Disclaimer: (Don't you guys get tired of reading several of these within the same story?) None of the UC characters or anything else associated with the show belongs to me *sigh*



Chapter 4

Meetings



Jake and Alex had been at the café an hour and a half early, setting up and double checking every aspect of the building and their plan. They would get this mystery man to reveal the disk and then while they were pretending to crack the encryption they would very subtly switch the disk and leave them with their copy. At least that was how it was supposed to go...



"Jake no funny stuff okay, just stick to the plan" Alex was nervous as it was she didn't need Jake to add to the mix.



"Actually dear, it's Carlos, remember?" He smiled at her before doing another check of the area.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



"Sir we are not fully ready to have this meeting, call and postpone for an hour." Denny had been rushing around since he received the call about the meeting, and still was not prepared. The location was difficult to cover, and they couldn't bring many men as it would draw too much attention. This left him with little to no options except to go and trade the information, something his boss had made clear he wasn't thrilled to do.



"No we will go-on time, sometimes the best plans are plans that are made in the moment when no hope seems possible." He turned from him then and emptied his glass of brandy, knowing that they were almost at the café.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



"Get ready, they're here." Donovan's voice filters through the ear pieces. He and the rest of the team could see what was going on in the front and back of the café, where the exits/entrances were. Cameras had also been placed inside the café-especially in the back room. So when Denny got out of the car they saw and when a man came out behind him, his face covered by his hat, they saw-and started to worry.

"We're glad you came. Perhaps now, since we're officially working together, introductions should be made. I'm Carlso Vansant and this is my girl Stephie Vegas." Jake and Alex shook hands with both men while Denny made their introductions, they still couldn't see the face of the second man.

"I'm Denny Carlito and this is my boss. You will refer to him as 'sir'."

"Ok then, let's get started. Did you bring your disk?" Denny nodded to Alex's question and produced the disk from his jacket pocket.

He set the disk on the table next to the laptop. Alex pulled out her chair and while going to sit, subtly leaned over the disk. She saw her opportunity and while leaning over the disk she switched it with their copy. She then finished sitting down and inserted the disk into the laptop.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Almost done" Alex's voice broke the silence.

It had been 2 and a half hours since the introductions, thanks to Cody's prior instructions it wasn't going to take more than another 5 minutes. All the while, the rest of the team, located in the van behind the café, were trying to use every camera angle to get a look at Denny's boss-with no luck.

"Finished. There's your list, hard won information." Alex started to get up.

"Ms. Vegas, where do you think you're going?" The mystery man had finally spoken.

"Well it's been almost 3 hours and my coffee from early this morning has caught up with me. Carlos has our disk, he'll start the transfer, now if you'll excuse me I-"

"I don't think so" He walked up to her and lifted her arm. Reaching in her sleeve he pulled out his disk. "Ms. Cross, you're good, very good. But I was trained by the best." He put the disk in his pocket and while doing so his hat slipped off. "Now I should finish you off right here, but I think I can find use for you and Mr. Shaw." At this he indicated that the two should have a seat, they did.

"How did you know about Alex and I?"

"Because a long time ago I used to be you. I still have my connections. Now I have a proposition for you both. You will work for me-just one job, and I'll let you live and even give you the disk back." He looked at them for an answer.

"Um can we think about this. You're asking a lot from Jake and I."

"You have until 9 pm tonight-and I do know where you live and work, should you refuse." With that he dismissed them. It was then he noticed the camera

"So he knows...."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Donovan we've got a visual of the second man. Hello mystery man, let's see who you are." Cody started running the photo through the database.

Donovan meanwhile had seen the image on the screen and had been trying to convince himself that he had just been dreaming. Having a very realistic nightmare. However every time he tried, that image hammered it's way through his excuses.

"There's no need Cody."

"Donovan you're a great leader but you don't know all, in fact-"

"His name is Nate Donovan. Cody, Monica 'meet' my father."