Chapter Twenty-Six: So Here's The Plan
Richie pushed a ceramic mug of coffee toward Reid from across the table, the sound of it scraping on the wood surface echoed throughout the boxed-filled warehouse.
"Is this really the only place we can stay?" Reid lifted the cup and blew at the steam, following it with his eyes as it disappeared into the air.
"I forgot you're FBI," Richie snorted, "always flying around in private jets and shit. We can't stay anywhere nice because nice means money, security cameras, and people. And that means getting caught. Life as a fugitive isn't nearly as fun as the movies make it out to be."
Reid sighed and took a long drink of his coffee. Richie made his coffee black, which Reid hated. He preferred a mountain of sugar and cream. But he hadn't had anything to eat or drink for a while, so even black coffee was good at this point.
"So here's the plan – I know a guy who –"
"When plans start off with "I know a guy" they're usually extremely sketchy," Reid commented.
"Hey, this guy isn't – okay well yeah, he's sketchy. But still. His name is Dorian, we've done, um, business together."
Reid raised his eyebrows.
"Hey! Don't stare at me like that. Do I look like I make an honest living? Anyhow. He knows some things that will be able to help us, and I think he's our way in. Plus, he owes me one… or five."
"How do you mean?"
"So, we've got the Adams girl on the inside manipulating Misha, right? But how are we going to deal with Agata? There's only one way to make sure the whole operation falls apart. Convince Misha to kill his sister."
Reid choked on his coffee.
"What?"
"Hear me out," Richie leaned forward energetically, "so, Misha hates bad business above all else, and honestly what's worse business than working with Dorian? The man is bonkers. We need to convince Misha that his sister is making deals with Dorian behind his back to the point that he tries to pull her out of the equation."
"Won't that all fall apart the moment he asks her?"
"Well, we just have to also convince him that she's trying to hide it so hard that even if he asked, she would deny it."
Reid squinted at the man sitting across from him. His eyes were sparkling with some kind of manic joy. He obviously loved this sort of vigilante scheming.
"When do we meet this guy?"
"Any minute now."
"You told him to come even when I hadn't agreed yet?"
"What other choice do you have?" He shrugged.
As he finished, a loud knock resounded throughout the warehouse. Richie sipped his mug, waiting a few seconds. Another came. Then another. Then three short ones.
"That's him," Richie hopped up, "haven't seen this old bugger in ages. C'mon."
Reid followed him to the large door and watched as he slid it open slightly, holding a gun just behind it.
"Hello, old chap!" He exclaimed upon seeing it was, in fact, who he expected, "Come on in!"
A short, overweight, middle-aged man entered. Within a split second, Reid recognized that face.
"Dorian Orval?"
"Yeah, how do ya know me, kid? I ain't eva' seen you before."
"I know Cat Adams."
His face paled.
"Listen! Hey! If that Adams girl is involved I don't want any part in this!" He began backing away but Richie slammed the door shut.
"Oi, don't go bailing on my now. Remember Pakistan? You owe me."
Dorian cowered in the corner, his eyes switching from Reid to Richie.
"Waddya want from me?"
"You know Agata Pavel?"
"I know of her. Once saw her in a bar."
"That's all I need. I need you to be seen with her a few times. Maybe talk to her. Ask her how the weather is, or the time, I don't care."
Dorian furrowed his eyebrows, utterly confused.
"You don't have to understand it, stupid. In fact, the less you do, the better it is for you."
"How much are you paying me?"
"I'll make it 10k. No more, no less."
He frowned.
"Dorian I will kick your guts in."
"10k is wonderful!"
"Great. Now come here, Reid and I have a few more things we'd like to talk about. I know how good you are with computers."
Richie practically grabbed him by his shirt collar and dragged him to a little room off the side of the warehouse where a computer was set up. Reid smiled fondly at the memory of Garcia's setup. This one could've used a little more fluffy animals and bright furry pens. Richie pushed Dorian into the chair and tapped the keys, awakening it from its slumber.
"Hack into every computer webcam, security camera, and etc. in their hotel. I know you know how. Ever since that little scandal in France."
"I thought we'd forgotten about that," he muttered.
"I didn't forget about it, he was my boyfriend."
Reid grunted loudly.
"Oh yeah, sorry," Richie turned to him, "he's a bit of a rat, but the best I could get on short notice."
"I'm literally right here!" Dorian shouted indignantly.
"Shut up you rat," Richie turned back around to face him, "and hurry up."
"Jeez, it's gonna take a while. There's a lot of webcams and cameras online. What am I looking for?"
"It's a long shot, but hopefully Cat Adams seated in front of a computer we can take control of."
Reid realized his plan.
"That's brilliant," he muttered.
"Oh, I know," Richie winked.