A few days passed and Nona watched from a distance as the police led Stephen away in handcuffs; he would be several charges including wrongful death. It felt empowering knowing that she helped stop him and potentially saved the lives of others. Meanwhile Nate was making sure that Rita was being handled
"Rita, can you come into my office please?" Linzer requested of his assistant as she came into work. Upon entering she noticed several men standing with him
"Yes sir? Did you need me to get coffee or something" she asked a bit nervously
Linzer shook his head
"Rita I'd like you to meet Dr Raymond Stanski, Dr Lewis Baar, and Dr Maggie Collins"
"Nice to meet you all" she replied, still thouroughly confused
"Rita can you explain to me why these Drs all received boxes of heart shaped candy instead of heart valves?"
"Well Mr Linzer I don't know, you'd have to ask Stephen Westerhoff he's-"
"Mr Westerhoff has been arrested and it's of no matter because according to their paperwork YOU placed the order."
"Well I'm sure there must be some mistake, let me just check my paperwork-"she stuttered
"Don't bother, I think this gentlemen has all the information you'll need to clear this up" he gestured to a dark haired man that had just come thru the door
"I'm sorry, and you are?"
"Oh where are my manners, Im Dectective Bonanno, Boston PD"
"But I don't understand?" by now she was beginning to sweat
"Well maybe this will refresh your memory" he pushed a button and all of a sudden the room was filled with her voice
"That old coot? He hasn't a clue as to what's going on in that office. I run that show"
*flash back to Nate finishing up that meeting with Rita and turning the tape over to Bonanno*
"Mr Linzer, I can explain-"
"Could you also explain these withdraws from Mr Linzer's accounts?" the Detective interrupted
"Well I-"
"Don't worry there'll be plenty of time to explain down at the station" he said as he arrested her.
*flash to Hardison making withdrawals from Linzer's account and placing them in Rita's all while making it look like she did it*
Nate & Hardison waived as Pat walked Rita past the office they were standing in
"YOU! Those are the guys you should be after, HE set me up and he the black guy he runs a lab!" she was shouting as she was dragged down the hall
"Why I always gotta be 'the black guy'?" Hardison complained
"Mr Sherman" Daniel Linzer addressed Nate
"Yes?"
"I can't thank you enough for being willing to go undercover to find out what was really going on."
*flash to Nate going to Linzer and explaining that Rita had offered him a bribe and the need to find out what was going on*
"Oh it was my pleasure I felt it only right since people's lives are at stake"
"I know, I feel like such a dope for not even knowing what was going on in my own company"
"Yeah well you had a lot going on well with your wife and daughter so don't feel bad – Rita took advantage of your faith in her"
"Yeah well if you're still interested, it appears that I am need of a new valve supplier."
"Actually I've discovered that I'm not very successful at that so I've dropped out of that business. However, Mr Baker here" he gestured at Hardison "Has found some reputable contacts for you."
"Yes you merely have to email them when it's convient for you and they're all willing to work at a discounted rate given your now compromising positions with the hospitals" Hardison replied
Linzer looked dumbfounded
"I don't know what to say"
"Just make sure that the recall goes thru and that the families of the victims are compensated."
"That goes without saying, they will be well taken care of – especially after I recover all my money from Stephen and Rita"
"That's all I needed to hear." Nate replied and with that they said their goodbyes and were off to meet up with the rest of the team.
"Now keep your eyes closed"
"Hardison you know I don't like suprises" Nona replied as Hardison led her through the door of her new bakery; the insurance money had finally come in and workers had been working around the clock trying to get her reopened ASAP.
"Ah but you're gonna love this one" he replied and removed her blindfold. Her eyes adjusted to the light and she realized it was the most beautiful bakery she'd ever seen. New glass cases waited to be filled with pastries, state of the art register with touch screen sat at one end of the counter, bright colors and artwork adorned the walls. However that was just the tip of the iceberg; she walked into the kitchen and realized that not only were there new butcher block prep areas, but a proofing oven, an army of cooling racks, and where her fridge/freezer once stood was a walkin cooler and walkin freezer, and could that be?
"Hardison is that a-"
"Modulox 420 rotating oven; guaranteed to make your life easier with steam release, tempered glass doors to seal the baking process, and according to Eliot it has a very distinctive-"
"Temperature control" she finished for him as she ran her hand over the oven like a lover
"yeah" he replied and looked at Parker who simply replied
"She sounds like Eliot when he talks about food"
"It's top of the line; as apparently is the rest of the kitchen" Nona said as she took in the rest of the equiptment which included a massive Hobart mixer
"Hardison I KNOW my insurance didn't cover all this" she looked at him accusingly
"Yeah it did, you see I got some good deals and – ah hell Eliot gave me a list and told me not to stray from it" damn he was not good at lying to her
"and just where is Eliot?" she inquired
Parker and Hardison just looked at each other like they didn't know what to say
"Out with it you two"
"Look man we don't know-"
"He's with Sophie" Parker blurted out before Hardison could finish
"Parker…" he sighed
"What she asked us a question and I don't care if Eliot told us not to tell her where he was, I think she has a right to know"
"You know Eliot's gonna kill you right?"
"I don't care I just –"
"GUYS!" Nona shouted and stunned the pair into silence
"Why is he with Sophie?"
"Well I guess he just-"
"It's all in here" Hardison said cutting Parker off and handing her an envelope. She felt her heart start to break because she knew that if he couldn't tell her in person it couldn't be good. Eliot Spencer was not the type to run away from his problems.
"Listen, whatever it is we're still here for you" Parker said throwing herself at Nona in a Parkerlike hug
"You know I got your back girl" Hardison said hugging her in turn
"Thanks guys, but if you don't mind"
"Say no more, we're gone" and with that Nona was standing in her new bakery which was full of life and new adventures but she couldn't remembering feeling more alone. Forcing herself into a chair she pulled out the letter and began to read it
Dear Nona
I know you're probably wondering just what the hell is going on and I wish that I had a simple answer for you. The truth is this started out because I saw someone in trouble – damn Nate for turning me into a softie; however before I knew it I was falling for you and falling hard. Right now I want nothing more than to hold you for the rest of my life
"then why aren't you?" Nona thought before she continued
And I know you're sitting there wondering well why aren't you?
She couldn't help but laugh – Eliot knew her so well
I'm not there because I can't be; I can't be in the same city with you and not see you, not want to hold you and I can't do any of those things because you deserve better. You deserve someone normal, someone who's not constantly on the run, wanted in 6 different countries, and someone you can be proud of. I'm far from being an innocent man and I still have demons that I battle everyday – I can't ask you to be there for me when you've been through enough yourself. I never know where the road is going to lead me and I can't ask you to wait for me. Most importantly you deserve someone who loves you with everything he is and someone who can make all your dreams come true. Please promise me that you'll be happy because that's truly all I've ever wanted.
All My Love
EL
Nona hadn't even realized that she was crying until she saw her tears splash on the page.
"Eliot you are a brilliant man but sometimes you can be so stupid" she sat looking at the new bakery
"Because you did make all my dreams come true"