Chapter Nine

"Absolutely not, no," Sam exclaimed as she walked towards Jack. "Go, now." She grabbed the man by the arm and led him to the door.

"Sam," Ed began as he walked towards her, "Come on, he's here to help."

"Help?" She shot back, spinning around on her heel. "When has he ever helped you, Ed? When he tried to rob the Montecito? When he stole a painting from the gallery? Or how about this? Where was he when you found out your wife had cancer? Where was he when you were sitting at her bedside, holding her hand, watching her die? Where was he then, Ed? Where was he when you buried your wife? Yeah, where was your good pal Jack then, Ed, huh? Knowing him, he was probably out there screwing every blonde, brunette and redhead from here to Tijuana!" She paused to catch her breath, without realizing how bad she was damaging an already fragile situation, she continued, "I thought you were a smart man, Ed, I thought you were brilliant. It saddens me that you'd be so stupid as to trust a snake."

Ed narrowed his angry steel blue eyes. His voice lowered to an intensely angry tone. "I will take into consideration that you are angry, scared, frustrated and that you are feeling helpless because I feel those same damn things right now, but don't you ever question my intelligence again. I may not be brilliant, Sam, but I know who the hell I can trust with certain matters." Pointing at Jack, he said, "I don't trust that man as far as I can throw him when it comes to a business matter."

"Gee, thanks," Jack mumbled.

Glaring at Jack, Ed turned and looked at Sam, "But I can't think of a man that I'd want more helping us."

Sam looked away from him, embarrassed by her outburst, "You are right," she said quietly, "I'm sorry." Lifting her dark eyes, she turned and looked at Jack, "I'm sorry. If Ed trusts you, than I guess that's good enough for me."

Keller held up his hand, softly, "You have reason not to trust me, I accept that. But I'm on your side in this. Kids are my weakness. I got two nieces about Jasmine's age and those two little girls mean more to me than you'll ever know." He paused as he walked over to her. Taking her hands in his, he promised, "No funny business, okay? I'm here to a do a job for a man who has been a mentor to me. I will not screw this up."

The woman nodded as she sighed. Turning to Ed she said, "I'm going to go and check on a few clients." She walked into the den and shut the door behind her.

The minute he heard the door close, Ed turned and looked at Keller, "You screw this up, Jack, so help me god, I'll kick your ass so hard your unborn children will come out with a set of morals and values that would make Christ proud. Understood?"

Keller nodded, "Understood."

"Ed?"

The man turned and looked at the open front door and the person who was standing in it. Sighing deeply, he walked over and grabbed the woman and pulled her in close to a hug, "Hey honey."

Nessa Holt hugged her surrogate father back as she brushed her lips over his cheek. Pulling back, it was clear that she had been crying. "Danny and Mike told me about Jasmine, what can I do?"

Ed sighed as he grabbed her hand, leading her into the living room. "Nothing," he said, "the police are all over this, I'm doing this by the book."

"But, Ed," Nessa said, stopping to look at him. "You could accomplish so much more, in such a quicker time, if you used your contacts."

"Ness," he said, looking at her. Lowering his voice, he said, "You were the only person I could talk to extensively about what I did. Delinda didn't understand and Jillian didn't want to know. I'm not going to dig up old contacts for this. Until I get an idea of who is behind this, I don't want to tip off any enemies."

The woman sighed as she nodded, "Yeah," she agreed, "I see your point."

"Ed."

Deline turned around to find Jack and a very confused Danny standing in the entryway. "Danny," Ed said, approaching the younger man. "I got that file out in my car."

"You left it in your car?" Danny asked, surprised.

Looking at him, he said, "I've been a little pre-occupied this morning, Danny."

"Right," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm sorry, Ed."

"What file?" Nessa questioned.

Turning back to look at her, Ed said, "Something for a meeting." Looking at Danny, he said, "Come on." Leading him outside, Ed opened the door to the Hummer, leaving Nessa inside, face to face with Keller.

Jack sighed as he watched the woman, preparing himself for the riot act which he was sure to come.

Larry McCoy slowly rose to his feet. After laying on the floor for nearly an hour, he was surprised that he didn't pass out from the pain. Grabbing the corner of the desk, he used it to push himself up with a painful sigh. Looking around, the eldest McCoy was grateful that his men were having lunch.

"At least I can clean myself up before they get here," he said quietly, making his way to the nearest bathroom. Once he got inside, he flipped the light switched and briefly congratulated himself for getting the wiring set up in a way that wouldn't short. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he sighed deeply as he looked heavenward, "Help me out here, Bethie," he pleaded quietly to his deceased wife, "please help me dig myself out of this, don't make me go crawling to my son in shame because I couldn't handle this."

Reaching for the faucet, he turned it on and grabbed several paper towels and cleaned himself up as best he could. Knowing he still looked pretty bad, McCoy knew there wasn't much more he could do.

Walking out into the room again, he groaned when he saw the destroyed equipment, "God," he said with a sigh as he slid down the wall in defeat.

Luis threw the empty carton of moo goo gai pan into the trashcan. "Thanks, Delinda, that was really good, it hit the spot."

The woman smiled at him, "I'm glad you liked it, I'll have to remember to tell my dad about it, he loves good Chinese food."

Nodding Perez sighed deeply as he put his hands on his hips, "I just wish I could give Ed some good news myself."

"You will," she said, walking over to her friend. "Listen, it's getting pretty late. I'm going to go back to my dad's tonight. I'm sure Nessa's probably there by now too."

"Yeah," the man said. "Tell Ed and Sam I'm going to stay on top of his and I'll call them if we get any developments."

Delinda nodded, "I will," she promised.

"Delinda, listen, if anything happens tonight, if you guys get any calls..."

"Calls?" She asked him curiously. Dawning on her, she said, "You mean like ransom calls? You think this is going to turn into that?"

"I don't know," Perez admitted with a sigh, "Your dad, he's pretty influential, not only in Vegas, but in a lot of other places too. I mean, with his past and all..."

"You think this is a CIA thing?" Delinda asked, suddenly nervous. If enemies that her father had made from his days in the CIA found out that he had another little girl, who knew what would happen.

"Delinda, I don't know what this is," Luis said, "It could be something related to the CIA, something related to somebody that he's busted here in Vegas, or something totally random. I don't know. But until we do find out what's going on, than I don't want to slam any doors."

"Yeah," Delinda said with a sigh, running a hand through her hair, "I'll tell dad and Sam to contact you if anybody calls."

"Thank you," Perez nodded, as he hugged his friend. "Listen, let me drive you home, okay?"

"No," The woman said, "I can get there myself, I'm fine, really."

"Delinda, please, I'd feel much better if you let me escort you."

"Luis," she smiled, "I can drive myself to my dad's, really, I'll be fine."

Luis sighed as he looked around, "Okay, but call me when you get there, okay?"

Delinda nodded, "I will, I'll talk to you later."

She grabbed her purse and walked out of his office.

"Here," Ed stated, turning over a fat manila envelope over to Danny, "Thirty grand, it's all there."

"Ed," Danny said, accepting it with a sigh, "Thank you, I don't know how I can ever repay you. It really means a lot that you'd help my dad out like this."

"Your dad is a good man, Danny," Ed said, slamming the driver side door of his cherry red h2 Hummer. "I'm sorry that he's seemed to have gotten himself into a jam, I promise I'll look into what's going on."

"What?" Danny asked, surprised, "No, Ed, you keep your head with Sam. I'll look into my dad's problem and if I need help, I'll draft Mike."

The older man sighed, "Keep me in the loop, though, okay? And if you guys run into a road block, let me know and I'll pitch in."

"Yeah," McCoy nodded. Holding up the envelope, he said, "Thanks again, Ed."

"Don't mention it," Ed said.

The former Marine looked at his boss, "The same goes for you too, you know that right?"

Deline looked at the younger man and nodded, pulling him in for a hug, "Thank you, Danny. I should get back in before Sam and Nessa gang up on Jack."

"Yeah," Danny said, walking with him, "Why's he here?"

"Because I need the manpower," Ed responded in a fashion that was clear to McCoy not to press the subject.

"I can live with that."

"I can't tell you what that means to me," the former CIA agent said.

Chuckling softly, Danny shook his head, "Okay, I'm going to run this by my dad's site, but call me and let me know what's going on, okay?"

"Will do," Ed promised, walking back into the house.

"I think it's time we made a phone call," Richie declared, reaching for a cell phone.

"Are you out of your mind?" Karla asked, snatching the phone from him, "Tam hasn't gotten us the untraceable ones yet, you dolt. These could lead Deline right to us. Besides, Jonathan hasn't told us yet his plans. He may not want a ransom."

"Not want a ransom?" Phillips asked, "Ed Deline takes a shit and he grabs a 1000 dollar bill to wipe his ass. We can make a killing off this brat."

"Perhaps a killing," Karla said, "is exactly what Jonathan wants to do."

Catching the devious twinkle in the woman's eye, Richie began to laugh as he drove down the road.