Dissecting The Toad
(ATF)

by Brandgwen

Disclaimer: The guys belong to Mirisch, etc., the universe belongs to Mog, "Addicted to Bass" belongs to Daemion/Abrahams (copyright 1998 Prozaac Recordings) and "Into Temptation" belongs to Neil Finn (copyright 1996 Capitol Records). All characters, with the exception of the Seven, are of my own creation; any resemblance to persons, real or fictional, is entirely coincidental. I'm not making money, I'm not worth suing.
Author's Note: This fanfic is the second in the Deep Cover series.

Jameson

Vin did not like the woman pacing around the interview room. There was something in the way she walked, the way she held herself which did not sit well with him. It was neither over-confidence nor aggression, but rather a kind of readiness. She was preparing for whatever came next. She seemed tense, but not destructively so. She was even singing to herself.

"Standing by the stereo / I'm feeling so alone / My back against the speaker / And I'm moving on my own / Surrounded by so many and they're staring at my face / A word about my weakness / I'm totally addicted to bass..."

Cass moved around the room, trying to use as much of her excess energy as possible before her opponent arrived. She circled the perimeter, again and again, tapping her hand against the wall and singing quietly to herself. Calm, calm. Its just another meeting, another deal. Feeling her pulse begin to slow, she tried to concentrate on the task ahead.

The door opened and Vin Tanner entered the room. Taking his time, he closed the door behind him, pulled up a chair and placed a thin manilla folder on the metal table before him. On the far side of the room now, Cass ceased her movement and watched him. Seated, the ATF agent regarded her, silently.

"Ah, I don't suppose you'd like to tell me what is going on, here, Agent..."

"Tanner."

"... Agent Tanner?" allowing him to break the silence would have been the more conventional move, but she somehow suspected convention would be wasted on this man.

"Yeah, sure. I was just waiting for you to ask for a lawyer."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, that's what your friends did. First thing they all did, actually."

"Associates, Agent Tanner, not friends," she didn't know why she felt the need to point that out, but it somehow seemed the prudent thing, "and I am a lawyer."

He half smiled and looked at her even more closely. "Yeah? What's that they say about lawyers who represent themselves? They got fools for clients?"

Cass pulled a face and moved to sit in the chair opposite Tanner. "I like foolish clients. You can usually bill them for more. Now, weren't you going to tell me why I'm here?"

"Huh," he tapped his finger on the folder, but didn't open it, "we've been picking up information about the company you work for. Apparently, you've been doing some illegal importing."

"They, Agent Tanner. I'm not an importer, I just handle their contracts, etcetera."

"So you admit there've been illegal dealing within the company?" again, the almost smile.

"Not to my knowledge."

"Right, 'cause that would make you an accessory."

Silence. Vin frowned and tapped his fingers on the folder, as if considering this information. Of course, he wasn't. She hadn't given him any information. Idly, Cass wondered why this method of interview was so disquieting. It was as if he was completely bored by the whole process and couldn't care less what she had to say. Did he expect her to confess, just to make conversation?

"Agent Tanner, may I ask you a question? That ATF agent, the one who seems to be running things, here, is he you're boss?"

Vin nodded, eyeing her with some suspicion.

"I only ask, because I seem to remember him from some function or other we were both forced to attend. Larabee, am I right?" mentally, Cass began fitting pieces together. Chris Larabee, ATF. What cases had he previously been involved in?

Another nod. Vin could see the cogs moving in his subject, but allowed them to continue. As long as she was talking, there was a chance of his extracting information from her.

"Hum. Quite a reputation, as I understand. A very good agent, an intelligent man. Why would such a person allow the arrest of five relatively influential individuals, without sufficient evidence on them to prosecute?"

Vin opened the folder to reveal a single sheet of paper. This he handed to Cass then leaned back in his chair to watch her reaction.

"This is a list of files from my computer hard-drive," Cass saw little point in denying it. They could certainly prove where it came from. Larabee... very good conviction rate, as she recalled. "Where did you get this?"

"This isn't all we have. We have copies of every file on that list. We also have a warrant to look into any others you might have. By now, though, I'm guessing the guys from the FBI have finished with that."

"This has to be inadmissible. You can't just hack into someone's personal files," Chris Larabee... head of a crack team of ATF agents. Sharpshooters, medics, undercovers...

"Its admissible," Vin assured her, quietly.

Cass didn't even hear him. Suddenly it all made sense. Not five suspects. Four suspects and an undercover. For one agonising moment, her heart stopped beating and two words formed in her mind... that bastard.

"Ms. Jameson?" something had disturbed his subject's composure, but Vin really didn't think it was anything he had said. However, there was not use wasting it. He tried another angle, "why don't we talk about your... 'associates'. What about..." Vin paused, as if pulling a name out of the air. He had seen Cass and Ezra being arrested, he had seen how protective Ezra had been, and mischief got the better of him. "... What about Alex Mitchell?"

His words caught her attention like a slap in the face. Coldly, she replied, "are you asking me, Agent Tanner, if I am sleeping with your team's undercover?" She stood and, obviously agitated, began pacing the floor.

This reaction took Vin completely by surprise. Actually, that had been exactly what he was asking. He just hadn't expected such a direct response. She knows. No sending Ez back now. Chris will be pleased. Vin had to admit, he was, too.

"Alex is an undercover. He must have got those files one of those times in my office..." she almost choked at the thought.

As Vin watched as Cass gradually regained some composure. This changed the nature of the negotiation, but it was still just a negotiation. If the head of security at the company was a plant, the ATF must have collected enough evidence to go after the whole building, if they so chose. Why was she being interviewed?

"You know how this will go," Vin began in an almost lazy drawl, "unless, of course, you change sides. We want names."

"Contacts?"

Vin nodded. "Will you testify?"

"Maybe."

Chris was standing just outside, awaiting summons.

"Mr. Larabee," Jameson greeted him. Indeed, he was the man she remembered seeing.

He sat down where Vin had been sitting and waited for her to resume her seat. "I understand you have some information for us?"

She studied the table before her, before focusing on Larabee. She was stalling, trying to figure out the best way to play this new situation. He saw no harm in it and sat back to watch her.

"I can give you connections, but I need to know I'll be looked after."

"At the moment, you are facing gun trafficking charges. We can have those reduced. You may not even do time."

She shook her head. "If I'm going to give these people up, I need witness protection. My liberty is pretty useless if I'm dead."

Larabee frowned. "What makes you think you're worth that much to me?"

"I can give you a list of names as long as your arm."

Pause. "What about your friends?"

"Associates. I can give you histories on Conners, Smythe and Jennings stretching back five years."

"Still..."

She paused - time to call in her final card. She voice dropped a fraction and she leaned, slightly, across the table. "Agent Larabee, I will testify against these men for a reduction in my sentence, but that's not all you need..."

This caught Larabee's attention. "Go on..."

"If you're looking for a selective memory, I can have one, but it will cost you."

Larabee nodded. "I'll see what I can do."