Chapter 2

Two weeks earlier, Nate had just dropped Sophie off at the theatre after they had shared an early lunch and he had stopped off at his favourite drinking hole. He sat in the corner booth sipping on his Jameson when a familiar voice rang out.

"Hello Nate…"

"Sterling…" Nate said looking up into the eyes of his erstwhile colleague and friend.

"Mind if I join you…?" The shorter man said as he took a seat without waiting for an answer.

Nate watched him with a slight smirk on his face as he took another sip of his drink and waited for Sterling to tell him what he was here for.

Sterling ordered himself a drink and then sat back in his seat too watching Nate though hooded eyes. He needed the man's help and he had come here to find him. If Nate would help him and more importantly if he would be willing to keep his wife and his team out of it he did not know, but Nate was his last resort.

The two men sat in silence for a short while after Sterling's drink arrived, Nate waiting patiently for Sterling to start the conversation.

"I need your help."

"Of course you do." Nate said drinking down the last sip of his whiskey and holding the glass up to the waitress indicating he wanted another one.

"You can't involve Sophie or the other three." Sterling said keeping his eyes on the Mastermind gauging his reaction to the statement.

Nate stared at the man for a second and then raised his glass taking as sip but not saying anything.

"Nate…I need your help, I need it badly but I also need the assurance that you will not involve them or even tell them anything about the job." Sterling said seriously. "If you decline, I will understand, but I need that assurance before I continue."

"Let me hear it."

"Your word Nate..."

"Let me hear it first…it will go no further than this, no matter what I decide." Nate replied. He was not about to make an agreement before he knew what Sterling was asking.

"Ok…" Sterling said softly and began to lay it out for the Mastermind. Nate's face darkened as Sterling continued with the story.

Once Sterling was done he sat back and waited for his ex-friends decision. He hoped Nate would go along with him but his stipulation that the team and Sophie must know nothing of the job, let alone be a part of it was the deal breaker, for both men.

"Ok…" Nate said softly. "I'll help."

Sterling sighed heavily in relief then held up his hand to indicated to the waitress they would need another round of drinks.

"I will need a few days to make the arrangements." Nate said as their drinks arrived. He knew the three younger members of the team would be no problem because they were away on a job at the moment and they had not asked for nor wanted his aid in the planning of it. Sophie, well Sophie was easy, she was busy with her new play and she knew he was getting antsy as they team had not wanted his help on their last three jobs. There were only so many model ships you could build and he was not really overly interested in the theatre business.

"No problem." Sterling said, he needed to make some arrangements of his own. "Let's say four days?"

"Good." Nate agreed.

"Good." Sterling said before downing the last of his drink. Then he stood and looked down at Nate. "Thank you."

Nate smiled at him raising his glass. Then the Interpol Agent turned and walked out of the bar with Nate's eyes following him until he walked out the door. Nate sighed then and nodded at the waitress as she asked if he wanted another. He was not sure he had made the right decision but he knew after he had hear Sterling's story that he had to go along with the man. It was dangerous and it was most likely something he was going to regret, but he had to help him, it was the right thing to do under the circumstances.

Thanks for reading and I hoped you enjoyed the chapter, please let me know what you thought.