Chapter 14

Moreau was ready to move, he knew that Hardison would be able to find him and even if Nate did not have his team with him he was sure he would reach out to get the information he needed. He was sure Nate was still alone though and that was to his advantage. He knew Nate was saying he wanted to kill him, but he knew the man, he had studied him, and Nathan Ford was many things, but he was not a killer. He had arranged for additional help and he would be ready for them he thought. Nate still had the upper hand on him though, he did not know where the man was, so he was on the defensive. The next move was Ford's and he knew it.

"Mr Moreau the place is secure sir." His man said as Moreau arrived at the house. This was one of his favourite safe houses, or at least it had been all those years ago, before Ford and his people had interrupted his life.

"Make sure the men are alert. Eliot Spenser is no fool and he is better than all of you understand." Moreau said as he passed the man and entered the house, Eliot may not be here but he was taking no chances.

Moreau was not afraid he knew that Eliot was on a leash and he would not come after him without the say so of Ford and Ford wanted him to himself. No he was sure that he would not use his team to come for him. He had taken the girl out to make this personal for the man and he was sure he had accomplished that. He knew from first-hand experience Nate was the brains and Eliot the muscle. The Hacker was good and so was the Thief but in this type of thing neither of them would be of any consequences. Then there was the Grifter Sophie. The woman who had won the election against him all those years back. She had made it possible for that lily-livered punk to win and in that way allow Nate to manipulate his man to take him down. But she was just a tool, she was nothing without Nathan's brain, none of them were. Individually they were great at what they did, Eliot was the best Hitter he had ever had on his payroll. He had researched the others and he knew Hardison was one of the best hackers, Parker a superb thief and Sophie a superb grifter, but that was them on their own. As a team they were formidable, but Nate was not going to allow them to be involved in this of that he was sure.

Moreau poured himself and drink and sat down. He had used the last of what he had to get himself out of that prison in San Lorenzo and then to get here and get to Ford. He was driven by revenge and he would have it. He sat back and closed his eyes and wondered what the man was doing when his phone rang.

"Damian."

"We talk again Ford so soon?"

"Now I really do know where you are Moreau." Nate said smiling into the phone.

Moreau's face darkened at that he had played into Ford's hand again he realised. Moving had given Hardison something to find, he should have known better.

"So what now Ford?"

"Like I said Damian, I intend to end this, to end you."

"You…"

"Yes Damian me and only me."

"Then come ahead Nathan, I look forward to it." Moreau said hanging up the phone. He had the man he would come, and he would come alone and then Moreau had him. He was nothing without his team just as they as a team were nothing without him.

"Who was that?" Sophie asked as she walked into the room to fetch Nate for dinner and saw him hanging up his phone.

"Nobody." Nate said putting his phone away.

"Nate…"

"Sophie…" Nate responded and smiled at her pushing himself up and out of bed. "Let's get that dinner I am starving." He said as he walked over to her and took her arm moving her out the room and towards the dinner table.

Sophie walked with him her mind racing. The man was up to something, and she knew it was something none of them were going to like but he was not about to tell her what, and if she pressed him, well that would get her exactly nowhere. They sat down at the table and Nate smiled at Eliot.

"This looks great Eliot." Nate told his Hitter as he placed a plate in front of him. "Finally we have our family dinner and that is great."

They all looked at him after that comment, Eliot nodded and smiled though his gut was churning.

"So Hardison anything?" Nate asked as he sat back after the plates had been taken away and he sat with glass of whiskey before him.

"Nothing yet Nate."

"Eliot?" Nate asked looking at the Hitter.

"No man, I have reached out but nothing yet." Eliot replied, he had been reaching out to all his contacts from when he worked with Moreau to see if any of them had reemployed with him and knew where he was.

"So Nate, come up with a plan yet?" Sterling asked the question they all wanted answered, then sat and watched the Mastermind. He knew Nate and he could see the man was slightly more relaxed. That only happened when the Mastermind had a plan that he was comfortable with.

"Working on it." Nate said taking a sip of his whiskey. "But I need some more information first."

"Still you must have some idea." Sterling pushed him.

"Maybe whoever you were on the phone with was some help." Sophie said looking at him and brining all their eyes to the Mastermind.

Nate looked at her and smiled sweetly then took another sip of his whiskey. These people all of them including Sterling knew him far too well.

"No Sophie I told you it was nobody."

"Nate do I look stupid to you?" Sophie asked softly. "You do know that the best hacker in the world is here and a phone is just a plaything for him. While we are at it Nate did you forget who all of us are? We are on to you and you are not going to get away with any of your normal antics, we are ready for them. Now that was Moreau on the phone wasn't it?"

Nate said nothing he just sat sipping his whiskey.

"So…?" Parker said looking at him.

"Ok yes it was Moreau. I wanted to give him something to think about." Nate said deciding that being honest here was his only option.

"What did he say?" Eliot asked.

"Just that he was ready for me."

"So he has made a move." Sterling stated.

"Yes he has but we don't know to where yet and we need that information before we can proceed." Nate said looking at Hardison.

"Then what?" Parker asked. She was interested in what Nate was planning after they found Moreau, she had no doubt between Eliot and Hardison they would find the man.

"Well Parker that depends."

"On what?"

"A lot of things Parker."

"Well if one of them involves whether it is you alone or us, then work on the latter." Sophie said softly.

Nate looked at her and smiled. Then he downed the rest of his drink and stood up.

"Well I am going to bed. It has been a long day. Thanks Eliot for the dinner."

"Yes I am calling it a day as well." Sophie said smiling and taking her husband's hand in hers and leading him to the bedroom.

"He has a plan doesn't he?" Parker said looking at Eliot and then Sterling after they disappeared behind closed doors.

"I think he does." Sterling nodded at her. Nate had a plan, what it was he was not sure but he had one and he was sure it did not involve any one of his family or himself being involved in.