Chapter Eleven

Reyes had been introduced to Nikko, and he'd spent the next two hours observing him and Tasha.

Nikko was whip smart. Nikko came up to speed quickly, and he and Tasha pulled on threads, ran theories, tested logic, and finished each other's sentences. They were an impressive team. Nikko also teased Tasha which she returned good naturedly. They were relaxed and comfortable with each other, but also inclusive. They involved Reyes and Roman and listened to their opinions.

Reyes wasn't too proud to admit he might have just the slightest guy crush on Nikko.

But how did Tasha know Nikko? It was clear they had a long history that went way beyond employer and employee. Their thoughts and movements were synchronized. That kind of compatibility only came with time and experience. So how did Tasha get hooked up with Nikko? They seemed so wildly different on the surface.

The wheels in Reyes head were starting to whirl at an alarming pace. Nikko who owned NNS Global. The rumor was NNS Global was started by the CIA operator with the code name of wolf.

Reyes almost choked on his coffee. Oh, dear god Reyes thought. Wolf was rumored to have had a female partner. A partner that was good with computers. A partner that was twice as deadly.

Tasha was Wraith. The other half of the prolific and dangerous CIA team. The topic of lore in the intelligence community and of the nightmares in terrorist organizations. Natasha was the other N in NNS Global. Tasha was definitely not a data analyst. She wasn't Nikko's employee. She was his partner.

No wonder the Samara Kincaid alias had been surrounded by so many firewalls it set off alarms at the highest levels prompting a personal call from Thomas. It was clear Thomas knew her, which now made perfect sense.

Reyes was afraid he might have actually whimpered out loud. His eyes cut to Roman. Roman was giving him the welcome to the party look. Reyes thought he was probably going to have to update that dating checklist. Or, maybe, really just not date. Right now, that seemed like the far better, far safer plan.

"How long can you stay?" Natasha asked Nikko.

Nikko shrugged and gave her a look of apology. He looked at his watch. "I have to leave. But I'll be back in a day or so."

Natasha wrinkled her nose and sighed. "I'll walk you out."

"No, stay. Keep working." Nikko replied. He kissed Natasha on her forehead and nodded to Roman and then looked at Reyes. "Take care of my girl" he said and nodded to Reyes.

Wait, what? Reyes resisted the urge to turn around and see if someone was behind him. Surely Nikko hadn't been talking to him. Did he not get that Tasha pretty much hated his guts? Reyes was pretty sure that if he was on fire, it was about a fifty-fifty shot as to whether Tasha would throw gasoline or water on him. Reyes nodded back and Nikko left.

Reyes realized he'd gotten so many things wrong because he only looked at the surface. He had completely misjudged Tasha. He had been confused by labels and looks. In fact, he had overlooked glaring red flags because he saw exactly what he expected. Maybe that was why they couldn't find Starvos. They were seeing what they expected to see and not looking below the surface.

With that in mind, he looked back down at the data before him. The answer almost leapt off the page and slapped him the face.

"Tasha, hand me that other stack." Reyes said. He was engrossed in a spreadsheet. Tasha handed it to him and watched. She could see his eureka moment coming. Pretty boy was onto something.

"I think I've got it" Reyes said. "I think I found the key to finding Starvos' other location."

Excitement skittered through Natasha. Maybe this was the break they had been looking for.

"Show me."

Reyes pulled up the two sets of data. "Right here. There is a two-hop transaction. The primary transfer comes from different sources, but a secondary transfer goes to the same source. That's why we initially missed it. We need to drill down into the disbursement for the primary transactions and cross-reference the secondary disbursements regardless of where they come from. I bet you will find a common thread. Follow that thread and you will find the second location for Starvos. Probably where he keeps the girls."

Natasha looked through it. He was right. "Oh, pretty boy you're a genius." She breathed. She was smiling at him. "And to think you have a big brain too." Her eyes were locked with Reyes and he was pretty sure she had meant it exactly the way he took it. He grinned back at her. Maybe the ice was thawing a little. He gave himself seventy-thirty odds on water versus gasoline at this point. At least until he said or did something else remarkably stupid.

"You two want to get a room or do you want to show me what you found?" Roman asked. He sounded amused, not angry.

Reyes saw Tasha blush. "Right here man take a look at this." Reyes slid the papers across to Roman.

Natasha looked up. "Oh, sweet mother" her voice trailed off and she rushed out of the conference room. Reyes followed her gaze. Nikko was talking to Steph and Ranger was closing the gap fast.

Maybe Reyes should have brought popcorn. This had the potential to be quite the show.

Ranger was in his office pretending to work. He really needed to talk to Nat, especially after his little visit from Nikko last night. He had no reason to believe Nikko would lie to him, but he wanted, no needed to talk to Nat.

In all the scenarios he had run through his head, he never imagined this one. He wasn't sure why. It actually made sense. As much as anything that had happened could make sense anyway.

He and Nat needed to sort things out about the past and the future. You would think talking would be easy enough to do now that she was here in his goddamn building, but that hadn't proven to be the case.

Nat had been working almost non-stop in the conference room and having this conversation in RangeMan was out of the question. Too many eyes and ears. He had to figure out a way to get her offsite, without raising suspicions. This was not a conversation that could happen in five-minute increments.

Ranger looked out onto the floor. He leapt up so fast his chair shot out and hit the wall. Ranger had to force himself to relax and take a breath. Nikko was talking to Steph. Ranger was pretty sure nothing good could come from that.

Ranger forced himself to walk out of the office slowly. Steph was laughing. Nikko could be a charming SOB; he'd give him that. One of the many things that made Nikko so successful. Nikko was like a chameleon.

Nikko watched Ranger come up behind the delightful Stephanie Plum. He placed a protective hand on the back of her neck. She instinctively leaned into him.

"Ranger, nice to see you." Nikko smiled.

"Nikko" Ranger replied.

Stephanie was studying them. Nikko could tell she had good instincts. He didn't think she missed much. He wondered how that was coming along with Natasha just in the other room. Nikko knew Ranger was probably reeling from what he learned last night. Nikko was glad. He deserved to be uncomfortable.

"How do you know Ranger?" Stephanie asked him.

Well, now that was interesting. Not do you know Ranger, but how do you know Ranger. Nikko thought he might like Stephanie. Didn't Ranger say he didn't want to lie to his lovely wife? Nikko could certainly help him out.

"Ranger and I grew up together. We got into all the same trouble." Nikko gave her his most disarming smile. Ranger was glaring at him over the top of Stephanie's head and that delighted Nikko to no end.

"Unfortunately, we haven't seen each other in a lot of years. Isn't that right?" Nikko directed that comment to Ranger.

"You should join us for dinner one of these nights." Stephanie was smiling at Nikko. Stephanie thought for a childhood friend, Ranger seemed awfully tense around Nikko, but then Ranger had been tense for days.

Nikko winked at her. "I can tell you all Ranger's secrets." Nikko figured Stephanie thought he was joking. Ranger would know better. Nikko could see Natasha barreling down on them. She had that don't you dare look on her face. It was funny to Nikko that Natasha could still be so protective of Ranger.

Alas Nikko didn't have time to stay and reminisce, mainly because Natasha was going to kick his ass, so he changed subjects.

"If you don't mind me asking, when are you due?"

"Soon I hope" Stephanie laughed. "If I get any bigger, I may not be able to move."

"Well, you look beautiful. I am sure you are both excited. It was a pleasure to meet you, but I've got to run."

"What about dinner?" Stephanie pressed.

Nikko really liked this woman. "Unfortunately, I'm heading out of town for a day or two, but I'd love to get together when I get back."

"I'll walk you out." Ranger said ending any further conversation or planning.

Ranger and Nikko headed for the elevator, and were joined by Natasha.

Reyes walked up. Stephanie was watching Ranger, Nikko and Tasha intently. She had that look. The look that largely terrified Reyes. The one where she just knew something, which usually precipitated all hell breaking loose.

"Hey Plum, how's Thing?" Reyes said.

Steph turned and smiled at him. "The baby is just fine. How are things on the task force?"

"Good. I think we may have a solid lead on Vlad's local supplier. Of course, it's not the same without you."

"You know, I thought it would suck, but I'm actually glad I'm sitting this one out. I'm as big as a house and exhausted all the time. I can't imagine trying to comb through data or watch surveillance." Steph sighed.

"Apparently Nikko and Ranger grew-up together." She continued.

Now that had been a total non sequitur. Reyes had the distinct feeling this could be a trap. "Really?" He kept his voice neutral.

That was news to Reyes. So, Nikko and Ranger were childhood buddies, Ranger and Tasha knew each other when they were kids. It was like a freaking high school reunion around here.

Apparently, Nikko, Tasha and Ranger were all intertwined and had all grown up together. That felt a little like an unholy trinity to Reyes. What were the odds they had all ended up mercenaries by coincidence?

"Yeah. And, Ranger has been so weird lately. I thought it might be Natasha, but then he was weird before she ever showed up. Of course, he stares at her all the time." Stephanie continued.

Reyes just raised his eyebrows at Steph and gave her the no shit look.

Steph gave him a playful swat to the arm. "He doesn't stare at her like that! You on the other hand…"

Reyes held up his hand. "Plum" he warned. Reyes was afraid if she pushed him, he'd spill his guts, and that wouldn't be pretty.

"I don't know. I think this baby might be eating my brain. I just can't get a handle on it or anything really. It just feels like Ranger isn't telling me something." Steph was looking at him speculatively.

Reyes figured there were a lot of things Ranger didn't tell Steph. Probably a lot of things Ranger didn't tell anybody, but Reyes knew this was one of those defining moments. He could tell her what he knew or he could mind his own business.

Steph was back to watching Nikko, Tasha and Ranger. The elevator had opened and Montero had stepped out. He and Nikko were circling each other like a couple of wild dogs, sizing each other up.

"Nikko and Natasha are clearly tight. Maybe they all knew one another." Steph's voice trailed off. "You have been spending a lot of time with Natasha, what do you think?"

Well Reyes reasoned, Steph had asked. It wasn't like he was just blabbing. He wasn't betraying Tasha. Wait, where had that thought come from?

"What I think, is I'm still stuck on the idea that Ranger was ever a child. He was probably three going on thirty." Reyes said. Steph laughed at that.

"Yeah, it is kind of hard to imagine isn't it." She agreed.

"But yeah, I think they all knew one another." Reyes knew he was kind of punting. He didn't know anything about the Nikko angle, but he definitely knew Ranger and Tasha knew each other as kids. But this was really a conversation Steph should be having with Ranger, and for reasons Reyes didn't want to examine too closely he didn't want to talk about Tasha to Steph. He wondered why Steph didn't just ask Ranger. Maybe it had just hit her as a possibility, or maybe she was afraid of Ranger's answer.

"What are you doing down here anyway? I thought you were on maternity leave? Shouldn't you be upstairs with your feet up eating bon bons or something?" Reyes grinned at Steph.

"Well definitely the feet up part. I think my ankles are swollen beyond recognition. Of course, it's not like I can actually see them."

"Come on. I'll take you upstairs." Reyes told Steph.

"Reyes, I'm pregnant not incapacitated." Given her size Reyes wasn't so sure that was true, but he knew better than to say anything. Steph took his arm anyway.

Reyes planned to get Steph settled and then go talk to Ranger. He'd had enough of this bullshit and enough of being in the middle. Steph was his friend. Ranger was, well Ranger. And Tasha was well something. Reyes didn't know what Tasha was, but he knew he wanted her to be something.

Natasha figured she was just about on the verge of having a stroke. Between Reyes all up in her business, Nikko confronting Ranger, Nikko confronting Stephanie, and now Montero and Nikko eyeing each other, she was drowning in testosterone overload.

Nikko hated lawmen and could spot one a mile away. A good skill to have if you were Nikko, and one of the many reasons Nikko had never been caught. But that didn't make this little encounter any less awkward.

Montero clearly recognized the Nikkos of the world. Montero had stepped off the elevator and things between Montero and Nikko went to defcon-2 in seconds. Both Ranger and Natasha were on high alert trying to diffuse things.

Ranger was pushing Nikko to the elevator and Natasha was trying her best to distract Montero. Natasha was thinking this was one of the many reasons steering clear of Montero was probably a good idea.

"You know him." Natasha grimaced. That was a statement not a question from Montero.

Well fuck it, she'd just rip the Band-Aid off and be done with it. "Yes, he is my business partner." Natasha knew her voice held a defiant ring to it, but she didn't really care. She was tired of pretending.

Montero looked at her for a beat. Natasha fully expected him to walk off in disgust. While NNS Global was totally legit, many of Nikko's other businesses were not. Some of that was a holdover, and some of it was by design. Criminal contacts might be distasteful, but they were also necessary if you were hunting criminals.

Natasha figured Montero would just paint her with the same brush and be done with it. Of course, if she was honest the hacking wasn't always legal. OK, it was almost never strictly legal.

Montero finally nodded. "There is a Starbucks up the street. Want to grab that coffee?"

Natasha was pretty sure her mouth was hanging open. She snapped it shut and nodded, while she went to look for her voice.

Montero held out his hand and she took it.

Reyes came down from Steph's apartment just in time to see Tasha and Montero head off hand-in-hand. Now wasn't that cute. He sighed. Montero probably had a leg up here since he hadn't insulted her and called her a liar. Montero was a good guy, but Reyes had to admit he was still a little pissed that the two of them seem to get on like a house on fire, when all Reyes could manage to do was put his foot in his mouth no matter how hard he tried not to.

Reyes marched straight into Ranger's office and closed the door. Ranger looked up. His expression, as always, neutral and unreadable.

"What's going on between you and Natasha?" Reyes demanded.

Ranger just looked at Reyes. Much to Reyes' surprise Ranger blew out a breath and sat back in his chair. He waived Reyes to take a seat. Reyes had actually been expecting silence or an ass whipping. His money had been on the ass whipping.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. I didn't even know half of the story until last night. Look normally I'd tell you to stay in your own lane, but I know you are Steph's friend. I know how much you care about her. So, I'm going to tell you this. What you do with it is up to you."

Reyes nodded. Ranger continued. "Nikko, Nat, and I go way back. They are like family to me. We have a complicated history. In particular, Nat and I have a complicated history. Something she and I need to work through together. There are some things we need to unwind. We just need a little time. Right now, Vlad is the focus. He has to be. The window on that is short and one misstep and he could go back underground for another twenty years."

Reyes nodded. "You are going to tell Steph. She deserves to know what is going on. It's not like she doesn't already suspect something." That statement hung in the air between them for a couple of beats.

Ranger nodded. "Yes, I am going to tell Steph. I am going to tell her all of it, but not right now. First off, I don't even know the answers myself yet, and second, I am not doing anything to stress her out right now. I owe her the complete story, and that is what I am going to give her."

Reyes figured it was pointless to say what they both knew, which is Steph was already concerned about it. Whatever it was, Ranger thought the stress of knowing was worse than the stress of not knowing.

"Is she in danger?" Reyes asked.

"No" Ranger replied. "I'm asking you to let me work this out with Steph."

Reyes eyed Ranger for a minute. Reyes nodded and headed back to the conference room. OK, so he still didn't know what was going on. Ranger had been vague. Not that he expected details, but none of this was sitting too well with him. He figured he had a lot to think about.

He could run tell Steph they all had a complicated history and to talk to Ranger, but then what? Only Ranger and Tasha knew what was going on, and if neither were ready to tell Steph, Reyes tattling would just ramp up her stress.

Ranger was right about one thing. Steph didn't need any more stress. She was already freaking herself out. Reyes had read all about how stress affected babies in his umpteen baby books. Health problems, learning problems, premature birth, you name it. The less the better. This was one of the many reasons why Reyes figured he was never having a baby. Too many things could go wrong. Too many things outside his span of control.

Montero was studying her. It should have felt oppressive, but it didn't. He was looking at her not like she was a science project, but rather with actual interest. Natasha was enjoying her coffee with Montero. They had grabbed coffee and walked to the little park down the street.

Montero was as charming as he had been during all of their late-night chats. He seemed genuinely interested in her. Interested in a friend sort of way, which was actually a little disappointing. Maybe. Natasha's head was so screwed up she didn't know how to feel about it.

"I'm glad we finally got to talk face-to-face" he said.

"I'm not sure what you are talking about." Natasha replied and raised her eyebrow. They both knew she was Sparrow.

Montero laughed. "OK, OK." Montero held up his hands in mock surrender. "I've really enjoyed talking with you. I had some pretty dark times, and you were there. As crazy as it sounds, you were the only person I felt comfortable talking to. I really appreciated that. I guess I hope we can be friends in real life. Be more than just a voice over a speaker."

Natasha cocked her head and studied him for a minute. "Me too. I'd really like that."

"Assuming of course your partner doesn't take me out." Montero was only half joking about that.

Natasha smiled. "Nikko will come around. He's good people." Montero looked dubious but didn't say anything about it.

"So, as my first act as your real-life friend" Montero said "I'd really like to warn you off about Reyes, but he's a good guy."

"Oh no, Reyes and I aren't, I'm not interested in…." Natasha's stopped. That had come out of left field and she really didn't know what to say. It wasn't like she had even thought about it herself.

"Natasha, I was at the Regis bar. I know Reyes followed you into the elevator. I saw the two of you. I also know he never came back down." Montero was giving her the look.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh" Montero laughed. "I did some work with him while I was at Kincaid."

"You were at Kincaid?" That surprised Natasha. Montero didn't look like the mercenary type.

"Undercover with them. Look, Reyes can be one crazy bastard. Nothing scares him and I've seen him do things I didn't think were even possible, but I have a feeling that sort of stuff doesn't really scare you."

Natasha shook her head. "No. Not so much." Natasha figured she and Nikko had probably done worse.

"Well, if you can handle his risk taking, then you won't find a nicer guy. I know he likes you."

"Oh, I don't know about that. We didn't exactly get off on the right foot."

"The man never takes his eyes off you. Believe me I know the look. He's in deep." Montero laughed. You could almost hear the poor bastard part of his thought as if he had spoken it out loud.

Natasha wanted to ask Montero if that is how he looked at Stephanie. Sparrow had been Montero's confidante through that whole mess. She knew how much it had hurt him. She was really sorry, because the one thing Natasha was sure of, was that Montero was the best of all of them.

Natasha and Montero's phones chirped. There was movement at the port. The first shipment of girls was arriving. It was showtime.

They headed back to RangeMan. It was time to cowboy up.