I wish I owned all recognisable characters from Leverage but...I don't. :(
Chapter 2: The Book Job
Sure Haven knew this was his team, well, not his team. But, the team he was on. That's why she had chosen it, that's why she had searched up and down the coast lines and through the cities. She had pulled out every stop on the map to find him. Eliot Spencer, the only man she had loved. Well, other than her fiancee' of course. But, that was no worry: at the moment Scott was back in Coleraine managing operations and crews from home base.
""He killed Dylan, Eliot. Markus killed Dylan." Her words choked from her throat as she felt tears sting her eyes for the fifth time that day. Eliot's face became pale and he walked towards her. His arms wrapped around her and she buried her face in his shoulder. For a moment it was like she never left, then, Nate - the team's leader- coughed, breaking their embrace. Haven wiped her eyes and took a few steps back regaining her composure. Nate looked at Eliot,
"I assume you two know each other." Eliot rubbed his face,
"Yea, I've known Haven since I was eighteen actually." God, that comment made Haven feel old. Nate nodded and Haven heard a female pipe up,
"You never talk about her." Haven's head whipped around. The blonde girl, who had spoken sat on the top of the couch. Her hands folded in her lap and eyes scrutinizing every aspect of Haven as if she were a scientist and Haven was a bacteria. Eliot rolled his eyes,
"Haven..meet Parker." Haven smiled fakely,
"Pleasure." Parker just rolled her eyes. The dark haired woman stepped forward and held out a hand,
"Forgive her, she's a little off with strangers. Sophie," Haven took her hand and smiled,
"I know who you are , we have things to discuss later if you wouldn't mind." Sophie simply nodded and stepped back. Eliot sighed and motioned to a black man sitting on the couch beside Parker,
"That's Hardison, our resident hacker. And..you know Nate." I nodded towards Hardison,
"Nice to meet you. And yes, " I turned to Nate, "He was the one I contacted about seeing you all. Since, introductions are past I assume its time for a briefing." Nate clapped his hands together and laughed,
"I guess it is." Haven saw Parker lean over to Hardison and whisper something while pointing at Nate. Nate and Eliot both took their seats on the couch while Hardison pulled up the photos and files that Haven had given him. First was a picture of a blonde man with the same eyes as Haven - grey with navy flecks.
"My brother Dylan, was murdered four days ago by Markus Van Otto." A man with gray hair and brown eyes popped up onto the screen. A thin red line streaked across his face by his left eye pulling down his lips slightly,"Van Otto has had it out for my family since I was eleven. This is the fifth member of my family he has taken, the first being my father." She glanced around to make sure they were following her, "Avenging my brother's death is not the most pertinent task at hand right now though. Getting back what Van Otto took when he killed Dylan - other than his life- is." She motioned for The Hacker to proceed with the files. On the screen appeared a notebook, its bindings were half disintegrated and the pages falling from it were browned with age,
"This file is also known as Leabhar Of an Mháistreacht -The Book Of The Masters- my family's treasure. Legend has it that the first Master thief of Ireland wrote it and handed it down through each Master thief and each Master thief has done since."
"The Book was said to have been burnt in 1902 by Willim O'Doole, in his efforts to keep the Master thieves of Ireland at bay." Nate pointed out. Haven nodded,
"That's why it's so important. Willim O'Doole burned the copy of the Book. This copy has been kept under lock and key for over 100 years. It has been under the highest security money can buy, no one outside of my family and my family's security team knows it even exists." Hardison glanced at Haven with a perplexed look on his face,
"What was it doing out that day? Why did your brother have it where Van Otto could get it anyway?" Haven bit her index finger and then sighed,
"That night the next Master thief was to be named. The Book was being taken to the ceremonial room for preparation." Parker stretched her limbs and climbed onto the cushions of the couch,
"Who is the next Master?" Shit, Haven knew she couldn't tell them. Telling them would risk exposing her real identity to Eliot...she wasn't ready for those consequences. Not yet, all the truth would spill out in due time.
"No one knew except for Dylan." Parker muttered,
"Of course not..." she leaned over to Hardison again, "This chick is a little shady if you ask me." Inside, Haven felt anger bubble in the pit of her stomach.
"No one did, Parker." she replied icily, "Van Otto will be traveling to Boston in three days. He will be here to meet with me, to discuss the return of the Book in exhange for what he really wants. While I"m meeting with him the Book will be on lock down in his suite." The screen now had a floor map of a Penthouse suite in full view.
"The book will be kept inside of this room, "Haven pointed to a small room adjacent the master bath, "Van Otto is purchasing this room as a permanent US estate and having it outfitted with today's most high tech security. In place will be two sets of four security cameras: one set covering the roof and half of the wall length. The other covering the ground and other wall half. Infrared beams and weight sensitive tiles are being put in. Then, the Book itself will be in a safe, surrounded by one and half feet of bullet proof Plexiglas."
"Damn...this guy wants to make sure no one gets that book don't he?" Eliot asked. It was the first time he had spoken all briefing. Haven felt her heart flutter at his words. Haven nodded,
"Any security guards?" Sophie questioned, "This is all very high tech but...easy to crack."
"Sophie...it sounds easy but..this is only half the intel my teams have gathered about this trip. The other half is being sent directly to Nate's e-mail tonight, it should be ready for a part two briefing tomorrow." Hardison shut off the screen and placed the remote beside him. Haven looked around at thier faces, they now held her fate in her hands.
"One more question...If you have this book and you have Master thieves on your side why do you need us?" She thought they'd never ask,
"We've got a flipper...a traitor. Van Otto will know my team's every move before it happens...this is why I need you all. Please..help me." She pleaded. Her eyes met Nate's, Sophie's, Parker's, Hardison's, then finally Eliot's.
"I'm in..."Sophie chimed.
"Me too." Hardison agreed with a smirk. Parker mumbled and then raised her hand, which Haven took for an I'm in.
"Guess I'm in." Nate said with a sigh. She waited there was one more member, Eliot stood and walked to her. His hand went to the back of her neck and he pulled her to his lips, she kissed him back softly.
"This is the second time I've had to rescue you." He said when they broke away. Haven pulled back from him and then looked around. Parker and Sophie were wide eyed at him, Nate and Hardison looked pleased.
"I take it you don't kiss your girlfriend in front of them often?" Eliot smirked and then laughed,
"I don't have girlfriends."
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