Authors Note: All right, I've screwed with you guys long enough. This is the part that'll clear everything up! I hope I haven't disappointed anyone, and I assure you this is not the last part. There will be one more. Please excuse all spelling and grammer mistakes. Enjoy!
"Well, why don't you tell me everything about the case? Maybe after you go over everything and say everything out loud something will click. I do it all the time and it works for me," Mimi suggested in the passenger seat of the car on their way back to Matt's apartment.
"All right," Matt agreed willing to try anything. The newest crime scene came up empty again, all except the signature white lily she decided to leave on the roof. "Lilly Barton, about age twenty six, twenty seven, no known background under the name Lilly Barton. That means she's the world's most isolated person or that there is no Lilly Barton, I'm pretty positive it's the second of those. She just suddenly came out of nowhere a few years back and she's already stolen over nine hundred million dollars in jewels, paintings, cash, bonds, property, and so on. The case fell into my lap a few days ago and it already makes no sense to me."
"In what way?" Mimi asked, her brow furrowing with concentration.
"She's really high tech. She's got some of the worlds leading technology at her finger tips but she doesn't carry any weapons at all, it's as if she knows she's not going to get caught."
"Maybe she just doesn't want to hurt anyone?" Mimi interrupted.
"That might have been an option before, until she murdered a security guard on Saturday. Which was another dead end. There was no useful evidence left at any of the current or the past crime scenes. I'm assuming that the guard walked in on her when she was stealing some of the crown jewels lent to us from England. The only way we could be positive that it is Lilly is the white lily she leaves at every crime scene, other then that we have nothing."
"Well if she hasn't killed anyone in all the years that she's been stealing why would she start now?"
"I don't know, maybe she was backed into a corner?"
"Then why didn't she kill you?"
Mimi was a lot sharper then Matt would have guessed, "That's a good question Mimi. Maybe it was because she knew she could escape from me?"
"If she could escape from you, a highly trained FBI Agent," she smiled almost mockingly at him, "then why wouldn't she have been able to escape a security guard form a museum?"
Matt looked at Mimi, shock written all over his face. She was thinking in ways he would never normally think of himself. Matt smiled slyly before going on, "Jeez, with all you seem to know about Lilly Barton I wouldn't be surprised if you knew her, Mimi."
Mimi blushed a light crimson color, moving her brown eyes from his to the dashboard of the car. "Don't count on it," she said laughing lightly.
At this point Matt began to study Mimi intently his azure eyes taking in her every movement as well as her delicate features.
"Why are you staring at me?" Mimi coughed raising her eyes to meet his once more.
"Honestly?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Mimi smiled solemnly.
"I haven't got a clue, so what do you think?" Matt questioned, changing the subject.
"About what?"
"My case?"
"Oh, I think…" Mimi bit her bottom lip in thought. She was running the information through her mind trying to decide what to tell Matt she thought. "I think that you're going to have a really hard catching her… if you catch her." She added smiling devilishly.
"Is that so?" he answered with an eyebrow raised skeptically.
"That's right," she confirmed unpinning her hair and shaking it out.
An action that made Matt go absolutely wild with arousal. Mimi of course caught his longing glances at her and smirked. "Why don't you step on it Matt? I have this powerful feeling the sooner we get back to your place the better."
* * *
"Do you want syrup on your waffles or…" Matt yelled from the kitchen to Mimi who was in his room writing in her journal again.
"Or what?" Mimi asked raising from the desk and closing the small leather bound book as she retreated to the kitchen.
"Well I was going to say chocolate sauce but we used all that last night," Matt smiled wickedly at the memory of the night before.
"We did, didn't we?" Mimi realized. Licking her lips as her mind was flooded over with the pleasurable flashbacks. "Syrup it is then."
Mimi sat down at the table quietly while Matt poured on the syrup extra thick. He set the plates down on the table with a soft clang and proceeded to get the juice from the fridge.
"Do you eat anything other then waffles?" Mimi teased cutting into hers.
"Why would I need to?" Matt laughed, "Waffles are the best food ever, whether that's for breakfast, lunch, or dinner."
"How is that? They couldn't possibly be that healthy for you," Mimi looked at him doubtfully but took a bite anyway.
"Sure they are, it says right on right in the box," Matt confirmed. "The waffle people have no reason to lie to us diehard waffle lovers, so it must be true. Not only that but any idiot can make waffles, even my little-" Matt stopped himself in mid-sentence.
"Your what?" Mimi asked, thinking that she just didn't catch the last part.
"M-my little brother… TK," Matt whispered setting the juice on the counter before he dropped it on the floor.
Seeing Matt so distressed had Mimi extremely worried and without a thought she dropped her waffle engulfed fork and went to stand beside him. "TK? Is that the young man in the picture with you in your bedroom?"
"Yeah… he… he died," Matt hesitated, pressing his open palms on the counter to support himself.
"I'm so sorry Matt," Mimi whispered wrapping her arms around his waist.
"It's all right, it happened almost seven years ago," Matt nodded closing his eyes to ward off tears he promised himself he wouldn't cry.
"Seven years ago? TK… TK…" Mimi mumbled to herself trying to remember where she had heard that name before. Suddenly the answer hit her point blank in the face and her features contorted with a dazed a sorrow. "Takashi?"
"H-how'd you know?" Matt eyed her suspiciously.
"When I was in high school I was dating this guy named Tai and his little sister was absolutely in love with this boy named TK. When I went over to her house to visit with Tai she would ask me for advice on how to ask him out and stuff."
"Her name was Kari, wasn't it?" Matt tried to laugh but it sounded as if he was choking.
"Yeah,"
"She was all TK ever talked about, other then basketball," Matt said fondly.
"When TK was murd-… found Kari was devastated," Mimi added sadly.
"It's all right Mimi, you can say it, he was murdered," Matt said almost spitting out the last word.
"I know," Mimi replied sorrowfully tightening her grasp on Matt.
They stood there like that for a long time. Mimi daring not to shatter the silence that had wrapped itself around them like a chilling midnight breeze, Matt rigid and still in her arms willing himself not to shed any more tears for his lost brother.
"Oh shit!" Mimi swore under her breath.
"Huh?" Matt asked a little dazed.
"I have to go Matt, I'm sorry," Mimi pulled away.
"That's fine," he muttered a little distantly.
"Are you sure you don't need me?" Mimi queried.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Matt assured giving her a weak smile.
"All right," Mimi grabbed her purse from kitchen counter and headed for the door. "I'll call you later, kay?"
"I'll be waiting," his mood was already changing for the better.
After Mimi left Matt ate his waffles in no hurry, pouring on even more syrup then he had originally. Once full he left the dishes on the counter, deciding to wash them later, meaning that he'd probably leave then until they started to stink. He strolled soundlessly into his room, thinking about nothing really, only trying to sort through a mess of tangled emotions he felt inside.
It was confusing, the way he felt. About life, about Mimi, about the case, about his past. Nothing made any logical sense any longer like the way it once did. When he was a child his life was so easy, hang with friends, protect little brother, attempt to get good grades, try to keep a steady girlfriend, and play music. It was all he ever asked for. After TK died it started getting harder. His little brother wasn't there anymore. He had no real purpose there was no one for him to protect. Friends no longer seemed the effort and a girlfriend no longer seemed that important. Music held no purpose to him either, it seemed almost pointless, playing music was never going to save lives. It was never going to make sure that an innocent child wouldn't be kidnapped, it was never going to stop a serial killer from killing, it was never going to stop a rapist from raping.
That was the reason why Matt had joined the FBI, to protect the people that couldn't protect themselves. He promised himself he would do everything possible to make sure what happened to TK would never happen to anyone else.
Matt found himself sitting at his desk staring at the diary Mimi had left behind, most likely by accident. His fingers ran over the aged leather, taking in the feeling of the almost slippery texture of the cover. His mind told him not to open the pages where Mimi had scribbled down her life, the very thoughts that made her who she was but something even stronger told him he had to. He carefully opened the cover, listening to the slight crackle of the old pages that dated back to years ago. He flipped meaninglessly through the pages, skimming over the word, vaguely going over her life.
Something that was written in the more recent years caught his eye and he flipped back a few pages to find it. When he came across the passage he read it aloud to himself:
"Well dear dairy, it seems I'm famous, although no one has any idea who I am. I'm all over the news and television! Too bad I couldn't get this kind of airtime when I was an actress! Like I've said before, life is getting extremely boring! I almost fell asleep in a meeting today! Can you believe it? Any ways, I've long ago decided to spice it up a little and thus made a few contacts and such, to get the right equipment to rip off the jewelry store on 3rd and 4th street. You know the one. I go shopping there all the time. At first I was scared, you know? I was thinking, 'what if I got caught?" but after a little while and a little adrenaline it felt so exhilarating! It was easy to find a broker and get rid of the evidence, then not wanting to rouse any suspicions, not that there were any, I donated the money to the women's shelter. Aren't I nice? As you know money isn't an issue cause I have it and all, but it isn't the money that attracts me to thievery. I think it's the chase, it's seeing the prize and doing everything you can to get it, it's the careful planning, and the rush, you know? Well anyway, I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I've decided to dabble a little while longer in the embezzlement (I just learned that word today, aren't you proud of me?) business. Yours truly Mimi."
Matt kept staring at the page shocked to his very core. He read it over a few times just to make sure that what he was reading was what Mimi had written. It indeed was what he had read the first time. He couldn't believe that Mimi, his Mimi, was a thief! He never would have guessed.
Matt quickly flipped to the next page to read the next entry and he read it even more intensely and more carefully then the first.
"I have the most amazing news diary! I just stole… wait! Stole is such a negative word, I'll use lifted ^_^! I just lifted over a million dollars in collector's stamps! And I took like 12! Who ever thought stamps would be so expensive? I mean they're just tiny pieces of paper, right? Well after I got rid of the evidence (you know, find a broker then donate the money to charity) I thought I might as well make a name for myself, right? So I was thinking of getting me an alias and a call sign. Do you think I'd make a nice blond? I already have the perfect wig and theses neat blue contact lenses for my eyes! The only thing is I have no idea what to call my self, so I'll get back to you on that one. Until later, Mimi."
'So it wasn't just a one time thing," Matt thought to himself, reading page after page.
As the day and months flipped by before Matt's eyes he learned everything he had had ever wanted to know about Mimi Tachikawa and Lilly Barton. He learned where and how Mimi got her equipment, he learned how she chose her heists, he learned exactly how she pulled everyone of her jobs off, and he learned how she felt about everyone of them. There were so many that he began to skim over, or all together skipped over the unimportant ones looking for the pages with Mimi's thoughts of the last few days scribbled on them.
When he finally found the pages he closed his eyes afraid of what he would read but too curious not to. Opening his eyes, Matt ran his numbing fingers over the black ink and took a shaky breath before reading the passage of the day he met Mimi in the museum.
"Dear diary (how cliché is that?), today I met the most amazing man in the museum. He was so hot! He had these intense blue eyes, the most remarkable body, and his lips were so soft I thought I was going to melt!" Matt couldn't help but smile when he read her thoughts on him. "How did I know that, you ask? Because I kissed him! Can you believe it!?! I couldn't believe I did that myself and you should have seen the look on his face! He looked so cute standing there, gaping at me. There's this huge problem though. I swiped his wallet (by accident of course) and he's an FBI Agent working on guess whose case. Mine! Major bummer, eh? I felt like crying! Oh well, I got over it… that is until I met him at this really smelly bar. I couldn't take my eyes or my hands off him the rest of the night, or even the next day. He is definitely the most amazing lover I've ever had! The things his hands (and tongue) could do! Well I have to go plan for my biggest heist yet. I don't mean cash wise either, I'm planning on swiping the primary painting of the gallery's art showing on Monday, while Matt's there too!"
Matt flipped the page, eager to learn exactly how Mimi was going to be in two places at once.
"Hello again diary. I just met with a woman who's going to help me steal the thirty million-dollar painting today. She was almost an exact look alike, it was so cool! With a little make-up and the right clothes she could definitely fool Matt…. At least I hope she will. I've decided to drape the halls of the gallery in smoke then have Betty (that's my look alike) switch places with me while I steal the painting. Great idea, isn't it? I thought of it all by myself! I'll let you know how it goes later." Without even taking a breath he went on. "Hey, me again. The heist went amazingly well! I got the painting and the man, the very, very, very, hot sexy man! By the way, I think I'll try for those new Egyptian crowns that the museum has in a day or two, I've heard they're worth millions too, I should do some research! I've never been happier! But something horrible came up and ruined everything! It seems that I've been framed for murder! Isn't that horrible? How am I ever going to get to the bottom of this? I don't even know where to begin! Oh! Breakfasts ready (waffles again, ungh) so I'll write more later."
The pages from that point on were blank and Matt closed the journal, returning it to the very spot he found it in. Too many thoughts were going through his mind for him to even move.
"Shit," the word was quick and forced with disbelief.
Taking a few deep breaths Matt ran his hands through his hair, then again, and leaded back into his chair trying to figure out where to go from there.
"So my girlfriend's my case… that's… hmmm… and she doesn't like waffles!" Matt burst out not knowing which disturbed him more. The fact that his girlfriend was his case of the fact that she didn't like waffles. "This bites! Who doesn't like waffles? And why is Mimi a thief, my thief? Argh! Shit! Shit! Shit! …Well at least I know she didn't commit murder, right? …Shit!"
Matt rose quickly from his seat and began to pace uneasily around the room.
What was he ever going to do? As an FBI Agent it was his obligation to himself and the United States of America to turn her in. But as her boyfriend and lover he was obligated to her, to be there and protect her. Which part of himself should he choose to compromise? Should he leave behind the man or the Agent?
If he sacrificed the Agent then everything he worked so hard for would be tarnished. Even if they believed him that he never knew, which was doubtful, his reputation would be shattered. He'd be stuck working dead end cases on minimum wage for the rest of his career.
But if he left the man who's to say that he would ever find anyone that could make him feel the way that Mimi does? Who's to say that he'd never go out Friday nights, or sleep in Saturday mornings? He'd probably be left worse off then he was when he first met her.
There was one definite decision he had to make though, one that would decide the rest of his life.
The man of the Agent?
* * *
"Is there something wrong Matt?" Mimi asked, lying beside him on his couch, her head on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her.
"Why?" Matt plastered a smile on his face as he flipped through the channels.
"Because, you're acting… different," Mimi lifted her head to eye him suspiciously.
After catching her stare, Matt shifted his eyes to the TV. Looking at her made him want to touch her, and touching her made him want to be with her forever. Something he wasn't sure he could afford to do, even after the heartache.
"Nothing's wrong Mimi, I'm fine," to ease her suspicions Matt gave her a light kiss on the forehead before trying to get his body to relax then pulled the blanket around them tighter.
"Are you sure?" Mimi asked her own body relaxing with satisfaction.
"I'm sure," he whispered, breathing her in and wrapping his arm tighter around her.
Matt watched Mimi drift off to sleep in his arms, her breathing becoming slow and constant, her eyes fluttering with dream. He tenderly brushed a few stray locks of her hair behind her ear and then stroked his fingers across her relaxed, peaceful features. His eyes glided over her sleeping form, taking in every detail before and if it was ever too late.
Unlike Mimi, sleep left Matt behind that night to think over life a dozen times over and then some. It left Matt feeling unsettled at first but every time he looked at Mimi he felt content, ready to face what may come. More importantly though he decided what was more important to him, the man or the Agent. Looking at her innocent face and child like expression, Matt knew that the man was more important then the Agent could ever be. He knew that Mimi was more important.
Hours had passed before Mimi awoke. Her eyes fluttered open to meet Matt's cool, confident, sea blue eyes staring back at her in amazement. She tilted her head slightly, stretched out in his arms, and smiled at him.
"Morning sunshine," he said almost mockingly but he laced the words with an undying love.
"Morning," she mumbled resting her head back on his chest.
"Sleep well?"
"Better then ever," her smile faded from her lips but remind in her eyes. "What time is it?"
Taking up the remote, Matt changed the channels until he came across one with an early morning show on that displayed the time. "It's 6:04… 6:05." Matt corrected himself as the numbers changed.
Mimi giggled sitting up and stretching even more. Feeling the cold air hit her back Mimi sunk back into Matt's embrace and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
"I have to leave," she muttered regrettably, trying to get up once more but failing pleasantly.
"You always have to go," Matt pouted pulling her closer to him.
RRIIINNNGG!!!!!!!!
Matt's phone jolted them both into a sitting position with surprise. Matt couldn't quite reach the phone so Mimi picked it up instead.
"Hello, Ishida residents," She said pleasantly trying to get the sleep out of her voice.
"Whoa! Did you get a sex change Ishida? Or did someone kick you in the balls?" A harsh mocking voice rang through the line.
Mimi's brow furrowed with anger and that anger transferred to her voice, "Neither, this isn't Ishida, it's his girlfriend," Mimi spat protectively.
Matt chucked warmly then took the phone from Mimi before Pierce could say something insulting to Mimi, which was exactly what he was doing when Matt held the phone to his ear.
"Pierce!" Matt barked startling both Pierce and Mimi. "If I even catching you saying anything like that again, to anyone, I'll rip your face off, got it?"
"…" Pierce was silent for a while before he began to talk, "Um… yeah sure…"
"What do want?" Matt questioned rudely as he grinned at Mimi, who grinned back.
"Lilly Barton killed another security guard last night," Pierce informed, "She got away with three hundred million dollars."
"What?" Matt almost shrieked, jerking up from the couch.
"The bitch struck again man, so get your ass down here," Pierce replied smugly.
Matt ran his hand through his hair in frustration before answering, "All right, I'll be there in about half an hour."
"Make it twenty minutes Ishida," Pierce ordered.
"Half an hour," Matt's voice flowed like venom before he slammed the phone down.
"What's happened Matt?" Mimi questioned getting up herself.
"Lilly supposedly killed another guard," Matt let slip without even thinking. Realizing this he turned away from her, mentally smacking himself in the process.
"You don't think she did it?" Mimi could hardly contain her excitement, but managed rather nicely.
"I-I'm not sure," Matt lied, removing the past days clothing as he made his way to his room.
Mimi trailed behind, picking up the carelessly discarded clothing as she went. She couldn't stand big messes like Matt could. "So you do?"
"No!" Matt quickly assured, "I'm just saying that I… I'm not really sure what's going on. It could be her but I'm seriously doubting it."
Mimi smiled as she deposited Matt's dirty clothes into the hamper in his room, then stopped to admire his sleek form, "It's too bad you have to leave." Mimi uttered licking her lips suggestively.
Matt turned to her, one eyebrow raised and a smirk on his lips, "Don't let that stop you."
"I don't think I will," Mimi grinned, moving towards him in a predator like fashion.
* * *
"That's the second time this week Ishida. Are you planning to make this a regular thing?" Pierce taunted, making reference to Matt's lateness.
"If I keep getting late for the same reason," Matt smirked knowing that Pierce would get where he was going, "then plan on me being late everyday."
Pierce rolled his eyes before slamming the newest crime scene folder on his already cluttered desk. "They're doing an autopsy right now. We should have the results in a couple hours. I'm telling you man, we have to catch Lilly, she's getting more and more dangerous."
Matt was a little shocked at the words that escaped Pierce's mouth. He never would have expected Pierce to say something like that, if fact he'd expect him to brag about how he was going to catch her, or what he'd do with her if he had her alone for five minutes. Matt sat for a while studying Pierce, something just wasn't right about him.
When Pierce caught Matt staring at him he started to fidget with his tie, "What's up with you Ishida?"
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Matt got straight to the point, he hated having to beat around the bush.
"N-no of c-course not…" Pierce stuttered, blinking a few dozen times in the span of a few seconds.
"Sure," Matt said purposely leaving a hint of disbelief in his voice as he turned to the files on his desk.
"I-I need some c-coffee… you want some?" Pierce inhaled deeply heading for the door.
"No, I'm fine," Matt smirked to himself, raising his eyes to watch Pierce sprint out of the room.
Matt got up and shut the door to his office before turning on the computer and accessing the FBI's files. His fingers danced skillfully over the keys typing in the words "Pierce, Eddie" before he began his search. Seconds passed before the tell-a-tale ding echoed from the computer's speakers.
"Bingo!" Matt muttered reading over Pierce's file. "Oh nice, past criminal record… Access denied… we'll see."
Matt tapped his fingers over a few for keys and another bell rang.
"Access granted, that's right baby, take it all!" Matt whispered mockingly at his computer. "Petty thefts… drug charges… armed robbery!"
Exiting out of the files he had opened, Matt slumped back into his chair to think over a few things. First of all, he was positive that Mimi didn't kill anyone because not only had she explained everything in her diary but also she was with him when the murders started. Second, somebody with all the info on Lilly Barton was framing her for murder. Third, he had one possible suspect but no hard evidence.
This was going to get extremely interesting.
* * *
Glancing down the gigantic marble hallways on each side of her, Mimi inhaled deeply, gathering every once of concentration she could muster. Pulling out a small metallic canister from her belt Mimi bent down and rolled it gently across the marble floor, making sure it stop directly between her and the room the held the objects of her desire.
"Three… two… one," she whispered her breath shallow and quick with excitement.
The instant she hit one she tapped a button on her trusty remote control. As a thin spray of mist seeped out from the canister, a magnetic pulse released from a device on her wrist wiped out the programming of every security camera in the museum, successfully influencing the tapes to play in a constant loop of the last five minutes.
As the mist spread it revealed thin red lasers that would sound an alarm if tripped. Taking another deep breath, Mimi stepped closer, taking in every laser to determine the best route to go. Unlike a TV show or movies she couldn't just flip over the evenly spaced lasers, due to the fact that they weren't evenly spaced and didn't line across the floor.
Lying on her stomach, Mimi rolled under the first three lasers then ever so carefully she rose from the ground. It took her minutes to weave gingerly in and out of the lasers, making careful note not touch any of them. When she was clear of the lasers she made her way through the Egyptian gallery to the room where the museum had placed the crowns that the royalty of Egypt use to wear.
Still after all these years Mimi still felt giddy and excited at the prospect of stealing anything. Her heart was beating rapidly against her ribs and her palms were sweating slighting beneath her black leather gloves. She stopped to admire other ancient artifacts of Egypt but continued on looking for the vestiges of her mission.
Smiling, Mimi stepped closer to the Pharaoh's crown. She pulled out a pair of wire. and placed them gently on the base of the stand that held the ancient crown. Pushing another button, an electrical pulse vibrated through the display, knocking out all alarms systems.
"Beautiful," she whispered fingering the crown lightly before putting into a bag that hung at her hips. She did this for all three crowns that resided in that room and before turning to leave placed a single white lily where one of the crowns had once been. After admiring her handy work Mimi turned to leave as silently as she came.
Gasping she brought her fingers to her mouth with shock. Her heart seemed to skip more then a few beats and a feeling of dread flooded over her. Standing before her was a man confined in black, his deep sapphire eyes shining, with thick locks of golden blond hair falling over his eyes.
"Hello Mimi," Matt greeted and despite the situation, he smiled at her.
"M-Matt," Mimi gasped, tears springing to her eyes.
How had he known who she was? She was still wearing her disguise. How could she have been so careless as to let Matt catch her? How could she have been so stupid? Her heart seemed to shatter with the knowledge that now he truly knew who she was, that now he could judge her by her actions.
"B-but how? How did you know?" Mimi stuttered refusing to look at any part of him led alone his eyes.
"That's my little secret," he laughed stepping closer.
Shamefully she looked up to see him standing directly in front of her. Mimi's eyes were wide with wonder as she watched Matt lift his fingers and delicately run them over her cheekbone, then through the strands of blond hair that made up her wig. Leaning in, he placed a soft kiss on her trembling lips to assure her that nothing had changed between, that somehow he had known all along.
"W-why?" she murmured still entranced by his kiss, "Aren't you going to arrest me?"
"Now why on earth would I do that?" he grinned praying she wouldn't reject him, "I was thinking of whisking you away France. I hear they have some exquisite jewels there."
Again, Mimi looked shocked as the color began to return to her features. "You," she pointed at him, "want to take me to France?" She then pointed at herself with a skeptical look of question on her face.
"Paris not good enough for you?" Matt frowned playfully. "Fine. I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Hawaii? Jamaica? Ireland? Vancouver? Japan?"
"Japan sounds wonderful," Mimi sighed, her eyes shining with mirth. "But before we plan on leaving the country we should probably concentrate on leaving the museum."
"Good point," Matt nodded, "so hoe were you panning on leaving?"
Mimi rolled her eyes exhaling loud enough for Matt to here before taking the lead. "This way."
She led him quickly through the halls of the museum, deciding to take a different route, unsure of Matt's abilities.
Quickly turning the corner with Matt a few steps behind her, Mimi stopped dead in her tracks, dread draining all color from her face.
Seeing Mimi halt so quickly made Matt desist abruptly himself. She glanced at him nervously never once turning her head. Matt nodded reassuringly, and quietly removed his gun from its holster.
"Well if it ain't the bitch herself," a voice Matt knew well taunted Mimi "I'd never imagine meeting you here."
"Who are you?" she questioned, her head held high with fake confidence.
"I'm the genius who's been framing you," he confessed grinning viciously, "Not to bad for an amateur, eh?"
"Now that I know who you are," Mimi asked cleverly, "What makes you think I'm going to let you get away with this?"
"Hmmm… let's see," he mocked pulling out his gun and cocking it, "because I think I'm going to kill you."
Matt had decided that was enough. Taking a few deep breaths he sprinted out as if he had just arrived.
Pointing his gun at Mimi's back he spoke up, "What are you doing here Pierce?"
"I-I…I," Pierce stuttered, eyes wide. "We're p-partners remember? I-I looked through your… notes and figured it out."
Matt was mentally laughing his ass off. Did Pierce really think he was that stupid? "Good job Pierce, you're smarter then I thought," Matt lied through partially clenched teeth.
"Of course I am," Pierce muttered unsure if Matt had truly believed his lie.
"Unfortunately I didn't make notes," Matt sneered with anger.
"You tricked me!" Pierce screamed tightening his hold on his gun trying to figure out whom he wanted to shoot more. Matt or Mimi.
"Wasn't that what you were trying to pull on me?" Matt's eyes narrowed dangerously as Pierce aimed for Mimi.
Mimi's heart was beating so hard it was hard for her to breathe. The man named Pierce was tense, his trigger finger on the brink of pulling back the trigger. Out of all the ways that she imagined being caught it was nothing like this. She had just imagined being surrounded then handcuffed, not held at gunpoint.
"You're not going to get away with this Pierce," Matt threatened.
"Oh yes I am," Pierce nodded, beads of sweat soaking his brow. "You're a pretty thing," Pierce commented desperately towards Mimi. "What do you say Lilly? You and me, the world'll never know what hit it. I'll kill Ishida then we can escape? You have nothing to loose."
Slowly the corners of Mimi's lips formed a smile that only Pierce could see. "I have my world to loose."
The corner of Pierce's eyes began to twitch with rage. "THEN YOU'LL DIE WITH HIM!!!" Pierce screamed.
As quickly as she could Mimi squeezed her eyes shut until they hurt waiting for the inevitable. As her hands clamped over her ears the booming roar of a gun setting off echoed through the halls leaving her ears to ring.
Seconds that seemed like eons ticked by and when she didn't feel the shooting pains travel through her body she opened her eyes tediously fearing what she may behold.
Eddie Pierce lay twitching on the floor, blood spewing from the bullet hole that lay in the center of his forehead pooling out onto the gleaming marble floor. His cold soulless eyes open with a dreadful expression of hate and fear still encased by death. She could smell the lingering gunpowder in the air left by Matt's gun.
Mimi nearing fell to the floor with horror as her whole body began to tremble with anxiety and distress. When her stomach started to lurch she turned her head unable to behold the man's lifeless body any longer.
"Mimi," Matt whispered as her knees gave out on her. Gracefully he caught her before she hit the ground. "Mimi we have to leave.
Trying to clear her head Mimi nodded her eyes tearing over. She quickly wiped away the traveling tears before they hit the cold floor. Using Matt as support she picked herself up.
Quietly at first they heard footsteps echoing throughout the hall, as they grew louder and louder the urgency to leave increased.
"Mimi I want you to leave?" Matt ordered abruptly, "Go to your house and pack some bags, then meet me at my apartment. I've already bought plane tickets and packed my bags. We'll leave as soon as I get there."
"I can't leave you here Matt," Mimi cried.
"I'll be fine. I can make up a good enough story to buy us some time so we can leave," Matt assured, "now go!"
"I love you," Mimi agreed, pulling Matt in for a brief passionate kiss Mimi took off down the corridor opposite to where the footsteps were approaching.
"What's going on here?" a middle aged security guard demanded, his gun pulled on Matt.
Matt was about to turn around when the guard ordered him not to.
"Drop your weapon slowly! Don't make any sudden movements!" by the nervous note in the guards quivering voice Matt could tell nothing like this had ever happened to him.
Taking his index finger off the trigger Matt held the gun out so the guard could and cautiously set it down with a quiet thud.
"It's all right," Matt's voice was calm and reassuring yet still held authority. "I'm an FBI Agent. My badge it in my back pocket."
Cautiously the museum guard stepped closer, his gun still raised. Quickly he swiped Matt's badge from his back pocket and opened it revealing the card identifying Matt as an FBI Agent.
Sighing a huge breath of relief the guard loosened his grip on his weapon. "What happened here sir?"
"Have you heard of Lilly Barton?" Matt questioned picking up his gun when the guard signaled it was okay.
"You mean the cat burglar?" the balding man asked worriedly.
Matt nodded walking over to Pierce's body to check his pulse. "We were tracking her here when she killed my partner."
"Well, why don't you tell me everything about the case? Maybe after you go over everything and say everything out loud something will click. I do it all the time and it works for me," Mimi suggested in the passenger seat of the car on their way back to Matt's apartment.
"All right," Matt agreed willing to try anything. The newest crime scene came up empty again, all except the signature white lily she decided to leave on the roof. "Lilly Barton, about age twenty six, twenty seven, no known background under the name Lilly Barton. That means she's the world's most isolated person or that there is no Lilly Barton, I'm pretty positive it's the second of those. She just suddenly came out of nowhere a few years back and she's already stolen over nine hundred million dollars in jewels, paintings, cash, bonds, property, and so on. The case fell into my lap a few days ago and it already makes no sense to me."
"In what way?" Mimi asked, her brow furrowing with concentration.
"She's really high tech. She's got some of the worlds leading technology at her finger tips but she doesn't carry any weapons at all, it's as if she knows she's not going to get caught."
"Maybe she just doesn't want to hurt anyone?" Mimi interrupted.
"That might have been an option before, until she murdered a security guard on Saturday. Which was another dead end. There was no useful evidence left at any of the current or the past crime scenes. I'm assuming that the guard walked in on her when she was stealing some of the crown jewels lent to us from England. The only way we could be positive that it is Lilly is the white lily she leaves at every crime scene, other then that we have nothing."
"Well if she hasn't killed anyone in all the years that she's been stealing why would she start now?"
"I don't know, maybe she was backed into a corner?"
"Then why didn't she kill you?"
Mimi was a lot sharper then Matt would have guessed, "That's a good question Mimi. Maybe it was because she knew she could escape from me?"
"If she could escape from you, a highly trained FBI Agent," she smiled almost mockingly at him, "then why wouldn't she have been able to escape a security guard form a museum?"
Matt looked at Mimi, shock written all over his face. She was thinking in ways he would never normally think of himself. Matt smiled slyly before going on, "Jeez, with all you seem to know about Lilly Barton I wouldn't be surprised if you knew her, Mimi."
Mimi blushed a light crimson color, moving her brown eyes from his to the dashboard of the car. "Don't count on it," she said laughing lightly.
At this point Matt began to study Mimi intently his azure eyes taking in her every movement as well as her delicate features.
"Why are you staring at me?" Mimi coughed raising her eyes to meet his once more.
"Honestly?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Mimi smiled solemnly.
"I haven't got a clue, so what do you think?" Matt questioned, changing the subject.
"About what?"
"My case?"
"Oh, I think…" Mimi bit her bottom lip in thought. She was running the information through her mind trying to decide what to tell Matt she thought. "I think that you're going to have a really hard catching her… if you catch her." She added smiling devilishly.
"Is that so?" he answered with an eyebrow raised skeptically.
"That's right," she confirmed unpinning her hair and shaking it out.
An action that made Matt go absolutely wild with arousal. Mimi of course caught his longing glances at her and smirked. "Why don't you step on it Matt? I have this powerful feeling the sooner we get back to your place the better."
* * *
"Do you want syrup on your waffles or…" Matt yelled from the kitchen to Mimi who was in his room writing in her journal again.
"Or what?" Mimi asked raising from the desk and closing the small leather bound book as she retreated to the kitchen.
"Well I was going to say chocolate sauce but we used all that last night," Matt smiled wickedly at the memory of the night before.
"We did, didn't we?" Mimi realized. Licking her lips as her mind was flooded over with the pleasurable flashbacks. "Syrup it is then."
Mimi sat down at the table quietly while Matt poured on the syrup extra thick. He set the plates down on the table with a soft clang and proceeded to get the juice from the fridge.
"Do you eat anything other then waffles?" Mimi teased cutting into hers.
"Why would I need to?" Matt laughed, "Waffles are the best food ever, whether that's for breakfast, lunch, or dinner."
"How is that? They couldn't possibly be that healthy for you," Mimi looked at him doubtfully but took a bite anyway.
"Sure they are, it says right on right in the box," Matt confirmed. "The waffle people have no reason to lie to us diehard waffle lovers, so it must be true. Not only that but any idiot can make waffles, even my little-" Matt stopped himself in mid-sentence.
"Your what?" Mimi asked, thinking that she just didn't catch the last part.
"M-my little brother… TK," Matt whispered setting the juice on the counter before he dropped it on the floor.
Seeing Matt so distressed had Mimi extremely worried and without a thought she dropped her waffle engulfed fork and went to stand beside him. "TK? Is that the young man in the picture with you in your bedroom?"
"Yeah… he… he died," Matt hesitated, pressing his open palms on the counter to support himself.
"I'm so sorry Matt," Mimi whispered wrapping her arms around his waist.
"It's all right, it happened almost seven years ago," Matt nodded closing his eyes to ward off tears he promised himself he wouldn't cry.
"Seven years ago? TK… TK…" Mimi mumbled to herself trying to remember where she had heard that name before. Suddenly the answer hit her point blank in the face and her features contorted with a dazed a sorrow. "Takashi?"
"H-how'd you know?" Matt eyed her suspiciously.
"When I was in high school I was dating this guy named Tai and his little sister was absolutely in love with this boy named TK. When I went over to her house to visit with Tai she would ask me for advice on how to ask him out and stuff."
"Her name was Kari, wasn't it?" Matt tried to laugh but it sounded as if he was choking.
"Yeah,"
"She was all TK ever talked about, other then basketball," Matt said fondly.
"When TK was murd-… found Kari was devastated," Mimi added sadly.
"It's all right Mimi, you can say it, he was murdered," Matt said almost spitting out the last word.
"I know," Mimi replied sorrowfully tightening her grasp on Matt.
They stood there like that for a long time. Mimi daring not to shatter the silence that had wrapped itself around them like a chilling midnight breeze, Matt rigid and still in her arms willing himself not to shed any more tears for his lost brother.
"Oh shit!" Mimi swore under her breath.
"Huh?" Matt asked a little dazed.
"I have to go Matt, I'm sorry," Mimi pulled away.
"That's fine," he muttered a little distantly.
"Are you sure you don't need me?" Mimi queried.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Matt assured giving her a weak smile.
"All right," Mimi grabbed her purse from kitchen counter and headed for the door. "I'll call you later, kay?"
"I'll be waiting," his mood was already changing for the better.
After Mimi left Matt ate his waffles in no hurry, pouring on even more syrup then he had originally. Once full he left the dishes on the counter, deciding to wash them later, meaning that he'd probably leave then until they started to stink. He strolled soundlessly into his room, thinking about nothing really, only trying to sort through a mess of tangled emotions he felt inside.
It was confusing, the way he felt. About life, about Mimi, about the case, about his past. Nothing made any logical sense any longer like the way it once did. When he was a child his life was so easy, hang with friends, protect little brother, attempt to get good grades, try to keep a steady girlfriend, and play music. It was all he ever asked for. After TK died it started getting harder. His little brother wasn't there anymore. He had no real purpose there was no one for him to protect. Friends no longer seemed the effort and a girlfriend no longer seemed that important. Music held no purpose to him either, it seemed almost pointless, playing music was never going to save lives. It was never going to make sure that an innocent child wouldn't be kidnapped, it was never going to stop a serial killer from killing, it was never going to stop a rapist from raping.
That was the reason why Matt had joined the FBI, to protect the people that couldn't protect themselves. He promised himself he would do everything possible to make sure what happened to TK would never happen to anyone else.
Matt found himself sitting at his desk staring at the diary Mimi had left behind, most likely by accident. His fingers ran over the aged leather, taking in the feeling of the almost slippery texture of the cover. His mind told him not to open the pages where Mimi had scribbled down her life, the very thoughts that made her who she was but something even stronger told him he had to. He carefully opened the cover, listening to the slight crackle of the old pages that dated back to years ago. He flipped meaninglessly through the pages, skimming over the word, vaguely going over her life.
Something that was written in the more recent years caught his eye and he flipped back a few pages to find it. When he came across the passage he read it aloud to himself:
"Well dear dairy, it seems I'm famous, although no one has any idea who I am. I'm all over the news and television! Too bad I couldn't get this kind of airtime when I was an actress! Like I've said before, life is getting extremely boring! I almost fell asleep in a meeting today! Can you believe it? Any ways, I've long ago decided to spice it up a little and thus made a few contacts and such, to get the right equipment to rip off the jewelry store on 3rd and 4th street. You know the one. I go shopping there all the time. At first I was scared, you know? I was thinking, 'what if I got caught?" but after a little while and a little adrenaline it felt so exhilarating! It was easy to find a broker and get rid of the evidence, then not wanting to rouse any suspicions, not that there were any, I donated the money to the women's shelter. Aren't I nice? As you know money isn't an issue cause I have it and all, but it isn't the money that attracts me to thievery. I think it's the chase, it's seeing the prize and doing everything you can to get it, it's the careful planning, and the rush, you know? Well anyway, I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I've decided to dabble a little while longer in the embezzlement (I just learned that word today, aren't you proud of me?) business. Yours truly Mimi."
Matt kept staring at the page shocked to his very core. He read it over a few times just to make sure that what he was reading was what Mimi had written. It indeed was what he had read the first time. He couldn't believe that Mimi, his Mimi, was a thief! He never would have guessed.
Matt quickly flipped to the next page to read the next entry and he read it even more intensely and more carefully then the first.
"I have the most amazing news diary! I just stole… wait! Stole is such a negative word, I'll use lifted ^_^! I just lifted over a million dollars in collector's stamps! And I took like 12! Who ever thought stamps would be so expensive? I mean they're just tiny pieces of paper, right? Well after I got rid of the evidence (you know, find a broker then donate the money to charity) I thought I might as well make a name for myself, right? So I was thinking of getting me an alias and a call sign. Do you think I'd make a nice blond? I already have the perfect wig and theses neat blue contact lenses for my eyes! The only thing is I have no idea what to call my self, so I'll get back to you on that one. Until later, Mimi."
'So it wasn't just a one time thing," Matt thought to himself, reading page after page.
As the day and months flipped by before Matt's eyes he learned everything he had had ever wanted to know about Mimi Tachikawa and Lilly Barton. He learned where and how Mimi got her equipment, he learned how she chose her heists, he learned exactly how she pulled everyone of her jobs off, and he learned how she felt about everyone of them. There were so many that he began to skim over, or all together skipped over the unimportant ones looking for the pages with Mimi's thoughts of the last few days scribbled on them.
When he finally found the pages he closed his eyes afraid of what he would read but too curious not to. Opening his eyes, Matt ran his numbing fingers over the black ink and took a shaky breath before reading the passage of the day he met Mimi in the museum.
"Dear diary (how cliché is that?), today I met the most amazing man in the museum. He was so hot! He had these intense blue eyes, the most remarkable body, and his lips were so soft I thought I was going to melt!" Matt couldn't help but smile when he read her thoughts on him. "How did I know that, you ask? Because I kissed him! Can you believe it!?! I couldn't believe I did that myself and you should have seen the look on his face! He looked so cute standing there, gaping at me. There's this huge problem though. I swiped his wallet (by accident of course) and he's an FBI Agent working on guess whose case. Mine! Major bummer, eh? I felt like crying! Oh well, I got over it… that is until I met him at this really smelly bar. I couldn't take my eyes or my hands off him the rest of the night, or even the next day. He is definitely the most amazing lover I've ever had! The things his hands (and tongue) could do! Well I have to go plan for my biggest heist yet. I don't mean cash wise either, I'm planning on swiping the primary painting of the gallery's art showing on Monday, while Matt's there too!"
Matt flipped the page, eager to learn exactly how Mimi was going to be in two places at once.
"Hello again diary. I just met with a woman who's going to help me steal the thirty million-dollar painting today. She was almost an exact look alike, it was so cool! With a little make-up and the right clothes she could definitely fool Matt…. At least I hope she will. I've decided to drape the halls of the gallery in smoke then have Betty (that's my look alike) switch places with me while I steal the painting. Great idea, isn't it? I thought of it all by myself! I'll let you know how it goes later." Without even taking a breath he went on. "Hey, me again. The heist went amazingly well! I got the painting and the man, the very, very, very, hot sexy man! By the way, I think I'll try for those new Egyptian crowns that the museum has in a day or two, I've heard they're worth millions too, I should do some research! I've never been happier! But something horrible came up and ruined everything! It seems that I've been framed for murder! Isn't that horrible? How am I ever going to get to the bottom of this? I don't even know where to begin! Oh! Breakfasts ready (waffles again, ungh) so I'll write more later."
The pages from that point on were blank and Matt closed the journal, returning it to the very spot he found it in. Too many thoughts were going through his mind for him to even move.
"Shit," the word was quick and forced with disbelief.
Taking a few deep breaths Matt ran his hands through his hair, then again, and leaded back into his chair trying to figure out where to go from there.
"So my girlfriend's my case… that's… hmmm… and she doesn't like waffles!" Matt burst out not knowing which disturbed him more. The fact that his girlfriend was his case of the fact that she didn't like waffles. "This bites! Who doesn't like waffles? And why is Mimi a thief, my thief? Argh! Shit! Shit! Shit! …Well at least I know she didn't commit murder, right? …Shit!"
Matt rose quickly from his seat and began to pace uneasily around the room.
What was he ever going to do? As an FBI Agent it was his obligation to himself and the United States of America to turn her in. But as her boyfriend and lover he was obligated to her, to be there and protect her. Which part of himself should he choose to compromise? Should he leave behind the man or the Agent?
If he sacrificed the Agent then everything he worked so hard for would be tarnished. Even if they believed him that he never knew, which was doubtful, his reputation would be shattered. He'd be stuck working dead end cases on minimum wage for the rest of his career.
But if he left the man who's to say that he would ever find anyone that could make him feel the way that Mimi does? Who's to say that he'd never go out Friday nights, or sleep in Saturday mornings? He'd probably be left worse off then he was when he first met her.
There was one definite decision he had to make though, one that would decide the rest of his life.
The man of the Agent?
* * *
"Is there something wrong Matt?" Mimi asked, lying beside him on his couch, her head on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her.
"Why?" Matt plastered a smile on his face as he flipped through the channels.
"Because, you're acting… different," Mimi lifted her head to eye him suspiciously.
After catching her stare, Matt shifted his eyes to the TV. Looking at her made him want to touch her, and touching her made him want to be with her forever. Something he wasn't sure he could afford to do, even after the heartache.
"Nothing's wrong Mimi, I'm fine," to ease her suspicions Matt gave her a light kiss on the forehead before trying to get his body to relax then pulled the blanket around them tighter.
"Are you sure?" Mimi asked her own body relaxing with satisfaction.
"I'm sure," he whispered, breathing her in and wrapping his arm tighter around her.
Matt watched Mimi drift off to sleep in his arms, her breathing becoming slow and constant, her eyes fluttering with dream. He tenderly brushed a few stray locks of her hair behind her ear and then stroked his fingers across her relaxed, peaceful features. His eyes glided over her sleeping form, taking in every detail before and if it was ever too late.
Unlike Mimi, sleep left Matt behind that night to think over life a dozen times over and then some. It left Matt feeling unsettled at first but every time he looked at Mimi he felt content, ready to face what may come. More importantly though he decided what was more important to him, the man or the Agent. Looking at her innocent face and child like expression, Matt knew that the man was more important then the Agent could ever be. He knew that Mimi was more important.
Hours had passed before Mimi awoke. Her eyes fluttered open to meet Matt's cool, confident, sea blue eyes staring back at her in amazement. She tilted her head slightly, stretched out in his arms, and smiled at him.
"Morning sunshine," he said almost mockingly but he laced the words with an undying love.
"Morning," she mumbled resting her head back on his chest.
"Sleep well?"
"Better then ever," her smile faded from her lips but remind in her eyes. "What time is it?"
Taking up the remote, Matt changed the channels until he came across one with an early morning show on that displayed the time. "It's 6:04… 6:05." Matt corrected himself as the numbers changed.
Mimi giggled sitting up and stretching even more. Feeling the cold air hit her back Mimi sunk back into Matt's embrace and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
"I have to leave," she muttered regrettably, trying to get up once more but failing pleasantly.
"You always have to go," Matt pouted pulling her closer to him.
RRIIINNNGG!!!!!!!!
Matt's phone jolted them both into a sitting position with surprise. Matt couldn't quite reach the phone so Mimi picked it up instead.
"Hello, Ishida residents," She said pleasantly trying to get the sleep out of her voice.
"Whoa! Did you get a sex change Ishida? Or did someone kick you in the balls?" A harsh mocking voice rang through the line.
Mimi's brow furrowed with anger and that anger transferred to her voice, "Neither, this isn't Ishida, it's his girlfriend," Mimi spat protectively.
Matt chucked warmly then took the phone from Mimi before Pierce could say something insulting to Mimi, which was exactly what he was doing when Matt held the phone to his ear.
"Pierce!" Matt barked startling both Pierce and Mimi. "If I even catching you saying anything like that again, to anyone, I'll rip your face off, got it?"
"…" Pierce was silent for a while before he began to talk, "Um… yeah sure…"
"What do want?" Matt questioned rudely as he grinned at Mimi, who grinned back.
"Lilly Barton killed another security guard last night," Pierce informed, "She got away with three hundred million dollars."
"What?" Matt almost shrieked, jerking up from the couch.
"The bitch struck again man, so get your ass down here," Pierce replied smugly.
Matt ran his hand through his hair in frustration before answering, "All right, I'll be there in about half an hour."
"Make it twenty minutes Ishida," Pierce ordered.
"Half an hour," Matt's voice flowed like venom before he slammed the phone down.
"What's happened Matt?" Mimi questioned getting up herself.
"Lilly supposedly killed another guard," Matt let slip without even thinking. Realizing this he turned away from her, mentally smacking himself in the process.
"You don't think she did it?" Mimi could hardly contain her excitement, but managed rather nicely.
"I-I'm not sure," Matt lied, removing the past days clothing as he made his way to his room.
Mimi trailed behind, picking up the carelessly discarded clothing as she went. She couldn't stand big messes like Matt could. "So you do?"
"No!" Matt quickly assured, "I'm just saying that I… I'm not really sure what's going on. It could be her but I'm seriously doubting it."
Mimi smiled as she deposited Matt's dirty clothes into the hamper in his room, then stopped to admire his sleek form, "It's too bad you have to leave." Mimi uttered licking her lips suggestively.
Matt turned to her, one eyebrow raised and a smirk on his lips, "Don't let that stop you."
"I don't think I will," Mimi grinned, moving towards him in a predator like fashion.
* * *
"That's the second time this week Ishida. Are you planning to make this a regular thing?" Pierce taunted, making reference to Matt's lateness.
"If I keep getting late for the same reason," Matt smirked knowing that Pierce would get where he was going, "then plan on me being late everyday."
Pierce rolled his eyes before slamming the newest crime scene folder on his already cluttered desk. "They're doing an autopsy right now. We should have the results in a couple hours. I'm telling you man, we have to catch Lilly, she's getting more and more dangerous."
Matt was a little shocked at the words that escaped Pierce's mouth. He never would have expected Pierce to say something like that, if fact he'd expect him to brag about how he was going to catch her, or what he'd do with her if he had her alone for five minutes. Matt sat for a while studying Pierce, something just wasn't right about him.
When Pierce caught Matt staring at him he started to fidget with his tie, "What's up with you Ishida?"
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Matt got straight to the point, he hated having to beat around the bush.
"N-no of c-course not…" Pierce stuttered, blinking a few dozen times in the span of a few seconds.
"Sure," Matt said purposely leaving a hint of disbelief in his voice as he turned to the files on his desk.
"I-I need some c-coffee… you want some?" Pierce inhaled deeply heading for the door.
"No, I'm fine," Matt smirked to himself, raising his eyes to watch Pierce sprint out of the room.
Matt got up and shut the door to his office before turning on the computer and accessing the FBI's files. His fingers danced skillfully over the keys typing in the words "Pierce, Eddie" before he began his search. Seconds passed before the tell-a-tale ding echoed from the computer's speakers.
"Bingo!" Matt muttered reading over Pierce's file. "Oh nice, past criminal record… Access denied… we'll see."
Matt tapped his fingers over a few for keys and another bell rang.
"Access granted, that's right baby, take it all!" Matt whispered mockingly at his computer. "Petty thefts… drug charges… armed robbery!"
Exiting out of the files he had opened, Matt slumped back into his chair to think over a few things. First of all, he was positive that Mimi didn't kill anyone because not only had she explained everything in her diary but also she was with him when the murders started. Second, somebody with all the info on Lilly Barton was framing her for murder. Third, he had one possible suspect but no hard evidence.
This was going to get extremely interesting.
* * *
Glancing down the gigantic marble hallways on each side of her, Mimi inhaled deeply, gathering every once of concentration she could muster. Pulling out a small metallic canister from her belt Mimi bent down and rolled it gently across the marble floor, making sure it stop directly between her and the room the held the objects of her desire.
"Three… two… one," she whispered her breath shallow and quick with excitement.
The instant she hit one she tapped a button on her trusty remote control. As a thin spray of mist seeped out from the canister, a magnetic pulse released from a device on her wrist wiped out the programming of every security camera in the museum, successfully influencing the tapes to play in a constant loop of the last five minutes.
As the mist spread it revealed thin red lasers that would sound an alarm if tripped. Taking another deep breath, Mimi stepped closer, taking in every laser to determine the best route to go. Unlike a TV show or movies she couldn't just flip over the evenly spaced lasers, due to the fact that they weren't evenly spaced and didn't line across the floor.
Lying on her stomach, Mimi rolled under the first three lasers then ever so carefully she rose from the ground. It took her minutes to weave gingerly in and out of the lasers, making careful note not touch any of them. When she was clear of the lasers she made her way through the Egyptian gallery to the room where the museum had placed the crowns that the royalty of Egypt use to wear.
Still after all these years Mimi still felt giddy and excited at the prospect of stealing anything. Her heart was beating rapidly against her ribs and her palms were sweating slighting beneath her black leather gloves. She stopped to admire other ancient artifacts of Egypt but continued on looking for the vestiges of her mission.
Smiling, Mimi stepped closer to the Pharaoh's crown. She pulled out a pair of wire. and placed them gently on the base of the stand that held the ancient crown. Pushing another button, an electrical pulse vibrated through the display, knocking out all alarms systems.
"Beautiful," she whispered fingering the crown lightly before putting into a bag that hung at her hips. She did this for all three crowns that resided in that room and before turning to leave placed a single white lily where one of the crowns had once been. After admiring her handy work Mimi turned to leave as silently as she came.
Gasping she brought her fingers to her mouth with shock. Her heart seemed to skip more then a few beats and a feeling of dread flooded over her. Standing before her was a man confined in black, his deep sapphire eyes shining, with thick locks of golden blond hair falling over his eyes.
"Hello Mimi," Matt greeted and despite the situation, he smiled at her.
"M-Matt," Mimi gasped, tears springing to her eyes.
How had he known who she was? She was still wearing her disguise. How could she have been so careless as to let Matt catch her? How could she have been so stupid? Her heart seemed to shatter with the knowledge that now he truly knew who she was, that now he could judge her by her actions.
"B-but how? How did you know?" Mimi stuttered refusing to look at any part of him led alone his eyes.
"That's my little secret," he laughed stepping closer.
Shamefully she looked up to see him standing directly in front of her. Mimi's eyes were wide with wonder as she watched Matt lift his fingers and delicately run them over her cheekbone, then through the strands of blond hair that made up her wig. Leaning in, he placed a soft kiss on her trembling lips to assure her that nothing had changed between, that somehow he had known all along.
"W-why?" she murmured still entranced by his kiss, "Aren't you going to arrest me?"
"Now why on earth would I do that?" he grinned praying she wouldn't reject him, "I was thinking of whisking you away France. I hear they have some exquisite jewels there."
Again, Mimi looked shocked as the color began to return to her features. "You," she pointed at him, "want to take me to France?" She then pointed at herself with a skeptical look of question on her face.
"Paris not good enough for you?" Matt frowned playfully. "Fine. I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Hawaii? Jamaica? Ireland? Vancouver? Japan?"
"Japan sounds wonderful," Mimi sighed, her eyes shining with mirth. "But before we plan on leaving the country we should probably concentrate on leaving the museum."
"Good point," Matt nodded, "so hoe were you panning on leaving?"
Mimi rolled her eyes exhaling loud enough for Matt to here before taking the lead. "This way."
She led him quickly through the halls of the museum, deciding to take a different route, unsure of Matt's abilities.
Quickly turning the corner with Matt a few steps behind her, Mimi stopped dead in her tracks, dread draining all color from her face.
Seeing Mimi halt so quickly made Matt desist abruptly himself. She glanced at him nervously never once turning her head. Matt nodded reassuringly, and quietly removed his gun from its holster.
"Well if it ain't the bitch herself," a voice Matt knew well taunted Mimi "I'd never imagine meeting you here."
"Who are you?" she questioned, her head held high with fake confidence.
"I'm the genius who's been framing you," he confessed grinning viciously, "Not to bad for an amateur, eh?"
"Now that I know who you are," Mimi asked cleverly, "What makes you think I'm going to let you get away with this?"
"Hmmm… let's see," he mocked pulling out his gun and cocking it, "because I think I'm going to kill you."
Matt had decided that was enough. Taking a few deep breaths he sprinted out as if he had just arrived.
Pointing his gun at Mimi's back he spoke up, "What are you doing here Pierce?"
"I-I…I," Pierce stuttered, eyes wide. "We're p-partners remember? I-I looked through your… notes and figured it out."
Matt was mentally laughing his ass off. Did Pierce really think he was that stupid? "Good job Pierce, you're smarter then I thought," Matt lied through partially clenched teeth.
"Of course I am," Pierce muttered unsure if Matt had truly believed his lie.
"Unfortunately I didn't make notes," Matt sneered with anger.
"You tricked me!" Pierce screamed tightening his hold on his gun trying to figure out whom he wanted to shoot more. Matt or Mimi.
"Wasn't that what you were trying to pull on me?" Matt's eyes narrowed dangerously as Pierce aimed for Mimi.
Mimi's heart was beating so hard it was hard for her to breathe. The man named Pierce was tense, his trigger finger on the brink of pulling back the trigger. Out of all the ways that she imagined being caught it was nothing like this. She had just imagined being surrounded then handcuffed, not held at gunpoint.
"You're not going to get away with this Pierce," Matt threatened.
"Oh yes I am," Pierce nodded, beads of sweat soaking his brow. "You're a pretty thing," Pierce commented desperately towards Mimi. "What do you say Lilly? You and me, the world'll never know what hit it. I'll kill Ishida then we can escape? You have nothing to loose."
Slowly the corners of Mimi's lips formed a smile that only Pierce could see. "I have my world to loose."
The corner of Pierce's eyes began to twitch with rage. "THEN YOU'LL DIE WITH HIM!!!" Pierce screamed.
As quickly as she could Mimi squeezed her eyes shut until they hurt waiting for the inevitable. As her hands clamped over her ears the booming roar of a gun setting off echoed through the halls leaving her ears to ring.
Seconds that seemed like eons ticked by and when she didn't feel the shooting pains travel through her body she opened her eyes tediously fearing what she may behold.
Eddie Pierce lay twitching on the floor, blood spewing from the bullet hole that lay in the center of his forehead pooling out onto the gleaming marble floor. His cold soulless eyes open with a dreadful expression of hate and fear still encased by death. She could smell the lingering gunpowder in the air left by Matt's gun.
Mimi nearing fell to the floor with horror as her whole body began to tremble with anxiety and distress. When her stomach started to lurch she turned her head unable to behold the man's lifeless body any longer.
"Mimi," Matt whispered as her knees gave out on her. Gracefully he caught her before she hit the ground. "Mimi we have to leave.
Trying to clear her head Mimi nodded her eyes tearing over. She quickly wiped away the traveling tears before they hit the cold floor. Using Matt as support she picked herself up.
Quietly at first they heard footsteps echoing throughout the hall, as they grew louder and louder the urgency to leave increased.
"Mimi I want you to leave?" Matt ordered abruptly, "Go to your house and pack some bags, then meet me at my apartment. I've already bought plane tickets and packed my bags. We'll leave as soon as I get there."
"I can't leave you here Matt," Mimi cried.
"I'll be fine. I can make up a good enough story to buy us some time so we can leave," Matt assured, "now go!"
"I love you," Mimi agreed, pulling Matt in for a brief passionate kiss Mimi took off down the corridor opposite to where the footsteps were approaching.
"What's going on here?" a middle aged security guard demanded, his gun pulled on Matt.
Matt was about to turn around when the guard ordered him not to.
"Drop your weapon slowly! Don't make any sudden movements!" by the nervous note in the guards quivering voice Matt could tell nothing like this had ever happened to him.
Taking his index finger off the trigger Matt held the gun out so the guard could and cautiously set it down with a quiet thud.
"It's all right," Matt's voice was calm and reassuring yet still held authority. "I'm an FBI Agent. My badge it in my back pocket."
Cautiously the museum guard stepped closer, his gun still raised. Quickly he swiped Matt's badge from his back pocket and opened it revealing the card identifying Matt as an FBI Agent.
Sighing a huge breath of relief the guard loosened his grip on his weapon. "What happened here sir?"
"Have you heard of Lilly Barton?" Matt questioned picking up his gun when the guard signaled it was okay.
"You mean the cat burglar?" the balding man asked worriedly.
Matt nodded walking over to Pierce's body to check his pulse. "We were tracking her here when she killed my partner."