woman. Just then Hardison, Eliot and Parker burst through their door and Nate could immediately tell something was very wrong.

"What's wrong…what's happened." Nate asked feeling a panic rise in him.

"Susan Sellwood was just arrested for murder." Hardison blurted out.

"What…who…oh God…" Sophie said her eyes wide with fear.

"No…no…" Eliot said seeing that Sophie was jumping to conclusions. "She was apparently recognised by somebody and you know she has outstanding warrants on her for murder and assault… anyway they gave her up. She was taken into custody about an hour ago."

"Ok…ok…" Nate said taking a deep breath. "Does she have a lawyer yet?"

"No…she put in one call but it was to a burner phone. Probably to her boyfriend…"

"Who must be holding Kate…" Sophie added.

"Well he hasn't showed up nor has a lawyer and because she absconded the first time I doubt she is going to get bail." Eliot told them.

"I don't know that she has requested one yet." Hardison said.

"No but she might be amenable if one shows up…" Nate said.

"And suspicious..." Parker added ruefully.

"Maybe, but if that same lawyer was sent by her good friend Penelope Cowan who happened to hear of her arrest…"

"She doesn't know that Penelope is on to her game with Sophie…"

"No and she will think that Penelope would do anything to prevent her from telling Nate…"

"Which means Nate…" Eliot said turning to the Mastermind. "You can't play the lawyer. She'll be on to you, probably knows what you look like." He knew Nate was planning to go in and interrogate the woman but that would be too dangerous.

"She might know any one of us." Hardison added.

"She did talk about my 'team' so I think she might." Sophie agreed.

"But she won't know Sterling."

All of them stared at Nate. Sterling…as a lawyer…? But Nate ignored them pulling out his phone and dialling Sterling's number.

"Sterling…how quickly can you get to the airport? Hardison will have tickets for you when you arrive." Nate said not bothering with the normal courtesies.

"What's going on?" Sterling asked.

"Just get here Jim…I'll fill you in then." Nate said then hung up the phone. He looked up at Hardison who smiled at him. Sterling was on the next flight out and would be in town in just under two hours.

James Sterling arrived in Atlantic City exactly one hour and forty five minutes later with Maggie in tow. They were met at the airport and quickly bundled into the van and driven directly to the police station. Nate filled Sterling in on what was happening on the way and told him what he wanted the man to do.

"Make it very clear you are from Penelope and get it across that she will do anything to keep her from telling me what really happened to Sophie and Kate." Nate told the man.

"I got it Nate…" Sterling assured the Mastermind.

"We need her to talk Sterling…she is the only one who knows where Kate is." Sophie added.

"I know that…" Sterling said softly. "I'll get her to talk." He promised as he exited the van which had pulled up in front of the police station.

Sterling walked into the police station with an air of authority. He walked up to the main desk and demanded to see his client Susan Sellwood. The policeman behind the counter told him to wait and then disappeared into the rear of the station. Minutes later a tall well-built man in plain clothes emerged.

"Mr…"

"Finch…" Sterling finished for him not holding out his hand to the man.

"Mr Finch." Detective Sargent William Forrester acknowledged. "Ms Sellwood did not request a lawyer."

"Detective…"

"Forrester..."

"Well detective I have been sent by a friend of hers if it is any concern of yours…I believe you are aware of her sixth amendment rights…" Sterling asked his tone implying he did not think that the guy was bright enough to be aware of anything.

"Of course…" Forrester said hastily. "If Ms Sellwood wishes to consult with you…"

"Just tell her that Penelope Cowan sent me to assist in her predicament." Sterling told the man. "Today would be nice…" He added with sarcasm.

The detective gave a scowl to Sterling before turning to inform his detainee of Sterling's presence. He returned a few minutes later and indicated that Sterling should follow him.

"Remember Sterling…we need her to give up the information…" Nate told the man through the coms.

Sterling did not reply but sighed inwardly, he really didn't like having Nate in his head, but he knew he was just going to have to put up with it. Entering the interrogation room he found Susan Sellwood sitting handcuffed to the table.

"Is that necessary?" He asked the detective who accompanied him in.

"Yes." The man said firmly.

"Fine…" Sterling said walking forward and taking a seat opposite the woman. "Now get out. I would like some time with my client alone."

The detective threw another scowl at Sterling but nodded and left closing the door behind him.

"So Ms Sellwood…shall we talk?" Sterling said sitting back and surveying the woman before him.

"Penelope Cowan sent you?" Susan asked her voice deadpan.

"Yes…she heard about your…problem…and thought you would require a good lawyer to assist you. Was she wrong?" Sterling asked.

"How did she find out?" Susan asked. The woman was obviously suspicious of Sterling's presence.

"Look if we are going to play twenty questions then I think I will just leave and you can get another lawyer…" Sterling said standing up and grabbing his briefcase. "I was only doing this as a favour to an old friend." Sterling could hear the collective intake of breath from the listening crew.

"Don't overplay your hand Sterling…" Nate hissed. This was their one chance and Sterling had better not screw it up.

Sterling ignored the voice and walked toward the door knocking on it loudly.

"Finished already…?" The detective asked as he opened the door for Sterling.

"It appears the lady does not require a lawyer after all…" Sterling told the man and started walking out the door.

"Wait…" Susan said halting Sterling's progress. "Wait…I want to talk to him…"

Sterling turned around and looked at her and smiled. He had her. Then he walked back to the desk and sat down again.

"You can go now…" He told the detective without even turning to look at him.

Once the door was closed again Sterling sat back and smiled at Susan.

"So Penelope sent you."

"I think we covered that."

"Well she better look after me if she knows what's good for her…" Susan told Sterling.

"And what may I ask does that mean?" Sterling asked his face darkening.

"She knows…that's why she sent you. So you better be good, 'cause if I go down for this…" Susan said sitting back in her chair and smiling an evil smile at Sterling. "She will regret it."

"That sounds like a threat Ms Sellwood."

"Oh…no threat…just facts…" Susan told him. "Now how are you going to get me out of this?"

"Well…first I need to know the facts pertaining to the arrest and then we can talk about getting you out." Sterling said. He did not want to delve too deeply too soon, he would get what he needed out of her but it was going to take a bit of time.

An hour later Sterling left the police station no closer to knowing where Susan's boyfriend was or where Kate was. He had sat and listened to Susan and her story of what had happened when she had killed the man she was arrested for murdering. She claimed he had attacked her and so on and so forth. Sterling knew she was lying, he could feel it. He knew nothing about the case but he didn't need to, he knew the person he was speaking to.

"You got nothing…" Sophie said accusingly to him as he climbed into the van.

"I know…but I am seeing her tomorrow again." Sterling told the woman. "Look Sophie, I had to gain her trust first, if I came on too strong she would have baulked, she is a suspicious woman."

"Sterling's right Soph…" Nate said heavily. This was going to take a little time, time they did not have, every minute his daughter could be in more danger, alone with a man nobody knew…it killed him to think about it and he could see it was doing the same to his wife.

"Let's go back to the hotel. Hardison is monitoring all communication, if she contacts anybody we'll know." Eliot told them.

"What about if the boyfriend contacts the Peterson's…?" Parker asked.

"I got that covered too girl…" Hardison said.

Nate sighed heavily and then nodded at Eliot who immediately turned and started the van pulling out and into the road. They were all tired and they were all in need of some sleep. Every time they seemed to catch a break something turned up to put a spoke in it. He could see it was really taking its toll on Nate and Sophie, especially the latter who was still recovering from her injuries. He just hoped that tomorrow Sterling would get something and they could make some headway in finding Kate.

So…another change in direction and another obstacle to overcome in the search for Kate. Will Susan tell Sterling what he wants to know? Does Penelope still have a part to play in the drama? What about the boyfriend and the Peterson's? Thank you all for the great reviews and please let me know what you thought of this chapter too and the direction the story is taking.