Chapter 5: This Could Be the Beginning…

Once they knew what to look for, the rest was easy. Well, perhaps not easy, but routine.

What they found was not one tunnel, but a whole network of them, connecting several warehouses within a five-mile radius of the first one. The Rockettes had any number of ways to get diamonds in or out, which was why it had taken the FBI so long to find the pattern. The only consistency had been the cargo – Belgian chocolates.

It took just a week to map the tunnel system, dismantle what few "surprises" were waiting for trespassers, set up surveillance in the tunnels, catch the Rockettes together, and round them up for a nice long stay at the federal penitentiary. They even caught the terrorist liaison, but the rest of the cell had closed up shop and moved elsewhere. Sometimes you just don't get everything.

Still, there was an air of immense satisfaction in the Bullpen the following Monday morning. Nothing left but the paperwork. Myles came in early to get a head-start on it.

When he got to his desk, however, he found a manila folder, perhaps an inch thick, sitting in the middle of it. Before he had a chance to look at it, though, a motion off to the side caught his eye. He turned to see Tara, who apparently had come in even earlier, pull two sheets of paper off her printer and head toward him.

"What's this?" He asked as she handed him the papers.

"Some light reading," she replied coolly. "By the way, there are much better methods of revenge for all the blind dates you've set me up on, and I can't believe you'd think I was that cruel, anyway."

It took a minute to register, but when it did, the anger came back full-force. He was glad they were alone in the Bullpen. "I'm surprised it took you this long to jump on me about it. I suppose you and Elizabeth spent that evening rehashing the whole farce."

Tara just looked at him. When she spoke, her voice was shaking with a fair amount of her own anger. "You just read. All of it. Because believe me, if I knew what was going on, I probably would rip you up one side and down the other. As it is, I have my best friend keeping completely quiet about an evening you think I set up, while asking me to give you everything the FBI has on her. So you're on your own—nobody to yell at, just a file from a background check she had to have done for her research project. And it's extensive. Enjoy." She walked back to her desk and sat down without so much as a backward glare at him.

"She asked you to give me this file?" Myles finally found his voice again. "Why?"

"I don't know. She wouldn't tell me, as you will see from one of the printouts I just gave you. It's the IM we had after she got home that night. She made me swear I wouldn't say anything about it until after we finished with the Rockettes. The other printout is the IM we had before, apparently just before you called her. You're welcome to come check my computer if you think I edited them at all. Otherwise, I suggest you sit down and read. You have an hour before anyone else is scheduled to come in."

Myles stared at her for a moment, then looked down at the printouts in his hand. He set them on his desk, went and got a cup of coffee, then came back and sat down. This is useless, he thought. Why drag it all up again? Still…

Tara had sounded genuinely hurt that he'd thought she'd set him up. And, admittedly, if it was a prank, it was a gesture he would have sooner expected from Bobby than from Tara. Myles supposed he at least owed Tara the benefit of the doubt until he proved otherwise.

You're stalling, Leland. And he knew why, too. If he had been wrong about a setup, he'd wrecked a wonderful evening with a lady that, otherwise, he had been on the verge of falling for—hook, line, and sinker. Part of him didn't want to know if he was wrong, because he didn't know if he could ever make it right again. But if Elizabeth went to this much trouble to prove herself, I guess I owe her a reading, at least. And then I'll know.

s

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Forty-five minutes later, Tara looked over at Myles. He was sitting in much the same position he had the day they had gotten drenched, although from his expression she suspected he'd rather be over banging his head against the wall. Part of her wanted to leave him like that for awhile—it would serve him right. But compassion, and the fact that Liz had asked one more favor of her, finally won out and she walked over.

She slid one hip up onto the corner of his desk, folded her arms across her chest, and waited for a moment. She was hoping it wouldn't take him long to look up, since the rest of the room would fill up shortly, and what she had to say to him wasn't meant for anyone else.

"Go ahead," Myles said, without looking up.

"What?" she asked gently.

"Get it over with— the 'I told you so.' I more than deserve it. I can't believe I blew something that started so well." Now he looked up, and she knew what the next words cost the Leland pride. "I'm sorry I thought you were behind this. So, go ahead— say it."

"Apology accepted— and date/time logged," she said with a smile, hoping to coax one from him as well. It worked— sort of. "And," she continued, "I wasn't going to say 'I told you so.' This is between you and Liz now. She did ask me to let her know when I had given you the file, and then she filled me in on the fight you had. She asked me to remind you of just one thing."

"Just one?"

Tara nodded. "To quote it verbatim: 'You do whatever checking on me you feel you need to, get your answers, and then give me a call when you get done. Because even after this, I'd still like to see you again.'"

Myles dropped his head back onto his hands. "What do I…what can I say to her?"

As Tara thought about that, she heard voices coming down the hallway. There wasn't much time. She shook her head. "It sounds to me like just showing up would be a step in the right direction. Liz doesn't hold grudges, Myles. As for what to say, I think you need to figure that out yourself. Unfortunately, it'll have to wait. Duty calls."

Four days, and a couple of minor cases later, Myles stopped Sue on her way out for the evening.

"Thomas, I need your help with something."

s

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Elizabeth sighed, petting the gray tabby in her arms as she stared out the back window, which offered a beautiful view of Grandin Park. The foliage was in full autumn splendor, but none of it brought any peace. Saturday morning, she thought. It's been five days. Five days since Tara gave him my file, and nothing. Not a word. Rats. It hurt worse than she'd expected.

She sighed again. "Oh well. Back to the dating drawing board, I guess. It's going to take awhile to find somebody after Myles." She put the cat down and headed for the coat rack. " Ok, Roger, no more moping. I'm going for a walk."

She pulled on her coat and opened the door, checking in her pocket to make sure her keys were there. Because she was looking down, she managed not to step on the rose in the middle of her doorstep. She gasped – it was the most beautiful white rose she'd ever seen. What's this? She thought as she knelt to pick it up. Elizabeth glanced up toward the street, and stopped short.

Myles Leland III was leaning against his car, watching her. When their eyes met, he signed, slowly and deliberately enough that Elizabeth knew he was concentrating to remember what Sue had taught him: ME SORRY. ME IDIOT.

Elizabeth smiled slightly as she walked over to him. "Easier to sign it than to say it?" she asked.

He started to retort; then she was very surprised to see the polished mask drop completely. "No, not easier," he said softly. " I just thought it would go better if I didn't open my mouth. I truly am sorry, Elizabeth. I don't know what else to say, but…"

She reached up and put her hand over his mouth. "You're forgiven. I have a fair idea what that must have cost you, and I don't want to drag it out."

He pulled her hand away, but kept hold of it. "Do I really come off that arrogant?" He thought for a second, then let his breath out in a laugh. "I suppose I do."

"It's okay," she replied with a smile. "I can get used to that."

"You shouldn't have to." He let go of her hand and gently stroked her cheek. "Besides, whatever it may have cost my pride to apologize is nothing to what losing the chance to get to know you would have cost my heart."

He watched her eyes widen and a flush come to her cheeks, and he smiled. "Would you have dinner with me again? Kind of start over? Although I suppose it's not really fair, since I know all about you now, from your file."

A mischievous twinkle, like diamonds, lit up her green eyes. "Just because you know my background, that doesn't mean you know anything about who I am."

"That's true," he agreed. "I stand corrected. But I think, if you'll let me, it's going to be an awful lot of fun finding out."

"Oh, I'll make sure of that." Elizabeth looked at her watch. "Hmmm—it's a little early for dinner. I was about to go enjoy autumn in the park. Care to join me?"

He offered her his arm. "I'd say that sounds lovely."

FINIS