Chapter 5
The next day everyone was getting ready to help Elaina with the plan. Elaina was to go to Maria's apartment and pick up a few things. Alex had gotten a wig that matched Maria's hair color and Elaina cut it to match the style. Elaina put make up on which she rarely used; she never cared for it. When she was ready she came out of the bedroom and stood beside Maria for everyone's inspection.
"Well what do you think, will she pass as me?" Maria put her head next to Elaina's.
"If I didn't know better I would say you were twins." Frank replies.
"Yeah, you do know better." Elaina winked at him. "Don't get us mixed up either."
"I'm going to be with you all day." Frank smiled and put his arm around Maria.
"Very funny, I am carrying a gun you know." Elaina grabs him and pulls him to her.
"I was just teasing, I knew which one you were."
"Likely story. Cody do you have my mic and ear piece ready." Elaina asks turning to him.
"Yep right here. Just as you ordered." He handed her the equipment and she put the earpiece in. The mic was actually a bracelet.
"You do good work Cody. I'm gonna have to give you a raise before I resign." Elaina says as she puts the bracelet on.
"Before you what?" Jake asks stunned.
"What did he do to you to get you to resign?" Monica wondered.
"Wait a minute, Frank didn't do anything. He was just as shocked to hear the news as you all are." Elaina explains. "I decided on my own. My working is just not making me a very easy person to be married too."
"See it is his fault." Cody says pointing to Frank.
"No, it is my fault. I love my job but I am married and have children who love and need me more than the government does. I have been going through a lot of stress lately and that will stop with my becoming a full time wife and mother again."
"But we do need you; we can't break in someone as kind and loving as you. The next person may not like us at all and then you know who will be stressed out as much as you." Cody pointed to Frank again.
"Cody, I know you all like me and the feeling is mutual but I really need to quit and take it easy. There is more happening in my life than you are aware of."
"Won't you at least think about reconsidering?" Cody asks.
"Cody I promise to find the best replacement I can, but I am resigning, I promised my family." She looked at Frank.
"I think it's time to put this plan in action. Sabrina and Jake will be in a car following and I am going to be your personal bodyguard." Frank told her.
"That wasn't the plan but I'll adjust to it." Elaina didn't feel like arguing.
The phone rang. "Your private line Elaina." Cody informed her.
Elaina answered the phone, looking over Cody's shoulder to notice who it was. "Hello?"
"Elaina this is Dr. Nathan. I would like to see you today if that is possible?"
"Actually it isn't I'm working can you tell me why?"
"It's about the test we ran the other day during your check up." Dr. Nathan explains.
"What about them?" Elaina walks into the bedroom with the phone.
"Must be a private call." Maria says watching her leave.
"Sir." Cody pointed to the caller ID. Frank looked at it and went to the bedroom with Elaina.
"Thank you Doc, I'll get back to you soon." Elaina turned the phone off as Frank entered the room.
"What's wrong, you look scared?" He walked over and sat on the bed next to her.
Tears formed in her eyes. "I went for a check up last week. The ultrasound turned up something."
"Not again?" Frank held her close to him; Elaina shook her head yes as she started to cry. "When are you going to see him again?"
"After the case is over, he said that would be fine."
"Then he must not think it is a reoccurrence?"
"He's not sure but it is small and could be nothing. I thought I was over all this, I really don't need it right now." Frank handed her a box of tissues.
"I know, I'm here to help you through it no matter what it turns out to be."
"I know you are" She seemed to change before his eyes as she had many times before. "I think we should get going to Maria's place and see what happens." She checked her make up and went outside leaving him sitting on the bed to collect himself.
"We're ready now." Elaina says as Frank came out of the room.
"Elaina are you okay?" Maria noticed that her cousin had been crying.
"I feel fine don't worry, I have the best bodyguard in the world watching over me."
"If you say so cousin." Maria knew there was something wrong but didn't pressure her.
*****
Frank and Elaina went to Maria's apartment followed by Jake and Sabrina. "What are you going to do while we're here?" Frank asks her. "And remember he may have bugged her place, she said she felt as if he was listening and watching her."
"Just pack a few things Maria wants and look around to see if Thomas has been in there." She unlocked the door and they stepped in to see that someone had and they had destroyed the furniture and bashed in the computer and tore the phone apart. Frank signed to her to act as Maria.
"What the hell happened here? I leave for a few days and this is what I come home to." Elaina yells acting like Maria.
"Don't touch anything until the police get here." Frank pretended to make a call to the police in case Thomas was listening.
"Well I hope they hurry, I suddenly want out of here. I'm going to the bedroom and pack a few things, I can stay with you right?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way. This jerk needs to be found before he hurts you." Frank says as he hangs up his cell phone.
"I'm glad I fell in love with a guy that can also be my bodyguard."
"With a body like yours it needs protecting all the time." Frank smiled at her.
She had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing at their conversation. "Thanks for the compliment Babe. I knew I kept you around for something other than the sex. You're good for my ego too."
This time Frank had to keep himself from laughing. Sab came over the headset. "There is a Mustang that just pulled up out front. Windows are tinted and we can't see who it is."
"I think I'll go check things out back. Stay in here okay?" Frank walked through the house and out the back door. "Jake take a walk and see who's in the car."
"I'm already on it." Jake walked on the same side of the street as the Mustang. As he passed it he looked at the license plate. "It has to be him the license plate has been altered. You don't notice until you look close. What do you want me to do?"
"Get back to the car in case he decides to take off. I'm going to walk over and see what happens." Frank says walking back in the house.
Elaina came into the room and looked at him as if he were crazy. She signed to him. 'Please be careful he may have a gun.'
Frank signed back. 'I am always careful.' He smiled at her and walked out the front door.
Elaina watched as he approached the car. She saw that he had his gun behind his back; the car started and pulled out almost hitting Frank who jumped out of the way. Elaina rushed out the door to make sure he was okay. The car stopped as Elaina rushed out she drew her gun as she saw the window roll down, Thomas shot at her as she raised hers. His shot hit her in the chest. She fell to the ground as Frank fired at Thomas's car as he took off again. "Elaina are you okay?"
"I am fine. Just got the wind knocked out of me. What about you, you're limping?" Elaina replies getting off the ground.
"It's just twisted it doesn't hurt that much. Jake where are you?"
"We're two cars in back of him; we're in too much traffic to get near him." Sabrina answers.
"Don't lose him when he stops take him." Elaina ordered. "I'll drive back; you shouldn't with your ankle hurt."
"I'm perfectly capable of driving." Frank limped to the driver's side and got in.
"You can barely stand on it. You just don't like my driving." Elaina got in the other side.
"You are one scary woman when you get behind the wheel." Frank states as he starts the engine.
"I was trained to drive offensively; I was in the secret service for a while."
"Two weeks and the president had you transferred." Frank says looking to her.
"I saved his ass didn't I?"
"Which he appreciated I'm sure after they peeled him from the back seat. You scared him more than the shooting did."
Jake interrupted their conversation. "He seems to be going home."
"Make sure he gets away from the car so he doesn't take off again. Shoot only if you have to." Frank ordered. "We're on our way there."
"At least we know one thing."
"What?" Frank asks turning back to her.
"I fooled him into thinking I was Maria. But why shoot her if he wants her for himself?"
"You having a gun may have caused it."
"Maria has all the reason in the world to shoot at him, but why would he want her dead?"
"Because she has a new love in her life thanks to our conversation, he probably went crazy with jealousy."
"I guess if I want to know for sure I'll have to just ask him." Elaina says as they round a corner.
"There's a thought." Frank says sarcastically.
They drove to Thomas' apartment but saw no sign of Jake or Sab.
"We're here, Jake, Sabrina where are you?" Elaina asks getting out of the car.
Sabrina answered first. "I'm at the fire escape. Jake went to his apartment."
"Why isn't he saying anything? Jake?" Elaina was starting to worry. "I'm going up there you stay here."
"Why you?" Frank asks.
"Because you can barely walk let alone run or fight, and I gave you an order."
"Alright but be careful you've been shot once already tonight."
"You don't have to remind me the pain is doing that." She wished she hadn't told him that but she walked into the building before he could protest.
She took the stairs watching and listening. As she reached the second floor where Thomas lived she heard voices. She recognized one voice as Jake. The other was unfamiliar to her. She eased the stair door open to see Jake in the hallway talking to someone.
"My partner and I would like for the tenants to keep their apartments when we restore the building that's why we're here to talk to everyone door to door." Jake says.
Jake saw her and motioned for her to come over. "Mr. Thomas I'd like you to meet my partner."
Thomas turned to see who he thought was Maria. He went in the apartment slamming the door.
Jake kicked it open as he heard Sabrina. "Federal agent." Thomas raised his gun at Sabrina. Jake, Elaina fired at once as Sab moved out of sight.
Elaina and Jake holstered their guns. "He didn't recognize you as the one that walked by him?"
"He said I looked familiar, told him I had that kind of face." Jake replies.
"Ambulance or morgue?" Elaina asks Sab as she was checking him for a pulse.
"Ambulance, he's still with us barely." Sab says getting off the floor.
"Cody did you hear that?" Frank asks coming in the door.
"I hear ya loud and clear it's on the way."
"Still obeying orders I see." Elaina walked over to where he was leaning against the wall.
"Just wanted to prove to you I can work with pain too." He touched her vest where the bullet hole was. Elaina just stuck her tongue out at him.
"Oh that's mature. Let's go home I need an ice pack. Meet us back at the apartment when you're through here." Frank says as they walked out.
"Ok boss." Jake and Sabrina looked around the apartment and found a shrine made to Maria. "This guy was really sick. He has pictures of her everywhere, while she was working, jogging, shopping." Jake observed.
"Whoa, look at this one it's Maria and Elaina talking at a café." Sabrina showed Jake the picture. "This must be when Elaina pulled her. Elaina is looking right in the camera at him." The ambulance showed up as they went back in with Thomas who was mumbling Maria's name.
The next day everyone was getting ready to help Elaina with the plan. Elaina was to go to Maria's apartment and pick up a few things. Alex had gotten a wig that matched Maria's hair color and Elaina cut it to match the style. Elaina put make up on which she rarely used; she never cared for it. When she was ready she came out of the bedroom and stood beside Maria for everyone's inspection.
"Well what do you think, will she pass as me?" Maria put her head next to Elaina's.
"If I didn't know better I would say you were twins." Frank replies.
"Yeah, you do know better." Elaina winked at him. "Don't get us mixed up either."
"I'm going to be with you all day." Frank smiled and put his arm around Maria.
"Very funny, I am carrying a gun you know." Elaina grabs him and pulls him to her.
"I was just teasing, I knew which one you were."
"Likely story. Cody do you have my mic and ear piece ready." Elaina asks turning to him.
"Yep right here. Just as you ordered." He handed her the equipment and she put the earpiece in. The mic was actually a bracelet.
"You do good work Cody. I'm gonna have to give you a raise before I resign." Elaina says as she puts the bracelet on.
"Before you what?" Jake asks stunned.
"What did he do to you to get you to resign?" Monica wondered.
"Wait a minute, Frank didn't do anything. He was just as shocked to hear the news as you all are." Elaina explains. "I decided on my own. My working is just not making me a very easy person to be married too."
"See it is his fault." Cody says pointing to Frank.
"No, it is my fault. I love my job but I am married and have children who love and need me more than the government does. I have been going through a lot of stress lately and that will stop with my becoming a full time wife and mother again."
"But we do need you; we can't break in someone as kind and loving as you. The next person may not like us at all and then you know who will be stressed out as much as you." Cody pointed to Frank again.
"Cody, I know you all like me and the feeling is mutual but I really need to quit and take it easy. There is more happening in my life than you are aware of."
"Won't you at least think about reconsidering?" Cody asks.
"Cody I promise to find the best replacement I can, but I am resigning, I promised my family." She looked at Frank.
"I think it's time to put this plan in action. Sabrina and Jake will be in a car following and I am going to be your personal bodyguard." Frank told her.
"That wasn't the plan but I'll adjust to it." Elaina didn't feel like arguing.
The phone rang. "Your private line Elaina." Cody informed her.
Elaina answered the phone, looking over Cody's shoulder to notice who it was. "Hello?"
"Elaina this is Dr. Nathan. I would like to see you today if that is possible?"
"Actually it isn't I'm working can you tell me why?"
"It's about the test we ran the other day during your check up." Dr. Nathan explains.
"What about them?" Elaina walks into the bedroom with the phone.
"Must be a private call." Maria says watching her leave.
"Sir." Cody pointed to the caller ID. Frank looked at it and went to the bedroom with Elaina.
"Thank you Doc, I'll get back to you soon." Elaina turned the phone off as Frank entered the room.
"What's wrong, you look scared?" He walked over and sat on the bed next to her.
Tears formed in her eyes. "I went for a check up last week. The ultrasound turned up something."
"Not again?" Frank held her close to him; Elaina shook her head yes as she started to cry. "When are you going to see him again?"
"After the case is over, he said that would be fine."
"Then he must not think it is a reoccurrence?"
"He's not sure but it is small and could be nothing. I thought I was over all this, I really don't need it right now." Frank handed her a box of tissues.
"I know, I'm here to help you through it no matter what it turns out to be."
"I know you are" She seemed to change before his eyes as she had many times before. "I think we should get going to Maria's place and see what happens." She checked her make up and went outside leaving him sitting on the bed to collect himself.
"We're ready now." Elaina says as Frank came out of the room.
"Elaina are you okay?" Maria noticed that her cousin had been crying.
"I feel fine don't worry, I have the best bodyguard in the world watching over me."
"If you say so cousin." Maria knew there was something wrong but didn't pressure her.
*****
Frank and Elaina went to Maria's apartment followed by Jake and Sabrina. "What are you going to do while we're here?" Frank asks her. "And remember he may have bugged her place, she said she felt as if he was listening and watching her."
"Just pack a few things Maria wants and look around to see if Thomas has been in there." She unlocked the door and they stepped in to see that someone had and they had destroyed the furniture and bashed in the computer and tore the phone apart. Frank signed to her to act as Maria.
"What the hell happened here? I leave for a few days and this is what I come home to." Elaina yells acting like Maria.
"Don't touch anything until the police get here." Frank pretended to make a call to the police in case Thomas was listening.
"Well I hope they hurry, I suddenly want out of here. I'm going to the bedroom and pack a few things, I can stay with you right?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way. This jerk needs to be found before he hurts you." Frank says as he hangs up his cell phone.
"I'm glad I fell in love with a guy that can also be my bodyguard."
"With a body like yours it needs protecting all the time." Frank smiled at her.
She had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing at their conversation. "Thanks for the compliment Babe. I knew I kept you around for something other than the sex. You're good for my ego too."
This time Frank had to keep himself from laughing. Sab came over the headset. "There is a Mustang that just pulled up out front. Windows are tinted and we can't see who it is."
"I think I'll go check things out back. Stay in here okay?" Frank walked through the house and out the back door. "Jake take a walk and see who's in the car."
"I'm already on it." Jake walked on the same side of the street as the Mustang. As he passed it he looked at the license plate. "It has to be him the license plate has been altered. You don't notice until you look close. What do you want me to do?"
"Get back to the car in case he decides to take off. I'm going to walk over and see what happens." Frank says walking back in the house.
Elaina came into the room and looked at him as if he were crazy. She signed to him. 'Please be careful he may have a gun.'
Frank signed back. 'I am always careful.' He smiled at her and walked out the front door.
Elaina watched as he approached the car. She saw that he had his gun behind his back; the car started and pulled out almost hitting Frank who jumped out of the way. Elaina rushed out the door to make sure he was okay. The car stopped as Elaina rushed out she drew her gun as she saw the window roll down, Thomas shot at her as she raised hers. His shot hit her in the chest. She fell to the ground as Frank fired at Thomas's car as he took off again. "Elaina are you okay?"
"I am fine. Just got the wind knocked out of me. What about you, you're limping?" Elaina replies getting off the ground.
"It's just twisted it doesn't hurt that much. Jake where are you?"
"We're two cars in back of him; we're in too much traffic to get near him." Sabrina answers.
"Don't lose him when he stops take him." Elaina ordered. "I'll drive back; you shouldn't with your ankle hurt."
"I'm perfectly capable of driving." Frank limped to the driver's side and got in.
"You can barely stand on it. You just don't like my driving." Elaina got in the other side.
"You are one scary woman when you get behind the wheel." Frank states as he starts the engine.
"I was trained to drive offensively; I was in the secret service for a while."
"Two weeks and the president had you transferred." Frank says looking to her.
"I saved his ass didn't I?"
"Which he appreciated I'm sure after they peeled him from the back seat. You scared him more than the shooting did."
Jake interrupted their conversation. "He seems to be going home."
"Make sure he gets away from the car so he doesn't take off again. Shoot only if you have to." Frank ordered. "We're on our way there."
"At least we know one thing."
"What?" Frank asks turning back to her.
"I fooled him into thinking I was Maria. But why shoot her if he wants her for himself?"
"You having a gun may have caused it."
"Maria has all the reason in the world to shoot at him, but why would he want her dead?"
"Because she has a new love in her life thanks to our conversation, he probably went crazy with jealousy."
"I guess if I want to know for sure I'll have to just ask him." Elaina says as they round a corner.
"There's a thought." Frank says sarcastically.
They drove to Thomas' apartment but saw no sign of Jake or Sab.
"We're here, Jake, Sabrina where are you?" Elaina asks getting out of the car.
Sabrina answered first. "I'm at the fire escape. Jake went to his apartment."
"Why isn't he saying anything? Jake?" Elaina was starting to worry. "I'm going up there you stay here."
"Why you?" Frank asks.
"Because you can barely walk let alone run or fight, and I gave you an order."
"Alright but be careful you've been shot once already tonight."
"You don't have to remind me the pain is doing that." She wished she hadn't told him that but she walked into the building before he could protest.
She took the stairs watching and listening. As she reached the second floor where Thomas lived she heard voices. She recognized one voice as Jake. The other was unfamiliar to her. She eased the stair door open to see Jake in the hallway talking to someone.
"My partner and I would like for the tenants to keep their apartments when we restore the building that's why we're here to talk to everyone door to door." Jake says.
Jake saw her and motioned for her to come over. "Mr. Thomas I'd like you to meet my partner."
Thomas turned to see who he thought was Maria. He went in the apartment slamming the door.
Jake kicked it open as he heard Sabrina. "Federal agent." Thomas raised his gun at Sabrina. Jake, Elaina fired at once as Sab moved out of sight.
Elaina and Jake holstered their guns. "He didn't recognize you as the one that walked by him?"
"He said I looked familiar, told him I had that kind of face." Jake replies.
"Ambulance or morgue?" Elaina asks Sab as she was checking him for a pulse.
"Ambulance, he's still with us barely." Sab says getting off the floor.
"Cody did you hear that?" Frank asks coming in the door.
"I hear ya loud and clear it's on the way."
"Still obeying orders I see." Elaina walked over to where he was leaning against the wall.
"Just wanted to prove to you I can work with pain too." He touched her vest where the bullet hole was. Elaina just stuck her tongue out at him.
"Oh that's mature. Let's go home I need an ice pack. Meet us back at the apartment when you're through here." Frank says as they walked out.
"Ok boss." Jake and Sabrina looked around the apartment and found a shrine made to Maria. "This guy was really sick. He has pictures of her everywhere, while she was working, jogging, shopping." Jake observed.
"Whoa, look at this one it's Maria and Elaina talking at a café." Sabrina showed Jake the picture. "This must be when Elaina pulled her. Elaina is looking right in the camera at him." The ambulance showed up as they went back in with Thomas who was mumbling Maria's name.