Hello, my lovely readers. Elijah solves one of several mysteries in this fic. On with the show…

Chapter 27: That Could be Problematic

Standing stiffly in front of the building he'd worked in for years, Elijah Mikaelson felt irritated. Many a dinner Elijah endured before he quit his job with his father. Hearing Mikael's remarks about Niklaus drove Elijah further and further away. "He's not my responsibility," Mikael once snapped at Esther, tossing a plate through the kitchen after one of the wonderful dinners. Mikael had not known that Niklaus had just entered the room for a glass of water. Elijah had followed his younger brother. He did not know why. He just had a feeling. "He's not mine anyhow!" Mikael ended and then turned to see ten-year-old Niklaus run out of the room. Elijah had simply stared at his father before following his little brother.

Years' worth of tantrums and arguments and disagreements followed. Mikael and Niklaus' relationship became more strained and more hostile. And Elijah always placed himself in the middle. His mother stood aside and did not seem to want to play a role in the drama. Having an affair because she was lonely and being punished by watching her son's misery seemed to be the extent of Esther Mikaelson's ability to cope. Elijah did not blame his mother. He blamed his Father. And walking away from his legacy as the one who Mikael intended to hand the firm over to—when Mikael finally retired or stopped walking the earth, whichever came first—felt like justice to Elijah.

Right now, Elijah felt his fist clenching. He'd made an appointment to interview his Father about Old Gerard's death, but his Father insisted the meeting take place at the firm. Mikael Mikaelson liked to have things his way.

Peering at the large M & G at the top of the building, Elijah pondered the reasoning his Father used for not removing the G. Why not make it Mikaelson alone? Isn't that what he'd always secretly desired? A firm of his own. Still. The G stayed which made Elijah wonder if Mikael was leaving room for Marcel to go free and take over his father's position, becoming the G in the M & G, or if Mikael suspected someone else would be taking that position. But who? With old Gerard gone and his only other child also dead; who could the G stand for? Another puzzle for another time.

Forcing his feet to carry him inside the familiar building, Elijah walked past the front desk. "Good morning, Mr. Mikaelson!" Cami O'Connell called with a cheerful wave.

"Good morning," Elijah called back. He headed for the bank of elevators when it dawned on him to move back. "Cami, may I ask you something?"

"Sure. Shoot." Cami offered Elijah a smile as she pushed a button to put a call on hold.

"Would you mind having a cup of coffee with me this afternoon? I'd like to pick your brain about the puzzle I'm trying to work through." Elijah knew that Cami liked to do the New York's Times Crossword and Rebekah said she'd kicked several junior partners' asses during a Charity Charades game.

"Sounds like fun. Count me in." Cami said. Her eyes flicked to the mounting lights popping up where people wanted her attention. "Sorry. Business as usual."

Elijah nodded and went to the elevators. Part of him wished Hayley would appear. However, the doors slid open: no Hayley. Sighing, Elijah strode onto the elevator. Turning, he pushed the button for the top floor and then adjusted his tie. It felt like he might be choked by it. Or maybe meeting with his father was giving him anxiety.

The doors opened and Elijah was greeted by his father's assistant. "Ms. Rashid," Elijah greeted her coolly as he stepped off the elevator and made his way over to stand before her desk. "My Father should be expecting me."

"Certainly, Mr. Mikaelson." Her dark eyes slid over him and Elijah could tell she was sizing him up. Somehow that made sense given who she worked for. Mikael liked to surround himself with people who were discerning. Again, Elijah wondered why he chose Old Gerard for a partner. Old Gerard had so many habits and personality traits that made him a horrible choice for Mikael.

While Elijah's mind wandered, Ava had picked up the phone. "He's here," she said quietly. Nothing Elijah could hear in response. A quick nod from Ava before she slid out from behind the desk and made her way to Mikael's door. She opened it and stood aside. "He's waiting," she said.

Elijah rolled his eyes at the dramatics and adjusted his tie, again. Entering the office, Elijah found very little had changed. Same desk. Same chairs. Same lack of family photos on the desk. His Father's thousands of dollars' worth of suit and tie. That look on his father's face which made lesser men quiver before him.

"Elijah. How good of you to make it," Mikael said. He did not rise. He did not offer his hand to shake his son's. "Please, take a seat."

Elijah made his way over to the two seats in front of his father's desk. He picked up his brief case and sat it on top of his knees. Removing a legal pad and a ballpoint pen, he clicked his briefcase shut and then set it back down.

Mikael simply sat motionless while Elijah went through the process. His father could be a statue for all either of them knew. "Care for a drink?" he finally inquired.

"You want to drink before I question you about the night your partner was murdered?" Elijah's brows rose.

A slow smile appeared on Mikael's face. "Do you believe my answers will change?"

Sighing, Elijah shook his head. "No."

Getting to his feet, Mikael made his way over to the cart in the corner. He plunked a pair of ice cubes into a tumbler before he poured two fingers of bourbon. Picking up the tumbler. Instead of walking over to his desk, Mikael went over to the window. "Can you imagine what it is like to work with someone for over twenty years to build a dynasty only for it to be on the cusp of something so…pedestrian?"

"I'm sorry?" Elijah found himself blinking and frowning at his father's choice of words. "Pedestrian?"

"Excuse my choice of words," Mikael turned and leaned against the window frame. The bright sunshine made his hair look a bit like a halo and Elijah curbed his desire to let out a sharp laugh. So ironic. Staring at the inside of the tumbler, Mikael seemed to be searching for something there. "What I mean is: Gerard was a buffoon in life. And his death is making a mockery of everything I worked so very hard for."

Elijah nodded and clicked his pen. "Right. Well, I've been getting the sense that Gerard had many enemies."

"Which Gerard?" Mikael retorted.

The quickness of the response made Elijah hesitate. "Old Gerard?"

The hint of a smirk lifted the edges of Mikael's lips. "Ah, yes. Indeed. One can not become as successful as we were and not develop an enemy. Or five."

"But you act as if you were the one who built this company…" Elijah waited for his father's response.

"It did not make itself," Mikael replied. He made his way over to his desk and took a seat. "Please, Elijah, you know I am a busy man. Tell me what it is you want to know and be done with it."

"Do you believe there was anyone else who had motive to murder Old Gerard? Other than Marcel?" Elijah paused, tapping his pen on his notebook. Other than you? popped in and out of Elijah's brain but he did not utter the comment.

"Again, men like Gerard and I do not live without making enemies. Old clients. New clients. Other lawyers. Those caught between us and our clients' desires… Old, disgruntled employees. New employees. I'm sure one or two of the custodial staff harbors dreams of slicing my throat with my letter opener from time to time." Mikael began to smile as he spoke of the many people who might want his deceased partner dead or Mikael himself.

"You believe you might, too, be a target?" Elijah sat forward and he set his pen on his notepad.

Mikael sat forward, too. "Do you really think that whoever murdered Old Gerard wants half the pie? Why settle when you can have it all? Did I not teach you and your siblings to be ruthless?"

"Some of us listened. While others found their true nature lay elsewhere." Elijah fell back in his seat.

Sighing, Mikael shook his head. "Oh, Elijah. You desire to be seen as a noble, good-hearted man. If only that helped us or the world. In fact, that might be one of the reasons that Katherine was able to sink her claws into you. Is she still drawing blood, son? Will taking your child be the last straw before you give up your desire to be the knight-in-shining-armor?"

Fingers curling once more, Elijah pushed his chair back. He found himself standing up. His notebook laid on the floor. His pen rolled somewhere beneath his father's desk as he and his siblings used to when Mikael took them to work. They would play hide-and-seek beneath the imposing desk, knowing no one would find them. Then a pair of Italian leather wingtips would appear. First, Kol would be tugged free. Then Finn. A giggling Bekah. An annoyed Niklaus. Finally Elijah would peek out to find his father peering down at him.

"You were always the best at hiding who you are, Elijah," Mikael said quietly. "But you can't hide from me."

"Who am I, father?" Elijah hissed out.

"A man who will go to any length to protect what is his!" Mikael stood up. "Now, have you satisfied your curiosity?"

"Yes." Elijah leaned down and grabbed his legal pad.

"I'll have the janitorial staff ship your pen to you." Mikael said as he turned to his computer. Their meeting was over.

"You know who did it, don't you?" Elijah snapped.

"I have a very competent young lawyer looking into a lead. As law requires me to; I will have her make you aware of any findings," Mikael said. "If you will excuse me."

Again, Elijah felt the urge to walk behind his father's desk, to grab the man by his shirt collar and to shake him. Instead, Elijah made his way to the door. He opened it without another word. Not bothering to close the door behind him, Elijah made his way toward the elevators.

"Have a good day, Mr. Mikaelson," Ava called.

Elijah muttered something that might be "You, too." Or "Screw you," depending on who you asked.

~0~

"Thank you for meeting with me today," Elijah said as he and Cami took a seat in a booth. He'd chosen a café six blocks from the firm. Not many of M & G's staff liked to go this far.

"I should thank you. Usually I just go down the block and grab a sandwich at the White Hen Pantry." Cami slipped her scarf off and then her coat. She looked lighter than she did at the firm. Her smile softened. And her eyes lit up another wattage. Elijah never would have noted the difference. She always seemed happy when he stopped by to see Hayley or Rebekah. Now, he could see a difference.

"You're welcome." Elijah watched Cami begin to unwrap her muffin. His hand went to his cup of coffee but he did not lift it. His whole focus was on the conversation to come.

"So, what's this game you're trying to figure out?" Cami asked him with a smile.

"May I show you?" Elijah asked. He picked up his briefcase.

"Sure." Cami seemed both amused and excited to see what Elijah had planned for her.

Opening his briefcase, Elijah withdrew the sheaf of memos he'd received. "Someone from your firm sent these to me. And I have no idea who it would be. It's a bit like Clue, only we're not looking for a weapon. I think."

Cami let out a quiet chuckle. Taking the top memo, she glanced down at it and nodded. "Well, it obviously came from our office. Maybe someone on the support staff saw your name and got confused." Her eyes went to Elijah's. Anyone else might not see how the light in her eyes had dimmed back to that wattage she used during working hours, but Elijah noted it.

"Yes. They might. But why send it to the D.A.'s office?" Elijah asked, pointing at the e-mail address.

Cami glanced down. "That's funny." She continued to look at the paper as if the words and numbers would change. "Someone must want to tell you something. You think?"

Elijah leaned closer to the woman. "If there's anything you'd like to tell me, Cami. Please do."

Cami continued looking at the paper before she shook her head. "Sorry. I can't think of anything right now." She slid the paper back to Elijah.

Feeling disappointed, Elijah sat back in his own seat. "Let's enjoy the coffee, shall we?"

Cami nodded. Her warmer smile returned and she began to regale Elijah with a tale of a secret system in which she and her brother, Sean, used to tell each other secrets. "It used to really help when we were playing games. We could use the code to signal to each other without anyone else knowing what we were saying."

Elijah nodded, his mind drifting. He hoped Hayley was finding something helpful.

~0~

On his way home, Elijah felt deflated. He'd been hoping that either his father would admit something or Cami would offer some new information. Nothing. A brick wall.

Entering the elevator to his home, Elijah hit the button for his floor and fell against the wall in the back. If only Hayley were at his door. He could use the comfort of her warm body encased in his own.

The doors opened. Elijah got out. Nothing and no one stood outside his door. Wonderful. And the day ended just as well as it had begun. His head fell forward as he made his way toward his door.

Removing his keys from his pocket, Elijah shoved the key into his lock and went to step inside his apartment. Then a scream made his head whirl. Jerking his key back out of his lock, Elijah did not bother to re-lock it as he made his way down the hall. He could now hear quiet cursing and the sounds of someone who had begun to cry. Another person was saying something. The second person's words were too low for Elijah to make out.

Elijah inhaled. Davina, and her boyfriend, the young violinist, Timothy. After all the warning signs had come to Elijah's attention he'd waited for something he could actually do. He could build a case around pieces of evidence. He would need Davina to be willing to testify.

Hand rising, Elijah knocked on the door. Again, hushed voices. But no answer. Elijah would not let this go that easily.

Knocking again, Elijah waited. "Excuse me, Ms. Claire?" Pause. "It's Elijah. Your neighbor. Are you alright, Davina?" He waited. His hand went to his pocket. Three numbers.

Suddenly the door opened and Elijah removed his hand from his pocket. Tim stood in the wedge of light coming from the apartment. His hair was a mess. Dark bags hung under the boy's eyes. He looked confused. "Sorry, Davina's busy…"

"Oh, she is?" Elijah could not but be sarcastic. "Is she too busy to come to the door for a moment?"

Tim's brows went up. "What?" He blinked at Elijah as if Elijah had asked him to hand over his wallet.

"Tim?" Davina's voice. She sounded out-of-breath. "Tim…"

"I've got to go," Tim said. He moved to close the door when Elijah placed his foot in between the door and the doorframe. Tim's eyes went to Elijah's foot. "It's late. Can't you come by tomorrow?" The boy's tone came out as a plea.

"Tim…" Davina, again.

"Why don't you go check on her?" Elijah asked.

Tim sighed. "Fine." He let go of the door.

Elijah pushed the door open. "Davina, may I come in? I just want to make sure you're alright!" he called.

Davina called back. "Come in…"

Stepping inside the apartment, Elijah closed the door but he did not lock it. He made his way around the corner to find Tim kneeling on the floor. He had one arm around Davina's waist and pushed them to a standing position.

"Thank you," Davina whispered. She tugged the robe she was wearing around her more tightly. Then she let out a little moan as she made her way toward the couch.

Tim moved toward the fridge. "You need ice?"

"Yes. Please." Davina said as she rolled up her PJ leg to gaze at a mark on her leg. "I'm a real klutz," she told Elijah.

"Davina, you do not have to make excuses for other's behavior," Elijah said. His eyes went to Tim who made his way back to the living room. A tea towel packed with ice in his hands. "Davina, I think you should leave this apartment, tonight."

"Tim will only be gone for the weekend. I'm fine by myself," Davina said as she took the ice pack and placed it on her leg. Reaching up, she withdrew a scarf and Elijah found himself staring and then felt ashamed. "I can manage on my own. You know, as long as I stop running into things."

"She's so weak since the treatments started," Tim fell onto the couch and tears began to run down his cheeks. "But she's the bravest girl I've ever met."

Davina smiled and then Elijah thought he put another piece of the puzzle into place. "I have leukemia," Davina said quietly.

"That's why you've been…" Elijah felt stupid. And it was not his place to tell anyone else.

"Yup. But I'm going to be okay." Davina told him. "If you want to stop by and visit this weekend, that would be nice. Bring your girlfriend; if you'd like."

"Girlfriend? Hayley. Yes. She's be happy to visit," Elijah said. "I'm sorry for bothering you. Good night."

Elijah went back into the hallway. He went to his apartment and unlocked the door. One mystery solved. One yet-to-be.

Taking off his coat, Elijah found he had a note inside. Cami must have slipped it inside. He frowned before realizing she'd used her code to encrypt the message. If only he knew how to de-code it. This might take hours, days, or months. Time Elijah did not have. Then he remembered something. Sean. They used to play the game together.

Elijah went into his office and opened his laptop. Turning it on, Elijah Googled Sean O'Connell. He was priest in New Orleans. What were the chances that Sean used social media? Finding a Twitter page for Father SOConnell, Elijah wrote a brief message to the good father and hoped that Sean would get back to him.

Within an hour, Sean got back to Elijah.

Ten minutes later, an e-mail found its way into Elijah's in-box. Printing the code, Elijah went to work.

Another five minutes later, Elijah sat back in his chair. C. B. D. W. I. L. L. P. A. R. T. N. E. R. B. A. B. Y. Again, Elijah wondered what he was missing. One thing was for sure, he couldn't ask Cami.

As his cell began to ring, Elijah wondered what new frustration it could offer. "Elijah, Hayley's been hit by a car!" Rebekah screamed into the phone. Now, he knew.

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-J