(A/N) Hello!
I am back with another chapter! This one will have some cool moments that I think you'll like! I don't have a lot to say, so let's get right into it!
Here is "The Tower Job"!
First Person POV (Kaira)
Harry really did pick a good one for us. He brought us the case of Mateo Navarro, a construction worker who was one of four that died in a tower collapse three years ago. He escaped charges, even though Mateo's daughter, Isabella, claimed there was evidence the developer, Jason Cawley, was negligent.
We were at HQ. Breanna had the news video up on the screen. I had the twins on my lap, and Breanna had Eli on her lap as we watched the video. Parker was up on the balcony in her repelling gear, and Eliot was in grey sweats and a beanie, punching a punching bag. Sophie was at the bar. The news report revealed Jason escaped charges, and a civil suit wasn't happening due to lack of evidence.
"Listen, I'm all for taking initiative, but we usually let our clients find us." Sophie told Harry.
"Tell me that this doesn't merit justice." Harry told Sophie.
"Three years ago, the Lantern Building collapsed, killing four workers. Despite rumors of negligence, as we can see, Jason Crawley skated. No criminal charges, no civil lawsuit." Breanna explained.
I saw Eliot undoing his wraps on his hands. And the rope that was hanging from the ceiling.
"Yeah. How'd he pull that off?" Eliot asked.
"He had an army of lawyers, but more importantly, he moved up the date of his wedding. Go ahead." Harry turned to Breanna.
"Society darling Krista Moore-Crawley. Old money family, posh education, she did a year at the Royal College of Art in London, so she thinks she has taste." Breanna said.
I chuckled a bit, cause I met people exactly like Krista.
"Krista's family connections ensured that any complaints or municipal investigations proving negligence would go missing, and Krista's family money propped up Jason's real estate business. Word is in this partnership, Jason's the salesman, but Krista's the brains." Breanna explained.
"A power imbalance, we can work with that." Sophie said.
"The happy couple is about to open their new building: Axios Tower." Breana pointed out.
"You got the blueprints this time. Good job." Parker complimented Breanna as she repelled down.
"Yeah. I had to level up my game." Breanna said.
I shot her a smile, knowing damn well she was lying.
"So, basically, all we have to do is prove that Jason's been negligent on this tower and alert the authorities." Harry said as Parker sat beside me, taking Sophia and setting her on her lap. Breanna pulled up the blueprints.
"There's only one problem with that. According to those plans, that's the safest building in America. The foundation's double secured, the supports are triple that of standard. I mean, this thing could withstand the apocalypse." Eliot walked over, grabbing Eli from Breanna and standing by Parker and me.
"Figures he'd put the money in this one, cause he's living in it." I pointed out.
"It's like the Klingon metaphor goes-" Parker then started speaking Klingon.
"Even a fool buys stone for his house." Eliot translated.
I just chuckled.
"Hardison bet me that I couldn't learn the language. He lost." Eliot explained.
"Did he?" Breanna asked, and I'm holding in a laugh, unsuccessfully, as Eliot realized he got played, and mouthed "dammit".
"The cost is the reason most developers skimp on safety: it's expensive. His margins must be razer-thin. Do we have financial records?" Sophie asked Breanna, leaning on the chair.
"Yep. Uh, in addition to the building, the Crawleys have about ten million dollars in various accounts." Breanna explained, pulling up the accounts.
"They only have ten million? Yikes." Parker commented.
"That sentence hurts my brain." Breanna responded.
I just shook my head.
"That's their soft spot. The Crawleys bought far more building than they could afford and had to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to finance it." Sophie realized, sitting down.
"Something goes wrong with even one of those loans, they don't have the cash on hand to cover it." Eliot explained.
"Yeah, but that's just hitting him in the wallet. I mean, guys like Jason can find money anytime they want. No, I promised Isabella real, criminal justice." Harry told us.
"Which is why you should always talk to us before you talk to the client. We'll do what we can." Sophie told Harry.
I looked at the paperwork on the screen.
"Huh. A new lead banker's been assigned to the Crawley's loans. Adrienne Bisset. Wanna bet they've never met her?" I turned to Sophie, smiling a bit.
"Parker, how's your French?" Sophie asked Parker.
"C'est magnifique." Parker told Sophie, getting up and leaving.
"It's magnifique." Sophie corrected.
I just chuckled.
Sophie grabbed Sophia so I could get off the chair. I took the kids up so Eliot and I could play with them upstairs, giving Sophie and Parker the quiet to make their phone calls.
Third Person POV
Parker and Sophie were downstairs. Parker was on the bar, calling Jason, passing herself off as Adrienne Bisset, saying she was looking through the loans, saying there were overages. Jason said keeping a building up to code was expensive. Parker said she was stopping by for an in-person inspection. Then Krista got on the phone, saying they would like that and couldn't wait.
Parker then slid the phone over to Sophie, asking why she was the French one. Sophie grabbed the phone, saying her American accent was better than hers. Sophie then called Adrienne as Krista Crawley, saying she needed more money, and to come check out the building.
First Person POV (Kaira)
A bit later, we had a plan. I texted Riley to come and watch the kids while we were all out. We drove to the building and stood outside the truck.
"The timing here has to be perfect. While Jason gives Parker a tour of the completed areas, Mr. Wilson and I will take the real Adrienne Bisset on a tour of the incomplete areas which, after some careful prep by Eliot, Kaira, and Breanna, who will make it look like such a disaster, it will force her to pull the loan." Sophie explained the plan.
Parker had been picking at her clothes.
"Oh, I hate business clothes. They make me feel so starchy." Parker said.
"I got sweats in the truck for you to change into later, Park." I told her, feeling bad.
"Why are we doing this at the same time? Isn't it less risky to have Adrienne take her tour today and Parker go tomorrow?" Breanna asked.
"Billing. Inspections like this are always billed to the client. The Crawleys are gonna know exactly what time she takes off, what time her car picks her up." Harry explained.
Eliot walked by me, handing me a sledgehammer. I chuckled.
"Besides, if it was easy, it wouldn't be fun." Eliot handed a crowbar to Breanna.
I started walking with Eliot and Breanna. I was kinda giddy, not gonna lie. What, I got to destroy shit, who doesn't want to do that?
"All right, let's go steal a luxury development condo financier!" Harry exclaimed.
I groaned.
"It doesn't work when you say it like that." Parker told Harry.
"What do you mean? You guys act like there's rules to this, but nobody ever explains what they are." Harry complained.
"You gotta earn that privilege, Harry!" I exclaimed, teasing Harry a bit.
Eliot, Breanna, and I started getting to work inside the building. When I tell you I had too much fun, I mean, I was manically laughing as I was breaking shit.
"You okay, sweetheart?" Eliot asked me, maybe a bit scared.
"Yeah, why?" I questioned him.
"Cause you're enjoying this way too much." Eliot told me.
"No, I'm not." I tried brushing it off.
"Kai, you were literally giddy walking in here." Breanna pointed out.
"Okay, maybe I was, but don't act like you weren't too." I coked my head at Eliot.
"Alright fine. You're just a little bit scary swinging that damn thing around, okay? And hot." Eliot said, a smirk on his face.
I chuckled.
"Rule 4, babe. Smartass." I patted his chest.
We got back to work and finished the hallway.
"Hallway's renovated." Eliot said as we walked up to the door.
"We should renovate the suite next." Breanna said, busting open the doors.
"Let's go." I motioned for Breanna to follow me and we left.
Third Person POV
Parker met with Jason, getting her tour started. Harry and Sophie acted like they were the architects of the other building, starting their tour with Adrienne.
Eliot, Kaira, and Breanna were hiding out by the truck. Eliot opened the service door, asking Breanna where they were. Breanna showed the couple her laptop screen, saying which dot was which.
Towards the end of the tour, it went crazy because Parker was going too fast, causing the two teams to almost intersect. Luckily, they got Adrienne out before they got made.
Though, a surprise came when it turns out Jason knew Harry. Jason asked Harry what he was doing there.
Harry passed off the excuse he was showing clients around. Jason questioned about Harry's leave of absence from his firm, then Jason jumped at the sound of construction. Jason told Harry loud noises brought back some gnarly memories and took some tranquilizers. Jason then revealed that Harry saved his ass the last time. Jason then also asked Harry to come over to discuss clients.
Harry accepted, then went back to the truck, shameful. Sophie asked if he forgot to mention something.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Yeah, I was pissed. Harry just happened to forget to mention that he was on the lawyer team that got Jason off the criminal charges. But I get why he didn't say anything. I mean, it wasn't exactly like Eliot and I were open about working with Damien Moreau. Needless to say, I was still a little pissed.
Harry was sitting at the bar. I was standing beside Eliot, then Breanna, then Sophie. Parker was up on the balcony.
"I had a lot of clients at my old firm. Some I'm less proud of than others." Harry said.
He lowered his head.
"It was my team that killed the case against Jason Crawley after the collapse three years ago." Harry explained.
"Wow. Talk about burying the lede." Breanna said.
"You can't keep stuff like this from us. That's how mistakes are made." Eliot said.
"Rule 5, don't keep things from the others, especially when it involves the con." I told Harry.
"I know, I just, you know - I regret everything I did as part of that job. And I saw a chance to make a little bit of it right." Harry said.
"We don't work for you, Mr. Wilson. We're not your private crusade team. You're too close to this. I'm not even sure you should be on this con." Sophie told Harry.
"Wait, do we get a vote? Because I say we keep him. Your screw-ups make me look good." Breanna said.
"Okay, let's open it up to the floor. Do we keep our Mr. Wilson on this con? Yay or nay." Sophie asked us.
"The man's trying to make amends. That means something to me. He's in." Eliot said.
"I know what it's like keeping secrets relating to relationships with marks. I had kept a pretty big one from the team, it was a year after Eliot and I got married. It was about my past. A mark that Eliot and I used to work for." I took a breath, the image of me and Eliot in that argument where we revealed that we used to work for Moreau, then the image of us shooting up that warehouse playing in my head, and what I thought was Eliot and mines last kiss.
"And it nearly got the man I love killed, and put my best friends in danger. So I get it. We're not asking you to tell all your secrets, Harry. I wouldn't ask these guys to do it, and they wouldn't ask me to. There's still secrets I have that I haven't told them. Hell, Eliot and I have been married the last 10 years and I don't know all his secrets. And I respect that you are trying to make amends. I vote yay." I gave my answer.
"Parker?" Sophie called out to her, as we all looked up.
"Yes. But I reserve the right to push him off the roof if he screws up again." Parker said.
"She wouldn't really push me-" Harry questions us.
I nodded yes, and the team silently told him she would.
"Thank you." Harry told Parker.
"You stay. But no more surprises." Sophie told Harry.
"All right. What's next?" Eliot asked.
"After today, Adrienne will shortly be pulling the Crawley's loans." Sophie explained.
"That'll give 'em about a week to pay the loan back before the bank seizes the building." Harry said.
"So we wait a few days and boom, bankruptcy." Parker pointed out.
"Harry had a point when he said they'd look for more money. We need to control them while we ride out the loan." I explained.
"Why don't we throw some bait out there, make them as us for the money. We control them until it's too late." Eliot finished my idea.
"Ohhh, hard dibs." Breanna got excited.
I just gave her a smile, knowing she could do it.
"Guys, come on, I can do this. I'm ready." Breanna said.
We showed Sophie we agreed.
"Okay. But I do all the talking." Sophie told Breanna.
This was gonna get interesting.
Third Person POV
Sophie introduced herself to an arguing Jason and Krista, who were upset about the loan being called. Sophie introduced herself as Sheila Blakely, and Breanna as 6daze. Jason, obviously, didn't know who Breanna was. Sophie explained that "6daze" was the hottest voice in anarchist-Marxist-hyperrealist postmodernist street art, adding that she was wanting to move to the states.
Earlier, Breanna had done a painting of Eliot holding a sledgehammer, going on about how the painting captured the essence of American masculinity challenged by the modern paradigm. Eliot asked if it was ready, and put the sledgehammer down. Needless to say, Eliot was pissed, and Kaira was trying not to laugh. Sophie just stoked the fire, adding that the painting made her consider the juxtaposition between chaos and order, saying Breanna captured Eliot's soul and inner conflicts. Eliot got pissed and grumbled. Sophie and Breanna both had the same idea of taking the sledgehammer to the painting.
Back at the building, Sophie told Jason that someone bought up most of Breanna's work, and she needed to transition the cash into hard assets. Krista totally looked at her phone then acted like she knew who "6dayze" was, saying Jason might not have been familiar, but she did year at the Royal College of Art. Krista then offered to show them around.
They looked at a suite, and Sophie started suggesting ideas of things to add. (A/N I seriously hate Krista so much y'all.) Krista whispered to Jason, then told Sophie they'd need collateral. Then the security guard told Krista she had some calls.
Krista left Jason to finish up the deal. Sophie then told Jason they wanted to make a deal. Jason said they wanted to, but they'd need a line of credit. Sophie said she'd talk to the bank, but it was gonna be two weeks. Jason questioned why not the end of the month. Sophie said it wasn't possible, and to convey her apologies to Krista. Jason then negotiated for a contract promising profits from the next sale, if she could get it in a day. Sophie accepted the deal.
The next day, Sophie called Jason, telling him to cancel the contract. Jason was pissed. Thanks to Harry, the contract Jason signed allowed them to walk away.
A bit later, Harry was leaning against the balcony. Sophie walked over. Harry asked Sophie if she knew the name Al-Abadi. Sophie revealed she did, saying they were a Saudi family whose daughter was Krista's roommate. Harry showed Sophie the invite, revealing they became shadow partners in the tower.
Harry reminded Sophie he said people like Jason always found money, and they lost. He handed the invitation to Sophie. Sophie read the invitation was for a party, and asked Harry why they invited him. Harry said it because he's a fixer, and Jason needed his hand held to sign the deal with the Al-Abadis. Sophie told Harry he was invited to a party, and they never said no to parties.
First Person POV (Kaira)
So that wasn't exactly what I wanted to happen. But Sophie had a plan.
I sat next to Eliot at the table, Harry was standing by the bar, Parker by the back, and Breanna on the other side of the briefing table. Sophie was at the screen.
"This party has to be such a huge fiasco that the Al-Abadis flee without signing a deal." Sophie explained the plan.
"They're pretty tight with Krista." Harry pointed out.
"So we undermine their faith in Jason, by undermining his faith in the tower. We already know from the blueprints that he's paranoid about another collapse, and Mr. Wilson tipped us off about his reaction to loud noises. Add to the stress of being within hours of losing his company, he's primed. Breanna?" Sophie went into the plan.
I wasn't gonna lie, messing with this guy's PTSD seemed like a bad move. But it was a solid plan. Breanna walked up to the screen.
"Right. So the Crawleys' apartment is your basic luxury blah blah blah. I figure we rig the living room furniture and place rumble packs in the office." Breanna explained.
Parker was playing with a remote.
"What's this?" Parker asked, pointing the thing at Breanna, then Breanna fell.
"Dammit, Parker, how many times do I have to tell you, stop playing with tech you don't know!" I got up and snatched the remote from her, setting it back on the table.
"Parker!" Sophie exclaimed.
"That's a targeted subsonic projector. It interferes with the fluid in your inner ear. The vibrations give you vertigo." Breanna explained as Eliot and I walked around the bar to help Breanna back up.
"Cool. Oh." Parker stopped playing with the projector.
"Bre-" I tried telling her.
"Dial that down a bit, yeah." Breanna said.
Eliot and I sat her up first, making sure she was steady, then helped her stand up.
"Thank you." Breanna thanked us.
"No problem kid." I patted her back.
"Now, the radio signal won't necessarily reach from the food truck, so I'm thinking we need another place." Breanna explained.
"Wait. What about the suite above the Crawleys right there? We could set up a control room there." Eliot pointed out.
"Uh, the office is a little tricky, but I don't see why-" Breanna explained.
"Hang on. I thought we were doing the con while Harry was at the party. Why do we need the office?" I questioned.
"Cause that's where the safe is." Harry revealed.
This just gets better and better.
"On my tour, I noticed that the wall depth is off. Room for a wall safe." Parker explained.
"It's not part of the plan." Sophie told Parker.
Harry walked up to Sophie.
"If Jason's got evidence from the building collapse that could bring him to justice, that's where it'll be." Harry explained.
"If. No, the safe is a fishing expedition. It could be worthless. And it could endanger the team. Mr. Wilson, this con requires you to focus." Sophie told Harry.
Then Harry did the puppy dog eyes.
"Please?" He asked.
"It'll take five minutes, in and out." Parker cleared her throat.
Sophie finally gave in.
"If it takes six, we bail." Sophie said.
Later at the party, we all arrived at Axios Towers. Eliot and I went in as catering, walking by Krista. She stopped us.
"Wait. Who are you?" Krista asked us.
Eliot and I turned around.
"I'm the head chef to the cater, this is my sous chef." Eliot introduced us, taking the graveliness out of his voice.
I grabbed the menu from his apron.
"Care to approve the menu?" I asked, adding a slight French accent to my voice, batting my eyes a tad.
" d'escargots de Buourgogne! Excellent choice." Krista told us, and I see Eliot stumble a bit, blinking his eyes.
"Oh, your taste is very discerning, your accent impeccable. Have you been abroad?" Eliot asked Krista, and I can't tell if he was trying to flirt or not.
Krista chuckled.
"I did a year at the Royal College of Art in London." Krista said, acting like she had a stick up her ass.
She handed Eliot the menu back.
"Well, one can tell." Eliot said.
We walked away. I caught Eliot rolling his eyes. But I noticed Krista and the security guard. She put her hands on his chest, then grabbed his jacket, which meant something was about to happen, cause that's what I do with Eliot before we, uh, make out.
"Oh damn. I knew she was a bitch, but I didn't know she was an adultress." I told Eliot as he just shook his head.
Eliot uncovered the platter he was holding, revealing Breanna's tech. We put the devices under the table. Then Jason came in. Eliot handed a yellow envelope to Jason.
"Someone came in to deliver that, and we weren't sure what to do." I told Jason.
"Oh, right, it's for my wife." Jason said.
Eliot zipped up his coat and I gave Jason a look.
"I'm not tipping you." Jason told us.
"That's no problem." Eliot kept his cool.
I, however, had this voice in my head telling me to be petty.
"That's alright." I walked up to Jason, a composed smirk on my face.
"Just know that your wife isn't as loyal as you think." I patted Jason's cheek and left with Eliot.
He just glanced at me.
"Really, sweetheart?" Eliot questioned.
"What? They're both bitches who deserve it, and what I told him will add to the stress, making him more susceptible to our manipulation." I smiled at Eliot.
He smiled back.
"Alright." Eliot put his arm around my waist.
Third Person POV
Harry and Sophie were back at home base, getting ready. Harry struggled to get his cufflinks on. Sophie asked Harry if he could handle it. Harry said he could, and if there was one thing he knew it was how to schmooze dirtbags. Sophie said but not how to fasten cufflinks apparently, and he'd been doing it for 90 seconds. Sophie walked up and helped.
Harry admitted he was nervous, saying he used to go to these parties and become the person he hated. Sophie realized that was why Harry didn't tell them about his connection to the Crawleys. Harry said when his team killed the case against Jason, his firm gave him a bonus check. Sophie realized he was ashamed. Harry said he was proud, cause he did his job well, and he didn't want Sophie to look at him and know that.
Sophie told Harry he wasn't that person anymore, and it spoke volumes. Sophie explained to Harry that he was playing a character, and his team needed him to perform. Harry assured Sophie he wouldn't let her down. Sophie went to fix his tie, saying to make sure he didn't, calling him "our Mr. Wilson".
At the party, Sophie met with Breanna at the office. Breanna told Sophie the feeds were up and they were live. Sophie questioned about sound. Breanna explained she had speakers ready in the office, roof, and everywhere, playing some for Sophie. Breanna told Sophie they were gonna mess with Jason pretty bad, asking if they were the bad guys. Sophie said they were, and to never forget that, and they weren't heroes, just necessary. Sophie went on comms, telling Harry when he arrived to screen the others.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Eliot, Harry, and I, with Parker in a box, were in the elevator. Eliot and I both noticed that Harry was nervous.
"For what it's worth, we all got regrets." Eliot told Harry.
"Some more personal than others." I added.
"You'll move past it." Eliot told Harry.
Harry looked at us.
"How did you two learn to live with what you've done?" Harry asked us.
Eliot paused a moment, and I grabbed his arm in comfort.
"I decided not to care. I didn't care who I hurt. Who paid me. When Nate put this team together, I thought it was one and done, that I'd go back to that. But Sophie, Parker, Hardison, my wife, and Nathan Ford showed me there was another way. And little by little, you get a piece of your soul back. Ain't that right Parker?" Eliot said.
"Absolutely." Parker said.
"And every once in a while, you meet someone who helps piece your soul back together." Eliot looked at me, smiling.
I smiled a tad.
"Thanks, babe." I gave him a peck on the cheek.
"And you, Kaira?" Harry questioned me.
"I stopped feeling and went numb. It was easier to not feel the guilt, the pain. But I met Eliot, and after-" I paused a second to choose my words carefully.
"Let's just say an incident involving a former employer, I realized that I could start feeling again, and it wasn't a bad thing. Then Eliot and I accepted a job from a man in a bar in Chicago 12 years ago, I met Nathan Ford, Alec Hardison, and Parker. Sophie had come along later on the job. But they all showed me that I could help people. And little by little, my soul got rebuilt. First with getting this job. Then marrying this Cowboy. Then having our kids. Every day, with every person we help, it gets easier looking in the mirror. I will always have a one-way ticket straight to Hell, but now it's easier to live with. Point is, with each good thing you do, you'll find it gets easier. But first, you have to forgive yourself, Harry. You do that, the rest is easier." I told Harry.
I felt Eliot grab my hand and squeeze it. I gave him a reassuring smile.
We walked out of the elevator and were met with the bodyguard. Eliot and I walked past as Harry talked with Jason. When we walked by the office tour, Parker rolled from the cart. Eliot and I rounded the corner as Harry went with Jason.
"Nice work. Now set the scene, find the safe." Sophie came over comms.
Third Person POV
Breanna said the first step was a custom rumble pack she made to deliver five times the standard impact, adding she called him Little Bucky. Parker installed the rumble pack. Sophie just smiled at Breanna.
Harry started the meeting. Krista said Jason talked a lot about him, and asked if he was still retired. Harry said he mostly was, but he still protected his most important clients' money. Sana Al-Abadi was unimpressed, calling Harry an accountant. Harry said he wasn't exactly, and started explaining the difference.
Breanna made a comment that Harry was a good bad guy. Sophie asked if Parker located the safe.
Parker was tapping the walls in the office and eventually found the safe behind a painting. Parker then reported the safe had an iris scanner, and she was gonna need Jason's eyeball, saying she was gonna find chopsticks.
Sophie, rightfully concerned, asked why. Breanna told Parker to wait, and asked Parker to find a high-res photo of Jason on his computer.
Parker did.
Sophie told Harry to keep stalling. Harry did. Arif Al-Abadi asked Harry what it would take to get him out of retirement. Harry nearly blew the con, saying he had to get some food.
Sophie reminded Harry to keep them engaged until Parker had the safe open. Harry said he needed a second. Sophie told Harry he didn't have a second, his jaw was tense, and his hand was shaking, and he was ashamed and letting it get in the way. Harry composed himself and went back.
Back at the office, Parker printed out a copy of Jason's eye from a photo. Parker unlocked the safe and opened it. She pulled out a yellow envelope, revealing it was a bust, as the envelope was full of Workman's Comp receipts.
Sophie was confused, realized the Crawleys were paying the crew's medical benefits. Parker thought it wasn't like them. Sophie said it wasn't the smoking gun, and she was sorry. Parker closed up the safe.
Harry had taken a break. Jason complimented Harry on how he was doing. Jason revealed that the Al-Abadis wanted Harry to negotiate the deal, and how Harry was riding to his rescue just like after the first tower collapsed, and the foreman died. Harry got upset, saying the foreman had a name.
Sophie warned Harry not to do what he was about to do. Harry said his name was Mateo Navarro, but Jason didn't remember cause he didn't have to read the death certificate and tell his family that because they didn't have a green card, they couldn't be compensated. Jason said that was what his well-paid legal team was for. Harry said they did a good job, all so Jason could play victim at a dinner party. Jason then told Liam, the bodyguard, to escort Harry to his car. Harry said he could do it himself.
Sophie told Harry he got himself burned and took away his con privileges. Harry got back on the elevator and went to the office floor, getting a stare from Sophie. Harry said he knew he screwed up. Sophie explained that now Eliot, Kaira, and Parker were now exposed because they were trying to find his white whale, and he couldn't help them. She told Harry, calling him Mr. Wilson, he was out of second chances. Breanna tried giving Harry two thumbs up, but Sophie told her she wasn't graded on a curve, calling her Ms. Casey. Breanna said it was kinda spooky, and not to do it anymore.
Sophie said losing Harry meant they couldn't control things as directly but they were prepped, they just had to execute. They saw Jason rejoining dinner. Sophie explained that act one was to make Jason's senses betray him.
Parker was in the vent with the sonic remote, saying all the first-person shooter games with Hardison were about to pay off. Parker then hit the button, causing Jason to clatter dishes. Jason tried brushing it off, but Parker fired again, causing Jason to fall out of the chair. Jason slowly started to panic. But Jason composed himself, heading towards his office, but Parker caused him to fall again.
Eliot and Kaira made their way back to the base. Act two started, which was Jason's subconscious is triggered by the cues of the first collapse, and he questions whether his tower was really as safe as he thinks.
Sophie said to give him the answer. Breanna put on her headphones on, causing Jason's computer to show emails about how bad of a job they did on construction.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Eliot and I exited the elevator. Harry was leaning against the wall.
"Where's Parker?" Sophie asked us.
We looked at her, saying we didn't know.
"Okay. There's video recordings of the building's camera in the security office, so I asked her to pull them just in case." Breanna explained, hoping to not get in trouble.
"Good planning. Breanna." Sophie told Breanna.
"Nice." I shot her a smile.
Then a phone rang, and Breanna tossed it to Eliot. Eliot caught it and answered it.
"It's about time you called me back, I've been leaving messages, okay? I know you wanted to cut costs because your husband was overbuilding, but I have reviewed the plans. You cut too much! Especially in the foundation, okay? It's a substandard pour. I've reviewed the plans and I sent them back over, and I sent back over the receipt. Just cut me a check and leave me out of it!" Eliot hung up the phone.
We were closer to Breanna now. Eliot tossed the phone back over.
"You've gotten really good at your acting, babe." I complimented Eliot, giving him a smile.
"All thanks to you, mama." Eliot smiled at me.
Breanna started the rumble packs. Eliot and I headed to the spot with Harry we had designated for act three.
Third Person POV
With Jason fully panicked, Breanna got excited, saying she didn't want to brag, but she nailed her mix. Sophie said it was a brag, and to give Bucky a twirl. Breanna started up Bucky, which caused things to fall off of shelves, which they could see on security cams.
Jason was flipping out on Krista, accusing her of hiring terrible contractors that did a terrible job. Krista said she didn't know where they came from. Jason started saying how she said she would always fix things, and he tells her no, but she didn't listen, and she knew better, but he was the one who almost died and almost went to prison.
Krista yelled at Jason to breathe, then told him to sit down. Jason did. Krista told Jason that happened, but the people who were dead are dead. And they didn't matter, but they did, and they were close to the deal. Krista also told Jason he was a little high-strung, and to stay while she finished the deal. Krista had rejoined the table, saying Jason had a migraine. The Al-Abadis accepted the deal, and Krista went to go get the paperwork.
Breanna said they were running out of time. Sophie cued up Kaira and Eliot for act three. They had set up debt cord, and Harry had the honor of pushing the detonator. Eliot told Harry to have fun. Over security cams, Breanna and Sophie saw Jason running through the halls, but did not warn the Al-Abadis the tower was "collapsing".
First Person POV (Kaira)
Eliot, Harry, and I walked back to the set up.
"The building's coming down and he doesn't tell his guests? This guy's more selfish than I anticipated." Sophie said.
"Hey, guys? Wait, wait, look." Breanna pulled up the security cam for the stairs, and Jason was headed up.
"He's headed for the roof." Breanna reported.
"The hell's he going up for?" I asked.
Sophie turned to Harry. Eliot and I were leaning against a support beam, though I was more leaning on him as Eliot had his arm wrapped around me.
"Mr. Wilson, earn it back." Sophie told Harry.
He ran off. Breanna cycled the cameras.
"Uh, guys, not to make matters worse, but I can't find Krista on any of the cams." Breanna revealed.
I then heard the elevator ding, so I look and see Krista at the end of making out with Liam, the security guard, telling him that once the deal closes, she got half in the divorce, and they were free.
"Oh!" Sophie exclaimed.
Krista caught us.
"Well, she was hiding something." Sophie said.
"What an adulterous bitch!" I exclaimed, suppressing a chuckle.
"The business manager and the chefs and-and-" Krista kept snapping her fingers, trying to think of Breanna's alias.
"6daze." Breanna threw her hands up.
"Yes! You're together? And you're trying to sink this deal!" Krista questioned.
"Well, I'm with him, at least, and unlike you, I'm actually loyal to my husband, thank you very much bitch." I point to Eliot with my thumb as I stare Krista down, and Eliot is suppressing a smile.
Krista ordered the goon to take care of us. Eliot and I just shook our heads and went after Liam. Krista went back in the elevator. Sophie went to follow.
I let Eliot go first as he blocked a punch from Liam, and Eliot punched Liam in the face, pushing him back. I could hear Breanna's commentary. Eliot and I then went in, Eliot using his arm as a bar, tackled Liam into the wall, breaking it, and ending up on the floor. I decided to get a few face punches in.
Third Person POV
Harry finally caught up with Jason on the roof. Jason was standing on the ledge. Harry tried coaxing Jason down.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Eliot was now in a lock with Liam, punching his stomach. Then Eliot kept kneeing Liam as I kept Breanna behind me. Breanna was excited, saying it was much better in person. Eliot then pushed Liam away towards the set up. Eliot blocked a kick with his foot, allowing me to kick Liam in the knee.
"I mean, I heard the stories, but this!" Breana exclaimed as I tried to keep her behind me.
"Hey, not now." Eliot told Breanna.
"Bre!" I warned her to stop, which might have sounded like a mom voice.
Liam was gearing up for another punch. Eliot dodged another punch, using the momentum to hold Liam back and use his arm to hit his neck. Then somehow, Breanna got a stick, and as Liam got up, Breanna hit him in the back with it.
"Shit! Dammit, Bre!" I exclaimed.
"Hey, hey. Don't do that." Eliot scolded Breanna.
Liam turned to face her, and Breanna was scared. I jumped in immediately, with Breanna throwing me her stick as she said she got out of her lane. I both the stick.
"Hey! Asshole, pick on someone your own size." I got Liam's attention, using the sticks to hit his knee hard, then knocking him back by hitting him across the face twice, which was a mad move, cause he ended up breaking the system.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Breanna exclaimed as rumbling was heard.
"Turn it off!" Eliot yelled at Breanna.
"I can't! It's broken!" Breanna exclaimed, standing on her chair.
"Well fix it, then, cause we're pushing him too far!" I yelled at Breanna.
Third Person POV
Harry yelled Jason's name as Jason jumped down. Harry ran over to the ledge, then reported that Jason escaped through a chute.
See, in Parker's tour, Jason talked about the chute as part of the fire escape plan.
Parker joined him on the roof. Parker realized the chute thing was real. Harry said he was gonna go after him, and jumped down the chute, screaming on his way down. Harry just missed Jason getting in a cab.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Sophie, Eliot, Breanna, and I ran out into the street, meeting with Harry.
"He's gone. It's over." Harry reported.
"No, there's still the finale." Sophie told Harry.
"You get the call, Park?" I asked Parker over comms.
See, when Parker did her tour with Jason, she offered for Jason to call her if he needed something cleaned up. And before Jason got into the cab, he called Parker. Parker got the account and routing number.
"And ten million dollars just dropped into our account." Breanna reported, looking at her phone. "We got Jason and Krista's money? That's it, we're done?" Harry questioned, a little upset.
"No. Don't rush the ending." Sophie told Harry.
She turned to Breanna.
"Go on." Sophie told Breanna.
Breanna sent the video of the confession to Krista's phone, as well as the Al-Abadis. Needless to say, Krista wasn't gonna be selling anything anymore. And Jason was broke as Hell.
Later that night, we were parked outside the building. Eliot and I came out of the food truck with some food. Sophie was sitting at one table, Breanna and Harry in the one beside it. Parker walked over, handing Sophie the yellow envelope.
"Hold this. I wanna be streamlined for the next run down the fire escape. Whoo!" Parker ran off.
"And she's off." I chuckled as Eliot and I sat the food on the table.
"What do you guys think? Is she coming down feet first or head first?" Eliot asked everyone, and walked back to the truck.
"Oh head. Definitely head." Breanna said.
I sat down beside Sophie.
"I think I owe you an apology. I was too close to this." Harry apologized.
"It's always personal, Mr. Wilson. For each of us. What you need to understand is that we don't keep things from each other." Sophie told Harry.
"Well, what's next?" Harry asked.
"Axios goes to auction in a few months. And with buyers scared off, we're gonna use Jason's money to purchase the building pennies on the dollar." Sophie explained the plan.
I was smiling and eating a bit of the food Eliot made.
"Wait, we're gonna own this building?" Breanna questioned, her face lighting up.
"Yeah." Sophie said.
"Sick! We can make this into a killer crime-fighting HQ!" Breanna got excited.
"Sorry, Bre, but we're donating it to a low-income housing nonprofit." I explained.
"Yeah, along with most of the ten million." Eliot came over, eating a bit of his food.
"The rest will make Isabella whole." Eliot ate his chip.
He had his arm around my shoulder.
"It's not perfect. But it is a win." Sophie told Harry, handing him the envelope.
"Here. From the Crawley safe. Maybe you can use it." Sophie told Harry.
Harry took the envelope.
Eliot all but lifted me out of my seat, causing me to yip, sat down, then put me on his lap, and I was laughing, causing the others to laugh as we enjoyed the food.
This was what made the days away from my kids, the blood, sweat, tears, and bruises worth it. The knowing that because we did this, we were changing somebody's life.
Third Person POV
Later, Harry met with Javi and Isabella. They were sitting at the table. He showed them the envelope. Javi asked what it was. Harry explained they were receipts, and that Jason Crawley paid into workman's comp, and the fund had one benefactor, Javi.
Harry explained further that Javi's brother didn't have a green card, so it wasn't a big leap to guess Javi didn't have one either, and undocumented workers aren't entitled to disability payments. Javi was ashamed, and Isabella was confused.
Harry said he wanted to help, but Javi had to come clean. Javi admitted that he was with Mateo the day of the collapse. Javi said he saw Mateo warn Jason and get ignored, seconds before the collapse. Javi went on to explain that after the accident, Jason and Krista came to him and said to take the money and keep quiet or they'd deport him. He did it because he didn't want to leave his niece alone. He apologized to Isabella.
Harry said that if Javi came forward and testified, he'd do everything in his power to protect him, and he'd make sure Json faced real consequences for the collapse, and Krista for covering it up. Harry said Javi would get real justice for his brother. Javi very graciously accepted, crying almost.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Sophie, Eliot, Breanna, Parker, and I were watching, with proud looks on our faces. Eliot was holding Nathaniel, I was holding Sophia, and Breanna was holding Eli. It felt good, seeing Harry get the justice he wanted.
"You proud of our Mr. Wilson?" Sophie asked us.
"Well, it's not everyday someone gets a little piece of their soul back, is it?" Eliot said.
"Yeah. Mr. Wilson did good. Not bad, for a lawyer." I teased slightly but showed I was proud.
And from personal experience, there's nothing like the feeling of getting your soul back piece by piece. And one look to Eliot and mine's kids reminded me of how far I'd come. How far Eliot and I had come. There still may be more work to do, but it's been a Hell of a ride so far.
(A/N) How'd you like that?! I had a lot of fun writing this! I hope you enjoyed it! Now, the song of the chapter:
watch?v=VxwaAGFhoq4&ab_channel=RogelioDouglas%2CJr.-Topic ("Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Rogelio Douglas Jr.)
This is the song that was in the trailer for the first half, and I thought it was fitting.
And I have another surprise I've been meaning to share:
playlist/7M4tk2FHDl0g93V6Tq5Yho?si=960dcb323f074184 ("The Hitter's Girl's Redemption" Playlist)
So I made a playlist of the songs I'm using for this series! Check it out!
I can't wait to continue this series! Next chapter will be good, as it's based on "The Paranormal Hacktivity Job", which is fitting since Halloween is very soon!
Until next time! Much love to you all! Remember to favorite this story and share! Much love! Stay safe!
Kaylee