Chapter 13

Damian Moreau was not a patient man and he was at this moment frustrated beyond belief. He had no idea where Nathan Ford was, and he also had no idea where the man's team was. He had his best people working on tracking the man but with no luck. He had called the him, but his phone was off. Moreau knew that it was Nate's move now and he had to wait, and he hated waiting for anything and especially for Nathan Ford to make his move.

Nate sat with his wife on the sofa and the rest of the team spread out around him. They had been discussing what they were going to do next with vehement opposition from his wife and family as well as Sterling at his plan of putting himself out there for Moreau to come at. He knew though that he had to make the first move and he was determined to make that move.

"Ok, there is another way to make a move." He said as he sat back in his chair and dialled the number that Moreau called him on previously he was not sure if Moreau would still have the burner, but he knew Moreau did not have his number as he had left his phone in Portland.

"Speak." Moreau said as he answered the burner phone, it was a number he did not know but he thought it might be the man he wanted to speak to, only his men and Ford had the number.

"Damian."

"Ford."

"I see you got my message." Nate said smiling slightly knowing that Moreau would wonder about that statement.

"You are running." Moreau said in reply he could play a game just as well as Ford.

"No Damian not running just leading a chase."

"So what is the next move Ford?"

"Well I know where you are Damian, do you know where I am?" Nate said drawing all eyes to him, he had no idea where Moreau was as far as they knew. Nate ignored the looks and continued. "Now as you know I have a young man who can work miracles with computers, and I don't need him with me for him to work his magic." Nate added to keep up the illusion that his team was not with him, then he hung up the phone and took a sip of his whiskey.

"What was that?" Sophie asked. "Do you know where he is?"

"No darling I don't." Nate said smiling at his wife. "But he doesn't know that, and he does know Hardison."

"So he is going to scramble because he knows you are out to kill him, and he cannot be sure that you are lying and don't know where he is." Sterling said smiling at his friend.

"Exactly. So we know he is here in Boston."

"Wait how do we know that?" Sophie asked confused by Nate's statement.

"Well he said I was running, which means he knows I am not in Portland anymore and he was silent on my comment about the message." Nate explained. "Yes he is going to scramble, so I need you Hardison to check out all his safe houses, he would have used one none of us knew about when he came here but I don't think he has more than one that is completely under the radar." He said looking to Eliot.

"No he only had one or two houses here in Boston for when we came on long stays, otherwise he used Hotels, and I doubt he would have more than one that is completely under the radar." Eliot agreed.

"And if he looks for somewhere new Hardison will find him." Parker added.

"Right." Nate said smiling at the little Thief. He had Moreau in a corner, and it was his move now. He was sure that the man would show himself in some way and then he could make a run at him.

"What happens when he shows himself?" Sophie asked raising her eyebrow at Nate.

"I take a run at him."

"You mean we take a run at him?" Parker offered.

Nate smiled at her and nodded then looked over at Sophie and saw the trepidation in her eyes.

"Yes Parker, we take a run at him. But…"

"You still want to kill him." Eliot finished for him.

"I don't want to Eliot, I have to and that is all there is too it and I am not going to argue about it." Nate said flatly.

They all knew that tone and the look on Nate's face, this is what he had decided to do and nothing they said or did would change it. Sophie was still hoping that their presence would dissuade him from his intentions of killing the man, but she was not as sure as she had been. He was not just doing this for revenge but to protect them and he would kill to do that, to protect her the man would do anything.

"Ok well first we have to find him." Hardison said breaking the silence that had settled over the group.

"Then we have to have a plan on how to deal with this." Sterling said. "You may want to kill him Nate, but you can't go at him head on, that will be just plain suicide."

"Working on it Sterling." Nate said looking at his friend. "Hardison let me know when you have something."

"Nate…"

"I'm fine Sophie just a little tired is all." Nate said as he stood and swayed slightly.

Sophie looked at him and sighed. He was still weak and was not nearly able to take on a man like Moreau, but she also knew there was no way to stop him. He needed to rest as much as possible before they confronted the man.

"Well it is going to take a while for Hardison to track him my darling so why don't you go get some rest and I'll come wake you for diner." Sophie said standing up with him.

"Yeah I think that is a great idea." Nate smiled at her allowing her to take his hand as they moved to their bedroom.

Eliot watched them go and then turned back to the others. He could see a sad pout on Parkers face and a look of concern on Hardison. Sterling had a look of resignation on his, he like Eliot knew they were not going to stop Nate no matter what they said.

"Ok so what do you think his plan will be Sterling?" Eliot asked looking at the Interpol agent.

Sterling just looked at the Hitter and smiled. How the hell was he supposed to know what Nate was going to do next. He knew Nate yes and he could often follow the man's thinking but like Sophie had said he could not outwit the man. The next move was Moreau's, how he decided to react would lay the foundation for what came next.

Sophie and Nate entered the room and Sophie closed the door behind them. Nate lay down on the bed and Sophie curled up next to him with her head resting on his chest.

"Nate what are you thinking?"

"Nothing Sophie except this is nice."

"Nate…"

"It's his move now."

"But you have a plan."

Nate smiled to himself and then kissed her head rubbing his hand over her back gently. This woman knew him very well, they all did in fact, but they did not know it all he thought.

"No I really don't Soph. I know he is going to be worried about the fact that I said I knew where he was and that he would make a move but that's all."

"Nate." Sophie said sitting up and looking down at him. "I have known you for an awfully long time and I know when you are lying. You have a plan and it does not include any of us. I made it clear that that is not going to happen." She said bending down and placing her lips on his before pulling back again. "So you will have to rethink that plan whatever it is or was…understand."

Nate said nothing just looked up into her big brown eyes that were not full of concern anymore they were filled with determination. She was determined to prevent him from going off on his own and handling this situation, handling Moreau, and he knew that would be mirrored by the rest of his team.

"Think about that ok darling." Sophie said leaning in and kissing him again gently. "Now you get some rest and then we can have some dinner and discuss what comes next."

Nate smiled at her and then watched her walk out of the room. He was going to have to rethink his plans, not the one that excluded them but the one where he was able to.