Disclaimer. As per Chapter One. If you recognise it……etc.
A/N. Sorry to all US Citizens out there. I don't dislike the guy, but there's a bit in here that I just couldn't resist.
Chapter Six.
A Visit,…. And a Request.
The following day James Heller walked into the reception at the WSC's Cleveland School. His bodyguard waited by the car outside and watched the group of girls doing martial arts kata's. Several girls ran past and eyed him suspiciously, noting the sidearm bulging his jacket slightly. They split up and two took up the premise of a conversation in order to watch the bodyguard.
A window on the second floor opened and Faith's head appeared.
"Lisa, Donna. It's Okay. He's special ops. You're gonna be late for class. Move!"
The guard's eyes widened at this but he didn't move. The two grinned at him and took off.
As she sat down at her desk the intercom buzzed. Faith hit the button. "Leah. Lemme guess. Jim Heller, right."
"Yes. He wants to see you, if you're free."
"Sure. Send him up."
A few moments later there came a knock at the door.
"Yo. Er. Yeah. Come in."
The door opened, Leah entered and ushered James Heller into the room.
"Thanks Leah. Take a load off Jim." Said Faith, indicating towards the easy chair.
Leah nodded. "Do you want coffee or tea?" She asked.
Faith cocked a brow at James. He shook his head.
"Nah. We're good. Thanks." She told the receptionist. Leah left, closing the door after her.
Before she could ask, James spoke first.
"She's doing great. One or two nightmares, but she'll be okay. I've given her some of the low down on what you guys do here. I should have told her sooner." He said, apologetically.
"Good. I'm glad. ….So. This a social call or……."
"Partly." He paused. "This thing... These issues Audrey has with Jack Bauer's kidnapping. ……She's convinced herself that there's more to it all than just the fact that they wanted him as a scapegoat in the shooting of the Chinese Consul. Since this incident and she met you she's thinking that there's something supernatural about it all."
"And you'd like us to look into it." Faith added her brightest smile to the comment.
James' face became serious. "I gotta admit. We can't see how they knew exactly where he'd be at that point in time. We've checked and double checked the systems for bugs and hacking; but the fact remains that there's no way that Cheng could have known exactly where Jack would be, and get a covert team in and out without us knowing. We'd got a satellite monitoring the area at the time, so we'd have picked them up on it."
The door opened and Robin walked in. "Faith………Oh. Sorry. Didn't know you were in a…..Mr Secretary, what brings you here?" He held out his hand.
James stood up and shook Robin's hand. "Hi there Robin. And I told you, its Jim." He gently admonished. "Y' know it's uncanny how much like the President you are….. You're not moonlighting, by any chance. Are you?" He grinned.
"I doubt I'd get away with it. Someone would be bound to spot this." Robin flicked the ring hanging from his left ear.
"Tell me about it. We haven't been out on a date together for three months now in case we get spotted, an' some bozo from the press takes a picture." Faith said, grumpily.
James grinned. "There are discreet places you could go. President Palmer isn't attached, … as yet anyway, and he still manages to get the occasional night out with a certain young lady. Other Presidents have had the same problem……"
"In case you didn't notice. Not exactly the 'First Lady' type here. Ex con, remember." Said Faith, wryly.
"You're my First Lady." Said Robin.
"Awww, ain't he sweet." She said, softening. "Hey, wouldn't they notice he was out with a different honey though?" She added.
"Maybe. Clinton got away with……" James started to say.
Faith glowered. "Anyone calls me Monica, and I'll shove a cigar somewhere you won't like…."
The two men burst out laughing.
"She's beautiful when she gets mad, isn't she." Said Robin.
Faith grinned. "I'll get you later." She paused. "Anyways, this isn't getting the problem sorted." She added, bringing the meeting back into line.
They brought Robin up to speed and set about a plan of investigation.
---------------------------------------
"It's outside our normal remit, but it's not unknown for us to get involved with a police or national security operation." Said Robin.
"So you've done something like this before then?" Questioned James.
"Not personally. Buffy took over a police and MI5 investigation about eighteen months ago. The Maguire case?" Robin explained.
"Ah, yes. I remember reading about that one. He was a demon, posing as an betting entrepreneur, right." Said James. "Some sort of necromancy?"
"There was a little more to it than that, but yeah. The Brit cops couldn't get a line on him. No wonder when he'd got a Wolfram and Hart lawyer on his side." Said Faith.
"So you'll take a look then?" Asked James.
"Can't promise we'll find anything, but, yeah, we'll take a look." Said Faith.
Robin looked thoughtful. "Would Audrey be available to assist? She knows the background, and If we need to access any sensitive areas it might be an idea if we did it legally rather than through the back door, so to speak."
James grinned "I thought you'd never ask….."
End of Chapter Six.