4 hours later Tim Bradford was behind the wheel of the Range Rover SVA they'd been given. He was wearing what amounted to just jeans and a sweater, but instead of the ones he would've bought at Old Navy, these cost more than a month of LAPD salary. They were getting onto the 10 towards Santa Monica.
Lucy Chen sat beside him, her hair blown out straight, and dressed in the casual elegance you'd expect to see on the wealthiest LA socialite. That dress was tailored to fit every curve. He couldn't imagine where she was keeping her back up gun. He knew she had her service weapon in her purse because he'd heard her complain it would take too long to get to it if she needed it. Lucy was always beautiful, he'd come to realize she didn't have a bad side, but now she was positively glowing. He didn't know if it was makeup, or how, but the dark circles he'd seen earlier were gone.
"Do you realize between the value of this vehicle, the jewelry, and the clothes they've put us in, we could both retire"? Lucy giggled a little at the thought.
"Wait till we get to the house." Tim said, looking over at her flashing a grin.
Lucy looked back at Tim and met his eyes for a few seconds. The jolt to her system making her sit up straighter and look away as she felt the heat rise into her cheeks.
They'd spent the last few hours with a team of LAPD paper pushers in a safehouse full of luxury items seized during criminal investigations. These were scheduled for auction now that their cases were closed. The auto had come from a separate warehouse full of cars seized for the same reason. They'd each picked very understated, incredibly expensive clothes, jewelry, and other accessories they'd need. Nothing crazy flashy. They practically had to sign their life away in the event any of the items were lost as it was, so they both tried to keep it to a minimum.
When they'd wrapped up at the safehouse twenty minutes earlier, she walked out to meet him at the car, and for a second, stopped breathing, when she saw him. The grey sweater he wore was fitted so it pulled tighter over the muscles in his arms and chest, just the right amount, and the blue jeans appeared to be made specifically for him. She finally breathed again when she saw the watch he'd chosen "I knew you'd pick that one"! She exclaimed. It was tactical, built for use, not just looks.
He held his wrist up to look at the watch as well, he'd never pay 30,000 for a watch, but he had to admit it was nice.
The 10 was so backed up they were moving at a snails pace.
Lucy lowered the tinted glass window to let the sun shine on her face. The breeze was warm and the sun felt really good.
"So we just live in this house on the beach for however long, to keep anyone else from moving in and chat up the neighbors"? She looked over at Tim, who was concentrating on the road. "It kinda seems like a waste of money and manpower".
"Wealthy people tend to isolate themselves a bit, they use their own security, and we need eyes inside that world. They can't get that from posting a Sherifs deputy on the corner"
"Plus all this window dressing will get some use before it's all sent to auction"
"Speaking of, who pays a hundred eighty thousand dollars for a car"? Chen asks
"People with millions" Tim replied gripping the steering wheel appreciatively.
"Oh you are loving driving this beast aren't you"? She said grinning.
"I will say it's gonna be tough to go back to my truck after this" he smiled back at her.
Lucy giggled and looked back out the window at the LA traffic.
"At this rate it's gonna take a week to get there, at least we get to travel in style".
"Gives me a chance to quiz you on your cover" and TO Bradford voice was back.
"Tell me about yourself Boot" he says
Lucy closed the window and put her game face on. "Lucy Caswell, I was born and raised in San Francisco, went to college at UC Berkeley, graduated in 2013 then I went to work at the VA Medical Center in Sausalito working as a psychologist helping veterans primarily with PTSD" she glanced over at Tim, who nodded his approval. "That's where we met, you were there helping out a friend".
"Okay, now tell me about me".
"Um, you're an LA son - born raised, after high school you enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2000 and were deployed to Fallujah in 04, you did 2 tours then in 2015 you developed some top secret widget and sold it to the military for millions. Now you have your own company developing safer more effective gear for the soldiers, and you make so much money I don't have to work. And I guess I have no ambition, I just live to serve you" she smirked.
Tim shook his head smiling. "We talked about this, you have an office at home, and work remotely as a volunteer".
"Oh right, that way it explains why we never have to leave the house to go to an office. Who lives like this"?
"You keep asking this, and the answer is always rich people". He laughed.
"Why let us use our own names and so much about ourselves"? She asked.
"The less you have to lie about when you're undercover the better". He explained. "If someone asks specifics about military service, I can answer that, and you were a psych major, your parents are both psychiatrists, you can carry on a well informed conversation. Keeping the first names means you won't accidentally call me the wrong name or not answer when I call yours".
"Makes sense I guess, you realize this means you can't call me Boot this whole time" she raises her eyebrows.
"You're right Lucy"
Dammit, she forgot the effect that has on her. Maybe if she can just get used to him calling her by her first name and it won't make her heart flip flop anymore.
She changes the subject. "Is Rachel watching Kojo for you"?
Tim shifts uncomfortably in the seat "No, Lopez and Wesley are staying at my house till I get back"
Lucy's eyebrows raised "Really??" she asks incredulously.
"Rachel and I are taking a bit of a break, and before you ask" he points at her "it was a mutual decision".
"I can't believe she didn't tell me"! "What happened"?
"I'm not getting into this now" she could see his jaw clench.
"Fine I'll just..." Lucy mumbled something about asking Rachel herself.
"What's that"?
"Nothiiiiing".
"Look, we need to be focusing on the task at hand, not personal stuff".
"This will likely be an easy assignment, but shit can go south fast, as you well know. You need to be ready for anything".
Tim turned to face her since the traffic was at a complete standstill at the moment.
"I'm serious Lucy, I'm responsible for you, I need to know you can handle this".
"Ok, ok. I'm ok. I'll be ready for any and all possibilities"
She turned, and the two locked eyes. For a few seconds it felt like the entire world outside the SUV fell away. Lucy could hear her own heartbeat and nothing else. The heat and tension began building and for the first time, neither of them immediately turned away. It lasted only seconds but felt like forever. The sound of a car horn broke the spell and Lucy jumped. Traffic had begun moving. Tim put his hand up, the universal "my bad" to the driver behind him and put the Range Rover in gear.
Tim quizzed Lucy for another twenty minutes or so until they hit the PCH. The windows open, he turned on the radio.
Ed Sheeran's Shape Of You was playing. He looked over to Lucy, eyebrows raised waiting for her approval. She flashed a smile and began singing softly along with the chorus. He knew she could sing because the rookies went to Kareoke all the time. Harry Styles 'Adore You' followed.
They drove down the PCH into the exclusive Malibu beachfront neighborhood. Filled with block after block of both stylish mid century beach houses and modern mansions. Lucy allowed the music to lull her into a relaxed state. She was safe, the sun was warm on her face, and she let her body relax. It only took a few moments and her eyes closed as she dozed into a light sleep.
Reading the street numbers Tim knew they were getting close. He saw a moving truck a few blocks up. This must be it, he thought. The SUV pulled into the drive for the house. He'd seen the photos of the house they'd call home for the next few weeks. He was thrilled it was one of the mid century architectural masterpieces and not one of these modern monstrosities. In fact, if the home had been located anywhere other than on the beach in Malibu, the price tag would've been much lower than the 9 million they would eventually be asking for it.
Before opening the door to get out Tim realized Lucy was asleep. Her eyes closed, lips slightly parted, she seemed so relaxed. He hated to wake her. Looking up he caught a glimpse of a neighbor trying not to look conspicuous but trying to take a peek at who was moving in.
He decided now was as good a time as any to begin their UC roles.Leaned over to Lucy's side of the car. He took that lock of hair and tucked it behind her ear. Bent his head down to her ear and whispered.
"Lucy..we're here, and we have an audience".
