Rafe looked over at Jason in amusement. They had decided to go in street clothes, just in case they actually ran into Brighton and Delock. He hadn't expected Jason to look quite so threatening.
"What?" Jason grinned at Rafe, but he had an idea of what Rafe was thinking. He cleaned up as well as any body and in a suit, he looked like a choir boy. "I used to be in a gang. Got into all kinds of trouble, then one day I got arrested. My uncle bailed me out and kicked my ass. I cleaned up my act for him. But I can slip into the threads, no problem."
"Ah." Well, that made as much sense as anything, Rafe thought.
"You, on the other hand, would scare me if I met you in a dark alley." Jason gave Rafe the once over. He was in a t-shirt, sleeveless only because the sleeves had been ripped off. There were scars on his arms, and Jason wasn't sure he wanted to know how Rafe got the scars. And ripped jeans that had definitely seen better days.
Rafe grinned, "Well, they'll need muscle if they're planning anything. Couldn't hurt to infiltrate them."
"And we definitely look like muscle material right now." Jason's tone was dry.
They got out of Jason's beat up truck to stroll around the block. Rafe fell into step with Jason, as they cruised the streets.
-----
"You sent Rafe out with Jason to look for Brighton?" Colby exhaled slowly, while David looked puzzled. "Wasn't there anyone else available?"
"Rafe volunteered. The protection detail is off duty, and I didn't want to send the women, given Brighton's history. What's wrong with sending Rafe?"
Colby shook his head, "Nothing, I hope."
"Here they are now," Megan said softly. "Oh, boy!"
"Yeah, so I see," Colby hurried over to the bullpen.
Jason looked up in relief when Colby, David, and Megan strode into the bullpen area.
"How did it go?" David asked, looking anxiously at Rafe's rigid back.
Jason glanced over at Rafe. When it didn't look like Rafe was going to answer, he started to talk, "We found both Brighton and Delock at that address. They mistook us for some people they were waiting for, but we told them we were looking for work. So they've looped us in on a home invasion they're planning in two nights."
"Okay, as soon as you find out where, we'll evacuate them and put a team in there. Have they said anything about Las Vegas? About the Sagesse house?"
Jason shook his head, "No, it's too soon. We had to be cool and not ask too many questions. We were just off the street for starters. Wouldn't have done to appear too curious. They were really happy to get some muscle."
"They had a woman there. Brighton's girlfriend or something," Rafe's voice was cold and hard. "He was slamming her around while we were there."
Rafe turned to face them and David found himself taking a few steps back. Rafe's eyes were flat and hard, murderous, almost. His entire body was taut as a tightly wound spring, and he looked ready to explode.
"Easy, Rafe," Colby's voice was calm. "We'll get him. Just be patient. Breathe."
His eyes locked desperately onto Colby's, "He had ordered her to clean the area we were in. Ordered. And she meekly obeyed. But some dust swirled up. A draft from the window or something. And he lost it. Started screaming at her. At how worthless she was, couldn't even clean. Then he started hitting her. And she just took it. Sobbing. But just took it." He was breathing in harsh gulps now. "And I couldn't stop him."
"Just breathe, son." Colby soothed. He moved closer and put a hand on Rafe's shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jason wince. Colby braced himself, but Rafe didn't react. Then Colby saw a single tear roll down Rafe's cheek. He sighed. "It's going to be alright. We'll get them. Why don't you change clothes. Come see me in my office." Rafe nodded.
As he left, Jason let out a sigh, "It was tough on him, man. But gotta tell ya, he's probably why we got the gig, because he was all wound up like that." He looked at Colby, "Is he going to be alright?"
Colby nodded, "I'll take care of it." He looked at Megan and David, "You going to brief Don and get Pierre up to date? Plan for the home invasion?"
"Do you need any help with Rafe?" Megan asked sympathetically.
"It'll be fine," Colby hesitated, "I can't tell you more."
"No, I think I understand," Megan smiled, "I saw the recommendation."
"Yeah, just take care of him. He's been a good agent, I don't want to lose him," David said quietly.
"I will."
-----
"Am I in trouble?" Rafe asked warily as he stepped into Colby's office.
"No," Colby was amused, "Just thought you'd prefer a quiet place to regroup."
"Thanks," Rafe sighed, "I'm sorry I lost it."
"I don't think you did. I just want to make sure you're okay to go back."
"I'm fine now. I'll be better prepared for next time. The bastard's going to rot in prison and I'm going to put him there." Rafe said softly, menace in every syllable.
"That's well and good. But remember we need evidence that puts them at the Sagesse house. Preferably a murder weapon, to tie them to Jeanine Sagesse's death."
"I won't forget. For Pierre." Rafe was quiet.
"Stay as long as you need, Rafe, I just need to finish some things up," Colby turned back to his own work.
"Thank you. For everything."
Colby looked at Rafe and smiled.
-----
"Brighton kept the baseball bat that he used on Jeanine Sagesse," David was reporting to Don after the team foiled Brighton and Delock's home invasion attempt. "As a trophy. After all these years, it's hard for me to believe how stupid some of these guys are. I'm sure the crime lab will find his epithelials on the handle. And I'm sure they won't have any problem matching blood and matter to Jeanine Sagesse. He's going away for a long time for that one."
"And testimony on Delock from his Vegas team will put him away for a long time too," Megan continued, "Not to mention testimony from Jason and Rafe."
"What about Brighton's woman?" Don asked quietly.
"She won't leave him," Rafe said bitterly. "She'll just keep visiting him in prison. I'll never understand it."
Colby gripped his shoulder in sympathy.
"Thanks, Rafe," Pierre's quiet voice carried in from the doorway. "I know it must have been difficult. If I could have taken your place, I would."
The beginnings of a smile eased the bitterness from Rafe's face, "You're welcome, Pierre. I was glad to help."
-----
"And we're no closer to finding out who sent the death threats," Don said grimly.
"That's actually not true," Megan said, triumphantly. "It's a diversion. How much do you remember about John Taylor?"
"Just what's in the file, Megan, what are you getting at?" Don was getting impatient.
"It's also a pseudonym. John Taylor, also known as John Terrance. He's an assassin for hire, with a contract in LA. One of Jonathan's snitches tracked the contract down. A petty diplomat here to make a speech. His lover's husband took the contract out on him. John Taylor just wanted to distract you from it."
"If they asked us to provide protection, we would have done so, regardless of whether or not there was a death threat to me," Don was indignant.
"But they wouldn't have asked for protection. He just didn't want you to attend the speech. You would have gone, because it's your alma mater, and you would have been at the VIP table with the speaker."
Don groaned and covered his face with his hands. "All those hours, all that manpower, wasted." He looked up, "When's the speech? Let's get the guy!"
Colby nodded, "The team's in place. It'll be over tonight."