Part Sixteen
Liz was slightly in a panic. She had forgotten a file that she was working on yesterday at home. With all that had happened in school today, she had been slightly distracted. Liz just knew any second now the Congresswoman was going to ask her for it.
In desperation Liz picked up the phone and dialled a number she had dialled a thousand times before. It was Maria's fault she had been distracted going all Charlie's Angel on that idiot guy and besides what were best friends for. She hoped Maria got here with the file before she saw the Congresswoman. While the woman seemed nice most of the time, Liz saw something in her eyes that made her weary of making any mistakes. She didn't look like someone that dealt well with those that crossed her.
Maria rushed up the stairs, pass Mrs Parker, calling hello as she raced by into Liz's room. Mrs Parker didn't blink. Maria was a common sight in their house, as common a sight as Liz was in the Deluca household, practically a second daughter. Thirty seconds later Maria ran by again calling a farewell. Mrs Parker smiled to herself as Maria left before she even heard the reply.
Liz was waiting for her was the only thing Maria thought of as she ran into the Congresswoman's Whittaker's offices. She paused for a quick breathe before heading to the secretary's desk to ask for Liz. After receiving directions, Maria took a chance to look around for the first time. The place was filled with desks covered in computers, fax machines and phones. There was an office in the end of the room – Congresswoman Whitaker's. Maria headed towards the desk where the secretary said was Liz's.
Liz was no where in sight. Towards the right a door was slightly ajar – the Congresswoman's office. Maria walked quietly towards the open door and quickly sneaked a look. She could see the Congresswoman but not much else. The woman was talking to someone. Maria moved in closer to see if it was Liz in the office. It took her a few seconds to figure out that Whittaker was on the phone. Maria began walking away when she overheard something that made her stop dead in her tracks.
Pierce. The name brought bad memories and fear to the front. Even though he was dead and Nacedo had replaced him, the man had done too much and hurt too many people. Killing him had almost destroyed Michael. Before Maria had a chance to be buried in memories the FBI trained part of her had already come closer to listen in on the conversation. She could only hear the one side.
"Yeah , I think I'm going to dump him. He's no use anymore. I can barely get any information and now with the shut down of the department, we will lose everything."
"Of course, I took precautions. Yes all the files have been copied."
"Please I have a back-up for everything." Her voice was smug.
"No, I'm sending someone to pick them up. It's too risky for my contact to bring them here."
"Of course, someone I trust. "
"She's arriving tonight at 8. I stuck her in the Grange – that motel on the edge of town. Tomorrow I'll give her the identity and directions. The later the better. She'll pick up the files, hand them to me and leave immediately."
"Uh-huh. By this time tomorrow, we'll have everything we need on the royal four. It'll be only a matter of time."
"Bye. Yeah I'll phone as soon as they are in my hands."
Maria moved back towards Liz's desk as soon as she heard Whittaker put the phone down. She looked down and saw she was about to crush the file in her hands.
'This was bad. At least it explained why the woman was on the news trying to keep the Department open after Nacedo initiated the shut-down. I have to do something.' Maria's thoughts were all over the place calculating and discarding theories. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Liz heading towards her, a look of total relief on her face. And everything that had happened today came back to her. She forgot the half- formed plan and the excitement and fear that arose since she overheard the conversation. She had to tell them everything tonight. There wasn't a choice anymore. They would all have to help if they were to intercept those files.
Maria and Liz didn't stop to talk. Liz thanked Maria and Maria left immediately. She needed to psyche herself up for tonight. At least they would be slightly distracted by the Whittaker information and I won't get yelled at so much, I hope. Who was she kidding? Michael alone was going to probably try to keep her locked up for the rest of the year never mind Alex, Max and Kyle. She really didn't know when they all become so protective? Oh yeah , it was when she got stuck in the desert.
Whatever happened the meeting had to be done by 8pm so they could find the courier in time. That gave her 2 hours to get ready and 2 hours for the meeting. Maria headed towards the desert - to her cliffs. She needed to think.
End
Liz was slightly in a panic. She had forgotten a file that she was working on yesterday at home. With all that had happened in school today, she had been slightly distracted. Liz just knew any second now the Congresswoman was going to ask her for it.
In desperation Liz picked up the phone and dialled a number she had dialled a thousand times before. It was Maria's fault she had been distracted going all Charlie's Angel on that idiot guy and besides what were best friends for. She hoped Maria got here with the file before she saw the Congresswoman. While the woman seemed nice most of the time, Liz saw something in her eyes that made her weary of making any mistakes. She didn't look like someone that dealt well with those that crossed her.
Maria rushed up the stairs, pass Mrs Parker, calling hello as she raced by into Liz's room. Mrs Parker didn't blink. Maria was a common sight in their house, as common a sight as Liz was in the Deluca household, practically a second daughter. Thirty seconds later Maria ran by again calling a farewell. Mrs Parker smiled to herself as Maria left before she even heard the reply.
Liz was waiting for her was the only thing Maria thought of as she ran into the Congresswoman's Whittaker's offices. She paused for a quick breathe before heading to the secretary's desk to ask for Liz. After receiving directions, Maria took a chance to look around for the first time. The place was filled with desks covered in computers, fax machines and phones. There was an office in the end of the room – Congresswoman Whitaker's. Maria headed towards the desk where the secretary said was Liz's.
Liz was no where in sight. Towards the right a door was slightly ajar – the Congresswoman's office. Maria walked quietly towards the open door and quickly sneaked a look. She could see the Congresswoman but not much else. The woman was talking to someone. Maria moved in closer to see if it was Liz in the office. It took her a few seconds to figure out that Whittaker was on the phone. Maria began walking away when she overheard something that made her stop dead in her tracks.
Pierce. The name brought bad memories and fear to the front. Even though he was dead and Nacedo had replaced him, the man had done too much and hurt too many people. Killing him had almost destroyed Michael. Before Maria had a chance to be buried in memories the FBI trained part of her had already come closer to listen in on the conversation. She could only hear the one side.
"Yeah , I think I'm going to dump him. He's no use anymore. I can barely get any information and now with the shut down of the department, we will lose everything."
"Of course, I took precautions. Yes all the files have been copied."
"Please I have a back-up for everything." Her voice was smug.
"No, I'm sending someone to pick them up. It's too risky for my contact to bring them here."
"Of course, someone I trust. "
"She's arriving tonight at 8. I stuck her in the Grange – that motel on the edge of town. Tomorrow I'll give her the identity and directions. The later the better. She'll pick up the files, hand them to me and leave immediately."
"Uh-huh. By this time tomorrow, we'll have everything we need on the royal four. It'll be only a matter of time."
"Bye. Yeah I'll phone as soon as they are in my hands."
Maria moved back towards Liz's desk as soon as she heard Whittaker put the phone down. She looked down and saw she was about to crush the file in her hands.
'This was bad. At least it explained why the woman was on the news trying to keep the Department open after Nacedo initiated the shut-down. I have to do something.' Maria's thoughts were all over the place calculating and discarding theories. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Liz heading towards her, a look of total relief on her face. And everything that had happened today came back to her. She forgot the half- formed plan and the excitement and fear that arose since she overheard the conversation. She had to tell them everything tonight. There wasn't a choice anymore. They would all have to help if they were to intercept those files.
Maria and Liz didn't stop to talk. Liz thanked Maria and Maria left immediately. She needed to psyche herself up for tonight. At least they would be slightly distracted by the Whittaker information and I won't get yelled at so much, I hope. Who was she kidding? Michael alone was going to probably try to keep her locked up for the rest of the year never mind Alex, Max and Kyle. She really didn't know when they all become so protective? Oh yeah , it was when she got stuck in the desert.
Whatever happened the meeting had to be done by 8pm so they could find the courier in time. That gave her 2 hours to get ready and 2 hours for the meeting. Maria headed towards the desert - to her cliffs. She needed to think.
End