Chapter 26: This is Nancy
Chapter TextJason lets out a long sigh. It's been a long but good day.
He checks in on Mikey who's sleeping he covers him over. Emma's still up on the laptop
"Hey.. don't be up all night!"
"Dad!" she smiles
He lays himself down on his bed and he can see through the sides of his crib J.C's sound asleep
"wonder how long that will last" he smiles as he checks the time on his phone.
He pulls the laptop round beside him on the bed and plugs the flash drive in and opens up the files.
He lets out another big long sigh preparing himself as the files flash up on the screen. He opens the picture files randomly all the new-born pics of JC and there are a couple of him with CJ.
Jason touches the screen. There's a nice one of the two of them and he sends it to his phone and smiles. He continues to flick randomly through the files back and forward.
He frowns that one won't open. She's labelled that one differently "Shopping List?" he frowns "What the hell!?" he looks confused as it won't open and is password protected "that's weird it's not saved like the other file formats? "
He tries a couple of various things nothing works "hmmmm!"
He's really confused. He looks at the file details as its a large file taking up most of the storage on the flash drive. He frowns taps his fingers on the keyboard "that's odd all the other files open fine"
He takes the flash drive out and puts it back on his key ring as he sits in bed thinking. That file is still bothering him and he plugs the flash drive back in and keeps looking.
Trying a few more different password guesses he finally gives up trying. "What is a shopping list? seriously CJ and a Shopping list? What the hell could that be?"
He shakes his head, he's tired as he rubs his face. He sighs and shuts the laptop cover, leaving it lying on the bed beside him he closes his eyes
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Mandy's in her office when she gets a knock on the door.
"Bernard!" she smiles "This is a surprise...Come in. What can I do for you? You don't venture these waters much now!"
"Nope not anymore but I have errrmmm a…. special request for your attention" he frowns at her "Hostage just a snatch and grab you got a team read to go?"
She's puzzled that he has come all this way in person for this "So, what? that warrants your personal attention on that?"
He coughs and fidgets in the chair "Journalist kidnapped in Syria three years ago."
She frowns "You have my attention" now she's curious
He coughs and looks around "Look why don't we go have Lunch and we can talk away from the office"
Mandy looks confused but she gets the hint "Okay?" she frowns as she shuts her laptop "I'll get my coat"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"I'll have the tuna salad" she orders "and a glass of mineral water. Thanks" she smiles at the waitress
"I'll have a whiskey on the rocks and sirloin" he hands the menu back "Expenses may as well" he smiles
He takes a breath "Look I can't tell you why this suddenly got pushed to the front of the line" he pauses "Thanks" as the whiskey arrives.
He takes a sip
"all I've got is the vaguest of explanations... so here it is he's the son of a donor in some media rag running a PR campaign for a senator and it will grease the wheels if he got brought home" he shrugs "that's a favor!.. oh and if there were say other unfortunates that get picked up that don't have major donors as family well…. .. well that's all good for PR too!" he smiles.
Mandy frowns at him
Seeing the look on her face "Oh! come-on Mandy you know how this works... big PR campaign... how intelligence agencies actually did some good that kinda bullshit!"
he can tell she still not buying into the story he's selling "Look Johnson this Reporter kidnapped in Syria three years ago it came to someone's attention that he may be alive ...and being held in Damascus all we're asking is that you put the package together and send couple T1 teams snatch him from the crazies and bring him home ...you can manage that?... Yes?"
Mandy gulps she sits there staring trying to get a read "This is Bullshit Bernard ... who sent you?... Why has his has just come about?" she drinks her water
They both nod thanks as the food arrives.
"ahh!... it's not just come about... Nah he's been in pipeline for about year now but he's been nothing to warrant a T1 exercise in Syria"
he takes a mouthful of steak "but for some reason this week someone pushed some buttons and his ticket jumped the queue"
He eats. She's watching him
"Why?...Why him now?.. if you've known about him for a year .. Why has he jumped the queue now?"
"Oh come on Mandy you know how the Washington machine works... You scratch my back …I scratch your itch wherever it is"
"hmmm!" she shakes her head "so they knew he was there for a year and didn't do anything now suddenly he warrants a T1 Rescue? and you don't want me to ask questions?... seriously?"
"Look the question is do you have operators ready to go?"
"I could sort something I'm sure I need to look over the intel a bit more"
"Yeah sure.. sure" he continues with his steak "just errrm... don't spend too long looking... this is being expedited hard ...this could get taken out of our hands if you can't handle it quickly" He looks up from his meal at her
She bites her lip annoyed "I understand!. What I don't understand is the sudden urgency?"
"Mandy all I was told is to make clear to you that speed is of the essence here" he drinks his drink "and of course, if there happen to be any other hostages"... he pauses and looks at her "...they could always be brought back too...It'll make us all look good" he gives her a fake smile "You not eating?"
She nods and smiles but this doesn't sit right with her especially after seeing the video Reuben gave her
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Come" Blackburn shouts
Mandy opens the door to his office "can I speak with you?"
"Yeah sure Mandy. Come in. Sounds important... What is it?"
She sighs "I've had a target package pushed to the front of the queue by someone in Washington"
"That doesn't sound good" Blackburn frowns "should I be worried?"
"Hmmm! Maybe…. I'm not sure who pushing what buttons here, but I don't have a lot of choice" she frowns "just need to know what teams you have available ready to go ASAP"
"Well Charlie and Bravo are ready as soon as you have Green Lit... how many you need?"
"Two... and its already has Green lit" she sighs "but I was hoping perhaps keep Bravo out of this one"
"Because ….you wonder if Jason's ready?.. I can assure you he's fine and they're still my best team"
She gulps and thinks "It's not a question about Jason being ready ... but you better see this … "she plugs the flash drive into his laptop and turns on the TV
He watches the video and shakes his head "and …. this doesn't warrant BRAVO because?... what?"
"Journalist Stephen Johnson ...held captive in Damascus for nearly three years. On the surface this is just standard hostage snatch and grab" she sighs again "Now watch again and look closely ... in the background at the other hostages!"
He looks confused as the video replays but he does as she says and carefully studies the footage "Oh my god!... Is that ...?"
"Get it now?... my brief includes bringing any other captives back" she she gives him a worried sigh "If you send BRAVO in there... You know Jason won't leave till he brings her out"
Blackburn nods
"and I can't even be sure she's still there but I'm getting the impression some thinks she is"
Blackburn rubs his head "Shit!... so we can we get any more intel one way or the other?... Be sure before we go in?"
Mandy lets out a sigh "No we need to move ... this thing is being pushed... I think someone knows she's there ... I don't have any proof"she pauses
Blackburn frowns " between you and me Eric...I don't think this has been about bringing Johnson home!"
The door knocks "Come!"
Jason puts his head round the door. Mandy quickly turns the laptop off
"Am I disturbing anything? "
"No, we're done"
"Good! errrmm... look Mandy I wondered if you wanted to catch a drink? ... I got something I want to discuss with you"
"Yeh sure" She smiles at Blackburn "we'll discuss this later"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
They stand at the bar and Jason orders drinks.
"How about we go sit over there in the booth. More private"
"Sure" she looks confused
As Jason returns with the drinks and sits down she frowns at him he looks worried "Jason ...What's wrong?"
"I found this... in her things... CJ's things" he holds the flash drive in his fingers.
"And…?" she says puzzled "Baby pics" she reads on the label
"that's what's on it"
"Okay?" she smiles "and what?"
He sighs biting his lip before he explains "there's another file on there... but its.. password protected or something. I can't open it"
"And you want me to get it open?" she looks puzzled "yeah ..sure I can send it to the lab" she frowns
"Do you have someone you can trust? ...like really trust?"
"What is this Jason" she frowns "some family snaps she took and password protected? I don't think they're gonna be state secrets do you!" she laughs " I mean if she password protected it are you sure you really wanna know what those photos are?" She raises her eyebrows "I mean... I'm just saying? they might be ... you know... personal?"
He frowns and ignores her comments "It's called shopping list"
She shakes her head " I don't understand"
He lowers his voice "Look when we were at the Fairfax hostage sitch... she told me..." he looks round "she told me she thought they came after her for a third part of your list. A Big-name list. One that involved people with arms contracts, under the radar weapons sales. I think that list might be on here"
She looks at him "Jason do you know what you're saying? Why would she put it on there with baby pictures?"
"To hide it maybe?...Can you get it open off record or not?"
"Maybe?" she looks worried "but if anyone knows you have this, and it is what you think..." she bites her lip "...look Jason we need to be careful... look what its cost C.J and father already. Let me do some digging first"
He sighs "Yeah, you're right maybe I need to hang on to it for a while" he puts his keys back in his pocket and takes a sip of his drink
"Maybe it's best not to mention this to anyone for now? Just till we establish exactly what it is?"
He continues with his drink as she changes the subject.
"Jason how are you doing?" She puts her hand on his.
"I'm good" he nods he puts his other hand on the back of hers and softly rubs it. She smiles and looks in his eyes there's always nearly a moment between her and Jason that neither of them ever push further. Neither dare risk their friendship
"HEY!" Sonny shuffles in beside them "and what you two getting all cosy about in here?"
"Nothing just talking" Mandy smiles
Davis comes over. and Ray joins them from the bar. "Hey...how you doing?"
"yeah good " Jason looks up as they all bring their drinks over
"JC sleeping better now?" Ray smiles
"yeah he settling more now. More routine"
"That's good brother. routine that's the key"
"Look I have to go" Mandy looks at her watch "we ll talk again later" she smiles
Mandy picks up her phone as she leaves the bar. The call she makes goes to voicemail "Reuben call me when you get this message please it's urgent"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"What's that all about?"
"nothing just having a drink and a catch up"
Clay arrives with a woman "oh no!... do you wanna go somewhere else? I didn't expect the guys to be here they can be a bit... you know?"
"No! its fine ... I'm sure they'll be fine.. I can handle it" she smiles
"Hi!" he smiles at everyone awkwardly "This is errrm ...this is Nancy"
"Nancy?... well Hello there Nancy" Sonny smiles "let's be polite and get Nancy a drink then shall we? why don't you sit down here lovely lady"
Sonny looks at Ray and frowns "Where's she suddenly come from?"
"I have no idea?" Ray shakes his head "What would you like to drink .. Nancy?"
"Oh errrmmm.." she smiles "I'll have a vodka soda. Thank you"
"Coming right up!" T
he guys all look at each other. Ray helps Sonny & Spenser at the bar.
"You serious with her man?" Ray smiles
"Errm no we just met. Its kinda a first date"
"OK…. she errrm...not being funny,she doesn't really seem your type... you don't mind me saying"
"She's fun...different. A distraction" Spenser turns around and smiles at her
"Okay!...distractions are good, sometimes" Ray nods "Moving on, is good... Just be careful man!"
"So, Nancy how you meet our poster boy!" Sonny inquires as he places the drinks on the table
"Errrm... he was shopping with his baby and we got chatting" she smiles"I was a bit forward and asked him to have a coffee...I've never really done anything like that before" she laughs " but they looked so cute" she smiles " I just thought why not..." she shrugs
Everyone at the table stops and looks
"errm... was misunderstanding" Clay tries to bluff off her comment
"Sorry I misunderstood?" Nancy looks puzzled "What about?"
"about the baby I never said he was mine!"
"No asked you is he yours and you said yes? I remember!"
"No! no you said was he with me? I said yes... meaning yes he was with me" Clay panics
Everyone looks embarrassed.
"and…the elephant in the room just rears its head" whispers Sonny to Ray.
"You know what... I need to get off!" Jason stands up "kids to check on" he doesn't look happy "Nancy it was nice to meet you" he smiles "guys!" he stares at Clay before leaving
"Well that was awkward" Davis whispers to Sonny
Ray gets up and goes after Jason.
"Jason!... Jace man wait up...You Okay?" he frowns "you know I'm sure that was a misunderstanding like he said"
"No Ray. That wasn't a misunderstanding ... that's what he's wondering" he shakes his head "Don't tell me you all haven't thought it?... tell me you didn't wonder too?"
Ray sighs and roll his eyes "And... you haven't?... honestly?"
Jason nods and shakes his head thinking "Yeah I did for few minutes... I've looked at him a few times and wondered"
Ray shakes his head "Look man if you got doubts and you're not sure then…." He pauses "...then maybe you should ...you know... perhaps do a test?"
"NO!" he shakes his head "No Ray! I don't need to" he snaps back "there was one thing between us always that we trusted each other 100% through everything that was our thing"
he looks at Ray "Yeah I let her down and she was pissed at me!" he sighs "god knows she had plenty reasons not to tell me he was my son...but she put me down to look after him ...she wouldn't have done that Ray, She wouldn't.. not if he wasn't mine!" he bites his lip "She did that knowing that if that kicked in then it was likely she was dead or not coming back... She did it for a reason"
Ray sighs "but You don't know you for sure! ...God knows you know she can be spiteful" he pauses "and Hell when did she ever do anything sensible?...Hmmm?... I'm just saying maybe you seemed the best option, more able to cope and look after him?"
"Yeah, she might well have done that to me, you're right" he shakes his head "But what she wouldn't have done... is done that to Jaycee! She'd have wanted him to know for sure... and that's how I know he's mine!"
Ray sighs and nods "OK I get it brother... but still wouldn't you rather know for sure?"
"No I don't need to know anything... What he believes ...that's up to him" Jason says pointing at Clay "he needs to get over it and get on cos she not coming back now and he's my son, end of"
Jason walks out of the bar
Ray let out a big long sigh."wooooahh"
"Soooo?" Sonny asks over his shoulder
Ray shrugs "He's sure he's his!"
"And the test?" Sonny asks
"Nope!... wouldn't go for it" Ray shakes his head
"Shit!" Sonny rubs his head and sighs "so now we gotta hope Spenser accepts it and don't do anything stupid"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Nancy and Clay nearly fall in the door kissing. She's giggling from all the drink the guys bought her. He's undressing her as he tries to shut the door behind them.
As she drops her dress to the floor she's wearing a purple lace bra and matching panties as he lays her back on the bed
"hmmmm" he sighs at the sight of her laying on the bed and stands up to undo his pants he's still looking at her.
Then he stops. " I can't do this!" he sighs and rubs his head in frustration
"What?... What do you mean you can't?... Of course, you can" she smiles and leans up pulling his head down to kiss him "you want this... I want this... Clay what's wrong?"
"I want to ... but I just can't"
She lays him down and goes down on him. He closes his eyes. Even this he can't really enjoy it the way he thought he would. It's the first time since everything with C.J and he can't clear his mind.
He lays in the dark thinking and watching her sleeping.
"I'm sorry! He kisses her arm and she wakes up
"Hey" she smiles "don't be sorry"
He smiles back as he starts to kiss her again
"oh!... that's better" her smile broadens as he shifts his body over the top of her. "Hmmmmm" she sighs as she runs her hands through his hair "Oh god!... Clay..."
she takes a deep breath as he runs his hand over her. Finally, he's able to loses himself in the moment not thinking about anything else.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Please leave a message I'll get back to you" Beep!
"Please Reuben... It's Mandy ...again. Will you call me I have something might interest you" she leaves another message
"Damn! Reuben, where the Hell are you?"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
She sits at the bar waiting and orders another martini. She's been waiting over half an hour now.
"This drink and I'm gone"
Two hands run down over her shoulders and along her arms. She smiles.
"Mandy my deepest apology" He kisses her "Keeping such a beautiful lady waiting is not becoming of a gentleman"
She smiles "you're such charmer" she shakes her head
"Seems good job I am by the look on your face" he smiles "I'll have a brandy please" he says to the barman "So, what's with all the messages?"
"Your tables ready Madam and Monsieur"
"We're eating?" he inquires
"I thought the least you could do was buy me dinner for keeping me waiting" She smiles
"Well of course" he smiles back taking a sip of his brandy "shall we eat then? ...After you"
They sit at window table where they can see the skyline
"So… " she sips her drink "I had a visit from Bernard Francis yesterday"
"And I should know this...because?"
She shakes her head "He wants me to send operators to retrieve a journalist held in Damascus"
He shows no emotion "That's good. Can they can bring him home?"
She thinks before answering "A whole year they've sat on his case and now it come up as priority... a few days after you give me a video of him" she frowns "that's a major coincidence?"
"who said I gave you a video of this Johnson?" He smiles at her
She's trying to work him out he is so hard to read. She smiles back "That's the thing...I don't actually think you did!... What's going on here Reuben?...Why do you care who's brought back?" she frowns
"I don't care..." he takes a sharp intake of breath "but the people I work for... they do!"
"Why?"
He frowns for the first time "Mandy please don't ask questions you know I can't answer" his tone darkens then he takes another sip of his drink "So ...are you set to bring the journalist home?"
She purses her lips "No!" she sips her drink "Not yet... I need to vet the intel first see what we're getting into"
He frowns with a look of annoyance "Well the only thing I would say is don't wait too long" he drinks "You know how volatile those regions are ...they could move hostages at any time."
"Oh, I'm aware of that... but I need to make sure they are where I'm told they are"
"I'm sure if you were to act quickly... they will be"
She's worried now trying to get a read on what he's telling her
"mmm!... while I remember. Did you say you had something for me?"
She smiles she looks at the menu and shakes her head "No! Are you shopping for something in particular?"
He sits back in his chair watching her and smiles. "Shall we order?"
She knows she is on the right lines now. She just needs to know how to use it to her advantage
o-o-o-o
"Dinner was delicious so how about we order champagne and go to my room and pick up where Mexico left off" he takes hold of her hand across the table
She bites her lip thinking. She looks at him and he smiles.
As much as he plays games with her, she can't resist his English charm "It better be expensive champagne" she smiles and picks up her coat
"Of course, who do you think I am" He runs his hand down her back as they leave.