Mary was sat on her couch when the doorbell rang surprising her.

It had been two days after their fight at the consulate but she still hoped it wasn´t Andrea, she was not ready to hear the woman. She had always been there to protect everyone and yet here she was, alone, with a hole on her left shoulder, wearing a sling and without a job.

She didn´t regret anything; those beautiful twins were worth her injuries and she knew she had enough money to get rehabilitated and live without worry but hated the fact that her help always ended badly for her. Giving out a sigh she stood up and yelled ¨Coming!¨ at the insistent door bell

Mary got shocked at the sight of Elise at her door

¨How did you got into the building?¨ Mary asked narrowing her eyes before adding ¨How do you know where I live?¨

¨I have my ways… We need to talk¨ Elise said strongly before entering without an invitation making the brunet roll her eyes before closing the door

¨Beer?¨ Mary said

¨Aren´t you taking meds?¨ Elise said already knowing the answer

¨It´s just pain killers¨ Mary shrugged with her good shoulder

¨And the other ones?¨ Elise said without realizing it

¨Which other ones?¨ Mary narrowed her eyes making Elise realized her slip so she continued

¨It hasn´t stopped me before. Now sit down¨ Mary said strongly and defensively to the woman

The answer left Elise speechless ¨What do you mean?¨

¨Why are you here?¨ Maria said

¨I need your help¨ Elise said narrowing her eyes while still standing and not backing down

¨What type of help?¨

¨To catch those bastards; Will you help? ¨ Elise said strongly

¨Will you tell me how you got private information on me? ¨ Mary said raising an eyebrow

¨I…Uh… I can´t say¨ Elise stuttered

¨Oh, really? I was unaware you had suddenly lost the ability to speak¨ Mary rose an eyebrow earning herself a glare

¨I see why Andy always says you´re an ass¨ Elise said getting frustrated at the Latina

¨What can I say, I do my best; explain yourself Elise¨ Mary rolled her eyes yet again

Mary made her way closer once out of the kitchen with her own eyes narrowed and two beers in one hand while handing the brunet one

¨I just need you to help me, that´s all ¨ Elise said simply trying to regain the upper hand using her business voice

¨Well, I find myself not being able to¨ Mary said simply

¨What do you mean?¨

¨Speak Elise or get out¨ Mary said with a cold stare ¨I am not playing games, what is it that you want? My address I can guess, my medical records I cannot¨

¨I… I need your help¨ Elise said while assessing the situation ¨You have information ¨

¨You do too apparently; spill now or you will find out how easily I can show you out of my apartment with just one hand¨ Mary said without taking a breath nor raising her voice

The funny thing was that no one knew Mary pretended to be strong and fierce when she was actually scared to death and she could not hurt a fly.

¨I looked you up¨ Elise sighed and explained simply and stared at the Latina

¨Anyone can look up any information on me and yet no one can get private medical records; you have 2 minutes to explain before I politely show you out¨ Mary said icily

¨I can´t say!¨ Elise said again trying to make the woman understand yet the woman understood better than she thought and was winning in their little game given the rose of her eyebrow

¨Then I guess our talk is over; enjoy your drink before I show you out…¨ Mary said shrugging and sitting down on the couch

¨What…?¨ Elise said confused

¨It´s a really good beer… Either you drink it or I will if you rather leave now¨ Mary said lifting an eyebrow at the other woman who was getting frustrated

¨I´m privy to sensitive information…¨ Elise continued with a huff; she could make serial killers speak without problem and here was this woman making it harder than those waste of human been.

¨Where do you work at Elise?¨ Mary said strictly making Elise give out a sigh; she knew she was not going to be able to do anything without being honest with the woman

¨Interpol¨ Elise said making the Latina´s eyebrow raise. She was more than shocked at the next question her answer got

¨ So…?¨ Mary said as if uninterested

¨Wait… what?¨ Elise had not been expecting that at all. She´d been expecting anything but an apathetic answer

¨How do we get them?¨ Maria said strongly while rolling her eyes and sitting down and making a sign with her head for Elise to sit before continuing ¨I figured you´d get information from somewhere high¨

¨I need to know one thing first…¨ Elise said softly making the Latina raise an eyebrow but kept going

¨How did you know Andrea was behind when you were clearly speaking with Miranda the first time we met? ¨

Mary chuckled softly before saying ¨Seriously?¨

¨Yes; We spoke with Mira about it and Andy was well behind you when you told her you two were ok the first night you took her to the townhouse on your bike¨

¨What does this has anything to do with anything that´s happened?¨ Maria asked amused

¨I had never heard of anyone knowing about people being behind them without training. What´s your deal? Your past has not given me any answer to that and I have no explanation to that. Now answer¨ Elise said getting a bit worked up making the Latina chuckle

Maria was still chuckling before smiling softly ¨I saw Andy walking in and hiding to hear our talk through the glass on the front door. Now talk¨

-.-.-.-.-.

Elise had made her way to the Consulate without Miranda or Andy knowing.

She was showed straight to the library since she´d called before arriving to let the Queen she needed an audience with her in private and with complete discretion

¨What do you mean Elise? Was she aware of the attack?¨ Clarisse narrowed her eyes in distrust of the Latina already analyzing everything

¨No, your honor; you misunderstood me, all I´m saying is that she will be the perfect subject to get Nicholas given how much both Andrea and Miranda have trusted on her¨ Elise explained; she knew Miranda had been speaking with the Latina which made her the perfect person to go undercover since she had more information from both of the people involved.

¨Do you think she´ll help?¨ Clarisse said softly before adding ¨Wouldn´t it get her in an even more dangerous situation? I don´t know how comfortable I am with this¨

¨I know she will and my team and I would be there to keep her safe; I´m officially asking permission for our operation to take place at the annual ball¨ Elise said before adding ¨I am not asking your highness; I´m informing you it will happen since we are after international looked after criminals given their records¨

¨You are using her as bait Elise, you know what this means. I cannot agree; that woman has already been shot. I consider her family and, as you´re aware, I do not enjoy putting my own family in danger¨ Clarisse said strongly and glared at the other woman

¨As I said your highness…¨ Elise stood up before continuing ¨This decision left my hands the moment I spoke with my partner in the Interpol. It will happen, I'm sorry but I now have to let you know we´ll have the operation without your consent but with your knowledge¨ she finished before getting up to leave but turned to inform the older woman

¨I will not be using her; she has agreed to it and I trust this information will not leave this place nor reach your granddaughter's ears¨ she finished before leaving the library

Clarisse let herself fall ungracefully onto the chair with worry.

This was not going to end well and yet she couldn´t tell Andrea.