Speed rolled over in Jake's bed where she spent the night again. Jake was still asleep - this nighttime prowling had thrown off his sleep cycle quite a bit. She was sure that Alex and Donovan, along with Cody and Monica were still hard asleep too. The clock read 10 am. she kept going over the night in her head. She would be paired with Donny, Jake with Eric, Donovan with Flynn and Alex with Sweet. That left George, Monica and Mouse at the garage to monitor the radio frequencies and to mark off the list.
She propped her head up on one elbow, watching Jake as he slept. The shipyard would have one of Switch's people there to keep count on their own list as the ladies rolled in and other people to handle the loading of the cars once they dropped them off.
Speed toyed with a lock of hair that curled over Jake's forehead as he slept. 8 years was a long time to be attracted to someone. Deep down she put it up to the mystique of the first cop to ever match her gear for gear in a race and finally catch her. But after the last few nights with him, she wasn't sure it was that simple anymore. Was the ice-eyed legend behind the boost finally developing a heart? She'd always taken care of her crew, putting them ahead of her own safety. But this was different...
She laid down, staring at the ceiling and going over Donovan's plan in her head. The boost goes like normal but the last four cars... Speed would save Christine for last and while Donny was dropping her off, Donovan, Alex, Jake and the rest of their team would be at the shipyard to arrest the ring. Then they'd follow Speed down to the shipyard where they'd arrest Switch. Nice and easy sail. But the rest of her crew would be left out of the bust and later, when it was all over, they'd be told of what happened and that they were given immunity before they even started. Speed hoped that they'd forgive her what she'd pulled them into.
Jake woke up, peeking one eye open at Speed next to him. He playfully bit her in the shoulder as he raised up and leaned over her. They didn't have to be back at George's for a few more hours, not until about 5 that night. So what would it hurt to spend the rest of the day in bed with a woman he was falling harder and harder in love with? He now had an idea of what sort of dilemma Alex felt regarding Carlos... and he didn't think he'd ever criticize her again for it.
It was going to hurt like hell when she went back to prison.
----
Donovan, Alex, Monica and Cody were in the ops center. Monica and Cody were discussing some of the finer points of how to boost some of the older model cars without having to cross the wires. Donovan was coordinating with the local task force and Alex was in the gym. Each of them were nervous in their own way but doing the best they could to pass it off. This was a first for them all. Going undercover was old hat for Frank and Alex, but it was new to Cody and Monica. Cody was beside himself with the job and being trusted to do an assignment. Monica was having a hard time keeping him in one place and focused. When Speed and Frank had told them both that they were going to be staying behind and not going out on the acutal pick ups, Cody had looked like he was about to burst out in tears. Monica didn't care one way or the other. She'd had more fun talking to and mentally profiling each of the people in Speed's crew - in addition to seeing Speed in action as a leader. There was more there than just a car thief who was a legend in her own time. There was a whole lot more to Marissa Randall than that. It was just unfortunate in Monica's opinion that she got turned into the wrong profession.
Alex and Donovan were facing something different in this game. Both had been undercover before, that wasn't the problem. But for them both, an undercover assignment usually lasted weeks, or even months. Very rarely had it only been one week before the bust happened. They both were worried about being alone without backup until Speed reminded them that they were going to be in contact with George and company at the garage via long range walkie talkies. That gave some measure of comfort to Frank - who's main concern was keeping Jake, Alex, Monica, Cody... and Speed too.. safe. He had no choice but to trust in Speed's vehement declaration that her crew was to be trusted at all costs. Even so, he had Cody run background on them all - just so that he'd have an idea of the basic players. All of them turned up clean of course, just the basics for car theives... a few arrests, speeding tickets, etc. Nothing that would send up a red flag in his mind as something that would jeopardize the safety of his people. The other factor for Donovan in this game was that, as Sphynx, he couldn't talk until this was over. He also wasn't in control of the game. He'd unwillingly and unwittingly given the reins of the carriage over to Speed.
Alex knew this instinctively and that's why she'd volunteered to come off of the extra cover she'd originally been put on and jumped in with him. Besides, she'd developed a liking for Speed over the past few days. But in order to keep herself sane, she'd taken to working in the gym and reading up on her automotive diagrams. In order for this to work, she was going to have to know what the hell she was doing. She'd watched Speed, listened to her all day yesterday since they arrived and gotten a small mini lecture in the basics of breaking into a car. Slim jims and popping the locks were one thing. Stripping ingition tumblers and jumping circuits were something else. This was probably one of the more difficult assignments. Multiple language skills she had in abundance, self defense skills she had in abundance, deception and decoy skills she had in abundance. Speed was right - it'd take more than a month to learn what Speed knew about the fine details of boosting cars. It was going to be a wild night and an even wilder morning when all the deals and truths came out in the wash.
In a way she felt sorry for Speed. Speed knew what she was giving up for doing this. But that was something that had endeared her to Alex - the willingness to sacrifice herself for the well-being of her friends. She also felt sorry for Speed because she knew where the woman was at with Jake. And it was the same place she'd been before with Carlos. Even Donovan felt bad for Speed. That's why he'd pulled a few favors and gotten her record sealed. She'd be given a new identity and the option of a new life. If she wanted to stay here in Chicago, then she herself would have to work out the particulars. Neither Alex nor Frank had seen Jake so happy or at ease with things as he had been in the last week.
----
At 6 pm that night Speed was standing in front of the mish-mosh of car theives. She had found her old black trench from before... the one George had given her with the extra inside pockets for her toolkit and heavy enough to conceal the strips of duct tape she'd need for breaking windows. She felt at home seeing everyone down there and her face lit up in a smile. She looked around and finally worked up the breath to say what she'd been thinking for the last few hours. Her voice was soft, but firm in the rallying...
"I know what you guys are doing, and I thank you. It means a lot to me. If anything looks out of place or doesn't feel right I want you to cut bait and run. We all have the skills and ability, so this should be a walk in the park for us. Think slow, keep it real and we'll get through this just fine."
Donny and Sweet murmured an 'amen' even as Flynn winked at her. Donovan, Jake, Alex, Monica, and Cody were all together near George. The comraderie they were seeing was much like what they felt for each other - family. Suddenly what Speed had told Donovan back in prison when they'd first gone to talk to her rang true. Each boost in their own crew was a family unto itself. Speed proved it by sacrificing her own freedom for theirs... and they've proven it by sticking with her to finish this monstrous task.
Speed looked back over her shoulder at Sweet with a slightly demented grin. "Tell it to me Sweet!"
Sweet grinned and pushed play on the boom box. Out came the first notes of a song that sounded familiar to everyone. Donny, Sweet, Speed, George, Eric and Flynn all closed their eyes and an aura came over them as the song continued. The five newcomers looked around as the old crew seemed to transform into different people. Speed's face tilted upwards towards the ceiling as her hands shimmied a bit. The flourescent lights high over head bathed her in a near demonic light as she opened her eyes with a smile and purred out, "Alright people, let's master crazy."
****
She propped her head up on one elbow, watching Jake as he slept. The shipyard would have one of Switch's people there to keep count on their own list as the ladies rolled in and other people to handle the loading of the cars once they dropped them off.
Speed toyed with a lock of hair that curled over Jake's forehead as he slept. 8 years was a long time to be attracted to someone. Deep down she put it up to the mystique of the first cop to ever match her gear for gear in a race and finally catch her. But after the last few nights with him, she wasn't sure it was that simple anymore. Was the ice-eyed legend behind the boost finally developing a heart? She'd always taken care of her crew, putting them ahead of her own safety. But this was different...
She laid down, staring at the ceiling and going over Donovan's plan in her head. The boost goes like normal but the last four cars... Speed would save Christine for last and while Donny was dropping her off, Donovan, Alex, Jake and the rest of their team would be at the shipyard to arrest the ring. Then they'd follow Speed down to the shipyard where they'd arrest Switch. Nice and easy sail. But the rest of her crew would be left out of the bust and later, when it was all over, they'd be told of what happened and that they were given immunity before they even started. Speed hoped that they'd forgive her what she'd pulled them into.
Jake woke up, peeking one eye open at Speed next to him. He playfully bit her in the shoulder as he raised up and leaned over her. They didn't have to be back at George's for a few more hours, not until about 5 that night. So what would it hurt to spend the rest of the day in bed with a woman he was falling harder and harder in love with? He now had an idea of what sort of dilemma Alex felt regarding Carlos... and he didn't think he'd ever criticize her again for it.
It was going to hurt like hell when she went back to prison.
----
Donovan, Alex, Monica and Cody were in the ops center. Monica and Cody were discussing some of the finer points of how to boost some of the older model cars without having to cross the wires. Donovan was coordinating with the local task force and Alex was in the gym. Each of them were nervous in their own way but doing the best they could to pass it off. This was a first for them all. Going undercover was old hat for Frank and Alex, but it was new to Cody and Monica. Cody was beside himself with the job and being trusted to do an assignment. Monica was having a hard time keeping him in one place and focused. When Speed and Frank had told them both that they were going to be staying behind and not going out on the acutal pick ups, Cody had looked like he was about to burst out in tears. Monica didn't care one way or the other. She'd had more fun talking to and mentally profiling each of the people in Speed's crew - in addition to seeing Speed in action as a leader. There was more there than just a car thief who was a legend in her own time. There was a whole lot more to Marissa Randall than that. It was just unfortunate in Monica's opinion that she got turned into the wrong profession.
Alex and Donovan were facing something different in this game. Both had been undercover before, that wasn't the problem. But for them both, an undercover assignment usually lasted weeks, or even months. Very rarely had it only been one week before the bust happened. They both were worried about being alone without backup until Speed reminded them that they were going to be in contact with George and company at the garage via long range walkie talkies. That gave some measure of comfort to Frank - who's main concern was keeping Jake, Alex, Monica, Cody... and Speed too.. safe. He had no choice but to trust in Speed's vehement declaration that her crew was to be trusted at all costs. Even so, he had Cody run background on them all - just so that he'd have an idea of the basic players. All of them turned up clean of course, just the basics for car theives... a few arrests, speeding tickets, etc. Nothing that would send up a red flag in his mind as something that would jeopardize the safety of his people. The other factor for Donovan in this game was that, as Sphynx, he couldn't talk until this was over. He also wasn't in control of the game. He'd unwillingly and unwittingly given the reins of the carriage over to Speed.
Alex knew this instinctively and that's why she'd volunteered to come off of the extra cover she'd originally been put on and jumped in with him. Besides, she'd developed a liking for Speed over the past few days. But in order to keep herself sane, she'd taken to working in the gym and reading up on her automotive diagrams. In order for this to work, she was going to have to know what the hell she was doing. She'd watched Speed, listened to her all day yesterday since they arrived and gotten a small mini lecture in the basics of breaking into a car. Slim jims and popping the locks were one thing. Stripping ingition tumblers and jumping circuits were something else. This was probably one of the more difficult assignments. Multiple language skills she had in abundance, self defense skills she had in abundance, deception and decoy skills she had in abundance. Speed was right - it'd take more than a month to learn what Speed knew about the fine details of boosting cars. It was going to be a wild night and an even wilder morning when all the deals and truths came out in the wash.
In a way she felt sorry for Speed. Speed knew what she was giving up for doing this. But that was something that had endeared her to Alex - the willingness to sacrifice herself for the well-being of her friends. She also felt sorry for Speed because she knew where the woman was at with Jake. And it was the same place she'd been before with Carlos. Even Donovan felt bad for Speed. That's why he'd pulled a few favors and gotten her record sealed. She'd be given a new identity and the option of a new life. If she wanted to stay here in Chicago, then she herself would have to work out the particulars. Neither Alex nor Frank had seen Jake so happy or at ease with things as he had been in the last week.
----
At 6 pm that night Speed was standing in front of the mish-mosh of car theives. She had found her old black trench from before... the one George had given her with the extra inside pockets for her toolkit and heavy enough to conceal the strips of duct tape she'd need for breaking windows. She felt at home seeing everyone down there and her face lit up in a smile. She looked around and finally worked up the breath to say what she'd been thinking for the last few hours. Her voice was soft, but firm in the rallying...
"I know what you guys are doing, and I thank you. It means a lot to me. If anything looks out of place or doesn't feel right I want you to cut bait and run. We all have the skills and ability, so this should be a walk in the park for us. Think slow, keep it real and we'll get through this just fine."
Donny and Sweet murmured an 'amen' even as Flynn winked at her. Donovan, Jake, Alex, Monica, and Cody were all together near George. The comraderie they were seeing was much like what they felt for each other - family. Suddenly what Speed had told Donovan back in prison when they'd first gone to talk to her rang true. Each boost in their own crew was a family unto itself. Speed proved it by sacrificing her own freedom for theirs... and they've proven it by sticking with her to finish this monstrous task.
Speed looked back over her shoulder at Sweet with a slightly demented grin. "Tell it to me Sweet!"
Sweet grinned and pushed play on the boom box. Out came the first notes of a song that sounded familiar to everyone. Donny, Sweet, Speed, George, Eric and Flynn all closed their eyes and an aura came over them as the song continued. The five newcomers looked around as the old crew seemed to transform into different people. Speed's face tilted upwards towards the ceiling as her hands shimmied a bit. The flourescent lights high over head bathed her in a near demonic light as she opened her eyes with a smile and purred out, "Alright people, let's master crazy."
****