The Diamond Agenda
Part One: Idyllic Summer, cont'd
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"I don't see why I can't come, back-up is an integral part of any situation that has a potential to escalate into--- What?"
Lucy bit back the urge to giggle and waved her arms. "Nothing."
"No, come on, what?"
"You got that from the DEBS handbook didn't you?"
Amy flushed a nice pink color, Lucy liked that color on Amy.
"Yes," admitted Amy then added, as if she couldn't help herself: "Article 15 section 5."
"I love your brain." Lucy said, wonderingly, reaching up to brush Amy's forehead.
Amy closed her eyes at the contact and had almost, almost fallen in for the kiss Lucy was going for when her eyes snapped open, then she pulled back, looking very alarmed and formed a cross with her fingers. "Whoa! Whoa! Back, evil seductress! I'm not finished with my point yet! My point has yet to be established! There has to be a point before kissage ensues!"
Lucy did so, afraid that Amy would resort to drastic psuedo-vampire slaying measures. "Did you talk like that before we were together?"
"No. I had whole sentences before I met you, and a point!"
Her distraction powers must be slipping. This was worrying. "I'll behave."
"Look, its this simple you need back-up!"
"That's true." Lucy said, nodding
"Then let me come with you!"
"Okay, I don't see why you staying in the car is such a problem..."
"Because you need back-up." Amy said, enunciating the words clearly as if she were some kid. Come to think of it, Scud did that a lot too.
"But you're my super secret back-up, if I get into trouble, not that I would be, but in case I'll get into trouble you can do the whole cavalry thing, charging in with guns a blazing and save me."
Amy crossed her arms, and had on a 'completely not buying your flattering imagery' face. "Wouldn't it be better if the cavalry was already there, with the guns instead of the delaying time of running around and kicking down doors?"
"I'll be entering a den of filth and crime, you wouldn't want that."
"Of course I would, it'll be like old times, me trying to bring down---"
"See, that's exactly why you can't be there when I talk to the crime guy because you'd be thinking of ways to bring him down when all I want to do is talk to him."
Amy frowned. "You think I'll arrest him?"
"You won't but you'll be thinking it."
"Since when is thinking a crime?"
Lucy shook her head and grinned. "You win, 'Perfect Score'. But remember if things go badly I have the right to say I told you so."
"You wouldn't even have to."
"We'll see."
The den of filth and crime turned out to be a two story house with a large gate. It looked too cosy to be a den of filth and crime. Amy looked at Lucy. "This is your 'den of filth and crime'?"
"This isn't my den of filth and crime. This is Rodrigo's den of filth and crime."
"Rodrigo being the leader of the syndicate?"
Lucy shook her head. "Rodrigo being the father of the leader of the syndicate. Wait." She poked her head out of the car window and spoke to the guard they exchanged a few holas before getting down to business. Amy turned around and eyed the villa noting the height of the gate and the number of guards that can be seen.
The gates opened and the car started moving.
Lucy glanced at her. "How many guards."
"Ten guards." She answered automatically, then stopped at Lucy's knowing smirk. "I didn't count for the purpose of bringing this crime house down, I counted for protection!"
"I know." Lucy said simply.
Lucy pulled up the drive way and got out, she handed the keys to the valet waiting for them. "Come on."
"Señorita Diamond," An old man greeted, "Señor Rodrigo is waiting for you at the balcony."
"Lead on, MacDuff." Lucy said cheerfully.
The old butler led them through the house, the whole architecture and design bespoke of class, something Amy didn't expect used to the numerous holding buildings, warehouses and metal mills supervillains used as headquarters.
They entered a balcony, large and spacious enough to fit two beach chairs. One of which was occupied by a big man with snowy hair.
"You still have a full head of hair I see." Lucy said.
The man on the chair leapt up, he was old, Amy realized, with leathery skin but had the same sunny vitality Mr. Phipps had when he smiled. Amy suddenly, after a long, long time, felt home sick.
"Lucy Diamond!" Greeted the old man, Rodrigo, in a loud booming voice, he took a big step forward and hugged her. Lucy submitted to the hug happily. "I could not believe it when the guards told me, and then of course I remembered, a priceless diamante was in Barcelona, of course you would want to be there!"
"Er, yeah, priceless diamond, sure!" Lucy said, shooting a glance at Amy, then quickly disentangled herself from the hug and pointed at her. "Señor Rodrigo, I'd like you to meet Amy. Amy, señor Rodrigo."
Rodrigo looked at Amy and smiled. "My, my, my Lucy, you have done well for yourself!" Then he went over and bussed Amy at each cheek. "Not like---"
Lucy suddenly started coughing noisily. "Whew, that... that air is something isn't it?"
Amy looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Some air."
"So, is Joaquin here?" Lucy said, talking loudly.
Rodrigo's expression darkened. "No, he isn't. I'm afraid you have wasted a trip, Lucy if you have come to talk to my ingrate son."
"So, its true... he's broken away from your group?"
Rodrigo nodded. "I've stopped my operations, not good for an old man. Bad for the heart."
"Yeah," Lucy said then looked at her. "It really is."
Amy felt her mouth go dry and her heart quicken. Three years and Lucy still had the ability to make her go weak in the knees.
"Ah, amor." Rodrigo said with a sigh, shaking Amy out of reverie. He smiled at her then turned to Lucy looking serious. "Lucy, if you will come and talk to Joaquin let me say this. He has gone a long way, a bad way and partly it is my fault, and partly because of his pride. But he hasn't fallen as far as..." He glanced at Amy then back to Lucy. "As far as you did. But if you have business with him, do an old man a favor, knock some sense into that ungrateful boy."
Lucy hesitated. "Rodrigo... I just want to talk to Joaquin, I'm not here to start any war."
"It is not war I ask, just show him it isn't a business for him." Seeing Lucy's reluctance he added, "Please, for me."
Lucy looked at him for a long time then nodded.
It wasn't long before they said their goodbyes and hugs and headed for the car, all through the walk from the balcony to the front door Lucy had stayed silent, Amy couldn't quite make out the mood Lucy was in. Ever since that night with Torres, Lucy had become quieter... it wasn't like Lucy.
When they got into the car, Lucy started it and drove away all without speaking.
Amy was not loving the prospect of a two hour drive limited by monosyllables. "Alright, what's wrong?" Amy said, breaking the silence.
Lucy let out a sigh. "Did this day have like, a 'Ask Lucy favor' flag on that I didn't know about?'
"Its just two favors."
"Yeah, maybe."
Amy watched Lucy, the afternoon sun lighting her face. She looked at the road long and winding before them, there was a reason why she insisted on coming, and the reason was the queasy feeling she got at the expression of Lucy's face when Torres mentioned the war between the Schaffers and the Reynolds.
If there was one thing Amy learned in the three years they were together it was that Lucy didn't like talking about that part of her past. She could regale Amy with stories about her father and mother, uncles and cousins but she never once mentioned the Schaffers even in passing. And with Torres' midnight call it seemed like a wall had fallen between them. Amy didn't like it.
Amy checked her sidearm, heavy and ominous in her jacket holster. She had a bad feeling about this, and she wasn't about to let Lucy do all this alone. After all, she did promise Max to keep Lucy in the straight and narrow.