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Chapter 25

Natalie arrived at the PD and quickly made her way to the Commissioner's office, hoping that no one would notice or recognize her. She could just imagine if she ran into someone that it would take mere minutes till John or Uncle Bo would be getting a call as to her whereabouts and why she was there. Seeing Antonio on the phone, Natalie moved swiftly around the corner so that he wouldn't see her.

Finally reaching his office she tried to ready herself for this interrogation, because that is exactly what it would be. Perhaps slamming the smug arrogant bastard at the Gala wouldn't be looked at right now as such a smooth move but it was justified and honestly had felt too fucking good for her to regret it now.

As if he could hear her thoughts the door to his office opened and there he stood sarcastic smirk in place, his superior attitude reeking worse than a dead skunk on the highway.

"Ms. Buchanan won't you come in? Or should we dispense with the formalities, Natalie?"

Sweeping past him, her answer giving him a clear indication of her dislike of his moronic self and his suggestion. "Thanks, and no you can call me Ms. Buchanan. Only my family and friends call me Natalie."

His smirk increasing he closed the door and circled his desk to take his seat. "Well now there's no reason why we can't be friends or even friendly, now is there?"

Peering at him as if he were some juicy bug stuck to the bottom of her shoe she wondered to herself, is this dud for real?

"Only that you insulted my uncle publicly, an uncle whom I care for deeply, add to that that you are a smug over confident jackass and I am sure I could think of many reasons for us NOT to be friends and definitely NOT friendly!" Stalking over to the chair opposite his desk she sat and crossed her legs and waited, because she refused to let him see just how nervous she felt inside. Sitting quietly, still, waiting for Ramsey to make the next move.

John had taken a quick shower after Natalie had left and was just putting his watch back on when his cell rang. Checking and seeing it was Antonio, John swore silently under his breath. He so did not want this call to be about work. He had the day off and as soon as Natalie was free he had definite plans on how he wanted to spend it.

"McBain." His gruff answer hopefully would be having Antonio reconsider calling.

"John, I know it's your day off but I thought you might want to know ..."

John cut him off before he could go any further. "Vega, its my day off. I don't care what's happening at the station I have plans for today and they sure as hell don't include any case we're working on. Believe me, nothing is more important that what I already have scheduled."

There was a moment of silence and then Antonio cleared his throat. "Okay, I just thought you might want to know who is presently in Ramsey's office."

"Nope, don't care. Not at all. Today you can handle it, today Ramsey and his little friends are not my problem."

"Alrighty then. I will just lurk outside his office and see if I can hear what he and Natalie are discussing. Don't worry I'm sure its nothing important and actually I figure it must have something to do with the Perkins case since he has that file with him. But hey, no worries man, I can handle it. You have a good day off."

"Wait! What the fuck?! Natalie is there?! Now?! Son of a bitch! Just ... fuck! Okay, okay I'm on way there now! Keep a fucking close eye on his office and stick real close, try and listen in and see what the hell is going on in there! Mother fucker!!"

Antonio smiled to himself as John hung up not even saying goodbye. Guess whatever he had planned wasn't that important after all, at least not as important as making sure Natalie wasn't in trouble. Funny how some things never change. Getting up out of his chair with a slight smirk, Antonio walked back out to the hallway and took up a position just outside the commissioner's office to wait for one irate Detective John McBain to arrive.

Grabbing his wallet and shoving it into his back pants pocket he made tracks for the door. What the fuck was Ramsey up to? And why the hell was Natalie there? She said she was going to see Jess ... Son of a bitch! That call! It wasn't from Jess but from Ramsey! And since she did not want John to know about it that meant it was so not good!! Racing from his room he just hoped he could get there in time before any real damage was done!

Dammit Natalie!

Ramsey observed the beautiful full of energy woman seated across from him. She was definitely a woman of class but with a down to earth feel to her that peaked his curiosity. Hmmmmmm, a different time and a different place and he could definitely see himself spending some time getting to know her. But unfortunately he had other things to concentrate on instead of a vivacious redhead. Maybe at a later date then.

Picking up the file he had on Allison Perkins he opened it and laid it out on his desk, taking his time knowing how to play this game. Just how to make a suspect feel at ease, and how to rattle them as well. Make them feel so uncomfortable that they ended up spilling more than they had ever intended. The latter was his plan with the fiery Ms. Buchanan, no point in acting sweet as she wouldn't buy it feeling the way she did towards him at present.

"So Ms. Buchanan, would you mind telling me where you were the night that Allison Perkins escaped from St. Anne's? And is there anyone who can collaborate your story?"

Well nothing like going for the jugular immediately, Natalie thought. Although she had tried to prepare herself for this it still shook her inside. There was no way that she could bring up Jessica's involvement in the whole crazy ass mess! Trying to bury her nervousness she instead brought out her bravado, false as it was it was better than nothing.

"Well let's see, that was the night before the Gala. I do believe I was looking for an appropriate dress to wear."

"And would you have a receipt?"

"No, I ended up wearing one that I had purchased before and never wore."

"Did anyone see you shopping? Could any of the sales clerks remember you?"

"Not sure, guess you'll have to ask them."

"Ms. Buchanan, I don't think you understand how serious this all is. I have a witness who has identified you as being one of the "nuns" that aided in Ms. Perkins escape. Right now you are our prime suspect in a felony case. And if the best alibi you have is that you were shopping well I think you are about to have a major problem, a major legal problem."

"Why would I want to help her breakout of a place the woman deserves to be? I have absolutely no love for her and feel nothing but hatred and disgust for the loon! You think I had something to do with her disappearance then prove it!"

Okay, so that probably wasn't the smartest thing to say to this idiot. He'd probably take it as a dare and try!

"Why would you want to help Ms. Perkins escape? Oh I don't know, maybe she had something she was using to make you or perhaps you had a different plan, get her out from behind the institutional walls and get a little payback for what she did to you and your family? And believe me Ms. Buchanan if I feel that you are involved I will prove it. It won't matter what she did to you in the past or what your last name is, you will pay. And I will also find out who it was that was your accomplice, because even though we don't have a description of the other woman I will find out who she is."

Natalie could feel herself losing control of the situation, he was getting too close to the truth and that scared the hell out of her. Her voice rising she just reacted on instinct which in this case was not another smooth move. Standing and moving closer to his desk, placing her hands on it and leaning over into his face she let him have it with both barrels.

"Well then you go right ahead! Prove I did it! If you think you can take another Buchanan down then go right ahead and try! I have nothing to hide, you pompous anal retentive bastard!"

John arrived at the PD out of breath from sprinting from his car all the way to the reception area outside of Ramsey's office. Glancing quickly around he saw Antonio casually going through a file while standing close to the entrance of the room. Quickly walking over to him and picking up another file that was lying there, he pretended to be reading it.

"Has she come out yet?"

"Nope, and its been pretty quiet too. I haven't been able to hear a thing."

"Dammit! This is so not good! Why the hell would Natalie come down here without telling me? Or without having some representation?! Son of a bitch, if Ramsey is trying to set her up for something her being here alone with him makes his job a hell of a lot easier!"

Antonio nodded, he knew about John seeing Natalie the night of Allison's disappearance although he didn't know she had been dressed as a nun. John had kept that tiny bit of info to himself.

Suddenly both men heard Natalie's voice loud and clear, along with the other officers that had been milling around.

"Well then you go right ahead! Prove I did it! If you think you can take another Buchanan down then go right ahead and try! I have nothing to hide, you pompous anal retentive bastard!"

"Shit!" Dropping the file and not bothering to see what would happen next John whipped open the door to Ramsey's office and briskly walking in slammed it behind him.

In a second John took in the room and its two occupants. Ramsey, sitting there smug and satisfied while Natalie stood leaning over his desk, her hands planted on the surface, her face flushed with anger, frustration and self disgust that she had allowed Ramsey to goad her into reacting.

At John's entrance, Natalie spun around and flushed even more. Oh crap! And by the look on his face she knew he had no doubt why she was here or how she had ended up in this room. Double crap! She was going to have some 'splaining to do when they were alone! And for some reason she didn't think it would be any fun at all.

Ramsey got to his feet and walked around the desk to stand closer to Natalie which made John bristle with fury. He wanted Ramsey no where near Natalie and for many many reasons, least of which was the slight look of lust in his eyes when he glanced at her!

"McBain, this is a private meeting I don't recall inviting you to it."

"Well it went from private to public when the voices reached the hallway. Is there a reason you are questioning Ms. Buchanan without legal representation? Because I have a feeling that by the time the rest of the family hears about it and the DA no one will be too damn happy."

"Detective McBain, what possible concern is it of yours? It would almost appear that you are acting as if you have a personal investment here? Would you care to explain why that would be?"

The look in Ramsey's eyes was of curiosity and appraisal. Dammit! John knew he was giving the bastard an enormous clue to his biggest weakness but he couldn't remain poised and cool Ramsey went after Natalie.

It was clear the commissioner had an ulterior motive for calling Natalie in for questioning, whether it was his arrogant way of attacking the Buchanan's or perhaps his sick obsession with trying to bring John to his knees, either way it was clear that Ramsey intended to try and use her.

"As you well know Bo is a personal friend of mine and as for Natalie, you know damn well we share a past. She's a friend and I'm concerned about her. You can't have a problem with friends looking out for each other, can you?"

"No, not at all. As long as that's all it is McBain, concern. We do things but the book now, no leniency just because her last name is Buchanan or because she was a good lay."

Before Ramsey could draw his next breath John had a hold of his white starched shirt with both clenched hands, turning and slamming him against the filing cabinet.

"John! Stop, don't do this! Please!" Natalie's voice permeated through the red haze of rage that had engulfed John. But it was her tiny but strong hands tugging at his arm that stopped John from wiping the sneer off of Ramsey's face. Turning to meet her anxious gaze, the pleading in her eyes spoke louder than any words.

"You want to take this further, McBain? Do you really want to hit your superior officer? Come on, you know you're just dying to." And there it was, he was playing into this prick's mind games. And although it would give him great pleasure to knock Ramsey into the middle of next week and leave the fucker drinking from a straw due to a wired jaw, he knew in the end it would be him that would win. Because sure as shit John would get locked up and then how the hell would he protect Natalie?

Releasing his grip, John took one then another step back from Ramsey. He might not be able to make the bastard pay with blood but he wouldn't just walk away. So leaning in towards him John put him on notice.

"You ever say anything about Natalie like that again and there won't be enough cops in this entire department to save your ass from me."

"I think we are done here, aren't we Commissioner?" Natalie's tone was slightly sarcastic but not so much as to encourage John to take him on again.

"Yes Ms. Buchanan. But we will be in touch and I guess I don't have to tell you not to leave town, correct?" His condescending fashion had the reaction he was hoping for, Natalie who's grip on John's arm was still tight, could feel him tense as if preparing to leap at the self centered pig.

"You have nothing to worry about there. I don't run from my problems." Turning and pulling John with her she opened the door and got out of there as quickly as she possibly could, dragging one silently fuming man behind her.

Once in the lobby, Natalie pulled John along until they were safely far enough away from Ramsey's office and then quickly turned and shoved him against the wall.

"What the hell was that about?! I don't need you riding to my rescue, you know! I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself! How the hell did you know I was here anyway? Shit! Did Antonio call you? I saw him lurking around trying to look busy! Son of a bitch! What is it with you men?! You think without you big strong Neanderthals we poor weak women wouldn't know how to take care of ourselves?! Good Gawd, I swear! You men make me want to join a lesbian recruiting group! John, you can't keep sweeping in and trying to ..."

The rest was cut off as he swung her around and pinning her to the very wall she had shoved him, closing in before she could even begin to comprehend what was about to happen and then totally trashing her thoughts with a mind blowing kiss. Only when the whistles and snickers grew louder did he pull back.

Looking at the dazed and more than a little confused look on her face, he rested his forearm on the wall by her head while still leaning in close enough for his breath to stir not only her hair but the fire of rampant desire that had burst to life inside of her. Smiling, while never breaking eye contact he finally spoke.

"So, you were saying?"