Chapter 17 - Plan B

Agent Bruce Foster sat across from Maggie Nelson discussing upcoming strategies to flush out the assassin.

"Plan B", said Bruce, is to provide the assassin the with most benign target out of the group as bait. Henry is the logical choice being the youngest and a graphic novelist. The assassin will not consider him a threat". Bruce held up a photo of one Henry Fitzroy looking at it lovingly imagining how much fun it would be to hunt and capture him. Shaking his head to clear the thoughts before they went to far Bruce looked back up to Maggie.

Maggie smiled to herself not fooled for a minute. "I agree with you Agent Foster but as he is my future son-in-law I feel I would be the more logical choice at this point in time. He and my daughter have their whole life ahead of them. Plus with my years of training I will be a harder target to take down."

Bruce contemplated Maggie's offer before continuing "It's a noble to sacrifice yourself for your daughters happiness but not a logical choice. He will see Henry as less of a threat, more of a loose cannon who had to get out because of cabin fever. If you go trying to draw him in he will immediately suspect a trap." Bruce put down Henry's photo reluctantly.

"We have arranged for it to look like he broke out of the penthouse and is hunting for a good time down town." Bruce cleared his throat thinking with all the action happening in the 'penthouse bathroom' that wasn't really necessary but it also wasn't his place to mention that.

"Do I get a say in this?" asked Maggie knowing that Bruce outranked her and had a direct line to the top of the CIA.

"No, Maggie, its our call now, we'll do the best we can to take care of him". Reaching across Bruce looked into her eyes. "Cross my heart and hope to die"

...Penthouse...

Maggie walked back into the Penthouse taking in the scene before her. Vicki going over the menu with Bruce and Mike was away at the station organizing the murder investigation . Henry sat drawing across in one of the corners headphones on, lost in his own internal world sketching out a draft for his next graphic novel. He of course had scented her even before she had walked through the door but Henry always restrained himself from mentioning that detail to people. Maggie walked over to Henry and touched his arm.

Pulling out the ear pieces Henry looked into her eyes and smiled.

"Vicki told me you would be hungry now and the other two have done what they can for the week. Lets go into the bathroom and do this Henry, then we'll talk about the next stage of the plan to catch the assassin"

"As you wish Maggie" Henry placed her arm in his and walked towards the bathroom. Vicki stopped what she was doing with Bruce and looked over. She didn't want Henry feeding off her mother, it wasn't a logical thought but then when it came to Henry she sometimes found logic escaped her.

Shutting the door Henry tried to keep his face as neutral as possible. So much of his feeding was sexual in nature so that even he was having trouble reconciling the fact he needed Vicki's mother.

"How does Vicki cope with you feeding off people like this Henry?" asked Maggie not quite hiding the emotion she was feeling.

"Victoria has known me for sometime and she has come to accept that it is necessary to sustain my life, the only stipulation now is that I don't 'Play with my food' as she so eloquently put it. Henry walked away from Maggie hoping his explanation helped her accept the realities of his life.

Maggie laughed then quickly sobered up.

"I don't think I want to know exactly what 'plays with your food means' means Henry. Don't get me wrong, I can see you two really have something together."

Henry noted she didn't say love. Maggie continued

"But I wish she had chosen someone normal, someone safe" he finished for her before continuing "Maggie, with all due respect you don't know anything about me or who I am. I won't be judged by you. What I do now is between Vicki and I and nobody else". Henry glared at Maggie.

Maggie stared into Henrys eyes. A part of her was upset she couldn't go in his place to draw out the assassin and she was doing a typical Nelson thing when emotionally uncomfortable, she was picking a fight. Another part of her was glad it was Henry that was taking the risk. If he died Vicki would mourn but eventually move on.

Henry caught some of her thinking process before Maggie shut down her eyes to him. Frowning he leaned into her.

"I saw that Maggie. I can't say as I blame you but lets just try to play nice for Vicki's sake"

Maggie turned away opening up her blouse at the wrist and washed it under the faucet.

"I'm not an animal that carries germs either" said Henry jaw clenching.

"I can't seem to do anything right can I Henry" said Maggie turning back. "Lets get this over with".

Henry held up his hand to her just holding onto his temper, eyes flashing to black briefly. "I'm not going to do this with you Maggie, get out!"

Maggie turned on her heel and left the bathroom going straight to her room slamming the door.

Vicki looked up in surprise from the couch where she was picking out the menu with Bruce's help.

"Is everything ok Henry" she asked starting to rise.

"Bruce", said Henry. "I need to talk to you right now about the menu. Vicki I think you mother needs you." Vicki couldn't help but notice the tension and angry in his voice.

Bruce fluttered his hands together looking desperately between Vicki and Henry and managed to squeak out "Ok" to Henry's request.

"Alright" Vicki said. "I'm going to see if moms ok" Vicki walked away into Maggie's room glancing back at Henry and Bruce.

Henry stalked over to Bruce with more feral energy than necessary. Maggie had pissed him off, treated him like an animal to be feed.

"Bruce, I'd love to hear more about the menu but I just need to wash my hands in the bathroom. Come in with me and will discuss it together" purred Henry.

"AAAAA, ooo, replied Bruce rooted to the spot.

Henry walked over towards the man.

"Henry", whispered Bruce, "While I'm flattered and very tempted by your offer to discuss the 'Menu' in the bathroom it wouldn't be the most professional thing to do right now. What about I give you my name and number and you give me a call when this whole mess is over" Bruce gave Henry what he hoped was his most winning smile enjoying Henry being so close.

Henry stepped towards him closing the gap causing Bruce to gasp at the look in his eyes. Henry couldn't seem to stop himself, he wanted to mess with someone tonight and Bruce was handy.

Bending towards Bruce eyes flashing black with his back to the camera he whispered into his ear.

"Come - join me." using the voice.

Bruce's face feel slack as he turned and walked into the bathroom with Henry.

...monitoring room...

Cheers and boos went up from the monitoring room. Money changed hands as bets were paid out. Most of the time surveillance work was deadly boring but thanks to one Henry Fitzroy, there were a lot of highly entertained professionals that night.