They weren't lucky. Not only was no one answering the phones, their email request for information went unanswered as well, leaving them to conclude that the package with the letters in it had been sent off with the messenger, and then everyone had left for the day.
"Well, that was an exercise in frustration," Matt said, closing the car door after he settled into the seat of Elisa's red Ford Fairlane. "So, I guess we'll wait until morning."
"Yeah," Elisa said slowly. "What do you think they want to discuss, Matt? I mean, the clan has enough on their collective plates without having to worry about human politics."
Matt shrugged. He wished he had an answer for her…or at least one she'd like. Hell, he'd settle for one that settled her nerves a little, because judging by the way she was weaving through midtown traffic, they weren't going to make it to see end of shift.
"They've already been in the thick of it, Elisa," Matt pointed out, knowing he was taking his life in his hands by speaking. "From the moment they decided to come out and sign up with the NYPD, there's been bureaucracy involved."
"You're right," Elisa said with a sigh, and her foot let up on the gas just enough for Matt to take a breath. "But it was a known entity. This…"
"It's bigger," Matt acknowledged.
"It's global," Elisa said. "And it will affect a whole lot more than just our little piece of the world."
"Maria suggested that she call and accept the in-person meeting with the U.N. Rep," Matt said. "If we can get that arranged, we can meet up with them and get a better idea of what's going on."
"Forewarned being forearmed and all that," Elisa said unhappily.
"Yeah," Matt said. "So… do we tell them all now, or wait?"
"We wait," Elisa decided. "Just for tonight. If we can get that meeting and information tomorrow we'll tell them tomorrow night."
They didn't even have an active night to keep their thoughts occupied. It had been slow, comparatively, and they were both a little edgy by the time that the shift ended.
As Elisa and Matt were clocking out for the day, Maria flagged them down from the doorway of her office, her phone pressed to her ear. "No," Maria was saying as she moved back into her office so that the detective could join her. "No," she said again, "It's no problem. Yes, I will let them know. Thank you Miss Hardwick."
Maria hung up the phone. "Well, she's prompt, I'll give her that."
"Hardwick?" Elisa asked. "As in the woman who wrote the letter from the U.N. office?"
"That's the one," Maria said, taking a seat behind her desk. "She has some time this morning, and has offered to talk to all of us. I know it is last minute, and you've already clocked out but…"
"I'll hang around," Elisa insisted, checking the clock on the wall. "Just let me call Skyler and let her know."
Maria nodded to Elisa, and while the detective made the necessary calls, she continued speaking to Matt.
"Miss Hardwick didn't seem to want to speak over the phone, so the meeting was necessary. She did offer to come tomorrow night, but I figured sooner was better."
"Agreed," Matt said, propping an elbow on the arm rest of the chair, chin in hand. "What do you think this is about, Maria?"
"I don't know," she said slowly, "but this Miss Hardwick was adamant that she speak with us. At first she asked to speak to just the two of you, so I hope you don't mind that I invited myself in on it."
"You'd do the same for any of your officers," Matt replied with a smile. "That's why you're our favorite."
Maria rolled her eyes. "Evaluations aren't due for another two months, so save it."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Alright," Elisa said as she hung up the phone. "That's taken care of. So," Elisa asked leaning forward in her chair, "What time is this meeting?"