Author's note: Sorry for the delay, I hope you can remember what's happening! I'm very close to the end now and keep thinking I'm about to post my final chapter, but the characters don't seem to want to let this one go! My chapters have turned out a little longer than expected, so I've had to chop them – hence the continuing story, but we are nearly there now! I've taken the kind advice about how to do chapter dividers, so hopefully it'll work this time – many apologies if it doesn't. Thanks for reading XX
Cainen swallowed hard. They were in trouble and he knew it. For all three of them to get out alive, he had to hope that Sloan and Wagnor would trust him. That was a lot to hope for. From the table Julio eyed him questioningly. He didn't speak, but Cainen knew that he was looking for a sign from Sol. Cainen angled his face slightly away from the two agents and gave Julio a ghost of a wink, hoping to reassure the older man that the situation was in hand. Julio raised an eyebrow, but he held off, momentarily at least.
Straightening his tie, Cainen forced the cocky smile back on to his face and turned towards Steve and Ron.
'Well, well Detective Sloan' he said, smiling easily, charm personified 'And Agent Wagnor – long time no see. Ya know I'm glad you're here, cause I've been wanting to ask you if you've caught the guy that trashed my place'. He leant easily against the table and winked 'So how ya doing with that?'
'You know Cainen, right about now I'm more interested in what you're doing here' Steve said dryly
Cainen took out his habitual pack of gum and popped a stick into his mouth, chewing lazily 'So no leads huh?' He shook his head and let out a sigh 'I know they don't make cops like they used to' he drawled 'but I thought you'd at least have a lead by now'.
'Actually we're following up a lead right now' Steve said. His voice was level, but his eyes glinted dangerously 'and I'm real interested to hear what Sol Elzeni has to say about your recent visit'. He stood up, attempting to push past Cainen 'so if you'll let us get on with our jobs ..' he started, but Cainen stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
The two men eyed each other, neither willing to back down.
'I'm not finished talking to you yet' Cainen said quietly, his eyes hard.
Ron stood up and positioned himself next to Steve, his arms folded 'Well that's just too bad Cainen' he said, 'cause we've finished talking to you'.
Weighing up his options, Cainen smiled, trying to change the dynamics 'Well that's not real friendly' he said casually 'and here I thought the police were here to serve good citizens like me.'
His voice was surprisingly steady, but inside his heart was beating fast. If these two didn't co-operate and soon, he was gonna have to do something drastic.
'You know I pay my taxes like everyone else' he said treating them to his trademark smirk 'and yet when you need your tax dollars to work for you, it seems like it's too much to ask'. He folded his arms 'Ya know before we fall out here, I think I should take this up with your Chief, now what's his name?' he paused, trying to give Steve a meaningful look.
'Masters' Steve supplied gruffly.
'That's it, Chief Masters' Cainen said, continuing to chew lazily. 'Ya know I'm sure the Chief would love to hear about how you treat the general public – I know how concerned he gets about police-public relations'.
He'd thrown in the Chief Masters reference in the desperate hope that Steve would get the message that they were in trouble. One look at the big cop's face told him that his ploy hadn't worked. Heart beating fast, he fingered the gun hidden inside the pocket of his waistcoat. His stomach clenched. It was time for plan B.
Outside in Ross Cainen's car Tanis was caught in a state of agonised frustration. It had been 30 minutes since Steve and Ron had entered the Paradiso club and a whole hour since Cainen had gone in. What the hell was going on in there? She nervously fingered her .45 automatic – should she go in? Cainen had made her promise to stay in the car, but at that point they hadn't known Steve and Ron were gonna turn up. She bit her lip, trying to assess the intricate psychological dynamics of the key players in the room.
One definite was that Sol Elzeni didn't trust cops. Another was that the guy was grieving for his granddaughter. He'd be emotional, looking for someone to blame for his loss – why not the police? Then there was Cainen. Cainen had, had as little sleep as she, meaning he must be exhausted. She'd caught herself putting her cereal box in the refrigerator this morning and she'd taken the wrong turning off the freeway, both mistakes were due to sheer tiredness. Cereal and freeways were child's play, Cainen was trying to maintain his cover whilst getting information out of a dangerous mobster. As it was, he could easily slip up; he didn't need any additional distractions from Steve and Ron.
But that wasn't what she was worried about, not really. What she was really worried about was what he would do if his cover was compromised. His cover was his life and he'd do anything to protect it. He'd told her that once, in a dark deserted corridor back at the station. He'd meant it.
Put those two dynamics together, and Steve and Ron going in there with no back up was like walking straight into the lion's den. She bit her lip, Steve must be pretty desperate right about now to take that kinda risk. She paused, leaning back in the seat, trying to remember how he'd seemed the last time they'd spoken, was shocked when she realised that she hadn't seen him since that night at the hospital. Had it really been so long?
She thought back to their last conversation. That night he'd been hurt, tired, and out of his mind with worry about Jesse Travis. He'd asked her to stay, but she'd refused. He'd needed her and she'd turned her back on him. The guilt she felt was palpable, bringing a hot flush to her a face. She'd put the task force first again. No wonder Steve hated her involvement in it, hated Ross Cainen.
A shot of fear ran jolted her upright 'He thinks Cainen is the killer' she said out loud, although there was no one to hear her. And then she knew that she had to go in there.
If she didn't, the two men just might have to shoot each other.
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'Get out of my way Cainen' Steve said, his voice dangerously low 'We don't have time to deal with you right now. We're here to see Sol Elzeni. You're gonna have to wait.'
Over Steve's shoulder, Cainen exchanged a glance with Julio Elzeni. The older man was still seated at the table, and this time Cainen noticed the empty espresso cups next to the hand of cards in front of him. As their eyes met, the old man shook his head and then drew his finger across his throat in a sharp cutting motion. The instructions were clear. Get rid of the cops.
'Ya know I think you're gonna regret that decision Detective' Cainen said, loosening his tie with one hand, the other still fingering the trigger of his gun.
'Really' Steve said, folding his arms and looking at Cainen with distaste 'And why's that?'
Cainen shrugged 'Cause maybe I got some info for you'.
Steve smirked 'Yeah and maybe Sol's got some info for us that you don't want us to hear. What were you doing in there Cainen, threatening him? Trying to buy his silence?'
Behind them Julio had gotten to his feet, his hand reaching inside his jacket. His eyes were on Cainen and they were cold. Cainen swallowed hard, this wasn't going to work out how he'd hoped at all.
'What's the matter Cainen?' Steve taunted, 'Cat got your tongue?'
Behind them Julio had his gun out. For an old man, his hand was surprisingly steady. Cainen took a deep breath
'I told you, you were gonna regret it' he said wryly. In one swift action his own gun was out.
The first sound Tanis heard as she entered the room was a gun shot.
TO BE CONTINUED …….