A/N1 Our story continues. Some discoveries are made, secrets revealed. The...stuff...is about to hit the fan.
Don't own Chuck. Not one jot, not one tittle.
Chutes and Ladders
Chapter Fourteen
Password
Sarah was certain. Chuck was on a case.
A case that somehow involved Jill Roberts. The Jill-bot, as Morgan called her. Chuck was dressed like a sanitation worker - or something of the sort - and he had gone into FARMA, not long after Jill Roberts had broomsticked through the lobby door. Continuing to drum her fingers on the Porsche's steering wheel, Sarah began to chew on her lower lip. Then she stopped. Drumming and chewing - both. She got out of the car. Shut the door. Stood there and then began walking. Unsure what she was doing or how she would do it, she aimed toward the lobby of FARMA.
ooOoo
The woman at the reception desk - not the one from earlier in the week, this was (probably) the weekend receptionist - looked at Chuck in a mild panic, at the sprayer full of orange liquid with a less mild panic, and then at the floor in a not-mild panic. Chuck could see her imagining the floor cracking open, cockroaches spewing out like a living, lumpy brown lava from a hellish insect volcano. Obviously, the weekday receptionist had shared the story of Chuck's earlier visit, but the story had, just as obviously, been forgotten until Chuck walked in. He waved at the woman as he crossed the lobby, noticing the security guards who did not seem overly interested in him, although one did look nervously at the orange liquid in the sprayer, taking a step backward as he noticed it.
Chuck made a show of heaving the sprayer onto the counter, the orange liquid inside sloshing around visibly. The receptionist actually rolled her chair backward, aghast.
"Howdy-doo. M'ere to do the bugs, the bug stuff. My supervisor came by, cleared it…" Chuck looked at the receptionist with as little human interest as he could manage, his eyes dull and blank.
She nodded quickly. "I'll buzz you in."
"Buzz," Chuck repeated, laughing mirthlessly. "Let's hope 'ere ain't no buzzing. Don't need no airborne-cock-a-roach army." He leaned into the desk, deliberately causing the sprayer to lean toward the receptionist but careful not actually to push it over. "If they git 'nyour hair, hell's to pay…"
The receptionist's eyes nearly bugged out of her skull. She pushed the button. Chuck grabbed the sprayer and went through the doors out of the lobby. He was well behind Jill, had not seen where she'd gone. But he stood for a minute in front of the listing of offices beside the elevator panel. Legal, Thirteenth Floor. Well, it had to be there or in the basement, the thirteenth floor or near to hell. Where else would you put Wolfram and Hart?
Chuck punched the up-button and got on the elevator when it arrived. He punched '13'. As the elevator went up, he put the toolbox down and took the micro-recorder out of it. He put it in his other chest pocket. Closing the toolbox, he pulled his hat down further, pushing his curls up and under the hat as best he could. The coveralls were loose, so he did not think Jill would likely recognize him from the distance. But if they ran into each other, well - not good. The elevator opened on the thirteenth floor and Chuck held his breath. No Jill. Good.
And bad. He needed to find her. He started down the hallway, keeping the bill of his hat pointed toward the floor and peeking up from time to time. The floor seemed deserted. But then he noticed a door, partially open. File Storage. Chuck got to the door and carefully looked through the opening. Jill was in the room. Files were spreadeagled all over the desk.
And so was Jill. Her skirt was bunched around her waist, her panties only on one leg and around her ankle. A man was on top of her. Vigorous exertion was the order of the day.
The man was not Bryce Larkin.
Feeling extra sleezy, Chuck pushed the record button on the micro-recorder.
ooOoo
Sarah walked across the lobby toward the jittery looking receptionist. There were a couple of security guards, each of whom seemed to be enjoying charting Sarah's progress toward the desk. Old story: she was used to stares, but that did not mean she liked them at all. The receptionist seemed to be torn between looking at Sarah, checking the floor and occasionally waving one hand in the air, as if she were plagued by gnats or something. But Sarah could see nothing at which the woman could be waving.
Sarah leaned on the desk and peered across it. Her dad had taught her long ago to read upside-down, even in a mirror. A very useful con skill. As she leaned on the desk, she noticed the entry for LA Sanitation. Sarah reached into her purse and pulled out her car keys. She carefully put her thumb over the Porsche emblem on her ignition key and held the keys up. "My goofball boyfriend was supposed to be working here today. He went off and left his keys. I work late and I don't want to leave the apartment unlocked. He's tallish, dark, LA Sanitation hat. Probably carrying a container with radioactive-looking goop. I worry that one night...parts of him are going to start glowing…" She widened her eyes and put on a hint of a smile.
The receptionist seemed finally to focus solely on Sarah. "Oh, yeah, he's here." She looked at one of the security guards. "Bug guy forgot his keys. His girlfriend is here to give them to him." The security guard seemed disappointed and puzzled by the boyfriend comment but he nodded. "She can leave them with you."
Sarah hid her annoyance behind an expansive smile. "I would be happy to...but we had a spat this morning and I...um...I want to say that I am sorry. I don't want to go to work with us mad at each other…" She gave the guard a frowny smile. She saw him hesitate, then relent.
"Alright, you can't stay long. Do you know where he is?"
Sarah produced her phone from her purse. "I can call him and find out where he is at." She turned and headed out of the lobby, making a show of dialing her phone. As she walked out she heard the security guard. "What the hell is she doing with him?"
Not all I want to be. But I will remedy that soon enough. She smiled to herself in anticipation.
At Castle Burgers, after Jill and Bryce left, Sarah heard Alex refer to Jill as 'legal skank'. She ran her hand down the list of offices next to the elevator and saw the legal department listed on the thirteenth floor. Just the place for the wicked witch. Sarah punched the 'up' button. The elevator was already there and the doors opened. She got on and pushed '13'.
ooOoo
Chuck couldn't watch.
Not because he was emotionally affected by the scene - well, unless grossed out counted as an emotional reaction but he felt it in his gut, not his chest - no, he could not watch because it was all too creepy. Even worse, as Jill's...noises reached his ears, it was clear that she was faking it. Chuck had no self-image as a great lover, but he had been intimate with Jill. He knew what real sounded like. It was true that they had not been together in the final couple of months, but the distance in time did not make Chuck question himself. Jill was putting on an act. And, Jesus, what an act. Oscar-worthy.
Chuck stood in the hallway waiting for it to end. He felt less like a PI and more like a voyeur, although it was his ears and not his eyes. He put his hands over his ears. He was standing like that when Sarah suddenly was standing in front of him, her head tilted in a way that indicated that she was hearing something, her eyes puzzled.
Chuck dropped his hands. "Sarah?" He mouthed her name soundlessly. The air was stil full of moans and cries, increasing in speed. Sarah peeked into the file room. She turned, her eyes wide. "Jill?" She mouthed that silently. "Who?"
Chuck shrugged. The moans and cries became a duet, climaxing in a deep male groan and a high-pitched female gasp. Chuck blushed, squeezing his eyes shut in exaggerated horror. Sarah laughed into her clenched fist, blocking any sound.
"That...that was...wonderful." Jill's voice breathy, apparently full of satisfaction.
"Yes, that was great, as always. I so look forward to Saturdays." The man's voice, rich, controlled.
Chuck knew him then. It was J. P. Malcolm Foxworth, the CEO of FARMA. Jill was swimming in alphabet soup.
There was the sound of dismounting, dismounting the table. Then the conversation continued, the sound of the voices making clear that clothing was being put on or straightened out.
"So, are you still pulling Larkin's strings, still have him doing what I want?"
"Yes, he's...um...eating out of my hand." Chuck looked at Sarah when Foxworth snorted at that.
"I bet," Foxworth added after his snort.
Jill's voice sounded slightly hurt, put out. "I do what you tell me to do…"
Placatingly: "Yes, Jill, I know. And you do it all so well. Soon, we will be able to cut Larkin loose, and then you and I can…"
"Yes?" Jill tone was hard to gauge. "What happens then?"
"Then you and I become partners - and you make partner. Just make sure our troubles go away."
The conversation was ending. Chuck grabbed Sarah's arm and they quickly moved down the hallway, through the door and into the stairwell.
Sarah turned to Chuck and asked softly: "Are you okay?"
He gave her a slightly concerned, upset look. He answered softly. "You mean about that?"
Sarah nodded. Chuck put the toolbox down and took her hand. "I was over her before Ellie set us up, Sarah, and, since then, all of my emotional energy has been directed at another woman."
"You mean…?"
"Yes, Vivian Rutledge."
Sarah swatted his cheek. Soft Bacall voice. "My God, you big dark handsome brute, I ought to throw a Crown Vic at you…" she swatted him again, grinning.
"I love masterful women," he whispered and returned her grin.
"You ain't seen nothing yet, buster."
Chuck put his finger on her lips for a second, then looked out the long, rectangular window of the stairwell door. Jill and Foxworth were leaving the file room. They kissed and then Foxworth headed for the elevator. Jill went into an office up the hall. Sarah had rested her chin on Chuck's shoulder and watched the scene with him. "What next, Chuck?"
Chuck clicked off the recorder. "I need to talk to Casey."
Sarah nodded. "Chuck," she started, giving him a flat look and pointing, "what the hell is in that sprayer?"
In answer, he unhooked the nozzle, aimed it into his mouth, and sprayed the orange liquid.
ooOoo
Sarah left the Porsche where it was parked. Chuck had declared FARMA cockroach-free and left with Sarah. As they got in the Crown Vic, Sarah explained how she came to be there.
"So," Chuck said, narrowing his eyes as the Crown Vic's starter whirred...then finally turned the engine, "my new girlfriend was tailing me while I tailed my old - and very ex - girlfriend." Sarah pursed her lips and nodded, embarrassed.
"I knew you weren't telling me something, and I got worried...I thought you might need some help."
Chuck took her hand, his warm and gentle. "I should have told you, but I was...sort of ashamed...I've been tailing her around on Saturdays for a while for Casey, and Morgan keeps claiming I am a stalker, and I know that's how it looks, but that's not what's happened or happening…" He told her briefly about what had been going on as he drove them to the station.
They pulled into a parking space out front. Jessup came out of the station's main doors as they finished climbing the steps. He looked at Sarah and then stopped. "Hey, it's the woman from the spook's photograph." He looked at Chuck. "Did the spook find you, yet, Dr. Watson?"
"Yeah, Jessup, He did. Have you seen him since?"
Jessup was still looking at Sarah although he was talking to Chuck. "No, haven't seen him. So, are you going to introduce me to Sherlock, here, Watson?"
It took Chuck a minute to understand. "Jessup, This is my girlfriend, Sarah."
Jessup stepped closer to Sarah. "You know this clown is a lousy detective, don't you." Jessup let himself linger on 'clown' and Sarah noticed Chuck grimace slightly.
Sarah stepped away from Jessup and took Chuck's hand, kissing it before she responded. "All I know is that he can find...anything...I need him to find…exactly...when I need him to find it." She glared at Jessup.
Jessup reddened and retreated a couple of steps. He glanced at Chuck then headed away, the words 'lucky bastard' hanging in the air behind him.
Chuck shook his head and laughed. "C'mon, let's find Casey. I want you to meet him and him to meet you."
"Was that okay, what I said to Jessup?" She hadn't wanted to fight Chuck's battles for him or to make him self-conscious.
Chuck grinned. "Yeah, except...I sorta hate that I haven't done the detective work...yet."
"From your mouth to God's ear, Chuck." She swung their joined hands between them for a moment, then they went inside.
ooOoo
Casey and Rhonda were on one side of the table in the interview room, Chuck and Sarah on the other. Introductions had been made, quick explanations given, and now the micro-recorder was playing, filling the small room now with Jill's cries from then. Casey was staring at the recorder, apparently grunting to himself. Rhonda was watching Sarah. Sarah could feel her gaze upon her, although Sarah was looking at Chuck.
The cries ended and the talking began. All four sat and listened, although Chuck and Sarah had heard it all before. Chuck turned off the recorder as Jill's conversation with Foxworth ended. Casey gave a punctuating, out loud grunt. They sat in silence for a second or two.
Casey: "And you asked me not to call her 'legal skank'."
Rhonda gave Casey a stern look. "So, Larkin is being played, manipulated, by FARMA, Foxworth, through Jill."
"I guess so," Chuck responded, "What's been happening with the investigation?"
Casey and Rhonda shared a look. "Nothing. We had to turn over the burner phone we found, put it in evidence. Larkin re-assigned us both…" she looked at Casey, a question, "...Thursday?" Casey nodded once, accentuated by a quick grunt. "We're off the case. Larkin gave it to Jessup."
Rhonda looked more closely at Chuck. "You seem surprised by this," she gestured at the recorder. "Why is that, Chuck?"
Chuck glanced at sideways Sarah before answering. "Well, it was always clear - pretty nearly always, anyway - that Jill's first priority was her job. That was one reason why things between us...I mean, it was great that she loved her job and wanted to do it well. I supported that. It was something I liked about her. But it turned out to be more like an obsession - and it really didn't have any room in it for anything else, anyone else, of any importance." Chuck looked at Sarah straight on. "I realized I was a wheel that turned nothing in the mechanism of her life."
Casey grunted. "Jeez, articulate PIs. What's the world coming to?"
Chuck turned away from Sarah. He took a breath. "But there's something about Jill, on the tape, something you should know, although I don't know what it means…"
Rhonda leaned forward a little. "What, Chuck?'
"All that...um...noise...that Jill was making. She was faking it. I'm...um...more or less certain."
Casey's eyes glinted with mischief. "How would you know?" Casey tried to hide a grin.
Chuck squirmed in his chair. "Because I have heard her...not-fake it."
Casey started to say something else when Rhonda backhanded his chest, hard. He gave her a wounded look; she ignored him.
"Okay, Chuck. I think we can call off the tail. Let me and Casey see what we can figure out. In one way, this doesn't change much, but it does complicate the story, reorganizes the motivations of the players. Can you go with Casey and make us a copy of that tape? Casey can show you where to do it. He can keep watch while you do."
Casey stood and Chuck did too. He grabbed the recorder and followed Casey out of the room.
ooOoo
Rhonda gave Sarah a searching look, then she smiled. "I'm really glad to know you, Sarah Walker. And I can't tell you how happy I am for you two. Chuck is one of my favorite people on the planet - one of the few genuinely good ones. And legal skank (never tell Casey I just said that) was so bad for him. It's wonderful to see him in love."
Sarah felt her face burn, her whole body warm. "You think he loves me?"
"Listen, I know him. Never once in the time he was with Jill did he look at her like he looks at you, act around her like he did when he introduced you." Rhonda paused, then added: " And you love him too."
Sarah glanced down but made no attempt to deny it. Rhonda laughed sympathetically. "I know, I know, it's hard to admit that to yourself and to each other. Love is scary stuff. It's also the best stuff there is. Don't feel it for too long without saying it, Sarah. It's the password to happiness."
Sarah lifted her gaze and nodded. They shared a smile. After a moment, Rhonda's eyebrows rose. "So, tell me again, you're a kindergarten teacher..?"
ooOoo
Casey had his copy of the recording. Chuck thought he might tell Casey about the Monroes, then he decided against it. Casey handed him the recorder.
"That's one impressive woman, kid - Walker. Impressive."
Chuck pursed his lips. "I know, I know. And you wonder what the hell she is doing with me, right?"
Casey narrowed his eyes, annoyed. "No, Chuck. I just wonder why it took you so long to find the one."
"The...the...the one?" Chuck stammered.
Casey shot him a glance. "C'mon, Bartowski, don't make me do your job for you. You're supposed to be a detective."
A/N2 Tune in next time. Jill visits Chuck's office. Casey disappears. Morgan has to order more pencils. Not all in that order. Chapter 15, "Hide and Seek".