What we learnt here is love tastes bitter when it's gone.
- Matchbox 20, Shame
Harvey downs another champagne placing it on the tray of an ambling waiter as his eyes wash over the crowd. The venue Donna chose is an auditorium on the top level of a hotel complex, brightly lit and lots of open space which is filled to capacity with clients milling about enjoying drinks and canapes.
It's a good turn out, thanks to the COO's tenacity, and his gaze switches to the spectacular view of the city. It's a sight to be marvelled at but the darkness is a reminder of his exhaustion. He managed to get a few hours sleep, showered and is freshly shaven but the last hour has been draining and he can feel the alcohol starting to go to his head as he spots Barnaby Joice across the floor. It's the very last conversation he wants to engage but it's a necessity and his feet drive him forward, a sympathetic smile leading the way.
"Mr. Joice," he greets extending his arm, "I'm sorry to hear about Drake, has there been any word?"
Barnaby shakes his hand with a firm grasp, a look of regret spilling over his features. "No, nothing yet... and please it's Barnaby." He asserts the insistence politely raking his eyes over the lawyer. They're similar in age and build, even their choice in tuxedos, but Harvey stands slightly taller and he squares his shoulders ever so slightly. "I know we aren't here to talk about work-"
"That's exactly why we're here." Harvey assures acting as the ever consummate professional, "what's on your mind?"
Barnaby takes a sip of his drink noting the empty hand opposite him with interest. "Henry wanted me to let you know he plans to go ahead with the handover but I'll be taking on all of Drakes responsibilities. I expect he'll be in touch with you early next week to make the arrangements."
Harvey can't say he isn't relieved. The circumstances aren't ideal but it's the direction he'd hoped the business would decide to take. "For what it's worth, I think given everything that's a wise decision."
"Thank you Harvey." He catches the eye of a waiter passing by and an awry smile curves his mouth, "excuse me for just one moment."
Harvey nods watching him take two languid steps towards the man severing alcohol and checks his watch wondering about Louis. The man should be making an appearance any moment and he glances up observing a brief conversation between Barnaby and the waiter before the acting director returns offering him the glass.
"It wouldn't be right to toast," he says quickly, "but maybe this could be for Mr. Litt, to fatherhood and new beginnings."
Harvey takes the drink and indulges him though he avoids taking a sip. He wants to have a clear head when he eventually finds Donna and, as if on cue, a flash of red catches his attention. Like him she's managed to appear fresh and smiling and his gaze travels over the length of her dress, the outfit stirring nerves in the pit of his stomach.
"I should leave you to mingle."
Barnaby interrupts the flutter and heat spreads across the base of his neck as he shakes the man's hand again. "Tell Henry if there's anything he needs to give me a call." They exchange a polite goodbye and Harvey straightens, inhaling sharply as he catches Donna's gaze. She really does look breathtaking and he exhales slowly, forcing a natural smile as he pads his way over to her. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes."
She bites her lip suppressing a grin as her hand lifts to pick a spec of lint from his jacket. "You don't scrub up too badly yourself, handsome."
His chest puffs at the compliment deciding he'll take it over 'pretty' any day. "Seen Louis yet?" He asks, keeping the conversation light. Alex and Samantha are both doing the rounds, Brian's with Katrina working the room and he figures once the managing partner shows up it might afford them some time to have a more private conversation.
"He'll be about twenty minutes." She readjusts the clutch in her hand expecting another message from Louis any minute. The memory bank on her sim is nearly at full capacity from all the pictures he's been sending but she can hardly blame him. Jackson Litt is a little heart-breaker and when she feels her purse vibrate again she smirks. "You know we're going to have to confiscate his phone right?"
"You too?" He raises a pointed eyebrow, "I got thirty just on the way here, figured he had my number confused with his mother's or something."
"This is Louis we're talking about." She matches his expression lifting her gaze up over his shoulder to where Samantha is beckoning. The man she's standing with is easily recognisable she and pushes a fake smile, exhaling low enough so only Harvey can hear her. "Jesus..."
He turns feigning the same pleasantry as he catches the eye of Gerard 'Bull' Bogart. The boisterous cowboy from Texas is completely harmless but entirely overbearing and unfortunately the man has a soft spot for the firm's COO. "Here, take this-" he offers her the stem of his champagne glass, "looks like you need it more than I do."
She doesn't argue shielding herself enough to down its entire content. "Thanks..." she pushes it back at him, squaring herself and putting on her best million dollar smile as she sashay's toward Bull and Samantha.
The confident strut makes Harvey go weak at the knees and he has to stop himself from staring feeling hot under the collar for a second time in as many minutes. He'd like nothing more than to drag her away from the awkward conversation but he resists the urge deciding he needs a quick breather instead.
...
He takes the lift down to the ground floor and steps out nodding politely at the concierge. He's lanky looking, wearing the worst tie Harvey's ever seen and the kid instantly reminds him of Mike back in the early days.
Not that Mike ever really grew out of his terrible fashion sense.
The thought makes him smirk and he doesn't know if it's the alcohol or nerves -something he's becoming uncharacteristically used to- but he has an urge to call his old partner and pulls out his phone swiping the screen as he exits into the cool air. It's stopped raining but the ground is still slick with moisture and he breathes in the fresh smell taking shelter under the awning.
The call goes to voicemail twice and on the third unsuccessful attempt his voice is laced with sarcasm, "you do realise these are still working hours, figures you'd be slacking off. Anyway don't bother calling back. I'll find someone who has the time..." he hangs up, mouth curving with a trademark grin. The banter is how they operate and he'll most likely receive an equally charming message back at some point during the night.
Glancing up, he takes stock of the moment relishing in the peace and quiet until his phone vibrates.
He assumes it's Mike calling straight back.
It isn't.
It's Donna and he swipes the message with a confused frown.
We've got a problem. Meet me downstairs in the Lobby ASAP.
Of course they do.
Because he can't get five minutes alone without something going wrong, and he shoots a text back telling her he's on his way.
The concierge is nowhere to be seen as he steps into the empty foyer and he calls out scanning the hall. There's a room up ahead and slightly to the left with its door ajar and figuring it's just like Donna to be dramatic he walks over to it pressing his hand to the knob and pushing his way into the darkness.
"Donna, what-"
He feels a sharp pain connect with his head and stumbles as the lights turn on blinding his vision. On instinct his fingers lift to the wet stickiness congealing at his hairline and he blinks back a rush of double vision pulling focus on the man staggering in front of him.
"I imagine you're feeling a little groggy right now. No need to panic Harvey, here, let me help you-"
"Get away from me," Harvey barks, shoving the assailant back and breathing heavily as he comes face to face with Barnaby Joice.
The man startles at the clear coherent yelling and he backs off lowering the pot in his hand. "No... it isn't supposed to happen like this." He'd timed everything perfectly. The drugs in the champagne, the room the waiter had said he could use to take a personal call, the 'emergency' the concierge had left to attend to.
He'd had a goddamn plan.
Harvey watches the confusion spread across Barnaby's expression and presses a hand to the dull throb in his temple trying to piece together what the hell is going on. They're in a boardroom of sorts, a large desk taking up the majority of the space and he winces at the lights gleaming overhead.
Donna was the one messaging him, she should be here. The thought circles until his gaze is drawn to the familiar device in Barnaby's hand and a feeling of dread washes over him. Donna didn't send him the text, Barnaby did. He has her phone which doesn't make any sense, unless-
His eyes grow wide as details from the Carter case flash through his mind. The whole time he'd assumed it was Drake texting him and that Henry's son had orchestrated the deal with Eloware. It had never occurred to him that someone else might be pulling the strings. You son of a bitch-" he drops his hand using the edge of the desk to support himself, "you were the one who put Drake's in contact with Ryan Ashford."
Barnaby scoffs at the accusation feigning ignorance. "Don't be ridiculous."
Harvey shakes his head not buying the denial for a second. "You used Drake, manipulated him into doing what you wanted. " He can't believe he didn't see it and steels himself against a rush of guilt. He'd been too personally invested, too caught up in every else going on and he watches Barnaby's mask start to slip, edging around one of the pushed out chairs. "You used Henry's family against him..." he deliberately goads the businessman, "what kind of sick and deranged-"
"Drake knew exactly what he was getting into!"
Barnaby finally snaps giving up the charade and tossing the pot letting it clatter to the floor. "The stupid kid turned on me, didn't want to go through with it once daddy caught wind and wouldn't keep his goddamn mouth shut."
Harvey flinches, questioning whether or not it was wise to provoke the outburst. He's clearly dealing with more than just psychotic tendencies. The man's obviously unhinged and his fingers flex at the potential danger he's in.
What if Drake's crash wasn't an accident?
His stomach drops at the realisation, his jaw going slack, "so you sabotaged the car, tried to get rid of him."
The look of pride on Barnaby's face is all the answer he needs and he steadies himself with a sharp breath, a nagging thought penetrating his grogginess. What exactly was Barnaby planning to do, bludgeon him to death with a pot? There has to be more to it and he continues pressing the businessman hoping it will give him answers. "You really thought you could take me out, with an auditorium full security cameras and witnesses?"
"Small oversight." Barnaby admits trying to adapt to a new plan. He knows he's screwed but he's learnt there are ways out of every unwinnable situation. It just takes a conniving mind mixed with a little imagination to find them. "I wonder, what did you do with that drink I gave you?"
Harvey frowns in confusion, his mind flashing back to the champagne he gave Donna and his body goes ridged with fear. He'd watched her consume every last drop. Panic soaks into his concern igniting a spark of anger but he keeps the rage hidden behind a deadly calm voice. "What did you do to her?"
The slight tremor in Harvey's hand don't go unnoticed and Barnaby works it into his angle. A she, obviously someone important, and he thinks back to the few times he's had meetings at the firm. There's only been one women who stood out next to Jessica Pearson and he feigns surprise, trying to push the lawyer over the edge. "Oh dear, it wasn't that lovely redhead was it? Now that would be a shame."
Harvey snaps.
He doesn't give a fuck or think twice about his safey as he lunges slamming Barnaby up against the wall. "What the hell did you do?"
The reaction is better than he expected and Barney smirks despite the pressure crushing his windpipe. If he's going down the very least he can do is take someone the arrogant and self-righteous lawyer cares about down with him.
"Kill me or... find her-" he chokes out, "clocks ticking."
The threat coils in Harvey's stomach and his eyes flash with hatred as he loosens his grip. If anything happens to Donna he will kill him but instead of letting him go he draws back swinging and knocking him unconscious with one solid blow. Barnaby's body slumps down the wall and he doesn't waste any time running with a jagged hook back towards to the elevator.
He's still woozy but swallows the sickly feeling leaning heavily against the carriage wall. When he staggers out onto the top floor his eyes immediately scan for Donna ignoring the looks and gasps that follow him.
Right, blood on his shirt.
He doesn't give a shit.
The only thing he cares about is finding the redhead but a sharp tug pulls him away from the search.
"Jesus Christ Harvey, what happened?" Samantha whispers harshly, following the trail of splattered blood up to his crown. Her first assumption is that he's been in a fight and she keeps him shielded from the crowd trying to minimize the damage. The last thing they need is a scene but when he pulls roughly away she catches fear flickering in his gaze.
"Where's Donna?" He blinks back a wave of dizziness forcing himself to stay clear headed. Luckily the anxiety flooding through him is an effective pain relief and he continues scanning the room for the familiar flash of red.
"She was just here." Samantha sternly tries to reason but there's a niggling doubt creeping in that she can't shake. She'd assumed the COO was just hungover and that's why she'd excused herself but thinking back the exit had been hasty and she finds her own gaze drifting across the sea of people to reassure herself. "She wasn't feeling well, I'm sure she probably just went to get some air." The assumption lands heavily between them and her eyes dart back to his tight expression.
"Shit," he breathes out the curse scrubbing the spots from his eyes. He'd hoped Barnaby had fabricated the threat and his adrenaline pushes into overdrive as he grabs Samantha's arm, "call the cops tell them Barnaby Joice needs to be arrested and get whoever you can looking for Donna. I think she's in trouble."
The flurry of instruction is a lot to take in on faith alone. She's a lawyer after all but his stubbornness isn't something she can fight and she tries appeasing him instead. "I'll find her but you need to sit down."
"Like hell."
He pushes passed before she has a chance to stop him and she catches several people staring in her direction.
"Dammit," she mutters under her breath pulling out her phone. She has no idea what the fuck is going on but she knows Harvey. The aggression didn't come from alcohol it stemmed from fear and if that has anything to do with Donna she isn't taking any chances.
Otherwise she's going to be on the receiving end of whatever-the-hell that was.