The grandstand is mobbed with people, kids are squealing and clapping, adults are focusing on the baseball diamond in front of them. Dust rises when a runner slides into home plate. The broadcaster announces the score. Three to One in favor of the hometown Clearwater Threshers.
Using her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, Elena scans the rows of people, it takes a hot minute but she does spot Damon, notebook open, an envelope in one hand and his phone in the other. He's sitting in a secluded area, well as secluded as one can be at a sports complex. She doesn't understand how he can do his best work in such a place but that's one of the many mysteries of Damon Salvatore that she had one day hoped to unravel.
As she approaches him, she dials the number of the prepaid phone he picked up and watches intently when he puts the device to his ear. "Stefan?"
"Try again," Elena replies.
"Look Elena, I'm busy."
"Okay... where are you?"
"I'm in Cape Coral, if you must know. I'm sitting on the beach building a sand castle and drinking something tropical with one of those little umbrellas... "
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, his eyes snap up; revealing Elena who's grinning at him as she drops her phone in her Tori Burch mini bag. "Hello Damon."
"Elena?" a million different emotions cross his face.
Surprise.
Anger.
Shock.
"Fancy finding you here," she sits down beside him.
"How did you know?"
"I talked to Esther, she said you needed to lay low to work on the biggest story of his career," she air quotes the words. "You've always come to a ballgame when you wanted to get lost."
Damon immediately stands up, "I don't have time for this, I'm working." he folds up his laptop pockets the phone and puts a foot on the stairs but he doesn't get anywhere when Elena blocks him with her leg.
"I'm working too in case you forgot..."
"Good luck with that now move your leg."
Elena refuses to budge. "Perhaps you forget, it's my job to track you down and take you to a nice, comfy jail cell."
Damon glares at her, eyes wide. "Now, hold on just a second, Elena..."
"Tell you what: I'll give you more than a second. I'll give you 10...for old times' sake," she moves her leg and starts to count. 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6...
Damon stares at her, his jaw working, trying to decide what to do. It's not that he's afraid of Elena, of course he's not but he needs to find Ric before he allows her to take him in.
"I'm not going to play games with you, Elena."
"5 - 4..."
"Are you really going to persist with this?" He glowers at her.
"3 - 2..."
"Fine, have it your way but if anything happens to Ric, it's on your conscience," he raises his brows at her.
"Talk about below the belt. You know I don't want anything to happen to him."
"Let me do my job then."
"Alright, let's go someplace where we can talk, maybe I can help?"
"Are you being serious right now? Because I can't tell."
"Yes, now let's go," she extends her arm, wordlessly telling him to lead the way.
Damon nods and starts down the stairs then quickly bolts. He jumps in his vehicle and turns the key. Nothing. "Son of a bitch," he tries again and only hears laughter. Looking over his shoulder, he notices Elena quickly approaching.
"Really Damon?"
He leaps from the car and runs back towards the grandstand as people are exiting to get refreshments or whatever. When the crowd parts, Elena's standing in front of him.
"How did you do that?" he asks before turning and running again. He races to the street and attempts to flag a cab. Minutes pass and then Elena pulls alongside him.
"Get in."
"I'm not letting you take me to jail."
Elena steps out of her VW. When he moves towards the taxi that stops several yards in front of her vehicle, she fingers her revolver enough to let the sun glimmer off of the cool steel and flash in his eyes.
"Like you're going to shoot me," he scoffs at her.
"Nope, but I can shoot out your tires," she glances at his prized Camaro.
Damon curses and marches back to her. "Fine, have it your way, let's talk."
"I suggested we talk and then you pulled this little escape plan," Elena points out.
"Well," he starts and sweeps her into his arms. They're face to face, breathing in each other, their lips inches apart. Elena stares at him. Is he going to kiss her?
Again?
Caught off guard, Elena blurts out, "What are you doing?" when Damon suddenly picks her up and dumps her in the trunk of his car. He smirks, waves at her mockingly with his fingers and slams down the lid.
This time the engine roars to life when he turns the key...
A short time later, Elena feels the car stop and curls her hand into a fist.
Damon quickly opens the trunk, taking her hand to help her out. Then he nudges her aside allowing him to step around her.
"You son of a bitch, how dare you lock me up in your dirty trunk!" Elena punches his arm. Hard.
"Hey!"
"Don't even," she's shooting daggers at him with her eyes.
"Yeah, I guess I deserved that..."
"That and more," she follows him down a flight of stairs. "I may be new at this bounty hunter stuff, but I'm not stupid. I told Jeremy that I'd bring you in and that's exactly what I intend to do. You can run again if you want, but I will find you and I'll do what I have to do, no matter what it takes or where it may lead."
"I like this sexy new attitude of yours, it suits your personality," he tries to disarm her with his eye thing. "Lots of energy, not much control but sexy as hell."
"You know nothing, not anymore," she glowers at him.
"I know about the sexy as hell part," he waggles his eyebrows at her.
Elena feels her face burn red hot. "You're an ass."
Damon smirks. "You like it..." He opens the door and holds it open for her.
"Oh no, you're not locking me up again, you first," she arches an eyebrow.
When they're inside, Damon sets his stuff down, and walks over to the kitchen to pull out a soda. "Want one?"
"Sure," she opens the Cherry Zero and takes a long pull. "Whose place is this?"
"Bonnie's. She and Enzo are traveling around Europe for the summer. I'm supposed to feed the cat," he pulls a bag of dry food out from under the sink and fills a bowl.
Moments later a fluffy gray feline peeks out from under the couch and walks lazily to her meal while Damon fills another bowl with fresh water.
"I meant what I said when I offered my help. What has Ric gotten himself into?"
"This has to stay in this room, pinkie swear," he extends his hand.
Elena rolls her eyes and joins their little fingers together.
"Have a seat," Damon follows her to the couch.
"He believes that the mayor is giving sweetheart land deals, development projects in exchange for cash. Richard Lockwood has become a frequent visitor at Dahlia's."
"The gentlemen's club, that Dahlia's?" Elena takes another drink from her soda can.
"What other Dahlia's is there?" Damon twists the cap off a bottle of beer.
"So how does Ric know this? Is he following the mayor?"
"He works in the city accounting office. He's seen the transactions, allegedly the mayor always approves the same companies, their bids are always way more than the competitors yet some of the construction is substandard. If they're spending all that, everything should be top of the line."
"Don't contracts like those have to be approved by the city council?" Elena looks at him.
"The mayor has his allies, maybe they're getting money under the table too, I don't know? My hunch is that either Richard or the people who pay him bribes are most likely behind Ric's disappearance." Damon gives her a slow stare.
All of a sudden, she has a sick feeling in her stomach. This isn't just some slick little adventure she's embarking upon to make a fast buck. Helping Damon find Ric could very well put her in real danger.
"You still want to help me?" Damon looks at her.
Elena is silent...
Thank you all again, you are truly amazing. Love you Eva.
Chapter title: 'Truth Be Told' by Megadeth.
Preview of coming attractions: Needing a job, 17-year-old Damon goes to work for a young widow. The pair are attracted to each other and in the fierce heat of the summer, will their working relationship blossom into something more? #FeelTheThunder
Have a great weekend. See you soon.