Author Note: Happy New Year wonderful people. I hope everyone had a happy and safe night. I want to thank you all for the amazing support this past years. Writing fanfiction has been an outlet for me and it's because of you that I keep going. Again I appreciate everyone's patience with this story I try to write whenever I get a free moment but the real world can be a pain in the butt. Thank you for the responses I have been getting back from you all. I love to hear back from the readers to see what they think. So if you have any suggestions please write me a review or send me a PM. Enjoy Chapter 20.
Paige and Christy stood there, their faces showing no emotion as Mike told them what Bobby had told him earlier that night. "So she had sex with them, then she killed them?" Christy asked not believing what she had just heard. Mike nodded still coming to terms with it himself. "Mike, how has she never been arrested?" Christy asked.
"Because we don't have any idea of what she actually looks like. People who have seen her, like Bobby, won't talk about her in fear of ending up dead. When people are brave enough to describe her, the descriptions are never the same. Bobby said she was 5'8, blonde hair, green eyes. Another witness said she had brown hair and brown eyes with a scar on her left leg. Melina Vasquez is our very own Keyser Soze."
Paige pulled out her phone punching in a number, "Hi, this is Agent Paige Warren. I need a safe house set up for a couple. The names are Nicholas and Brandi Davis and we need this house set up right away. Yes, I'll hold."
Mike walked over taking the phone from her but Paige moved before he could grab it. "Paige, hang up the phone." Paige turned her back to Mike ignoring him as she waited. "Paige, if you do this, then kiss our case goodbye. Foster is watching every move we make and once she gets a whiff of this she will have the ammo she needs to take this case from the DEA." Even with her back turned to him, Mike knew Paige's body language and he knew she was listening to reason. "Paige, this is your case. Don't sabotage it."
"Yeah, I'm still here. Actually, you can go ahead and cancel that request. Yes, I'm sure. Thank you." Paige turned around looking right at Mike, "You were right. But Mike, we have to help them."
"No, Paige we don't. Not yet, anyway."
"Mike, they're our friends!" Paige yelled.
"No, Paige. They're our suspects in a drug trafficking case," Mike said calmly.
Paige's face showed anger and frustration with her husband. "Mike, they're more than that and you know it."
"It doesn't matter what my personal feelings are towards them. Right now they're the people we're investigating. We still have no idea what their connection is to Vasquez or even if there is one. If and when the time comes that their lives are in danger we'll get them out."
Paige shook her head not at Mike but at herself. She knew that he was thinking logically, while she ran on emotion. "Fine, but where do we go from here?"
"Let's start with what Christy has for us."
"Which, like I told you earlier is the break you've been looking for," said Christy.
"We're all ears," Mike said.
"Okay, so I went over the dirt sample from their tire and I was able to find certain elements that are rare in this part of the state except for five areas. I then did some digging on land purchases in these areas in the past year and I got four. The first was for an orange field. I checked it out myself and it's legit. The second one was too close to many major cities so I crossed it off. The third one seemed like the ideal location but they just started construction there for a nudist retreat, so again a no go."
"I'm not so sure. I think we should check it out," Mike said.
Paige and Christy looked at him with confusion. "What? Excuse me for trying to lighten the mood," Mike said with a grin.
Paige chuckled as Christy continued, "Which leaves us with the fourth purchase. It's perfect for farming, it's not too big to be suspicious, it's miles from any civilization, there's a giant green house in the middle of the property. Oh, and there's this." Christy handed Mike a copy of the deed of the property and on the bottom was Nick's signature.
"How are we just finding this out now?" Mike asked.
"I spoke with the realtor, and she said Nick paid with cash, so no paper trail."
"And she didn't think someone paying with cash for a piece of property in California was a bit suspicious?" Paige asked.
"She didn't seem like the most honest woman in the world, so I don't think she actually cared." Paige turned to Mike, "You feel like taking road trip out to the valley?"
"Sounds like fun, but we can't go on the property without a warrant."
"We'll do an old fashioned stake out. Once we have the proof we need, we'll get the warrant."
Mike pulled Paige in close, "Alright. You can get the snacks and pick out the music, but I get to drive."
Paige kissed Mike softly her hands lingering on his chest, "You got yourself a deal. Christy, care to join us?"
"As much as I would love to join you guys on this fun road trip, I'm having dinner at Graceland, which I'm running late for. Johnny told me I couldn't be late for Charlie's sauce?"
Mike and Paige's eyes nearly popped out of their heads when they heard that. "They're having sauce night without us!" Paige yelled.
"What's the big deal? It's just sauce," Christy said. The look she got from both agents made her eyes widen. "Do you want me to save you some?"
"There won't be any leftovers," Paige said sadly.
"Well, good luck tonight," Christy said.
"Yeah, whatever," the agents said as they headed out.
As Christy headed out the door her phone rang. Seeing it was Johnny, she picked up. "Hey sweetie. Yeah, they just left. Yes, they were mad and so sad. Ok, if you say it was all in good fun. Sure, I can pick up dinner. Just give me the name of the Thai restaurant. Oh, I love that place. I'll be over soon."
"Okay, there's the green house. It doesn't look big enough to grow the amount of weed that's being distributed, but I'm not an expert. What do you think? Paige?" Mike looked over to see Paige looking at pictures of them and their friends.
"I still can't believe Charlie would do sauce night without us," Paige said with sadness in her voice. Mike rubbed Paige's shoulders, "There has to be a reason as to why she would, but let's not focus on that right now. We need to get enough proof to get a warrant on the property. I got a dirt sample from the road that leads to the greenhouse. It looks the same."
Paige took out night vision goggles and looked around, "Mike, I can't see shit with this junk. I swear its bull that you FBI guys get all the money and the best toys." She tossed the goggles in the back in frustration.
"Why didn't you get some of the good stuff? That way we can actually solve this case," she snapped at him.
Mike was surprised at Paige's anger towards him. But he knew she wasn't angry with him. He was just the unlucky person having to deal with it. "I did bring some toys. I was using the goggles while I was outside. I was going to give them to you but you grabbed yours. Here, these are top grade. You'll see a whole lot more."
Paige took the goggles. "Thank you."
"It's not sauce night that's bothering you. It's what it represents."
Paige sighed and shook her head. "How did you know?"
Mike shrugged his shoulders. "I'm a detective it's what I do."
"Things have been changing since you and I got together." Paige reached out holding onto Mike's hand, "Don't get me wrong, I have loved every moment of this….well 90%. The whole you almost dying six months ago I can do without."
"Naturally."
"I mean we're married, Johnny has Christy, Charlie and Briggs are getting close. Hell, even Jakes is seeing someone."
"Jakes is seeing someone?" Mike asked.
"Shit. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. You know how he hates when people are in his business."
"Don't worry I won't tell anyone about Jakes' secret girlfriend. So with all of us being happy in our personal lives and moving on in our professional ones you're afraid we're drifting apart as a family. Am I right?"
"Seriously, Mike. You can give Batman a run for his money."
Mike leaned forward kissing Paige on the cheek, "Thank you wife, that is quite an honor." Mike then pulled her in close, her head resting on his shoulder. "Do you want the harsh truth or the big lie?"
Paige took a deep breath, "The big lie would be comforting, but lay the harsh truth on me."
"Truth is, yeah we're all moving forward in different ways, but it's all for the best. Yes, we were left out of sauce night, but look at the day we had. We spent the entire day at the beach with two amazing kids, then we had dinner with them and their amazing parents who are dear friends of ours."
Thinking on the day they had did make Paige smile. "We're going to miss more sauce nights, but for every one we miss we'll be doing something just as fun with others or just each other."
"Always seeing the glass as half full agent Warren. That's why I love you."
"You feel better?"
"I do. But I'm still pissed about sauce night." Paige tossed Mike the goggles, "Here, you do surveillance I'm calling Charlie to ask what gives."
Mike protested, "Paige I really think…"
Paige put up her hand as she called Charlie. Mike just shook his head and stepped out of the car. The phone rang and rang before Charlie picked up.
Hey mama, how's life in the burbs?
Not too bad, just following up on a lead.
Oh yeah? Anything happening? You need some help?
No, we're good. Mike and I have it covered. We're enjoying the time alone, just the two of us.
Oh sweetie, please. I just ate, and I really don't want to hear about you and Mike going at it.
Paige's face was deep red and her tone was sharp as a knife as she brought up sauce night. "Oh, how was dinner? You all must be stuffed."
Yeah, we had enough to feed an army. It's a shame you and Mike weren't here with us.
Seeing the look on Paige's face from outside Mike knew she couldn't control her anger for too much longer. Mike was on his way to the car to intervene when he spotted three large trucks coming over the ridge heading their way. Luckily, they would never see their car, but Mike was in their sights if he didn't hide. Mike ducked down as the cars drove by. He watched as the trucks turned on the road towards the greenhouse. Mike then ran back to the car to get Paige.
"Even if Mike and I were able to make it, you probably wouldn't have saved any for us," Paige snapped.
Wow, sweetie, what's with the attitude? You and Mike are family. You both still live here and even if you didn't, there is always a spot at the table for the both of you. Look, if your lead pans out or not, stop by the house. There is plenty of Thai food left over.
Oh don't give me that…wait? Thai food?
Yeah, we had Thai food for dinner. Johnny ordered way too much and we have a shit ton of leftovers.
So, you guys didn't have sauce night?
Hell no, we didn't have sauce night. I would never have it if you and Mikey weren't here to enjoy it too. Who told you we had sauce night?
Christy said that she was… Johnny, that asshole! I'm gonna kill him!
Just then Paige's door flew open and Mike said in an urgent whisper, "Paige, we have to move!"
"Mike, we didn't miss sauce night! Johnny…."
"Paige as happy as I am about the non-sauce night, I'm also very interested in the three large trucks heading to the greenhouse as we speak." Mike handed her the goggles as the trucks pulled up.
"Charlie, I'll talk to you later," Paige said as she hung up. Mike pulled out more gear from the truck as Paige hopped out of the car.
"You didn't you notice the three large trucks pass by?"
"I'm sorry, I was preoccupied talking to Charlie."
"Doesn't matter. The question is: what do we do now?" Mike asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Nick is up north with Brandi, so who are these guys? Do we have enough for probable cause to see what's going on? You're leading the investigation. It's your call, Paige."
Paige looked straight into Mike's eyes. "We go in and observe. We don't arrest, understand?"
"You got it."
"Let's move."