Chapter 10: Traffic

"Jack and Sue still aren't in yet?" Myles questioned Tara, looking at his watch. "Has anyone heard from them?"

"I haven't heard from them this morning," Tara replied evenly. "They're only a half hour late though. I'm sure they'll be here soon."

"I guess they are still on their honeymoon, aren't they? I suppose we could allow them a bit of leeway," Bobby said with a grin. Myles rolled his eyes. "Seriously mate, I'm sure they just ran into traffic. They do have a bit of a commute now."

"You're right," Lucy said. "I tried calling the house but there's no answer. I'm trying not to worry but Jack's cell isn't on and Sue isn't answering her Blackberry. It's just not like them to cut off communications like that."

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation. Let's not start worrying yet." Tara shot a look at Bobby, and he narrowed his eyes at her.

"What's up?"

"Can I talk to you for a second? I need your expertise on something," she said with a smile.

"I'm happy to help."

"Great, come with me for a minute." Tara grabbed a file and led the way out of the bullpen with Bobby close behind. Lucy glanced up at them somewhat suspiciously as they left, but everyone else got back to work and took no notice of them.

Once in the hallway she stopped and turned to face him, a conspiratorial smile on her face.

"So, we never did get the chance to talk after lunch yesterday. What happened with Jack and Sue?"

"I've been sworn to secrecy."

"You too? Now I know that something has happened between them. I wonder if that something is the reason they're late this morning," she said, excitedly. Bobby grinned at her.

"You women, you can't get enough of the romance can you?"

"That's a silly question, a girl can never have too much romance in her life! You of all people should know that, Bobby," Tara chided.

"Why, I'm not a woman?" Tara sighed loudly at his response.

"Clearly. By the way, how's Darcy these days? You haven't been buying her any candy or flowers lately, have you? Don't forget that even though you've won her over, a girl still appreciates some romance now and then."

"I'll have you know that---" Bobby's voice trailed off as they heard a bit of a commotion coming from around the corner. Tara put a finger to her lips as they listened.

"Stop for a second, your tie is crooked." Tara peered around the corner to see Jack standing in the hallway; feigning annoyance as Sue adjusted his tie.

"You could have told me that before we left the house," he told her.

"I don't think it was crooked when we left the house," Sue retorted playfully. Tara turned to look at Bobby, her mouth open in amazement.

"Ok, well you could have told me before we came into the building," Jack insisted, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched her.

"Relax. I'm telling you now, and I fixed it for you, too. Besides, I think you look good when you're a little rumpled." Sue smirked at him, and Jack smiled back at her.

"Come on, we're already late. Everyone's going to be wondering where we are." Jack put an arm around her waist and let her lead the way back to the bullpen.

Bobby and Tara ducked into a nearby office so that Sue and Jack wouldn't know they'd been eavesdropping. They watched unnoticed as their friends hurried by and then looked at each other with matching grins.

"The tension seems to have lifted, wouldn't you say?" Bobby commented.

"Most definitely. Now they're just acting like an old married couple," Tara said. "I wonder what happened?"

"Something tells me that we won't be finding out the answer to that one anytime soon," Bobby replied, as the two of them headed back to the Bullpen.

"Ah, the newlyweds. Nice of you to grace us with your presence," Myles announced loudly, as Jack and Sue entered the Bullpen, both looking little embarrassed at being the center of attention.

"So much for slipping in unnoticed," Sue said, looking at Jack. He shrugged his shoulders and helped himself to a cup of coffee as Sue released Levi from his leash.

"Not much slips by this group," D observed wryly.

"That's right. We do possess keen skills of observation, some of us more than others," Myles commented smugly.

"Why, thank-you for noticing Myles," Sue retorted, as she sat down at her desk. "It's good to know that you appreciate my contributions to the team." She smiled sweetly at him.

"Hey, I was worried," Lucy said, approaching Sue's desk. "I tried to call you this morning to confirm lunch and couldn't get through. Jack's cell wasn't on either."

"Sorry, Luce. We were in a rush this morning and I forgot my blackberry at home; I guess Jack forgot to turn on his cell," Sue said, feeling guilty for causing Lucy to worry unnecessarily. "We're definitely on for lunch," she assured her with a smile.

Good, Lucy signed. Jack started speaking, and Lucy directed Sue's attention across the room.

"Sorry we're late," Jack said, glancing at Sue, who tried not to laugh at the guilty expression on his face. "Traffic," he mumbled.

"What did I tell you?" Bobby yelled, as he and Tara walked back into the bullpen. They said their good mornings to Jack and Sue and both of them fought to keep straight faces, considering what they'd just witnessed in the hallway.

"Well, why else would they be late?" Tara asked, smiling at Jack and Sue innocently. Something in Tara's expression set off warning bells in Jack's head, but he chose to ignore them for now.

"Any new developments since last night, D?" Jack asked, smoothly changing the subject.

Sue's eyes met his, and she gave him a small smile as he came to stand next to her desk, before looking at Dimitrius. Jack had definitely picked the right moment to take the subject of their tardiness out of the spotlight.

"Unfortunately not," D answered. "Though it has been confirmed that Annie Murphy was born at the same hospital where Mary Ryan works. Forensics didn't turn up any evidence at the scene that could lead us to the kidnappers. Whoever took that baby was very careful not to leave a trace behind."

"Annie's kidnapping brings the total over the last three months to 16. All of the babies were taken from their bedrooms, late in the night," Myles stated. "All came from low-income families with multiple children and when each child was taken, a doll with a note was left in its place."

"The whole idea of having a baby kidnapped is frightening enough but the dolls just give me chills," Lucy commented. "And the note that says, 'your baby has gone to a better place'---that's even worse," she finished with a frown.

"Plus the fact that note was made by using letters cut out of a magazine," Sue chimed in. "Whoever is behind these kidnappings is just cruel. Isn't it enough for them to take someone's child, without having to taunt them that way?"

"All the more reason to catch them before they can take another child," D said firmly. "The Ryans returned home late last night but there was nothing in their behavior to raise our suspicions. So, we're depending on you two to uncover something tonight." D looked to Sue and Jack as he finished speaking.

"Well, tonight we're planning on getting to know our neighbors a bit better," Jack informed the team.

"One of the things I'm having a hard time with is that Mary and Sam both seem too nice to be behind something like this," Sue said, looking troubled.

"Well, we're pulling one over on them. Maybe they're just doing the same thing to us," Jack pointed out. "After all, by gaining our trust, they stand to make a lot of money."

"True," Sue agreed thoughtfully. "I guess it's possible they're putting on a performance of their own, to win us over."

"If they're anywhere near as convincing in their all-American act as you two are at being married, I can see why you've fallen for it," Bobby said, grinning cheekily at them.

"I didn't catch that," Sue said, looking from Bobby to Jack.

"He thinks we're very convincing as a married couple," Jack told her, smiling sheepishly. Sue looked at Bobby and smiled slyly.

"We've had enough practice; I should think we'd be able to pull it off by now," she told him. "Sort of like your Elvis impersonation, or Myles being a vagrant." Sue looked at Myles, giving him a wink. Myles snorted and shook his head in disbelief at being targeted, yet again. "After awhile, it's quite effortless pretending to be married to Jack."

Thank you, Jack signed, smiling at her.

"Yeah, Myles and I know what you mean. Sometimes all you have to do is tap into your natural instincts when working undercover. It's hardly acting at all," Bobby said, grinning.

"Whatever you say, Elvis," Myles said, no longer frowning as he realized the target was now on someone else's chest as well. "So what is the secret to making your undercover marriage work? Is it all romance and flowers?" Jack felt his face and neck go warm and glanced at Sue, finding her looking just as uncomfortable as he felt. Everyone had a good laugh at their expense until D cleared his throat loudly.

"OK guys. As acting supervisor I've got to spare the Hudsons any more embarrassment," D said with a smile. "I'm sure everyone's got something else, though maybe not as fun, that they need to do." The laughter died down and some semblance of order returned to the office.

Crazy people, Jack signed to Sue, rolling his eyes at her.

Yes, and I think it's going to be a long day, she signed back. Jack nodded and walked over to his desk.

Lucy waited until Jack had walked away before she approached Sue, grinning widely.

Haven't I been saying it all along? Lucy signed furiously. Tell me I'm wrong all you want but everyone sees it, now more than ever. You can't deny that you see it too.

"Lucy," Sue said, her tone holding a warning. Lucy put up her hand.

Don't worry. I'm done. Just think about it, please. With that, Lucy walked away. Sue rubbed her temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache. It was going to be a very long day.