First Person POV (Kaira)
Something I was starting to learn about Portland was that they take their hockey very seriously. So, when a pre-teen boy contacted us about getting some help, of course, Eliot, Nate, and I agreed to meet him.
It was still morning when we met. We got a table set up, and Nate and I had coffee, Eliot orange juice. I offered the boy juice, but he didn't want any. He got out a laptop and started telling us his story. We were all sitting at a table in the restaurant area. I learned the boy's name was Danny. The footage on the laptop was the boy's father, Craig Marko, a hockey player, playing hockey.
"This is pretty much every game." Danny explained.
Craig got into a fight with another player, getting pounded in the face. I knew that wasn't healthy.
"Does he ever win?" Nate asked.
"Yeah, he always wins." Danny said.
In the video, Craig had a nice upercut.
"This is my dad's strategy - he's a punching bag who punches back." Danny explained.
Craig won the fight in the video.
"Which makes the other guy focus on his hits and forget about his balance." Eliot observed the fighting.
"Yeah, like Terry O'Reilly." Nate added.
I just roll my eyes. I've never been a huge fan of hockey, I just like the company watching it.
"He actually used to be pretty good. In the Juniors, they said he skated like Guy Lafleur. Then they saw his right hook." Danny explained.
I saw in the video, the ref breaking up the pile and the crowd went wild. Craig loved it.
"Tell the crowd loves him." I commented.
"You should see him after the game. He comes home all kinds of messed up. He gets confused. He says things that doesn't make sense." Danny said.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that this is the beginning of Concussion Syndrome.
"Like what things?" Nate asked Danny.
"Like the other night, after the game, he looked around the car, and he asked me where my mom was." Danny said.
"Where was she?" Eliot asked.
"Uh, it was a car accident. Three years ago." Danny said.
"I'm sorry, kid." I felt bad.
"I've looked online, and all the medical sites say the same thing about my dad's symptom. It's called Concussion Syndrome. It can lead to brain damage and even death." Danny said.
"What about his own doctors? He's got to be cleared to play." Nate said.
"That's kind of the problem. He has to get evaluated by the doctors all season. He's got stacks of these papers." Danny said, showing us the papers.
Nate grabbed the papers and looked at it.
"We have conducted a complete medical… Okay, so, it doesn't say anything about any serious head trauma. Just basic cuts, bruises, things like that. Who is this Dr. Matsuda - team doctor?" Nate read off the paper.
I know something's not right here.
"Yes. I know it says he had MRIs and the doctor said he was fine, but I see my dad off the rink. And he is not fine, Mr. Ford and Mrs. Spencer." Danny said.
"There's two games left in the season." Eliot pointed out.
"So, after the season, why don't you just bring him to a specialist and get another opinion? I mean, somebody who would-" Nate tried asking.
"It's not gonna work. I've tried that a hundred times. He won't do it. My dad thinks he's indestructible. He needs help. You help people who are being hurt, right?" Danny told us, getting desperate.
Nate and I nodded our heads, showing we did in fact do just that.
"I need you to save my dad from himself." Danny told us.
We agreed to the job.
I can't help but think about Eliot. I mean, I've seen him put his body through so much in the name of protecting people, and I have too. But with Eliot, it's like this need. Maybe it's because he feels it's the only way he thinks he can help people. Maybe it's because he's good at it.
After almost 3 years of marriage, and 8 years of working together, the one thing I learned about Eliot is that he likes to be of service. He needs to be of service. Whether it's cooking meals so you eat, getting you a snack when you're on hour 5 of trying to create fake ID's, taking out the trash while you're on a grocery run, or putting his body in harm's way to save someone.
Funny thing is, when Eliot and I started working together, he'd almost never allow me to do anything. And it used to piss me off so much! Because I know, and I know he knows, I can take care of myself. After a while, I learned it was Eliot's way of showing love. And I always tried repaying it, but it was hard.
Because Eliot's always given every ounce of himself, and he never asks for anything in return. After a while, I learned to accept Eliot's way of showing love and learned to teach him to receive love. So, I be of service. I put eucalyptus oil on Eliot's shoulders when he gets into a fight to heal him. I clean the blood out of Eliot's clothes. I do half of the chores. I give him feedback when he's making me try food for the brewpub menu.
I always touch his hand when I can, as a way of me letting him know I was there. And I hold him when a nightmare wakes us both up and help him to feel safe enough to sleep again. And it works. Partially because both of us are too stubborn to admit otherwise. That's my Cowboy for you.
Third Person POV
In the office, Hardison and Parker were arguing about a super-powerful magnet Hardison bought. And Hardison showed it off, accidentally grabbing Nate's watch. Nate and Sophie came down the steps, so Hardison used a hat to hide the magnet and watch. They all met at the briefing table, where Hardison got into his briefing.
"Okay, the Oregon Otters. They're a minor league hockey team currently in their fifth game of a seven-game playoff series. Uh…" Hardison pulled up some photos.
"There goes our man Craig Marko. That's Danny's pop. He plates wing for the Otters. But more importantly, he's an enforcer." Hardison explained.
"Goon." Sophie said.
"Like a bodyguard?" Parker questioned.
Sophie said no as Nate said yes. Sophie gave Nate a look.
"Well, yeah. I mean, the enforcers exist to protect the elite players. LIke your Gretzkys, your Crosbys, and everything. They intimidate. They keep order. Without the enforcers, what would you have?" Nate questioned.
Sophie scoffed.
Nate pointed out that this was why they exist. He also pointed out about how the fear of fighting one of the enforcers keeps everything cool. Parker pointed out it was Schelling's Theory of Rational Deterrence. The other just looked at Parker. Parker pointed out it was the Cold War. Nate pointed out it was terrifyingly, exactly right. Sophie was convinced the goons were nothing more than for a twisted ritualistic battle that grinds the actual hockey to a halt so two thugs could slug it out. Nate argued that if you didn't have the enforcers, superstars wouldn't exist, so the opposing team goes after the sniper.
Hardison brought them all back in line. He introduced the team owner, Pete Rising. He did a small stint in the NHL, bounced around a couple of Russian leagues for a bit, then inherited a ton of money, buys the Oregon Otters, and tripled the team's revenue by turning the enforcer fights into a circus attraction by marketing the fights in a culture where going to an Otter game was guaranteed to have a fight.
Hardison then showed a dot graph of the number of fights Craig Marko was in. There were two colors: red, for the fights other players initiated, and there weren't as man. Green: fights Craig initiated. There was a pattern, as the red were in clusters, as Hardison pointed out. Sophie pointed out there were fights in every period, even power plays.
Nate questioned how she knew that, but Sophie kept rambling. Nate asked who she was, and Sophie pointed out that girls can in fact watch hockey. Nate asked what she stole, which Sophie said was just something hockey-related. A trophy. Nate didn't believe that she stole the Stanley Cup, saying she saw it in Boston last year. Sophie said it was a fake, Nate didn't buy it wasn't. Sophie said it wasn't a good fake, as she had a bad engraver. Nate then asked where the real one was, which Sophie said she didn't remember.
Hardison brought them back in line. Nate told the team that Danny thinks that the real medical files are being hidden somewhere and that they needed to get them, and that Marko doesn't fight. Parker asked how they were gonna keep Marko from fighting, and Nate said that's what they have Eliot for. Then Nate realized his watch was missing.
Parker went undercover at the clinic and gave the doc some knock-out gum and got the files. She downloaded them and left.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Part of the reason I wasn't at the briefing was that I knew Eliot was going to have to go undercover on the team. I mean, it was the only way to make sure Marko didn't fight. I didn't need to be at the briefing to figure that out. It's not that Eliot can't take the punishment. It's what he does. I guess it was the idea that Eliot was going to be on ice, and put his body at risk. Again. And I'm not gonna lie, the part I kept thinking about was how much more can Eliot take?
Look, he may have a lot of fight in him, but he's not in his 20s anymore. And there was the idea that I wanted to start a family. And how do you tell a child his father is too hurt to play? How could I tell our child that his father pushed it too far for the last time? And I know that it's unlikely. But I know Eliot. And Eliot would give every ounce of his strength to protect. And how do you tell someone who's too stubborn to listen that they don't always need to give everything they have? And at the moment, I didn't have the answer.
So to distract myself, I went into the briefing room to look at the medical files Parker stole. I was standing at the laptop with Hardison, Sophie in front, looking at the screen. Hardison pulled up Marko's MRI. And, to be honest, I don't really know how to look at what I'm looking at.
"Is this his actual MRI?" Sophie asked.
"Yeah. And you don't want to see his x-ray. Looks like game of pick-up sticks." Hardison said.
He then pulled up the report.
"This says, "indication of swelling on the brain, possible edema."." Sophie read from the report.
She turned.
"Mm-hmm." Hardison hummed.
Hardison pulled up ex-rays of fractures and MRIs.
"Oh my god. Rising's not just letting Marko play. He's hiding how hurt Marko is so he plays. The next time someone hits Marko's head the wrong way, it's gonna kill him. Son of a bitch." I can't help but get upset about this.
My sadness turns to anger quickly, and I can't wait to take Rising down.
Third Person POV
Nate met with Rising on the Otter Area ice, where Rising was doing slapshots. He introduced himself as Jeff Hansen, an agent. Nate said he was a fan. Rising said he hated agents, which Nate replied he did too. Nate then said he has a player, a little out of his contract, and needs exposure, asking if Rising could help. Rising said he couldn't.
Nate questioned that Rising didn't want to hear stats. Rising said he doesn't sign players cause of stats. He said people don't come to watch hockey, they come to see the bloodstains on the ice. Nate asked why he doesn't clear it. Nate then placed a bet, offering $1000 bucks a puck. Rising realized it wasn't hypothetical. Rising mentioned he used to play, and Nate said where Rising played.
Rising accepted the bet, but then Nate changed it to ten pucks, saying if Nate won, he signed his guy. If Rising won, he was gonna get Nate's boat, his house, his jet, his wife. Rising accepted. Thanks to a little electromagnetism from Hardison, Nate won the bet. See, Hardison was able to make hockey pucks with metal, allowing the trajectory to be controlled. Rising asked who Nate's guy was. And well, Hardison created a cover for Eliot.
At the game, Eliot was introduced as coming from his record-setting run with the Northern Caribou League, and his name was Jacques LaBert. Eliot told the team in the lineup his name is pronounced Jack. During the game, Eliot stopped Marko from getting into a fight. Marko then confronted Eliot, telling him to get out of his way. Eliot then got into another fight, gettin guy against the glass. Marko asked if he was trying to take his bonus. Eliot came on comms and asked Nate if he got that.
Nate told Rising that Eliot was going to be a fan favorite. Rising said that maybe he can be next years enforcer. Nate asked Rising about Marko. Rising said hockey's a rough sport, and you never know what might happen. Rising left to go sign autographs.
First Person POV (Kaira)
I know. "Kaira, why aren't you watching your husband playing?" Well, I didn't want to see the fights he'd end up getting in. So, I was with Hardison and Sophie in the concession area.
"Sophie, Hardison, Kaira, I need you to go into Rising's office, check the financials, see what's going on with Marko's bonus." Nate ordered over comms.
"We're on our way now." Hardison reported.
"Now, his office is behind that door. The only other entrance is through the employees-only section." Hardison told us.
"Do you have a plan?" Sophie asked.
"Sort of." Hardison said, smirking.
"Parker, you ready?" Hardison questioned over comms.
I see Parker lift two badges, and we smirk at each other as Sophie and Hardison grabbed them. I managed to lift one from another employee. Hardison turned back as I joined them.
"How does she do that?" Hardison questioned.
We put our badges around our necks and we made our way down to the door. I could hear over Eliot's comm, someone calling him pretty boy. I know that caused Eliot to start fighting. Though, I know he would win.
When we get to the door, Hardison tried the handle, but the door was locked. Sophie and I just looked at Hardison.
"Well, I ain't the thief or the grifter." Hardison said.
I groaned and pulled my bobby pin I hid in my hair.
"Or the jack of trades." I said as I picked the lock.
I unlocked the door and we walked in. Hardison went over to the computer. I watched Hardison, and I see Sophie grab a book. Hardison found the financials.
"Okay. Nate, yep. Yep, it looks like Rising does have a bonus deal for Marko. He's set to get half a mil at the end of the season playing every game. And the kicker is, he has to fight in every one of them, or he gets nothing." Hardison explained.
"What?" I question, not believing this.
"What are you talking about?" Nate asked.
Nate brushed it off with Rising.
"Nate, does this make any sense to you? Or you, Kaira." I walked up to Sophie, looking at the book.
"It's the same dollar amount after every entry. DPAC, 121011. SASS, 121411." Sophie said.
I heard Nate excusing himself over comms.
"Hey, the numbers are dates. Read them again as dates." Nate said.
I realize he's right.
"Son of a bitch, it is. Okay, we have December 10th, December 14th, December 17th, December 21st, December 23rd." I read out loud.
I was slightly confused about how the dates correspond to the letters. After a bit, and Marko threatening Eliot again, Nate came on comms.
"I know what it is. Okay, so the clusters of red dots are when the opposition started the fights with Marko. Rising's put a bounty out on his own player. He's paying other teams to take Marko out so he doesn't have to pay the bonus." Nate said.
"Oh my god. Rising's gonna kill Marko." I get upset as we leave.
I stayed to wait for Eliot as the others left for the brewpub.
Third Person POV
Nate, Sophie, and Hardison all sat at the office table. Nate wondered where the money was. Hardison said the bounties he put on Marko added up to less than 5 grand. Sophie wondered if they were talking about Rising's money, Marko's bonus, or the bounties. Nate said it was all connected, they just had to figure out how. Hardison said to follow the cash. Nate figured they had to find out where RIsing's money went.
Sophie pointed out that they shouldn't find the money, they should let the money find them. Nate caught onto what Sophie was thinking. She wanted to run the same scam she ran for the other hockey job she did with something, the Oligschlager Shuffle.
Nate asked if it was the one with the turtle. Sophie just said it was the Russian one, and she needed her old partner Vlad. Nate said for her to bring him in, and maybe he could say where Lord Stanley is.
First Person POV (Kaira)
The game was over, now. I helped Eliot get in his game day tux, and helped relax him before he left. I mostly just iced his shoulder until he was good to leave. As we were walking out of the locker room, we saw Marko, sitting on a bench, half his gear off, drinking a half-drunk beer, and holding it to his shoulder. It was no secret he was messed up. I stayed back by the doorway as Eliot walked in.
"You know what, Marko? You got one more game left. One more game. Why don't you let me help you? Watch your back, make sure nobody-" Eliot said bluntly.
"My back doesn't need watching. I got a job to do. The fans count on me. Everyone's counting on me." Marko said, kinda pissy.
He just took another swig.
"You know, my wife and I know a little inside scoop on Rising and his doctor. You're not as healthy as you think you are." Eliot said, nodding back to me.
"The doctor will sign it. No one will know." Marko said, a blank stare.
I can't tell if that's from how screwed up Marko is, or if he's drunk, or a combination of the two.
"What the hell are you-" Eliot looked at Marko, then me, then back to Marko.
"You don't have to do this, man. You can walk away." Eliot told Marko.
Marko just glanced at Eliot before going off into that blank stare again.
"I got a job to do." Marko repeated.
Yep, he's definitely screwed up.
"Look at you, man! You can barely move! You barely fought tonight! What are you like when you're throwing hands all nigh-" Eliot got a bit tough on Marko when Danny walked in.
"Dad!" Danny exclaimed.
Marko looked at Danny. I can tell as Danny walked up to Marko that this wasn't his first rodeo having to help his dad. Danny said how Marko wasn't even finished getting dressed again, which confirmed what I thought. I tried telling Danny to make sure Marko keeps his shoulder iced, but Danny all but threw us out. Eliot told Danny his dad played a hell of a game. And we left. We went back to the brewpub, and I helped Eliot recover from the game.
Third Person POV
In the morning, Sophie and Nate got ready for their part of the con, ready to meet Sophie's old partner Vlad. They were in the restaurant. Nate questioned whether Sophie was messing with him. Sophie asked when has she ever lied on a grift. (A/N First David Job, anyone?) Nate asked Sophie to tell him where it was. Conveniently, Vlad walked in.
Nate recognized Vlad as Vladimer Busiak, a hockey player. Sophie said she could've mentioned he played some hockey, which Nate was fanboying, saying he was in the hall of fame. Nate then realized she didn't steal the cup, it was in Vlad's living room three times. Sophie and Nate went to greet Vlad.
Sophie greeted him with a kiss on the lips, and Vlad called Sophie "baby duck", and calling her rosa. Since Nate was fanboying, he wasn't jealous. Vlad then asked Nate if he was causing problems for his Sophie, and he would cause Nate problems. Nate said it was reckless talk from someone with a medial tear that wasn't quite healed and a chronic rotator cuff. After a bit of a staredown from Sophie's boys, Vlad said he liked Nate. Nate and Vlad kinda abandoned Sophie and left, leaving Sophie to carry the duffel bag Vlad brought in.
After getting Vlad filled in on the con, they went to the area, where Eliot was practicing. Nate called Eliot over. They acted like they were having a meeting, baiting Rising. Nate told Vlad that when he's in front of other people to speak Russian, in Russian. Rising went over, also having a fanboy moment. Nate introduced them. Rising knew who Vlad was, and asked what he was doing there. Nate told Vlad in Russian to say he was on vacation. Nate then said they had to get going, and left. Eliot went back to practice. And thanks to a little hacking from Hardison, Rising found out about a world hockey league, setting the hook.
As Nate and Vlad walked and talked a bit about hockey. Rising then came up. Rising told them that he knew about the World Hockey League, asking if they were headed to a meeting. Nate played dumb, but Rising knew better. Rising pointed out that Nate's Russian accent was bad, and Vlad confirmed it. Rising said he wanted in, and Nate said he didn't know anything. Rising proved he did. Nate said it wasn't up to him, and that he'd have to meet with Nadia Olyenkov. He also mentioned that she had $2 billion of her own money in the WHL, and that she was crazy, rich, and knew how to make a deal. Rising wanted Nate to introduce them.
Nate said it wasn't gonna work, and there was only one way she let people in. Rising asked what it was. Nate said Rising was gonna have to make friends with the Zacato. Rising was confused. Nate and Vlad left.
They did the meet a bit later, and Zacato was a turtle. Nate introduced Rising to Sophie, who was playing Nadia. Sophie just said "Nyet" in a Russian accent, and Nate acted like the deal was done. Rising was kinda rude trying to reason with Sophie, but asked for 30 seconds. Sophie agreed. Rising said he owned a minor league team in town that was good enough for the majors. And questioned Sophie as to why. Sophie insulted him, saying Captial investments, politics, or that he had a small brain. Rising said it was because the NHL was too small. He pointed out that he was waiting for something global, and that Sophie needed an American hockey team. He suggested that instead of building from scratch, why not use what was there.
Sophie then asked the turtle, who was in a fishbowl, what he thought. Nate said she was talking to the Zacato, and that there were only three of them in the world. Sophie said she thought he liked Rising. Rising said he liked the turtle and tried tapping on the glass, which Nate told him not to. Sophie got up from the couch, saying he had to bring $500,000 tomorrow. Rising agreed. They left to close for the day.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Now that the con had started, I mostly just was behind the scenes. Eliot was done practicing, so we got his stuff and walked out the garage door. We walked through the parking lot, making our way to the car. Eliot was twirling his shoulder. I was holding his bag so we could hold hands.
"Do I have to ice your shoulder when we get home?" I asked Eliot, giving him my "seriously" face.
"Maybe." Eliot said, giving me the same look.
"Alright, Cowboy." I said, showing Eliot he wasn't getting out of it.
Someone drove by, saying "Jacques" had a great practice. I heard Eliot grumble, saying it was Jack. Marko then tackled Eliot onto the back of some car, and I got back. Marko then started fighting Eliot, trying to punch him, but Eliot was dodging and blocking. I stayed back, knowing it wasn't gonna do me, or Marko, any good to start fighting.
"Marko, I ain't playing with you, man." Eliot warned Marko.
Marko punched Eliot in the face, and Eliot tried to keep Marko back.
"Marko, stop! We're not the bad guy here!" I tried negotiating.
Marko then grabbed Eliot and pushed him against the hood of a truck. Eliot grabbed Marko, trying to get him off.
"I'm not gonna fight you, Craig!" Eliot exclaimed.
"You're not gonna have a choice!" Craig exclaimed as Eliot managed to sit up.
"Craig, stop!" I said, pulling them both up.
Eliot pushed Craig off, and pulled me back. Eliot dodged a punch from Marko, then shoved him back to gain some distance.
"Do you know what your L4 and L5 is?!" Eliot exclaimed, causing Marko to stop.
"Marko, stop and listen to us!" I reasoned.
"It's your lower vertebrae on your spine! Yours is cracked all to hell. One shot to it and you don't walk again." Eliot told Marko.
"You think you know everything about me, don't you?" Craig questioned Eliot.
"I know you got edema in your brain! I know you got an enlarged heart. You want me to keep going?" Eliot told Marko.
"Not really." Marko said.
"Marko, no." I scolded.
"I'm gonna tell you what I know about you. I know you don't have a kid, cause you just tried your dead-level best to scare the hell out of me, and you didn't mention my son once. So I don't care about all the x-rays and MRIs you've seen, cause you don't know a damn thing about me!" Craig walked up to Eliot.
"I do it for my son. That's why I suit up. One more game. After that, I don't… I don't care what happens to me. But until you have a family, I would never expect you to understand." Marko said, sighing.
I could tell what he said was affecting Eliot. And me too.
"Yeah, you're right. I got no family. Not like you mean. At least not yet." Eliot glanced at me, then back to Marko.
"But I had brothers. I had a lot of 'em. I didn't know all their names - not all of 'em - but I knew their faces, and I knew their rank. And I did things that I didn't want to do because they counted on me - bad things for good reasons. And you know what I learned? Bad choices are bad choices. Doesn't matter why you made them. And they tear you apart from the inside out. And you don't even notice." Eliot told Marko.
I looked at Marko.
"I don't have much blood family left, Marko. But I get it. If I had kids, your damn right I'd do anything to keep them safe. You think that putting your body on the line for a paycheck is the way you provide for your son? What if someone lands a blow the wrong way, and you bleed into your brain and die? What if you get shoved the wrong way, and you can't walk again? How do you think you're gonna provide for your son then? Cause one wrong blow to your head, Marko, and you're dead! You're no good to your son dead, Marko! So please, I am begging you, if not for you, then your son. And I get it, Craig. I had a little sister who counted on me. When she was sick, and my parents were too high to care, I was there to take care of her. So, I get it! Let Jack help you." I negotiated.
Marko just walked in between us. Eliot and I turned to face him.
"He's putting bounties out on you, Craig!" Eliot yelled.
"Rising is paying people to take you out so he doesn't have to pay that bonus." I told Marko.
"Good luck finding the guy that can do that." Marko said.
He left.
Eliot and I turned, and Eliot rubbed his cheek. I knew I'd have to ice it later. I was pissed off, cause what Marko said sounded a lot like something Eliot would say. And we got in the car and drove off. We were driving in the woods, and I could tell Eliot knew I was upset.
"Kaira, what's wrong?" Eliot asked me.
"Just what Marko said, it's getting to me is all." I told Eliot, not looking at him.
"What do you mean?" Eliot asked, oblivious.
"You seriously didn't see the irony?" I questioned Eliot.
"No. What are you talking about, Kaira?" Eliot asked me.
I scoffed.
"Marko is like you, Eliot. Putting his body on the line so his son, his family can be safe? Seriously, you didn't see it?" I said, getting frustrated.
"Yeah, it's what I do, Kaira. It's my job." Eliot explained.
Now, I was getting angry.
"And how much longer can you keep doing this, Eliot?" I asked him, kinda snippy.
Eliot pulled the car over, and we both got out, slamming the doors, using the front of the car as a barrier.
"This is about what you told Craig, ain't it?" Eliot questioned me.
"You're goddamn right it is! You don't think I don't know how much punishment you've taken? I know your shoulder's acting up right now, and that I'm gonna ice it when we get home. I know I'm gonna have to ice that cheek you were rubbing earlier. And I don't got a problem with that, Eliot. I know who I married. But we can't just be thinking about you and me anymore, Eliot!" I told Eliot.
Eliot just gave me a look.
"Wait, Kaira are you-" Eliot asked.
"No! Not yet at least. But that's not the point." I told Eliot, my frustration growing.
"Then what is the point, Kaira?!" Eliot exclaimed.
"The point is, Eliot, that we are talking about starting a family! That means we both have to take care of ourselves! That means we both have to watch ourselves! Cause I do not want to have to explain to our children why you can't play because you screwed up your shoulder in a fight, or you got shot protecting someone. I don't want to explain to our children why you're not coming home!" I started getting loud.
Eliot sighed.
"Kaira, you know I can't just stop." Eliot said.
"I know that. And every part of my being wants you to stop so I don't lose you. So you don't get hurt. But I know you. And that's the problem, Eliot! When we have kids, you shouldn't risk not coming home. I shouldn't have to be in a position where I'm gonna have to explain to our kids why you're not coming home! But that's something I'm gonna have to deal with. And I'm scared, Eliot!" The tears start falling as Eliot looks at me, also getting upset.
"I'm scared as Hell that I'm gonna be in that position, and I'm gonna have to do that. I know you're not gonna stop. Not until you physically can't, or you're dead. Cause those are the only things that'll stop you, Eliot. Of course, it didn't bother me really until we started talking about having kids." I tell Eliot.
Eliot just looks at me.
"Cause you don't want to be alone. I get it, Kaira. I don't want you to be alone, either. And I don't want our children to be alone, either." Eliot walked up to me and held my face.
"I would say that nothing would happen, and we'd live till we're old and gray, but you and I both know I'd be lying. But I can't just stop. Someone has to do this job. Someone has to protect the team." Eliot told me, wiping my tears.
"And why does it have to be us?" I asked Eliot.
"Because we're the best damn people to do it." Eliot said.
And I gave a hint of a smile.
"I know it sucks, Kaira. I wish that the cards were different and that you weren't in this spot. I wish we could both just work office jobs and be safe. But we aren't normal, Kaira. And if we're gonna start a family, and I do - we're gonna have to make it work." Eliot said, getting a bit emotional.
I put my hand on his.
"I do too. But we have to be smart. We can't do the shit we used to do anymore." I said, lowering my hand.
Eliot lowered his.
"I can't have your body being like Marko's. All broken, a ticking time bomb, waiting for something worse, Eliot." I said. I exhaled, calming myself down.
"Promise me that you'll protect your head better when you fight. And if you can avoid it, don't put yourself in unnecessary risk. Deal?" I offered Eliot.
"Deal." Eliot said.
I didn't realize that I was almost by the passenger door and Eliot was at the hood. I walked up to him and kissed him, hard, pulling his face to mine. Both our eyes were closed, but I felt Eliot's hands on my face. We then let go and opened our eyes, touching our foreheads together.
"Do I ever tell you you're a pain in my ass, Cowboy?" I started chuckling through my wet face.
"Pretty often, Princess." Eliot chuckled.
"Cause you are a pain in the ass, Eliot Spencer." I let go and just hold Eliot.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Kaira Spencer." Eliot smiled a bit.
We both got ourselves calmed down, and we drove back home.
Third Person POV
The next morning, Hardison was sitting on the stairs, looking at his laptop, a cup of coffee in his hand. Parker walked up, wearing one of Hardison's t-shirts. She sat next to him, asking if she fell asleep. Hardison handed her the coffee. Parker thanked him. Parker then asked how the movie ended. Hardison started talking about the ending, saying Soylent Green is people.
Parker obviously didn't see the twist coming, and Hardison said to stick with it for a while, causing Parker to get disgusted. Parker saw Hardison pulling up financials on his laptop, asking him what's up. Hardison pointed out there was something weird in Rising's financials. Hardison told Parker to change, saying it was time to meet Nate.
First Person POV (Kaira)
I was laying in bed, sleeping next to Eliot, cuddled up next to me. His chin was digging in my bare back, and his arms wrapped around me like a bear. I woke up, knowing it was almost time to meet Nate. And hearing Parker's footsteps too. I felt Eliot's body heat on me, which felt nice, since it was always a bit chilly in the morning. I chuckled quietly.
"A girl could get used to this." I teased Eliot a bit.
I tried turning over to face Eliot, but he wouldn't let me.
"A guy could get used to this too." I heard Eliot's gravly voice.
"Come on, Cowboy. I gotta get up to meet Nate, and you have a game to prepare for." I said, trying to move, but I was pinned.
"No." Eliot said, pulling me closer to him.
I can't help but chuckle.
"Oh wow, Eliot. Real mature." I chuckled.
And I know he has a shit-eating grin on right now.
"Come on, we cuddled all night, I need to get up." I said, trying to get up.
Eliot objected.
"One more minute." Eliot mumbled.
"I'll get you coffee, and after today, we can cuddle longer, okay?" I negotiated.
"Fine." Eliot gave in.
He let me go, waking up a bit. I sat at the edge of the bed, and I feel myself getting pulled back. I chuckle as Eliot's leaned over me. We're both laughing and smiling. Once we get the laughing out of our system, we just looked at each other.
"I'm sorry about the fight. I guess just hearing Marko talk, it was like hearing a version of you. And I know that when we have children someday, we'd both do anything to protect them. And I got scared. I can't lose you, Eliot. And I don't want any of us being alone." I admitted.
"I can't lose you either. I don't want any of you to be alone either. And we will do the best we can." Eliot said.
I chuckled a bit.
"Can I get up now, babe?" I asked Eliot, smiling.
"Not yet." Eliot said.
I groaned.
"Come on, Eliot! I can't be late! And neither can you." I said.
"One kiss, then we'll get up." Eliot said.
"You're such an ass sometimes." I chuckled as I sat up to kiss Eliot.
Once we let go, I tried getting up, but Eliot kept kissing my face. I just started laughing.
"Eliot!" I somehow managed to get out in between the laughter.
I then heard a knock on the door to our room.
"Y'all better be getting your asses up and ready!" I heard Hardison through the door.
Eliot and I both groaned.
"Dammit Hardison!" We both exclaimed.
"Damn, double-teamed? What the hell?" I heard Hardison mutter on the other side.
So finally, Eliot and I got our asses up and changed and, as promised, I got him his coffee.
Third Person POV
In the office, Sophie was sleeping on the couch, her head on Nate's lap. Nate was in his suit, having a staring contest with the turtle. Nate told Sophie he won a staring contest with a turtle. Sophie said she found that oddly attractive.
Just then, the doorbell rang, so Sophie sat up and Nate put the bowl down. Vlad walked up, also wearing a suit, asking if Nate won. Nate questioned what Vlad was talking about. Vlad said the staring contest, which Nate said we won. Nate asked if Vlad would get the door. Vlad did as Sophie got ready.
Vlad invited Rising in. Rising said he wasn't going to buy in because he knew he was going to get pushed out. Sophie wondered if he meant out of the WHL, which Rising said he was out of hockey. He said his team was bankrupt, and he was filing on Monday. He said that if Sophie wanted to buy the franchise, they'd have to be first in line, and pay off the $5 million.
Sophie asked about the $5 million, which Rising revealed to be unpaid bills. Rising added he hadn't taken a salary in quite sometime. Nate asked how much of it was his deferred salary. Rising said it was $4 million. Rising left, wishing them luck.
Nate wondered what the hell just happened, and Sophie realized they couldn't find the money. Vlad pointed out that they did too good of a job.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Since Eliot was situated, I met up with Nate and the team. What I had learned was not good. We gathered around a table.
"Okay, not only did he not bring any money, but someone - I won't mention any names - went a little overboard in the WHL marketing materials." Nate said, looking at Hardison.
"What? Like I'm supposed to do a bad job?" Hardison defended himself.
"Hardison, how many times do I have to tell you, you need it to be believable!" I reminded Hardison.
"Well, no, but you did such a good job that he decided to declare bankruptcy rather than compete." Sophie pointed out.
"And what about Marko's bonus?" Parker questioned.
"Yeah, Marko's bonus. Well, forget about that. I mean, we pretty much ensured that Marko's bonus and the rest of the team's bonus, salary, insurance - gone." Nate said.
"Yesterday he accessed an account that was held by a shell company with a chain of title so convoluted, I'm still unraveling it. He cleaned everything out." Hardison said.
Nate and I were thinking.
"Okay. He's skimming from the team. Yeah. He said that most years, he loses money on the team, but the team's actually doing pretty solid business." Nate said.
"Dammit, he's stealing from the operation." I realized.
"Yeah, and that's why he's afraid of us, because if we invite him into the franchise, there's gonna be an audit to end all audits." Nate explained.
I heard Vlad walk in, and I see him holding a box of Voodoo Donuts.
"Who's hungry? Hey, anybody doughnuts?" Vlad offered.
I grabbed one from the box, thanking him, then went back to the team.
"Wait, how come Rising hasn't spent any of the money?" I asked.
"He has no way to hide it from the government." Hardison said.
"Well, how does that change after he declares bankruptcy?" Sophie asked.
"It doesn't." Nate said.
"Rising is going to launder money, yeah?" Vlad pointed out, eating a donut.
"Yeah. Yeah, that's great. Thanks. Thanks, there Vlad. The question is when?" Nate said.
"Tonight." Parker revealed.
"Tonight? You think you can come up with a plan?" Nate asked Parker.
"Already have. It's in one of my contingencies." Parker said, proud of herself.
Hardison and I smile at Parker.
"Okay. I want to hear this plan. Hardison, you're gonna be with Sophie. We were never here in this apartment. It didn't exist. Vlad, thank you for the autographed stick, puck, and gloves." Nate said.
He walked over to Vlad, shaking his hand.
"Anytime." Vlad said.
Parker grabbed Vlad's donut. I thanked Vlad as we left.
Third Person POV
Eliot was at warm-ups with the team, getting ready for the game later. Marko had given Eliot the cold shoulder. Kaira was walking with Nate and Parker in the concession area.
"Okay, Parker, Kaira, how would you do it?" Nate asked them.
"Cash flow starts here." Parker pointed out the ticket counter.
"Every 20 minutes, a guard removes the collected cash from the box office." Parker explained.
"And the guard carries the cash to Rising's office." Nate said.
The trio were now walking up the steps.
"The cash is then dropped into a specialized lockbox. You can put things in, but a bank official is the only one who can open it up to take things out." Kaira explained.
"It's like a mailbox only you can carry." Parker said.
"And that will be where Rising will add the extra cash. As long as no one counts it, or pays close attention, they'll never know it didn't come from ticket sales." Kaira added.
"It's classic money laundering." Nate said.
"Once the box office is closed, the lockbox is carried from Rising's office to a loading zone. An armored car picks it up, takes it to the bank." Parker said.
"But we don't want to hit it at Rising's office, as it'll draw too much attention, and we can't hit it once it's on the armored car, as the bank's insurance kicks in, and we'd be doing Rising a favor." Kaira added.
"So, that leaves just one place." Parker said.
Nate and Kaira both knew what that place was.
Back outside, Sophie met with Vlad before he left. Vlad asked if Sophie liked Nate. Sophie said she did. Vlad said he liked him too. Sophie gave Vlad a yellow envelope of money as payment. Vlad and Sophie kissed quickly on the lips as Vlad said goodbye.
The game started, and it was showtime. Eliot was doing his rule as an enforcer well. Marko pushed Eliot over the wall, threatening Eliot.
Back at the stadium, Parker and Kaira got to work. The box office closed. Parker said she needed Hardison on his way.
There was 6 ½ minutes left on the game clock.
Hardison made his way to the loading dock.
And for the second time of the night, Eliot ended up in the penalty box. Then Marko was itching to fight. But all the players just surrounded him, refusing to fight him. Turns out, all the times Eliot was pushing people into the wall and the glass, he was telling them what was happening to Marko. The doctor's all saying the same thing, how Marko wasn't healthy. Even telling a player that he doesn't want to be the one to kill a legend. The whole crowd had gone silent.
Nate saw Danny smiling. This convinced Marko to get back into the game and play like he did in the juniors. It was down to a minute.
And that bought enough time for Hardison to use his electromagnets and a butane torch to cut the box open to get the receipts and cash.
And Marko won the game.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Now that the game was over, and the con was done, it was time for the gloat. Nate and I met with Rising, who was skating on the ice. We walked on the ice to confront him.
"Nice shot." Nate said, revealing himself.
"You here to gloat?" Rising asked us.
"A little." Nate said.
"A lot." I added, smiling.
"You really got me pinned against the boards. Can't go to the cops, can I?" Rising said.
"No, not really." Nate said.
"I'm gonna lose everything." Rising said.
"Kinda the whole point." I pointed out.
Nate and I were in front of Rising.
"Why?" Rising asked.
I then nodded behind me, where a bunch of players had come out, wearing their game day suits, holding hockey sticks.
"You put a bounty out on your own man - a guy that you knew put his life on the line for his teammates every time he stepped out onto the ice." Nate said.
The players had started forming a circle around us.
"Sounds a little like someone I know." I gave a smile to Eliot, who was standing beside Marko, a little bruised.
He just exhaled.
"Don't try to deny it, Rising. We know." I told Rising.
"What's this?" Rising asked.
"What is this? I think they may have found out about your little plan to declare bankruptcy and not pay anyone. Or it could have been the matter of putting a bounty on the head on someone that they count on." Eliot said, walking up beside me with Marko.
"Who are you guys?" Rising asked.
"Enforcers are put on the ice to make sure things don't go too far. If they do, they step in - regulate." Eliot said.
"Every player on this ice is an enforcer." Nate said, walking up to Rising.
I stayed by Eliot as the enforcers dropped their bags. They closed in on Rising.
"There's no reason to do this." Rising said, getting worried.
"Oh, there's every reason to do this." Nate said.
"What do you want, huh?! I got nothing! They took everything!" Rising exclaimed.
"Nope. Not everything." Nate said, getting a paper out from his pocket.
"My team." Rising realized.
"Yes. This is the contract for the sale of the team." Nate said.
"You did all this so that you could own the Otters?" Rising questioned.
"I'm not gonna be the new owner of the Otters. No. They will." Nate said.
Nate offered the contract to Rising. Rising signed it reluctantly. Rising went to punch Nate, but Nate countered and punched back, sending Rising to the ground. The enforcers started tapping their sticks off the ice. Eliot then handed a $500,000 check to Marko.
"Thank you." Marko said.
"I'm not gonna forget about this, Marko." Eliot said, pointing to the bruise on his eye.
"Good... Jacques." Marko said.
Eliot smiled a bit as we started leaving.
"You take care of yourself, Marko." I told him.
We left.
We went back to the stadium not long after that, where Marko was now coaching. And his son even got in on the action. Eliot had come up to us in the stands, watching beside me.
"So, is it someplace warm?" Nate asked Sophie.
"I don't remember." Sophie said.
"Hmm. Is it in Boston?" Nate asked.
"Nate, I don't remember." Sophie insisted.
"Are you sure it's the Stanley Cup?" Nate asked.
"That I remember." Sophie said.
"Where's the last place you remember, uh, having it?" Nate asked Sophie.
I can't help but smile and grab Eliot's arm.
"I don't remember." Sophie repeated.
We all just looked at each other, amused.
Yeah, this job was interesting. And I may not have everything worked out yet when it came to me and Eliot wanting to start a family, but it was a good start. And, as it turns out, the way to save a man from himself is to force him to listen.