3 Act: Partners Through It All
Ingrid was not happy with her current situation and she had every right to be from her point of view. It had been an entire week since she had her first meeting with Sting Ray, it was at that time she discovered that Fillmore and herself had more to lose than anything if she did not cooperate with her new 'partners'. She rolled her eyes in disgust at that thought. Ingrid could not believe how easily Sonny and Penny had fooled them and the worst thing was that Fillmore was still in the dark about this whole mess. Ingrid sighed as she thought about the assignment she had received early that morning. She was supposed to plan and execute a high profile job with the help of Penny and Sonny. They were going to setup the Canadian Consulate and take over his business and use his Diplomatic Immunity to keep the Safety Patrol off their backs. She had to give Sting Ray credit for that idea; if the Safety Patrol did catch him the Canadian Consulate would take the fall.
Ingrid was brought from her thoughts by the sudden appearance of her sister Arial and her partner Fillmore. The two stood side-by-side looking at her waiting for Ingrid to speak. Ingrid swallowed the lump that had developed in her throat and steeled herself for what was to come. She had hoped to avoid a confrontation with Fillmore, but that didn't look like an option now.
"Hey Arial." She greeted as she made her way over to Fillmore and kissed him on the cheek, "Hey Fillmore."
Fillmore nodded his response and held his gaze on his partner and girlfriend waiting for her to answer his unasked question. He walked over to Ingrid's desk and picked up her walkie while waiting for an answer. If Ingrid noticed this she did not hide it very well from him. Fillmore frowned when he saw Ingrid avert her eyes from his.
"Ingrid is something wrong?"
"No Fillmore everything is just fine." Ingrid answered weakly.
"You sure? Because lately you've been a little more distant than you usually are."
Ingrid sighed and turned away from Fillmore and found her gaze on her sister. Ingrid noticed that her sister had yet to say anything to her, but she knew better than that. Arial had been the first person the see her when she returned from the meeting with Sting Ray. Arial had asked why she had not come home with Fillmore, as was their usual routine. She had also asked who the young lady that was with her. Penny had decided that it was in Ingrid's best interest to cut all ties she had with Fillmore and so had took it upon her self to become Ingrid's shadow, or as Penny put it, her new best friend.
"Ingrid it's none of my business who you're friends with but I just don't trust Penny not to pull something." Fillmore said bring Ingrid's most recent problem out into the open.
"Don't worry Fillmore I can take care of myself."
"I know that, but I'm still worried."
Ingrid was really starting to hate her situation more and more at the moment. She was lying to him and she knew better than to think that Fillmore was buying it at all, he knew her better than that. She gave herself a mental smile at the thought. She hated to lie but she had to keep him from becoming involved in this situation. Besides Penny had made it a point to show up almost every time she and Fillmore found time to be alone.
"Alright Ingrid, I'll trust you on this one, but just don't do anything that will get too big for you to handle." Fillmore said.
Arial noticed the tension between the two as the conservation took place. In all the time she had seen them interact with each other, Arial had never seen Ingrid so reluctant to see or speak to Fillmore. Ingrid had always been very careful with who she opened up to and Arial had been amazed when her sister had first introduced her to Fillmore. The boy had been able to make Ingrid smile and laugh like they had been together from the day they were both born, but Ingrid's reluctance over the past week had caught Arial's attention. Her curiosity had been even more peaked when she noticed the sigh her sister released when Fillmore let the subject be dropped.
"Ok Ingrid I'll see tomorrow. Late."
"Fillmore let me walk you out." Arial said after seeing Ingrid give him a kiss on the cheek.
The walk to the front door was uneventful until Arial noticed the determined look on Fillmore's face.
"You don't believe a word of what she told you." It was a statement not a question.
"No but I'm giving Ingrid the benefit of a doubt. Besides I got every thing under control right now." Fillmore said.
"So I take it you've been watching Ingrid too. But how are you going to know if she's in too deep?"
"I'll know well before she gets in too deep." Fillmore said firmly.
Arial only nodded her head and opened the door to let Fillmore out. She also noticed the now familiar form of Penny Madrid approaching the front lawn. Penny and Arial had a kind of unspoken agreement to stay out of each other's way, except for when it came to Ingrid. But that fact was kept by each of them for different reasons. Arial noticed the sudden change in Fillmore and Penny's demeanor, Fillmore seemed to tense up while Penny developed a small smirk.
"Hello Fillmore."
"Penny."
Penny's smirk fell but returned just as quickly when she saw Arial smile. She continued to make her way to the door, making sure to pass as closely to Fillmore as she could, while giving her a small glare. Arial noticed the glare and made no show of concealing the glare that she gave Penny in return.
"Arial I'm here to see Ingrid." Penny told the older girl rather than asked.
Arial simply gave the girl a quick nod and let her pass. Fillmore noticed the glare the girls gave each other but decided not to comment. He started to make his way out of the Third Family lawn but stopped briefly to glance at the second story window. He had turned to find Ingrid looking at him as he left and he was able to briefly show her his walkie and then turn and continued on his way home.
Ingrid's Room
Ingrid caught the motion that Fillmore made with his walkie before he left but was not able to dwell on the matter because Penny decided to make her appearance the next moment. Ingrid felt her stomach twisted at the satisfied smirk Penny had on her face. Ingrid knew it was no secret that Penny still harbored feelings for Fillmore, but Penny had made it her business to make sure that Ingrid had no time to consider being alone with Fillmore. Ingrid just hoped that what ever Sting Ray had planned for her was over soon, that way she wouldn't have any qualms about introducing Penny's face to her Doc Martens.
"Hello Ingrid." Penny said in a silkily sweet voice.
"Penny" came the flat reply.
"Is the plan ready, Third." Penny said dropping all pretenses in her voice.
"Yeah it' s so simple that even you can't screw it up."
Ingrid turned to her work desk and released a small smirk when she heard the other girl growl under her breathe. She took a quick glance at her desk and her eyes fell on to her walkie, her photographic memory began to go over the most recent events that involved the use of her walkie and her eyes went wide. Ingrid gave the walkie one more quick glance and saw the clear tape sitting firmly around the talk switch. 'Fillmore you're a genius.' Ingrid moved from the desk and laid out the plans she had made for the job making sure to return and lean casually against her desk.
"Okay here how this works Madrid. You and Sonny are going to get jobs working for the Consulate and we're going to take over his operation from the inside. We already know that The Consulate is counterfeiting baseball cards so it's your job to get him to let you in on his ring. You two will steal whatever player card Sting Ray wants and he'll use them as a bargaining chip against the Consulate. Got it?"
"Not bad Third but one question. What are doing during all of this?"
"I'll be making sure that you two don't mess this up. So I'll be behind the scenes making sure that no one from the Safety Patrol or the Consulate catches on before you have what we need to take over." Ingrid answered as if she were speaking to a child.
"Ok when do we start and how long will it take until we can move to another operation?"
"Tomorrow and as long as it takes to do it right. I don't plan on working with you or Sonny much longer. "
Fillmore's Room
Fillmore nodded when he heard Ingrid's plan it would work out perfectly if nothing threw off the timetable. But that wasn't the problem at hand Ingrid was in to something deep and she couldn't involve him. Besides that Penny and Sonny were involved with String Ray. Fillmore had heard a lot about this guy from X's resident snitch Augie. Yeah every crook at X heard about Sting Ray and how he was the Godfather of Crime at that Middle school. Apparently Sting Ray had been the guy that organized a lot of X's gambling rings and other such crimes, the biggest he had pulled was the Randal Julian breakout. The thing was that no one had ever seen his face.
Fillmore knew that he would have to continue to keep tabs on all of Ingrid's plans, Penny and Sonny were bad enough but Sting Ray made thing a little more difficult for him. Fillmore decided he would let things continue as they were and he would step in when he saw fit and one way or another get Ingrid out of this mess. Fillmore waited until he heard Ingrid turn off her Walkie to prevent any feedback that might give away his spying on the two girls conversation. Fillmore smirked when he heard Ingrid say a soft thanks before turning the walkie off.
Monday the next Week
Everything was not going according to plan. That was the only thing that was constantly running through Ingrid's head. Somehow the Safety Patrol was able to get the drop on them and the counterfeit operation right before the last exchange in the player's cards. What was the biggest surprise was that Vallejo had violated the Consulate's rights to immunity and threatened to go as far as getting Folsom involved in the whole event. How did they know was an even bigger question. Fillmore seemed like the most plausible answer but Ingrid had made sure that her walkie was never on after that night a week ago mainly because Penny had found it on one of her frequent visits.
"HALT, X Safety Patrol!!!" Tehama yelled. "I'm really getting tired of chasing after these guys."
Tehama had been at the sting operation. Vallejo had received an anonymous tip about a possible counterfeit operation run through the Canadian Consulate. On a regular assignment Vallejo would have ignored the tip besides he really couldn't touch the Consulate because of their immunity, but when the tip mentioned that Sting Ray had his people on the inside waiting to take over the operation he threw the rule book out the window and set up the sting. Now the only thing they had to do was catch at least one of Sting Ray's crew. That was what led to Tehama's current situation, her pursuit of Ingrid Third. That had caught many of the Safety Patrollers off guard when the sting took place, Ingrid was an unknown variable in the situation, and even worst was the nagging feeling that Fillmore was going to show up and make them all look like idiots again.
Tehama's train of thought was broken as she dove to avoid a library cart that Ingrid had pushed down the hall. Tehama threw her body to the right side of the hallway and used her forward momentum to roll back to feet just in time to see Ingrid disappear around the far right hand corner. Tehama ran the remaining distance and saw the hallway empty. The only places she that Third could have gone were the astronomy club or the AV room. Tehama checked the Astronomy Club first and found no sign of Third so the AV room was the only place she could have possibly gone. Tehama smirked knowing that she had Ingrid cornered; reaching for the doorknob Tehama found to her surprise that the door was securely locked. Impossible, Tehama thought there was nowhere else for Ingrid to run and the Astronomy Club was clean.
"O'Farrell to Tehama. Vallejo wants to know if you have Third in custody?"
"This is Tehama. No Third has evaded capture. I lost her around the AV room."
"Okay Karen, Vallejo wants us back at HQ. O'Farrell out."
"Copy that." Tehama said staring at the door for a moment long before turning toward HQ.
AV ROOM
Ingrid was struggling to keep her composure after her near capture by Tehama; this wasn't the usual situation that she was used to. For Ingrid the chase was one of the most enjoyable parts of pulling a job, but this time the excitement was replaced with raw fear mainly because if she were caught she knew Fillmore wasn't going to be the one to get her out of it. That was the same thought that ran through her head when she turned down the hallway. Her first instinct was to run and hide out in the Astronomy Club room but realized that they members were more likely to give her up. The other choice was out for obvious reasons; every student at X knew the AV was closed because of an illegal video feed being played during one of X's many school programs. So Ingrid was very surprised when the door open when she ran passed and she was grabbed into the room. Her first instinct was to scream when she felt her body pressed firmly into someone else form, but that option was taken from her when her captor/rescuer place their hand over her mouth. The room was filled with silence until they heard Tehama speak to O'Farrell and return to Safety Patrol Head Quarters.
When they felt Tehama had left the immediate area the figure that held Ingrid released her and stepped away. Ingrid released the breath that she hadn't known she was holding and shielded her eyes when the room was suddenly washed with light. She squinted her eyes when she heard the figure begin to laugh at her.
"You are a sight Ingrid."
Ingrid eyes went wide when she heard his voice. She smiled and buried herself in his embrace. He came for her and was watching for his opportunity to show himself.
"Fillmore, how did you know?" she asked before returning to his embrace.
"I've been keeping an eye on you since I couldn't listen in on your conversations with Penny, and when that didn't work I found Augie and got what I needed."
"Fillmore this whole thing was a big mistake, the Safety Patrol was all over us when the drop was suppose to go down, and you can be involved after this at least not to help me."
"Why not Ingrid? Is it because of Sting Ray?" Fillmore said.
Ingrid's eyes went wide then she smiled. She had almost forgotten that Fillmore had heard about the involvement with Sting Ray, but she couldn't tell him much more than what he already knew.
"Fillmore I can't tell you much more than what you know already, but just know that they have something on both of us and I'm doing this for you."
Fillmore nodded his head but Ingrid could tell that he was not satisfied with her answer. Ingrid eyes pleaded with him not to push her and he didn't. Fillmore knew that one of the things Ingrid prided herself on was her independence. Ingrid embraced Fillmore once more and kissed him before leaving the AV room to meet up with Penny and the others at the fallback point.
Fillmore watched her go and shook his head because he knew that he was going to have to become even more involved than he wanted. He checked his pocket watch and began making his way to the last place he wanted to go and ask for help.
Science Lab
As soon as she had entered the room Ingrid found her face viciously slapped by an enraged Penny Madrid. The other girl was seething because of how badly their job had gone. One minute they were in firm control, ready to double-cross the Consulate, then the next they were surrounded by orange belts. Penny had not been pleased with the situation she had been cornered twice by the Safety Patrol and had got away by the skin of her teeth. Sonny had escaped no worst for ware but in his own way, mainly the use of his high-powered slingshot to take out the lights and causing the Safety Patrollers to take the defensive while everyone ran for cover. He currently was seated at the teacher's desk smirking at the enraged girls.
Ingrid slowly turned to face Penny, ignoring the stinging coming from her left cheek. Ingrid was trying very hard to control the urge she had to teacher the other girl a severe lesson about pissing her off. Penny for her part didn't show any signs of backing down, until the speaker box above the door interrupted them all.
" Calm down ladies." Sting Ray said. "What went wrong?"
Penny and Sonny both kept their mouths shut and looked at Ingrid, who did not seem to care either way who answered the question.
"Ms. Third, I suggest that you provide an answer before your partner and yourself have some rather incriminating evidence released." The speaker box said as a warning.
"The Safety Patrol pulled a sting jut as the deal was going down." Ingrid said flatly.
"How did they find out about the operation?" Sting Ray asked calmly, but with a slight air of boredom in his voice.
"I don't know."
"I do Third must have ratted us out to those belts!" Penny sneered.
"Screw you Madrid! If I was going to do that then why would I have run from the Safety Patrol?" Ingrid hissed.
"It does not matter who told the Safety Patrol our plans all that matters is the reaction time for them to perform the sting." Sting Ray's disembodied voice said interrupting the girls' outburst once again. "Third, how long did the three of you work with the Consul?"
"Two weeks without any problems."
"Good then everything has gone according to my plans. I'll contact you again when I have your next assignment."
The Science Lab was left silent after Sting Ray spoke leaving each of the three criminals to there own thoughts. Sonny was the first to break the silence by simply leaving the room to handle any other business that he had. Penny and Ingrid were left to pick up where they had left off, and Penny was more than ready. Ingrid on the other hand was pre occupied by what Sting Ray had said before ending their meeting. 'Everything has gone according to my plans.' What could he have meant by that? The only thing could thing of was they had been setup, but who would do that to them. She knew it could not have been Fillmore because he hadn't been able to hear any of their plans since he had visited two week ago. Ingrid was brought from her musing when she noticed Penny making her way to the room's door. Ingrid moved to grab the girl's arm and began to apply pressure to the grip she had on Penny's forearm.
"Hey Madrid. I'll only say this once, when this is all over you and me are going to settle up. So I suggest that if you EVER want to get to that point, you don't touch me ever again."
With that Ingrid pushed Penny from the doorway and proceed to leave.
"Count on it Third. Count on it."
Safety Patrol HQ
"Good work today people, we stopped a big time counterfeiting ring and are one step closer to finding Sting Ray and his crew. So don't let up." Vallejo praised his officers on there most recent success. It had been real close and they had violated every rule in the book to do this job, but it had played off.
"I still don't get why Third was there Chief?" O'Farrell said voicing everyone unspoken worry.
Vallejo was wondering that too. He had not expected to see Third at the sting but, there she was standing next to Fillmore's old running buddies no less. That had Vallejo worried if nothing else. Fillmore had thankfully not been present but they all knew he had to be somewhere close to keep an eye on Ingrid.
"I don't know Danny but it doesn't matter either way we stopped them so we can breathe easy for a little while."
They all nodded as Vallejo left to his office. Vallejo was in a good mood that is until he walked the office door.
"WHAT THE HELL?!?!" Vallejo yelled at the presence of Fillmore being in his office once again and sneaking in while the whole force was present.
"Chill Vallejo. I'm just here to talk about your problems with Sting Ray."
Vallejo was already at the point that he wanted to throw Fillmore out of his office smirk and all until he heard Sting Ray's name.
"What could you possibly have on Sting Ray that we don't Fillmore and get your feet off my desk." Vallejo said while moving into his seat.
"I heard that you guys pulled a big time sting earlier today. I also heard that what ever was going down involved some major players pulling some major weight. Am I right?"
"Yeah, Penny Madrid, Sonny Lombard, and to my surprise your girl Ingrid Third. You want to tell me why Ingrid's working with them while you're not Fillmore? Especially since the four you have history."
"First off, Sting Ray has something on Ingrid that he's blackmailing her with, as for Penny and Sonny let's just say we parted ways for good." Fillmore said.
"What does that have to do with me? Your girl's mixed up with them so my hands are tied with this."
"Come off it Vallejo. You know me and Ingrid never pull anything that big!!"
"Know but you two have been a thorn in my side since you hooked up. Give me one reason why I should do anything to help you or Ingrid." Vallejo said calmly while giving Fillmore a pointed glare.
"I can get you Sting Ray."
Vallejo eyes went wide when he heard this. Fillmore couldn't be saying what he thought he was. It wasn't possible no had seen the guys face, so how could Fillmore get him?
"What?" Vallejo said quietly.
"I can get you Sting Ray but on two conditions." Fillmore said.
"And what might those be?" Vallejo replied.
"1: The Safety Patrol drops everything they have Ingrid."
"Fine what else?"
"You let us walk when this is all over." Fillmore said seriously.
"I'll have run this by Folsom because you want a get out jail free pass for something that we could do on our own. Besides why are you doing this your not involved?"
"Dawg, Vallejo you me and Ingrid are tight, and you guys will never get Sting Ray on your own and what about Randal the Vandal, Madrid, and Sonny. You going to bring them down too?" Fillmore shot back.
"Fine, follow me." Vallejo said.
Principal Folsom's Office
Principal Folsom always considered herself a sensible person when it came to new ideas at X Middle School, especially when it came to the criminal element at the school, but what she was hearing at this very moment was the most astounding thing she had ever heard.
"Commissioner Vallejo and Cornelius Fillmore; let me see if I understand what the two of you are trying to tell me."
Vallejo and Fillmore both nodded in response.
"Fillmore you believe that you can help the Safety Patrol capture Sting Ray?"
Another nod.
"But in return you want your partner Ingrid Third to be released of any and all crimes that she willingly participated in?"
Another nod.
"And Vallejo, you believe that I should allowed this plan to proceed and then allow two of X Middle School's most notorious criminal go without any consequences?"
Vallejo swallowed the lump that had developed in his thought as Folsom continued her inquisition. This was not going to end pretty.
"You must be joking." She said sweetly.
"Principal Folsom, I'm just trying to use every option available to me. You said that you wanted Sting Ray caught as soon as possible; this is our best chance to do that." Vallejo tried to explain.
"SILENCE!!! I understand your need to capture Sting Ray but not at the cost of letting two of X's worst run free after participating in this matter." Folsom yelled.
"Fine Folsom you want it that way, then I'll just leave but good luck getting Sting Ray and his crew. And I'll get Ingrid out with or without your help." Fillmore stated and left the room with Folsom and Vallejo in a state of shocked amazement.
Vallejo didn't get how the situation ended up like this. He thought Fillmore would have fought harder about this, mainly for Ingrid's sake, but to see him just get up and walk away was strange to Vallejo. Principal Folsom just stared at Fillmore's retreating back, contemplating what do about the situation, but more on Fillmore's implied threat.
"Vallejo I'll allow you to do this ill advised plan, but the Safety Patrol will be held completely responsible for any thing that Fillmore or Sting Ray does. Do I make myself clear."
More to come soon.