XII. Worth a Thousand Words
Cape Town, South Africa 2009
John studied the photo of their new target, a man who could've passed for his brother if he had one. The target was once an operative for the CIA, now he was a target of his own government for treason.
"If you stare at the targets picture any longer Reese I might think your door swings the other way," Kara smirked as she rounded the bed wearing nothing but a towel.
John snorted slightly, "Why is he a target?"
Kara paused setting her clothes down making her way closer to the bed "Wilson went AWOL during an active mission and is suspected of leaking data that compromised national security."
"Still this intel is thin at best, I don't think…," John paused as the file was snatched from his hands.
Kara frowned at her former partner's picture before dropping the file onto the nightstand as her towel to fell to the floor. Smiling as she watched John compartmentalize as she crawled onto his lap. "Compromised is compromised John. It's not our job to ask questions….."
"….It's our job to follow orders…or pay the consequences" Kara whispered, unzipping his pants as she nipped at his neck and cheek.
John grunted as she pulled his hair and yanked his head back.
"Now be a good toy solider and fall in line Reese, I'd hate to have to break in another new partner," Kara smiled as she pushed him back on the bed.
Oxon Hill, Maryland, January 18th 8:30AM
Harold sighed heavily as he sat in the lounge of the lobby of the Gaylord Convention Center reading a Time magazine. He had specifically selected the location due to the high number of guest who were attending the security convention. The multitude of government issued laptops and equipment in the building would help convolute back-tracing once they breach the agency's mainframe. As he began to turn the page, the magazine was yanked from his grasp as a laptop dropped into his lap.
"I see your manners haven't changed much Noel" Harold stated as he watched the young woman take a seat adjacent to him. He frowned as he took notice that her appearance hadn't changed from when they first met almost eight years ago.
"You also seem to still have your tattoos and piercings, even though I suggested that the change your appearance so as to not draw attention to yourself." Harold chastised.
"Says the man who wants me to help him do something that will draw attention to myself," Noel smirked as she opened her laptop.
Noel looked around the lounge, "Where's your neanderthal today? Out torturing puppies?"
Harold cleared his throat as he opened the laptop watching it power on "My previous associate and I are no longer associates."
Noel raised an eyebrow not really surprised the Harold canned his lapdog Dillinger. She had sensed that their relationship, at least on Harold's part, was rooted in necessity. The man didn't strike her as the type who actually wanted to save people out of the goodness of his heart. But then again, her perception could be colored since the bastard broke her hand to get information out of her when they had all met eight years ago. But given the finality in Harold's tone she wouldn't press the issue.
"May I ask where you procured this laptop from?", Finch asked as he recognized that the laptop was government issued.
"From a gross fat old government suit who thought he was getting laid", Noel replied as she opened her emails.
"And when he realizes that his laptop is gone he'll report it and….", Harold began before being interrupted.
Noel snorted "Don't worry by the time the drugs wear off we'll be long done and gone."
"I opened a backdoor into the system from a hiring manger in the HR department, attached a virus to my resume. Once I break in they'll be on me, while I distract them you follow me in and get what you need...ready?" Noel asked as she looked up at Harold.
Given the nature of the situation Harold decided to ignore Noel's confession of drugging a man as he nodded before turning his focus back on to his laptop.
Brooklyn, New York City, January 18th 9:03AM
John strolled into the library carrying coffee noticing that Harold still hadn't returned from his trip yet, as noted by Shaw sitting at his desk eating a powdered doughnut. "Finch won't like you eating at his desk Shaw."
"What dad doesn't know won't hurt him." Shaw replied as she rewound the traffic footage from the intersection where she met their unknown assailant.
John barely had time to sit the tray of coffee down before Shaw snatched a cup, chugging almost half the contents as she stared at the screen.
"This guy is good I tried to get another angle of him before he got to the ally but he kept his face away from the cameras." Shaw stated with annoyance.
"They can't all be incompetent Shaw," John replied staring at the monitor watching Shaw follow the hooded man into the alley.
"What about the other tails?" John asked as he turned his focus back to the diner Joss and Fusco had been eating at.
"Not including the man in the alley, I clocked seven other tails. Two were in a black GMC, two in a Camry, three plain clothes loitering on the street and a surveillance van. Don't know how many were in the van but the three plain clothes guys came from that direction." Shaw summarized as she downed the rest of her coffee.
"I recognize the two in the GMC, they were the ones tailing Joss at the car wash." John clarified.
"Yeah, I figured they were FBI I think the two in the Camry are FBI too. When Carter and Fusco left the diner both vehicles followed. The three plain clothes on the street went the opposite direction back to the van." Shaw added as she sped the footage forward showing the men walking off in intervals in the opposite direction.
"That's because they aren't FBI." John stated as he watched the men on the street retreat.
"How can you tell?" Shaw asked curious as she looked back at the footage to see what she missed that Reese picked up on.
"The FBI agents are watching Joss…" John stated pointing at the screen "…look where the men on the street are focused."
Shaw leaned in eyeing the men, her eyes widening as she realized the men on the street all had their backs to the diner and were scanning the crowds.
"The FBI doesn't have a clean photo of me, there're probably running names on every man Joss talks to that looks like my numerous police descriptions. The men in the crowd…," John began.
"…know exactly who to look for." Shaw finished his sentence frowning.
John nodded in silent affirmation.
"Could it be anyone other than the CIA?" Shaw asked as she turned to look up at him.
"Could be…but doubtful," John replied as he narrowed his eyes studying the faces of the three men.
"What do you think they want? Why now?" Shaw asked looking back at Reese.
"I don't know, but I'm about to find out," John tersely stated as he turned on his heel and left the library.
Manhattan, New York City, January 18th 6:30 AM
Kate stood silently in front of her hotel bed staring at her empty suitcase contemplating the ultimatum Bates had given her at their 'lunch' yesterday afternoon.
x-x-x-xx-x-x-x
Kate picked at the remains of her salad her eyes roaming around the restaurant trying to figure out where the directors bodyguards disappeared to.
"You can stop looking for them, after they swept the restaurant I told them to wait in the car." Bates stated as she sat her Blackberry down.
"So, what have you found out so far?" Bates asked placing her elbow on the table as she leaned onto her hand.
"Not much I haven't gotten a chance to look at the data," Kate stated placing the USB drive onto the table realizing that it was pointless to lie.
Bates nodded picking up the flash drive "I'm sure you've come up with a theory."
"We're not here for Reese are we?" Kate questioned as she looked the director in the eyes.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" Bates asked.
"You don't seem very concerned that I have potentially sensitive material about Reese during his time with the agency…" Kate stated "…also we all know how this operation would have gone if he was the target."
Bates raised an eyebrow, "Ohh, how's that?"
"The agency has known that Reese has been in contact with Detective Carter and her partner since Agent Evans was murdered and Agent Snow disappeared on assignment." Kate stated shaking her head as she tried to piece together information "…what doesn't make sense is why all the effort now. We've had numerous chances to neutralize the situation, especially after Detective Carter and Reese interfered with the LOS operation."
"So what's changed now?" Kate asked as she looked up at the director.
Bates smiled as she stood up dropping money on the table while gesturing for Kate to stand up as well.
Kate followed beside the director as the exited the café. Moving toward the street as a GMC pulled up.
"I put you on this team Kate because you're a smart …but.." Bates began as she turned to the young woman handing her back the flash drive.
"But…"Kate asked as she hesitantly took the drive back.
"..you might not be ruthless enough to move past your current capacity," Bates finished as she slid into the back seat of the GMC.
Kate stepped back as one the director's bodyguards shut the door before getting into the passenger side. She began to move away from the curb, pausing as the window slid down.
"You are right Kate in your assumptions Reese isn't worth all this effort" Bates spoke sliding on her sunglasses. "But if you plan to find out more then I suggest you meet me in the lobby at 8 AM tomorrow, if not your job is done here and you can go back to DC."
Kate silently watched Bates pulled off leaving her on the side of the road with more questions than answers.
"Huh?"
Kate jumped and whipped her head to the left, startled by the deep voice suddenly beside her.
"I was almost positive she was going to send you back to your cube in DC." Matt stated in unenthused surprise.
Kate looked around her surrounding's trying to see if anyone else was hiding in the crowd around her.
"Don't bother it's just me," Matt reassured as he linked their arms and began walking back to the hotel.
"What are you doing here?" Kate questioned as she glared angrily at their linked arms.
"I'm here to escort you back to your room," Matt replied smiling at the offended look she was sporting at him touching her arm.
"Why?" Kate questioned.
"I was ordered too….and if you plan on sticking around you better get used to saying how high when she says jump," Matt replied nonchalantly.
x-x-x-xx-x-x-x
Kate blinked away her silent thoughts and memories' as she looked down at her watch, she had thirty minutes to decide if she was going back to her desk in DC or staying in New York and seeing how far the rabbit hole went.
Bronx, New York City, January 18th 8:45PM
Paul stared at his son from across the table, "So are you going to tell me what's got you so angry?"
Taylor looked up from his now empty dinner plate debating on whether or not to tell his father the truth '..but to ensure that neither one of you can tell anybody who John is..' Taylor shook his head as his mom's voice echoed in his ear about the danger of disclosing John's identity.
"You do know you can talk to me Taylor?" Paul urged as he saw the lost look in his eyes.
"I…have a friend…." Taylor began as he thought of a believable lie to tell his father.
"Okay." Paul encouraged him to keep talking.
Seeing that his father was buying the first part of his lie he continued. "She's in a new relationship with this guy who acts nice now but…according to these other kids at school is a lying d-bag who's just using her and could end up getting her into serious trouble."
Paul raised an eyebrow "Does this friend of yours know about the rumors the other kids are saying?"
Taylor nodded, "yeah, she knows but since he doesn't act that way anymore, she thinks the other stuff, even if it's true, doesn't matter anymore."
"Okay if he's a saint now why do you think your friend could be in trouble because of him?" Paul asked.
"Well…" Taylor began as he tried to think of a cover lie for the CIA. "…he was in a pretty shady gang before."
"A gang?" Paul repeated shocked and alarmed "Does her parents know about this?"
"Uggghhh…..her parents are…dead" Taylor spoke quickly.
"Her par….," Paul paused as he began to piece together Taylors' vagueness as he realized who his son was talking about.
"Taylor, have you spoke to Maya's foster family about this? Paul asked.
"Huh…"Taylor responded confused.
"Come on son Maya's the only friend you have whose parents are dead and your Mom's told me about the increasing number of school problems she's been having." Paul explained.
"Right…" Taylor covered realizing that correcting his father would cause more problems than not, so he let him keep on believing it was Maya he was talking about.
Paul nodded "Taylor I know you and Maya have been friends for a really long time but if you think she's doing something dangerous you need to speak up and let her foster family know especially if she's dating a former gang member. Do you need me or your Mother to talk to her parents?"
"No…" Taylor shook his head "I'll tell them."
"Thanks for the advice Dad…I'm gonna go finish my homework" Taylor stated as he stood up and placed his dish in the sink.
"Your welcome just let me or your mother know if you think Maya is doing something that could get her hurt." Paul reiterated.
"Okay I will Dad." Taylor nodded as he headed upstairs, pulling his phone out as he quickly texted Maya what just happened.
Brooklyn, New York City, January 18th 11:35PM
Joss stared lazily at her reflection as she brushed her teeth, thankful that the day was over and tomorrow would be the last day that the FBI would be surveilling her under the guise of protection. She quickly rinsed her mouth as she heard Artemis's barking getting louder.
"Artemis hold your horse's I'll let you outside in a minute." Joss chastised as she made her way down the hall and down the stairs. Pausing when she noticed Artemis's posture, her fur bristled, hackles up and crouched ready to attack as she stared at the front door.
Joss quickly and quietly moved down the rest of the stairs, popping open the drawer of the end table behind the door as she pulled out one of her back up weapons. She eyed the front door cautiously as she tugged Artemis back before quickly flicking off the lights as she moved into the foyer aiming her gun and pulling back the curtain slightly to peer outside. The street was quiet, cars parked along the roadside, most belonging to her neighbor's and one particular Camry she knew belonged to Moss's men.
Although nothing looked out of the ordinary her senses were still on high alert as Artemis wouldn't have reacted if there wasn't anything to react to. As she moved back towards the front door, she could still see Artemis ready to attack as she stared unmoving at the front door. Joss clinched her teeth as she gripped her gun, she quickly edged up against the door jamb before throwing the door open. Her eyes quickly scanned her surrounding's, clearing all the vantage points she could think of.
As she lowered her weapon Joss breathed out deeply, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. When she turned to move back inside she paused noticing an envelope leaned up against her railing. Joss looked over her shoulder eyeing the Camry and the occupants parked four houses up the street.
"So much for the protective detail," Joss muttered as she bent down to pick up the envelope before quickly stepping back inside her home and shutting the door. Joss made her way into the kitchen as Artemis followed at her heels nosily trying to sniff at the envelope in her hand. As she entered the kitchen she flicked on the light before setting her gun onto the counter and reexamining the envelope before carefully opening it and pulling the contents out.
Joss felt her heart constrict as she stared at a photo. The familiar scene captured in a black and white, most likely from a street camera, showed her disheveled appearance clutching her shoulder as she walked away from an overturned SUV and Donnelly's dead body.