"I've just got more thing to do before we go back," Marty announcing, swinging the car into the traffic. "I asked the jeweller to put something aside for me." Kensi felt her heart quicken.
The jeweller turned out to be one with a very familiar name, with a shop where you had to have an appointment just to get in to try to spend your money. There was a buzzer at the door, which was locked, just to make sure no chance passer-by should try to come in from the street. And they knew Marty, greeted him by name – although the name they used was Brandel, of course. Nothing so crass as money changed hands, instead a discreet bill of sale was tucked into an envelope and proffered almost apologetically.
"What do you think?" He opened the green leather box and displayed the bracelet. "Do you think Nico will like it, Miss Atherton?"
"I'm sure she'll love it, sir," Kensi replied dully. For a moment, she had forgotten they were undercover, acting out a role. For a moment, she had allowed herself to dream. "It's very beautiful."
"I thought she could wear it to that opening we're going to tonight – the Hockney retrospective." Deeks continued chatting as they left the shop. "That should do it. Some of the biggest gossips on the west coast work in there. I'm sure one of them will be on her cell the moment we drive away." He continued talking, pleased with his clever scheme, never noticing that Kensi was uncharacteristically silent.
She stared gloomily ahead, trying to put things into perspective and failing utterly. She hadn't realised just how deeply she was involved until the moment she thought he was going to present her with a diamond ring and propose. And it was stupid, it was still early days and there were so many things they'd never even spoken about, far less talking about spending the rest of their lives together. Only it would have been lovely and she would have said "yes" in an instant. And now she felt like weeping for what was not. Which was stupid, because Kensi knew she had so much that was so great in her life, she should be deliriously happy. But right now, she felt like weeping.
Luckily, before she could revel too deeply in her misery, her cell rang. "Hi Sam – we're on our way back. Should be with you in about twenty minutes. Everything okay?" Her face grew concerned. "He's doing what? Okay – and what did Nico say? We'll be there as soon as possible." She ended the call.
"You want to let me in what's happening?" Deeks had already moved into the fast lane and was accelerating rapidly. "Kensi? Is Nico alright?" His voice had an unfamiliar edge of panic about it.
"Minor trouble back at the house. Nico's manager has arrived and is demanding she goes back to San Diego immediately. According to Sam, when she put her foot down and said she was staying put, he tried to drag her bodily out."
"Sam soon put a stop to that, I hope?"
Kensi smiled, despite herself. "He didn't get a chance. Nico literally put her foot down. As in she ground the heel of her stiletto into his foot – really hard - and then boxed his ears for good measure. All Sam had to do was lead the whimpering wreck over to a chair and stand over him."
But Marty wasn't smiling. His face was set as he changed gears and belted towards the turn-off. "It could be him, Kensi. Nico's manager could be the person sending her all those threatening emails. And he's right there in my house, right now. With Nico." And I should be there too. I owe her.